Geothermic Fuel Cell™ Prototype Moves IEP One Step Closer to Commercialization

Independent Energy Partners, Inc. (IEP) with partner Delphi Corporation successfully tested an initial single stack geothermic fuel cell™ (GFC) prototype, keeping IEP on track for field testing and initial oil production at a test site by mid 2015.

Denver, CO, May 17, 2013 — Independent Energy Partners, Inc. successfully tested an initial single stack geothermic fuel cell™ (GFC) prototype, keeping them on track for field testing and initial oil production at a test site by mid 2015. The fuel cells will be used to heat underground oil shale formations in situ or in place. Testing confirms the fuel cells will be able to generate the high temperatures needed to extract both liquid and gas hydrocarbons from the oil shale while simultaneously generating clean electricity.

“This is a huge milestone for us as it confirms the concept and sets us nicely on the path toward full-scale prototype and field testing without any unexpected delays,” said Al Forbes, IEP’s President and CEO. “The Delphi team’s deep experience in solid oxide fuel cells certainly helped us meet this milestone confidently.”

IEP has put more than ten years into patenting, designing and developing the geothermic fuel cell technology using the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to help refine the concept and Delphi Corporation’s solid oxide fuel cell expertise to develop, build and test the GFC prototype.

Delphi Corporation was chosen to build the GFCs because of their expertise in solid oxide fuel cell technology and manufacturing capabilities. The partnership is already paying off with this successful first-round prototype passing both internal testing at Delphi and additional outside testing at the Colorado School of Mines Colorado Fuel Cell Center in preparation for the large-scale stack testing later this year.

“It’s exciting—especially in new clean technologies—to have such a successful first prototype,” said Dan Hennessy, chief engineer, Advanced Engineering, Delphi Powertrain Systems. “Our team is already working on assembling the next prototype and anticipating similar success when we test it later this year.”

Geothermic Fuel Cells will expedite nature’s underground heating process to turn kerogen into a producible, usable oil product. Current technologies require either surface mining and crushing the shale or using large amounts of coal-fired electricity to power heating rods inserted in a formation. IEP’s technology becomes self-fueling after brief start-up period. The natural byproduct of the fuel cell is heat, which heats the kerogen in the formation to a vapor that can be transported and collected above ground. Most of the electricity produced by the fuel cells is available as a clean, base load energy source for local utilities.

With US oil shale reserves estimated at more than 1.5 trillion barrels of oil that are not currently viable to recover, IEP’s technology stands to open huge energy reserves in the United States and abroad. The GFCs have many additional applications, including a growing interest in their use in landfill pyrolysis to both reduce landfill mass and create clean, base load energy for municipalities.

Field-testing is scheduled for early to mid 2015.

About Independent Energy Partners:
Independent Energy Partners (IEP) is a clean technology and resource company based in Denver, Colorado focused on the economic and environmentally responsible recovery of unconventional hydrocarbon resources utilizing its patented, breakthrough in-situ Geothermic Fuel Cell™(GFC™) system. IEP was founded in 1991 and has been involved in the development of more than 15 energy projects employing a wide range of technologies. The company holds exclusive rights to broad, patented GFC processes and technology in the U.S. and Canada as well as its own oil shale resources containing more than 2.0 billion barrels of oil. Patenting and technological development has been underway since 2004 and has been vetted by the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. IEP holds strategic partnerships with Total Petroleum, Uintah Resources, Inc., Delphi Corporation and Colorado School of Mines. Learn more about the compan y and its technology at www.iepm.com.

About Delphi:
Delphi is a leading global supplier of electronics and technologies for automotive, commercial vehicle and other market segments. Operating major technical centers, manufacturing sites and customer support facilities in 32 countries, Delphi delivers real-world innovations that make products smarter and safer as well as more powerful and efficient. Connect to innovation at www.delphi.com.

Contact:
Cindy Jennings
Independent Energy Partners, Inc.
TEC Building
11479 S. Pine Dr.
Parker, CO 80134
+1 303-792-0055
cindy@volitionstrategies.com
http://www.IEPM.com

Refinery of the Pacific Implements AuraPortal Software to More Effectively Organize Its Workflows by Fully Automating its Activities

Process management software provides immediate increase in operational and economic benefits.

Boca Raton, Florida, May 14, 2013 – AURA (www.auraportal.com), a global provider of Business Process Management (BPM) software, has announced that the implementation of its AuraPortal BPM Suite in the Eloy Alfaro Refinery of the Pacific in Ecuador has been very straightforward thanks to the Suite's flexibility, easy to make changes (even in real time) and the fact that it requires no programming whatsoever.

AuraPortal has been distinguished with great advantage over its competitors by Ovum, the renowned analyst firm, in its Decision Matrix (2011) report.

AuraPortal has already proved to be a great success in other companies in the Oil and Gas industry, such as PEMEX and ENAP.

With the use of AuraPortal, Refinery of the Pacific has managed to organize and run its workflows more effectively. The benefits of having automated the day-to-day processes with AuraPortal are evident, resulting in maximum control of the tasks performed. For example, bottlenecks are detected and located in real time allowing solutions to be applied immediately; and the use of material resources (paper) is also reduced as documentation is archived digitally. It should also be noted that relevant information is now available to improve these processes, among others aspects, decreasing their execution times.

"The immediate and professional support that AuraPortal provides has greatly facilitated the implementation and launch of the system," says Stalin Lopez, Manager of Refinery of the Pacific. He added "We definitely made the right decision in choosing AuraPortal, it is an excellent product and very flexible; all changes that users have requested have been implemented and have performed in real time. The ability to change something, try it and immediately put it into operation is a big plus."

About Refinery of the Pacific
The Eloy Alfaro Refinery of the Pacific in Ecuador is a company created to build, operate and maintain a refining complex with a processing capacity of 300,000 barrels per day, through a joint venture between PDVSA and Petroecuador.

About AURA (http://www.auraportal.com)
AURA is a global BPM (Business Process Management) software provider delivering a solution that creates, without the need of IT programming, Business Process Workflow Execution Models. AuraPortal is 100% Web-based, and is complementary to existing ERP and CRM systems.

AURA has a presence in 50 countries with more than 500 customers including, among others: Toyota, General Motors, Pemex (Petróleos Mexicanos), Carrefour, ArcelorMittal, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Scotiabank, Danone, Sodexo, Kimberly-Clark, Yamaha, Eletrobras, Royal KPN, Bristol-Myers Squibb, etc., as well as many Government Agencies and Departments in several countries.

AURA Headquarters are located in North America (Florida) and Europe (Holland) whereas the software development facilities are located in Spain and India.

Contact:
John Charles
AuraPortal
2255 Glades Rd, Suite 324 A
Boca Raton, FL 33431
+1 (857) 239-0070
John.charles@auraportal.com
http://www.auraportal.com

New Single “Tempted” to be Released on iTunes May 28th

Singer/songwriter Margo Rey today announced her newest single and latest cover of Squeeze’s 80’s track, “Tempted.”

Los Angeles, CA, May 14, 2013 – Singer/songwriter Margo Rey today announced her newest single and latest cover of Squeeze’s 80’s track, “Tempted.” After several male renditions of the British rock band’s piece, Margo decided to turn the tables with an updated pop/R&B female version of the classic tune.

“Tempted” brings out a smooth vibe while still displaying Margo’s very own melodic flair. The single will be available for radio adds starting on May 13th and available for a US digital release on iTunes May 28th.

"When I was approached about doing a cover for my next single, I knew immediately that "Tempted" was the song I wanted to sing and re-arrange as an homage to this very talented band, Squeeze which actually had 3 different singers in the song Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford, & Paul Carrack,” states Margo on her thoughts of the making of “Tempted. “I had a fantastic time producing it with my dear friend and collaborator, Barrett Yeretsian.  I am so thankful to Squeeze for writing and recording an unforgettable song that has been my "Habit" to sing for years.”

Following her latest release, “Habit” and in the midst of battling breast cancer, Margo hasn’t stopped pursuing her music. She received much recognition after performing at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel for a special one night event benefitting The Noreen Fraser Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on raising funds for women’s cancer research. Her husband and stand up comedian, Ron White, stood by her side as he hosted the event.

In her latest album “Habit,” Margo put together a variety of organic sounds with every bit of emotion put into each song. The Indie Music Digest says, “Her musical/vocal style is cut from the cloth of Celine Dion, Bonnie Raitt and Shania Twain.” – but I will add she can go toe to toe with any of them vocally.

Working in the music business since she was only eleven years old, Margo continues to provide an array of rich vocals with smooth tunes and funky beats as showcased in her latest single.

For more information on Margo Rey, please visit www.margorey.com.

Listen to “Tempted” here: https://soundcloud.com/margorey/tempted

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

To Celebrate its 9th Anniversary, Luxury Travel Ltd . Reveals the Successful Story of Vietnam's First Luxury Travel and Tour Operator

“Besides having a passion for travelling, reading, walking and golf, I love to seek luxury,” admits Pham Ha, the CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd.

Hanoi, Vietnam, May 14, 2013 - “Besides having a passion for travelling, reading, walking and golf, I love to seek luxury,” admits Pham Ha, the CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com).

He’s not alone. As Vietnam’s economy strengthens, the tourism industry is inevitably expanding its own horizons. Once considered as more of a backpacker destination, now with growing high-end options, Vietnam is attracting a different kind of tourist.

Options might still be considered limited and infrastructure below international standards. But that’s where Ha’s company steps in. On a mission to promote the luxurious side of Vietnam, Ha hopes to coax more high-end travelers and businesspeople to the country.

But that doesn’t mean just booking five-star hotels and fancy dinners for a whirlwind tour along Vietnam’s coastline. He admits he’s haunted by one former clients’ indifferent dismissal of Vietnam as “beautiful but boring,” so his company goes the whole nine yards to ensure customers have the holiday of a lifetime.

The philosophy of Luxury Travel (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) is to find top quality services, unique experiences and sophistication and create perfect packages for the most discerning of travellers. Ha knows that to have a dream vacation the traveller must experience pleasure, comfort and total satisfaction.

Whether the client wants to hide in the tropical jungle, kick back on the beach, discover Vietnam’s culinary delights, trek to a hill tribe village or relax in style in a luxury vacation villa, Luxury Travel Vietnam will come up with the goods – minimizing on travel time and maximizing experiences.

“Simply envision any vacation experience you want, name it, and we will deliver it in style – that’s Luxury Travel,” he stresses.

As a child, Ha had always dreamed of travelling around the world. After graduating from Hanoi Teachers’ Training College and National Economics University, Ha worked as a teacher but soon wanderlust set in and he quit teaching to take a job as a tour guide, tour operator, PR, sales and marketing man.

After 12 years in the industry, Pham Ha found his own business in 2004 providing luxury tours in Vietnam. Besides providing sightseeing tours, Luxury Travel also arranges accommodation, airport transfers, regional flights, train tickets, visas, superior guides and other logistics in advance. The company guides speak Vietnamese, Chinese, English, French and German and are selected for their open-mindedness, motivation and enthusiasm.

“It may be my fate. Firstly, I do this because I want to satisfy my passion to discover,” says Ha. “But it’s also my pleasure to introduce the beauty of Vietnam to foreigners.” To turn a private passion into a tourist business, Pham Ha had to be patient.

“In the beginning, I had 12 years of work experience but not so much money!” says Ha with a smile.

Despite his meager savings of $1,000, Ha was determined to pursue his dream. Now four years later, his company employs 60 luxury travel advisors and top guides, owns a fleet of Mercedes and has offices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang and management offices in South East Asia.

Each of the guides must be an expert traveler and know how to make the client’s travel experience truly special, truly hassle-free, and truly enriching.

“I love my country and its destinations, and I do my best to make sure that my customers feel the same way,” says Ha.

Ha aims to introduce a contemporary Vietnam – a country that is young, dynamic and exotic. Beyond the cyclos, pho and ao dai, Vietnam is gaining a reputation for its breathtaking beaches, luxurious resorts and golf courses.

“It’s not difficult to find luxury hotels. Now is the time for upscale travelers and MICE to come to Vietnam,” says Ha.

At Ha’s office, there is a visitors’ book which is filled with entries by satisfied customers.

“We recently returned from our wonderful 15 day journey to Vietnam and Cambodia arranged by Luxury Travel Vietnam,” writes Pamela Solvang. “We can’t thank you enough for providing such an excellent travel experience for us from start to finish. The three of us on this trip have all traveled extensively, all around the world. We have used the best luxury travel companies in the US and elsewhere and can attest that Luxury Travel provides excellent services!”

Attention to detail sums up Ha’s approach very well. He knows high-end travelers don’t settle for below standard services, even if Vietnam is still a developing country, tours must run smoothly.

As Vietnam continues to assert its presence on the world stage, the number of visitors is surging and Ha is confidently waiting, ready to accommodate those who are looking to bask in the lap of luxury.

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

Colorado HealthOP Signs Warner Pacific as First Broker Agent to Distribute Soon to Be Launched Consumer-Driven Health Plans

Colorado HealthOP’s Alliance with Warner Pacific Marks the First General Agent Relationship in the Nation For State Cooperatives

Denver, CO, May 14, 2013 — Colorado HealthOP, Colorado’s first statewide nonprofit health insurance cooperative, announced today that it has penned an agreement with Warner Pacific to distribute its soon to be launched health plans in Colorado. Warner Pacific’s network of nearly 1,000 insurance broker representatives in Colorado will offer Colorado HealthOP’s line-up of health insurance plans to accelerate the nonprofit’s ability to reach Coloradans across the state with affordable, quality coverage. This alliance is the first general agent relationship among the state health cooperatives nationwide.

“Colorado HealthOP’s launch represents a big step forward in improving healthcare in the state. We are pleased to have found a partner in Warner Pacific to share our vision of ensuring that Coloradans have access to affordable, quality insurance coverage,” said Julia Hutchins, chief executive officer of Colorado HealthOP. “Warner Pacific has a proven track record of helping brokers serve individuals and small businesses in the state, and particularly those in the rural areas."

A member-driven health insurance cooperative, Colorado HealthOP will provide a variety of health insurance options for individuals and employers in both urban and rural communities across Colorado. Enrollment for Colorado HealthOP plans will begin October 1, 2013, to coincide with the availability of Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s online health insurance marketplace. Coverage will begin January 1, 2014. Plans will be available on the marketplace, through a network of brokers and agents, and on Colorado HealthOP’s website at www.COHealthOP.org. Subsidies and financial assistance may be available through Connect for Health Colorado for individuals who qualify.

“As Coloradans actively explore their options to comply with health insurance requirements, they will seek insurance alternatives that make sense for their individual needs and lifestyles,” said John Kurath, vice president sales of Warner Pacific. “Colorado HealthOP’s member-driven model, with the emphasis on preventive health, presents our broker network with a truly unique offering to share with their clients.”

Warner Pacific is one of the top-producing general agencies for many of the nation’s largest health insurance carriers. Family owned, Warner Pacific provides agents the tools, resources and support they need to serve their clients’ insurance needs.

“Establishing relationships with brokers is a big part of our overall strategy as we seek to provide consumers with every opportunity to receive education and guidance on the right health insurance decision for them,” said Brad O’Neill, Colorado HealthOP’s senior broker relations officer. “We expect this will be the first of many highly selective broker relationships that Colorado HealthOP will sign in order to make our plans accessible to Coloradans across the state.”

For more information about Colorado HealthOP, please visit www.COHealthOP.org.

About Colorado HealthOP
Colorado HealthOP offers a new alternative to traditional health insurance in Colorado. A nonprofit health insurance cooperative, Colorado HealthOP and its members are committed to providing affordable, quality coverage to individuals and employers interested in making a difference in their own health, their employees’ health and the health of their community. Colorado HealthOP aims to improve health outcomes by putting the responsibility for consumers’ care back into the hands of the cooperative’s members and providers. A private market solution tailored for individuals and employers, Colorado HealthOP will begin open enrollment on October 1, 2013 via Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado’s health insurance marketplace, and through independent brokers and agents. Coverage will begin January 1, 2014. For more information about Colorado HealthOP, please visit www.COHealthOP.org or call 720.627.8900.

Contact:
Shannon Fern
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, Colo 80206
303-433-7020
shannon.fern@COHealthOP.org
http://www.csg-pr.com

Oxford Expression Technologies Launch Streamlined Transfection Technology

Oxford Expression Technologies (OET), the award-winning specialist provider of baculovirus-based protein expression solutions, launches flashFECTIN™, a transfection reagent optimized for insect cell lines.

Oxford, UK, May 14, 2013 - Oxford Expression Technologies (OET), the award-winning specialist provider of baculovirus-based protein expression solutions, launches flashFECTIN™, a transfection reagent optimized for insect cell lines. Used in conjunction with the world renowned flashBAC™ system, the new reagent represents significant improvements with respect to ease of use, speed and affordability.

Co-transfections can be troublesome and time consuming, flashFECTIN™ has been specifically designed to address these issues, the co-transfection protocol has been highly streamlined to allow the fastest flashBAC™ reaction times to date whilst still maintaining the high efficiencies expected from the flashBAC™ system. The new transfection reagent is a non-lipid based formulation that is non-toxic to cells and is specifically optimized for insect cell lines Sf9, Sf21 and Tni.

Passing comment, James Bernard, Commercial Director at Oxford Expression Technologies said, “We are pleased to announce the launch of flashFECTIN™, our new transfection reagent to further improve the flashBAC™ system” he continued, “we are delighted that our customers can now benefit from a more affordable system with a faster and simplified protocol that still produces the same high transformation efficiencies.”

Oxford Expression Technologies invites anyone with an interest in baculovirus protein expression 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

Deanne Demarco’s Show Features Rags to Riches Entrepreneur and First Female Firefighter

Host Deanne DeMarco interviews special guests entrepreneur and author, Vonda White, and ground-breaking female firefighter, Karen Moulder, on Thursday’s episode of “Today’s Inspiring Women.” Noon Pacific on VoiceAmerica Empowerment Network.

Hillside, IL, May 13, 2013 - Two extraordinary guests are lined up for the next episode of Deanne DeMarco’s fast-paced radio show “Today’s Inspiring Women.”

First up will be award-winning business entrepreneur and author, Vonda White, who will share her remarkable life story from her days as a food stamp child. The second guest is an equally as motivating role model for women—mother of five, Karen Moulder, who was the first female firefighter in Brownsville, Texas.

Both women are slated to appear next Thursday, May 16, during Deanne DeMarco’s weekly hour-long program on the VoiceAmerica Empowerment Radio network.

Vonda White, founder and CEO of Collegiate Risk Management, a company providing health and accident insurance to thousands of students nationwide, has received numerous awards for her business achievements. She is author of “Success Against The Odds” and has hosted her own radio show called “Let’s Talk Success.”

Vonda’s life today is a far cry from her childhood, raised by a divorced mom who had to accept welfare and food stamps. Young Vonda’s contribution to the family finances was collecting and redeeming empty soda cans. As a teenager—at her third attempt—she won the Idaho state beauty pageant. The triumph came with college tuition and the beginning of a new life which led her into a record-setting insurance sales career and the launch of her own business while six months pregnant.

Deanne DeMarco, who has twenty successful years as a career coach and entrepreneur, said, “From her childhood Vonda learned first-hand the power of persistence, self-image and goal-setting. I will be asking her for her inspiring insights so she can help all of my listeners.”

Karen Moulder entered a man’s world when few women did so. A lifetime of breaking personal and professional barriers was epitomized by her getting hired in 1983 as the first female member of the Brownsville, Texas Fire Department. She says that her tomboyish nature and single mother status led her to this fascinating and dangerous career which lasted 10 years.

A serious car accident brought Karen’s life as a firefighter to an end but launched her in a new direction. She went back to college and majored in business. After college she managed a physician’s office and obtained her certification in medical billing. Subsequently, she moved to Massachusetts and started her own medical billing company. Karen wrote the book “Burning Barriers” to share her life story and encourage other women to pursue their dreams.

DeMarco said, “Karen spent years protecting lives and property and educating the public on fire safety. She is a true trail-blazer and has an inspiring story.”

Deanne DeMarco herself has used her innovative strategies—drawn from successful experiences as a scientist, college instructor, management trainer, Fortune 500 manager, author and entrepreneur—to help business executives and individuals break through personal and career roadblocks. Each week she interviews extraordinary and inspiring women who may not yet be household names but are business and entrepreneurial rising stars.

“Today’s Inspiring Women” airs Thursdays at noon Pacific on the VoiceAmerica Empowerment Radio. www.voiceamerica.com/show/2182/todays-inspiring-women

About The Host:
Deanne DeMarco’s career has revolved around helping people break through boundaries and career roadblocks. She has a strong business background with expertise in medicine, education and utilities. As a medical scientist she was on the original three-member team that first discovered the cancer link to second-hand smoke. As a corporate trainer her management coaching program won national recognition from Training Magazine’s Top 100.  Deanne conducts fun, interactive workshops and seminars and is a keynote speaker at business and association meetings around the world. For more information: www.deannedemarco.com or call 1-708-836-0118 or 1-866-91-COACH.

Contact:
Deanne DeMarco
Deanne DeMarco
2205 S. Wolf Road #730
Suite 304
Hillside, Illinois 60162
708-836-0118
Deanne@DeanneDeMarco.com
http://www.deannedemarco.com

Luxury Travel Vietnam Wraps Up a Successful WTM Latin America 2013

Vietnam’s First Luxury Travel and Tour Operator (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) to Attract Long Haul Travelers from South America.

Hanoi, Vietnam, May 11, 2013 - Vietnam’s first luxury tour operator (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) has pinned high hopes on expanding its Latin America clientele following its successful show at the recent World Travel Market Latin America 2013.

Pham Ha, CEO and founder of Luxury Travel, held high level meetings with representatives of a large number of companies and the leaders of the luxury tourism industry. Luxury Travel Ltd. is an Asian pioneer in venturing into long haul markets such as Latin America.

The WTM Latin America Exhibition took place from April 23-25 and attracted a total of 1,230 exhibitors from all over the world. World Travel Market Latin America brings the world to Latin America and promotes Latin America to the world. It will be staged annually in the economic powerhouse of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Luxury Travel Ltd. (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) delegation returned home last week, satisfied and very optimistic that visitor arrivals from Latin America (especially Brazil) will grow in the future and at a faster pace than before.

The team believes that Vietnam is the ‘new’ exotic destination for Brazilian travelers from this year onwards. The meetings went well with the media, as well as with local trade partners from Brazil and the Latin American region.

“Three years ago there few bookings from the region and now there are far more, thanks in large part to our wholesales tour operator, Lameco Viajes. We now have a new website in Spanish www.luxurytravels.es, a representative office and a Spanish speaking team to tap into this emerging market.” says Pham Ha.

Vietnam now has world-class hotels and resorts, beaches, and cuisine, in addition to its natural beauty, rich history, and traditional culture.

Travelers from Latin America traveling to Vietnam are looking for a more authentic experience and seek to have a deeper understanding of the country’s culture, food, history, and everyday life.

The country received 6.8 million international arrivals in 2012, and the number of travelers from Latin American has increased annually over the last 3 years.

“The volume of long haul holiday tourists and first time visitors is increasing from Brazil and the Indochinese Peninsula has the potential to exploit its strength as a ‘choice’ holiday destination for the Brazilian market and Latin America since Air France, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates Airlines, Thai Airways fly to Brazil from their hubs, with easy access to other Latin America countries.” added Pham Ha.

Latin America is in a strong financial position at the moment and Pham Ha stressed the importance of diversifying markets by participating in the Spanish and Portuguese speaking markets, which provide an ideal platform for the latest contemporary trends and the ability to communicate and establish business partnerships with experts and tourism companies.

During the exhibition, Luxury Travel Ltd. also announced the appointment of a representation company based in Uruguay, as the official representation company for Luxury Travel Ltd. in South America, including Brazil. This appointment confirmed how serious Luxury Travel Ltd. is about the South American market.

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 touring holidays in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand.

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

Luxury Tours Scheduled For Elite Travelers to Vietnam and Cambodia

Luxury Travel Ltd has all the ingredients for a mouth-watering 12-day tour of Vietnam Highlights that takes in the sights and exotic flavors between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Hanoi, Vietnam, May 10, 2013 - Luxury Travel Ltd. (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) has all the ingredients for a mouth-watering 12-day tour of Vietnam Highlights that takes in the sights and exotic flavors between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Along the way, foodies participate in cooking lessons using fresh produce sourced during local market visits in Hoi An and Ben Thanh, and take a special cooking class in Hoi An to learn traditional Vietnamese techniques from the expert kitchen staff.

Other tour highlights include an overnight trip to Mekong, an overnight luxury Junk cruise of Halong Bay, the Forbidden Palace in Hue and Hoi An Ancient Town.

“The first departure of “Experience Vietnam's highlights 12 days” will be departing on the 1 st of every month from Ho Chi Minh City and ending in Hanoi. Within 12 days, you will have a full look of the must-see cities in Vietnam from South to North, stay in luxury hotels and taste different Vietnam flavors. Said David Nguyen, Sales and MarketinG manager of Luxury Travel Ltd.

“However you still have flexible time to discover destinations on your own. Besides, all departures are accompanied by an English speaking tour guide to ensure the best interpretive, unique experience.”

The package is priced from $ 1571 per person, twin share and includes internal economy flights, 11 nights’ premium accommodation, most meals, return airport transfers and sightseeing tours as per the itinerary.

The package is valid for sale until June 2013, unless sold out prior, for travel on July 1, 2013. Travelers get a discount of 5% if they confirm more than 4 persons.

Luxury Travel Ltd also work with travel agents for special wholesales prices, phone +8439274120 or visit www.luxurytravevietnam.com for more information about travel and experiences to any of these destinations.

Vietnam’s first luxury tour operator/DMC (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) is based in Hanoi, with offices throughout Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Luxury Travel is exceptional at 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 representative offices in California, London, Berlin, Paris, and Sydney. The company’s depth of experience and large infrastructure enable it to create unique itineraries with the operational confidence to fulfill the most sophisticated client expectations.

Luxury Travel Ltd, has won numerous travel awards for excellent performance including the most recent “The Years’ Best” of the Guide Awards in 2012. www.facebook.com/luxurytravelcompany

For booking tour, visit http://www.luxurytravelvietnam.com/EN/Vietnam_tours/Set_Departure/Vietnam_Experience_in_12days.htm

Contact:
Link Doan
Luxury Travel Ltd
05 Nguyen Truong To Str.,
Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi 84444
Vietnam
84439274120
marketing13@luxurytravelvietnam.com
http://www.LuxuryTravelVietnam.com

Ecotech Institute’s Clean Jobs Index Shows the U.S. Had Nearly 750,000 Clean Job Openings in First Quarter of 2013

National Findings include Growth in the Solar Industry, along with an Increase in Alternative Fueling Stations and LEED Certifications.

Denver, Colorado, May 10, 2013 – Ecotech Institute today released new data from its Clean Jobs Index, which aggregates all the available clean jobs in the U.S. The Index found that there were 749,197 clean jobs posted across the United States between January 1, 2013 and March 31, 2013. The Index breaks down clean jobs by state with links to local listings, helping to fill the data gap left by the U.S. government when it recently stopped tracking green jobs due to budget cuts.

Ecotech Institute, the first and only college focused entirely on training students for solar, wind and renewable energy jobs, launched the Clean Jobs Index in January 2013, although it can pull data for all of 2012. In addition to providing objective information on jobs, the Clean Jobs Index also aggregates data on a variety of sustainability factors in all 50 states, including alternative fueling stations, LEED projects, total energy consumption, energy efficiency, green pricing, net metering and state incentives.

One area that is illustrating tremendous growth is the solar industry. In Q1 2013, the Clean Jobs Index listed more than 8,000 solar jobs with titles such as solar sales representatives, installers, solar panel manufacturers and project managers.

Highlights from the Clean Jobs Index, Q1 2013:

Number of Clean Jobs Posted in the U.S. in Q1 2013: 749,197

States with the Biggest Gains in Clean Jobs Postings from Q4 2012 to Q1 2013: Alabama, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Vermont, West Virginia

Number of Available Alternative Fueling Stations Nationwide: 23,575, up seven percent from Q4 2012

States with the Most Alternative Fueling Stations: California, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington

National Number of Electric Car Chargers: 16,256, up by 1,274 from Q4 2012

States with the Most Incentives for Sustainability and Renewables: California, Oregon, Minnesota, Texas, Washington

States with the Most Growth in Available Incentives from Q4 2012 to Q1 2013: Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Oregon

New Building Space LEED Certified Within Q1 2013: 110,000,000 square feet nationally, up five percent from the previous quarter

“The Clean Jobs Index shows that there is tremendous job growth in the cleantech sector and signs of positive momentum on the state level for environmental factors that can affect us all,” said Kyle Crider, Ecotech Institute’s Program Chair and Manager of Environmental Operations. “When we see increases in LEED certification, we know businesses are making sustainable decisions; when we see an increase in alternative fueling stations, we know people are driving demand for greener forms of transportation. These are powerful indicators.”

Ecotech Institute regularly gathers data for the Clean Jobs Index from a variety of independent research entities that develop and regularly publish cleantech information. Sources include a variety of government agencies, nonprofit organizations and businesses, including: U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Green Building Council, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.

To learn more about the Clean Jobs Index, visit http://www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex; to learn more about Ecotech Institute, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com. To take a free online “Introduction to Sustainability” course taught by Ecotech Institute’s Kyle Crider, sign up today.

About Ecotech Institute:
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, it offers eight highly practical renewable energy degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers. Classes start once per quarter and applications are always accepted. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.

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

Preliminary Survey Results Released on CXO Sustainability Engagement

COO’s Found to Be Unsung Leaders, More Engagement from CFO’s Desired A new study by the University of Oregon Sustainability Leadership Program and Newport Consulting Group looks at sustainability engagement across the C-Suite.

Portland, OR/Clarkston, MI, May 10, 2013 – Today, The University of Oregon Sustainability Leadership Program and Newport Consulting Group announced the initial findings of their survey looking to correlate CXO behavior with perceived sustainability performance. Initial results show that the Chief Operation Officer (COO) may be the unsung hero of sustainability efforts.

The impetus of this survey was to look at the engagement levels across the entire C-Suite at one time—the first study of its kind as far as the two organizations are aware. Interestingly, the COO is rarely studied individually, but was recognized in the study as second only to the CEO in terms of leadership and implementation of sustainability initiatives. CFO’s were the most sought after for increased engagement (32%) followed closely by the CEO (31%).

Additional preliminary findings include:

1. Sustainability is still a “Lead from the Top” Initiative in Most Organizations. An overwhelming number of organizations responded that the CEO was the main sponsor for the sustainability initiative company-wide (49%) followed by ‘green teams’ (25%).

2. Environmental Activities Top Social/Financial Efforts. Sustainability teams are spending more time on the environmental side of the equation (58% over the past 5-10 years) versus social (43% over the past 5-10 years) or financial including integrated reporting (24% over the past 5-10 years).

3. For Most Companies, the CFO and CIO Have Yet to Engage. Only 18% of CFOs and 11% of the CIOs were identified as “fully engaged” in an organization’s sustainability efforts.

4. The Importance of the COO’s Role Gets Recognized. While the CEO by far was identified as the C-suite executive who historically initiated sustainability efforts (58%), the COO was identified as the next most active executive (19%).

5. Market positioning is a Leading Driver. An overwhelming majority (61%) of participants indicated that “telling our story as an industry leader” was a primary benefit and effective method for engaging both inside and outside stakeholders.

A webinar scheduled for Thursday, May 23rd at 10am PT/1pm ET will provide more detail and go into deeper insights about the survey’s findings. Newport Consulting Group representatives will be attending the International Society of Sustainability Professionals Conference in Chicago May 9-10, 2013 and are available for meetings and discussions about the survey.

About Newport Consulting Group
Newport Consulting Group is an independent management consulting firm specializing in strategy, operations, risk management, and technology for commercial, public sector, not for profit, and high growth organizations. The firm maintains focused service offerings in strategy management, market growth and entry, program design & oversight, sustainability management, digital content strategy, and cloud operations management. For more information, please visit the Sustainability Management page at the firm's website (www.newportconsgroup.com). Inquiries should reference PR-2013-05-06.

About University of Oregon Sustainability Leadership Program
The University of Oregon Sustainability Leadership Program (SLP) provides practitioners with a theoretical foundation and practical tools for leading organizations, communities, and individuals to develop sustainable living and working environments. The Sustainability Leadership Program was launched in 2003 and has served over 1,500 individuals from more than 450 organizations. Participants come from a variety of professional backgrounds and represent a broad range of industries, including government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and other sectors. For more information, visit sustain.uoregon.edu.

Contact:
Cindy Jennings
Newport Consulting Group
4400 W 46th Ave #105
Denver, CO 80212 USA
248-978-2000
cjennings@newportconsgroup.com
http://www.NewportConsGroup.com

Multicultural Publisher Donates Language and Activity Books to Libraries Across the West

Nationally-lauded Spanish/bilingual books, activity mysteries and ebooks featuring black, white, Hispanic and Asian children are now available at multiple libraries and web sites.

Midvale, UT, May 09, 2013 - What: Bilingual and activity books for families and educators seeking ethnically-diverse children’s literature

Who: Premio Publishing & Gozo Books—publishers of nationally-lauded children’s language and activity books with diverse ethnic characters

Where / When: Multicultural books and ebooks now available at libraries across the West and on several sites including: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, MulticulturalKidsBooks.com, Nook, Kindle, iBooks, Kobo, Sony, Diesel, Smashwords and Etsy.

More Info: Publisher Karl Beckstrand will be presenting on Creating & Publishing Children’s Books for Broadest Reach (including ebooks and Print-On-Demand) at the LDStorymakers Conference Friday, May 10, at 10:40 a.m. at the Provo, Utah Marriott Hotel. Premio Publishing’s books are available nationwide via Baker & Taylor, Brodart, Follett Library Resources/BWI Title Wave, Premiobooks.com, Amazon and Ingram.

Story Idea:
May 8, 2013, MIDVALE, UT, USA - Parents and teachers seeking more racially-diverse educational books for children have new options—and more places to find them. This month Premio Publishing & Gozo Books has made its multicultural activity and language books available at more than 75 libraries and bookmobiles in the West.

The books feature children of black, white, Asian, Hispanic and mixed races, and come with finding or counting activities, online secrets and even recipes. Surprise twists, vivid images and humor hold student attention and make them repeat readers. Hundreds of the nationally-lauded English and Spanish books (with pronunciation guide), activity mysteries, ebooks and non-fiction books on immigrants have also been donated around the world.

The publisher has also increased the number of web sites that offer its diverse books and ebooks internationally--including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Nook, Kindle, iBooks, Kobo, Sony, Diesel, Smashwords and Etsy. Premiobooks.com offers a free geography ebook: It Ain’t Flat: A Memorizable Book of Countries meant to be read aloud. They plan to release interactive book apps later this year.

Premio Publishing’s multicultural books have been praised by School Library Journal, the Horn Book blog, ForeWord Reviews and others. While their educational children’s books may be ordered via Baker & Taylor, Brodart, Follett Library Resources/BWI Title Wave, Ingram, Amazon and others, the publisher will continue to donate books to US libraries and charities. Libraries that did not receive a free bilingual book with pronunciation guide may contact the publisher while quantities last.

Premio's publisher, Karl Beckstrand, will be presenting on Creating & Publishing Children’s Books for Broadest Reach (including ebooks and Print-On-Demand) at the LDStorymakers Conference Friday, May 10 at 10:40 a.m. at the Provo, Utah Marriott Hotel.

Media Advisory:
CONTACT: Hysen Sisco
208-403-9634
info@premiobooks.com

Premio Publishing & Gozo Books has been delighting families and educators since 2004. Our multicultural activity books (including Spanish and bilingual books with pronunciation guide, picture-book mysteries, ebooks, and kid’s cookbook) have diverse characters in funny, engaging vivid color. Nationally-lauded (ForeWord Reviews, Horn Book blog, School Library Journal, Barnes & Noble) our educational stories capture attention and create repeat readers. They are not about ethnic or racial diversity; they simply feature Hispanic, black, Asian, white and mixed-race children and address fear, courage, sharing and giving. Find our children’s books via: Baker & Taylor, Bn.com, Brodart, Amazon, Follett Library Resources/BWI Title Wave, Ingram, Nook, Kindle, iBooks, Kobo and Premiobooks.com (free online books). Laughs, Learning & Family Fun for ages 2 and up (bedtime should never put parents to sleep)! Premiobooks.com.

She Doesn't Want the Worms - Ella no quiere los gusanos was named in the top 10 "Best Books" of 2011 – ForeWord Reviews Magazine and featured in School Library Journal. Crumbs on the Stairs - Migas en las escaleras: A Mystery consistently ranks in Amazon's top 10 bestselling books for ESL, large print, and also Spanish children’s titles. Bad Bananas: A Story Cookbook for Kids was praised in Horn Book's blog review.

Publisher/Speaker Karl Beckstrand is an eight-time published author with 16 titles online. His popular Mini-mysteries for Minors series educates as it entertains. Raised in San Jose, California, USA, Beckstrand received a BA in journalism from BYU and is pursuing an MA in international relations from APU. An engaging guest and consultant, Beckstrand has experience in high tech, marketing, public policy, broadcasting and film. He has lived abroad, been a Spanish/English interpreter, and he enjoys volleyball and kayaking (usually not at the same time). Beckstrand’s work has appeared in: Border's Books, Barnes & Noble, Costco, Deseret Book, Children's Miracle Network, The Congressional Record of the U.S. House of Representatives, Papercrafts Magazine and various broadcasts. (See: "Karl Beckstrand - Author" on FB, Twitter & Amazon)

Publisher Available For Interview, Speaking & Consultation. SE Habla Espanol.

Contact:
Hysen Sisco
Premio Publishing & Gozo Books, LLC
648 W. Wasatch St.
Midvale, UT 84047 USA
208-403-9634
info@premiobooks.com
http://KarlBeckstrand.com