Celebrity big brother 2014: October 2007

Newland CEO, Bob McLeod, Recognized for Humanitarian Leadership by Housing Industry

Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award to be Presented During International Builders’ Show

Las Vegas, NV (Vocus/PRWEB) January 12, 2011

Bob McLeod, chairman and CEO of Newland, will receive tomorrow the 12th Annual Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award at NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) International Builders’ Show in Orlando, FLA. Newland, the country’s largest privately held land development company, has an impressive history of strong charitable support and participation in community-based programs under McLeod’s leadership of the company which spans four decades. The company’s corporate philanthropy is fostered in part by McLeod’s personal charitable contributions to dozens of organizations, including HomeAid, which has a chapter in Southern Nevada, and Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at Symphony Park in Las Vegas.

McLeod was nominated for the award by Jeffrey Slavin, CEO of HomeAid, for partnership in its 20 active chapters in diverse communities across America since 2005, including the Southern Nevada chapter. Newland is known for its commitment to creating enduring healthier communities across the country through a company-wide focus on community outreach that helps children and families in need, supports education and the arts, champions sustainable development and protects the environment.

“Newland has been a dedicated supporter of HomeAid Southern Nevada and Bob McLeod is a great example of a caring business leader,” said Kathleen Dye, executive director of HomeAid Southern Nevada. “Through the Pumpkin Festival program, Newland has given our organizations thousands of dollars to help many homeless Southern Nevadans live in clean, safe and dignified housing.”

According to Klif Andrews, president, HomeAid Southern Nevada board of Directors, Newland has been a tremendous partner to HomeAid in its markets nationwide and is a great example of the caliber of companies that receive the prestigious Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award. “We congratulate Bob McLeod and Newland on this very deserved recognition.”

In Las Vegas, Newland has served as project manager for Symphony Park since 2005 when it was retained by the city of Las Vegas to oversee development of this 61-acre downtown community, a key element of the downtown renaissance now underway. Symphony Park’s two current anchor projects include The Smith Center for the Performing Arts (under construction) and Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health completed and seeing patients). Other projects slated for development at Symphony Park include The Charlie Palmer – a boutique hotel developed by celebrity chef, Charlie Palmer and City-Core Development; the World Jewelry Center – a new global marketplace for gem and jewelry professionals and the consuming public; the one casino/hotel at Symphony Park developed by Forest City; and urban-style residential homes by Newland. Recently, Cordish Company entered into an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with the city of Las Vegas to develop an arena on the north end of Symphony Park.

In addition to a focus on philanthropic efforts, Newland has achieved solid business results with five of its communities ranked in the top 15-selling master planned communities in 2009, and 2010 sales results look equally strong.

“Since 2000, the Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Awards have celebrated the personal commitment of professionals across the housing industry to improve their communities through sustained contributions of time, resources and financial support,” said Boyce Thompson, editorial director of BUILDER. “Bob joins an esteemed group of leaders truly making a difference. We applaud Newland for its benevolence and dedication to excellence.”

About the Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award

The Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Awards were founded in 2000 by BUILDER magazine and preeminent institutional real-estate investment firm Hearthstone to recognize and support the philanthropic work of those in the housing industry. Hearthstone’s cofounder, the late James Z. Pugash, was a committed philanthropist who encouraged and inspired others in the industry to give back to their communities. Since its founding, the Hearthstone BUILDER Foundation has contributed more than $4 million to various charities in the names of Hearthstone BUILDER Award honorees, making it the largest charitable-award program in the home building industry. Receiving recognition from this program is among the industry’s most coveted honors.

About Newland Real Estate Group, LLC.

Newland is a diversified real estate company leveraging a national platform and over 40 years of experience to perform challenging and diverse development, investment, management, and advisory services across a wide range of real estate. The company’s mixed-use development business, Newland Communities, actively owns, operates and develops premier residential master-planned, commercial, retail, and urban mixed-use real estate across the U. S. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Newland and its affiliated companies have completed, or have underway, more than 140 diverse real estate developments, more than 20 million square feet of commercial and retail space, and 175,000 residential units in 14 states.

Contact:

Melissa Warren, Faiss Foley Warren Public Relations

702-528-6016; mwarren(at)ffwpr(dot)com

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Clarity Group, Inc. Partners with Future Healthcare to Release Podcast on the Federal Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act

Industry professionals take part in podcast released by Clarity Group Inc., partnered with Future Healthcare, on the Federal Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) July 1, 2009

Clarity Group Inc., a leading provider of healthcare risk, quality and patient safety software and consulting services, has recently partnered with Future Healthcare to release a Podcast and Article on Patient Safety and the recent emergence of Patient Safety Organizations in Future Healthcare's quarterly periodical.

Since January, 2009, when the Final Rule of the Patient Safety Act became effective, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has listed Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs) on their website. PSOs are designed to receive data collected by healthcare providers for the purposes of enhancing patient safety and improving healthcare quality. Data collected for these purposes and for reporting to a PSO are considered Patient Safety Work Product and are afforded federal confidentiality and protection from discovery under the Act. The Patient Safety Act has enabled PSOs to become a new avenue on a national basis for achieving the learning and change needed to enhance the safety of the American Healthcare System.

The Podcast, which was released in May of 2009, includes a panel of experts in the healthcare Industry including Timothy Rice, President and CEO of Moses Cone Health System, James Palermo, MD, Chief Quality Officer of Health First Inc. and Ellen Flynn, Executive Director of Clarity PSO. The panel discusses why, in this economic downturn, healthcare organizations should spend their scarce resources to participate in a PSO. "The PSO allows us to share the information much more broadly," states Tim Rice. Dr. Palermo goes on to include "under the protections of the Patient Safety Act and the process provided by PSO, professionals can feel more comfortable that they can honestly and accurately provide vital facts and opinions related to an error." Ellen Flynn adds "providers should consider joining a PSO because it provides healthcare professionals a safe space for healthcare workers to work on improving healthcare quality, patient safety and outcomes without the fear of litigation."

The podcast and articles on Patient Safety can be found at the Future Healthcare Website (http://www. futurehealthcareus. com), and the Clarity Group Website (http://claritygrp. com/news-events/podcasts. htm).

About Clarity PSO

Clarity PSO offers healthcare clients the opportunity to participate in patient safety and quality improvement efforts by offering data analysis of benchmarking, aggregate Root Cause Analysis, FMEA, evidence based recommendation, pro-active risk assessment, education and customized risk-quality-safety-regulatory consulting to healthcare providers. Working with a National Healthcare Advisory Council and skilled clinical informatics staff, Clarity PSO provides a suite of services that enables our healthcare clients to avail themselves of more than 40 years of experience in the areas of modifying processes to enhance healthcare quality and driving change through data analysis. Clarity PSO is federally listed as a Patient Safety Organization with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality of the Department of Health and Human Services.

About Clarity Group

Clarity Group, Inc. is a Chicago-based specialist in innovative integrated risk/quality/safety/service systems and consulting products that enable healthcare organizations to execute on their vision for excellence. Core Clarity products include captive insurance company development and operations, risk-quality-safety and professional liability claims management and consulting services and the web-based Healthcare SafetyZone® Portal, a data collection and workflow management tool that engages all staff in collaborative, data driven change to transform the organization into a Healthcare Safety Zone for patients, visitors and staff. Clarity PSO is a Division of Clarity Group, Inc.

For further information about the services of Clarity PSO please visit www. claritygrp. com or contact Ellen Flynn at 773-864-8280.

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More Mothers Can Be Saved - CIMS Recommends Mother-Friendly Care In Response to the Joint Commission Report on Maternal Mortality

In its recently publicized Sentinel Alert # 44, Preventing Maternal Deaths, the Joint Commission, a not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies health care organizations in the United States, reported that maternal mortality is on the rise in the U. S. The report found that two of the four preventable pregnancy-related deaths were associated with cesarean section-the failure of hospital staff to pay attention to worsening vital signs after women have the operation, and the staff's inability to respond appropriately to hemorrhage resulting from a cesarean. The two others are uncontrolled high blood pressure and undiagnosed fluid build-up in the lungs of women with pre-eclampsia (pregnancy induced hypertension). Research conducted by the Coalition For Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) shows that by following the principles of the evidence-based Ten Steps of The Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative (MFCI) and giving low-risk women access to midwifery care mothers' lives could be saved.

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) March 16, 2010

In its scientific publication, Evidence-Basis for the Ten Steps of Mother-Friendly Care, the CIMS Expert Work Group found that compared to maternity care provided by physicians to low-risk women, women cared for by professional midwives have a lower incidence of hypertension and pre-eclampsia, fewer hospital admissions for complications during pregnancy, fewer cesareans and more VBACs (vaginal birth after cesarean). The recent National Institutes for Health Consensus Conference, VBAC: New Insights confirmed that the risks of maternal mortality are increased with repeat cesarean section compared to vaginal birth after a prior cesarean.

CIMS supports a woman's right to choose where and with whom she wants to give birth. "By expanding access to and reimbursement for midwifery care, home birth, and birth centers for low-risk women," states Nicette Jukelevics, Chair of the CIMS Coalition Building Committee, "health outcomes for mothers and babies are improved and the risks associated with routine costly hospital interventions and cesarean section can be reduced."

In its Alert, the Joint Commission recommended a series of specific steps that hospitals and physicians could follow to prevent in-hospital maternal mortality. However, it made no recommendations to lower the overuse of high-tech birth interventions that can lead to avoidable cesarean sections. The US cesarean rate was 32% in 2007. Evidence shows that when cesarean rates rise above 15 percent health outcomes for mothers and babies worsen.

"Often we are concerned about the major health issues that cause maternal morbidity and mortality believing we can not affect change," states Jeanette Schwartz, RNC, President of the International Childbirth Education Association, an organization member of CIMS. "We forget about the simple changes that can make a big difference. We have control when it comes to changing routine birth practices used in hospitals today. If evidence-based care practices are adhered to, some of the identified issues in the Joint Commission Alert would decrease. There is evidence that hemorrhages are increasing secondary to unnecessary prolonged inductions of labor, which increase the risk for cesareans. Women who become pregnant after having a cesarean birth are more likely to have a placenta previa (one that attaches itself in the lower part of the uterus blocking the opening of the cervix) placenta accreta (a placenta whose blood vessels attach themselves beyond the uterine wall and to abdominal organs). Following The Ten Steps of the Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative would be a simple start to help reduce the potential complications of pregnancy and childbirth. We need to stop and look at what we are doing and question if our birthing practices truly benefit mothers and their families."

To help increase awareness about the risks of cesareans, CIMS recently published The Risks of Cesarean Section: A CIMS Fact Sheet and About Cesarean Section, A Check List for Mothers To Read During Pregnancy, both available as a free download from www. motherfriendly. org.

About the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services: The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) is a coalition of individuals and national organizations with concern for the care and well-being of mothers, babies, and families. Our mission is to promote a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs. This evidence-based mother-, baby-, and family-friendly model focuses on prevention and wellness as the alternatives to high-cost screening, diagnosis, and treatment programs. For more information, log on to http://www. motherfriendly. org/ (http://www. motherfriendly. org/).

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Dr. Rick Sponaugle, a Pioneer in Anesthesia-Assisted Drug Detoxification, Will be Hosting a Live Call-In Show on Internet Radio Network

Board Certified Addictionologist and director of Florida Detox, Dr. Rick Sponaugle, is hosting a live radio program in partnership with the VoiceAmerica(TM) Network. Listeners will have the chance to call in and speak with one of the world's foremost authorities on drug addiction and brain chemistry. Dr. Sponaugle and his guests will help to explain how and why so many otherwise normal people struggle with addiction.

TARPON SPRINGS, FL (PRWEB) June 7, 2006

Board Certified Addictionologist, Dr. Rick Sponaugle, a pioneer worldwide in anesthesia-assisted medical detoxification, will be hosting a live show on the Modavox, VoiceAmerica™ Health & Wellness Channel. After successfully and safely treating thousands of patients from Europe and throughout America, Dr. Sponaugle is undeniably one of the most credible and experienced rapid detox physicians and addiction specialists in the world. On his show, “Curing Addiction with Dr. Rick”, noted Addiction specialist and Anesthesiologist, Dr. Rick Sponaugle, reveals the scientifically proven basis for successfully treating addictions by getting to the root cause of the chemical dependency. Topics ranging from brain chemistry, ADHD, anxiety, depression, guilt, and healing – Dr. Sponaugle shares his years of experience to educate, inform and uncover the truth behind addiction. “Curing Addiction with Dr. Rick” broadcasts each Wednesday at 3pm Pacific (6 p. m. Eastern) on the VoiceAmerica Health & Wellness Channel.

“Curing Addiction with Dr. Rick” debuts on Wednesday, June 14th at 3:00 p. m. PST, 6:00 p. m. EST. Listeners can log onto the VoiceAmerica Network to hear the show and call in live by dialing toll free 1-866-472-5792 to speak with the doctor and his guests. Past episodes are available in Dr. Rick’s Content Library on the VoiceAmerica Channel. Florida Detox is an Anesthesia-assisted rapid detoxification program in which the patient undergoes medical detoxification while safely asleep under a light anesthetic. After the procedure, patients stay in the hospital for 48 hours and may return to work and begin counseling within the next few days. The program has treated nearly 4000 patients to date and has shown to so many an easier, pain free and life altering alternative to the much less successful and outdated 28 day program. For more information you can call Florida Detox at 1-888-775-2770.

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Chiropractors - Reconnect Your Purpose and Your Passion in Barcelona

The Masters Circle announces their first ever chiropractic seminar in Barcelona, Spain – “Reconnecting Your Purpose and Your Passion!

Jericho, NY (Vocus) November 9, 2010

The Masters Circle will hold its fifth European seminar November 12-13 in Barcelona. Entitled “Reconnecting Your Purpose and Your Passion,” it will focus on all aspects of chiropractic practice, including powerful patient communication techniques, chiropractic marketing, chiropractic philosophy, personal growth, and will feature a special guest appearance from extremity adjusting experts Drs. Atle and Atle, who will train those in attendance to improve and master their clinical skills.

Doctors of Chiropractic, Chiropractic Assistants, guests, invited dignitaries, college presidents and student interns from around the globe will join together to celebrate and embrace the science, art and philosophy of Chiropractic.

Seminar leaders Drs. Bob Hoffman and Dennis Perman intend to create an event that will heighten standards, rekindle passion and inspire greatness.

The two-day program will include:

Dr. Alan Rousso – Reporting Your Findings With Passion! Dr. Lee Wood – The Purpose Driven Practice Dr. Bob Hoffman – Connecting To The Power of Why, Adjustment With Something Extra Dr. Dennis Perman – Nine Ways To Success, Extraordinary Patient Compiance

In addition, there will be a special panel called “Inside The Masters Studio” where three outstanding members will be interviewed by Dr. Hoffman about their tools and strategies for success.

All doctors and staff will also participate in a unique interactive learning exercise, called “Skill Mills,” which is comprised of three rapid-fire classes on philosophy and office procedure. While this program does not qualify for chiropractic continuing education credits in Europe, it is the epitome of chiropractic continuing education, some of the most practical tips and pointers for practice efficiency and growth available.

The vision to build a worldwide, quality-of-life driven health care delivery system featuring chiropractic in the leading role continues to build momentum and expand! The Masters Circle is committed to their mission to help as many Chiropractors as possible build the practices of their dreams and the best lifestyles they can imagine. They continue to be on purpose by being examples of, and helping others achieve happiness, success and fulfillment through personal growth and professional excellence. Find out more about The Masters Circle chiropractic marketing, coaching, and continuing education programs at our web site.

About Us -

The Masters Circle is a coaching and leadership company that helps chiropractors build great practices and great lives by serving people with the science, philosophy and art of chiropractic. Founded in 2001, The Masters Circle vision is a worldwide quality-of-life driven health care delivery system with chiropractic in the leading role. With its unique custom-tailored coaching and Identity-Based approach, TMC helps to raise the standards and the consciousness of the profession, through two national and two international seminars annually, as well as dozens of one-day intensives, teleclasses, masterminds and private coaching sessions which provide the information and motivation necessary to succeed in today’s health and wellness marketplace.

Members have access to unlimited coaching, the world’s largest online video success library for chiropractors (TMCtv) and audiovisual tutorials that cover every aspect of practice building and practice management success. Ideal members include new graduates, doctors who need training in practice building and practice management, and established practitioners who want to expand their impact and develop themselves into community wellness leaders. Contact The Masters Circle at 800-451-4514, or go to http://www. themasterscircle. com

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HRchitect Looking Forward to 2010 While Putting a Close to a Steady & Successful 2009

HRchitect, the leader in HR systems strategic consulting and the premier Human Capital Management (HCM) and Talent Management systems consulting firm, closed out a successful 2009, even as HR technology budgets stayed tight through the end of the year. HRchitect continues to be the firm that more organizations seek help from when creating HRtechnology strategic plans, evaluating and selecting HR technology systems, as well as implementing and integrating those systems.

Frisco, TX (PRWEB) January 13, 2010

HRchitect (http://hrchitect. com), the leader in HR systems strategic consulting and the premier Human Capital Management (HCM) and Talent Management systems consulting firm, closed out a successful 2009, even as HR technology budgets stayed tight through the end of the year.

HRchitect continues to be the firm that more organizations seek help from when creating HRtechnology strategic plans, evaluating and selecting HR technology systems, as well as implementing and integrating those systems. Not only are the services HRchitect offers to its clients first class, HRchitect continues to provide numerous educational opportunities to the HR community free-of-charge.

"2009 was a year of growth for HRchitect, despite the tough economic client," states Matt Lafata, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for HRchitect. "Our success came from the drive to push forward with new initiatives and not let the stagnant economy affect our success."

HRchitect highlights from 2009 include:

Business of the Year (http://hrchitect. friscowebsites. com/News/PRbusinessofyear) – HRchitect was honored as the Frisco Chamber of Commerce's Medium Business of the Year. The Frisco Chamber of Commerce has over 1200 businesses as members and is one of the largest chambers in the State of Texas. Frisco has been the headquarters of HRchitect since 1997. In recognizing HRchitect, the Frisco Chamber Board of Directors cited steady growth in revenue, clients and employees as well as its innovative marketing programs that have transformed the HR technology marketplace.

New Clients – The addition of over 100 new clients in 2009. HRchitect has now completed over 1500 successful client engagements for over 650 clients. New clients include: Aggreko, Autodesk, Cognizant, Dendreon, Henry Schelin, McAfee, Meijer, Shaw Industries, Sodexo, Sony PlayStation, T-Mobile, Unified Grocers, and Yum! Brands.

New Projects for Existing Clients – The number of existing clients that call on HRchitect to support their organization for additional projects is a testament to a high level of client satisfaction. In 2009, HRchitect completed additional projects to several organizations that were already a part of the HRchitect family, including: 3M, Baker Hughes, Best Buy, Kindred Healthcare, Mayo Clinic, Monsanto, OshKosh Corporation, Perot Systems, Sabre, and many others.

TheHRshow (http://hrchitect. friscowebsites. com/News/PressReleases/theHRshow2009ishere) – In June, HRchitect hosted the first ever HR technology virtual conference with four vendor panels and 26 educational sessions. The virtual format proved to be an overwhelming success with almost 1000 registrants. HR practitioners attended as many sessions and panels as they were interested in free-of-charge, thanks to the generosity of theHRshow sponsors.

Beauty Pageant Webinar Series (http://hrchitect. friscowebsites. com/News/Pageant) – Launched late-2008, the Beauty Pageant Webinar series continued to be a headlining educational event in 2009. Each Pageant in the series covers a different area of HR technology and features up to 6 leading vendors. Contestant vendors give overviews of their company and solution, and also take questions from the audience during the interview portion of the pageant. Winners of 2009 pageants include: Hodes iQ - Ms. Talent Acquisition Systems, Legiant – Ms. Time & Attendance, Workstream – Ms. Compensation Management, Aruspex – Ms. Workforce Planning, Spectrum – Ms. HRIS, SumTotal Systems – Ms. Performance Management, SilkRoad Technology – Ms. Onboarding, & iCIMS – Ms. Mid-Market Talent Acquisition Systems. These pageants will continue in 2010 starting with Talent Management Systems on January 29, 2010.

HRtechnology Happy Hour WebMingle™ (http://hrchitect. friscowebsites. com/Knowledge/webmingle) - The WebMingle, also kicked off at the end of 2008, continued strong through 2009 with weekly shows that are broadcast live each Friday. Guests included Lewis Hollweg - CEO of Batrus Hollweg International, Stacy Chapman & Tess Walton – Co-Founders of Aruspex, Doug Coull – President & CEO of SmartSearch, Brian Platz – Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of SilkRoad, Tim Clifford – President & CEO of Workscape, Larry Dunivan – SVP of HCM Global Products of Lawson, Dave Watkins – CEO of SoftScape, Joe Impastato – President of nowHIRE, Kevin Marasco – Vice President of Product Marketing of Taleo, Kevin Grossman – President of HRmarketer. com & HRvendors. com, & many more. Over 48 shows took place and archived episodes are available via HRwebmingle. com.

Social Media – HRchitect increased social media presence this year with the addition of a Facebook fan (http://www. facebook. com/HRchitect) page to keep friends updated of news & blogs relevant to the HR technology community. HRchitect employees utilize Twitter to connect with industry and vendor news, analysts and help keep followers informed of what is happening in the marketplace and at HRchitect. The Puzzling World of HRtechnology and HRtechnology Vendor News blogs maintain a steady readership of industry professionals who use them to stay up-to-date on what is happening in the marketplace and at HRchitect.

HRchitect Cares™ - The community involvement program, HRchitect Cares™, launched in 2009 and recognizes employees for their individual contributions to the community, be their time, talent or treasure. HRchitect believes that all employees should be active in their communities and the program recognizes and rewards such efforts.

2010 is starting strong as momentum from late 2009 continues into the New Year. Many new initiatives are planned for the coming year, including the much-anticipated 30 Days in 30 Minutes (http://hrwebmingle. com) broadcast, which is making its debut with the "HRchitect State of the Industry" on Thursday, January 21. Although the January 21 event will be a look-back at 2009 and a look ahead at 2010, the web-delivered broadcast will occur monthly and deliver HR technology industry news and trends in a 30 minute format. The program was designed with the busy HR professional in mind. After the initial event, these broadcasts will take place live on the last Thursday of each month.

TheHRshow (http://thehrshow2010.com) returns March 24-26. The virtual event will feature four vendor panels and twelve educational sessions. Agenda for the 2010 event will be available via theHRshow2010.com in Mid-February.

"One of our top priorities at HRchitect is to keep the HR community informed of what is going on in the HR technology marketplace," comments Tiffany Appleby, Director of Marketing for HRchitect. "Events like theHRshow, the WebMingle, Beauty Pageant webinar series and the new 30 Days in 30 Minutes all are put forth free-of-charge to the community. We strive to be the informational hub of the HR technology marketplace and will continue to deliver dynamic and enlightening educational opportunities in 2010."

"The next year will bring a new wave of events from HRchitect to the HR community," continued Matt Lafata. "We're working hard to continue to host new educational events as well as take our HR technology consulting services to the next level with innovative ideas that match our ever changing industry."

Visit HRchitect. com (http://hrchitect. com) to learn more about where HRchitect can be found in 2010 as well as schedules of upcoming Beauty Pageants, WebMingles and other educational events.

Media Contact:

Tiffany Appleby - Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications, HRchitect

Office phone: 214.619.0888 x309

Tappleby(at)HRchitect(dot)com

About HRchitect

HRchitect is the leader in HR systems strategic consulting. As the premier Human Capital Management (HCM) and Talent Management Systems consulting firm, our services include the selection, implementation, and integration of Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), Talent Management Suites (TMS), Performance Management, Succession Management, Compensation Management, Learning Management, Competency Management, Talent Acquisition Systems, and Time & Attendance software.

HRchitect has participated in the successful evaluation and implementation of HR technology systems for leading high-tech, high-growth leaders such as Perot Systems, WebMD, and Symantec; manufacturing companies such as 3M, Texas Instruments, and Raytheon; retail leaders including Best Buy, Domino's Pizza, PepsiAmericas, J. C. Penney, and Target; healthcare/bio-tech organizations such as Alcon Labs, The Mayo Clinic, and Tenet Healthcare; financial organizations including: Barclay's Global Investors, Countrywide Financial, and VISA; energy leaders such as Baker Hughes, ConocoPhillips, and Lyondell Chemical; transportation leaders such as APL, FedEx, and Southwest Airlines; telecommunication leaders AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon; as well as leading hospitality companies such as Hyatt, Marriott, and Starwood.

Based in Dallas with consultants nationwide, HRchitect has completed over 650 successful client engagements over the past twelve years. HRchitect's client list consists of companies of all sizes from all industries and includes more than 1 in 5 companies on the Fortune 100 list.

To find out how HRchitect's HR software expertise can benefit your company, visit our website at HRchitect. com or call 214-619-0888.

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

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Helen Darling Receives Top WorldatWork Award KPMG, Pepsi Bottling Group, RSM McGladrey Recognized for Work-Life Innovation Professionals from Deloitte, The Balanced Worker Project and United Services Automobile Association Honored as Rising Stars

Helen Darling Receives Top WorldatWork Award KPMG, Pepsi Bottling Group, RSM McGladrey Recognized for Work-Life Innovation Professionals from Deloitte, The Balanced Worker Project and United Services Automobile Association Honored as Rising Stars

WorldatWork has recognized several individuals and organizations for their outstanding leadership roles in the total rewards profession.

Seattle, Wash. (PRWEB) June 3, 2009 –

WorldatWork has recognized several individuals and organizations for their outstanding leadership roles in the total rewards profession. The awards were given today in a ceremony held at the annual WorldatWork Total Rewards Conference and Exhibition at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, Wash.

Keystone Award

Helen Darling, President of the Washington, DC-based National Business Group on Health, is the 2009 recipient of the prestigious WorldatWork Keystone Award, the association’s highest honor. Darling heads the Business Group’s Institute on Health Care Costs and Solutions, devoted to finding practical solutions from a business perspective to the nation’s crisis of rapidly rising costs and affordability of care. For several years, she was named one of the “100 Most Powerful People in Health Care” in the United States by Modern Healthcare.

“We have to fix the economy, but we can’t fix the economy unless we fix health care,” Darling said. “It’s not just about getting health insurance to everyone; it’s about getting costs controlled for the employers and the employees.”

2009 Work-Life Innovative Excellence Award

Established in 1996, the Work-Life Innovative Excellence Award is the highest honor bestowed by Alliance for Work-Life Progress (AWLP), an entity of WorldatWork, to recognize organizations that have developed outstanding work-life programs.

KPMG’s Team of Choice Initiative is a unique team-based approach to work-life effectiveness used by the audit, tax and advisory firm that teaches members to respect each other’s work-life and career development priorities. A team might agree to a rotating schedule for employees to use the gym during lunch, or for each member to choose a day of the week to leave early. By encouraging KPMG’s professionals to work together to achieve work-life and career satisfaction, the team realizes flexibility while offering the highest level of service to clients.

Pepsi Bottling Group’s HealthyMoney Program is a free program that empowers PBG’s 35,000 employees with the knowledge, tools and confidence to build life-long financial stability. Employees have access to the HealthyMoney Call Center and receive a HealthyMoney Workbook that includes self-assessments, helpful tips and targeted activities to walk employees through key financial decisions and build personalized action plans.

RSM McGladrey’s Coach on Call program offers all 8,000 RSM McGladrey employees free access to work-life coaching services from a professional life coach, no matter where they are located. The discussions are completely confidential, and employees are equipped with action plans and how-to strategies to strengthen working relationships, manage stress, establish a flexible work arrangement, and achieve overall work-life integration.

Work-Life Rising Stars

Now in its third year, the AWLP Work-Life Rising Star goes to stellar professionals who demonstrate emerging leadership and growing contributions to the work-life community.

Casey Carlson, Senior Manager, Talent Inclusion, Deloitte

Carlson played an integral role in the development of Deloitte’s Decoding Generational Differences project, to become better attuned to the emerging generation of workers.

Judith Finer-Freedman, Founder, The Balanced Worker Project

Through her Balanced Worker Project, Finer-Freedman works to change the culture of workplaces to embrace the new generation, accept their strengths and harness their challenges, and reduce the stigma of accessing work-life programs.

James Moon, Senior Analyst, Work Life, United Services Automobile Association

Moon was the architect of the Personal Balance Tool, which provides USAA employees with a comprehensive, Web-based instrument bringing together all employee assistance and work-life program resources, benefits information and services to help employees meet their unique needs.

About WorldatWork®

The Total Rewards Association

WorldatWork is a global human resources association focused on compensation, benefits, work-life and integrated total rewards to attract, motivate and retain a talented workforce. Founded in 1955, WorldatWork provides a network of more than 30,000 members and professionals in 75 countries with training, certification, research, conferences and community. It has offices in Washington, D. C. and Scottsdale, Arizona.

About Alliance for Work-Life Progress®

Alliance for Work-Life Progress (www. awlp. org) is dedicated to advancing work-life as a business strategy integrating work, family and community. An entity of WorldatWork, AWLP defines and recognizes innovation and best practices, facilitates dialogue among various sectors and promotes work-life thought leadership.

Media Contact:

Marcia Rhodes, APR

Media Relations

Direct: 480-304-6885

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

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Strong Global Growth for Workplace Wellness Programs Revealed by Buck Consultants Survey

Workplace wellness strategies are rapidly growing in popularity outside of North America – almost doubling in the past year – to a point where 40 percent of employers surveyed in Europe, Asia and Africa now offer these programs, a global survey released today indicates. Although there is strong global growth for wellness programs, they are still most prevalent in North America, with 82 percent of responding employers offering them.

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 10, 2008

“WORKING WELL: A Global Survey of Health Promotion and Workplace Wellness Strategies,” conducted by Buck Consultants, an ACS company and one of the world’s leading human resource and benefits consulting firms, finds that although there is strong global (http://buckconsultants. com/buckconsultants/) growth for wellness (http://buckconsultants. com/buckconsultants/) programs, they are still most prevalent in North America, with 82 percent of responding employers offering them.

The second annual survey analyzed responses from more than 600 organizations in 25 countries representing more than 10 million employees. The research was conducted in association with vielife, a CIGNA company, as well as Wolf Kirsten International Health Consulting, and WorldatWork.

The fastest-growing components of global wellness initiatives around the world include technology-driven tools, such as Web portals, online programs, and personal health records. Other rapidly growing program elements are: health fairs, healthy vending machine food choices, and workplace health competitions. Use of these program components will grow dramatically over the next three years – in some cases, by more than 100 percent outside of North America.

Business objectives for wellness programs also vary by international location. In the U. S., health care cost reduction continues to be the top goal. Canadian employers cite improving productivity as the primary objective, while in Europe the top goal is improving workforce morale. Respondents in both Asia and Africa cite reducing employee absence as their main objective for wellness programs.

“This broad range of objectives is not surprising,” said Barry Hall, a Buck principal who directed the survey. “In fact, it shows how versatile wellness initiatives can be in addressing a variety of employers’ challenges around the world.”

The survey assessed how effectively today’s wellness initiatives meet employers’ business objectives. Among U. S. respondents, only 16 percent report a reduction in health care cost trend rate attributable to their wellness initiatives, with an average reduction of two to five trend percentage points per year.

“Large employers that are able to realize a two to five percent reduction in health care cost trend are gaining significant savings in total health expenditures,” said Hall. “But equally significant is our finding that two-thirds of U. S. employers have not measured the impact of their wellness programs on health cost savings. Worldwide, where other business objectives such as reducing absence and improving productivity are valued more highly, 40 to 60 percent of organizations are not measuring the impact of their wellness programs and therefore don’t know the extent of the benefits.”

Incentive rewards have increased 45 percent since Buck’s prior survey in 2007. U. S. respondents spend an average of $145 per employee per year on wellness incentive rewards (http://buckconsultants. com/buckconsultants/), up from an average of $100 last year. Twelve percent of U. S. respondents spend more than $500 per employee per year. Such incentives, designed to improve employee participation and engagement in wellness program activities, are more prevalent in the U. S., but are offered by employers in all parts of the world.

Only 19 percent of respondents rated their incentive rewards “extremely effective” or “significantly effective” at changing employees’ behaviors, although this is up from 16 percent last year. However, employers’ continued expansion of incentive rewards indicates a strong belief in their effectiveness at changing behaviors.

Additional wellness issues covered by Buck’s global survey include program ownership, global design components, employee feedback, and communications.

Buck Consultants is hosting a complimentary one-hour webcast on the survey results on October 15, 2008 at 1:00 pm eastern time. To register visit: www. buckconsultants. com or http://www. videonewswire. com/event. asp? id=51626 (http://www. videonewswire. com/event. asp? id=51626)

Buck Consultants, an ACS company, is a leader in human resource and benefits consulting with more than 1,500 professionals worldwide. Founded in 1916 to advise clients in establishing and funding some of the nation’s first public and private retirement programs, Buck is an innovator in the areas of retirement benefits, health and wellness programs, human capital management, and employee communication. News and other information about Buck Consultants are available at www. buckconsultants. com. Buck is an independent subsidiary of Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.

ACS, a global FORTUNE 500 company with 65,000 people supporting client operations reaching more than 100 countries, provides business process outsourcing and information technology solutions to world-class commercial and government clients. The company's Class A common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ACS." Learn more about ACS at http://www. acs-inc. com (http://www. acs-inc. com).

Vielife has been in operation since 1988 to help improve individual and organizational performance and health. vielife's mission is to be a global leader in the critical task of transforming the way individuals, employers, health plans and governments manage physical and emotional well-being. In 2005, vielife was awarded the Institute for Health & Productivity Management (IHPM) President's Award. For more information, please visit www. vielife. com.

Wolf Kirsten International Health Consulting helps international corporations, organizations, and governments improve the quality of life of their respective population through innovative, culturally appropriate, and cost-effective health promotion programs. International Health Consulting is based in Berlin, Germany, and calls upon a global network of health promotion experts. More information is available at www. wolfkirsten. com.

WorldatWork (www. worldatwork. org) is a global human resources association focused on compensation, benefits, work-life and integrated total rewards to attract, motivate and retain a talented workforce. Founded in 1955, WorldatWork provides a network of more than 30,000 members and professionals in 75 countries with training, certification, research, conferences and community. It has offices in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Washington, D. C.

The survey report, “WORKING WELL: A Global Survey of Health Promotion and Workplace Wellness Strategies,” is available to the media by contacting Ed Gadowski at 201-902-2825. It is available to other interested parties for $150 from Buck’s Global Survey Resources, 500 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, NJ, 07096-1533. Telephone 1-800-887-0509. It also can be ordered online at www. bucksurveys. com.

Media Contacts:

Ed Gadowski

Manager, Media Relations

Buck Consultants, LLC

201-902-2825

Edward. gadowski @ buckconsultants. com

Carol DeMatteo

Director, Corporate Communications

Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.

214-841-8110

Carol. dematteo @ acs-inc. com

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

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Warning Issued by Permanent Weight Loss Lap-Band&#174; Experts, iVital: Mexico, Gastric Bypass, Diet Failure

Warning Issued by Permanent Weight Loss Lap-Band® Experts, iVital: Mexico, Gastric Bypass, Diet Failure

Warning Issued by Permanent Weight Loss Lap-Band® Experts, iVital: Mexico Bariatric Surgery Risks, Gastric Bypass Invasiveness, Diet Failure Rates, Procrastination Regrets, Insurance Delays and Misdealing, Low-Cost Low-Standard Pricing-- iVital Offers Expert Advice on "Must Ask Questions" Before Deciding on Lap-Band Gastric Banding Procedure-- Hundreds of Thousands with 30 or More Pounds to Lose Choose Lap-Band for Permanent Weight Loss and to Ease Weight-Related Symptoms Including Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Infertility, Fatigue, Breathlessness, Low Self-Esteem, Orthopedic Problems, Sleep Apnea--

Dallas/Ft. Worth and Plano, TX (PRWEB) June 11, 2008

As the Lap-Band® gastric banding procedure quickly becomes the most popular, safe and effective solution for hundreds of thousands suffering from weight-related symptoms and 30 or more pounds of unwanted fat to lose, iVital (http://www. ivital. com) issues a warning and offers expert advice to improve the success rate for all Lap-Band recipients.

Texas recently has emerged as the hub for weight loss surgery, especially in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Plano. Leading in unparalleled patient care before, during and well after the outpatient Lap-Band procedure, iVital cautions all prospective patients about making a final decision without all the facts. (http://www. wfaa. com/video/gmtgeneral-index. html? nvid=244849)

"More than ever, Lap-Band has become the safest, least invasive, most successful option for hundreds of thousands suffering from weight-related ailments and low quality-of-life (http://www. cbsnews. com/stories/2008/04/17/60minutes/main4023451.shtml)," said iVital Medical Director Dr. Theresa Garza. "It's crucial to understand all the facts before you make a final Lap-Band decision. Mistakes patients report include misunderstanding the full ramifications of seeking procedures in Mexico, being wrongly pushed toward gastric bypass, procrastinating with fad diets, dealing with insurance delays and unexpected denials, choosing the cheapest option rather than a center known for its patient care, and failing to request payment plan options."

"If I knew then what I know now," is a regular mantra among patients who seek medical procedures without first getting answers to vital questions. iVital, known for its unparalleled and compassionate patient care, is committed to improving the success rates for all Lap-Band patients by making the "Before You Decide" Lap-Band Questions Checklist available to anyone seeking information about permanent weight loss options.

IVital "Before You Decide" Lap-Band Questions Checklist:

How comfortable am I leaving America for Mexico to have a medical procedure? And how frequently can I afford to return to Mexico for evaluations, regular check-ups and necessary adjustments to optimize the performance of my Lap-Band? Knowing diets fail more than 95% of the time, do I want to continue investing time, money and emotion into yet another diet book, group or fad? Do I have countless months to wait on insurance bureaucracy and uncertain coverage before beginning the process of losing weight? Would a Payment Plan make sense? Do I go with the lowest priced Lap-Band offer or invest in unparalleled patient care to ensure a successful outcome? iVital believes patients who've "done their homework" will have the greatest Lap-Band success rates for permanent weight loss (http://www. prnewswire. com/mnr/momentoftruth/25719/). In that spirit, iVital offers information-packed, Permanent Weight Loss Seminars at Willow Bend Wellness Center on Monday at noon and Thursday evening at 6:30 p. m. Spouses/Friends are welcome and encouraged. To best accommodate and serve guests, iVital requires advance reservations. Seminar reservations are made online at www. iVital. com or by calling 214-347-4434.

IVital Permanent Weight Loss Seminars--What to Expect:

Meet iVital's Medical Staff and Dedicated Team Talk to Local Weight Loss Successes--They Know Exactly What You're Going Through! Learn the Biggest Mistakes to Avoid and the Secrets to a Successful Lap-Band Procedure and Permanent Weight Loss. Your Most Vital Questions Answered: Lap-Band, Gastric Bypass, Bariatric Surgery Statistics, Mexico Surgeries, Insurance, Diets, Weight-Related Symptoms, Which Weight Loss Solution is Best for Me? Plus, Qualify for a Personal, Discreet and Complimentary "iVital Diagnostic Evaluation" Based on You! Free, Limited Time Offer. (a $400 Value) A recent poll of Lap-Band recipients revealed that 83% said having the Lap-Band procedure "was the best thing I've ever done for myself." Many had the procedure so recently, they still were making up their minds. Fewer than 3% regretted their decision.

The ideal Lap-Band candidate who is most likely to succeed in losing excess weight for good has 30 or more pounds to lose and may be suffering weight-related symptoms including diabetes, high blood sugar, infertility, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, hypertension, breathlessness, orthopedic problems, sore feet, aching back, weak knees, sleep apnea, gout, low energy, fatigue, diminished self-esteem and stubborn excess weight. (As reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine: With integrated patient care, 98% of Lap-Band® patients studied lost 87% of their excess weight--and kept it off.)

About iVital | Weight Loss, Life & You!

Inspired by our passion to improve lives' we are committed to partnering with each patient to achieve sustained weight loss through personalized' superior care. iVital is dedicated to helping individuals lose their excess weight and keep it off with customized solutions built around the Lap-Band®. iVital has tailored this procedure and a continuum of customer-centric aftercare for the millions of Americans who want to improve their health and look and feel their best - for life. www. ivital. com

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Kidney Transplant Inspires Organic Toothbrush and Hand Sanitizer

BoccaPura™ Toothbrush and Hand Purifier kills 99.9% of the top five dangerous germs upon contact. Yet, it is an all natural, organic solution that's alcohol free so it's 100% safe, even for children. And, as a hand sanitizer, it doesn't dry out skin.

Valencia, CA (PRWEB) August 5, 2009

Optimum Health LLC, makers of BoccaPura™, was co-founded by Jim Stepp who, after two kidney transplant operations, experienced a common side effect; a challenged immune system.

The inspiration for BoccaPura™ came to Jim while contemplating his own heightened sensitivity to infection. As Stepp says, "We clean our silverware after each use but why not our toothbrush? Especially since they sit around moist in a household's most germ rich environment."

Stepp's background in the natural food and supplement industry led him to seek out an organic, earth friendly, anti-bacterial solution. Most of the products available were not natural, much less organic, and many of those that claimed to be contained alcohol, which not only dries out the skin, but is considered an unhealthy choice, especially for children. Other approaches already on the market were appliances that needed a wall outlet or batteries and replacement parts.

These factors led Mr. Stepp and his partners to develop BoccaPura™ Toothbrush and Hand Purifier; an environmentally safe, 100% natural solution for purifying a family's toothbrushes and their hands. Although gentle and earth friendly, Bocca Pura kills 99.9% of most known germs on contact.

Bocca Pura's blend of essential oils also promotes gum health and freshens breath.

BoccaPura™ Toothbrush & Hand Purifier comes in a simple pump-spray, recyclable plastic bottle that's available in a four ounce family size, an eight ounce professional size and a one ounce travel size.

Although originally developed for toothbrush purifying, the Swine Flu outbreak coupled with early lab results and feedback from medical professionals, prompted the partners in Bocca Pura to acknowledge their Purifier as an effective hand sanitizer.

Recent news about the dangers of alcohol based sanitizers and lack of critical information that determines effectiveness of these solutions makes BoccaPura an even more attractive alternative.

And, unlike gels that contain alcohol, BoccaPura™ Toothbrush & Hand Purifier will not dry out skin and leaves no sticky residue - just a pleasant, natural scent.

For product samples, more information and independent lab test results (http://www. boccapura. com/main. html? src=%2Findex2.html#7,0) contact  Saverio Presico or visit BoccaPura website (http://www. BoccaPura. com).

About Optimum Health LLC:

Established in 1994, in Valencia, California to provide nutritional supplements and consultations for their clients. Optimum Health's primary focus was to help people revitalize their overall health and natural state of well-being.

Several years of research and development were invested to create their new toothbrush and hand sanitizing product that's designed to keep both people and our planet healthy.

BoccaPura Toothbrush and Hand Purifier (http://www. boccapura. com/index. html)

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Maine Women's Fund Receives $1 Million to Advance Women and Girls of Maine; River Rock Foundation Donates Fund's Largest Gift to Date, Exemplifying Philanthropic Trend of Women Giving to Women

Maine Women's Fund, a public foundation dedicated to advancing the political, economic and social equality of women and girls in Maine, announced today that it received a $1 million gift, the largest in its history. The gift if from the five female trustees of the River Rock Foundation. The gift marks a national trend of women managing their own money and philanthropy and making major gifts, to specifically benefit women and girls.

Augusta, ME (PRWEB) May 24, 2007

Maine Women's Fund, a public foundation dedicated to advancing the political, economic and social equality of women and girls in Maine, announced today that it received a $1 million gift, the largest in its history. The gift is from the five female trustees of the River Rock Foundation, an independent foundation that invests in sustainable change for Maine.

River Rock Foundation trustees Marilyn Bronzi, Barbara Hintze, Mary Lou Michael, Karen Moran, and Carol Wishcamper, are among a growing number of women who are changing the face of philanthropy by taking an active role in managing their financial assets and directing their philanthropy to benefit women and girls. This donation is the largest gift the Maine Women's Fund has received to date, and combined with donations from others individuals and corporations across Maine, it will enable the organization to strengthen its grantmaking programs and serve more women and girls in Maine.

According to Women & Philanthropy, less than ten percent of all overall funding is aimed at programs that directly impact women and girls. "The River Rock Foundation gift is newsworthy because of the amount and because it was given by women, for the specific purpose of helping women and girls. It recognizes a strategic shift in philanthropy -- because women are the gateway to health, education, and economic decisions, when women thrive, whole communities will prosper," said Elizabeth Stefanski, the newly hired executive director of the Maine Women's Fund, charged by the Board to take the organization through an aggressive phase of growth. "It's a wonderful example of women using their wealth and philanthropy to dismantle poverty, violence and discrimination -- issues that disproportionately harm women and girls," reported Stefanski.

This donation reinforces the strong track record and reputation that the Maine Women's Fund has built in the last 17 years. To date, more than $1.4 million has been invested in about 250 nonprofits working with women and girls. The $1 million gift will help people like Lisa McLeod, a woman who used microenterprise development services at Women, Work & Community, a Maine Women's Fund grantee. McLeod started her own farm that produces high quality fresh and aged goat cheese as a way to provide income for her family and quality affordable goat's milk and cheese for her daughter with milk allergies. Women, Work and Community helped McLeod write a business plan, coordinate services from government and nonprofit sources and find capital. In two years, McLeod has increased her herd from the initial 2 goats to 13 goats and she plans to start selling her fresh cheese this spring. McLeod reported, "This agency has certainly helped me to take charge of important aspects of my life. I now feel that I am becoming a contributing member of society and that's a much better feeling than being dependent."

"We feel that Maine Women's Fund has demonstrated an impressive track record as a foundation dedicated to the development of women and girls individually and in community," said River Rock Foundation Trustee Marilyn Bronzi. "We see this contribution as a way for our work to be continued in the future acknowledging our common purpose of economic and social justice for women, and as a way to contribute to the strength of Maine Women's Fund as a philanthropic entity," reported Bronzi.

According to Women's Funding Network, more than 50 women have made gifts of $1 million or more to women's funds. There are more than 120 women's funds in the world. While no two women's funds are the same, all share the common objective of helping women and girls achieve equality in various societies. Collectively, women's funds have invested $200 million in solutions addressing gender-based discrimination, violence and poverty.

The River Rock Foundation's gift has come at a pivotal time in the life of the Maine Women's Fund. This June, Maine Women's Fund will unveil its new strategic plan, including a new promise to the community that targets specific barriers that can keep women marginalized in public and private spheres. Historically, the Maine Women's Fund has invested in projects that promote women's economic security, education, leadership development, access to health care, and violence prevention.

About the Maine Women's Fund

For 17 years, the Maine Women's Fund has invested in programs and organizations working to empower Maine women and girls. The Fund has a diverse reach and lasting results to show for its investments of capital and capacity building. Since its inception, the Maine Women's Fund has awarded more than $1.4 million to 250 nonprofits, reaching out to every county in Maine. The Maine Women's Fund has further stretched each dollar by providing technical assistance and building capacity, a collaborative approach to grantmaking and advocacy. For more information, contact www. mainewomensfund. org.

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New Documentary Black Mold Exposure Scheduled to Screen in Landmark Theatre's in San Diego, Cambridge, Seattle, Houston, and Chicago

Screenings of Black Mold Exposure are scheduled for May 12 in San Diego, CA, at Landmark's La Jolla Village Cinemas, May 14 in Cambridge, MA, at Landmark's Kendall Square Cinema, May 19 in Seattle, WA, at Landmark's Metro Cinema's, May 26 in Houston, TX, at Landmark's River Oaks Theatre, and June 16 in Chicago, IL at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema. The film was touted as "Extraordinary" by Ted Gerdes of Gerdes Law, and was received exceptionally well at the Black Carpet World Premiere Event in Dallas in early April.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) May 7, 2009

Black Mold Exposure explores the bizarre illnesses associated with exposure to toxic mold and the film participants' near impossible task of regaining their health and lives in an atmosphere of political and social intolerance and disbelief. The documentary is a first-ever look into the lives of those claiming to be ill from mold and the controversial and volatile climate surrounding it.

A growing number of people from all ages and walks of life claim mold made them ill while physicians, lawmakers and medical associations dispute the validity of these claims. Most of the symptoms of those claiming illness from mold can be caused by, and diagnosed as, any number of other illnesses. There are no standardized methods to measure what molds, at what exposure levels, over what period of time, might cause any given person to become ill.

The documentary follows filmmaker, Michael Roland Williams, and his girlfriend Karen Noseff, founder and designer of Fortune Denim, prior to her forming the premium denim line. She was forced to drop out of law school at Southern Methodist University, and struggles to regain her livelihood and well-being after an unknowing exposure to high levels of various molds that infested her apartment in Dallas. The documentary delves into the lives of six others as it explores the controversial mold issue.

"What I've found is that the press believes that it causes illness and they think it's old news, but there's a lot of controversy surrounding mold and whether it can cause illness. Most people in the public, physicians, experts, and even the CDC, don't believe or aren't aware of the debilitating and bizarre illnesses mold can cause." Michael said.

To view the trailer, get showtimes, or find out more about the documentary Black Mold Exposure visit www. blackmoldexposuremovie. com.

Contact::

Candice Smith

214-764-9220 ext 522

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Blue Dye Test Alternative Boosts Production Yields During Tough Times

The challenge of scarcer resources and climate change is driving up global demand for Sepha’s innovative leak-testing machines. The machines increase production yields and reduce waste in blisterpacking, sachets and pouches across a wide range of manufacturing sectors including pharmaceutical, medical, health, food & drink and offer an affordable yet effective blue dye test alternative.

Belfast (Vocus) September 29, 2009

Innovative leak testing equipment from Sepha (http://www. sepha. com/) provides a non-destructive blue dye test alternative that can save money and reduce waste by increasing production yields. As global manufacturers strive for lower SKU’s and greater cost efficiencies during tough economic times, the company says the need for these machines are at an all-time high because they enable product to be placed back on the production line.

PakScan from Sepha is a non-destructive leak testing machine for modern-day sachet and pouch packaging. Using state-of-the-art non contact technology at an affordable price, it is the best alternative to the messy blue dye test for a wide range of sectors from health and medical to food & drink.

Sepha Chief Executive Aubrey Sayers explains: “PakScan builds on the great success of our pharmaceutical leak-testing machine (http://www. sepha. com/en/products/leak-testing-equipment/pakscan), BlisterScan, which is a non-destructive blue dye test alternative for blisterpacking of tablets and capsules. PakScan takes all the benefits of BlisterScan and offers them to a wider range of packaging manufacturers who require effective leak testing for pouches and sachets. Like BlisterScan it replaces the traditional blue-dye testing method of checking for leaks using a liquid test which rendered the packs and their contents un-useable regardless of whether they have a hole in them or not. PakScan identifies leaks in single or multiple non-porous sachets and pouches using a clean, dry, non-contact laser scanning method, so all samples which ‘pass’ the test can be re-introduced to the packaging line, thus reducing wastage and increasing productivity.”

In response to the intense interest in PakScan, Sepha will be at Fachpack, Nuremburg, from 29 September -1 October in Hall 1 Booth 116. They will be exhibiting alongside the production machinery manufacturer, Romaco. “We are delighted to be partnering with Romaco for Fachpack,” continues Aubrey Sayers. “It’s a great vote of confidence to have such a globally respected company as Romaco endorse our brand as part of their overall commitment to finding the most innovative and efficient solutions for packaging manufacturing.”

PakScan identifies leaks as small as 10µ in non-porous single cavity packs such as sachets, pouches, bags MAPs etc in flexible materials such as PVC, PVDC, Alu/Alu, Aclar. It simultaneously tests up to 4 packs measuring up to 250mm x 80mm x 20mm each and can also be customised for larger packs gives extremely accurate results for each individual sachet.

In addition to pharmaceutical leak testing, Sepha also designs and manufactures a range of deblistering machines (http://www. sepha. com/en/products/deblistering-equipment) for product recovery from pharmaceutical blisters and lab-scale blister packing machines for clinical trial use some of which will also be on show at Fachpack. For further information see http://www. sepha. com (http://www. sepha. com).

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SportsandRunning. com: An Online Community with Valuable Tips for Athletes and News on the World of Sports

SportsandRunning. com has created several new informative pages on running tips, as well as offering continued blogging updates and hosting an online community.

Marietta, Georgia (PRWEB) September 26, 2009

SportsandRunning. com (http://www. sportsandrunning. com/index. html), an online community and blog that discusses running and professional sports news, now includes pages titled 10K Running Training Plan, Physical Benefits of Running, and Proper Running Techniques.

The page entitled "10K Running Training Plan" from SportsandRunning. com provides an overview on the steps a 10K runner should take to prepare for the ultimate race. Endurance training, strength training, and speed work are all necessary training involved with preparing to run a 10K. Runners will also need days of rest to regain energy and prevent injury, and need only a light run the day before the race.

"Physical Benefits of Running" describes the biological results from running as a sport. According to the page, running works wonders as a "weight loss regimen." However, the page also advises newcomers to running to initially practice short running regimens and work up to longer, more demanding runs. SportsandRunning. com concludes that increased cardiovascular health is a great physiological benefit of running.

SportsandRunning. com examines posture and breathing while running in the page "Proper Running Techniques." The keys to proper posture, according to the page, are keeping the head above the spine and relaxing of the shoulders. The page also recommends keeping the chest high to be more conducive to breathing. In addition, proper running posture, as previously described, is also said to improve breathing.

About SportsandRunning. com (http://www. sportsandrunning. com/index. html):

SportsandRunning. com was launched in January of 2008, and eventually launched its own online community for sports and running enthusiasts to congregate. iGoMogul is responsible for designing and maintaining the site structure of SportsandRunning. com.

# # #

Fitness Expert Shares Advice for Reaching Long-Term Weight-Loss Goals

Founder and CEO of Physique Transformation offers advice for maintaining a successful fitness program.

Colorado Springs, Colo. (PRWEB) March 13, 2007

Starting and maintaining a new fitness and diet routine can be tough. Even for those who actually do it, weight loss (http://www. physiquetransformation. com/ChangeYourShape. php) is still not guaranteed. Without the proper education and guidance, dieters can even end up hurting themselves in the long run.

A professional caliber fat-loss program must have three elements to be successful on a long-term basis: education, structure and accountability. Physique Transformation, a comprehensive online program, offers tools that provide these three key components to create and maintain a successful weight loss and fitness plan.

"Most diets fail because they teach the user nothing about how to play the weight loss game," said Ric Rooney, chief executive officer of Physique Transformation.

"I believe that's intentional," said Rooney. "The commercial weight loss companies know the odds are very high that as soon as the client leaves the unsustainable routine of low calories and excessive cardio, the weight will come right back -- and so will the client."

With a traditional program of reduced calories and high cardiovascular activity, a dieter can lose as much muscle as fat. Their overall shape doesn't change significantly. "If the client was a pear shape to begin with, they're just a slightly smaller pear shape at the end of a traditional diet program," said Rooney. "The Physique Transformation process is all about shape, beauty and symmetry. It's about what the mirror reflects back to the dieter, rather then a number on a scale."

Physique Transformation's program is specially geared to maintain muscle mass over the long term while continuing to metabolize body fat. "Only the right combination of cardiovascular activity and resistance training, combined with the right diet, will jumpstart the weight loss process," Rooney said.

In a healthy weight loss program (http://www. physiquetransformation. com/ChangeYourShape. php), a man should expect to lose about two pounds of body fat every week, and a woman about one and a half pounds, according to Rooney. While this may seem slower than a crash diet, the reality is that a short-term weight-loss diets are often difficult to maintain over a long period of time. "In the long run, they are more likely to leave a person heavier than when the dieting started," said Rooney.

The Physique Transformation Web site, www. physiquetransformation. com, offers many tools and resources that dieters can use to achieve and sustain their long-term results. One of the tools that is ideal for long-term use is the Personal Food Analyst, which offers customizable dieting software that allows users to track their diets and guide their food and exercise choices.

About Physique Transformation

Physique Transformation is a professional caliber process used and refined over generations by fitness athletes and contestants whose only criteria for success is the quality of their physique. Through the use of the company's various, unique offerings, Physique Transformation (http://www. physiquetransformation. com/ChangeYourShape. php) gives complete instruction and guidance on how to transform one's physique, achieve desired results and do it within a specific timeframe.

Physique Transformation is first and foremost about telling it like it is when it comes to getting in shape. It's about accepting the reality that there is no glory without effort. The primary focus is on diet as the primary tool to get its users fit.

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

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Magnets USA... First With 2010 Magnetic Calendars

Roanoke, VA (PRWEB) May 24, 2009

Magnets USA® announces the early release of 2010 Magnetic Calendars. Customers can get a jump start on their marketing plans, see new designs and take advantage of low early order prices and half price shipping. The half price shipping special ends July 31, 2009. Foil-decorated covers add a bit of flare to our calendars and are being offered at no extra charge while supplies last.

Magnetic Calendars have been known as one of the best promotional and referral building tools for the real estate industry. However, these functional calendars can be used in any industry. Your business information will always be handy as clients mark important dates for the year and it will be right at their fingertips when they need your services or products again.

This year's designs are fresh and innovative with bold, eye-catching art that will surely draw your clients' eyes to your information every time they view your calendar. New this year are the Gooseberry Patch Recipe Magnetic Calendar, Healthy Tips Magnetic Calendar, and Jumbo History Magnetic Calendar.

Also available are the Living Green Magnetic Calendar, with a new tip each month for making your home a "greener" place to live; and another favorite, the Quotes Magnetic Calendar, featuring an inspirational quote each month with scenery backgrounds. Standard Magnetic Calendars feature the calendar grid with beautiful seasonal art on each page. Real Estate Magnetic Calendars supply clients with the advice and need-to-know facts for buying and selling a home.

Maybe bigger is better for your business; we are offering our Jumbo Recipe Calendar again this year, featuring tasty seasonal recipes from Food Fanatics. Also in the Jumbo size category are the Jumbo Standard Magnetic Calendar and Jumbo Real Estate Magnetic Calendar with the same features as their counterparts listed above.

Each business card calendar comes with its own mailing envelope and is offered in two versions: Peel 'n Stick and QuikMag™. You choose a version based on your personalization needs. Peel 'n Stick version is where you peel off of the adhesive backing and attach your paper business card to the magnet. For a limited time, if you order 300 or more Peel 'n Stick products, our premium Paper Business Cards are offered at 3¢ each at quantity 300. QuikMag™ version is great because we print your business information directly on the magnet for you. All Jumbo Magnetic Calendars come in QuikMag™ version.

"Personalization is a strength of Magnets USA®," says Alan Turner, President, "Magnetic Calendars printed with QuikMag™ business card magnets are the ultimate image builder for companies and agents."

For more information about our Magnetic Calendars and Jumbo Magnetic Calendars or how we can create a personalized promotional magnet for you, call customer service toll free at 800.869.7562 or visit our website to see our Magnetic Calendars (http://www. magnetsusa. com/Magnetic-Calendars. html? utm_source=PRW&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=MC).

About Magnets USA®

Magnets USA, Marketing You Better® with affordable, top quality, personal marketing magnets that come with a 100% Quality Guarantee. Our Roanoke, Virginia based company manufactures 100% Made in America flexible magnetic products, keeping customers' costs at a minimum and the final product's quality at a superior level.

For more information about Magnets USA®, its products and other FAQs visit the company's website www. MagnetsUSA. com or call 800.869.7562 to speak with a knowledgeable and friendly Customer Service Representative.

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Everest Kicks Off 2010 New Year's Resolution Getaway Video Contest

Best Video Wins two airline tickets to anywhere in the continental US

Santa Ana, Calif. (PRWEB) January 7, 2010

The best New Year's Resolution video could yield two airline tickets to anywhere in the continental United States for to the grand prize winner of the "2010 Everest New Year's Resolution Getaway" video contest. Contestants have until January 30 to create and upload a YouTube video no longer than one minute documenting their resolutions.

A panel of judges will select the winner based on each video's originality and creativity, adherence to creative assignment, and overall appeal. The winner will be notified on February 9, and the video content will be featured on the Everest YouTube Channel (http://www. youtube. com/Everest). The top 10 finalists will win an Everest Prize Pack and will be featured on the channel. Everest will also create a YouTube video that highlights some of the best entries.

All contestants must be 18 or older to participate. Students and employees of Everest, WyoTech, Heald or Corinthian Colleges as well as their families are encouraged to participate, but are not eligible to win prizes.

For official rules, and more information about the contest, visit http://resolutions. everest. edu (http://resolutions. everest. edu).

About Everest

Everest Colleges, Institutes and Universities provide career-oriented diploma and degree programs in healthcare, criminal justice, skilled trades, business, paralegal and information technology. Everest is owned by Corinthian Colleges, Inc., one of the largest post-secondary education companies in North America, and has more than 100 schools in the U. S. and Canada. For more information about Everest career training, visit http://www. everest. edu (http://www. everest. edu).

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PandorasPots. com Debuts to Promote a Healthy Lifestyle via Cookware &amp; Recipes

PandorasPots. com Debuts to Promote a Healthy Lifestyle via Cookware & Recipes

Founder of PandorasPots. com, Ginger Hermes is pleased to announce the launch of her new website. Shoppers will discover a premium selection of cookware that’s also a healthy asset to any kitchen. Choose from cookware styles like cast iron, ceramic, stainless steel and more. With a focus on healthy living and eating, she will post an at-home cooking journal to discuss her experiences with various cookware and food.

Raleigh, NC (Vocus) August 20, 2010

Web entrepreneur Ginger Hermes is pleased to announce the publication of her brand-new website, http://www. PandorasPots. com. Launched in May, the online business was created to promote healthy cooking through a wide assortment of quality cookware and nutritious recipes.

“After surviving two heart attacks, I became determined to give my lifestyle a much-needed makeover,” Hermes said. “This meant a new diet – one with less fat, cholesterol and sodium – with a healthy focus.”

At PandorasPots. com shoppers are invited to explore a delightful selection of cookware in a wide variety of styles. Choose from an array of superior cookware materials such as bamboo, cast iron, ceramic, titanium, enamel and stainless steel cookware sets; individual cookware pieces may also be purchased to build a customized batch.

“The cookware available on my website promotes a healthy diet because the materials require much less to absolutely no grease or oils to cook with,” Hermes said. “When you use other materials – like Teflon and aluminum – to prepare your meals you’re taking a risk because they can give off toxins and chemicals that mix into your food.”

Keep an eye out for new merchandise as Hermes will continue to update her website with new cookware products. In the near future, she hopes to introduce cooking utensils and healthy-eating cookbooks.

To learn more about the multiple benefits and functions of the cookware pieces available at PandorasPots. com, visit the site’s newly developed blog, http://www. PandorasPotsBlog. com. This interactive platform will also be used to showcase Hermes’ at-home cooking journal as she documents the outcome of numerous, tasty meals made with the various forms of cookware she distributes.

“For those who are truly excited about healthy cooking, step two (step one is obtaining healthy cookware) would be to grow fresh ingredients at home. I have plum tomatoes, banana peppers, hot peppers and sweet peppers in my garden, which provide a burst of freshness in every bite,” she said.

PandorasPots. com, stop in today to see what’s cookin’!

About the Company:

PandorasPots. com – a division of New Start Ventures LLC – is owned and operated by web entrepreneur Ginger Hermes.

Ginger Hermes

Http://www. PandorasPots. com

(716) 510-1204

IePlexus, Inc.

Http://www. iePlexus. com

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Best North American Cities for Manufacturing and Production Business Development, according to BizCosts. com

BizCosts. com releases new cost reports ranking cities for new business development. Monterrey, Mexico, Augusta, El Paso, Starkville, Greensboro rank among the lowest cost cities; San Francisco, San Jose, New York, Boston, Vancouver rank among the highest.

Princeton, NJ (PRWEB) May 18, 2010

New 2010 reports from BizCosts. com (http://bizcosts. com (http://bizcosts. com)]) compare the cost of business development (http://bizcosts. com/) for manufacturing and production facilities in more than 100 North American cities. The reports analyze all major geographically-variable operating costs critical to the corporate site selection, including labor, taxes, construction, real estate, shipping, utilities and other criteria.

Lowest cost cities for manufacturing and production (http://bizcosts. com/) according to BizCosts. com include Monterrey, Mexico, Augusta, GA, El Paso, TX, Starkville, MS and Greensboro, NC. High cost business development centers include San Francisco, San Jose, New York, Boston and Vancouver, Canada.

The BizCosts. com cost comparisons draw from the data bank and a 35-year caseload of The Boyd Company, Inc. location consultants out of Princeton, NJ. Boyd carries out independent site selection business development research for major corporations like PepsiCo, Hewlett-Packard and Pratt & Whitney.

"In the current soft economy and credit crunch, comparative costs are the white-hot issues in corporate boardrooms today. Costs are ruling the manufacturing and production plant and office site selection process," explains John Boyd, Jr., a principal of The Boyd Co. and founder of BizCosts. com. “For many corporations, improving the bottom line on the cost side of the business development ledger is far easier than on the revenue side in this weak, uncertain and globally-linked economy,” adds Boyd.

Cities surveyed by BizCosts. com are located throughout the NAFTA free trade zone countries of the U. S., Canada, and Mexico. Relative business development costs in Canada have increased sharply in 2010, reflecting the near parity of the U. S. and Canadian dollar. Canada still enjoys labor cost advantages in the area of benefits due to its national health care program. Fringe benefit costs in the surveyed U. S. cities average 38 percent of payroll compared to 20 percent in Canada, according to BizCosts. com.

In-depth cost comparison for a number of industries expanding their NAFTA footprint, including plastics, motor vehicle, confectionery, aerospace, warehousing and others are carried out by BizCosts. com. Selected cost comparisons of 10 U. S., Canadian and Mexican manufacturing sites are detailed in the attached table. (SEE TABLE 1).

About BizCosts. com

BizCosts® is a registered trademark of The Boyd Company, Inc. (http://theboydcompany. com/) of Princeton, NJ, and refers to the firm’s proprietary operating cost data bank used to shape its domestic and offshore business development site selection recommendations. Founded in 1975, Boyd provides independent location counsel to leading U. S. and overseas corporations. Devoted exclusively to the impact of cost on corporate mobility, BizCosts. com is recognized as the nation’s premier source for comparative business cost information.

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Giving the Gift of Time

Aging with Grace™ has joined with the Twilight Wish Foundation to offer the opportunity to give the best gift for the Holidays--the Gift of Time. During the busiest time of year, it is often hard for to spend time with those special people in people's lives, especially when they may not live nearby.

Hatboro, PA (PRWEB) November 23, 2007

Patricia Grace, Founder & CEO, Aging with Grace, LLC has created the perfect opportunity for families that live at a distance to make a difference in a loved ones' holiday. With one simple phone call, relatives or friends can arrange for a one-hour visit along with the gift of a seasonal plant, cookies and eggnog. In addition, the Twilight Wish Foundation has been selected as the beneficiary of this annual holiday program and will receive $100 for each "Gift of Time" purchased. The Twilight Wish Foundation grants wishes to seniors who cannot make their own wishes come true. "With the help of many people across the country we will reach our goal of $50,000 to donate to this wonderful organization", said Grace.

"Knowing that the holidays can be a very lonely time for many seniors as well as a frantic time for caregivers, Aging with Grace is once again providing an opportunity for all to embrace this holiday season", said Elizabeth Adams, Director of Care Management.

Aging with Grace is a comprehensive geriatric care management company that provides solutions for eldercare issues. The company offers the expertise, compassion and planning necessary to streamline the process so children can not only manage to keep up with today's issues for their parents or aging loved one but also plan ahead for future health care needs. AWG specializes in geriatric care management, senior move management, individual and family geriatric counseling, and elder law services. The caring staff of AWG relieves the uncertainty, worry and intimidation associated with eldercare issues and assists families with navigating eldercare options. AWG is not only a welcomed solution for employed caregivers but also a leading force for providing assistance in lowering employee healthcare costs, reducing absenteeism and boosting productivity for employers. For additional information about Aging with Grace™ visit the web site at www. agingwithgrace. net or call 1-800-626-9440.

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CRMState Launches as the Premier SugarCRM Application Monitor Service

CRMState. com launches as the premier SugarCRM monitoring service that helps business owners, developers and administrators monitor for SugarCRM specific issues, which no other monitoring service does. CRMState is available for sign-up and installation at

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) January 17, 2011

Companies that have SugarCRM as a core application depend on it for day-to-day operation. System failures and prolonged downtime can result in significant consequences and lost productivity. Although there are multiple server monitoring services, none specialize in SugarCRM application specific checks. CRMState is application aware and built to go beyond standard monitoring to not only monitor SugarCRM, but also to provide suggestions and checks that ensure it is running optimally.

“CRMState was created because SugarCRM administrators currently have no way to easily monitor the application health without lots of custom written code and tools,” stated Josh Sweeney, Founder of CRMState. com. “CRMState ensures that the SugarCRM core business application stays online and running efficiently.”

The CRMState monitoring service installs as a SugarCRM module which takes only a few minutes to set up. Payments are affordable and can be made month-to-month; plus, there are no set-up fees and customers can cancel anytime. Other features include:

Cloud friendly: CRMState can monitor SugarCRM no matter where SugarCRM is hosted Real time alerts: easily alert multiple people when SugarCRM is not running optimally 24x7 monitoring: SugarCRM is monitored 24x7 so you can be immediately alerted to issues Decreased downtime: ensure your mission-critical application stays operational Guided setup: the registration process will guide you through set-up in a few easy steps Multi-server alerts: configure multiple alert contacts so that all team members get notified

For more information on CRMState packages and to sign up for SugarCRM monitoring, visit http://www. CRMState. com/.

About SugarCRM

SugarCRM is the world's leading provider of open source customer relationship management (CRM) software. More than 5,000 customers and half a million users rely on SugarCRM to execute marketing programs, grow sales, retain customers and create custom business applications. Leading publications such as CRM Magazine, InfoWorld and eWeek praise SugarCRM for its ease-of-use, flexibility and open design. SugarCRM runs on the leading cloud computing platforms, including Amazon EC2, Microsoft Azure, Sugar On-Demand and Private Clouds, offering customers unparalleled choice and control of their data and deployments. For more information visit http://www. sugarcrm. com.

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Healthcare Portfolio™ Personal Health Records Organizer Launched

Medical offices are dealing with the daunting task of centralizing electronic medical records as set out in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA). It will take years for the U. S. healthcare industry to develop digital patient information to reach its goal of reducing medical errors and improving preventive care. Today, Town & Country, LLC launched an affordable and simple way for patients to manage their own health-related information, to facilitate routine doctor and hospital visits, and be better prepared for medical emergencies. Healthcare Portfolio, an electronic personal health records organizer, or PHR, is now available nationwide; www. hcportfolio. com.

New Bedford, MA (PRWEB) November 19, 2009

General practitioners, hospitals, specialists, other caregivers and pharmacies have each played a vital role in a patient’s medical history. Those records are disconnected and often scattered throughout various medical offices and facilities. Difficulties in having critical information during medical emergencies, diagnosis, treatment and preventive services have raised a red flag for the American healthcare industry. As the solution, ARRA calls for the development of centralized medical records for every American by 2015.

“Although the ARRA initiative is an important step in American healthcare, it is years away from becoming a reality due to the complexities involved," said Virginia Snyder, president of Town & Country. “Given the information disconnects and problems in today’s healthcare environment, it’s not surprising that healthcare professionals encourage their patients to maintain personal health records, regardless of their age and health condition.”

Ms. Snyder has a lifelong exposure to the healthcare industry and years of experience with home-centered care. Her extensive operations management experience and knowledge of various software programs and user training were instrumental in the design of the universally compatible format and the ease of use of the Portfolio, which requires no special user training. The Portfolio comes with an emergency Medical Alert flash drive. A handwritten version is also available for people who don’t use computers.

“HealthCare Portfolio was developed by people with firsthand experience, people who recognized the profound need for an effective tool to help healthcare providers make more informed decisions in providing care to their patients,” Snyder said. “It was essential that this tool be medically comprehensive, easy to use, and developed with an understanding of the values, experiences and needs of people on a personal level.”

Recommendations and suggestions from physicians, emergency personnel and other medical professionals contributed to the system design. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Snyder added.

Town & Country, LLC was originally founded in 2004, and specializes in personal service, organization and personal health management solutions. To learn more, visit www. tandcc. com.

Contact:

Verne Westgate, Business Development-Marketing

Town & Country, LLC, New Bedford, MA

978-857-5748

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Say What?!?!? … ISIS, Inc. Launches Contest with Funny Or Die, MTV and SayNow

Digital Contest Encourages Teens to Share Best, Worst Advice on Sex; Winning Video to Debut at Third Annual Sex::Tech Conference in San Francisco

Oakland, CA (PRWEB) January 20, 2010

Be safe. Don’t do it. Be responsible. Wait. What’s the best advice teens have received from an adult about sex? You may not believe it, but even in today’s technologically advanced society, many adults are using urban legends and tall tales to teach youth about sex. But is it working? Are adults arming youth with information that’s wise or just plain ol’ wacky? ISIS, Inc. (http://www. isis-inc. org/) is planning to find out through Say What?!?!?! (http://www. saywhatcontest. org/), a new digital contest with Funny Or Die (http://www. funnyordie. com/), MTV (http://www. mtv. com/) and SayNow (http://www. saynow. com/) that will give youth the chance to share best and worst advice adults have given them about sex.

The contest will run January 20th through February 12th, 2010, and give one lucky winner a chance to win a trip to the Funny Or Die Studios in Los Angeles to film a walk-on part in a sex education video. The winning video will then premiere at ISIS’ annual Sex::Tech Conference (http://www. sextech. org/index. php) on February 26th, 2010, in San Francisco.

The contest was created after new insights revealed youth's preference for receiving sex education information from a trusted adult. Parents (93%) agree, but prefer that the teachers do the work in the classroom rather than a family discussion over the dinner table. Either way, we had to ask: "Just what are adults telling youth about sex? Is the advice accurate, relevant and current?"

"We suspect adults are just as embarrassed as youth are about their emerging sexuality and that the advice adults dole out may be slightly off the mark,” said Deb Levine, Executive Director and Founder, ISIS, Inc. “We’d like to hear directly from youth about what they've heard from adults – the good, the bad and the laughable – in order to create innovative, new sex education programs for youth AND parents in this post abstinence-only decade.”

The Say What?!?!?! contest gives youth aged 15-21 a chance to open up about what's been helpful and not so helpful by encouraging them to tell the most wacky/crazy or best/coolest sex story via a digital phone line provided by SayNow. SayNow, host to digital phone lines for such teen idols as the Jonas Brothers and Soulja Boy, is providing the contest line to ISIS free of charge as a public service.

"Working on this contest has been a hoot! Our writing team understands how to use humor to deal with topics that are considered shameful and embarrassing by society, " says Dick Glover, President and CEO of Funny Or Die, Inc. Jason Rzepka, VP, Public Affairs at MTV, says, "We're proud to partner on the Say What?!?! contest, a fresh and honest way to squash myths, amplify the voices of young people and empower them to make smart decisions about sex."

To participate, contestants call (310) 736-6760 where a series of voice prompts will guide callers through the submission process. For more information, including official contest rules, visit: www. SayWhatContest. org.

About ISIS, Inc.

ISIS, Inc (www. isis-inc. org) is a 501(c)3 organization based in Oakland, CA whose mission is to use technology, new media and mobile for sexual health promotion and disease prevention. ISIS’ award-winning projects include SexINFO and Hookup text messaging campaigns, inSPOT, an STD ecard partner notification service, and Sex::Tech, an annual conference focusing on sexual health, technology and youth.

About Funny Or Die

Funny Or Die (www. funnyordie. com) is an award-winning website that has become one of the top destinations for comedy on the web. The site averages over 7 million unique visits and over 20 million video views per month. With hundreds of exclusive celebrity videos and a steady stream of huge viral hits, Funny Or Die has become the "place to be seen" for comedic celebrities, and the obvious destination for a daily comedy fix. Funny Or Die's co-founders are Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy. Judd Apatow is also a principle partner in Funny Or Die.

About MTV Networks

MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture. For over 28 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries -- giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen. On-air, MTV is the number one rated full-day ad-supported cable network for P12-24. Online, MTV. com averaged 8.5 million monthly unique visitors during the first quarter of 2009 -- up +6% from Q4/2008 and up +6% year-over-year. Total video streams for the first quarter of 2009 increased 21% over the same time period last year. And MTV’s successful sibling networks MTV2, mtvU and MTV Tr3s each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving music fans, college students and young American Latinos like no one else. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA. B), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Wanna know more? Come on in… www. mtvpress. com

About SayNow

SayNow (www. saynow. com) adds voice to social networks such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, creating an intimate and truly authentic connection. With over 12 million users, SayNow is the largest voice-based community in the world. Stars, brands, athletes, and musicians all use SayNow to connect with their fans. SayNow was founded in November 2005 and is funded by Shasta Ventures and Tugboat Ventures.

Contact information:

Deb Levine

ISIS, Inc.

510-835-9400

Deb(at)isis-inc(dot)org

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