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Webinar: Investing in Insurance Event Linked Securities -- Leading Practitioners and Investors at the Forefront of Investing

2012-01-25T06:57:00.000-08:00

Webinar: Investing in Insurance Event Linked Securities -- Leading Practitioners and Investors at the Forefront of Investing

Opalesque, the world's largest subscription-based publisher on alternative investments, hosts a webinar with leading practitioners on investing in insurance event linked securities on March 7, 2008 16.00 (CET) =10.00 am (EST).

Zurich, Switzerland (PRWEB) March 5, 2008

The convergence between the insurance industry and the capital markets has become a reality. Insurance-linked securities have changed the landscape of the global insurance and reinsurance market. This market offers the global, institutional investor base a promise of uncorrelated returns.

For example, the cat bond market has grown from $1.99bln in 2005 to a current estimated size of $14bln. According to Swiss Re, the insurance linked securities (ILS) market has has grown three-fold over the last five years and is expected to grow to $1trln over the next decade.

Opalesque, the publisher of A SQUARE, the world's first publication and research platform dedicated to "alternative alternatives", has gathered a panel of leading ILS experts for this interactive webinar:

Karsten Bromann, Managing Partner, Solidum Partners (Zurich, Switzerland)
Michael Stahel, Head Insurance-Linked Investments, Clariden Leu (Zurich, Switzerland)
Barney Schauble, Partner, Nephila Capital (Bermuda)
Sona Blessing, Director of Research, Opalesque Ltd

The panel will share insights and perspectives based on their “hands-on-experience” in this space and will address the following:

What circumstances and motives prompt insurers/reinsurers to consider transferring risk to financial markets?
Risk study: Total risk = parametric risk (hazard risk, transferred to capital markets) + vulnerability risk (kept by insurers& re-insurers through the underwriting process ):
Ceding hazard risk
Assessment
Evaluation: triggers, models and their constrains
New perils; the importance of investing in a diversified menu of perils
„Consistency + reliability of transactions are extremely important for investors to enter the sector"
Place in a portfolio - and optimization
Is transferring of catastrophe risk to capital markets, different from credit risk - in what ways and why?

A SQUARE subscribers can confirm their participation in this webinar here: http://www. opalesque. com/newsite/index. php? act=webinar (http://www. opalesque. com/newsite/index. php? act=webinar). In order to participate, you are formally required to register and reserve your seat.

Non-subscribers to A SQUARE can set up their subscription here: http://www. opalesque. com/main. php? act=registration (http://www. opalesque. com/main. php? act=registration) and participate for free in the webinar. See here for A SQUARE subscription rates: http://www. opalesque. com/main. php? act=A2Rates (http://www. opalesque. com/main. php? act=A2Rates).

Non-subscribers can also purchase an admission pass for this webinar here: http://www. opalesque. com/newsite/index. php? act=RegWebinar (http://www. opalesque. com/newsite/index. php? act=RegWebinar) ($80 admission).

More on our panel:
Karsten Bromann, Managing Partner, Solidum Partners (Zurich, Switzerland): Dr. Bromann is responsible for the investment portfolio and risk management of the accounts and funds managed by Solidum Partners. Prior to establishing Solidum Partners, he held various leading actuarial roles with the Zurich Insurance Company. Dr. Bromann is a qualified actuary of the German Actuarial Society and holds a Ph. D. in physics. Solidum Partners is an asset manager and fund advisor specialised and exclusively working in the area of insurance linked securities.

Michael Stahel, Head of Insurance-Linked Investment team within Clariden Leu Alternative Investments unit
Prior to joining Clariden Leu, Michael spent eight years with Swiss Re in various positions; the last four years as a Vice President in the Retro and Syndication unit structuring Cat Bonds and trading Risk Derivatives. Michael holds a BA in Economics from the Zurich University of Applied Science and an MBA in Corporate Finance from Rochester University. Clariden Leu is a large Swiss private bank with around USD 110bln assets under management. Within the alternative investments unit; the company offers funds and mandates in the field of insurance-linked investments with total fund NAV in excess of USD 850m.

Barney Schauble, Partner at Nephila Capital, Bermuda: Barney Schauble is a Principal of Nephila. He joined the company in 2004 to focus on business development, including both risk sourcing and investor relations as well as portfolio management. Prior to joining Nephila Capital he was head of Weather Marketing at XL Capital; and Vice President at Goldman Sachs. Barney attended Harvard College and received his B. A. in Economics; he wrote his senior thesis to explore the concept of investing in bonds linked to property catastrophe reinsurance risk. Nephila is the first asset manager to apply its expertise in the natural catastrophe sector using CDO technology on an actively managed basis.

About A SQUARE:
Opalesque A SQUARE = Alternative Alternatives is the first web publication, globally, that is dedicated exclusively to alternative investments. A SQUARE's weekly selection feature unique investment opportunities that bear virtually no correlation to the main stream hedge fund strategies and/or distinguish themselves by virtue of their "alternative" motive - social, behavioural, natural resources, sustainable /environment related investing.

With its "research that reveals" approach, fast facts and investment oriented analysis, A SQUARE offers diversification and complementary ideas for: private, high net-worth and institutional investors, pension funds and endowments, portfolio and hedge funds managers. For more information please go here: http://www. opalesque. com/index9.html (http://www. opalesque. com/index9.html).

About Opalesque:
Since February 2003, Opalesque is publishing Alternative Market Briefing, the premium news service on hedge funds and alternatives. The launch of these Briefing was a revolution in the hedge fund media space ("Opalesque changed the world by bringing transparency where there was opacity and by delivering an accurate professional reporting service." - Nigel Blanchard, Culross) combining proprietary news with the “clipping service” approach of integrating third party news. Each week, Opalesque publications are read by more than 360,000 industry professionals from all over the globe.

Opalesque is the only daily hedge fund publisher which is actually read by the elite managers themselves (http://www. opalesque. com/op_testimonials. html (http://www. opalesque. com/op_testimonials. html)). For more information, please go to http://www. opalesque. com (http://www. opalesque. com).

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Count Rossi’s Porsche 917: The Coolest Car Ever?

2012-01-11T04:28:00.000-08:00

Count Rossi’s Porsche 917: The Coolest Car Ever?

Influx’s definitive list of the 10 best German cars of all time

(PRWeb UK) December 18, 2009

The latest edition of the online, interactive version of the turbo-charged motor and biking magazine influx, from Adrian Flux Insurance Services, features all things German.

The article ‘Influx Top Ten German Cars of All Time’, lists the definitive top ten cars to come out of Germany according to the petrol-heads at influx, ranging from the first patented automobile to super-powerful F1 racing cars. Disagree? Then log on to influx and have your say.

Germany has produced some of the most significant cars in history. They’re not just reliable, but fast, stylish and innovative to boot. Though it may pain us to say it, Germany gave birth to probably the best Formula One driver of all time and with their reputation for brilliant motor engineering, Germany and all things automotive go hand-in-hand.

Influx’s top ten includes the Benz Patent Motorwagen, the first ever patented automobile, two BMWs, two VWs and two Porsches, the 911 and the 917. The 917 is one of the most iconic sports racing cars of all time, largely for its high speeds and high power outputs. The editorial awards Count Rossi’s road-registered version as probably the coolest thing to ever don number plates.

Unsurprisingly, the Volkswagen Beetle features in the top ten, originally called Volkswagen Type 1, then Käfer (German for ‘Beetle’), it was one of the most influential cars of the 20th Century, paving the way for other compact cars to follow.

Influx online is more than just an online magazine, it's fast becoming a web-based motoring community where users can exchange information about the featured stories. If they think Audi, Opel, Trabant or even the Smart car deserved to make the top spots, influx users can log on and have their say.

As well as the ten of the best, the latest edition of influx features an article on Bavarian Motor Works, German bike technology and influx meets four German car nuts. Plus, influx examines German motorsport heritage with reports on the Nurburgring and Audi Quattro.

Influx is published by Adrian Flux Insurance Services, the specialist motoring insurance broker. For details contact the Adrian Flux quote line on 0800 081 8989, email the company at quotes@adrianflux. co. uk or see the Flux homepage on http://www. adrianflux. co. uk
Copy ends

Notes for Editors

The definitive top 10 German cars according to influx

Ruf CTR Yellowbird
Mercedes-Benz 560SEL 6.9
Auto Union V16
BMW 507
Volkswagen Golf GTi
BMW E39 530d
Volkswagen Beetle
Benz Patent Motorwagen
Porsche 911
Porsche 917

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Sherilyn Pastor of McCarter & English Named One of NJBIZ's 2010 Best 50 Women In Business

2012-01-10T01:56:00.000-08:00

Sherilyn Pastor of McCarter & English Named One of NJBIZ's 2010 Best 50 Women In Business

McCarter & English, LLP is pleased to announce that Sherilyn Pastor, a partner and practice leader of the firm's Insurance Coverage Group, has been named one of New Jersey's "2010 Best 50 Women in Business" by NJBIZ.

Newark, NJ (PRWEB) February 22, 2010

McCarter & English, LLP (http://www. mccarter. com/) is pleased to announce that Sherilyn Pastor (http://www. mccarter. com/new/homenew. aspx? searchlink=showbionew&show=942), a partner and practice leader of the firm's Insurance Coverage Group, has been named one of New Jersey's "2010 Best 50 Women in Business (http://www. njbiz. com/events. asp? nID=91&show=details)" by NJBIZ, a weekly business journal owned by Journal Publications. The annual list recognizes 50 of the best women in business for their outstanding contributions to the state of New Jersey, both in their industry and community. The awards ceremony will be held on April 7th at The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset, NJ.

"We congratulate Sheri for this great honor," said Michael Guariglia (http://www. mccarter. com/new/homenew. aspx? searchlink=showbionew&Show=895), managing partner of McCarter's Newark office. "Sheri has been an invaluable member of our law firm for over 20 years through her service in key leadership roles, development of our insurance coverage law practice, and her community work outside of the office. I've seen the results of her efforts first-hand and firmly believe that her record of commitment and excellence is highly representative of this award."

Pastor is a member of the firm's Executive Committee - one of three women to serve in this
Leadership position. She also leads one of the firm's most profitable practice groups and serves on the firm's Strategic Planning Committee. Pastor has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in insurance assets for a broad range of policyholder clients. She litigates throughout the country and provides insurance coverage advice to clients assessing their potential risks, analyzing new insurance products and considering the adequacy of their programs.

In addition to building a successful legal practice in an area that has historically been dominated by male attorneys and clients, Pastor has consistently helped other women in the legal community. As the Vice-Chair of the ABA Litigation Section's Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee (ICLC), Pastor requested that McCarter sponsor the March 2010 Women's Reception at the ICLC's Annual Meeting in Tucson. This event is intended to introduce additional network building and development opportunities for women. Pastor is also overseeing inclusion of a charitable event at this year's meeting, providing attendees an opportunity to give back to local children in need.

Beyond serving generally as a role model to other women practitioners at the firm, Pastor mentors the many women associates in the Insurance Coverage group. She also is an active member in the firm's Women's Initiative Committee, a group of women attorneys at the firm whose goal it is build positive relationships with colleagues and clients as well as the communities in which they live and work. A mother of two young children, she is also involved in several local school and church activities.

Prior to joining McCarter, Pastor was a law clerk in the New Jersey Superior Court's Appellate Division for the Hon. David Landau, J. A.D. (retired). She earned her B. A., cum laude, from Seton Hall University and her J. D., magna cum laude, from Seton Hall Law School.

About McCarter & English

McCarter & English, LLP, established more than 160 years ago, represents Fortune 500 and middle-market companies in their national, regional and local litigation and on important transactions. Its 400 attorneys are based in offices in Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Stamford and Wilmington. www. mccarter. com (http://www. mccarter. com/)

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Mother Earth News Goes On Tour with Sustainable-Living Fairs

2012-01-08T14:58:00.000-08:00

Mother Earth News Goes On Tour with Sustainable-Living Fairs

The largest and longest-running publication about green lifestyles, celebrates sustainable and rural living with hands-on events. The first Mother Earth News Fair will be Sept. 25-26 at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, near Pittsburgh.

Topeka, KS (Vocus) April 20, 2010

To celebrate her 40th birthday, Mother’s coming to visit. Mother Earth News (http://www. MotherEarthNews. com), the largest and longest-running publication about green lifestyles, will host the first Mother Earth News Fair Sept. 25-26 at Seven Springs Mountain Resort (http://www.7springs. com/), near Pittsburgh. The magazine plans to roll out additional fairs across the country in 2011.

The Mother Earth News Fair will cover organic gardening, renewable energy, small-scale livestock, green building and remodeling, do-it-yourself projects, real food, natural health, green transportation and related topics (http://www. motherearthnews. com/fair/schedule-categories. aspx). Dozens of experts, including Mother Earth News staff and editors from sister publications Grit, Natural Home, The Herb Companion and Utne Reader, will lead the sessions.

“These fairs, like the Mother Earth News Eco-Village (http://www. motherearthnews. com/Nature-Community/1982-09-01/Take-an-Eco-Village-Vacation. aspx) that preceded them, are designed to help people live more self-sufficient, conscientious lives by bringing them real projects that they can implement at home — and have fun doing it,” says Bryan Welch, publisher and editorial director of Mother Earth News.

Between the mid-1970s and mid-1980s, Mother Earth News hosted thousands of visitors each summer at its 600-acre Eco-Village in Hendersonville, N. C. The Eco-Village served as a hands-on research center, with attendees learning about everything from beekeeping to cordwood construction through experimental gardens, houses and energy projects.

In addition to workshops, the Fair will host family-friendly activities, musical entertainment, vendor demonstrations, a green shopping pavilion, and local and organic food. Attendees also can purchase discounted lodging and activity packages through Seven Springs Mountain Resort.

Seven Springs Mountain Resort, an Ogden Publications sister company, was selected as the inaugural host of the Mother Earth News Fair based on its environmental stewardship (http://www.7springs. com/page/category. detail/nav/5358.html), resource management and environmental protection practices.

Seven-Star Inc. will provide event production services, including on-site recycling and waste-reduction services.

To stay up to date on Mother Earth News Fair information, sign up for the event’s e-newsletter at http://www. motherearthnews. com/fairupdates (http://www. motherearthnews. com/fairupdates).

About Mother Earth News
Mother Earth News is the Original Guide to Living Wisely. Topics include organic gardening, do-it-yourself projects, cutting energy costs, using renewable energy, green home building and rural living.

About Ogden Publications Inc.
Ogden Publications Inc. is the leading information resource serving the sustainable living, rural lifestyle, farm memorabilia and classic motorcycle communities. Key brands include Mother Earth News, Natural Home, Utne Reader, Capper’s and Grit. Ogden Publications also provides insurance and financial services through its Capper’s Insurance Service division.

About Seven-Star Inc.
Seven-Star Inc. is the nation’s largest full-service event company focusing exclusively on green events. Since 1999, Seven-Star has provided turnkey green event services for environmentally Responsible and socially Respectful (eR/sR) festivals, trade and consumer expositions, conferences, concerts, and mobile tours. From the greening of the 2008 Democratic National Convention and Live Earth events to producing the nation’s largest consumer Green Festivals, Seven-Star has defined itself as the company for eR/sR event production. Seven-Star is the first event company to win the EPA’s Gold WasteWise Award for Excellence, in recognition of the company’s proprietary system of event waste diversion. The system has consistently achieved greater than 85 percent waste diversion.

About Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Seven Springs Mountain Resort, located in Seven Springs, Pa., is the perfect place for family vacations that create lifelong memories. Each year the family-friendly resort hosts more than 1 million overnight and day guests, who enjoy a vacation that includes the finest skiing, snowboarding and golf that Pennsylvania has to offer, the exhilaration of sporting clays, and the luxurious Trillium Spa.

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AP9 Privacy Matters 123 Offers Advice on Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft in the Workplace

2012-01-01T17:36:00.000-08:00

AP9 Privacy Matters 123 Offers Advice on Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft in the Workplace

AP9 PrivacyMatters123 Provides Members with a Variety of Credit Monitoring Tools That Can Help Uncover Identity Theft Events

Norwalk, Conn. (PRWEB) May 8, 2007

Identity theft is complicated enough, notes AP9 Privacy Matters 123 (http://www. privacymatters123-program. com/), a leading security and privacy membership program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC, but when the theft occurs in the workplace, it can have even wider implications, raising questions about employer screening methods and security practices, not to mention the issues it can raise regarding the victim's future career path.

Identity theft can be a rewarding crime, unfortunately, offering perpetrators access to potentially unlimited assets through illegal actions that, when performed by a skilled criminal, are designed to be as difficult to trace as possible. The "money for nothing" allure of identity theft tends to appeal to a broad swath of people, regardless of their race, gender, education level, employment level or other demographic category. Simply put, an identity thief can lurk anywhere -- even in your office, cautions AP9 Privacy Matters 123 (http://www. privacymatters123-program. com/PrivacyMatters123_ResourceCenter. html).

While there's no way to "profile" or otherwise identify someone who may be an identity thief, AP9 Privacy Matters 123 does have a few suggestions for protecting your identifying information as much as possible in a work environment:

-- Guard your Social Security number religiously. Some company documents, including job applications, W-9 forms, health insurance policies and more, need a Social Security number for processing purposes, so be sure to store copies of those documents securely. Other corporate documents -- sick day logs, vacation requests, expense reports and others -- shouldn't require a Social Security number. Don't be afraid to question a request for a Social Security number on such materials. Work with Human Resources and other departments to find ways to replace Social Security number requests with less vital identifying information.

-- Practice safe computer skills. Your computer probably stores a lot of personally identifying information about you, from your name and address to your credit card and even Social Security numbers. Don't leave your computer on and unguarded for any significant period of time; a computer-savvy ID thief can swipe information from your hard drive in less time than it takes to sit through a staff meeting. Also, if you're receiving a new computer, make sure the information on your old hard drive will be permanently erased once your new computer has been installed.

-- Keep your password(s) to yourself. An effective corporate security policy should never require you to share passwords with co-workers, even if they're working on projects with you. A password in the wrong hands can potentially cost you every piece of data on your computer, including information that's unique to you. Memorize your passwords, and, if others need access to information on your computer, key your password in yourself rather than sharing it, even with your boss.

-- Protect your personal materials. Storing your purse or wallet in your office desk is fine -- as long as you're sitting in your office. If you're in and out of your office all day, you're at risk for theft unless you can lock your office drawers with a key that no one else has. If security in your office is poor, consider bringing in only those items you need to get through the day (i. e., driver's license, lunch money, personal grooming items, medications) and leaving everything else (credit cards, Social Security cards, other personally identifying materials) stored securely at home.

Restoring your identity after it's been stolen can require a lot of your time and resources. Your best course of action is to take pre-emptive steps to protect your identity, even in your workplace, reports AP9 PrivacyMatters123.

About AP9 PrivacyMatters123
AP9 Privacy Matters 123 (http://www. privacymatters123-program. com/) is a leading membership program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC that offers consumers instant, online access to 3 in 1 credit reports and scores, daily Triple Bureau credit monitoring and more. Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Adaptive Marketing is a category leader in membership programs, bringing value direct to consumers through an array of benefits in healthcare, discounts, security, personal property and personals. Members may access their benefits at PrivacyMatters. com (http://www. privacymatters. com/). With broad online and offline distribution capabilities, Adaptive Marketing (http://www. adaptivemarketing. com/) offers its corporate client partners effective tools to enhance market presence, strengthen customer affinity and generate additional value through programs such as AP9 Privacy Matters 123.

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NRMA Insurance Urges Queensland Drivers to Keep Eyes on Road

2012-01-01T07:01:00.000-08:00

NRMA Insurance Urges Queensland Drivers to Keep Eyes on Road

NRMA Insurance is urging Queensland drivers to reposition their portable GPS units and keep their eyes on the road, after running road tests to investigate their impact on driver attention and safety.

(PRWEB) July 31, 2010

Queensland Car Insurance (http://www. nrmaqld. com. au/car-insurance/index. shtml) provider NRMA Insurance is urging Queensland drivers to reposition their portable GPS units and keep their eyes on the road, after running road tests to investigate their impact on driver attention and safety.

The road test revealed that when drivers were challenged to use the portable GPS unit over a 35km route, they glanced at it around 90 times for an average of 1.2 seconds. This means, when travelling at
60 km/h, they were looking away from the road for up to 19 metres at a time – or more than four car lengths*.

The research also suggested that the safest position for a portable GPS unit is the right front lower corner of the windscreen. Of the positions tested, this location created the smallest blind spot for the driver**.

NRMA Car Insurance QLD (http://www. nrmaqld. com. au/car-insurance/index. shtml) spokesperson Robert McDonald said the research exposed the true dangers of looking at a GPS continually while driving.

“We want to make drivers aware of the risks of combining another task with driving. In-car distractions like eating, drinking or using a GPS encourage the driver to take their eyes off the road. Losing focus for one second while at the wheel puts you at higher risk of having a collision.

“Drivers should learn to rely on the voice directions rather than looking at the map, it’s too distracting to be repeatedly looking at the screen while staying aware of the road and the other cars around you,” Mr
McDonald said.

NRMA Car Insurance (http://www. nrmaqld. com. au/car-insurance/index. shtml) research also found the least safe positions for a portable GPS unit is in the centre of the windscreen under the rear-vision mirror or directly in front of the driver, these locations block the field of view, creating large areas invisible for the driver.

“The position of your GPS is critical to being safe on Queensland roads, we regularly see drivers with a GPS blocking their view and creating an invisible area in front of the vehicle on the road.

“If drivers need to enter a location, look at the map extensively or consider the directions of the GPS, they should pull over and adjust it in a safe place,” Mr McDonald said.

NRMA Insurance offers some simple tips to drivers who use a GPS:
choose the automatic lighting option – it will select the most suitable setting for the conditions and prevent it being too bright at night; enable a warning if you try to access the screen while driving; ensure it is positioned in your line of sight but not blocking your field of view.

Six drivers (aged 27 to 59) drove an unfamiliar urban route of 35km on public roads, using the same GPS unit while driving at speeds under the posted speed limit. The drivers faces were filmed with eye movements recorded – a single eye movement is referred to as a ‘glance’.

** Four GPS unit positions were tested. Laser angles were recorded at each corner of the GPS unit to calculate the invisible area the GPS unit projected onto the road in front of the vehicle.

About the Author

NRMA Insurance is a leading insurance provider, offering Car Insurance quotes (http://www. nrmaqld. com. au/car-insurance/index. shtml), Home Insurance, Motorcycle Insurance, Travel Insurance, Business Insurance, Boat Insurance, Health Insurance and Caravan Insurance in QLD

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HSA Clearing Corp to Offer INSNET, LLC to Help Consumers Save on Medical Bills

2011-12-30T23:19:00.000-08:00

HSA Clearing Corp to Offer INSNET, LLC to Help Consumers Save on Medical Bills

HSA Clearing Corp announces it is adding INSNET, LLC to its list of providers as an advocate to help consumers save money on their medical bills. "The key to offering a successful HSA program is providing the educational tools and money - saving products for the consumer, now that they are spending their own money on their healthcare," said Tim Morales of HSA Clearing Corp.

Lake Geneva, WI (PRWEB) May 5, 2008

HSA Clearing Corp, the nation's leading provider of turn-key Health Savings Account solutions for banks and credit unions, announces it is adding INSNET, LLC to its list of providers as an advocate to help consumers save money on their medical bills.

"The key to offering a successful HSA program is providing the educational tools and money - saving products for the consumer, now that they are spending their own money on their healthcare", said Tim Morales of HSA Clearing Corp. "HSA Clearing Corp has always been on the forefront of this model, and INSNET offers a product we think people need. INSNET will review a person's medical bill as low as $200. Any amount they can save the customer means that customer will keep more of their hard - earned money in their HSA. We have negotiated a special discounted price for our clients, and will also offer this service through HSA Trustee Services (www. hsatrusteeservices. com). We know that our financial institutions will want to offer this service to their customers or members. Not only does it save the consumer money, but it helps keep the HSA deposit balance higher."

Since 1985, Insurance Negotiating Service (INS) has saved insurance companies and self funded employers millions of dollars by negotiating medical claims. Now the same service insurance companies have used for decades is available to individuals. INSNET was created to help empower individuals by helping control their out - of - pocket medical expenses. INSNET is the consumer's safety NET.

With today's shift toward more Consumer Driven Health Plans, INSNET is a much - needed patient advocate. For decades health insurance companies have attempted to lower costs. More recently, medical providers are becoming more aggressive with patient balances by eliminating payment plans and partnering with large financial institutions. Both the insurance and healthcare industries are taking steps to remain profitable, often at the expense of the individual patient.

Avoid paying 'sticker price' on medical bills. Thanks to numerous resources, individuals know the difference between MSRP, invoice and dealer cost before they shop for a new car. These resources are rarely available for consumers when it comes to their medical bills. To maintain Medicare accreditation, a medical provider must agree to bill each patient the same amount for the same procedure. Most times the provider does not collect what they bill. There are over 6,000 health plans in the United States. Each may have contracts in place with some of the 850,000 US medical providers. Therefore, each doctor or hospital may have between 5 and 100 reimbursement rates for the same procedure!

Claims can easily be input on their secure website www. myinsnet. com. Once a User Profile has been created, an individual can access their account and input additional claims. The individual can also check the status of the claim at any time. Claims can also be mailed, faxed or emailed to INSNET. Customers may also call 877-MYINSNET (694-6763) to speak with a patient advocate.

INSNET provides its review and negotiation services RISK FREE to the individual. If a savings is realized on a medical bill, INSNET charges a nominal fee from the amount saved. There is no fee if there is no savings! Any claim with a patient balance exceeding $200 is eligible to be sent for review and negotiation.

Once a new claim is input into the INSNET database, the charges are compared to other claims in the geographic area the services were provided. Once the new claim has been analyzed in the database, a trained negotiator reviews it as well. If the charges are excessive, the negotiator will contact the medical provider and attempt to settle the patient balance for a more reasonable amount.

HSA Clearing Corp is the nationwide leader in setting up banks and credit unions to offer Health Savings Accounts/HSA with their turnkey HSA setup program, allowing the HSA monies to be deposited locally to better benefit the community. HSA Clearing Corp offers a full line of investment options for financial institutions using brokersXpress and HSA Financial. For more on this or any of their money - saving programs contact HSA Clearing Corp at 262-348-1300, or visit www. HSAClearing. com.

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Gastric Bypass Pill for Weight Loss Without Bariatric Surgery

2011-12-25T09:40:00.000-08:00

Gastric Bypass Pill for Weight Loss Without Bariatric Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery or the stomach blocking bariatic surgery is increasingly being considered as the only effective means of reducing weight but it is fraught with serious side effects and is expensive. An Atlanta, GA based company claims to have developed worldÂs first Gastric bypass pill that fills the stomach with a natural balloon which makes it virtually impossible to eat. More information at http://www. abmax. org

(PRWEB) January 28, 2005

Obesity and overweight has reached levels of epidemic proportion in America. According to latest estimates as high as 70% of Americans may be overweight, obese or morbidly obese. Excess consumption of high calorie foods and sedentary life style has brought this malady. Ideal amount of calories consumed per day is around 1800 calories for a reasonably active male. But an average American may go to bed after consuming more than double that amount of calories. Every 4000 calorie excess consumption raises the body weight by 1 Pound. Being overweight significantly reduces the quality of life causing myriad health complications ranging from Diabetes to Heart diseases to sexual debility. It is important to be of normal weight to have a good Standard of living. Diet control and Physical activity should always be opted as the first choice for weight reduction.

There are numerous Diet plants for weight loss like Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, Diabetic Diet, Zone, Vegan, Protein Power etc. These diet plans call for certain level of rigor, sacrifice and will power on the part of the followers. Excellent results can be expected if they are followed diligently. But it is never easy to follow such a Diet plans on a permanent basis.

Gastric bypass surgery or the stomach blocking bariatic surgery is increasingly being considered as the only effective means of reducing weight. In this weight loss surgery a portion of the stomach is blocked by means of surgical stapling. Food then bypasses most of the stomach. This reduces hunger pangs and instills a feeling of fullness in the stomach. One can eat much less and still not feel hungry. In fact he would not be able to eat even if he did want to. Eating less is the only means of controlling weight. Physical activity can help only with certain limit. An hour of intense workout on treadmill can burn off around 500 calories, compare this with around 900 calories in one large sized pizza alone.

But there are serious risks and complications associated with Gastric bypass surgery. Doctors estimate the fatality rate to be as high as 1 in 100. Most who have undergone Bariatric surgery may develop stomach leaks, kidney and other organ related problems making the whole process very painful. Apart from causing physical pain Gastric weight loss surgery can cause significant financial strain. A single surgery can cost around 40,000$ easily. Most insurance companies will not pay for it or pay only for a part of it.

A Healthcare Company based in Atlanta, Georgia claims to have developed the world's first Gastric bypass pill which effects similar staggering weight loss without any of the risks associated with it and at a fraction of the cost. It has developed a Herbal formulation in the form of a capsule. Taken 5 minutes before meals with water, it will absorb the water and form a digestible herbal gel in the stomach. It will immediately effect a feeling of fullness in the stomach and it would make it impossible to eat beyond a small quantity. One can reduce the overall food intake by as much as 70% without feeling hunger pangs and anxiety. This healthcare company has claimed that within one month a staggering 10 pounds of weight can be reduced and over a period of few months as much as 60 Pounds of body weight can be reduced. This company states that since this Herbal Gel capsule was introduced in the market over 200,000 have used and benefited from it immensely. More information about this Product and the company can be had at http://www. abmax. org (http://www. abmax. org)

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Life Insure. com, a Leading Life Insurance Agency, Wins the Insurance Standard of Excellence Award During the 13th-Annual International WebAwards Competition

2011-12-16T17:58:00.000-08:00

Life Insure. com, a Leading Life Insurance Agency, Wins the Insurance Standard of Excellence Award During the 13th-Annual International WebAwards Competition

LifeInsure. com (www. lifeinsure. com), a leading online life insurance agency and a sister agency to ProtectYourIncome. com (www. protectyourincome. com), was recently honored with the Insurance Standard of Excellence award during the 13th-annual, international WebAwards competition sponsored by the Web Marketing Association. The Web Marketing Association recognizes organizations that create some of the most effective sites on the Internet. This year, more than 2,000 entrants from 45 countries competed in various award categories.

Los Angeles (PRWEB) September 18, 2009

The Web Marketing Association recognizes organizations that create some of the most effective sites on the Internet. This year, more than 2,000 entrants from 45 countries competed in various award categories.

Their annual competition creates industry standards of excellence for websites by evaluating sites based on seven key criteria: Design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copywriting and ease of use.

"We are excited to be recognized by the Web Marketing Association," said Richard Reich, president of Intramark Insurance Services in Los Angeles, California. "We strive to make our site informative and easy to use for our visitors."

The judges in the competition sited LifeInsure. com as a very good industrial website that is easy to navigate as well as its strong code and attractive design.

Previous winners in the insurance category include Progressive Insurance, Blue Shield of California and Empire BlueCross Blue Shield.

Each month, tens of thousands of people visit LifeInsure. com and its sister site ProtectYourIncome. com. In creating their online life insurance quote engine, Reich and CEO Neil Willner departed from the traditional online insurance agency mold that requires consumers to divulge their personal information in order to receive quotes.

Instead, they recognized a need for a better, easy-to-navigate model that allowed consumers to take control and receive instant quotes from hundreds of top-rated life insurance companies while remaining anonymous.

The model proved to be highly successful. Today, LifeInsure. com and ProtectYourIncome. com are two of the leading online insurance agencies for life insurance and disability insurance.

For more information, visit www. lifeinsure. com and www. protectyourincome. com.

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Assumable Mortgage - an Option Open

2011-12-13T07:08:00.000-08:00

Assumable Mortgage - an Option Open

You don't have to sell the house for paying off. use assumable mortgages

(PRWEB) January 5, 2005

Everyday a new mortgage type gatecrashes into the arena. This is an attempt to get you familiar with those entrants. Here we will be analyzing - assumable mortgage.

Have you ever dreamt of selling off your mortgaged property?

Yes.

Then assumable mortgages provide you the opportunity to sell your property whose loan is not yet cleared. You can transfer the mortgage to a potential buyer.

Wondering who would take this unlikely risk of buying a pledged collateral?

The buyer inherits the old interest rate as well. This is what draws in the crowds. With the market rates increasing every day, it is the least expensive alternative for a new loan.

What is in it for the buyers?

They get a lower interest rate and thus lower monthly payments relative to the market. They can avoid the settlement costs on a new mortgage. But they must be responsible for the lien as well as other obligations henceforth.

The buyer must estimate the following before agreeing to the terms of an assumable mortgage.

Â Difference between the rates of the seller and the current rates

Â The amount of loan balance

Â The term for the earlier mortgage

Â The period you are hoping to opt for

The closing costs also include only the appraisal fees and title insurance.

What about sellers?

If the seller declares his property as assumable, he can sell it off easily. Rather than selling off the house and paying from the proceeds, you can transfer the mortgage at a higher price. Sometimes the seller remains liable to the mortgage usually secondarily. Then you will be overburdened and cannot take a new mortgage.

The lenders?

The lenders are at an utter loss because they cannot charge the current rates. Today they have an option of adding a due-on-sale clause (except in FHA and VA loans). This prevents them from changing the status to assumable property.

With interest rates climbing in the market and many mortgagors in the last leg of 25 or 30 year mortgages, assumable mortgage has become a viable option. Weigh your options properly before opting for this mortgage.

For more information, feel free to contact us at

Http://www. mortgagefit. com (http://www. mortgagefit. com)

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Presentation Skills Certification Program Launched: Train Others in Public Speaking

2011-12-09T02:42:00.000-08:00

Presentation Skills Certification Program Launched: Train Others in Public Speaking

Anyone can hang out a shingle and say they're in the training business. But before they can have any credibility and expertise in it, especially in the unique skill set of presentation skills, it takes years of practice and experience. Now there is a new option: get certified in offering a proven presentation skills workshop.

Charlotte, NC. (PRWEB) April 25, 2009

Now offered for the first time, the Compelling Speaker Certification program (http://www. compellingspeaker. com/certified) certifies people in how to train others in presentation skills, teaches them the management and marketing strategies to enable them to run a business with that training, and provides them with unique resources that position them for success. It's a program designed to give them the credibility and know-how that would otherwise take them years to acquire.

"In times like these, with the uncertainty and insecurity in the corporate job market, the Compelling Speaker Certification puts you in control of your destiny," says Certification leader Barbara Busey. "I created this program to enable others to do what I've done for the last 19 years and drive their own success. I want others to experience the satisfaction of making a living making a difference in people's professional development."

The Compelling Speaker (http://www. compellingspeaker. com) program is set apart from other presentation skills workshops through the use of an audio CD that provides the "instruction" to participants before the workshop. This means the workshop time is entirely devoted to participants' intensive, hands-on participation with several stand-up opportunities, videotaping, and individualized feedback.

The three-day certification program includes: immersion in the Compelling Speaker workshop to experience it firsthand; the instruction, tools and systems to run a business doing this training; additional follow-up coaching; and support from the Compelling Speaker Network. In addition, one full day will be devoted to marketing strategies delivered by a certified marketing coach.

Initial Certification training dates are: June 18-21, 2009; August 6-9, 2009; and September 24-27, 2009. All sessions will be held in Charlotte, NC. Certification fee for the three-day session includes hotel and meals.

To learn more and download the application form, go to The Compelling Speaker Certified (http://www. compellingspeaker. com/certified) Site.

The Compelling Speaker was created by Barbara Busey, the president/owner of Presentation Dynamics (http://www. presentationdynamics. net), who has 19 years of experience training people in the dynamics of presentations. Compelling Speaker clients have included companies in retail, banking, media, insurance, manufacturing, information technology, and academia. In addition to her audio CD, The Compelling Speaker, Busey has also produced a DVD, How to be a Dynamic S. P.E. A.K. E.R., and is the author of the book, Stand Out When You Stand Up--An A to Z Guide to Powerful Presentations.

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Reducing Healthcare Costs for Small Business with Treadmill Desks

2011-12-05T03:41:00.000-08:00

Reducing Healthcare Costs for Small Business with Treadmill Desks

Health care costs are spiraling out of control for many small businesses. Treadmill desks offer a solution that restores health and assists in lowering the overall cost of health care.

Phoenix (Vocus) November 25, 2008

TrekDesk, a manufacturer of treadmill desks, has launched an educational campaign demonstrating the disease preventative benefits of walking while working and the potential reduction in the overall costs of medical care for small business.

Walking has been shown clinically to prevent the onset of our nations leading diseases including Type 2 diabetes and some of the most virulent strains of cancer. "Consistent daily walking has been shown as an effective means of warding off disease, maintaining health and significantly decreasing the need for medical treatment, yet most Americans walk much less than the minimum recommended guidelines of 10,000 steps a day set by the Surgeon General due to the sedentary nature of our employment. As a result we have an overweight population with all of the health concerns that accompany issues of obesity," states TrekDesk founder Steve Bordley.

The National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC) reports that total spending on health care was $2.3 trillion last year, equivalent to $7600 per person. Health insurance premiums for a family of four sky rocketed to $12,100 during this same period and single coverage premiums averaged more than $4,400 annually.

One tactic to save on health care is to buy high deductible "catastrophic" health insurance which is significantly less expensive (as much as 50%-75% less) however this strategy must be combined with a commitment towards exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

The good news is that exercise does not have to be overly strenuous. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that walking three times per week for a minimum of 30 minutes reduces the risk of mortality from disease by 57%. Excerpts of numerous medical studies illustrating the the positive impact of consistent daily walking in preventing numerous diseases can be found at TrekDesk's website.

Unfortunately 2/3 of the American population is now categorized as overweight according to the CDC and less than 10% of the population is exercising on a regular basis. While Congress must focus on ridding our health care system of excessive administrative costs, fraud and mismanagement there must also be a call for personal action. "Prevention through a healthier lifestyle and exercise should play an integral role in our growing health care crisis but few politicians wish to risk the backlash of telling Americans they need to get out of their chairs and start moving," according to Bordley.

Desperate for answers, some state governments are considering instituting a "carrot and stick approach" to medical insurance programs. Alabama recently enacted a $300.00 annual increase for health care premiums to state employees that do not meet minimum health requirements and are unwilling to join their state wellness plan. Other nations are instituting more stringent guidelines as well. Japan has implemented a national program fining corporations if their employees do not meet specific weight and waistline guidelines.

Rising health care costs and insurance premiums are taking the availability of health care out of the hands of millions and placing a tremendous burden on our economy according to the NCHC, accounting for approximately 16% of our current GDP and expected to rise to 20% of GDP in eight years.

With health care costs rising at 2-3 times the rate of inflation a proactive emphasis on prevention seems more critical now more than ever before. Treadmill desks offer a solution which empowers employees to take control of their personal health and reduce their costs of medical care at the same time.

ABOUT TrekDesk : manufacturer of the first affordable full sized, adjustable workstation designed to fit an existing treadmill. TrekDesk allows walking while working, burning calories without sweating and enhancing an employee's health.

CONTACT:
Steve Bordley
TrekDesk
Ph: 877-449-8588
FAX: 877-449-8588
Info(at)trekdesk. com
Http://www. trekdesk. com

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FPS Umbrella's Top Tips To Beat Expense Stress For Contractors And Temps

2011-12-03T01:21:00.000-08:00

FPS Umbrella's Top Tips To Beat Expense Stress For Contractors And Temps

Make up to 40% in tax savings each payday by maximising allowable expenses.

Isle of Man, British Isles (PRWEB) February 25, 2008

Contractors and temps can alleviate financial stresses by maximising their income and making the most of their work expenses, advises FPS Umbrella (www. fpsumbrella. com). Providers of the easiest, fastest and simplest way to be paid for contract and temp work, the company offers the following top tips on how to beat the stress of expenses and keep your finances healthy through processing business expenses.

FPS Umbrella's top tips on maximising expenses:

1. Travelling between your home and your temporary workplace in your own car? Keep a diary of your mileage.
2. Working so late that you need a place to rest your head for a night or two? Make sure add your hotel bill to your expense claim.
3. Travelling some distance to the temporary workplace? Keep hold of train, plane, tube and taxi receipts.
3. Forget your toothbrush? Then Personal Incident Expenditure (PIE) lets you claim £5 for your miscellaneous items, when you have to stay overnight and for this you don't even need a receipt!
4. Need safety boots or any special attire in the work place? Don't let it break your bank...this kind of retail therapy can be expensed.
5. Tearing your hair out over sky high mobile bills? Itemising your business calls could save you a load.
6. Need a list of letters after your name to get the job? Then professional memberships and other subscription fees come off your bottom line.
7. Need cover in case things go wrong? Professional Indemnity insurance can save you in more ways than one and with FPS Umbrella, this is included.
9. Need some java to fuel your early morning start? Every coffee, sarnie and packet of crisps counts as subsistence.
10. And finally, the most important tip of all…always, always keep your receipts and don't claim more than you spend!

"The complex rules and regulations of expense claims can cause confusion and if you want to eliminate your personal stress down the line it's important to ensure all claims meet the necessary eligibility requirements," says Jen Monro, marketing manager for FPS Umbrella. "Ensure you are fully compliant with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) by getting expert advice on each claim."

FPS Umbrella's eligibility questionnaire was drawn up in consultation with HMRC. To find out how much you could be saving on expense claims, ring 0800 634 4848 for a free consultation including a personal estimate of your potential savings.
With FPS you can beat the stress, have a healthy heart and healthy finances.

Notes to Editors
Charterhouse Group International are a worldwide operation providing support services to the international recruitment and contract industry. FPS Umbrella, (www. fpsumbrella. com) is a branch of the Charterhouse Group that focuses on contractor services and is designed to eliminate the director responsibilities associated with a limited company.

Media Contact: Sherrilynne Starkie, Strive Public Relations Limited, Phone: +44(0)1624 613434

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Countrywide Bank Encourages Savings with New Community Savings Accounts

2011-11-30T22:56:00.000-08:00

Countrywide Bank Encourages Savings with New Community Savings Accounts

With only $25 needed to open, accounts are designed to benefit low - to moderate-income households in Dallas/Fort Worth, Washington, D. C.

Thousand Oaks, CA (Vocus) May 14, 2007

Countrywide Bank, FSB, a member of the Countrywide Financial Corporation (NYSE: CFC) family of companies, today announced the launch of its Community Savings Account product, an effort intended to encourage savings among consumers with household incomes designated as low-to-moderate. The product is making its debut in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Washington, D. C. metropolitan service areas.

"Saving is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure your financial future. We are eager to work directly with consumers and community-based organizations to grow the personal savings of individuals and families," says Countrywide Bank President and Chief Operating Officer Timothy Wennes. "Establishing a savings routine is often more important than how much you initially deposit in a savings account."

Wennes also notes that by consistently putting money aside each month people can move closer to fulfilling their goals, such as savings for college, buying a car or a home. "Beyond working toward financial goals, a savings plan is also an excellent way to build a "rainy day" fund so that you are prepared for life's unexpected expenses," says Wennes.

Community Savings Account Features
No monthly service fees or charges, unless the balance falls below $25 Tiered interest rates that reward savings by offering higher rates on higher account balances Unlimited monthly deposits and up to six withdrawals per month $25 minimum deposit to open the account

Residents in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Washington D. C. metropolitan services areas can apply for a Community Savings Account by phone at 1-866-846-4453 or go to our website to download an account application at https://bank. countrywide. com/community (https://bank. countrywide. com/community).

Countrywide Bank Background
Since its launch in 2001, Countrywide Bank has steadily expanded the reach of its financial centers to 13 states including: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. Its 100th financial center opened in January 2007 in Smithtown, New York, on Long Island. Located within many Countrywide Home Loans branches, Countrywide Bank employs a unique, low-overhead strategy of offering expertly staffed financial centers designed to meet the diverse savings and investment needs of its customers. With $86 billion in assets, Countrywide Bank is the third largest federal savings bank in the country.

Countrywide Bank offers consumers diverse financial products, including SavingsLink SM a high-yield online savings account; high-rate CDs; and money market and retirement accounts, as well as quality investment and insurance products through Countrywide Investment Services, Inc.* With SavingsLink, individuals can earn interest rates among the highest in the nation on their savings, and maintain the flexibility to easily transfer money to and from their checking, money market or investment account.

About Countrywide Bank
Countrywide Bank, FSB, is a member of the Countrywide Financial Corporation (NYSE: CFC) family of companies. Countrywide Bank offers consumers highly competitive rates on certificates of deposit and money market accounts and, through its family of companies, also offers investment and insurance products. Customers can review banking products and services, check rates on deposits, and apply for new accounts by phone, online, or at one of the financial centers located throughout the country. In addition, the company offers the same superior rates and unsurpassed personalized service to its business customers through its Premier Business Banking and Commercial Banking Divisions. For more information about Countrywide Bank, visit http://www. countrywidebank. com (http://www. countrywidebank. com). Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

Countrywide Investment Services and Countrywide Insurance Services Products
Not FDIC Insured
Not Guaranteed By Any Bank
Not A Deposit
May Lose Value
Not Insured By Any Federal Government Agency

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Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Now Providing Free Orthopaedic Injury Exams on Saturday Mornings to Student Athletes

2011-11-29T05:31:00.000-08:00

Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Now Providing Free Orthopaedic Injury Exams on Saturday Mornings to Student Athletes

"Saturday Morning Athletic Training Room" started by renowned orthopaedic surgeons Dr. James R. Andrews and Dr. Lonnie Paulos now beginning its second year

Gulf Breeze, FL (Vocus) September 2, 2009

The Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine (http://www. theandrewsinstitute. com) is now providing free orthopaedic injury exams to high school and collegiate athletes on Saturday mornings. The Saturday Morning Athletic Training Room is available to any student athlete, in any sport, concerned about an injury. It will be held every Saturday beginning September 5, 2009 and operating through the end of the Football season.

Students may check-in from 8-9 a. m. in the Andrews Institute Rehabilitation center in Suite 101 on the Andrews Institute campus; located at 1040 Gulf Breeze Parkway in Gulf Breeze, Fla. The exams are provided on a walk-in basis and the initial assessment is done free of charge. The exams are available to any student athlete in the Gulf Coast area including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

The exams are given by an Andrews Institute (http://www. theandrewsinstitute. com) orthopaedic physician and a certified athletic trainer. If an injury is assumed, the athlete may undergo a round of diagnostic imaging and testing such as MRI or X-Ray to further diagnose their condition. Once a diagnosis is made, they may be referred to another physician for further exams to assess the need for rehabilitation and/or surgery. The additional testing would be billed to their insurance.

"The exams are being offered to athletes who are concerned about a potential injury," says Dr. James Andrews, founder and medical director of the Andrews Institute. "Many athletes are injured during their Friday games and activities. However, many are not aware that they have injured themselves until the next day. This increased availability of health care will further expedite the treatment needed in order to safely return these athletes to the field. This also gives their parents and coaches peace of mind knowing that immediate care is available."

Student athletes who are under the age of 18 must either be accompanied by their legal guardian or have a waiver signed by their parent. This form is available at the Andrews Institute web site, http://www. theandrewsinstitute. com (http://www. theandrewsinstitute. com). Athletes should also bring with them insurance documentation. Additional questions can be directed to Jeremy Lowery, director of sports medicine at (850) 916-8615 or Maria Halpin, patient referral manager, at (850) 916-8700.

Through its commitment to the schools, Baptist Health Care and the Andrews Institute provide comprehensive sports medicine services year round, both on and off the playing field, providing free physicals to over 3,000 athletes annually. Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) and team physicians are assigned to each high school in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties in Florida, plus Foley High School in Alabama. Trainers visit the school daily to evaluate athletes. They provide coverage at practices and home games for injury evaluation and management, plus follow-up care. The ATCs and physicians are available to the coaches, parents and athletes for consultation, advice and assistance. The trainers help navigate athletes through the health care delivery process.

About the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine:
Located minutes from Pensacola, Florida in Gulf Breeze, the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine provides world-class care and service for the athlete in everyone. The Institute's 40 physicians and medical experts provide top-notch service to every patient and it's the only place in the world to offer surgery, diagnostic imaging, rehab and athletic performance training all on one campus. The one-of-a-kind center focuses on the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries while using the expertise of nationally and internationally renowned orthopaedic surgeon James Andrews, M. D. Dr. Andrews is best known as physician to some of sport's greatest professional athletes. http://www. theandrewsinstitute. com (http://www. theandrewsinstitute. com)

The Andrews Institute is an affiliate of Baptist Health Care. Baptist Health Care is a community-owned, not-for-profit health care organization committed to improving the quality of life for people and communities in Northwest Florida and South Alabama. Nationally recognized for performance excellence and quality achievement, Baptist has been recognized by FORTUNE Magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to work for; received the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2003; and has consistently ranked in the 99th percentile for patient satisfaction as recognized by Press Ganey. Baptist Health Care includes four hospitals, two medical parks, Baptist Manor, Baptist Home Health Care and Durable Medical Equipment, Baptist Leadership Institute, Andrews Institute for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine and Lakeview Center. With more than 5,000 employees, Baptist Health Care is the largest non-governmental employer in northwest Florida. For more information, please visit http://www. ebaptisthealthcare. org (http://www. ebaptisthealthcare. org).

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Diversity Builder, Inc. Makes Supplier Diversity History

2011-11-27T18:01:00.000-08:00

Diversity Builder, Inc. Makes Supplier Diversity History

Diversity Builder becomes the first diversity training corporation to be supplier diversity certified by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Franklin, TN (PRWEB) April 29, 2006

The NGLCC announces Diversity Builder, Inc. as the first diversity training corporation to receive its supplier diversity certification. The NGLCC (National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) is the exclusive certifying body for LGBT-owned (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) businesses and entrepreneurs.

Diversity Builder President Stanton stated, "The Diversity Builder staff has worked diligently to complete all certification requirements and was anxiously awaiting the announcement. To be the first training company to be certified by the NGLCC is an absolute honor. The supplier diversity certification will enable us to offer diversity training, website design, and Internet business marketing strategies to our new Fortune 500 and federal government partners."

The NGLCC certification has gained extensive acceptance by Fortune 100 companies since the program's inception in 2003. Participating Fortune 100 companies include IBM, JPMorgan Chase, Motorola, Intel, and American Express. In June of 2005, the Department of the Interior (DOI) became the first federal agency to agree to honor the NGLCC's certification, enabling LGBT businesses to bid on more than $4 billion dollars in contracts the DOI awards each year.

Diversity Builder, founded in 2003 by Debbie and Rachel Stanton, is a national business directory, networking site, and full service marketing firm. Clients include Farmers Insurance, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Newport Furnishings, Remington College, and Planned Parenthood.

Debbie Stanton is available for interviews by contacting Diversity Builder at 615-794-5047. For more information on Diversity Builder or supplier diversity certification, visit http://www. DiversityBuilder. com (http://www. DiversityBuilder. com).

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Newly Launched Company Provides Solutions for Profitable Growth

2011-11-26T14:09:00.000-08:00

Newly Launched Company Provides Solutions for Profitable Growth

Insurance Insight Group enables companies in the life and annuity marketplace to enter new markets, build distribution, optimize marketing, and strengthen operations.

Park City, Utah (PRWEB) December 24, 2007

A newly launched firm provides solutions for companies looking for a strong and deep expertise specifically focused on the life insurance and annuity industry. Until now, finding product development, marketing, operations and independent agent experience all under one roof, has been extremely difficult. Insurance Insight Group (IIG) has solved this problem for insurance carriers and marketing organizations.

The founders of Insurance Insight Group include Chris Conklin, an actuary, product developer and agent training professional; Mark Stone, a high-level marketing strategist and technology expert; Steve Kennedy, an operations and finance executive. The group has also brought together additional expertise in their extended staff. The company's expertise is focused on helping companies in the life and annuity marketplace reach their targets faster, including entering new markets, building distribution, optimizing marketing and strengthening operations. IIG's clients currently include several national and international insurance carriers and nationally focused marketing organizations.

"The fact that our company can offer experience and perspective from all sides of the business -- independent agent, marketing organizations and carrier/home office really enriches the services and solutions we provide to our clients," said Founder and Actuary Chris Conklin. "We are focused on providing our clients with solutions that help them reach higher levels of success, faster and easier than if they attempted it on their own."

Also, in 2008, Insurance Insight Group will be unveiling the Integrity in SellingSM symposiums, which will provide a focused group of life insurance and fixed annuity companies with the opportunity to reach new audiences of independent agents throughout the country.

For more information, visit www. insuranceinsightgroup. com/inn (http://www. insuranceinsightgroup. com/inn).

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Is Your Boss Covered? He Better Hope So

2011-11-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

Is Your Boss Covered? He Better Hope So

Is the British public at risk in the workplace? The last published figures indicated a 10% decrease in the workplace fatalities bearing in mind a high level of non-fatal injuries are not reported. Are employers to blame or are employees just negligent?

London, UK (PRWEB) March 14, 2006

The last thing on the average employees mind is having an accident at work, which is half the problem - awareness. Many businesses in the UK have gone bust as a result of employee claims and lack of due diligence in this area.

The BIBA (British Insurance Brokers' Association) claims that hundreds of small and medium sized firms have gone out of business in recent years because of a sharp increase in employer liability premiums, while a further 10,000 are at risk. Even though the government has agreed to explore ways of preventing small firms from going under due to steep rises in employer liability insurance, this will not infringe upon employee rights and the need for legal advice in such situations

The personal injury compensation claims company Claims Master Group http://www. claimsmastergroup. com/personal_injury_articles. htm (http://www. claimsmastergroup. com/personal_injury_articles. htm) have a number of articles written to guide consumers around the legal minefield and provide information on employee claims and employer liability.

In "Is Your Boss Covered?" Claims Master Group states "...it is also important to take note that if an employee is driving whilst on business and through negligence, causes a road traffic accident, the employer will be held responsible..." This is something which many a dodgy minicab firm should be weary of when last year alone 140 women were sexually assaulted in illegal minicabs

The website resources clearly define topics such as 'vicarious liability', responsibilities of an 'occupier', 'landlord' and who should really chase away 'trespassers'.

Nowadays the public turn to the internet for an immediate information fix, and there is a wealth of information on employer liability on UK websites.

It's not a free reign for employees to start falling downstairs. However, it does though highlight the need for useful information in layman's terms.

Many are beginning to frown on what is being termed a 'compensation culture'. Will this encourage employers to be more thorough providing a safe environment for their workers? If so, perhaps this is not such a bad idea, let joe bloggs be the judge.

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Xtremesoft Announces Beta Release of AppMetricsÂ® for BizTalk Server; New Version Supports Microsoft BizTalk Server 2002 and Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM)

2011-11-11T10:28:00.000-08:00

Xtremesoft Announces Beta Release of AppMetricsÂ® for BizTalk Server; New Version Supports Microsoft BizTalk Server 2002 and Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM)

Xtremesoft, Inc. today announced the beta release of its latest version 2.0 of AppMetrics for BizTalk Server. This release showcases support for BizTalk Server 2002 and Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM), and features Xtremesoft's new Suspended Document Manager and RapidResponseSM Engine.

(PRWEB) February 9, 2002

Woburn, Massachusetts: February 6, 2002 - Xtremesoft, Inc. today announced the beta release of its latest version 2.0 of AppMetrics for BizTalk Server. This release showcases support for BizTalk Server 2002 and Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM), and features Xtremesoft's new Suspended Document Manager and RapidResponseSM Engine.

The Suspended Document Manager (SDM) shows the administrator the status of all suspended documents, individually the most time consuming administrative task associated with BizTalk. It provides full control through a comprehensive web interface; giving administrators drill down visibility into all suspended documents, through the use of multiple analysis views, including: a Trading Partner View, a Suspension State View, and a Document and Interchange View. Moreover, these views feature multiple attribute filtering, and allow you to easily act upon groups of suspended documents. Used in conjunction with the RapidResponse engine, it can automatically manage the suspended document queue.

The RapidResponse Engine utilizes BizTalk Server 2002, itself, to automate processing of document exceptions and errors that occur in normal, day-to-day operations. Because the handlers are implemented, using BizTalk Server 2002 Orchestration, they can be easily customized to match the specific needs of a customer's unique application. The engine is highly scalable and supports long duration queued requests and responses, enabling robust event handlers to be built. The Document Transmission Failure event handler, for instance, features automatic polling of a trading partner followed by automatic document resubmission when the channel is recovered.

"Organizations throughout the world are building business applications using BizTalk Server, and AppMetrics for BizTalk is an enterprise solution geared explicitly for managing these large scale, mission critical applications," said Michael Dexter-Smith, President and CEO of Xtremesoft. "Our latest product complements BizTalk Server 2002 and Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) perfectly, and adds powerful features every administrator requires."

Availability

The beta is available now with final release expected in the second quarter. For a complete feature and function reference with side-by-side analysis of the management and monitoring features found in BizTalk Server 2002 and its Microsoft Operations Manager management pack; or to request entry into the beta program, go to: www. xtremesoft. com/beta (http://www. xtremesoft. com/beta) for more information.

About AppMetrics for BizTalk Server 2002

AppMetrics for BizTalk Server 2002 complements BizTalk Server by helping organizations successfully manage their BizTalk Server applications and servers. This application monitoring system tracks the business processes, messages, and activities running within BizTalk Server systems. Applications managers and system administrators can monitor the day-to-day health of BizTalk Server deployments, and receive notification of problems before their customers or trading partners are affected. Furthermore, whether beginning a pilot or fully deployed, AppMetrics for BizTalk Server's production reporting and analysis system enables you to collect the information you need to develop and verify service level agreements (SLAs) and perform capacity planning.

About Xtremesoft

Xtremesoft is the leading provider of software solutions that allow organizations to derive business intelligence from their MTS, COM+ and BizTalk Server 2000 (.NET) applications. Xtremesoft AppMetricsÂ® solutions make these applications more reliable and efficient by improving control and uptime, reducing outages and bottlenecks, and by increasing their ROI and improving customer metrics. Xtremesoft solutions are the de facto market standard and are in use today by Merrill Lynch, Skandia Banken, ADP, American Family Insurance, IDG, Schwan's Sales Enterprises and GMAC, among others. Contact Xtremesoft at 781.937.3800 or visit our website at www. xtremesoft. com for more information.

Giving Up Smoking Can Reduce a Life Insurance Policy by up to 43%

2011-11-05T23:25:00.000-07:00

Giving Up Smoking Can Reduce a Life Insurance Policy by up to 43%

Smokers who have been inspired to quit following the national No Smoking Day on Wednesday could see significant financial benefits from kicking the habit in addition to the improvements to their health. Those who have taken out life insurance cover to protect their families could save up to 43% on their monthly premium costs, which could add up to thousands over the life of a policy term, according to consumer finance website SimplyFinance.

(PRWEB) March 12, 2010

After giving up smoking, cleaner lungs and a healthier lifestyle are only two of the positive physical changes people notice. However, those who have life insurance protection may also be surprised to learn how much difference being a non-smoker could make to their premium costs once they have been smoke-free for 12 months.

Katie Jenkins, Site Editor at SimplyFinance (http://www. simplyfinance. co. uk) comments, "People should be aware that quitting smoking has a really positive effect on all areas of their finances. The most immediate consequence is being better off each month to the tune of several hundred pounds; money that can be put into a savings account, used for paying off debts or to treat the family. However in the longer-term, life insurance policyholders could be saving on their monthly premium payments too from 12 months after kicking the habit. This can add up to thousands over the term of a policy."

Male and female non smokers would save 43%* on their premiums when compared to those paid by smokers. The premium for a non smoking male falls to £14.31 from £25.45 for a smoker, and a female £11.30 rather than £20.40.

While applicants must not have used tobacco or nicotine replacement products for 12 months to qualify as a non smoker, existing policyholders could start saving straight away. “Many policyholders will not be aware how far the cost of life assurance has fallen in recent years, so even if they don’t yet qualify as a non-smoker, they could still make substantial savings” said Richard Morea of London & Country.

To find out more about the free advice and support that is available to help with quitting smoking, visit the No Smoking Day website (http://www. nosmokingday. org. uk) or apply for a free NHS Quit Kit (http://smokefree. nhs. uk/quit-tools/quit-kit/). For more information about the types of Life Insurance available, visit the SimplyFinance Life Insurance (http://www. simplyfinance. co. uk/Insurance/Life-Insurance. html) pages.

To help policyholders check the competitiveness of their premiums London & Country has launched the 1 Minute Life Insurance Check (http://www. lcplc. co. uk/lifecheck). Answering a few simple questions will allow the user to see whether they are paying too much for their life assurance.

*Based on a 35-year old taking £200,000 level term assurance over 25 years.

Notes to Editors

SimplyFinance. co. uk is a personal finance website (http://www. simplyfinance. co. uk) that exists to help consumers manage their money more effectively. SimplyFinance. co. uk provides a range of informative content, tools and calculators to empower consumers to make more informed financial choices.

London & Country (http://www. lcplc. co. uk) (L&C) is the UK’s leading no-fee mortgage broker. Based in Bath, it provides award winning whole of market advice nationwide. As well as residential mortgages, it also advises on specialist mortgage sectors, and the protection market.

Press Contacts:

Katie Jenkins, Site Producer, SimplyFinance
Office: 0207 341312
Mobile: 07881 821425

Richard Morea, Technical Manager, London & Country
Office: 01225 341312
Mobile: 07970 885168

David Hollingworth, Head of Communications, London & Country
Office: 01225 341211
Mobile: 07710 634044

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Effektive Solutions Launches MyMarketWare, A New Single Property WebSite Solution & How-to Blog

2011-10-28T06:55:00.000-07:00

Effektive Solutions Launches MyMarketWare, A New Single Property WebSite Solution & How-to Blog

Win listings, gain exposure for them, and distinguish yourself in your market area...with MyMarketWare. com. MyMarketWare gives you the solution and the tools for effectively marketing your real estate properties.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 21, 2008

Effektive Solutions LLC, announces the launch of a new single property Website solution entitled MyMarketWare (http://mymarketware. com (http://mymarketware. com)). MyMarketWareprovides a premier single property Website solution coupled with real estate marketing advice. "MarketSites" incorporate key technology features with unlimited property information to give listings the online presence they deserve.

Choose from beautiful generic and company branded designs. Include up to 100 high resolution pictures, video, podcasts, and blog. All the major mapping engines are embedded, as well as Microsoft's Live Earth with the bird's eye view. Syndicate your MarketSite to Google, Yahoo, Trulia, Popsmart, Homescape, and more! Add the "featured listings" widget to your real estate blog or Website one time and it automatically updates with each new MarketSite you create. The "Click to Talk" feature allows your Website viewers to call you instantly! And it's all risk free! Sign in and register for a free account, create your site for free, use it for listing presentations and activate once you've won the listing. Single MarketSites are $39 each, with bulk pricing available.

Nicole Nicolay, Effektive Solutions Co-Founder, adds, "MyMarketWare not only offers the solution, but the how-to. We'll be blogging about how to best utilize the features available on MarketSites and keep you in the loop with the industry's best marketing ideas and resources. With MyMarketWare, agents will win more listings, maximize exposure for them, and distinguish themselves in their market."

For more information and to create your FREE account, visit MyMarketWare (http://mymarketware. com (http://mymarketware. com)). For additional questions and inquiries, contact Nicole Nicolay at nicole@mymarketware. com.

Effektive Solutions LLC is a real estate marketing and technology solutions company based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Founders, Sarah Fields and Nicole Nicolay, have created online technology solutions which assist over 30 title insurance operations. They have now turned their attention toward helping real estate agents with their marketing strategies and online presence by adding MyMarketWare to their successful suite of products and services.

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Home Care & Hospice Associations Form New Organization; Connecticut Association for Home Care & Hospice

2011-10-22T20:52:00.000-07:00

Home Care & Hospice Associations Form New Organization; Connecticut Association for Home Care & Hospice

Merger of Connecticut's home care and hospice organizations brings together two groups with common issues and common goals.

Wallingford, CT (PRWEB) February 3, 2008

The Connecticut Association for Home Care and the Connecticut Council for Hospice & Palliative Care have officially merged to create a new single organization called the Connecticut Association for Home Care & Hospice (CAHCH).

The impetus for merger sprang from a two-year contractual relationship between the two separate organizations in which they worked closely and attained meaningful synergies.

"This new organizational structure creates a forum for advancing mutually beneficial ideas, not to mention the increased efficiencies in serving members," said Brian D. Ellsworth, President & CEO of CAHCH. "This merger also reinforces the continuum of care that exists in Connecticut."

Home care and hospice share many things in common, including:
Prevention of avoidable hospitalization and institutional placement Maximized patient autonomy & choice Inclusion of loved ones in care for the patient Participation with third party programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance & Veterans Administration

"Together we are a strong voice when it comes to shaping--and improving--end of life care," said Don Schumacher, President & CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

For more information contact Brian Ellsworth at 203-265-9931 or 860-874-6169 (cell).

About the Connecticut Association for Home Care & Hospice:
CAHCH's members include home health agencies, hospices, homemaker-companion agencies and other providers of home care and services. CAHCH supports its members in the delivery of exceptional quality and accessible home care and hospice services.

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Atiam Technologies Announces New Company Name: InsPro Technologies

2011-10-22T20:02:00.000-07:00

Atiam Technologies Announces New Company Name: InsPro Technologies

Recent Advisory Board appointment of Klaus P. Besier and redesigned website reflect technology innovation and momentum in life & health insurance market

Eddystone, PA (PRWEB) May 18, 2009

Atiam Technologies, a leading provider of life & health insurance management solutions, today announced the official re-branding of the company name to InsPro Technologies (http://www. inspro. com). Changing the company name to align with InsPro Enterprise, its flagship solution, will simplify customer identification of the company and underline decades of experience and commitment to the insurance industry.

"Our new name and tagline -- Insurance Dedication. Inspired Innovation. -- truly reflect our customer commitment and value that InsPro delivers to insurers and administrators across North America," said Robert Oakes, President and CEO of InsPro Technologies. "The name InsPro embodies not only our market-leading policy management platform, but also over 20 years of insurance experience, specifically in life and health."

In a single insurance policy administration platform, InsPro Enterprise offers unparalleled accuracy and visibility for improved business performance, faster product launches and lower IT costs. InsPro reaches the entire enterprise from marketing to operations, spans the entire product and policy lifecycle from development to claim, and offers integrated support for all channels, all policies and all users.

The recent appointment of Klaus P. Besier as the first member of InsPro Technologies' Strategic Advisory Board better positions the company for market expansion and strategic growth. Besier brings decades of experience in creating and guiding technology market leaders, ranging from tenures as President & CEO of SAP Americas and Neoware to his current role as Executive Chairman of Pramata Corporation.

"Klaus' deep expertise in business leadership, in conjunction with his exceptional track record in the technology industry, makes him an ideal advisor to the InsPro team as we expand our reach," said Oakes. "We are already benefiting from his contribution to InsPro's success."

"InsPro has demonstrated all of the critical success factors necessary to become the industry standard for life & health insurance software, and I'm thrilled to take part in its momentum," said Besier. "As the company enters its next growth phase, its balance of technology innovation and a strong customer focus will pave the road to market leadership."

InsPro today also launched a new corporate website at http://www. inspro. com (http://www. inspro. com). The redesigned site features expanded content and a fresh design to provide visitors with a more streamlined and appealing online experience.

Editors' note: InsPro Technologies will be participating in the ACORD LOMA Insurance Systems Forum at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida, from May 17-19 (booth 610).

About InsPro Technologies
InsPro Technologies offers the most comprehensive, flexible and innovative insurance management solutions in the industry. Designed specifically for Life & Health insurers, our flagship solution, InsPro Enterprise, manages the entire product and policy lifecycle in a single integrated platform. Using InsPro, companies can launch new products in half the time, lower IT support costs by up to 50%, increase customer retention and improve operational performance. Built on a proven and scalable web-based architecture and an insurance-fluent configuration engine, InsPro can be deployed in weeks for the industry's fastest-time-to value. InsPro Technologies also offers hosting and application maintenance for complete support. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in suburban Philadelphia. For more information, please visit http://www. inspro. com (http://www. inspro. com).

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National Grassroots Group Takes Up Dying Girl's Cause

2011-10-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

National Grassroots Group Takes Up Dying Girl's Cause

Charlotte's "Web" of a Battle Escalates with Insurer Great-West Over Denial of Home Nursing Care

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) February 6, 2005

A firestorm of media attention is building around a dying girl named Charlotte and her struggle to receive nursing care at home rather than in the hospital. Today, following news coverage by local and regional television stations earlier this week, a national grassroots organization has weighed in. It has launched an Internet campaign to increase pressure on Charlotte's family's insurance company to "do the right thing."

Multiple television news stories about Charlotte's family and their predicament aired throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana, northern California and Alaska on stations KING-5, KONG 6/16 and the regional Northwest Cable News channel on February 1. The Colorado-based insurer, Great-West Life & Annuity, has taken the unusual step of denying home nursing care to three year-old Charlotte. In nearly all similar cases, according to Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, insurers will convert benefits to allow terminally ill children to spend their final weeks and months at home rather than in a hospital.

"It's heartless," observed Kathleen O'Connor, founder and CEO of CodeBlueNow!, the national grassroots organization that has taken up Charlotte's cause. "Great-West will pay for hospital care but not less costly care at home," she said. "Where other insurers almost always convert benefits to allow for home nursing care, Great-West has abandoned Charlotte's family when they needed coverage the most. Ironically, they would provide home care if she were not dying. That's simply un-American."

CodeBlueNow!, with members in 46 states, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that uses the Internet to advocate for fundamental health care reform. To help Charlotte's family pressure Great-West, the organization has begun a "viral marketing" campaign, sending e-mail to thousands of supporters nationwide. The e-mail urges recipients to take action and tell a friend. It directs them to a website (http://www. codebluenow. org/charlotte (http://www. codebluenow. org/charlotte)) to write, fax or e-mail Great-West's CEO, calling on the company to let Charlotte receive nursing care at home. The e-mail also includes a 60-second video with shots of Charlotte and her family.

Despite onslaught of negative attention, Great-West has so far refused to budge. In a statement to KING-5, a company spokesperson claimed that Charlotte's family has been told "three times" that home nursing care is not covered by their policy. Great-West has avoided responding directly to reports that other insurers would convert benefits under similar circumstances.

"Charlotte's situation is emblematic of a larger national crisis facing American families and their employers," remarked O'Connor, who is also publisher of The O'ConnorReport, author of The Buck Stops Nowhere: Why AmericaÂs Health Care is all Dollars and No Sense, and 26-year veteran of health care analysis. "This could happen to anyone in America. With half of all bankruptcies due to medical bills, our flawed health care system is driving Americans out of house and home. Just this year, Tennessee cut 323,000 from its health care rolls." O'Connor argues that CodeBlueNow!'s nonpartisan efforts to reform the system are more needed now than ever.

Charlotte is fortunate in one respect. The State of Washington's Department of Developmental Disabilities was able to provide a special one-time exemption that allows 16 hours per day of home nursing care through a Medicaid-funded program. However, her family must augment this care with costly high-risk insurance on top of their monthly premiums to Great-West.

As the e-mails and letters continue to pile up at Great-West's headquarters, CodeBlueNow! vows to "turn up the heat" until the company agrees to cover Charlotte's home nursing care. "They don't know what's about to hit them," says O'Connor. "You don't mess with a dying three year old girl. And you don't mess with a family that simply wants to spend time with their child, instead of filing insurance appeals. Great-West is about to learn this lesson the hard way."

About CodeBlueNow!

CodeBlueNow! is a non-partisan, national 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is mobilizing grassroots efforts to transform the financing, delivery and management of the American health care system, by assuring that the public has a voice in shaping health care policy. The organization has grown from 30 people in October 2003 to having thousands of supporters in 46 states and an online radio show. More information is online at: http://www. codebluenow. org (http://www. codebluenow. org).

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A Good Reason to Take a Second Look at your Current Auto Insurance Coverage

2011-10-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

A Good Reason to Take a Second Look at your Current Auto Insurance Coverage

A survey conducted by http://www. OnlineAutoInsurance. com indicated that a large percentage of consumers have a false sense of security because on a misunderstanding of their auto insurance coverage.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) December 12, 2007

A recent survey completed by OnlineAutoInsurance. com, an online extension of a California based auto insurance brokerage, found that an overwhelming majority of consumers are under a false sense of comfort based on a misunderstanding of their current auto insurance coverage.

OnlineAutoInsurance. com interviewed 100 consumers about their understanding of what their current auto insurance policy would cover in case of an at fault automobile accident.

Interview results indicated that 82% of consumers who believed to have "full coverage" auto insurance were under the false impression that in case of an at fault accident, their policy would provide coverage for all medical injuries and vehicle damages sustained by both parties involved in the accident.

In fact, interviewed consumers stating to have full coverage, only had liability bodily injury coverage of $15,000 per person, $30,000 total limit for multiple persons, $5,000 for property damage (vehicle damages, etc) along with comprehensive and collision coverage for their vehicle.

In the event a consumer having the above coverage were to strike and cause damages to another vehicle exceeding $5,000 and medical injuries to passengers in excess of $30,000, there could be a substantial amount of "uncovered" damages leaving the consumer liable and vulnerable to lawsuits.

Although full coverage really doesn't exist, one can increase liability coverage limits and purchase additional available coverage which can help prevent a devastating situation where you would be left liable for uncovered damages to yourself and others in the event of an at-fault accident. Most consumers will be surprised to find additional coverage reasonably affordable.

Log onto OnlineAutoInsurance. com and visit the Learning Center to learn more about coverage and to compare free online auto insurance quotes (http://www. onlineautoinsurance. com) from multiple quality companies all with one simple process. Feel free to quote the many different coverage options available with no obligation to purchase a policy.

Courtesy of http://www. OnlineAutoInsurance. com (http://www. OnlineAutoInsurance. com)

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Kick Start a Travel Writing Career with the World Nomads Ambassador Program - or Just See a Slab of Australia for Free

2011-10-03T17:02:00.000-07:00

Kick Start a Travel Writing Career with the World Nomads Ambassador Program - or Just See a Slab of Australia for Free

Travel all over the countryside, write about it, blog it and podcast it on the World Nomads website - vehicle and technical requirements provided free of charge - and you could be on your way to a career as a travel writer. Or at least a travel tragic!

(PRWEB) December 20, 2006

World Nomads is looking for a minimum of 16 'Adventure Ambassadors (http://journals. worldnomads. com/travel-competitions/post/1677.aspx)' to share in a huge, two-year Aussie road trip. Travellers Auto Barn will provide the Ambassador van (which bears little resemblance to its Indian namesake) and if they make the grade and get selected as an Ambassador, they can drive off into the countryside, exploring the great Aussie continent at will, for up to six weeks.

The selection process will be based on applicants' skills, availability, eagerness - and a monumental appetite for adventure. Chosen Ambassadors will need to be a bit tech savvy and keen to tell the world what they get up to.

For here's the catch: in return for the trip of your dreams, World Nomads will ask Ambassadors (http://journals. worldnomads. com/travel-competitions/post/1677.aspx) to share it along the way through posting regular blogs, podcasts and vidcasts on the World Nomads website.

World Nomads will provide a laptop and iPod and all the back-up needed to deliver, with gizmos, gadgets and guidance from a range of sponsors. Travellers Auto Barn will provide the van; Nokia will provide the latest N93 phone with high resolution photo and video capabilities; Global Gossip will provide internet access for uploading travel stories to the World Nomads website and Lonely Planet will provide enough destination information to ensure you don't get too lost.

Adecco is also on board providing access to great jobs should an Ambassador be in need of a job at the end of their jaunt, and Intrepid Travel will be offering treks to some lucky bloggers.

Successful World Nomads Ambassadors (http://journals. worldnomads. com/travel-competitions/post/1677.aspx) must be prepared to travel to the designated pick-up point to take over the Ambassador van from the previous Nomads and cover the running costs of the van (fuel, oil etc) and living expenses (food, alcohol etc). There are terms and conditions similar to a standard car rental agreement - including being over 21 years of age and having a valid driver's license and a credit card.

Chris Noble, Global Marketing Manager for World Nomads, sees this program as a way to engage travel writers around the world, " We want independent, adventurous travellers who have a keen desire to hone their travel writing skills. They bring the hunger for adventure, World Nomads will keep them travelling safely and submitting some amazing content, all in the comfort of our Ambassador van ". All aspiring travel writers can apply (http://journals. worldnomads. com/travel-competitions/post/1677.aspx) through the World Nomads website.

World Nomads is a leading on-line travel insurance provider, allowing you to buy your policy even after you've left home, extend your policy indefinitely and make claims online while you're still away, from anywhere in the world. Their comprehensive travel insurance policies are competitively priced and policyholders can also take advantage of foreign language learning podcasts, the red24 security alert service, and a personal on-line travel journal. World Nomads also has a charity program, Footprints, which has raised over AUD$120,000 in the last year for sustainable travel projects around the world.

World Nomads partners with some of the best insurers in the world to provide unique and financially secure travel insurance. These include Allianz Australia, Allianz New Zealand, BCI insurance Company and Arch Capital Group.

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Caravaninsurance. org Relaunches Revamped Caravan Insurance Comparison Website

2011-10-03T06:18:00.000-07:00

Caravaninsurance. org Relaunches Revamped Caravan Insurance Comparison Website

UK based insurance portal caravan insurance. org extend their offerings in the touring caravan, static caravan and motorhome insurance markets with the acquisition and re-launch of their new caravan insurance site.

Co. Down, Ireland (PRWEB) December 30, 2009

Customers are able to get an online quote by entering details of their caravan insurance (http://www. caravaninsurance. org) or motorhome insurance requirements into the website. The system will then search for quotes amongst several of the main caravan insurance providers in the UK and return online prices. Caravaninsurance. org will then show details of several suitable policies, enabling customers to assess their best options : both in terms of price, and in terms of securing cover that meets their input requirements.

Alternatively caravaninsurance. com has a dedicated freephone line, where quotes are available ‘in minutes’ over the telephone.

George McGonigal of caravaninsurance. org explained that ‘although these services have been available for car insurance and other types of financial products for some time, there are very few available that searched exclusively for specialist touring caravan insurance (http://www. caravaninsurance. org) and static caravan insurance. Our service broadens choice in that niche and provides an accessible and state-of-the-art system, both for those with access to the internet and for those who would rather call a freephone number and get a quote that way’.

Whichever way customers access their service, caravaninsurance. org will provide an immediate quote and – if customers are happy – can provide immediate cover from the appropriate provider. Carvavaninsurance. org will be re-launching their specialist touring caravan insurance, static caravan insurance and motorhome insurance services in January 2010.

For further details of their services please visit www. caravaninsurance. org
For marketing opportunities, or if you are interested in working with caravaninsurance. org, please contact George McGonigal as above.

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Medeguide Announces Online Marketing Partnership with Admax Plus to Promote Doctors and Treatment Packages Online

2011-10-02T22:17:00.000-07:00

Medeguide Announces Online Marketing Partnership with Admax Plus to Promote Doctors and Treatment Packages Online

Medeguide. com will 'go live' on June 30, 2009 at the Healthcare Travel Congress in Singapore. This is the first site of its kind aimed at providing international doctors and hospitals an online platform to market their products and services.

Bangkok, Thailand (PRWEB) April 30, 2009

Medeguide, a new online doctor search portal (http://www. medeguide. com/) founded by medical tourism pioneer Ruben Toral, has formed a partnership with Admax Plus, a leading social media and search engine marketing firm.

Medeguide is a new web platform that helps patients find doctors and treatment packages online. The site will 'go live' on June 30, 2009 at the Healthcare Travel Congress in Singapore, and will contain profiles of top medical and surgical specialists (http://www. medeguide. com/doctors. php) around the world. This is the first site of its kind aimed at providing international doctors and hospitals an online platform to market their products and services locally and globally.

Medeguide's founder, Ruben Toral, is a recognized leader in the medical tourism industry. Formerly Group Marketing Director for Bumrungrad International hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, Ruben now provides consulting, branding and marketing support to hospitals and insurance companies as CEO of Mednet Asia (http://www. mednetasia. com (http://www. mednetasia. com)). He is also President of the International Medical Travel Association (http://www. intlmta. org (http://www. intlmta. org)).

"Increasingly, patients are using the web as their primary source for healthcare information", explains Ruben Toral. "Patients want trustworthy, relevant information about doctors and treatment packages. Medeguide does that. We give them information that helps them makes better healthcare choices."

According to a 2006 Pew Internet study, 80% of American internet users have searched for healthcare information; 51% are looking for a specific treatment and 29% are looking for a particular doctor or hospital.

On the partnership with Admax Plus, Ruben is emphatic "Admax Plus is a proven leader in search engine and social media marketing. They have executed successful campaigns for Accor, Singapore Tourism Board and other top tier clients. No one I know does web based marketing better than Admax Plus."

Social media marketing is clearly the new frontier in online marketing. The growth of websites like Facebook and Twitter are testimony to the fact that people of all ages are using the web to connect. Wolfgang Jaegel, the founder and Regional Managing Director of Admax Plus, is an evangelist for this new breed of online marketing and clearly sees how consumers, doctors and hospital can benefit from a site like Medeguide.

"When people are looking for a doctor, they usually turn to friends and family for recommendations,' explains Jaegel, a social media marketing expert, "by combining a web platform like Medeguide with social media marketing you are creating a completely new environment for patients, doctors and hospitals to connect. The future of healthcare is clearly online."

About Admax Plus:
ADMAX Plus is a leading search and social media marketing (http://www. admaxplus. com) company, providing a wide range of services and platforms that include press release and article syndication, social media marketing, search-engine optimization, search-engine marketing, web-analytics implementation and consulting, and online-brand monitoring.

Since the launch of the company, ADMAX Plus has grown to a regional presence and serves global brands including: Accor, Asiativ, LG, Nestle, Ford, Mastercard, HSBC, NIKE, Samsung, Singapore Tourism Board and Symantec

About Medeguide:
Medeguide (http://www. medeguide. com (http://www. medeguide. com)) is a consumer portal to "find a doctor" and a web based marketing platform for doctors and hospitals. The company sells digital products to help doctors and hospitals promote their services and products online. The company will launch its consumer portal on June 30, 2009 and already has over 20 leading international hospitals and 500 doctors in 10 countries committed to participate at launch.

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City Club of Portland to Offer Forum on "The Business of Philanthropy"

2011-09-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

City Club of Portland to Offer Forum on "The Business of Philanthropy"

At its weekly Friday Forum on July 7, 2006, City Club of Portland welcomes Greg Chaillé, President, Oregon Community Foundation; Jerry Hudson, Executive Vice President, Collins Foundation; Doug Stamm, Executive Director, Meyer Memorial Trust; and moderator Isaac Regenstreif, Executive Director of PacifiCorp Foundation for a presentation titled “The Business of Philanthropy: New Trends in Stewardship.”

Portland, OR (PRWEB) June 24, 2006

Foundations are seeking more creative ways to have a greater impact while stretching the dollars they have. The philanthropic world is also facing major demographic changes with an increase in human need, a generational transfer of wealth and new trends in youth volunteering. These realities are creating a transformation in how foundations conduct business. These new directions include more collaborations with other foundations and entities, greater activity in the policy arena, and a move to more entrepreneurial giving — a philosophy of investing rather than just contributing.

Three of Oregon’s largest foundations — the Oregon Community Foundation, the Collins Foundation and Meyer Memorial Trust — are at the forefront of many of these new developments, and their directors, Greg Chaillé, Jerry Hudson and Doug Stamm, will share how they’re working to leverage their efforts to bring about a more sustainable impact, using specific cases to illustrate trends in philanthropic funding.

City Club's Friday Forum, which is open to the public, will be held at the Governor Hotel (614 SW 11th Ave.). Doors open at 11:30 a. m.; the program begins at 12:15 p. m. and concludes at 1:15 p. m. Luncheon tickets are $20 ($16 for members of City Club) and must be reserved by 12 noon Thursday, July 6, 2006 online at www. pdxcityclub. org or by calling 503-228-7231, ext. 103. Coffee/tea table tickets ($5) and general seating ($5; free for City Club members) will be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.

A NOTE TO MEDIA

Media are encouraged to attend and are invited to sit in general seating. Please sign in at the registration table on the day of the forum. For broadcast media, an audio press patch will be available, and a riser for videotaping can be provided with advance notice. Contact Tim Krause at tim@pdxcityclub. org or 503-228-7231, ext. 102.

ABOUT GREG CHAILLE

Greg Chaillé is president of Oregon Community Foundation, a position he has held since 1987. He guides the development, investment and grant activities of the nation’s 11th largest community foundation. When Greg began work at OCF, its assets were $7 million. Today, the Foundation has assets of $770 million and provides grants and scholarships totaling $42 million per year.

The Foundation’s mission is to improve life in Oregon and promote effective philanthropy. It does this by working with individuals, families and business throughout Oregon to create charitable funds to benefit their communities.

Chaillé has served on several national and local boards for philanthropy. He is currently a board member of Foundations for a Better Oregon, a statewide coalition of Oregon’s five largest foundations. He is also a board member and serves on the Executive Committee for the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation. He is past president of the Oregon Chapter of the American Leadership Forum and past member of the Governor’s Advisory Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse. He is an advisor to the Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Governance Committee and to The American Leadership Forum.

ABOUT JERRY E. HUDSON

Jerry Hudson has been Executive Vice President of The Collins Foundation since 1997. Prior to that he was President of Willamette University from 1980 to 1997 and President of Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota from 1975 to 1980. From 1972 to 1975, Hudson was Provost at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, where he was also a Professor of History from 1962 to 1975.

Hudson has been director of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; Chairman of the Educational Insurance Administrators Association; President of the Oregon Independent Colleges Association and on the Executive Committee of the Oregon Independent Colleges Foundation. He continues as Regent at Pepperdine University and Director at PGE Foundation.

His community involvement includes the Oregon China Commission, Salem YMCA, Salem United Way, Goodwill Industries of Oregon, Commercial State Bank and Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities.

Hudson received a bachelor’s degree in history from David Lipscomb College (Nashville), a master’s and Ph. D. in American History from Tulane University (New Orleans).

ABOUT ISAAC REGENSTREIF

Isaac Regenstreif is the executive director of the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning in Portland Oregon. Prior to taking the position he served as a member of the Foundation board and joined the Foundation staff in 2001 to lead a special $1 million early childhood literacy project. He began his career with PacifiCorp in 1988 as public policy manager and served as a senior policy consultant from 1997 to 2001, focusing on energy industry restructuring.

Regenstreif was raised in Indiana and received a BA in political science from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1972. After a stint with VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) and the Big Brothers program in Helena, Mont., he moved to Oregon to pursue a master’s degree in public affairs. He graduated from the University of Oregon with honors in 1976.

He began his career in Oregon as an assistant to Governor Bob Straub in 1977. He also worked as a committee administrator in the Oregon legislature, a commissioner’s assistant to Portland City Commissioner Mike Lindberg, and a legislative liaison for METRO, a Portland-based regional government. In 1981 he became co-owner and vice president of a local consulting firm and joined Oregon Bank as a vice president in 1984. In 1986 and ’87, Regenstreif lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was a consultant to the Bank of America.

Regenstreif has been active in community and education affairs, currently serving as a volunteer in the Portland Public Schools, vice president of Oregon Water Trust, a trustee on the Oregon Zoo Foundation Board, and as a member of a League of Women Voters Advisory Committee. He is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum and has served on the City Club Board of Governors, Oregon Holocaust Resource Center Board of Directors, the Self-Enhancement, Inc., Art and Soul Committee, Parry Center for Children Board of Directors, Portland Public Schools Performance Audit Implementation Steering Committee and the Portland Roast Festival Committee. He is also a SMART reading mentor.

ABOUT DOUG STAMM

A native Oregonian, Doug Stamm has been executive director of Meyer Memorial Trust since April 2002. Stamm has leadership, fiscal and administrative responsibilities for the Trust, which has current assets of approximately $600 million and has over its lifetime awarded to organizations in Oregon and Southwest Washington over 5,000 grants, totaling nearly $400 million. While at the Trust, Stamm has been instrumental in developing two major public education initiatives, the Oregon Small Schools Initiative and the Chalkboard Project, along with a Program and Mission Related Investment program through which the Trust actively embraces novel investment opportunities to compliment its grant program and further its mission.

Prior to joining the Trust, Stamm worked in private business, nonprofit management and the law. He initially “toiled” as an attorney in private practice and for the next ten years held several executive positions at NIKE, including global director of public affairs, which included leading the NIKE Foundation. As national director of the Portland-based nonprofit Friends of the Children, he spearheaded expansion of the program to 10 new cities.

Stamm is a graduate of both Stanford University (BS) and Northwestern School of Law (JD).

ABOUT CITY CLUB OF PORTLAND

City Club of Portland is a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic affairs organization that promotes civic engagement and active citizenship to build a stronger community. Through unbiased research and compelling programs, City Club connects citizens with ideas and issues that affect our community. City Club is open to everyone who wants to interact with other citizens and shape the future of our city and state, providing a neutral forum for many diverse voices. For more information about City Club of Portland, visit www. pdxcityclub. org or call 503-228-7231.

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BMI of Texas Selected to Participate in Lap-Band Total Care™ Out of Towner Network

2011-09-21T04:55:00.000-07:00

BMI of Texas Selected to Participate in Lap-Band Total Care™ Out of Towner Network

Lap-Band and REALIZE adjustable gastric band patients visiting or relocating to San Antonio can access expert aftercare at BMI of Texas.

San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) May 24, 2010

The Bariatric Medical Institute of Texas (“BMI of Texas”), which specializes in a variety of weight loss surgery procedures (http://www. bmioftexas. com/default/your-options) in Texas, today announced its participation in Allergan’s LAP-BAND® Total Care™ Out of Towner Network, which allows bariatric patients who are visiting San Antonio or relocating to San Antonio to access expert aftercare at BMI of Texas.

“Adjustable gastric band (http://www. bmioftexas. com/default/your-options/laparoscopic-adjustable-banding) patients need to have their bands adjusted regularly in order to achieve optimal weight loss,” said Dr. Terive Duperier (http://www. bmioftexas. com/default/our-expert-team/frank), a San Antonio bariatric surgeon and co-founder of BMI of Texas. “We can help band patients who are visiting San Antonio or have moved here from another city. Whether they have a REALIZE band or a LAP-BAND, our highly-trained team can assess their situation and perform the appropriate band fill.”

BMI of Texas is one of the only practices in the nation that performs fluoroscopic assisted band adjustments in the office. Patients interested in the BMI of Texas aftercare program can learn more information on the company’s Website or by contacting its office at (210) 615-8500. According to Allergan, practices which are committed to providing access to expert aftercare for LAP-BAND patients are designated as members of its Out of Towner Network.

BMI of Texas, located in San Antonio's Medical Center area, helps patients achieve their weight loss goals through various surgical procedures including gastric bypass (http://www. bmioftexas. com/default/your-options/laparoscopic-gastric-bypass), adjustable gastric band and sleeve gastrectomy (http://www. bmioftexas. com/default/your-options/sleeve-gastrectomy). For patients who experience some weight regain after surgery, BMI of Texas offers some new endoscopic procedures, such as Stomaphyx (http://www. bmioftexas. com/default/your-options/stomaphyx). Endoscopy is a safe, non-surgical technique where the surgeon inserts a scope through the patient’s mouth, down the esophagus, and into the stomach pouch. With Stomaphyx, the gastroscope is inserted into the patient’s mouth down into an existing gastric pouch and ‘sutures’ are used to make the original gastric pouch smaller.

BMI of Texas assists patients throughout their entire weight loss journey. After attending a free, educational seminar, patients are assigned a patient advocate to help coordinate the extensive paperwork and insurance stipulations necessary for surgical intervention. Post-operatively, the doctors continue to follow their patients to ensure long-term weight loss success. As part of its comprehensive program, BMI of Texas offers an on-site dietitian for nutritional counseling and hosts support groups where post-op patients can discuss a wide variety of issues, such as relationships and dietary concerns. In addition, the practice’s Web site includes a calculator for prospective patients to calculate their BMI at bmioftexas. com/default/bmi-calculator.

Dr. Duperier and his partner, Dr. Michael Seger (http://www. bmioftexas. com/default/our-expert-team/michael), have been performing bariatric surgery in San Antonio for years, and are recognized by peers and patients for their excellent surgical skills and patient care. Visit bmioftexas. com/media-center. html to view the successful results they have helped achieve for several of their weight loss surgery patients. In addition to their bariatric surgery practice, the surgeons perform a full spectrum of advanced laparoscopic procedures, including laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication (anti-reflux surgery), laparoscopic colon surgery, laparoscopic pancreatic surgery, and laparoscopic hernia surgeries.

About BMI of Texas:

Founded in 2008, the Bariatric Medical Institute of Texas is focused on helping patients achieve their long-term weight loss goals. More information on the practice can be found online at bmioftexas. com.

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Free Caregiver Burnout Seminar

2011-09-10T00:38:00.000-07:00

Free Caregiver Burnout Seminar

A free seminar to help those who are challenged with caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's, dementia or other diseases requiring long-term care.

(PRWEB) June 18, 2005

What: A free seminar to help those who are challenged with caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's, dementia or other diseases requiring long-term care.

Our seminar is for family members who are caring for their elderly loved ones. Many of these caregivers feel isolated and alone and do not know where to turn for help with the day-to-day issues involved in caregiving. Our goal is to help family caregivers recognize the signs of burnout and to be proactive in setting goals to cope with it. With community resources, support groups, long-term care alternatives, legal support and financial strategies, families can equip themselves with the necessary tools to provide greater care for their loved ones.

Topics covered include:

Â What is Caregiver Burnout?

Â Avoiding Burnout

Â Local resources for Caregivers

Â Protecting the elderly from identity theft

Â Power of attorneys, living wills, DNRs

Â Avoiding the pitfalls of long term care insurance

Why: Even though there are many community resources available to them, many families fail to avail themselves of those resources for various reasonsÂ caregiver guilt, isolation, lack of financial resources, fear of letting go or fear of the unknown. Caregivers who donÂt get enough support often burnout and begin to encounter emotional, mental, physical and personal problems.

Who: Renee Reeves, a long term care consultant who has worked with Alzheimer's and dementia patients for over 10 years, will be presenting ideas and strategies intended to help caregivers deal with the stresses involved with caring for elderly loved ones.

When: Thursday June 23, 2005 at 7:00pm

Where: The New Tyee Center, 5757 Littlerock Rd SW, Tumwater, WA

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Collins Associates Hires Simon Hudson to Establish New York Office

2011-09-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

Collins Associates Hires Simon Hudson to Establish New York Office

John B. Collins Associates, Inc., one of the worldÂs leading reinsurance intermediaries, today announced that senior Property & Casualty reinsurance broker Simon Hudson has joined the firm.

(PRWEB) December 11, 2003

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) December 10, 2003 Â John B. Collins Associates, Inc., one of the worldÂs leading reinsurance intermediaries, today announced that senior Property & Casualty reinsurance broker Simon Hudson has joined the firm.

Mr. Hudson was previously with Willis Re. With 20 years of insurance and reinsurance experience, he has been active in many lines of business, including medical, professional and general liability. Prior to joining Willis he had been an underwriter for CNA Re in the U. S. and London. Mr. Hudson studied Economics at the University of Manchester, England.

ÂIÂm very enthusiastic about the chance to build a New York office for the Collins organization,Â said Mr. Hudson. ÂCollins has a reputation as an outstanding service intermediary, and this is an exciting opportunity to bring new reinsurance clients to the company.Â

ÂWeÂre delighted to have Simon on board to help us continue our growth,Â said Pat Denzer, President and co-CEO of Collins Associates. ÂOur entry into the New York market is a milestone event for us and is something that many of our markets and clients have encouraged. I'm very pleased to make this announcement and am very excited about what it means for Collins.Â

About Collins Associates

John B. Collins Associates is one of the largest reinsurance intermediaries in the world, and consistently ranks among the fastest growing. The privately-held company provides reinsurance and risk transfer assistance along with associated analytical services including catastrophe modeling, dynamic financial analysis and actuarial services. Collins Associates is a leader in the property & casualty, life/accident & health and agriculture/crop reinsurance segments. The company operates ten offices across the U. S., in addition to London and Bermuda. Collins Associates maintains relationships with all major reinsurers. The companyÂs Web site is at www. jbcollins. com. For more information, contact Tom Pick, Director of Corporate Communications, at 952-820-1003 or info@jbcollins. com.

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Christopher Gardner, CEO, Christopher Gardner International Holdings and Inspiration for the Film The Pursuit of Happyness to present as a Guest Speaker at TradeTech West 2008

2011-09-04T11:40:00.000-07:00

Christopher Gardner, CEO, Christopher Gardner International Holdings and Inspiration for the Film The Pursuit of Happyness to present as a Guest Speaker at TradeTech West 2008

It is an ongoing struggle to generate alpha in this down market…but that doesn't mean the chance to profit is over.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 23, 2008

At TradeTech West 2008 (http://www. wbresearch. com/tradetechwest/), taking place September 15-17, 2008 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, CA, Christopher Gardner will show you how to find success, even when odds are stacked about you.

Christopher Gardner is the head of his own successful brokerage firm, but just 20 years ago, Gardner was homeless, carried all his possessions on his back and lived-on occasion-in a bathroom at a Bay Area Rapid Transit station in Oakland, California.

A true testament to the perseverance it takes to make it from "rags-to-riches", Gardner tells his story of overcoming obstacles, "breaking cycles", and the motivation it takes to make your own success.

Listen as he recounts his fears of failure, exhaustion of pursuit, and great appreciation to those that helped him. Gardner's storytelling captures his audience completely, and his humor lights up the room.

Head west…To Tradetech West 2008 to find relief from bleak market conditions! As the premier West Coast trading event, TradeTech West offers the perfect opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and benchmark with 80+ buy side traders and over 300+ of your equity peers and partners.

TradeTech West is your best opportunity to find relief from the current down market, achieve your performance goals, and exceed best execution requirements that will turn into greater revenue generation.

Exclusive complimentary passes are available for qualified buy side traders.* Contact Amol Tembe at 646-200-7442 or atembe@wbresearch. com to see if you qualify.

Sell Side Traders:* Register by 7/18 with code 10408CGPR to receive your VIP Ticket, including a $300 discount* off your registration!*

Don't let your competitors get ahead. Take a moment to register for TradeTech West now by calling 1-888-482-6012 or visiting www. tradetechwest. com.

*Please note: Buy side institutions include any and all financial institutions exclusively engaged in managing funds of money on behalf of their client base e. g. a pension or insurance fund. WBR reserves the right to enforce pricing on the basis of company type. Sell side includes those institutions engaged in investment banking and brokerage operations, as well as direct trading services to buy side institutions.

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Eastern and Western Medicine Meet in Medical Offices

2011-09-01T06:26:00.000-07:00

Eastern and Western Medicine Meet in Medical Offices

According to a recent survey by Jackson & Coker, a significant number of healthcare providers are using some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to enhance their own health and well-being, or they have introduced certain facets of alternative medicine into their patient care.

Alpharetta, GA (PRWEB) July 23, 2008

As more consumers become aware of medical alternatives to health and healing, physicians and other health professionals face the challenge of deciding what procedures, modalities, and therapies might be incorporated into their practice or recommended for patients to consider through alternative health practitioners. According to a recent survey by Jackson & Coker, a significant number of healthcare providers are using some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to enhance their own health and well-being, or they have introduced certain facets of alternative medicine into their patient care.

"Our concern in commissioning this survey was to assess the extent to which health professionals are drawn to non-conventional forms of medical treatment, either for themselves or their patients," mentions Sandra Garrett, president of Jackson & Coker. "As Eastern and Western medical approaches become more blended in the healthcare field, important decisions must be made as to what treatments are acceptable according to customary medical standards of care and also covered by medical insurers."

The survey, entitled "Healthcare Providers' Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine," (http://www. jacksoncoker. com/newsletter/Long_6282008.aspx? sc_cid=1-Press2-JCIR3-V1N64-) was sent during June to thousands of physicians and other health professionals throughout the United States, with nearly 300 individuals responding.

The vast majority of participants (76%) held a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, versus a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (DO). Sixty percent were males. The largest age category was 50-59 (33%). Forty-five percent of respondents have been practicing medicine from 15-40 years.

The health practitioners surveyed learned about complementary and alternative medicine through various means: formal medical training (13%), seminars on holistic medicine (21%), and self-teaching or interaction with colleagues (25%). The types of alternative modalities, therapies, and treatments with which health providers were most familiar included: herbal medicine, massage therapy and reflexology, yoga and meditation, chiropractic treatment, biofeedback, and acupuncture. Other approaches with which they were less familiar included: hypnotherapy, aromatherapy, Tai Chi, and Ayurvetic medicine. The last two are common to Eastern medical practice.

The survey queried respondents as to what heath measures they personally hope to achieve in using some form of CAM. The results were as follows:

Stress relief 19.0%
Improve general health 15.6%
Pain management 13.3%
Improve mental alertness 11.4%
Weight reduction / control 9.3%
Reduce hypertension 8.2%
Overcome insomnia 7.8%
Lower cholesterol 5.9%
Control diabetes 3.5%.

A key survey question asked, "To what extent do you use CAM approaches in your own medical practice?" The responses were as follows; 4% frequently, 44% occasionally, and 22% not at all.

Thirty percent of respondents indicated their intent to incorporate more CAM procedures into their medical practice, whereas 28% felt they might be included to do that and 31% replied 'probably not."

The reasons prompting healthcare providers to consider adopting more CAM procedures or techniques included their personal belief in CAM, growing patient requests, additional sources of revenue, and more favorable view by insurers.

On the matter of insurance reimbursement, a slight number (2%) had experienced significant problems with medical insurers in the past, 11% had encountered some difficulties, and 26% had experienced major problems in dealing with insurers.

The survey pointed out, interestingly, that only a small number of doctors (15%) believe that as complementary and alternative medicine becomes more acceptable within the healthcare field, more insurers will provide approved reimbursement. Sixty-two percent felt it was either "not too likely" or "probably unlikely" that insurance coverage will substantially increase in the foreseeable future.

Another key question was asked: "From your perspective, do physicians tend to draw a line between CAM procedures that are acceptable versus non-acceptable to Western-trained clinicians?" A few of their comments are noteworthy:
"I draw the line on anything that isn't proven scientifically. Unacceptable are those treatments that only target the practice's bottom line." "Yes, only those that have stood up to the test of controlled studies are accepted." "No. It seems to me to be driven almost entirely by personal preferences / exposure." "Doctors are not properly trained in the use of alternative medicine and therefore are very reluctant to use them in their practice." "I believe that most physicians are fixed in their mind set about 'scientific medicine' and 'alternative medicine," and it is difficult to change their mind set." "Probably not. From my experience, physicians who discount CAM tend to lump all CAM modalities together regardless of their actual credibility (or lack thereof) and toss out proven methods such as acupuncture regardless of the results." The survey commentary concluded with an interview by a board certified Internal Medicine doctor who incorporates certain aspects of complementary medicine into her medical practice.

Dr. Frenesa Hall, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Mobile-Medicine. net, sees a trend in more healthcare providers being receptive to integrating certain CAM therapies into their patient care. Her remarks: "I see trends in this regard due to more publicity and public demand. Another reason is being able to incorporate and add cash (unrelated to insurance) revenue into the practice. Also, patients actually get better" when they are offered alternative options to improve their health.

About Jackson & Coker (http://www. jacksoncoker. com/?sc_cid=1-Press2-JCIR3-V1N64-x)

With three decades of experience, Jackson & Coker is a prominent physician-staffing firm headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia. The company places physicians in over 40 medical specialties and advanced practitioners (chiefly CRNA's) in temporary (locum tenens) and permanent placement opportunities.

Jackson & Coker is a member of a "family of companies" known as Jackson Healthcare that provides information technology and human resources solutions to hospitals and healthcare organizations across the nation. For more information on Jackson & Coker, visit the company's website a JacksonCoker. com.

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Duck Creek Technologies Chooses AVIcode’s Application Monitoring to Enhance Customer Troubleshooting Efforts

2011-08-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

Duck Creek Technologies Chooses AVIcode’s Application Monitoring to Enhance Customer Troubleshooting Efforts

Duck Creek Technologies, Inc. has chosen AVIcode’s Intercept Studio application monitoring solution to quickly and effectively troubleshoot web application issues.

Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) August 31, 2010

AVIcode, Inc., the leading provider of real-time, always-on application monitoring solutions, today announced that Duck Creek Technologies, Inc. has chosen the company’s Intercept Studio application monitoring solution to quickly and effectively troubleshoot web application issues. Duck Creek provides superior technology and applications to companies in the Property and Casualty Insurance market.

Duck Creek’s flagship product, the EXAMPLE Platform® software, helps insurance providers easily create web-enabled services such as rating, underwriting, policy administration, and billing systems. The Platform is comprised of multiple components with unique functions, providing each carrier with the ability to create products that are right for their unique business model.

Duck Creek primarily uses AVIcode’s application monitoring solutions in pre-production and testing environments. Because each customer configuration is different, Duck Creek needed a flexible and reliable monitoring solution that can help expedite the QA process and ensure better application availability and reliability prior to deploying into production.

In addition, Duck Creek also uses AVIcode’s cornerstone solution, Intercept Studio, when researching support issues. The Support team needs to quickly identify whether the source of an issue is related to the base solution or specific to a customer’s unique implementation. To help improve and accelerate these issues and to reduce costs, Duck Creek selected AVIcode’s technology. Used in this situation primarily as a support analysis tool, Intercept Studio allows Duck Creek to better troubleshoot issues and come to a resolution in a more expedited manner for their customers.

“We ultimately chose AVIcode’s application monitoring because it was highly configurable and could be easily set up to test our unique toolset,” said Michael Witt, Vice President of Product Development for Duck Creek. “We determined that AVIcode was the right choice because they could provide detailed technical information for our resources that allowed us to use and re-use configurations for testing purposes.”

Intercept Studio provides developers and IT operations professionals with a comprehensive solution for monitoring the health and behavior of. NET applications throughout the application lifecycle. It automatically detects application problems, alerts the appropriate personnel, and diagnoses the root cause of performance degradations, application failures, security and connectivity issues. In a support environment, Intercept Studio enables proactive application monitoring and advanced end-to-end troubleshooting to help ensure that application issues can be identified and remediated as quickly as possible.

“Intercept Studio is highly configurable for a number of systems and provides a quick analysis of code performance and interactions,” said Witt. “Any vendor that has the need to constantly monitor their performance thresholds should definitely talk to AVIcode.”

For more information about AVIcode, please visit http://www. avicode. com (http://www. avicode. com).

About AVIcode
Recommended as a best practice by Microsoft and recognized as "the market leader in the management of. NET-based applications," AVIcode’s solutions are used throughout the application lifecycle, providing a real-time view into application behavior and performance. AVIcode customers benefit from a low-overhead solution that delivers immediate alerting to application problems and complete root cause diagnosis, down to the line of problem code, to speed problem resolution. Deployed on tens of thousands of servers globally, AVIcode enables organizations to get applications to market faster, reduce maintenance and management costs, and ensure maximum availability and reliability. More information: http://www. avicode. com (http://www. avicode. com).

About Duck Creek
Duck Creek Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of software and services to the insurance industry, providing next-generation policy administration, product configuration and definition, billing, and rating for the Property & Casualty and Healthcare insurance markets. Duck Creek is dedicated to enabling customers to develop insurance products and to sell and service those products in their chosen markets with unprecedented speed to market, flexibility, reach and quality. Founded in 2000, Duck Creek is headquartered in Bolivar, Missouri, and has multiple offices within the United States and its subsidiary, Duck Creek Technologies Europe Ltd, has an office in the UK.

Duck Creek, Duck Creek Technologies, and EXAMPLE Platform are registered trademarks or trademarks of Duck Creek Technologies, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries.

For more information, visit http://www. duckcreektech. com (http://www. duckcreektech. com) or call 866-382-5832.

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Post Office® Travel Insurance reveals children's top holiday health hazards

2011-08-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

Post Office® Travel Insurance reveals children's top holiday health hazards

Travel insurance study discovers one in 10 parents have sought professional medical advice for their children while on holiday.

London, UK (PRWeb UK) November 8, 2009

Post Office Travel Insurance (http://www. postoffice. co. uk/portal/po/jump1?catId=63300708&mediaId=19300208) is encouraging travellers to take simple steps to protect their family's health, as new research on travel insurance (http://www. postoffice. co. uk/portal/po/jump1?catId=63300708&mediaId=19300208) claims has revealed that a quarter of parents have dealt with a sick youngster on holiday. For more than 10 per cent, the problem was serious enough to seek professional medical advice.

According to Post Office Travel Insurance claims data relating to more than 1,000 children, the most common cause for illness on holiday is ear infection. Parents claimed an average of £291 for medical expenses on travel insurance policies after children suffering ear infections on holiday.

Children with cuts and scrapes make up the second largest number of claims on Post Office Travel Insurance policies, with an average sum of £258. Other common health claims on Post Office Travel Insurance policies range from treatment for viruses and infections, to accidents such as children being stung by jellyfish. The average cost of a travel insurance claim for medical care for children is £666.

Rachel Croft, Post Office Head of Travel Insurance, said: "Having comprehensive travel insurance is important - parents without travel insurance could face considerable medical bills if their children fall ill on holiday. Our data shows that the average cost of a medical claim is £666, with costs for many common complaints rising above £1,000."

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Lafayette Breast Center Installs New ImageChecker Â® Computer Aided Detection (CAD) System for Breast Cancer Screening

2011-08-22T14:31:00.000-07:00

Lafayette Breast Center Installs New ImageChecker Â® Computer Aided Detection (CAD) System for Breast Cancer Screening

Lafayette Breast Center recently augmented its services with the R2 ImageChecker, a computer aided detection (CAD) system, specifically for mammograms. Computer aided detection helps to overread mammograms to indicate abnormal findings and assist the radiologist.

Lafayette, IN (PRWEB) August 23, 2003 -

Â Lafayette Breast Center recently augmented its services with the R2 ImageChecker, a computer aided detection (CAD) system, specifically for mammograms. CAD does not replace the radiologistÂs interpretation, but serves as a second look at the areas that need to be more closely scrutinized for possible underlying pathology.

The ImageChecker is the first US Food and Drug Administration approved CAD system. For the radiologist, the interpretation of mammograms can be challenging. The manifestations of breast cancer can be subtle and are portrayed on a complex and variable pattern of normal anatomy Â anatomy that may either obscure or simulate disease.

The system assists radiologists in detecting breast cancers by digitalizing and then analyzing mammograms for regions that may indicate abnormal findings. The radiologist first assesses the original mammogram, then checks the computer scanned version to determine which areas need to be reviewed. CAD doesnÂt replace radiologists but it improves their interpretive accuracy, which is subject to the limitations of human perception.

Lafayette Breast Center has implemented using the CAD technology as the standard of care for all screening mammograms. ÂSupplementing screening and diagnostic mammograms with CAD technology can allow us to provide our patients the benefits of early detection and improve the overall management and treatmentÂ commented Radiologist Brenda Jurich, M. D. The new technology is currently reimbursed by most insurance carriers, Medicare and Medicaid.

Lafayette Breast Center was established in 1996 and has a staff of six. Lafayette Breast Center is committed to providing our community with the latest medical technology coupled with the highest quality personal care. We are fortunate to have this additional diagnostic tool available to better serve the patients in this area.

For additional information about Lafayette Breast Center, visit www. unityhc. com or call Janna Greene at 765-446-5350. For further information about Computer Aided Detection, visit www. r2tech. com.

ImageChecker is a registered trademark of R2 Technology, Inc.

FlexCare Medical Staffing Awarded 2011 Top 10 Best Travel Nursing Companies by Highway Hypodermics

2011-08-21T14:04:00.000-07:00

FlexCare Medical Staffing Awarded 2011 Top 10 Best Travel Nursing Companies by Highway Hypodermics

For the first time, FlexCare Medical Staffing (http://www. flexcarestaff. com) has been awarded a Top 10 listing on the Highway Hypodermics 2011 list of best travel nursing companies.

Roseville, CA (PRWEB) January 19, 2011

This award is a strong validation of the values and culture FlexCare has fostered over the years. FlexCare Medical Staffing focuses on travel assignments for Registered Nurses and Allied health professionals who work in acute care facilities and have at least 1.5 – 2 years of current experience.

FlexCare Medical Staffing is a medium sized company who has built their business primarily off of referrals from other travel RNs. Having never advertised, word of mouth has been a proven means for their company to grow. FlexCare caps the amount of RN’s each recruiter can have working for them, allowing the time necessary to develop a strong personal relationship between each nurse and their recruiter. Having worked in the travel nurse industry for over 10 years, the owners of FlexCare created a structure that encourages their recruiters to add a personal touch to each placement and avoid the mentality of just trying to get as many RN’s on contract and passing off issues for other departments to handle.

FlexCare Medical Staffing creates a pay package dependent on what their nurses need which may include reimbursement for things such as travel, licensure, housing, rental car, medical insurance, and certifications. You tell them what you need and they will structure a pay package around your needs.

FlexCare is more than just another travel company for quite a few reasons. Their staff has an average of 8+ years in the industry. FlexCare's account managers have close relationships with their clients and are strong advocates for their well qualified RNs. FlexCare's recruiters are the sole point of contact within the company for its RNs, ensuring a seamless line of communication and less confusion.

FlexCare does not pay off of a gross margin – meaning the higher the rate they have at a hospital– the more money their RN's will make. Their recruiters do not make commission off of how much money their nurses are paid (or more to the point, not paid). They have built the company primarily off of referrals, indicating their approach is well received by those nurses who choose to work with FlexCare Medical Staffing.

To help nurses further understand what the individual travel companies were all about, each company filled out an interview form, in which each company was then spotlighted for a full month on the Highway Hypodermics website. There are three important aspects to this award: the companies’ benefits, the informational interview, and how the traveling nurses evaluate the company. Nurses were polled regarding which benefits they looked for in a traveling company, and then an inquiry was made to each company as to whether or not they provided those benefits.

For more information, you can contact them at:

FlexCare Medical Staffing
990 Reserve
Drive Ste, 250,
Roseville, CA 95678
1-866-564-3589
Info (at) flexcarestaff (dot) com

Or visit them on the web at:

Http://www. flexcarestaff. com

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Cottage Health System to Implement Galvanon's MediKiosk to Ensure a Faster and More Accurate Patient Registration Process

2011-08-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

Cottage Health System to Implement Galvanon's MediKiosk to Ensure a Faster and More Accurate Patient Registration Process

Automated patient identification system will feature fingerprint recognition from NEC Solutions America to prevent medical errors resulting from patient misidentification.

Maitland, FL (PRWEB) September 7, 2005

Galvanon, the patient experience company, today announced that Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Cottage Health System will implement its MediKiosk solution to automate the patient registration process at its facilities. Cottage Health System will use the patient self-service kiosks, which will be equipped with biometric fingerprint imaging capabilities provided by NEC Solutions (America) Inc., to instantly and accurately identify patients during the check-in process.

ÂEnsuring accurate patient identification minimizes the potential for errors and creates a safer healthcare system,Â said Alberto Kywi, chief information officer at Cottage Health System. ÂThis innovative technology delivers a reliable and efficient method for streamlining the patient check-in process and enables our organization to continue providing the highest possible standard of care.Â

Upon arrival at the facility, patients will have the option of providing a thumbprint or swiping a driver's license, credit card or membership card directly on the kiosk to begin checking-in. Patients can then use the kiosks to update demographic and insurance information, sign consent forms and make co-payments. Once checked in, front office staff is notified of the patient's arrival.

ÂWith traditional paper-based registration processes, properly identifying patients is a significant challenge,Â said Greg Sarrail, director of sales and marketing at NEC Solutions America/Healthcare Solutions Division. ÂWhen fingerprint recognition is used in combination with automated applications like Galvanon's MediKiosk, healthcare organizations have the ability to eliminate duplicate patient records, reduce medical errors and enhance patient safety.Â

Galvanon's MediKiosk is part of a comprehensive suite of products that allows hospitals and clinics to provide patient self-service capabilities such as pre-registration via the Web, online BillPay and eClipboardsÂ, Galvanon's wireless patient check-in solution.

ÂAs the amount of paperwork completed during the patient check-in process continues to increase, healthcare organizations need a better, more efficient way to register patients,Â said Raj Toleti, chairman and chief executive officer of Galvanon. ÂBy teaming with NEC, a leading biometrics technology provider, we were able to dramatically improve how Cottage admits patients, resulting in a safer, more effective registration process.Â

About NEC Solutions (America), Inc.

NEC Solutions (America), Inc. is a premier provider of integrated solutions for the Connected Enterprise in North America. As an affiliate of NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.1), NEC Solutions America taps into a global resource network to help clients leverage technology to achieve a competitive edge. From corporate performance management and biometric security solutions to digital cinema and in-theatre advertising systems, visual displays and server solutions, the expertise is delivered with the personal attention needed to address individual situations. With headquarters in Rancho Cordova, California, NEC Solutions America serves a wide range of markets, including the health care and public safety, financial services, cinema, retail and manufacturing markets.

Information regarding NEC Solutions America can be found at www. necsam. com.

More information about NEC Solutions America / Healthcare Solutions Division is available at www. necsam. com/healthcare (http://www. necsam. com/healthcare).

About Galvanon, Inc.

Galvanon helps healthcare organizations enhance the patient experience at home, in the hospital, and in the physician's office through innovative solutions such as kiosks, Web self-service applications and technology that streamlines everyday patient interactions and improve patient flow through the healthcare process. For more information, visit www. galvanon. com.

Press Contact:

Cathi Hilpert

770-663-6343, ext. 223

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Art For Progress Announces a Special Artist Membership Offer

2011-08-16T03:11:00.000-07:00

Art For Progress Announces a Special Artist Membership Offer

New York City based 501(c) 3 non profit Art For Progress offers a special discount on its artist membership to address the financial difficulties in the community. The program provides access to affordable health insurance, opportunties for exhibition and performance, artist grants and a host of other benefits.

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 8, 2008

At AFP, we know times are tough, in response to these tough times we are offering our regularly priced ($150) yearly memberships for $99. This is a discount of over 33% off of our yearly fees. We have offered discounts in the past of $20 or $30 for memberships, but this is the very best offer since the inception of our programs in 2004. We are also extending this offer to all of our current (100 members) members for renewals. During this one time offer you can purchase as many years as you like, but you must apply and be accepted before you can become a member. The offer will be available through the month of October.

Once you become an Art For Progress member, you can begin enjoying the numerous benefits of membership including: access to affordable health insurance (starting at $273 monthly) with low deductibles, numerous opportunities for exposure through our events and well - trafficked web site, online marketing tools, opportunities to work in our growing art and humanities education program, and free access to AFP events. We're also working on an exciting, new, cutting edge software that we hope to launch in the near future.

AFP can also use your support to help fund all of our important programs in the community. Let's face it. In these difficult times we need to come together and be supportive of each other. And remember, artists become members of Art For Progress for different reasons. Some artists like the many opportunities for exposure while others want to get involved in teaching art in the NYC public schools. Some artists just want to be supportive of our mission because they believe in what we are doing.

If you have any questions at all about our program please send an e-mail to memberships@artforprogress. org with your questions. If you are ready to join our growing community of visual artists, fashion designers, musicians, film makers and DJS, visit the following link for more information and to apply for membership:
Http://www. artforprogress. org/join. php? t=artist (http://www. artforprogress. org/join. php? t=artist)

We're excited to make this extraordinary offer as we continue to expand and grow our programs for emerging artists across the world. 2009 is going to be an incredible year for Art For Progress and we would like you to be a part of it!

As an added bonus, we are offering FREE subscriptions to Art Calendar Magazine, ($32 value) for everyone who joins or renews through this offer.

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The American College Launches New Monthly Online Poll in Connections Newsletter

2011-08-12T04:26:00.000-07:00

The American College Launches New Monthly Online Poll in Connections Newsletter

The American College, the nation's premiere educator of financial services professionals, announced today the results from its first monthly newsletter poll. An interactive reader response poll question is now a regular monthly feature in Connections, an e-publication distributed by The College to over 100,000 members of the financial services community, including students, alumni and friends of the institution.

Bryn Mawr, PA (PRWEB) September 15, 2008

This month's question gauged the confidence of financial professionals in the stock market by asking, "Do you think the Dow will reclaim 14,000 by the end of the year?" With 635 responses, a decisive 80 percent said "no," with 20 percent responding "yes."

"These monthly polls help members of the financial services community better understand the views of their peers on issues of importance that affect their business," said Larry Barton, Ph. D., President and Chief Executive Officer of The American College. "Our students and graduates represent some the most successful and knowledgeable professionals in the industry. Their opinions on news, events and trends will be of interest to both their peers and the public."

The poll serves as a snapshot of the opinions held by Connections readers and will help stimulate thought-provoking discussions about financial services topics, helping to enrich The College's outstanding educational offerings. While not vetted for statistical significance, the results of this month's poll are consistent with other investor confidence research.

According to a survey conducted by the Center for Audit Quality in July 2008, investors are adopting an increasingly gloomy stance toward U. S. markets, despite some improved consumer confidence overall. Seventy percent of investors surveyed expressed confidence in U. S. capital markets -- down from 84 percent a year ago. Twenty-three percent of the individuals surveyed reported that they are investing less.

A recent Reuters/University of Michigan survey also reported an erosion in investor confidence. According to their research, consumers felt there was only a 40.6 percent chance their stock holdings would rise in the coming year. This was the lowest number since the question was first asked in 2002. Pessimism was consistent across all income levels and investor ages.

Individuals interested in participating in future polls and receiving news from The American College are encouraged to register online and become a Connections subscriber. A link to the registration page and archived editions of previous issues of Connections are available at TheAmericanCollege. edu/enewsletter

The American College is dedicated to leadership in innovative training and development that helps financial services companies and their employees succeed. As a non-profit educational institution holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has served as a valued business partner to banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies and others for over 80 years. The American College's faculty represents some of the financial services industry's foremost thought leaders. For more information, visit TheAmericanCollege. edu

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Building Industry Experts Agree In-house Resources Hold Prices Steady

2011-08-08T23:40:00.000-07:00

Building Industry Experts Agree In-house Resources Hold Prices Steady

All the resources in one place help keep this new homebuilder strong in the new construction home building Industry. United-Bilt Homes has been a leader in home building in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma for almost 50 years. Owning their own lumberyard and in-house services sets them apart from the average residential homebuilders and allows them to pass their savings onto the consumer.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) July 26, 2006

Construction industry experts say residential construction costs have been at a record level for the past 7 years. Long established builders, though, have an edge in the market place.

According to Allisha Watkins, Marketing and Advertising Coordinator for United-Bilt Homes, "We have seen material costs rise each year. At United-Bilt Homes, we are able to keep those costs in check United-Bilt Homebuilders through our vertical integration and ability to buy materials in bulk directly from supplier warehouses."

Owning their own lumberyard and in-house services sets them apart from the average residential homebuilders and allows them to pass their savings onto the consumer.

United Bilt Homes has been a leader in the home building industry since 1958, United-Bilt Homebuilders specializing in on-your-land construction of new homes. They own and operate their own lumberyard, which supplies building projects, including engineered trusses custom designed for every home. Additionally, they are known for being able to offer all the services needed to build a new home from the ground up. These services include design, financing, construction and even insurance.

"Costs for building material have increased much faster than overall inflation in recent years," said Michael Carliner, economist with The National Association of Home Builders. "The devastation of the 2005 hurricanes created new pressures on materials, putting residential construction costs at record levels."

“The volume of construction activity, cost pressure on materials associated with global demand and the availability of skilled labor are the primary elements driving the cost escalation in the domestic construction market,” according to Karl F. Almstead, the Turner vice president responsible for the Cost Indexing. He continues, “Concerns over energy costs remain in the background, along with questions of the impact and timing of rebuilding following Hurricane Katrina.”

Likewise, industry experts agree consumers who are looking to build a new home have an advantage when they work with builders that have their own in-house resources. Watkins summed it up, "We are glad to be a part of the solution that allows consumers to build their dream home, despite rising costs. Our motto at United-Bilt Homes is that we are 'more than a builder.' We prove this to our customers on each new home we build as we use our buying power and vertical integration to pass along savings to our customers," For more information, contact United-Bilt Homes (800) 585-5759 or visit www. ubh. com.

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Vive la France! Confused. com Advises Eurotrippers to Brush Up on French Motoring Law Before Crossing the Channel

2011-08-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

Vive la France! Confused. com Advises Eurotrippers to Brush Up on French Motoring Law Before Crossing the Channel

With ferry travel going through a renaissance, holidaymakers may consider packing up their car and taking it to France.

Cardiff, UK (PRWEB) March 15, 2009

With the Easter holidays approaching, many Brits are still considering heading off on a break, despite the recession*. Will Thomas, head of car insurance (http://www. confused. com/) at Confused. com, reminds travellers that familiarising themselves with the different rules and regulations that are in place across the Channel, will enable them to stay on the right side of the law - even if they are not on the right side of the road:

Speeding and drink-driving: in recent years, more than 1,000 hidden speed cameras have been installed and police have stepped up random breath tests. The legal alcohol limit is 50mg in every 100ml of blood, compared to 80mg in the UK, and if drivers are found to be over the limit, they face either having their licences confiscated, or time in prison. Being caught speeding could result in a heavy on-the-spot fine.

Changing speed limits: one of the most common ways to fall foul of the law occurs when passing through a village on a fast country road; here, the speed limit can drop from 90kmh to 50kmh with only the sign showing the name of the village as warning.

Visibility accessories: with effect from July 1 2008, it became illegal not to carry a high-visibility vest as well as a warning triangle. The jacket needs to be worn by the driver when they get out of the car in the event of an accident or breakdown, and the triangle needs to be placed at least 30 metres from the vehicle. A failure to comply with these rules could result in an on the spot fine of between €90 and €135.

Inform insurance providers of foreign travel: it is important for international drivers to check their insurance to make sure they know exactly what assistance, if any, they will receive in the event of an accident abroad. Informing insurance providers of any planned trips will lead to customers getting the best guidelines on what to do if the worst happens.

Be in possession of a green card: having a green card; a motor insurance certificate universally accepted throughout a network of countries, is no longer a legal requirement for driving within the EU, but could be useful in proving cover. Drivers can request one from their insurance provider but must be aware that it is not insurance itself. The green card merely indicates that you have the minimum level of cover required to drive on European roads. Confused. com shows the green card details with all car insurance quotes (http://www. confused. com/), allowing customers to make an informed decision on the right cover for them. Most insurance providers can upgrade drivers to the same level of cover that they have in the UK, for an additional fee.

Consider international breakdown cover: while UK insurance is still valid within the EU in terms of fulfilling legal requirements to be on the road, international breakdown cover is something worth considering. Even if drivers have chosen to upgrade their insurance cover, in the event of cars breaking down, drivers could benefit from the roadside assistance, support from the helpline, and potentially have emergency repairs dealt with on the spot. The levels of cover will vary, so, once again, it will pay to shop around.
According to ABTA Holiday trends report 2009, 47% of British holidaymakers will not change their travel plans because of the recession.

For further information please contact:
Press office, Confused. com. 02920 434 398.
Joanna Harte/ Gug Kyriacou, Polhill Communications. 020 7655 0550.

Notes to editors
About Confused. com:
Confused. com is one of the UK's biggest and most popular price comparison services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include home insurance, travel insurance (http://www. confused. com/travel-insurance), pet insurance, van insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and energy, as well as financial services products including credit cards, loans, mortgages and life insurance.

Confused. com has a panel of 83 motor insurers, its typical customer saves up £206.16* on their annual car insurance policy.

Confused. com is not a supplier, insurance company or broker. It provides a free, objective and unbiased comparison service. By using cutting-edge technology, it has developed a series of intelligent web-based solutions that evaluate a number of risk factors to help customers with their decision-making, subsequently finding them great deals on a wide-range of insurance products, financial services, utilities and more. Confused. com's service is based on the most up-to-date information provided by UK suppliers and industry regulators.

Confused. com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused. com is regulated by the FSA.

*Based on the average customer savings made in 2008

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Tanya M. Pavlik Forms New Firm A-lign™ -- Breathing Energy and Effectiveness in the Compliance Auditing Industry

2011-08-01T04:30:00.000-07:00

Tanya M. Pavlik Forms New Firm A-lign™ -- Breathing Energy and Effectiveness in the Compliance Auditing Industry

Tanya M. Pavlik is proud to announce the formation of CPA firm A-lign™. In spite of the current economic climate, Pavlik is starting a new firm and capitalizing on the need for high-level experienced audit professionals that can boast a high-level of efficiency and accuracy.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) October 30, 2009

A-lign™ CPA is a top line CPA firm specializing in providing auditing services and business guidance to companies with regulatory or customer compliance needs, such as:
Statement on Auditing Standard (SAS) 70 Audit Services WebTrust/SysTrust Services Payment Card Industry (PCI) Readiness Assessments International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 27002 Benchmark Services Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) Assessments Internal Audit and Sarbanes Oxley Compliance Healthcare Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Tanya Pavlik stated, "while so many clients are frustrated by the poor performance of traditional accounting firms in the compliance area, we know that we are able to provide the highest level of efficiency and expertise." A-lign's executive team has provided services to companies in a multitude of industries, such as Application Service Providers, Banking and Financial Services, Communications, Data Center Providers, Energy and Utilities, Government, Insurance, Managed Services and Technology, Non-Profit, Professional Services and SaaS.

About Tanya Pavlik:Tanya boasts a successful career as Chief Financial Officer of a nationwide non-profit organization. During her tenure, Tanya successfully led the organization's efforts in numerous process improvement and compliance endeavors. Tanya's prior experience with Arthur Andersen as an auditor with the Business Assurance and Advisory Services team led to the successful completion of numerous financial audits, for major public and private organizations. Tanya is a certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Tanya also serves as a Board member of the University of South Florida Accounting Circle.

About A-lign™: A-lign's executive team has extensive experience in the accounting and auditing field and has held key positions with Big 4 accounting firms. A-lign's team holds numerous certifications including Certified Public Accountant, Certified Information Systems Auditor and Certified Internal Auditor.

Visit us at www. aligncpa. com

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Meridian Management Announces New Tuition Refund Insurance Product

2011-07-29T03:05:00.000-07:00

Meridian Management Announces New Tuition Refund Insurance Product

TuitionProtect, powered by Meridian Management Group, LLC, a leading developer of specialty health insurance related products and services, in partnership with the Education Security Division of the Expense Management Association, is pleased to announce a unique tuition refund insurance product for students who are enrolled in a college, university or trade school.

Oradell, NJ (PRWEB) April 24, 2009

With the high cost of tuition and the uncertainty in today's economic markets, parents and students have more financial concerns than ever. TuitionProtect, powered by Meridian Management Group, LLC, a leading developer of specialty health insurance related products and services, in partnership with the Education Security Division of the Expense Management Association, is pleased to announce a unique tuition refund insurance product for students who are enrolled in a college, university or trade school. TuitionProtect has been designed to provide tuition insurance benefits to college students in the event the student has to withdraw from school as a result of an accident or illness. Students who enroll in the Association will have the ability to select from $5,000 to $25,000 of tuition protection coverage per term of classes. Also included in the plan coverage is $10,000 of Accidental Death Insurance.

"As a member of the ESD/EMA the student will receive the Tuition Protect Plan without the school having to be the plan sponsor or policyholder," says Kevin Leys, President of Meridian. "The member can also select the appropriate benefit level based on how much tuition insurance protection they need. Most other tuition refund plans require the student to be enrolled at a participating school, and purchase an amount based on a full year of tuition in advance. The ESD/EMA membership is payable in affordable monthly payments for as long as desired."

The benefit paid will be the "unreimbursed portion of tuition" which means up to 100% of the paid tuition, room and board and other eligible fees for the term of classes - including tuition paid through loans, grants or scholarships-less any refund or credit due the covered student from the education institution. (The benefit does not include off-campus housing, fraternity or sorority fees or other non-school sponsored fees.)

Association members also receive many valuable benefits and services relating to their education experience with the goal being to promote the health and financial wellness of the college student. Featured membership services provided to all association members include: Emergency Travel Assistance Services, ID Theft Resolution Services, Emergency Roadside Assistance Services and an interactive wellness website resource.

For additional information, visit the TuitionProtect website at www. tuitionprotect. com.

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Armchair Millionaire Community Bulletin: Shopping for a Mortgage - Don't Borrow Trouble

2011-07-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

Armchair Millionaire Community Bulletin: Shopping for a Mortgage - Don't Borrow Trouble

Don't gamble with your home. If real estate prices go up, great. But don't bet the house on it by getting an outsize mortgage that you can ill afford.

New York, NY (PRWEB) March 15, 2005

There's been a sharp increase in home prices nationwide over the past few years. According to government statistics, house prices rose 11.2 percent in 2004, the fastest clip in 25 years. In some hot markets such as New York and Boston, values have increased even more.

With so many homeowners seemingly making easy money just by making their monthly mortgage payments, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement. A dose of reality from the Armchair Millionaire community might bring you back down to earth:

"I do believe real estate values will start to go down slightly, especially as interest rates starts to creep up. I don't think the values will fall sharply. But for people who put very little to no money down who need to sell soon may find it difficult get break even." --Mattchiavo

"I believe that there will be a burst in the bubble of real estate prices, but not a huge one. I think people are buying up property and houses at higher prices than they should, thinking it's a good investment. Those who invest in real estate wisely will not lose money, but they may not gain what they thought they were going to." --Ben

"Real estate values all depend on where you live. I have been trying to sell a home in rural area since May 2004, and have yet to get an offer that will pay off just what I owe on the house. So I would say real estate is a terrible investment." --Vickie

Managing your mortgage wisely is one of the most important financial skills you should have. My guide provides the basics of what you need to know.

The Armchair Millionaire's Guide to Smart Mortgage Borrowing

Be realistic about what you can afford. If you're paying $1,000 for your rent or mortgage now--and just making ends meet--don't kid yourself about suddenly being able to make $1,500 payments. Your home will be on the line, so if a new mortgage means higher payments make absolutely certain that you're comfortable with that increased cost.

Get your mortgage before you go house hunting. Get pre-approved (not just pre-qualified) for your mortgage before you even start browsing the real estate ads. You'll know exactly what you can afford, and won't be tempted to push the financing envelop just because you fell in love with a house that beyond your means.

Watch your debt/income ratio. As a general rule of thumb, your total monthly debt obligations--mortgage payments, car loans, credit card payments and the like--should be no more than 36 percent of your gross monthly income. Some lenders may let you exceed this ratio, but that doesn't always mean that it's a good idea to do so.

Be cautious with adjustable-rate mortgages. ARMs are attractive because they offer a lower interest rate than fixed-rate mortgages. The catch is that their rates shift along with prevailing interest rates. This means that you can't assume that those low rates--and corresponding lower monthly payments--will last forever. To be on the safe side, only get an ARM if you know you'll be able to pay the maximum payment to which it might rise.

Be even more cautious with interest-only mortgages. These loans require you to pay only the interest on your loan for a fixed period, typically five years. People often use them to buy homes that they otherwise could not afford, and they have two distinct disadvantages. First, you build no equity in your home over the interest-only period. Second, once that period is up, your monthly payments jump considerably to cover both interest and principal. This may not be a problem if you're sure you'll sell the home before that interest-only period has elapsed, but otherwise it could make your payments suddenly unaffordable.

The Bottom Line: Don't gamble with your home. If real estate prices go up, great. But don't bet the house on it by getting an outsize mortgage that you can ill afford.

The Armchair Millionaire Weekly Survey: Do you think you've got the right insurance for your house or apartment? Log on to www. armchairmillionaire. com and let us know.

Lewis Schiff founded the Armchair Millionaire Web site in 1997. His first book, The Armchair Millionaire, was published in 2001. Schiff's newest report, "How to Know When You Are Rich," is now available at www. armchairmillionaire. com.

Contact Information:

Lewis Schiff

Armchair Millionaire

877-833-2823

Http://www. armchairmillionaire. com (http://www. armchairmillionaire. com)

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Remnants of the Mafia in Galveston Texas

2011-07-27T03:06:00.000-07:00

Remnants of the Mafia in Galveston Texas

The food isnÂt the main attraction at the Petronella Brothers Italian restaurant in Galveston, Texas. You go for the Sicilian ambience, the white linen tablecloths and The Godfather atmosphere.

(PRWEB) August 3, 2004

CRIME SECTION

Remnants of the Mafia in Galveston Texas

ÂWes Newman, a former Galveston County Deputy Sheriff, whose mafia friends included Joe Bonanno and the Maceo Brothers, Sam and Vincent, is brought to life in his daughterÂs new book, ÂNo Greater Deception, A True Texas Story.Â The inside story of mobsters, gambling, prostitution and bootlegging in Galveston.

The food isnÂt the main attraction at the Petronella Brothers Italian restaurant in Galveston, Texas. You go for the Sicilian ambience, the white linen tablecloths and The Godfather atmosphere. Of course you must have made reservations in advance to get past the matreÂd at the front door. The brick and tile interior set it off as a well-protected fortress from the world outside. Even so, visitors will likely sit with their backs to the wall to get a good view of the new arrivals. The walls lack snapshots of the ownerÂs uncles, the Maceo brothers. But, thoughts of mobsters, gamblers, bootleggers and prostitutes readily come to mind.

At a round table sit five men in black suits discussing something rather serious over a plate of spaghetti. Two other men, probably drivers or bodyguards, sit at a table closer to the front door. They stop talking briefly as strangers enter the restaurant and are seated across the room. Murderous bloody thoughts of Tony Soprano and his gang on The Sopranos come to mind. ItÂs just another afternoon at the Petronella Brothers where everyone is treated like family.

Today, there are four people dining in private at a round table in the corner Â a Galveston County Deputy Sheriff, one of Sam SalvatoÂs daughters, a woman from League City, Sydney Newman Dotson, the author of ÂNo Greater Deception.Â Her father, Wes Newman, led a secret life in Galveston County that many would describe as a double life. His job was to keep the peace while serving as a Texas City Police Officer or Galveston County Deputy Sheriff. But, with close friends like Joe Bonanno and the Maceo brothers, some may think he was more than their bodyguard. Perhaps he was a Âmade man.Â Over lunch, Dotson tells her companions about her book and what she knows about her father. But, itÂs what she ÂdoesnÂt knowÂ about him that keeps her up at night.

What did he do with the will that he made at the ranch in East Texas? Did he give it to his sister-in-law Sally? She was there. Or, did he lock it safely in a safe deposit box that his second wife, Betty, found and removed? Where exactly did he hide his mineral rights and assets he planned to leave his six children? And, do some of WesÂ gangster friends hold some of the answers to the authorÂs questions? Who were the elderly men dressed in black suits that attended her fatherÂs funeral? Was the unknown lady sitting in the back of the courtroom sent there a purpose Dotson may learn about at a later date?

DotsonÂs father owned several businesses and properties in the county. She believes them all to be legitimate businesses, but would not be surprised to learn there were some illegitimate activities going on as well. Extortion, loan sharking, illegal gambling, narcotics and murder were rampant in the county during the Maceo years. The tentacles of their vast criminal empire stretched up and down the Galveston Bay. Their organized crime family business mirrored that of the Capone, Giancana, Gambino, Genovese and Gotti families. Attorneys, judges and law enforcement officers were often paid off or bribed. And, women played a major role in their success or failure.

The women also led rather secretive lives. Of course being told to Âshut upÂ had a lot to do with it. Like Josephine Massino and Joanne Vitale, Betty and Sally Newman keep their mouths shut about their husbandsÂ business. Joseph ÂJoeyÂ Massino and Tony Soprano would be proud of them. From poverty to power, Betty and Sally ÂalmostÂ got away with their crimes. In "No Greater Deception, A True Texas Story,Â Dotson's stepmother, Betty, forges wills of several family members and is implicated in their mysterious deaths. Sally, DotsonÂs aunt, is one of BettyÂs accomplices who has many accomplished many forgeries of her own. Dotson exposed their tangled web of forgeries, secrets and lies in her debut book, ÂNo Greater Deception, A True Texas Story.Â And, this #1 best-selling true crime biography is just the beginning. Dotson plans to write two more books about her family to complete the trilogy on identity theft.

Dotson, an IBM Corporate Spy turned CSI Identity Theft Detective, has been seen on The NBC Today Show and PBS in Houston. She's currently speaking on television and radio station Talk Shows across the country about identity theft of wills, insurance policies, pension plans, notary seals and checking accounts. Detectives, profilers, the FBI and handwriting experts are using her book as a textbook case study on identity theft. They are particularly interested in learning more about the criminal mind of a Black Widow forger.

Like many who have become familiar with her true story, DotsonÂs lunch partners want to help answer some of the questions posed in the book. They also want to help spread the word about identity theft in the community. Massive reform is needed in our Legislative and Justice Systems to prevent others from becoming victims of identity theft. This luncheon ends on a positive note.

ÂNo Greater Deception, A True Texas StoryÂ is available on 100 websites today including Amazon. com and Barnes and Noble. com.

For author bio, interviews and more information, go to www. NoGreaterDeception. com

Contact: Sydney Dotson Productions, 214-358-3080

SureCircle Announces Automated Service for Employer Self-Funded Dental Plan Administration

2011-07-23T08:31:00.000-07:00

SureCircle Announces Automated Service for Employer Self-Funded Dental Plan Administration

SureCircle announces the release of SureCircle Dental Self-Fund Online Manager v.3.0. The web-based service is the first to replace manual processes with a fully automated solution for employer self-funded benefits administration.

San Mateo, CA (PRWEB) September 27, 2006

SureCircle announces the release of SureCircle Dental Self-Fund Online Manager v.3.0. This new service combines traditional employer self-funded dental plan administration services (http://www. surecircle. com) with previously unavailable advanced online benefit management tools.

Although self-funding of dental plans (http://www. surecircle. com/er/about. php) is common, most third party administrators (TPA) of these self-insured plans utilize largely manual processes to accept, adjudicate, and pay claims. SureCircle Dental Self-Fund Online Manager v.3.0 is an online application that supports an automated process, including electronic claim submission, auto-adjudication with fraud and error detection technology, and electronic funds transfer.

In addition, Dental Self-Fund v.3.0 features a secure online benefit management portal for employers, members and providers. The employer portal allows benefit managers to get a customized dental plan cost estimate, electronically enroll members or invite them to self-enroll, view real-time claims status, fund the employer account as needed, and generate plan reports instantly.

Online benefit management (http://www. surecircle. com) options available to members include self-enrollment and dependent management, utilization history monitoring with available benefit balance calculation and real-time claim viewing. In addition, providers can verify patient eligibility, view plan details, submit claims electronically, check claims status in real-time, and receive payments through electronic funds transfer.

“It’s a very exciting service for employers who are interested in providing a higher quality dental benefit, while actually reducing their costs and administrative tasks,” explained Joseph Shatara, Chief Operating Officer of SureCircle.

The SureCircle Dental Self-Fund Online Manager is based on the ADA’s Direct Reimbursement (http://www. surecircle. com/er/about. php) model and follows a dollar-based system. One main difference is that rather than have patients pay upfront for dental services and get reimbursed by employers, SureCircle gives providers the ability to file the claim on behalf of patients as they would with a traditional insurance carrier. This Direct Assignment approach is an added convenience for members.

To learn more about the advantages of self-funding, and to get an online cost estimate, visit www. surecircle. com.

About SureCircle

SureCircle is a leading automated administrator of employer self-funded dental benefits (http://www. surecircle. com). Offering a comprehensive solution, SureCircle is dedicated to providing the best value dental plans through superior benefit quality, simple, intuitive plan management, and lower benefit costs. Our commitment is to empower organizations with the ability to increase the overall value of their dental benefit, rather than simply shift costs back to their employees. We accomplish this through advanced technology making dental self-funding not only a viable alternative to conventional insurance, but a smart choice. SureCircle is a DBA of DDRnet, Inc.

Contact:

Rana Mukaled

SureCircle

(650) 573-1200 ext. 104

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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Newly Discovered Texas Poet Creates Sensation Across United States

2011-07-20T03:41:00.000-07:00

Newly Discovered Texas Poet Creates Sensation Across United States

Two newly published poetry books by McKinney, Texas poet, John J. Rigo creates sensation across Texas and United States. The buzz is on in literary circles of the work of the newly discovered Texas poet, a self employed insurance agency owner in McKinney, Texas.

McKinney, TX (PRWEB) December 3, 2005

The buzz is increasing in literary circles across the United States of the newly discovered Texas poet, John J. Rigo in McKinney, Texas. With the release as of the two newly published poetry books by the Lighting Publishing Company, the word is spreading, "There is a new poet in town, and his work is worth your time in reading."

Leading the "self-publishing" approach by many successful authors in the United States, the Lulu marketing program has brought forth another poet of great distinction in the United States. Mr. Rigo a senior co-owner of an insurance casuality agency in McKinney, Texas has been writing poetry as a hobby for about twenty years.

With a desire to increase his hobby writing skills he decided to attend writing and english classes in his local community college. Upon reviewing his poetry work, Mr. Rigo's professors insisted that he consider publishing his poetry work. With the assistance of the Lulu marketing program through the Lighting Publishing Company, Mr. Rigo published two books in his "Amidst series," titled, "Roses Amidst Thorns" and "Rainbows Amidst Storms."

The Rigo family is well known in the McKinney, Texas area for their charity work in the Collin County area of Texas. This county is considered the fastest growing county in the United States at present. Last year, John and his wife Linda oversaw the remodeling of three major rooms of the New Samaritan Inn of McKinney, Texas, a homeless shelter.

The Rigo's personally hired and overseen their contractors to turn the main room of this new homeless shelter into a huge library to rival any million dollar home in the area, including a reading room and entry hall. On a daily basis they oversaw the project for a period of four months.

"We have been told by our efforts, the new Samaritan Inn is today considered one of the most beautiful 'homeless shelters' in the United States" said Mr. Rigo. Because of their desires to pass on the blessings of financial success in their insurance business the Rigo's have elected to give all net profits from these two poetry books to Christian based programs and projects in the Collin County area of Texas to assist the poor, the homeless and the infirm. Copies of these charity driven poetry books can be ordered through this direct link in time for Christmas giving: http://www. lulu. com/texaspoet (http://www. lulu. com/texaspoet)

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CollegeInfoUSA. com Sees Traffic Rise, Students Turn to Most Convenient, Complete Source for Schools

2011-07-13T23:36:00.000-07:00

CollegeInfoUSA. com Sees Traffic Rise, Students Turn to Most Convenient, Complete Source for Schools

Anyone seeking to evaluate fully the range of education options is quickly discovering CollegeInfoUSA. com, a one-stop source for higher education information.

Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) October 1, 2010

With the number of site visits increasing dramatically, CollegeInfoUSA. com is fast becoming a favorite site for smart students carefully assessing their educational options. Unique among sites designed to help prospective students uncover a perfect program, CollegeInfoUSA. com includes the broadest range of both online education and traditional campus options. By visiting a single site, students can investigate all their educational options at the same time.

“CollegeInfoUSA. com is focused on assisting prospective students locate the right college, University, or Trade School by offering a vast selection of both online and campus based schools. When a prospective student does a search for their ‘area of study’ on CollegeInfoUSA. com, they will receive results for both online and campus based schools,” said Michael Potts, Director and Managing Member at Action Based Media.

The site boasts a sophisticated index and search interface, putting prospective students in complete control of their educational quest. No matter the starting point – degree type, study subject or institution location – CollegeInfoUSA. com boasts a clean, easy to navigate index and a powerful search.

CollegeInfoUSA. com is not just for four-year colleges or advanced degrees. People interested in technical and trade programs or in certificates to supercharge their career will find the site a useful stop on their quest for a better education.

“We believe that online schools offer more flexibility for a person that needs to work around their busy day to day schedule, but on the other hand some people are looking for a more structured classroom environment, which is why we offer information on both online and campus based schools,” said Potts.

CollegeInfoUSA. com is operated by Action Based Media, an online marketing leader. They identify and supply high quality leads to companies in the education, insurance and automotive sectors and are unmatched in providing their clients with the best ROI in online marketing.

Michael Potts
Director/Managing Member
727-216-6161 ext.222
Mike(dot)potts(at)actionbasedmedia(dot)com

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Irish Inventor Obtains US Patent for an Inexpensive Powder Complement to Water Based Sprinkler Systems

2011-07-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

Irish Inventor Obtains US Patent for an Inexpensive Powder Complement to Water Based Sprinkler Systems

Easy to install in more places and at a fraction of the cost compared to alternatives, Pyro-Sentinel fills a niche market.

Warren, NJ (PRWEB) February 16, 2009

Pyro-Sentinel Ltd. announced today its successful progress on obtaining patents on a worldwide basis for its new fire suppression system. The US Patent is No 7,385,480 and patents have also been obtained or are pending in over 180 Countries.

The new company named after its patented product does not use water or the more expensive gaseous alternative but rather uses a widely-available inexpensive non-toxic powder. The advantage of powder is that it causes little or no damage, and it is easy to clean up allowing the premises often to be returned to service within one day.

There are two versions. The first design is simply mass produced ceiling tiles incorporating a special membrane which melts from the heat of a fire, dropping the fire retarding powder. This was expanded to include a proactive electronic mechanism that heats cutters under the membrane to release the powder earlier, and includes options to automatically cut off electricity, gas and oil, turn on emergency lighting, exhaust fans where needed, computer imaging and system requirements plus personnel contacts and alarms etc.

The key is how inexpensive it is, and how most of it is made from very inexpensive widely available tools and materials such as an ordinary smoke or CO 2 detector and car batteries.

There are multiple niche markets for the invention. Pyro-Sentinel can compliment water sprinklers as a first responder, or it can act on its own in niche applications where water can be an issue due to supply or freezing temperatures, such as road/rail tunnels or ship containers.

Pyro-Sentinel will also fill a need in many untapped markets due to its lower cost of installation and maintenance. In assessing the cost of a system, insurance discounts may turn out to be deeper with Pyro-Sentinel largely due to the damage caused by water. Peter Fitzpatrick, the 72 year old engineer and inventor formerly of New Jersey but now living in his native Ireland said "You are looking to avoid damage - not cause it. Unfortunately, water from sprinklers can cause major damage to and even destroy the very things they are supposed to protect."

In comparison to systems that use water or inert gasses, fire suppression systems are designed to control fires, limiting the spread of the fire long enough to allow professional firefighters to respond and extinguish the fire before a total building loss can occur. Pyro-Sentinel's powder based approach is expected to perform exceptionally well in tests within accepted tolerances.

All systems have advantages and disadvantages, and Pyro-Sentinel is no exception. The main disadvantage is that it needs more space as the powder is stored above the protected area. There are many applications though where this is not an issue or alternatives are either not available or cost prohibitive.

It is the desire of all concerned within Pyro-Sentinel Ltd. that its system will become the newest firefighting weapon and will play an important part in the prevention of injuries or death and loss of property.

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MedTechIQ Selects TheBrain to Visualize Expansive Biointellingence Database and Connect the Dots Between Life Sciences, Medicine and Venture Capital

2011-07-08T02:49:00.000-07:00

MedTechIQ Selects TheBrain to Visualize Expansive Biointellingence Database and Connect the Dots Between Life Sciences, Medicine and Venture Capital

TheBrain's dynamic interface enhances Web community and presence by visualizing vast networks of information and deepening understanding of content.

Marina del Rey, CA (PRWEB) October 23, 2008

TheBrain® Technologies, the leading provider visualization software, announces that MedTechIQ has published several "Bioinfomediary Brains", on its social networking site to connect the dots between and link together vast networks of information on medical research, new ideas and venture capital.

"PersonalBrain's dynamic interface gives us an intelligent picture on otherwise invisible and complex business relationships, capturing the intricacies of how companies, academics, people and key concepts are related," said Conrad Clyburn, Co-Founder and Senior Partner of MedTechIQ. "Using PersonalBrain (http://www. thebrian. com/top12) I can make better decisions about new technologies and investment, in addition to sharing my vision of this industry landscape with my Web community. The discovery aspect of my own PersonalBrain for myself and the ability to publish my Brain and perspective for my community members is astounding."

TheBrain Technology (http://www. thebrain. com) augments MedTechIQ's business intelligence digital backbone where the organization creates, discovers, manages and shares information on advanced medical technologies. MedTechIQ's Biointelligence Database is visualized with TheBrain's dynamically reconfigurable visual interface. Clicking on a Thought in TheBrain triggers all related information so users can see key relationships at a glance and find all related connections. The Brain has over 55,000 medical technology "Thoughts" encompassing technology transfer, academic medical research, global subject matter experts, funding programs, industry, venture capitalists and market sectors.

"When you click through Conrad Clyburn's digital brain it's like entering another world," said Shelley Hayduk, Co-Founder of TheBrain. "His Brain is a testament to a great thinker and leader in medical technology research. We're pleased that PersonalBrain can enable this level of expression and interconnectivity to help companies and communities like MedTechIQ innovate and enhance community collaboration."

Users can browser through MedtechIQ's Brains and join the research community at: http://medtechiq. ning. com/ (http://medtechiq. ning. com/)

Conrad Clyburn and TheBrain Technologies are hosting a Web Event, Thursday, October 23, 10:00 am Pacific, 1:00 pm Eastern Time entitled: "Visualizing Complex "Triple Helix" Collaborations: Using Personal Brain & Web 2.0 to Connect the Dots Between Life Sciences, Medicine and Venture Capital."

Topics Covered include:
Mind Mapping and organizing ideas (http://blog. thebrain. com/beyond-hierarchies/), contacts and research Making connections between related information and building your information network Managing and changing large PersonalBrains Shifting contexts quickly to hone in on the right information within seconds Using your PersonalBrain as a presentation tool to communicate your vision Publishing your Brain as a SiteBrain on your Web site for easy access and sharing Attendees can sign up at http://www. thebrain. com/medtech (http://www. thebrain. com/#-152).

About the Clymer Group:
The Clymer Group LLC, the creator of the MedTechIQ "Web Space" and the T2IQ consultancy, is led by an outstanding management team with a demonstrated ability to build category-defining enterprises. The Co-Founders and Senior Partners are Conrad A. Clyburn, MS; Greg T. Mogel, MD; and Jeffrey I. Roller, MD, FACOG. MedTechIQ is their premier product for aggregating academic, government & industry information on advanced medical technology. Visit the MedtechIQ social networking site at: http://medtechiq. ning. com/ (http://medtechiq. ning. com/)

About TheBrain Technologies
TheBrain Technologies creates productivity software that helps people organize, visualize and share knowledge. TheBrain's Enterprise Knowledge Platform, BrainEKP™, is a Web based knowledgebase that facilitates easy collaboration and information discovery. TheBrain's enterprise customers include: Encyclopædia Britannica, Navy Special Warfare, Tyco, Park Nicollet, Medtronic, the US Department of Defense, California Casualty Insurance and other Fortune 1000 organizations. TheBrain's personal information management and dynamic mind mapping software, PersonalBrain™, helps users see and organize their files and ideas from their perspectives, emulating their own unique thinking and work habits. For a complimentary download of PersonalBrain, (http://www. thebrain. com/download) visit www. thebrain. com/download (http://www. thebrain. com/download)]. For more information, visit www. thebrain. com or e-mail info @ thebrain. com.

TheBrain, BrainEKP, and PersonalBrain are trademarks or registered trademarks of TheBrain Technologies LP. All other corporate names or trademarks stated herein are the property of their respective companies.

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M&S Money Report Record Sales of Dubai Currency

2011-06-29T00:51:00.000-07:00

M&S Money Report Record Sales of Dubai Currency

M&S Money reports sales of Dubai currency hit record levels as the QE22 prepares to leave the UK for the final time.

(PRWEB) November 21, 2008

As the QE2 leaves the UK for the final time before becoming a floating hotel in Dubai, figures from foreign currency expert M&S Money suggest that the region continues to be a popular winter destination for Brits.

Last month saw the highest ever amount of sales of foreign currency (http://www6.marksandspencer. com/pages/default. asp? PageID=Home&Product=TM (http://www6.marksandspencer. com/pages/default. asp? PageID=Home&Product=TM)) for Dubai, with more than £1million worth of UAE Dirham (AED) being sold through the network of M&S bureaux de change (http://www6.marksandspencer. com/pages/default. asp? PageId=ER&Product=TM (http://www6.marksandspencer. com/pages/default. asp? PageId=ER&Product=TM)), as well as on the phone and internet.

October's record figure has contributed to a 15% year-on-year increase in sales of the UAE Dirham - the currency used in the seven states which form the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai and the other UAE states have grown in popularity as a destination for Brits in recent years, whether on holiday, for business or visiting friends and family.

Hotels in Dubai have reported growing visitor numbers this year. According to the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing there was a 22 per cent growth in hotel revenues during the first three months of 2008, compared to the corresponding quarter last year.

The Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) cruise liner is the longest-serving ship in the 168-year history of the Cunard line and is currently owned by Carnival, the world's largest cruise operator.

Having now left Southampton for the last time she will arrive in Dubai later this month, where she will undergo extensive refurbishment to become a floating hotel.

Fraser Millar, M&S Money Head of Travel Services, said: "Our travel money (http://www6.marksandspencer. com/pages/default. asp? PageID=Home&Product=TM (http://www6.marksandspencer. com/pages/default. asp? PageID=Home&Product=TM)) sales figures show that the UAE Dirham is one of the most popular currencies outside the Euro and US Dollar.

"October and November are usually the peak months for sales of the Dirham as people prepare to head-off for some winter sun. The high sales figures of last month may indicate that those who are travelling to the region are taking more cash as a result of the increased cost of living in Dubai. Travellers should bear this in mind when deciding how much currency to purchase before travelling."

According to www. dubaifaqs. com, visitors can expect to pay around:
Hotel room (per night): £50
Small car rental (per day): £17
Petrol (per gallon): £1.05
Beer (pint): £5
House wine: £30
Bottle of water (1.5 litre): 40p
Burger: £2.40
Foreign newspaper: £3

Brits spend on average £821 per visit to the UAE, or £76 per day (Figures from the Office for National Statistics Travel Trends 2006).

Notes to Editors

About M&S Money (http://www6.marksandspencer. com/ (http://www6.marksandspencer. com/)):
M&S Money (originally called Marks & Spencer Financial Services) was founded in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer Group plc. The company is now a top-ten credit card provider and the second-largest travel money retailer in the UK. M&S Money also offers travel insurance as well as providing insurance for homes, cars, travel, pets and weddings, along with loans, savings and investments.

In November 2004, Marks & Spencer sold M&S Money to HSBC, one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations with over 9,500 offices in 76 countries and territories. The business continues to operate under the M&S Money brand, with an executive committee comprising an equal number of representatives from HSBC and Marks & Spencer.

The company employs 1,200 staff at its headquarters in Chester, delivering personal financial services to its customers, reflecting the core values of Marks & Spencer -- quality, value, service, innovation and trust.

For further information please call the M&S Money press office:
Liz Neild
M&S Money press office
Marks & Spencer Money
Kings Meadow
Chester
CH99 9FB
01244 686 068
Www6.marksandspencer. com

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Damage Appraisal Division Expands to Social Network Scene

2011-06-28T05:44:00.000-07:00

Damage Appraisal Division Expands to Social Network Scene

The damage appraiser network division of Insurance Claim Contractor Group expands its' network of professionals offering property and casualty damage appraisals through the popular social network LinkedIn. Com.

Plantsville, CT (Vocus) February 26, 2010

Insurance Claim Contractor Group (ICC) shows a steady increase in requests for property, auto, marine and heavy equipment damage appraisals through its' LocalPropertyDamageAppraisers. Com (LPDA) division. ICC recently implemented a Property Damage Appraisal Network group on the popular social and business network, LinkedIn. Com. Social networks are growing by leaps and bounds and prove to be a great place to network with other professionals in the industry. ICC sees this expansion as a positive step toward assisting its' clients reach their target market in the insurance industry.

ICC's use of aggressive marketing strategies is proving to show positive results. ICC has seen an increase in requests for damage appraisals both on the east coast and throughout the Midwest, primarily due to severe weather conditions affecting these areas.

"This property appraisal division is designed to be an added layer of online visibility for our clients, by driving targeted local traffic to their services in their local area," says Tom Birmingham, co-founder. "Expanding into the social network arena seemed to be the next obvious step," he adds.

Insurance Claim Contractor Group recommends that businesses get involved in social business networks and local insurance-industry organizations as an added value to their marketing campaigns. The old mentality of "if you build it, they will come," no longer pertains to developing an online presence. It is more like "peeling an onion, one layer at a time." Insurance Claim Contractor Groups' primary goal is helping professionals in the insurance claim industry to build their own "onion" through diversified marketing campaigns.

ICC's team is primarily made up of insurance claim professionals who closely monitor the industry trends and look for new tools for lead generation. ICC's team of expert marketers continues to push the envelope and design new tools for enhancing the marketing campaigns for insurance professionals.

"Not much is black and white these days. You need to be creative and always think outside the box. Many of our new divisions come from requests by our clients, including our LPDA division and new Linkedin. com group. We want to meet our clients' needs and give them cost effective means for generating new business," says Tom Birmingham, co-founder.

Some key members of Insurance Claim Contractor Group LLC include:

PuroClean Restoration Services/ PuroClean Emergency Restoration Specialists/PuroClean Property Damage Restoration - Each company provides 24 hour emergency restoration in Texas. Their services include water removal, dehumidification, and deodorization, fire, smoke and soot remediation, mold mitigation and specialty remediation services. They work directly with major insurance companies and their adjusters and are a preferred vendor for Keller Williams Realty, a nationally recognized realty company. They provide emergency remediation services to both residential and commercial properties and specialize in bio-hazard recovery services, specific to crime scene decontamination in Harris County, Fort Bend County, Galveston County, Waller County, Brazoria County, Austin County, and Wharton County Texas.

Western States Pool Inspection Services - Providing decking, spa and pool inspection services for the insurance claim industry throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington State. They do inspections for insurance adjusters and claims agents to assess the actual physical damage and to determine the cause of the damage. They handle all types of damage claims, such as soot and fire damage claims, earthquake damage claims, and flooding damage claims.

About Insurance Claim Contractor Group:
Insurance Claim Contractor Group LLC is founded and supported by contractors, adjusters and marketing experts working within the insurance claim field. ICC's goal is to increase visibility for skilled insurance claim vendors and set them apart from their competitors, by offering many online marketing services to enhance online visibility and drive traffic to their businesses. Some of Insurance Claim Contractor Group's services include, but are not limited to: National Online Directory Listing Service, Lead Generation Service (PostInsuranceClaim. Com), Property Damage Appraisal Services (LocalPropertyDamageAppraisers. Com), Insurance Quote Lead Generation Tool (LocalInsuranceQuotesOnline. Com), Web-based Contractor Claim Management Solution (Restoreproof. Com), Website Design & Development Services, Search Engine Optimization Services, Search Engine Marketing Services, Real Time Fire, Water, Smoke and Structure Alerts, Banner Advertising, Interactive Marketing, Podcasting Services, Newsletter & Collateral Development and Email Marketing Services.

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Eriksen Translations Receives Prize in Women Presidents' Educational Organization Challenge

2011-06-28T02:51:00.000-07:00

Eriksen Translations Receives Prize in Women Presidents' Educational Organization Challenge

The Women Presidents' Organization, an advocate of supplier diversity, recognized Eriksen Translations on June 9 for the significant amount of business the company does with sponsoring corporations and other certified women-owned businesses.

Brooklyn, NY (PRWEB) June 23, 2006

Eriksen Translations was recognized on Friday, June 9, at the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization’s (WPEO) Breakthrough Breakfast at The NBC Rainbow Room with second prize in the Inaugural Done Deals™ Challenge. Done Deals™ is a WPEO program that reports contracts between corporate members and certified women’s business enterprises (WBEs).

“We are proud to be recognized by an organization that promotes supplier diversity and opportunities for companies like ours. As Eriksen continues to grow, we are grateful to all of our champions, both the clients who rely on us for their multilingual needs and organizations like the WPEO who advocate for us so tirelessly," said Vigdis Eriksen, president and CEO of Eriksen.

Of the 475 Done Deals™ that were reported, Eriksen submitted 52 completed transactions with a variety of clients in government, finance, pharmaceuticals, and insurance. These companies ranged from Fortune 100 corporations to other WBEs and represented translation, editing, typesetting and copywriting in 12 of the over 100 languages Eriksen offers.

"This year we focused on encouraging the WBEs to use their business strengths and the access we provide to close the deal," said Marsha Firestone, Ph. D., the president of the WPEO. Eriksen has built long-standing relationships with all of its Done Deals™ partners and is continuing to reach out to other companies who can benefit from its 20 years of localization expertise.

About Eriksen Translations Inc.

Eriksen Translations Inc. is a leading provider of multilingual services in over 100 languages, including translation, interpreting, typesetting, project management, Web localization, and cultural consulting. Founded in 1986, Eriksen helps organizations in a broad range of industries excel across print, desktop, and Web environments in the domestic and global marketplace. For more information, please visit www. erikseninc. com.

About the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization

The Women Presidents' Educational Organization (WPEO) is a regional affiliate of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s premier third party certification organization for women owned businesses. The mission of the WPEO is to create increased access to business opportunities for WBEs. Our programs develop skills and knowledge for WBEs, advocate in the public and private sectors, foster relationships between WBEs, corporations and the government, and provide certification services. WPEO provides full service third party certification to women entrepreneurs in the New York, Northern New Jersey, Southern Connecticut and the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia areas. WPEO is incorporated in the state of New York and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, please visit www. wpeo. us or call (212) 688-4114.

# # #

Can CFOs and CEOs Ever Love Environmental and Safety Compliance?

2011-06-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

Can CFOs and CEOs Ever Love Environmental and Safety Compliance?

Environmental and safety managers are not very good at explaining the benefits of their programs to numbers-minded management. BLR has produced a tool kit that explains how to bring ROI into compliance activities.

Old Saybrook, CT (PRWEB) December 27, 2004

Safety and environmental managers across the country have been busy lobbying their management to justify departmental budget requests. The argument seems simple enough Â protecting worker safety and preserving the environment always seems like a good idea. But with skeptical top brass faced with relentless costs and competitive pressures, is there any way to convince management that being a good corporate citizen is worth the cost?

ÂTraditionally, EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) functions are viewed as cost centers, or a drain on the companyÂs resources,Â says David Galt, EHS editor at Business & Legal Reports, Inc. EHS roles typically include training, energy efficiency measures, pollution prevention, waste reduction, safety compliance, and environmental permit compliance.

ÂThe problem is not only that these activities are viewed as expenses,Â says Galt, Âbut itÂs also made worse because most managers do not have the first idea how to convey EHS benefits to top management in terms that will be understood.Â

The environmental compliance experts at BLR have just developed a toolkit of techniques to help compliance managers vividly display the economic advantages of EHS programs. The ROI of EHS: Practical Strategies to Demonstrate the Business Value of Environmental, Health, and Safety Functions, puts several easy-to-use financial tools at managersÂ disposal.

To get management to say yes, according to Galt, Âthe key is for managers to learn to translate costs into investments that can be seen as benefiting the firmÂs business value, using the right EHS-business value measuring metrics.Â Galt cites as an example a budget item to reduce lost workdays from accidents. The economic benefit would be the $/year or percent insurance premium cost reduction. Or, if a proposal were to invest in a new effluent reduction system, the benefit would be the dollar savings resulting from reduced waste disposal quantities.

EHS managers can receive a Free excerpt of The ROI of EHS tool kit by calling BLR at 800-727-5257, or service@blr. com.

About BLR

Old Saybrook, Conn.-based BLR produces plain-English references for environmental and safety managers, including Environmental Compliance (in Your State), a state-specific service. For more information and a free catalog, call 1-800-727-5257 or visit www. BLR. com.

Contacts:

BLR Editor:

David Galt

Editors@blr. com

860 510-0100 x 2378

Business editors

Industry Keyword: Safety, Environmental compliance, manufacturing, chemicals

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Expand Media Takes a Costly Stand for the Environment and Good Labor Practices

2011-06-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

Expand Media Takes a Costly Stand for the Environment and Good Labor Practices

Expand International who started manufacturing trade show displays 60 years ago and has become known as the BMW of the portable display industry sets the mark for high quality and unsurpassed reliability at a cost. With a life time warranty and ISO 9001 certified plant Expand International continues to lead the way in the portable display industry with the introduction of its new portable flags has had a zero tolerance for child labor in any of its facilities and a green policy in place for many years.

Stratford, CT (PRWEB) November 16, 2007

Expand International, who started manufacturing trade show displays 60 years ago and has become known as the BMW of the portable display industry, sets the mark for high quality and unsurpassed reliability at a cost. With a life time warranty and ISO 9001 certified plant Expand International continues to lead the way in the portable display industry with the introduction of its new portable flags and a zero tolerance for poor working conditions, sometime horrifically exemplified by child labor in low cost factories. In addition to its labor policy Expand also has the same Quality and Environmental policies in place for all of its facilities, regardless if they are in Europe, USA or China.

"Expand is a very unique company in the display industry, it does not tolerate poor labor practices in any of its factories. Expand has a green friendly corporate policy and has an ISO 9001 certified plant. In todays display market we see products coming in from overseas that use very poor labor standards and whose factories and products are far from meeting the standards of the US market."

In talking with Bjorn G. Sao from Expand International of America we were told that "Expand could make their products cheaper but then we would be like the majority of the foreign manufacturers who sell to US importers in the portable display (http://expandmedia. com/us) industry. We do not make disposal equipment or limited use displays". Expands spends a great deal of money for product liability insurance and does not hire children in our overseas factories and has a five day work week similar to the United States.

"Look at places like Amazon or Craig's list or the Internet, the same retractable banner stands are being sold under various names by many companies and ask a question-who is behind this company and who assembled these units". The same is true for the pop up displays, Internet web sites have the same displays being sold under many different names and they are being imported for their low cost not how well they function or how long they will last. If a company is looking for a disposable display system then Expand International is not the company you want to be considering. If you are looking for a product that works well under various conditions and has a life time warranty (http://expandmedia. com/us) and has a green policy then look at Expand.

"Expands products are not inexpensive compared to many other companies in the business but Expand manufactures products to the highest levels and as a company maintain the highest set of quality standards for labor practices, don't cut corners with materials and have a Green friendly factory."

In the world of trade show displays you get what you pay for. While well-designed websites give the illusion that every company is selling quality trade show booths and display hardware once the consumer looks closer they are finding a wide range of quality from company-to-company and the same products just being sold under various names.

Look at Expand Internationals (http://www. expandmedia. com) new outdoor flag system and the buyer, the marketing department or sales team will find that a great deal of time has been spent in the engineering for longevity of life in all types of weather conditions. The Flag Stand XL is a portable flag stand perfect for all outdoor events, marketing activities and product campaigns. It is very stable even in strong winds, up to 35 miles per hour and can be used in almost any weather conditions and is over 18 feet tall. Expand offers something different and it carries the Expand life time warranty and is backed by a 65 year old company.

The freestanding Expand flag stand 1 is available with either a 'X' base or an optional ground stake goes up in minutes. Graphics are printed onto one or both sides of fabric so that the image will read whichever side it is viewed from. The Expand Flag-stand 1 is available in three different heights -- 6.5 feet, 10 feet and 13 feet and are a perfect complement to the outdoor double sided retractable banner stand that was introduced by Expand last year.

The flags are truly spectacular and have been tested in wind guests up to 35 miles per hour and have preformed very well. Weather an event being held in a park, the beach, the snow or the desert or a parking lot these flags will make your product stand out and be visible from one end of a football field to the other. Expands flag and pole system are the best offered on the market today and are backed with a lifetime warranty, integrity and quality standards that others try to copy and say there products are similar to or like but they are not.

Expand International who started manufacturing trade show displays 60 years ago and has become know as the BMW of the portable display (http://www. expandmedia. com/us) industry sets the mark for high quality and unsurpassed reliability. For outdoor retractable banner stands, out door marketing events and giant flags and portable flag poles Expand International is the leader in the display industry and has not used child labor and have a green policy.

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Phishing, Account Hijacking Myths Exposed

2011-06-09T04:15:00.000-07:00

Phishing, Account Hijacking Myths Exposed

One of the challenges facing internet users today is the growing problem of account hijacking, also called ÂphishingÂ.

(PRWEB) August 12, 2005

One of the challenges facing internet users today is the growing problem of account hijacking, also called ÂphishingÂ. Phishing is the fastest growing type of identity theft and is the type most common on the internet. Typically, phishers use e-mails or other means to lure victims to counterfeit websites where they are tricked into divulging financial and other confidential data such as credit card numbers, account IDs, passwords, and social security numbers. Consumer and business losses in 2004 resulting from phishing are estimated to exceed five billion ($5,000,000,000) US dollars.

Another of the challenges facing internet users today is debunking the many myths regarding phishing.

PHISHING MYTHS

Myth:

ÂMy bank account is insured by the FDIC, so I will get my money back if it is stolen by phishersÂ.

Truth:

Many consumers mistakenly assume that if their bank account is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, they will be reimbursed for losses due to fraud or theft. In fact, FDIC deposit insurance only protects bank accounts up to $100,000 if the bank or savings institution FAILS, not if the funds are simply stolen. Like mutual funds, investments, and safe deposit boxes, losses due to fraud and theft are NOT covered under FDIC deposit insurance. Some banks elect to cover such losses out of their own pockets or they may purchase a form of insurance called a bankerÂs blanket bond from which they may cover the losses. Other banks offer no reimbursement of any kind to their customers. If you want to know whether or not your bank account is protected against loss due to phishing or account hijacking, you must inquire at your individual bank and donÂt believe the ill-informed teller who says, Âoh yes, it is covered under our FDIC insuranceÂ. For additional information on what is and is not covered by FDIC insurance, you can read the FDIC brochure, ÂInsured or Not InsuredÂ found on the FDIC website: http://www. fdic. gov/consumers/consumer/information/fdiciorn. html (http://www. fdic. gov/consumers/consumer/information/fdiciorn. html)

Myth:

ÂAs long as I donÂt open any unknown email, I canÂt become a victim of phishingÂ.

Truth:

While it is true that most phishing scams involve the use of fraudulent email (called ÂspoofÂ email), this is not always the case. The fastest growing form of identity theft on the internet, growing at an even faster rate than traditional phishing, is a type of theft called ÂpharmingÂ. Pharming is the exploitation of vulnerabilities in DNS servers, machines responsible for resolving internet names into their real addresses. Phishers exploit these vulnerabilities to redirect their victimÂs browser away from the desired website to their own malicious website. This can be accomplished without relying on a victim clicking the link in a spoof email. In the most insidious form of pharming, an attacker infects the victimÂs computer with auto-redirection software, typically through a virus, a file downloaded from a questionable website, or even from scripts hidden on a malicious webpage. The victim is then quietly redirected to the phisherÂs fraudulent website every time they type the authentic website address into their browserÂs address bar or select it from their browserÂs ÂfavoritesÂ menu. Using pharming in conjunction with URL masking techniques (substituting the actual fraudulent website address in the browser address bar with an apparent valid website address), the victim has no way of realizing they are not visiting the authentic webpage, but are, instead, visiting a phishing website.

Myth:

ÂMy firewall and anti-virus software will protect me from phishing websitesÂ.

Truth:

In fact, firewall and anti-virus software offers very little protection against phishing. They may help in preventing you from inadvertently downloading or becoming infected with pharming auto-redirection software, but they offer no protection against you being tricked into visiting a phishing website.

Myth:

ÂIÂm too smart to be fooled or caught by a phishing scamÂ.

Truth:

The Federal Trade Commission reported in December of 2004 that almost 2 million U. S. adult Internet users experienced some form of phishing fraud during the 12 months ending April 2004, equivalent to 10% of all the U. S. households with a computer. The Anti-Phishing Working Group reports 2625 new phishing websites were spawned in February 2005 alone and phishing attacks grew by 4000% between 2004 and 2005. Statistically, more people became a victim of phishing last year in the United States than filed for bankruptcy or graduated from high school. More people became a victim of phishing last year in the United States than are serving in all branches of the United States armed forces combined. (Source: US Census Bureau http://www. census. gov (http://www. census. gov)).

Myth:

ÂThere are plenty of anti-phishing solutions available. I read about new products being announced almost daily.Â

Truth:

Until recently, there have been few solutions to combat phishing. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other companies have experimented with various forms of "filtering" or "blocking" software or hardware to try and shut down phishing webpages before they reach consumers. Software companies have spent enormous sums of money attempting to develop software or browser-based solutions.

On Dec 14, 2004, the U. S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the FDIC) published a study presenting their findings on how the financial industry and its regulators could mitigate the risks associated with Phishing. In this report, the FDIC identified two root causes for the problem of phishing; 1) user authentication by the financial services industry for remote customer access is insufficiently strong, and 2) the internet lacks website authentication capabilities. Virtually all of the anti-phishing ÂsolutionsÂ recently announced in the press fail these two FDIC tests. Some simply lookup IP or other domain ÂwhoisÂ records and calculate risk. Some rely on databases of blacklisted websites and selectively permit or block access based on company-defined filtering rules. Others enhance an existing weak login process with additional layers of images, audio recordings, or other user-supplied information. Strictly speaking, none of these approaches are actually using approved strong authentication methods to authenticate the websites themselves, the root causes of phishing.

In fact, of all the anti-phishing solutions recently announced in the press, the only one that actually employs an approved strong authentication method to authenticate the website itself is PhishCops by Sestus Data Corporation. PhishCops uses algorithms approved by the U. S. Dept of Commerce for use in authenticating sensitive data and applies these algorithms to proactively authenticate websites using a 100% web-based approach. It does not rely on any database of ÂblacklistedÂ phishing websites, filtering rules, additional login process layers, or on potentially fraudulent ÂwhoisÂ or IP records.

PhishCops is patent-pending and Sestus Data Corporation reports that they are negotiating with a number of ÂsignificantÂ financial entities regarding implementation at this time. Launch of the product as an online service is scheduled to begin later this year and will be free for users and fee-based for businesses. The company has been accepting reduced-fee early-signup requests from online businesses for several weeks and will begin permitting users to register online shortly. In addition to being free for users, PhishCops user accounts will be completely anonymous and users will not be required to disclose any personal information during registration, not even their name or email address. Once registered, a userÂs PhishCops User ID will be valid at all participating websites.

Sestus Data Contact Info:

Media Relations, Sestus Data

Info@sestusdata. com

Fax: (866) 621-1885

Http://www. sestusdata. com (http://www. sestusdata. com)

# # #

Wortix Healthcare Takes Aim at the Healthcare Crises

2011-06-08T06:29:00.000-07:00

Wortix Healthcare Takes Aim at the Healthcare Crises

Wortix Healthcare, wortix. com is a service that facilitates patient's online treatment by doctors. This e-health initiative was designed for the purpose of empowering consumers to regain control of their healthcare. Preventive medicine is a critical component of solving chronic health issues. Increased patient/doctor (i. e. Wortix Healthcare/e-health) communication will play a major role in reducing the incidents of these chronic cases.

Orlando, Fl (PRWEB) April 23, 2008

Wortix Healthcare, wortix. com allows the consumer to access doctors online for diagnosis and treatment. Predicated on our research, 40-60% of patient conditions can be facilitated online. Patients will eventually be able to seek second opinions and have a primary care physician refer their online patient to specialists online. Wortix was designed to allow medical imagery to be transmitted from patient to doctor and doctor to doctor. For conditions that cannot be treated online, doctors can direct patients to the appropriate facility.

Information will be encrypted and stored anonymously on servers throughout the country. Patients will have full and complete access to their own and family member's access, which gives them the control they currently don't have. The information on diagnosis and treatments is easily downloaded to take to another provider. Wortix Healthcare will not have access to patient's identity as they are stored by screen names.

Wortix Healthcare, wortix. com will help physicians save time by cutting down on unnecessary office visits. The patient saves time too. Primary care physician practices will benefit the most as most are burdened by the overwhelming number of patients they have to see. That said most practices and Healthcare institutions should benefit from the use of Wortix Healthcare.

Wortix Healthcare has 3 platforms;

1.Healthcare Organizations-Hospitals, Medical Practices, Insurance companies
2.General Public - Currently operational in South America and has a humanitarian element for individuals who either don't have access to doctors or can't afford one.
3.Governmental - Governmental Healthcare organizations

Go to wortix. com for more information on the 3 models

The Wortix Healthcare system will be compatible with iPhone, Google Health and Microsoft "HealthVault".

Online treatments are reimbursable: Aetna and Cigna have recently accepted online treatments for reimbursement. Others are expected to follow.

Wortix Healthcare was designed for the empowerment of the consumer in developed countries and for use in developing countries where the population doesn't have access to doctors.

During a recent interview, Founder and C. E.O. Jorge Canal said, "Wortix Healthcare is the next killer app that brings balance to the way health resources are allocated locally and globally."

Wortix Healthcare is located in Lake Mary Florida. For more information go to: wortix. com or call Geoff Levin at 407-302-5496.

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Benefit Software Inc. Receives High Customer Approval Ratings For Delivery of Printed Benefits Statements

2011-06-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

Benefit Software Inc. Receives High Customer Approval Ratings For Delivery of Printed Benefits Statements

Benefit Software Inc., (www. bsiweb. com), a leading Software as a Service (SaaS) provider of online employee benefits enrollment and communication solutions, today announces the results of its annual client satisfaction survey for its Printed Benefit Statement Services. The survey showed that 98 percent of clients using Benefit Software's outsourced service to produce Total Compensation statements were satisfied with their projects, and that they reported exceptionally high marks across the board for the project management process, the level of service, and the on-time delivery of the finished product.

Santa Barbara, CA (PRWEB) February 10, 2009

Benefit Software produces Total Compensation, Total Rewards, and Benefit Statements for more than 200 organizations employing more than 150,000 employees. The survey asked clients to rate a variety of aspects involved in the completion of their statement project and included the following results:
98 percent were satisfied with their project. 99 percent reported that they were kept well informed during the project 100 percent reported that they received timely and accurate drafts of the statements 98 percent reported being pleased with the look of their statements. 9 out of 10 clients agreed that the employee data summaries made it easy to audit employee statements. 9 out of 10 clients agreed that the project management website made the project easy to manage. 9 out of 10 clients agreed that the printed statements were completed within a reasonable timeline. 100 percent reported that the project manager was responsive and more than 99 percent agreed that the project manager was knowledgeable.

While the outsourcing of Human Resources functions is growing in popularity, the findings from a recent Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) poll indicate a less than overwhelming level of satisfaction. According to the SHRM 2008 Outsourcing Poll, only 35 percent of respondents were "very satisfied" and 55 percent were "somewhat satisfied" with their vendor outsourcing relationships. Similarly, only 32 percent were "very satisfied" and 53 percent were "somewhat satisfied" with their vendor outsourced services.

"To realize true ROI from their outsourcing partnerships employers need to select a vendor that delivers superior service on time and on budget," says William Smith, Vice President of Sales at Benefit Software Inc. "Our goal is to help clients understand benefits communications best practices and then work with them to design and produce statements that deliver on all counts."

Emanuel Medical Center (Turlock, CA) is one organization that realized ROI from engaging Benefit Software to produce custom statements for more than 1,000 of its benefit-eligible employees. "The Printed Benefit Statement Practice Team simplified the entire process for us and we are extremely pleased not only with the quality of the statements, but also with the speed and efficiency in which they completed the project," says Karen Curiel, Benefits Analyst. "In addition, we were impressed with the secure manner is which Benefit Software handled the confidential employee data that we transmitted to them. Viewing the benefits information and the associated costs in print was an eye-opening experience for our employees and one that has earned us the reputation of employer of choice in our area, which is demonstrated by our low turnover and high retention rates."

"Providing exceptional service is about exceeding client expectations," says Heather Bechtol, Head of the Printed Benefit Statement Practice of Benefit Software's Professional Services Division. "Our team members combine their in-depth knowledge of benefits with IT acumen, project management expertise, and top-notch design and production skills to provide our clients with a complete solution for producing quality, high-impact statements. Moreover, with growing concerns over privacy and accountability, providing a secure website to manage the project is critical to ensuring data security and project transparency."

About Printed Benefit Statement Services

Members of the Printed Benefit Statement Practice team can support clients through the entire benefits communication process--from strategy and statement design to data gathering and final production--or step in at any point to help them affordably execute their strategic communication goals. Printed benefit statement services include:

Consultation and project analysis to determine individual requirements and needs, such as budgets, statement formats, internal review processes, and production schedules.

A comprehensive, multi-stage timeline approved by the client.

A secure, private client engagement Web site to manage communications and project milestones.

Statement design that accounts for messaging, logos, supporting graphics, and color. Options include straightforward single-page summary statements to comprehensive, graphically rich, multi-page statements that can include survey responses.

Drafting of copy for the statement. This also can include a review of existing company communications (benefit descriptions, enrollment handbook, carrier information, etc.) to ensure the accuracy and consistency of all content.

Integration of employee census information and, if applicable, data files from third-party administrators or insurance agents.

Professional production and printing services to ensure high quality finished statements.

A rigorous consultation and review process throughout the engagement to ensure that employee benefit statements meet changing requirements in each client's dynamic work environment.

About Benefit Software Inc.

Benefit Software Inc. (BSI) is a leading Software as a Service (SaaS) provider of highly effective employee benefits enrollment and communication solutions. In addition to developing and hosting Fringe Facts® Online, a leading Best-of-Breed online enrollment service, the company designs, develops, and sells PC software applications that allow organizations to internally develop employee Total Rewards, Total Compensation, or Benefit Statements. BSI also offers printed Total Rewards, Total Compensation, or Benefit Statement services through its Professional Services team. The dedicated staff at BSI have backgrounds in human resources, employee benefits, insurance, finance, program development, software support, and training. Incorporated in 1978, the company has helped more than 5,000 customers find solutions to their employee benefits communication problems. The company continues to develop new benefits communication solutions for employers and insurance professionals. For more information, visit www. bsiweb. com.

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Generating Growth in a Contracting Economy

2011-06-02T02:03:00.000-07:00

Generating Growth in a Contracting Economy

A consumer recommendation and loyalty study, conducted by Engaged Marketing, suggests that many businesses have a huge opportunity to grow even in a shrinking economy. The analysis of five major Australian Industry sectors utilised the highly regarded Net Promoter Score®, which has an acknowledged link to business growth, to measure performance. Only 2 out of 31 brands achieved world class scores and only 7 achieved a positive score. This highlights that many organisations have the potential to increase business performance through increasing customer focus.

Brisbane, Australia (PRWEB) April 1, 2009

Engaged Marketing founder and Director Chris Roberts argues slashing staff to reduce costs may be exactly the wrong thing to do when times get tough.

Mr Roberts said, instead enhancing customer loyalty is critical in a slowing economy.

"Though increasing customer focus rather than cutting costs may seem counter intuitive, when you factor in the incremental loyalty, repurchase rates, and especially word of mouth it makes perfect economic sense," he said.

Mr Roberts said his analysis of five major Australian industry sectors, using the highly-regarded Net Promoter Score®, strongly suggests many organisations have the potential to increase customer loyalty and business performance.

He said, "The Net Promoter Score asks customers how likely they would be to recommend the company to others."

"By focusing on improving their customer experience, companies can significantly improve their Net Promoter Score - which is strongly associated with better growth outcomes," he said.

Mr Roberts said he had surveyed 1501 consumers across five industry sectors - property insurance, banking, mobile networks, online shopping, and health insurance.

"Widely recognised as one of the most accurate measures of customer loyalty, the Net Promoter Score is used by many major organisations including GE, Microsoft, Paypal, Phillips, Sony, American Express, and The Harvard Business Review."

"It's popularity is largely due to the fact that it has proven itself to be an excellent predictor of business growth."

"In general, Australian brands across the five categories performed badly with only 7 out of 31 achieving a positive score.

"Only two brands - APIA and Bendigo Bank - achieved world-class scores."

"These results strongly suggest that many Australian businesses still have huge potential to grow even in a shrinking economy"

"Bendigo Bank blitzed the banking sector coming in way ahead of giants Commonwealth Bank and National Australia Bank."

"The survey also put home grown online retailer Oztion ahead of international brands eBay and Amazon."

The other category winners included APIA in the property insurance industry, Virgin Mobile in mobile networks and HBF in health insurance.

Mr Roberts said there has never been a more critical time for organisations to go back to basics and focus on the customer.

"In tough times customer loyalty is vital - and everyone knows word of mouth is the most effective and trusted sales and marketing channel available to business."

"Even if overall demand in a category decreases, organisations can still take a leadership role and ensure they position themselves strongly for the future," he said.

"Customer focus can sometimes seem to be nothing more than courtesy and being nice," he said. "The reality is that in the current environment, customer focus is an economic necessity."

The full report outlining scores, key findings by industry, and identifying the drivers of recommendation behaviour is available at Engaged Marketing (http://www. engagedmarketing. com. au)

For Further Media Information Contact :
Chris Roberts, Director, Engaged Marketing
Phone: 61-7-31681015

About Engaged Marketing :
Engaged Marketing is a strategic marketing consultancy based in Brisbane that helps businesses grow by developing fresh customer, marketing and organisational strategies.
Engaged Marketing is an approved Net Promoter Score® Loyalty Partner.
Chris Roberts is an Industry Fellow at the University of Queensland, Australia.

Net Promoter, NPS, and Net Promoter Score are trademarks of Satmetrix Systems, Inc., Bain & Company, and Fred Reichheld.

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C&C Security Systems, LLC Releases a Portable Security System to Reduce the $1 Billion Annual Theft in the Construction Industry

2011-05-31T08:34:00.000-07:00

C&C Security Systems, LLC Releases a Portable Security System to Reduce the $1 Billion Annual Theft in the Construction Industry

General contractors and custom home builders lose over a billion dollars each year to theft and vandalism. Copper, appliances, HVAC, lumber, tools and heavy equipment - nothing is secure from theft on a construction site. C&C Security Systems has developed JeSS™, a portable security system comprised of Access Control, CCTV, Time and Attendance, Intrusion Detection, Fire and more to meet this need.

Camp Hill, PA (PRWEB) May 21, 2009

General contractors and custom home builders lose over a billion dollars each year to theft and vandalism. Contractors and custom home builders routinely face the loss of tools, construction materials, even heavy equipment and the delays these losses cause. C&C Security Systems, LLC of Camp Hill, PA has developed JeSS, a portable security system for the construction industry to easily increase security on the job site.

Construction site losses come from internal and external theft, vandalism committed by radical environmental groups, and from arson. "Theft claims and other losses on construction sites can cause insurance rates to increase dramatically," said Bob Creason of Christian Baker Insurance in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. "Most insurance companies will offer discounts for having on-site security such as the JeSS system being offered by C&C Security."

"Several contractors came to us looking for a solution," said Steve Chianos, President of C&C Security. "They asked us for a user-friendly security system that could be moved from one job site to the next. The plug and play design of JeSS, makes it easy for anyone to install and use. There is no need to learn the complex wiring diagrams associated with most security systems."

The JeSS-Jobsite Secure System is a modular security system - the customer can choose the features that best suit their needs. The basic JeSS system includes CCTV with 8 or 16 cameras, access control to secure 4 doors and can expand to 32 doors, time and attendance tracking, intrusion and fire detection with a cell phone dialer to alert local authorities and the project manager.

To download the JeSS white paper and for additional information:
(http://www. cc-security. com/jobsite-security. php? source=pr052009 (http://www. cc-security. com/jobsite-security. php? source=pr052009))

About C&C Security Systems, LLC
C&C Security is a security system integrator located in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. The C&C Security staff has over 40 years of experience in the security industry. C&C Security develops specialized security products, expanding on the application of access control and CCTV systems. To learn more about C&C Security, visit the web site:
(http://www. cc-security. com/index. php? source=pr052009 (http://www. cc-security. com/index. php? source=pr052009)).

Contact:
Steve Chianos, President
C&C Security Systems, LLC
888-442-2301 ext 701
717-574-9832
Www. cc-security. com

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Your Web Site May Be Broadcasting, ÂWe DonÂt Really Care,Â Says Usability Psychologist Susan Weinschenk, Threatening Your OrganizationÂs Survival

2011-05-31T08:26:00.000-07:00

Your Web Site May Be Broadcasting, ÂWe DonÂt Really Care,Â Says Usability Psychologist Susan Weinschenk, Threatening Your OrganizationÂs Survival

When money gets tight in corporate budgets, recessions hit, and people get laid off, making computers and web sites more usable is one of the first things to go out the window. The official reason given is: There isnÂt money to spend on that right now.

(PRWEB) June 19, 2002

For: Weinschenk Consulting, PO Box 226, Edgar, WI 54426.

Contact: Susan Weinschenk, (800) 236-2599, susan@weinschenk. com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Your Web Site May Be Broadcasting, ÂWe DonÂt Really Care,Â Says

Usability Psychologist Susan Weinschenk, Threatening Your OrganizationÂs Survival

Edgar, WI - When money gets tight in corporate budgets, recessions hit, and people get laid off, making computers and web sites more usable is one of the first things to go out the window. The official reason given is: There isnÂt money to spend on that right now.

ÂReturn on investment and bottom lineÂ those are handy terms to use when you werenÂt really committed to something in the first place, and now need a convenient reason to ditch it,Â contends Susan Weinschenk, Ph. D., a psychologist who studies humansÂ interactions with technology. ÂWe are seeing businesses put on hold their efforts to make technology more usable. This is exactly the opposite of what should be done in tough times. The companies that thrive when customers and stockholders get skittish exist not only to make money, but also to make a difference.Â

By Âmaking a difference,Â Weinschenk means that companies need to reaffirm as a basic purpose how they improve life for customers. This might involve making peopleÂs feet more comfortable by manufacturing great shoes, helping people emerge from a crisis with superior insurance products and services, providing medical technology to people who are ill, or furnishing power that fuels homes and businesses and therefore fuels peopleÂs dreams.

ÂIf computers, intranets and web sites are hard to use, this sends a message to the people who have to use them that technology is more important than human beings,Â says Weinschenk, who was voted one of the Top 100 Women in Computers in Open Computing Magazine. ÂIt says, we donÂt see you as a living, breathing person with hopes, goals and dreams but as an inanimate cog in our business plan. More and more, employees and customers recoil from that attitude. ThereÂs more to business than cold, hard profit. Understanding your true business purpose and showing human consideration in your technology are key to riding out a rough economy and staying strong.Â

For organizations wishing to demonstrate their concern for stressed-out web site and computer users, Weinschenk Consulting offers a free Online Usability checklist at

Http://www. weinschenk. com/tools/online_checklist. asp (http://www. weinschenk. com/tools/online_checklist. asp).

Non-savers? Most Cite Bills, Medical Expenses as Barriers

2011-05-26T02:50:00.000-07:00

Non-savers? Most Cite Bills, Medical Expenses as Barriers

For an estimated 44 million U. S. employees, paying the bills, keeping up with the high cost of medical care and lack of an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan are some of the main reasons they are not saving for retirement, according to a report from LIMRA International.

Windsor, Conn. (Vocus) May 22, 2007

Non-savers often have health insurance and other benefits offered through their employers - 71 percent said health insurance was available. Eight in 10 use the health/medical benefit when offered, often sacrificing in other areas to cover the cost of benefits. But fewer than half of non-savers' employers offer a defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k), to help employees save for retirement.

"These are largely low to middle-income earners, working full-time, who are struggling financially," said Sally Bryck, co-author of Non-savers: Why Aren't They Saving for Retirement? "They want to save, they know they need to save, but they really need help."

"Americans have a huge appetite for costly consumer goods, but that's not necessarily the problem for many people," said Kathleen Rook, co-author. "In fact, we estimate that about four in 10 non-savers have cut their discretionary spending to make ends meet and still find it hard to save."

With the U. S. savings rate currently at a 70-year low, LIMRA re-examined data from a comprehensive 2005 study on employee benefits. LIMRA surveyed 2,000 employees to investigate their attitudes toward employee benefits in general, and the retirement plans offered by their employers.

In the survey, bills, health expenses, mortgage payments and education costs were the reasons most cited (http://www. limra. com/pressroom/databank/nonsavers0407.pdf) for not being able to save.

Size of employer, availability of an employer-sponsored defined contribution plan, and level of education were also important factors. Six in 10 non-savers work at small companies of fewer than 100 employees. Some 55 percent don't have access to a retirement savings plan at work, and 80 percent of non-savers have a high-school education or lower.

"We should not be too quick to assume that people don't know or care about saving for retirement," Bryck said. "Nearly six in 10 non-savers said they are extremely concerned about having enough money for their retirements, and about the same number are worried about the future of Social Security."

When asked how much of their income they think they should be saving for retirement, 97 percent of non-savers said at least 10 percent, and one-third believed they should be saving 20 percent. Asked about expected sources of retirement income, 87 percent said Social Security, 37 percent said employer-sponsored defined contribution plans, 25 percent said personal savings and 18 percent said employer pension plans. Fourteen percent said the lottery.

Find more information about retirement at Retirement Planning - It's Everyone's Job (http://www. limra. com/pressroom/pressmaterials/tentips. aspx), a LIMRA web page with links to more resources.

About LIMRA International
LIMRA International is a worldwide research, consulting and performance improvement organization that helps more than 800 insurance and financial services companies in 60 countries increase their marketing and distribution effectiveness. Visit LIMRA International at www. limra. com.

CONTACT:
Howard S. Drescher, (860) 285-7875
Catherine Theroux, (860) 285-7787

LIMRA International seeks to send relevant news to journalists who cover the life insurance and financial services industries. If you do not wish to receive this information, please reply to this email and ask to be removed from further distributions.

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Brightway Insurance Earns a Spot on the INC 5000

2011-05-24T15:32:00.000-07:00

Brightway Insurance Earns a Spot on the INC 5000

Jacksonville, FL (PRWEB) September 23, 2008

The latest edition of the INC 5000 released by the New York-based business magazine Inc. has made it official - Brightway Insurance is one of the fastest growing privately held property and casualty insurance agency in the country. This Jacksonville based Insurance (http://www. brightwayinsurance. com) agency was placed in the 587th spot overall, making it one of the fastest growing privately held companies of any presently operating in the U. S. Earning a spot on this prestigious list is something most business owners can only dream of, and placing first among all private P&C insurance agencies is certainly an indication that this home insurance Jacksonville provider is doing everything right.

Inc., a magazine designed specifically for entrepreneurs and small business owners, has been in circulation since 1979. It is a trusted and very popular publication, with monthly newsstand sales topping 20,000. In 1982, they began ranking the top 500 fastest-growing private companies in the land, eventually expanding the number to 5000. To land a spot on the list, companies must be privately-held, be in business for at least four years, and have earned at least two million dollars during their most recent year of operations.

Brightway Insurance's designation as a top American company can partly be attributed to the extensive range of products and services it offers its clients. This auto and car insurance Jacksonville (http://www. brightwayinsurance. com/insurance-auto. html) provider offers insurance for traditional automobiles, but they can also provide protection for those who own and operate motorcycles, ATV's, recreational vehicles, and boats. They have also helped their clients find home and condo insurance, renters' insurance, as well as term and whole life insurance. Many business owners and contractors also count on Brightway Insurance for financial protection.

Another reason why Brightway Insurance has been able to grow its business so much over the last number of years is that they can offer a more personal touch than larger companies. The agents are known for their honesty and friendliness and for their willingness to work with clients to find the coverage that best suits their unique situation. By working with a number of carriers located throughout the country, the company's agents are also usually able to secure competitively-priced insurance packages for their clients.

The growth of the company certainly shows no signs of slowing down. When David Miller, the current president, purchased the company in 2003, it had only three employees. By August of 2008, that number had grown to 140. While the company is taking some much-deserved time to celebrate their success, there's no doubt they're also looking forward and thinking about how they can make their company even more of a success in the future.

For more information, please call 888-254-5014 or visit http://www. brightwayinsurance. com (http://www. brightwayinsurance. com)

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Saveology. com™ Purchases 100,000 Nets Ticket Vouchers for Charities and Customers

2011-05-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

Saveology. com™ Purchases 100,000 Nets Ticket Vouchers for Charities and Customers

Largest Bulk Ticket Buy in Franchise History

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Vocus) December 23, 2008

Saveology. com™, a consumer comparison-shopping portal, focused on lowering the cost of living for households, today announced an alliance with the Nets in which it has purchased 100,000 Nets ticket vouchers that are being distributed to charities, hospitals, and people in-need in the New York metropolitan area, as well as to Saveology. com customers.

"During this sharp economic downturn we felt it was important to provide people with the opportunity to enjoy attending a Nets (http://www. nba. com/nets/index_main. html) game on us," said Saveology. com CEO Benny Aboud. "This initiative also will enable our customers to attend Nets games and to receive future promotions, as well. We are thrilled with our partnership with the Nets as we continue our goal to help people."

"This is a major investment by Saveology. com, and it comes at a perfect time with the holidays approaching," said Nets CEO Brett Yormark.

Saveology. com customers who sign up for tickets will have the chance to receive beneficial information on how to save on their essential services, which include home phone service, Internet, wireless phones, insurance, home security, moving services, and more.

About Saveology. com™
Saveology. com is the comparison-shopping portal where smart shoppers can lower their cost of living and save time while getting the best values for their essential services to uncover the best offers. Saveology. com compares services and prices, allows seamless purchases, and schedules installation for a broad range of leading nationally-recognized brands. Consumers may shop for satellite television, digital cable, high-speed Internet, home phone service, credit cards, wireless phones, insurance, home security, moving services, and more. Visit www. saveology. com to learn more.

CONTACT:
Tamar Burton
(954) 657-9611

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Cary, North Carolina's Borders Bulge as More Find Nirvana within City Limits

2011-05-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

Cary, North Carolina's Borders Bulge as More Find Nirvana within City Limits

According to the latest census figures Cary, North Carolina, is the 8th fastest growing city in the nation. Disgruntled with overpriced housing markets, many find Cary an attractive alternative.

Cary, NC (PRWEB) July 17, 2007

Across the county, residents disenchanted with their local housing markets are noticing the grass growing greener in Cary, NC. According to the new census figures for last year*, Cary grew by 5,451 residents (a 5.1% increase), making it the fastest growing city in North Carolina and #8 in the Nation. To accommodate the influx of families, Wake County has opened 7 brand new schools for 2007 and has encouraged more year-round schedules to better utilize classroom space.

Cary, listed in Money Magazine's Top 5 places to live, attracts new residents for several reasons: excellent public schools, affordable housing, reasonable taxes, strong job market, low crime, a mild climate, and genuinely friendly people.

Many national housing markets, especially on the east and west coasts, rise and fall like a rollercoaster. For example, in the suburbs of Washington DC a half a million dollars buys a mere 1200sqft fixer-upper. Meanwhile home prices in the Cary (http://www. real-estate-cary. com/mls_search. html) area have appreciated slowly and steadily (Averaging 3% to 8% over the last 6 years). $500,000 spent in Cary purchases a brand new 3,200 sqft dream home.

NC and Wake county's taxes and insurance are very reasonable. Using the median Cary home price of $256,900, property taxes are roughly $2,500/year and insurance is around $500/year. This alone inspires many homeowners in New York and New Jersey to start whistling Dixie, as they pay obscenely high taxes that, in many cases, rival or exceed their home's principal and interest payment.

The Job Market in Cary is healthy and lucrative. Major centers for employment are in neighboring Raleigh (http://www. real-estate-raleigh-nc. com/), the State Capitol, and the Research Triangle Park (RTP), the largest research park in the world. Forbes magazine recently voted Raleigh the #1 city in the nation for Business and Careers. With the good paying jobs and the reasonable home prices, Cary has one of the best housing affordability indexes in the nation.

Cary, North Carolina is the 8th safest city in the Nation. Perhaps this is due to the Bible belt's religious influence or the triangles distinction of having more PhD's per capita. Either way, families feel safe in Cary's streets and parks. Cary is part of the much celebrated Wake County Public School system and many of the top performing schools serve Cary's neighborhoods (http://www. real-estate-cary. com/cary_neighborhood_index. html).

Drawn by the mild climate and high quality of life, retirees are moving to the area in increasing numbers. Currently the third most popular retirement destination, NARA's study shows that "North Carolina is projected to overtake Florida as the number one retirement (http://www. real-estate-cary. com/Retirement_in_Cary. html) state over the next 10 years." With Rex, Wake and Duke Hospitals nearby residents enjoy some of the finest health care in the nation.

And lastly, most are quite fond of the verdant landscapes and weather in Cary. While summers are hot and humid, winters are short, pleasant and mild. Spring and fall are long, lovely and colorful.

*Census date from the July 2005 to July 2006 sampling period

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Morgan and Morgan Offers Legal Help and Information to Consumers Though Online Video Center

2011-05-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

Morgan and Morgan Offers Legal Help and Information to Consumers Though Online Video Center

Morgan and Morgan is now offering an online video library with over thirty legal videos covering topics related to several different areas of law. The videos feature Morgan and Morgan attorneys and provide insights, explanations, and practical information for consumers.

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) March 18, 2010

Morgan and Morgan is pleased to provide an online video library, which contains legal videos featuring Morgan and Morgan attorneys. This feature will serve as a helpful resource for site visitors who are considering filing a legal claim, or for those who are simply interested in learning more about the law. The Morgan and Morgan video library, located at http://www. forthepeople. com (http://www. forthepeople. com), includes over 30 videos on a variety of legal subjects.

Legal practice areas covered in Morgan and Morgan’s video center include Workers’ Compensation, Overtime Law, Trucking Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Nursing Home Abuse, Social Security Benefits, and Insurance Disputes. In each video, an attorney who has real life experience handling cases in one of these areas of law shares helpful insight and commentary. For example, in a video entitled “Suspect Nursing Home Abuse,” attorney Alexander Clem explains what you should do if you believe a loved one is suffering from mistreatment in a nursing home. In a video entitled “Investigation of Truck Accidents,” attorney Gregory Prysock explains how Morgan and Morgan truck accident lawyers explore all of the potential causes of a trucking accident.

Morgan and Morgan attorney Scott Weinstein is featured in four videos covering topics related to Defective Chinese Drywall. Weinstein, who serves as the Managing Partner of Morgan & Morgan's National Consumer Class Action and Mass Tort Department, has been named to the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for the Chinese drywall multidistrict litigation case. Weinstein also offers commentary in a video entitled “Safety Alert: Denture Adhesive Creams.” In this video, he explains that several denture cream brands have been linked to zinc poisoning. Weinstein is the Co-Lead Counsel for plaintiffs in the denture cream zinc poisoning multidistrict litigation case.

To watch the legal videos featuring Morgan and Morgan attorneys, visit http://www. forthepeople. com/ (http://www. forthepeople. com/) and select Video Center from the top navigation bar. Scroll through the list of video titles and click the play button next to any title to begin viewing the video of your choice.

If you would like to speak to Morgan and Morgan about your potential legal claim, please visit http://www. forthepeople. com/ (http://www. forthepeople. com/) and complete the Free Case Evaluation form.

About Morgan and Morgan:
Morgan and Morgan is one of the largest Personal Injury law firms in the country with multiple office locations throughout Florida and the Southeast. The firm handles auto accident cases, personal injury cases, and medical malpractice cases, as well as claims against drug and medical device manufacturers. Visit Morgan and Morgan online at http://www. forthepeople. com (http://www. forthepeople. com) for a free case evaluation and information about your legal rights.

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Barney & Barney, LLC Chooses Succeed Management Solutions, LLC to Provide its Clients with risk management solutions

2011-04-23T13:01:00.000-07:00

Barney & Barney, LLC Chooses Succeed Management Solutions, LLC to Provide its Clients with risk management solutions.

California Agency to utilize Assurex Global Strategic Partner, Succeed Management Solutions, LLC to provide clients with an industry leading web-based risk management center to win new accounts and cement existing client relationships.

Wilsonville, OR (PRWEB) February 15, 2010

Succeed Management Solutions, LLC the leader in web-based risk management solutions, today announced that Barney & Barney LLC, an Assurex Global Partner, has selected Succeed’s Risk Management Center to enhance sales and improve client retention.

As a $500 billion per year market, the commercial insurance industry provides consultative risk management services for thousands of customers worldwide. Succeed’s Risk Management Center provides a web-based resource to assist commercial insurance agents, brokers, and carriers deliver proactive Risk Management services to their clients.

The Risk Management Center is a software platform used to develop and manage risk mitigation programs, and is unique in the industry. Succeed brands its platform to its partner agencies, helping them deliver customized risk management programs to their clients through a comprehensive library of safety, risk management, and human resource materials. In addition, the platform contains software applications that automate many of the training, record keeping, reporting and data collection tasks required for compliance and for developing and managing successful risk mitigation programs.

By providing this valuable resource to their clients, agencies are able to differentiate themselves and deepen their client relationships. Agencies also find the platform valuable for winning new business by allowing them to offer additional value beyond what competitors can offer.

About Succeed Management Solutions, LLC

Founded in 1996 as a high end, turn-around group, Succeed has been serving the Insurance Loss Control and Risk Management market for 14 years by providing Risk Management expertise to numerous organizations.

Today, Succeed offers a comprehensive package of services and software applications needed by all organizations to effectively and proactively develop and manage their risk mitigation programs. For more information visit www. succeedms. com

Succeed is an Assurex Global Strategic Partner headquartered in Wilsonville, Oregon.

About Barney & Barney LLC

As a 100 year old company, with offices in San Diego, Orange County and the Bay Area, Barney & Barney offers a full range of services and coverages for both businesses and individuals. Their operating divisions cover Commercial Property & Casualty / Risk & Loss Advisors, Employee Benefits / Health & Welfare, Small Business Division, Personal Lines, and Programs.

In 2008, Barney & Barney merged with Saylor & Hill Co. The combined organization is one of California’s largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms and is among the top 40 privately held firms nationwide. Through their partnership with Assurex Global, they have the ability to place local admitted coverage worldwide. www. barneyandbarney. com

About Assurex Global

Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Assurex Global combines the experience and expertise of 20,000 professionals in every major city on six continents. 109 independent broker “Partners” comprise the world’s largest privately-held risk management, commercial insurance and employee benefits brokerage group, posting combined annual premiums of $29 billion. These firms are organized into four global regions—Asia/Pacific, Europe/Middle East/Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and North America. Assurex Global Partners—only one per market—are selected by capability, integrity, growth potential, quality and breadth of services. For a complete list of Assurex Global Partners or for more information, visit www. assurexglobal. com.

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Internet Matrix, Inc. Recognized for Supporting “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer”

2011-04-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

Internet Matrix, Inc. Recognized for Supporting “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer”

Internet Matrix, Inc., a niche healthcare online marketing firm, was recognized as a Blue Ribbon Member for their financial contribution to the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” campaign by walking in the annual event on October 17, 2010.

San Diego, CA (Vocus) October 21, 2010

Internet Matrix, Inc. participated in “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer,” a 4-mile walking event for charity on October 17, 2010. Internet Matrix, Inc. was recognized as a Blue Ribbon Member for raising $3,375, over triple the $1000 amount usually credited with the honor.

The American Cancer Society has been sponsoring the walk nationally since 1993, and has raised millions of dollars in the efforts to treat and cure breast cancer. This walk is a way to inspire hope by raising funds and awareness to help those facing the disease and save more lives. All proceeds raised by this San Diego walk will stay in the San Diego community. The donations will be used to raise awareness, provide support and financial help for all people who are touched by this cancer.

Julie Klens, HR Manager and Controller for Internet Matrix, Inc., is spearheading this operation and has recruited nearly one third of the company in participating in the walk.

When asked to describe the event, she said, “The walk will benefit research in treating breast cancer, along with providing direct medical support for patients, some without insurance. Our company is unique in that breast cancer has touched two of us personally, myself and Tracy Brown, along with several of our families. This makes us committed to both helping provide treatment, and raising awareness.”

When asked to elaborate on “awareness,” Klens continued: “Awareness is much more than letting people know that breast cancer exists. It’s about letting women know the warning signs and how to get treated while the disease is still manageable. Understanding your family history and getting regular screenings can be crucial to staying healthy. I was fortunate enough to recognize the signs of cancer while I was still in Stage 1. Awareness played a large role in my recovery, as well as my survival, so want to make it clear that awareness saves lives. We want to help everyone to celebrate another birthday.”

The walk was through Balboa Park in San Diego. Chris Plueger, Director of Sales, crossed the finish line first, running the last half mile. Altogether, $737,748 was raised at the event, and despite the rain, all team members showed up to support the cause.

About Internet Matrix, Inc.:

Internet Matrix, Inc. is an online marketing company that creates websites and providing online marketing for niche healthcare professionals, including chiropractors, veterinarians, and dentists.

For more information on Internet Matrix, Inc., call 1-800-462-8749.

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LogMatrix Enhances Ability to Achieve Compliance & Security Goals at Lower Cost with Latest Versions of Log & Event Management Solutions

2011-04-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

LogMatrix Enhances Ability to Achieve Compliance & Security Goals at Lower Cost with Latest Versions of Log & Event Management Solutions

LogMatrix enhances ability to achieve compliance & security goals at lower cost with latest versions of Log & Event Management Solutions.

Marlborough, MA (PRWEB) November 19, 2009

Expanded customer adoption driven by ability to process and report on billions of events per day

Marlborough, MA - November 18, 2009 - LogMatrix, a provider of compliance, security, and network management solutions announced today the release of Version 6.2 of its Log Management (LogCenter) and Event Management (EventCenter) solutions.

Version 6.2 contains new pre-packaged compliance report packs that are provided to customers (LogCenter) at NO ADDITIONAL COST. These include PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley); HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act); NERC CIP (NA Electric Reliability Corporation – Critical Infrastructure Protection); GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act); and FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act). The data provided in these reports are mapped to specific regulations, identified controls, and/or the information contained in prescriptive documents – mappings done by compliance practitioners who are experts in the various regulations to ensure to the greatest extent possible that the reports will be met with acceptance by auditors. Customers can also customize these reports or create their own ad-hoc compliance reports.

Additional enhancements include a redesigned and streamlined alerting interface using the latest Web technologies; numerous improvements to our event correlation capabilities including the addition of risk anomaly detection that provides a new dimension for examining and alerting based on risk; and support for completely redundant data collection with full failover/failback capabilities in the base product and not an add-on.

In initial deployments customers are scaling to in excess of 1.5 billion events per day.

"At LogMatrix we continue to enhance our solutions with the capabilities demanded by our customers," said Mike Schmitt, President and CEO. "Our unique algorithm-based event correlation technology combined with our proven scalability enable us to deliver a low total cost of ownership. And we continue to push to deliver more value to our customers within the context of their existing solutions by offering features such as our new Compliance Report Packs at no additional cost.”

About LogMatrix

LogMatrix supports your regulatory compliance initiatives, detects security threats, and improves service availability and performance -- faster and at a much lower total cost than our competitors. Our underlying full featured real-time data analytics platform enables a faster speed of deployment (days – not months); significantly reduces ongoing manpower requirements, and supports the same standards-based hardware and software already managed by your organization. And our highly scalable software-only solutions are currently implemented at some of the largest and most demanding F1000 companies. They include Log Management; Security Information & Event Management (SIEM); Service and Network Management. For more information, visit www. logmatrix. com or call +1 (508) 597-5300.

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MBS Financial, LLC is on a National Recruitment Campaign for Regional Managers

2011-04-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

MBS Financial, LLC is on a National Recruitment Campaign for Regional Managers

MBS Financial, The Cash Flow Source For Troubled & Growing Companies including the self employed, begins a search for regional managers to service vendors and referral agents in several key market areas across the US.

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) January 5, 2007

Known as the Deal driven, not credit driven, funding source, MBS Financial provides commercial funding and alternative solutions, which include debt reduction, debt settlements and funding programs to fit any traditional or unconventional funding need including workout and turn around programs, even bankruptcies and tax liens are accepted. Referral agents helping small businesses in their area earn substantial income and residuals in an innovative revenue sharing program that improves the economic conditions of their community at the same time. Visit us on the web at MBS Financial (http://www. mbsfinancial. com) to find out more about this innovative opportunity in your area.

Economic Development Centers are encouraged to contact MBS Financial to round table solutions to the industrial -- commercial and health care facility funding needs within their county. Commercial debtors in possession and bankruptcy trustees are invited to discuss their special finance needs in work out - turnaround programs.

From Royalty Financing to Collateral Enhancement Investments, MBS Financial has the alternative approach in achieving the most difficult objective in commercial financing and offers an opportunity for consultants and referral agents to assist their clients with funding possibilities that would typically be lost in the dark side of the World Wide Web searches.

Realtors, mortgage brokers, insurance agents, accountants, attorneys, collection agents, loan officers and credit unions interested in learning more about the most innovative referral agent opportunity in their area should visit us at MBS Financial (http://www. mbsfinancial. com).

High energy ambitious business people and entrepreneurs alike interested in learning more about the regional manager positions available should call MBS Financial at 336-219-0105 and ask for Robert McBee.

The company is privately held and headquartered in North Carolina. Having roots in the commercial collection business for over 15 years, MBS Financial was formed eight years ago as a joint venture to resolve the financial problems of troubled accounts belonging to other financial institutions throughout the US. With the understanding that small business owners have a story to be told and considered in the underwriting decision to fund these requests, MBS has taken an old fashioned approach in arriving at its approvals. We listen and round table the applicants need and opportunities. It's simple; we look for ways to arrive at the applicant's objective (Money). The answers sometimes require joint venture pools, other times a unique instrument that is far from mainline use. Regardless of the difficulty, MBS Financial takes a personal approach and uses every means possible to approve an applicant's request even employing services from a credit repair co. to raise the applicant's fico score.

Contact:

Robert McBee

MBS Financial, LLC

336-219-0105 ext.222

Www. mbsfinancial. com

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Embanet’s e-Learning Insurance™ Brings Certainty and Protection to its Clients with Merger Between Blackboard™ and WebCT™

2011-03-30T00:09:00.000-07:00

Embanet’s e-Learning Insurance™ Brings Certainty and Protection to its Clients with Merger Between Blackboard™ and WebCT™

Embanet offers safety to your investment through e-Learning InsuranceTM.

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) October 21, 2005

Observers and institutions were taken by surprise last week with the announcement of the merger between Blackboard™ and WebCT™. While many institutions ponder what the future looks like, Embanet’s Clients know with certainty that their online programs are protected through Embanet’s e-Learning Insurance™. Embanet hosts and offers 24/7/365 live technical support for Blackboard™ and WebCT™ as well as ANGEL™, FirstClass™, IntraLearn™, Jones™, and SAKAI™.

“The industry reached a milestone with the merger of Blackboard™ and WebCT™,” says Jeffrey E. Feldberg, Chairman of Embanet Corporation. “At the same time, the merger demonstrates the evolution and growth of the industry. It is within this environment that uncertainty and risk exist for institutions whose enrollment revenues, reputation and accreditation are wrapped in a single technology. Embanet continues to lead the industry with its e-Learning Insurance™ which is now being put to full use with the merger. Embanet will continue to work closely with Blackboard™ and WebCT™ by hosting and supporting their learning platforms. At the same time, a number of Clients have already expressed concerns about the uncertainty of the future. For those Clients, Embanet directly addresses these concerns with our e-Learning Insurance™ which enables Clients to choose from our seven learning platforms while still keeping Embanet in place to drive higher retention and return on investment through our hosting, 24/7/365 retention desk and other integrated services.”

Embanet’s e-Learning Insurance™ continues to lead the industry by providing institutions with choices in learning platforms. Most importantly, Embanet protects institutions from disruptions in the delivery of online programs and enrollment revenue by offering a seamless service to migrate institutions to any of the seven supported learning platforms. The benefit to institutions is not becoming dependent on ever-changing learning platforms and ensuring that the same team of Embanet professionals continues to deliver high retention rates and a return on investment without disruption of services.

“Embanet’s e-Learning Insurance™ continues to play a vital role for our Clients and the industry in ensuring uninterrupted access to our services that increase online retention rates,” says Waleuska L. Lazo, CEO of Embanet Corporation. “We have Clients who are already on their third learning platform and have successful online programs because Embanet’s e-Learning Insurance™ enabled them to remain focused on their core competencies without the disruption that is caused by both the rapid change of technology and the need for resources for a migration. In this way, Embanet becomes the platform of learning platforms by ensuring choice, flexibility and options.”

About Embanet Corporation

Embanet is the leading provider of fully hosted and supported e-learning solutions to educational institutions. Embanet's Tier 1 Data Center, the industry's best course development and 24/7 LIVE technical support help achieve high online retention and completion rates. Embanet offers the industry's only e-Learning Insurance™ to safeguard your investment from changing technologies through the total integration of seven leading and non-proprietary learning platforms. For more information, please visit http://www. embanet. com/newsalert (http://www. embanet. com/newsalert)

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How to Increase Customer Loyalty and Competitiveness In Today's Insurance Market: Silanis & Thunderhead Host a Free Live Webcast

2011-03-28T06:02:00.000-07:00

How to Increase Customer Loyalty and Competitiveness In Today's Insurance Market: Silanis & Thunderhead Host a Free Live Webcast

Silanis Technology, the leader in electronic signatures, announced today that it will co-host a free, live webcast with Thunderhead, a provider of customer communications management (CCM) and document automation solutions.

Montreal, QC (PRWEB) May 20, 2009

Silanis Technology, the leader in electronic signatures (http://www. silanis. com/solutions/e-signatures-web. html), announced today that it will co-host a free, live webcast with Thunderhead, a provider of customer communications management (CCM) and document automation solutions. The companies will jointly present how insurers can leverage technology to communicate with customer more effectively and service them faster, while dramatically lowering insurers' operating costs and risks. The 60-minute webcast will take place on Thursday, May 28 at 2:00 pm (EST) and focus on how to create a comprehensive and cohesive, multi-channel strategy for winning over new customers and fostering greater loyalty.

"More than ever, insurers need to increase their competitiveness by offering exceptional customer service and support," said Tommy Petrogiannis, CEO and Co-Founder of Silanis Technology. "The Silanis and Thunderhead solution enables insurers to deliver highly personalized and relevant messages when promoting a product, and then service customers faster when it's time to capture their signatures in contracts to seal the deal."

The Thunderhead NOW solution pulls in information from an insurer's core business applications and then dynamically assembles and produces documents and correspondence according to pre-defined business rules. Silanis' e-signature process management (http://www. silanis. com/resource-center/articles-v2/technology/e-signature-process-management. html) enables documents generated by Thunderhead NOW to be electronically signed with the highest level of compliance and control.

In this free webcast, industry experts from Silanis and Thunderhead will discuss the role of e-signatures and customer communications in insurance (http://www. silanis. com/solutions/insurance. html) e-commerce initiatives. Whether participants work in line-of-business operations or in IT/IS, they will learn best practices for how insurers can:
Reduce costs by moving communications to the Web

Overcome common challenges when automating customer-facing transactions

Minimize compliance risks and meet audit requirements more easily

Gain the flexibility and agility provided by XML and open standards-based solutions

To register for the webcast, visit Silanis' website at:
Http://www. silanis. com/insurance-ws-052809.html (http://www. silanis. com/resource-center/webcasts/2009/automating-multi-channel-customer-transactions. html)

About Silanis
Silanis Technology is the leading provider of e-signature process management solutions. The world's leading insurance and financial services companies, major government agencies, integrators and service providers depend on Silanis to accelerate business transactions and reduce costs while improving compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The company's electronic signature platform, ApproveIt®, is an enterprise-class e-signature process management solution that transforms paper-based business transactions to all-electronic, web-based processes for e-commerce and e-government.

About Thunderhead
Thunderhead is the leading provider of enterprise solutions for the production of highly personalized, multi-channel communications.

Thunderhead's innovative platform, Thunderhead NOW, empowers business users to own the end-to-end process of creating and maintaining customer communications and delivers significant efficiencies and cost savings. Thunderhead NOW also enhances customer engagement, improving customer satisfaction, loyalty and revenue outcomes.

Due to its unique combination of business user control, open standards-based architecture and broad enterprise capabilities, Thunderhead has quickly established itself as a clear market leader and is one of the fastest-growing software companies in the world. The company counts leading organizations such as Morgan Stanley, RBS, HBOS, The Hartford, and the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Thunderhead is headquartered in the UK and services its global customer base from offices located in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For further information please visit www. thunderhead. com.

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Real Estate Investors Expo in Orlando Florida Featuring the TOP Names in National Speakers

2011-03-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

Real Estate Investors Expo in Orlando Florida Featuring the TOP Names in National Speakers

Central Florida Realty Investors Association is pleased to announce they have gathered THE TOP names in national speakers on real estate investing for their Expo scheduled September 9-11, 2004 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida.

ORLANDO, FL (PRWEB) August 27, 2004

The Real Estate Investors Expo is for new and experienced investors looking to learn investment strategies. Whether an investor purchases distressed homes for rehab, acquires property for future retirement funding, assists homeowners that are in foreclosure, or serves as a landlord in their community, the topics presented will expand their knowledge and earning power. Participants will leave feeling motivated to kick their real estate investing into high gear.

Featured speakers include: Robyn Thompson the ÂRehab QueenÂ who will talk about how to rehab run-down houses and sell for top-dollar; Jeff Kaller ÂMr. Pre-foreclosureÂ will teach techniques on buying and selling pre-foreclosure properties and conducting short-sales with banks; Vena Jones-Cox shares real-world tips for high profit, low hassle wholesaling; Kathy Kennebrook reveals the secrets of direct mail marketing.

Additional speakers include: Robert Shemin on investment systems that work; Omar Periu on negotiating skills; Attorney Lee Phillips on asset protection; Don Beck on Landlording techniques; John ÂCashÂ Locke on purchasing properties using Âsubject-toÂ methods and Scott Scheel on strategies for investing in commercial properties.

A Vendor Fair on September 10-11, 2004 offers the opportunity for participants to meet one-on-one with investor-friendly vendors that offer the products or services needed to succeed.

For more information call 407-328-7773 or visit www. cfri. net. Pre-register for only $99 for Friday & Saturday or $125 for all three days. Registrations accepted on-line at www. cfri. net or call 407-328-7773. Prices increase 20% at the door. Hundreds of investors are expected to attend this information-packed event, so donÂt miss the opportunity to participate.

About CFRI:

Central Florida Realty Investors Association (CFRI) is a Not-For-Profit, Florida Corporation, with over 900 members. CFRI is the number one organization in Central Florida providing education to all individuals interested in real estate investing including investors, contractors, public officials, attorneys, CPAs, insurance agents, realtors, and mortgage brokers. The association primarily caters to investors in Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, Lake, Osceola, and Polk counties.

New technology will save billions in dental costs

2011-03-15T01:11:00.000-07:00

New technology will save billions in dental costs

Pivital development in dental care has come to the internet. A new web based program launched July 2nd allows dental disease to be managed by highly accurate disease risk prediction and reduction. The estimated savings is 4.2 billion dollars in the first year of widespread adoption.

(PRWEB) July 8, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Further Information Contact:

Dr. Randy Nolf 570-420-1500

New technology will save billions in dental costs

Web based program launched July 2ndÂ.The internet age has come to dentistry and healthcare. A patented, scientifically validated, breakthrough program for dentists can save you money, time and protect your teeth, gums and general health. Millions of patients undergo elaborate and expensive treatment that could have been managed with minor intervention.

ÂThis is a tragedy with enormous health and financial consequencesÂ says Dr. Randy Nolf, Periodontist in Stroudsburg Pa. Dentistry operates in a repair model but the technology and knowledge base is available to deliver more effective, interceptive care in a ÂwellnessÂ model.

Dr. Nolf can tell your audience:

Â· About new revolutionary technology to predict you risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Â· How the average patient can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars in dental repair.

Â· Why even the most successful caps, bridges, dentures, implants and fillings can be viewed as failures.

Â· The biggest mistakes patients make regarding their dental care.

Â· Simple strategies to employ before you leave the maternity ward to put your newborn on the pathway to exceptional lifetime dental health.

Â· Are you being over treated by your dentist?

Â· Or even worse, are you being under treated, leading to more disease, more repair, and more expense?

Â· Why dental insurance may be bad for your health.

Dr. Randy Nolf a practicing periodontist for 21 years, previous clinical and surgical instructor at Temple University Dental School and is now full time in his private practice of periodontal health management and implant dentistry.

Dr. Nolf is a knowledgeable, passionate advocate of risk managed treatment with a wealth of information to share with you and your audience. To interview him call his office 570-420-1500.

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UK SMEs Set to Back Conservatives at Election - But Prefer Cable as Chancellor

2011-03-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

UK SMEs Set to Back Conservatives at Election - But Prefer Cable as Chancellor

B2Group survey of business community paints picture of voting intentions ahead of May 6th poll

(PRWeb UK) April 23, 2010

B2Group, a revolutionary business lead generation provider, today revealed the voting intentions of the UK SME community in the biggest survey of its kind carried out ahead of the General Election on May 6.

The Business Census Tracking Study, carried out in association with research specialist Fast. MAP, asked 500 SMEs a series of questions about their preferred political party, Prime Minister, Chancellor and other business issues including tax, rates and National Insurance.

Topline results included:
SMEs are generally supporting the Conservative Party: 53% with a turnover of £1m+ and 32% under £1m intend to vote Tory. This compares to 11% (£1m+) and 13% (less than £1m) supporting Labour, and 11% in total swaying towards the Liberal Democrats 44% overall think David Cameron would make the best Prime Minister, compared to 13% each for Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg and 'other' But 26% of respondents in the £1m+ turnover bracket would be pleased to see Lib Dem Vince Cable as Chancellor, as opposed to 24% plumping for George Osborne and 11% Alistair Darling, the current occupant of Number 11 There is still a lot to play for though amongst the SME community as just over a quarter (26%) have not yet decided who to vote for, but have stated they will be voting. Just 3% of the SME community say they won't vote Business taxes are expected to rise under a re-elected Labour government and just over half (52%) think that VAT will rise. This is similar to the expectation that National Insurance will rise (54%) Meanwhile, half of SMEs are confident about the current economic climate, with only 28% believing the country will slip back into recession in 2010.

Jeremy Whitaker, CEO of B2Group, said: "As part of our Business Census Tracking Study - the biggest ongoing research project highlighting the attitudes of the UK's business community - we have been able to glean a fascinating insight into the voting intentions of the UK's SME community during this exciting election campaign.

"When viewed collectively, business owners are a vital and influential chunk of the electorate for all the political parties, and we have been able to scrutinise the issues close to their hearts, such as post-election tax rises and general business confidence."

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idiotsstew

2011-03-13T06:32:00.001-07:00

idiotsstew

Bernstein Liebhard LLP Wins $14.7 Million Jury Verdict

2011-03-10T23:50:00.000-08:00

Bernstein Liebhard LLP Wins $14.7 Million Jury Verdict

Bernstein Liebhard LLP Wins $14.7 Million Jury Verdict For A Connecticut Class Of Independent Automobile Physical Damage Repair Shops against The Hartford Fire Insurance Company

New York, NY (PRWEB) November 18, 2009

Bernstein Liebhard LLP is pleased to announce that it (along with co-counsel) has won a $14.7 million jury verdict for a class of Connecticut independent automobile physical damage repair shops against The Hartford Fire Insurance Company ("The Hartford"). Connecticut Superior Court (Stamford/Norwalk Division) The case, filed in July 2003 in the Connecticut Superior Court (Stamford/Norwalk Division), claimed that, in violation of Connecticut's Unfair Trade Practices Act, The Hartford wrongfully "steered" its insureds to a closed network of repair shops and suppressed the hourly labor rate paid to independent auto body repair shops for repairs performed on The Hartford's insureds automobiles. In rendering a verdict for the plaintiff auto body repair shops, the jury found that The Hartford violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act by suppressing the labor rate paid to these independent shops.

The case was litigated for six and one half years, including a three week jury selection process and a four week jury trial. The verdict, which provides a recovery for a class of one thousand five hundred independent auto body shops, will protect the independent auto body shops from undue influence by The Hartford whose only interest is improving its own bottom line at the expense of these independent repair shops. The class was represented by Artie's Auto Body, Fairfield, Connecticut; A&R Body Shop, Wallingford, Connecticut; Skrip's Body Shop, Prospect, Connecticut; T&J Auto Body (sub-class rep), East Hartford, Connecticut; and The Auto Body Association of Connecticut.

Commenting on the verdict, partner Ronald Aranoff stated: "We are delighted for our clients who have had to deal with this offensive conduct for many years. Now these independent repair shops can compete on an equal playing field free from The Hartford's undue pressure and influence."

The case, number X08-CV-03-0196141S (CLD), was litigated by partners Stanley D. Bernstein and Ronald J. Aranoff, and associates Dana Statsky Smith, Tania T. Taveras and Amina Akram.

For more information, please contact Ronald J. Aranoff, Esq. at (212) 779-1414.

Bernstein Liebhard LLP
10 East 40th Street
New York, New York 10016
(212) 779-1414
Www. bernlieb. com

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2009 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

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Electronic Verification Systems to Attend Electronic Transactions Association Exposition

2011-03-10T14:18:00.000-08:00

Electronic Verification Systems to Attend Electronic Transactions Association Exposition

Electronic Verification Systems (EVS) announced today it will exhibit at the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) Annual Meeting and Expo, where it will be exhibiting the effectiveness of its premiere fraud prevention solutions. The ETS Annual Meeting and Expo will be held April 13-15, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV.

Louisville, KY (PRWEB) April 12, 2010

Electronic Verification Systems (EVS) announced today it will exhibit at the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) Annual Meeting and Expo, where it will be exhibiting the effectiveness of its premiere fraud prevention solutions (http://www. electronicverificationsystems. com). The ETS Annual Meeting and Expo will be held April 13-15, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV.

"The ETA Meeting and Expo is well known as a key meeting place for experts from across the electronic payment industry," said Jay Stewart, Vice President Business Development for EVS. "We're thrilled to bring EVS products and solutions to the table as a reliable security solution during this prestigious gathering."

Throughout the event EVS representatives will offer opportunities for visitors to experience the comprehensive nature of their products. Guided demonstrations, educational literature and post-show demo scheduling will be available. Interested parties may also enroll in a free 90-day trial of IdentiFlo (http://www. electronicverificationsystems. com/solutions/identiflo/), EVS' regulatory compliance suite.

About Electronic Verification Systems:
Electronic Verification Systems is a leading provider of fraud prevention services designed to help businesses combat identity theft, control costs, satisfy governmental regulation, and support audit and control requirements. With major clients in the financial services, retail product, brokerage, education, insurance, and corporate security industries, Electronic Verification Systems provides powerful and innovative solutions to businesses and organizations across the world.

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Recent Study Shows American Children Most At Risk of Dental Health Neglect

2011-03-10T13:35:00.000-08:00

Recent Study Shows American Children Most At Risk of Dental Health Neglect

Studies show that a large percentage of children received no dental care in the past year. In light of February being National Children's Dental Health Month, DentalInsurance. com is committed to bringing attention to this alarming trend. Going without dental care can lead to serious health issues. DentalInsurance. com can help individuals and families get coverage at an affordable price.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) February 18, 2009

In October 2008, the University of South Carolina released a study on American children and their current level of dental coverage (http://uscnews. sc. edu/2008/10212008-HLTH330.html). Astonishingly, their results showed that twenty five percent of children in the United States had failed to receive dental care in the previous year. The university study also showed that the percentage of African-American and Hispanic children without dental coverage was even higher, making this an alarming statistic.

February marks National Children's Dental Health Month--and more than ever parents, educators and dental practitioners must take action in reducing the increasing trend of American children growing up without dental care.

In light of this study, DentalInsurance. com is committed to reversing this alarming statistic. DentalInsurance. com offers free quotes from the nation's top insurers, giving families across the country a platform to browse different carriers and plans and find one that meets both their needs and budget.

Independent medical studies advocate regular dental checkups and access to adequate dental care as a preventive measure for enjoying a healthy life--starting with our mouths.

The lack of adequate dental care has long been linked to oral health infections, diabetes, lung and heart cancer, and even stroke--and the long-term effects of poor dental prevention can lead to a lack of self-esteem, stress, depression, and interference with routine activities like eating, breathing, swallowing or speaking.

Even worse, tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood malady--which adds to the issues that support why children need good dental coverage during this developmental period in their lives.

"It is a tragedy that such a high number of children go without dental insurance coverage," says Avery Smith, Director of Business Development at DentalInsurance. com, "At DentalInsurance. com, we strive to ensure that everyone has appropriate and affordable dental coverage, and we help them understand how to utilize and take advantage of it."

Online brokers such as DentalInsurance. com (http://www. dentalinsurance. com) have been on the forefront of the economic-conscious market at a time when insurance is a hot topic in Capitol Hill or at home--as a result of the economic slowdown, which has affected many families who have lost company-sponsored coverage.

Seeking affordable coverage using these online resources may be the best solution for those who find themselves in need of coverage--whether they are self-employed, unemployed or simply looking to reduce their spending on dental insurance.

About DentalInsurance. com
DentalInsurance. com is the leading dental insurance shopping website, offering individual, group and family coverage from the top insurance companies in the country through DHMO, PPO, Indemnity and Discount plan options. The company allows customers to compare dental plans--offering them value, quality and choice in one single location to make buying insurance easier than ever.

DentalInsurance. com is owned by Kelsey National Corporation, an experienced marketer and administrator of fully-insured group and HMO benefit plans, developed especially for Small Businesses and Trade Association Members across the United States. KNC offers a competitive line of group medical, dental, life and disability income products. Additionally, KNC offers a portfolio of quality insurance products and HMOs to individual customers.

For inquiries please contact:
Sanjay Bhatia, Media Relations
Kelsey National Corporation
3030 S Bundy Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90066
Direct: (310) 437-7232
Www. DentalInsurance. com

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UK Drivers Have Some Front -- 1 in 5 Admit to Fraud

2011-03-10T13:32:00.000-08:00

UK Drivers Have Some Front -- 1 in 5 Admit to Fraud

MIB and Aviva urge drivers to ensure they are adequately insured.

(PRWEB) February 23, 2010

New research from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (http://www. mib. org. uk/) (MIB) and Aviva (http://www. aviva. co. uk/car-insurance/) reveals that more than two-thirds (70%) of UK drivers do not understand what it means to ‘front’ a car insurance policy and of those that understand what fronting is, there are one in five who admit to misleading their insurer and committing this kind of car insurance fraud.

Insurance ‘Fronting’ occurs when someone other than the main driver of a vehicle is incorrectly declared as the policy holder. An example of this would be a parent insuring a car and declaring themselves as the main driver in order to reduce the insurance premium, when in fact their son or daughter will be the main user of the vehicle. By doing this, motorists are committing fraud and under contract terms, could invalidate an insurance policy.

The research, which forms part of MIB’s Stay Insured campaign and is aimed at drivers who may be vulnerable to driving without adequate insurance during the recession, also indicates that there is a disconnect between drivers’ perceptions of fronting as a “white lie” versus the reality of it as a legal offence:
More than a third (35%) of drivers justify ’fronting’ as being a loophole in the law One in ten (10%) believe that ‘fronting’ is a legitimate way of obtaining cheaper motor insurance And only a third (30%) of motorists were able to correctly define the term ’fronting‘ When presented with a definition of the term fronting 94% of those surveyed deem fronting an insurance policy to be socially unacceptable.

Ashton West, Chief Executive of MIB said, “There is a significant degree of confusion amongst drivers about the importance of giving accurate information about the main driver to an insurer. There is a need to help drivers understand and appreciate the importance of being adequately insured.”

The research also highlights confusion over responsibility for damages in the event of an accident. Under a valid insurance policy, the insurer will cover the policyholder’s liability for injury and property damage for any other parties involved and if the cover is comprehensive, the damage to the policyholder’s own vehicle. However, a third (31%) of drivers wrongly assume that they will be covered if the policy is ’fronted‘. In fact, where it is proven that a policy has been ‘fronted’, insurance companies can refuse to pay out damages to the “insured” vehicle and may look to recover third party claim costs from the policyholder or driver.
West continues, “Insurance is about peace of mind and knowing that the cost of your liability on the road is covered. In the event that the driver of a fronted policy is involved in an accident, both the policyholder and the driver could be open to additional costs, penalties, fines and - potentially – prosecution. It simply isn’t worth the risk. There are a number of hints and advice about how to stay insured legitimately at askMID. com.”

Nigel Bartram, motoring strategist at Aviva added, “Young drivers remain the age group with the highest proportion of insurance claims, accidents and fatalities on our roads, and this fact is reflected in their motor insurance premiums. Well meaning parents may consider fronting an insurance policy to try and save money, but this is false economy as those that try to cheat the system by declaring false information will find that their insurance is invalid when they actually need to make a claim on their policy.
“When parents are fronting up a young driver’s policy it means the young driver is not fully declared and will not be able to accrue any no claims bonus of their own. It is important that insurers are covering the appropriate risk with the correct premium; otherwise this premium will have to be borne by other, honest customers.”

Aviva’s top tips for reducing premiums:

Choose wisely – a smaller engine vehicle without modifications means lower premiums Think safety – parking in a garage at night and fitting alarms and immobilisers will help drive down costs No claims quickies – some insurers offer rapid bonus schemes that let young drivers earn a full year’s no claims bonus in as little as six months Be online savvy – many insurers offer a discount if you buy directly with them online Keep it brief – if you use the car infrequently, agreeing to a mileage limit can help keep premiums down Pass Plus – Pass Plus www. passplus. org. uk is a training course for new drivers designed by the Driving Standards Agency in consultation with the industry. There’s no final exam to pass but drivers could get up to 10% off their insurance if they take the course.

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Ameritas Life Introduces No-Load Universal Life Product

2011-03-10T06:44:00.000-08:00

Ameritas Life Introduces No-Load Universal Life Product

Ameritas Life, an A+ rated 115-year-old insurer, is introducing No-Load Universal Life insurance. The no-commission, no-surrender charge life insurance policy is designed for people who seek the safety of fixed returns for supplemental retirement income as well as life insurance protection. Besides low costs, immediate liquidity and high first-year cash value, the policy offers flexible premiums, tax-deferred guaranteed interest growth, and tax-free access to cash value. It is offered directly to consumers and clients of financial advisors through the Ameritas Direct call center which is staffed by insurance professionals.

(PRWEB) July 12, 2002

Lincoln, Neb.//Immediate Release//Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., one of the

Nation's leading providers of no load insurance and annuity products, today

Announced the introduction of No-Load Universal Life, the newest addition

To its Low-Load Series.

The no-commission, no-surrender charge life insurance policy is designed

For people who seek the safety of fixed returns for supplemental retirement

Income, as well as life insurance protection. With the absence of sales

Loads, the policy produces immediate liquidity and high first-year cash

Value.

"While many companies have added loads or surrender charges, or eliminated

No-load products altogether, we continue to support the fee advisor and

Value-seeking consumer with innovative financial solutions," said Don

Reiser, president of Ameritas Direct, the company's no load division.

"This new policy takes our no load concept into the twenty-first century,"

Added Dick Vautravers, FSA, ChFC, corporate actuary, who previously headed

The low-load division for Ameritas Life. "Our Low-Load Universal Life

Policy was revolutionary and newsworthy in the 1980s. We're proud to

Introduce its rightful descendent today."

"Market volatility has many people rethinking their risk tolerance and

Turning toward the safety of fixed interest returns," Reiser added. "This

Policy can be a key part of any financial portfolio, for its tax-deferral,

Guaranteed return and tax-free death benefit. We believe with its immediate

Liquidity, high cash value, low volatility and guaranteed return, this

Versatile policy will be embraced by fee advisors and consumers."

The policy provides all the flexibility of a universal life policy in

Premium paying, death benefit and access to cash value. It also can be

Structured to deliver a guaranteed death benefit for more conservative

Clients who prefer the strict guarantees of whole life.

Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., an Ameritas Acacia Company, is highly rated

By independent industry analysts for its claims paying ability and

Financial stability. No-Load Universal Life and other no-load policies are

Distributed to fee advisors and directly to consumers through Ameritas

Direct, frequently called "one of the best-kept secrets in the financial

World." Interested parties can call 800-552-3553 for more information.

-30-

The Spectrum Ruling Â A Lesson For the Future?

2011-03-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

The Spectrum Ruling Â A Lesson For the Future?

How personal guarantee insurance may have saved hundreds of bankruptcies.

(PRWEB) August 10, 2005

Many brokers and lenders will by now be aware of the eagerly awaited House of Lords decision in the case of Spectrum. The House of Lords had to decide if a charge on book debts could be characterized as fixed, where the company granting the security could freely draw on the proceeds of the book debts, and hence on insolvency be available to the holder of the charge, to take in priority to the crown or the office holder. Their Lordships held that such a charge could only be fixed where the bank has exercised absolute control over the book debts.

The effects of this ruling which is not prospective are likely to cause substantial concern to company directors who personally guaranteed their companyÂs liability to the bank, and who may now be required to meet any shortfall which the bank would have initially thought were covered by the Âfixed charge.Â

It has been pointed out that whilst this decision was concerned only with book debts, the principles may be applied to other assets such as plant. With that in mind prudent directors who have given previously given Personal Guarantees to support borrowings for companies which have not yet entered an insolvency mechanism or those that will be increasingly asked to provide such a PG may wish to protect themselves by taking out Erissa Personal Guarantee Insurance, which has been specifically developed with this scenario in mind.

Whilst little can be done to mitigate the effect on those affected by the Spectrum ruling, Lenders and borrowers alike can take advantage of this insurance which will hedge them against any creep of the House of Lords ruling. It does this by providing the Director with an indemnity if his PG is called in, and the Lender with a source of realization if he has to rely on the PG, without needing to re-course to litigation against the Director under the PG.

Indeed within the FSAÂs Handbook under itÂs Principles of Business it states a firm must arrange for adequate protection for a clientsÂ assets when it is responsible for them. A view has been taken by some lenders that this also includes the situation where a PG has been taken. In this situation it may also be prudent to offer the client the opportunity to take insurance when the PG has been given.

For more information contact Alexander Fox Limited Steve Thatcher on 0870 832 0904.

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FAQ: Advice About US Airways and Other Airline Bankruptcies

2011-03-07T03:56:00.000-08:00

FAQ: Advice About US Airways and Other Airline Bankruptcies

Air travel expert and consumer advocate Edward Hasbrouck (author of the "Practical Nomad" series of travel how-to and advice books) offers authoritative guidance to travellers on what to do if you have tickets or frequent flyer miles on US Airways or another bankrupt airline, or are trying to decide whether to buy tickets on one of these bankrupt airlines.

(PRWEB) September 13, 2004

FAQ about Airline Bankruptcies (by Edward Hasbrouck, air travel expert, consumer advocate, and author of the "Practical Nomad" series of travel how-to and advice books):

Http://hasbrouck. org/articles/bankruptcy. html (http://hasbrouck. org/articles/bankruptcy. html)

Q. Which major airlines based in the USA are currently in bankruptcy?

A. United Airlines, US Airways, and Hawaiian Airlines. Airlines based in other countries that are operating under bankruptcy protection included Avianca Columbian Airlines and Air Canada.

Q. When did this happen?

A. United Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection in December 2002, and Hawaiian Airlines in March 2003. US Airways was reorganized under bankruptcy protection after 11 September 2001, and was released from bankruptcy 31 March 2003, but filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time on 12 September 2004.

Q. The airlines say that they are in "Chapter 11" or "reorganization". Does this mean they aren't really bankrupt?

A. No. Reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U. S.

Bankruptcy Code is a form of bankruptcy. It isn't

"liquidation", but it's not a joke, either -- it's the

Last legal step before liquidation. If they weren't in

Danger of going out of business, they wouldn't be in

Bankruptcy. A company is "reorganized under Chapter

11" only if it is insolvent: its debts exceed its

Assets.

Q. The bankrupt airlines say that they will continue

To operate, and will honor all tickets. Should I

Believe them?

A. No. They hope to reorganize, under the protection

And supervision of the Bankruptcy Court. But they

Might not succeed. If the Bankruptcy Court doesn't

Think they have a realistic chance of recovery, the

Court will order them shut down and liquidated. Since

The decision of whether to allow them to continue to

Operate is now in the hands of the bankruptcy courts,

Not the airlines, the airlines cannot make any

Promises about continued operations, honoring of

Tickets, frequent flyer mileage credits, etc.

Q. What will happen next?

A. We will have wait and see. Eventually, these

Airlines will either:

1. Reorganize, return to profitability, settle their debts, and be released from bankruptcy;

2. Go out of business and have their assets auctioned off under court supervision to pay as many of their remaining debts as possible.

Q. How long will this take? When will we know what's

Going to happen?

A. The current airline bankruptcy proceedings will

Probably go on for many months, perhaps for years.

Some airlines, such as Continental Airlines and

America West, have reorganized under bankruptcy

Protection, and are still operating. Several others in

The USA, and more in other parts of the world, have

Gone out of business, sometimes after being in and out

Of bankruptcy repeatedly.

Q. What happens to ticket holders if an airline is

Still in business but changes its schedule, cancels

Flights, or discontinues routes?

A. In almost all such cases, the airline will

"protect" ticket holders on other flights, at no

Additional charge. If necessary, they will "endorse"

Tickets, at no charge, to other airlines that have

Space available. These will not necessary be the most

Convenient or direct alternatives, and they may go by

Way of different connecting airports. In general, it's

First come, first served: if you hear that the flight

You have tickets for has been cancelled, contact the

Airline as soon as possible to have them book you on

Alternate flights.

If a schedule or flight change is unacceptable to the passenger, the airline must offer a full and unconditional refund -- even if the ticket was otherwise completely nonrefundable. Particularly if

You purchased your ticket directly from the airline, this may be your best chance to get out of the risk of holding tickets on a bankrupt airline. (If you purchased the ticket through a travel agency, you are

May still have to pay any penalty or refund fee charged by the travel agency, which could be substantial.) If tickets are still available for a similar price on another airline that isn't bankrupt, refuse to accept any schedule changes. Take your tickets back to the airline, and insist on a full refund.

Q. I don't want to fly on a bankrupt airline. Can I

Get my money back?

A. Unless there is an unacceptable schedule or flight

Change (see above), normal refund procedures and

Penalties still apply. You would have to submit your

Refund request (with the physical tickets, if you have

Paper tickets) to the airline or travel agency from

Which you purchased them, and wait for a refund. As

Always, refunds could take considerable time, and

Could be affected by whatever transpires in the

Meantime.

Q. What happens to tickets holders if an airline goes

Out of business or is liquidated through bankruptcy?

A. Ticket holders are considered "unsecured

Creditors". As such, they are among the last people to

Get paid, if there is anything left after all the

Secured creditors (such as aircraft leasing companies)

Are paid. In most recent airline liquidations, ticket

Holders have gotten nothing. At most, they would get

Pennies on the dollar, at least if they bought their

Tickets in the USA. (The USA has unusually weak,

"laissez faire", aviation consumer law. People who

Bought tickets in other countries such as Canada and

The U. K. on an airline that subsequently goes out of

Business, including an airline based in the USA, may

Have substantially greater protection than people who

Bought tickets in the USA.)

Q. If a bankrupt airline in the USA goes out of

Business, will other airlines have to honor their

Tickets?

A. Yes, but only USA-based airlines flying exactly the

Same routes, only if space is available, and only

Until 18 November 2004.

Under the USA Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-71, 19 November 2001) and the Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act of 2003 (P. L. 108-176, 12 December 2003), other airlines based in the USA are required to provide transportation to

Holders of tickets on other USA-based airlines that have ceased operations due to insolvency or bankruptcy, "to the extent practicable", provided that the passenger makes arrangements with another airline within 60 days of the shutdown of the ticketed

Airline. The USA Department of Transportation has interpreted this in a series of guidance letters (administrative rulings) to mean that other USA-based airlines flying the exact same route were required to

Honor tickets of a USA-based airline that shut down, on a space-available (standby) basis, for no more than US$25 per person per flight, one-way. (See the full ruling from the Department of Transportation in the case of Vanguard Airlines.)

Other airlines have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the $25 per flight limit as exceeding DOT's authority: they want to charge at least their regular $100 per person minimum re-ticketing fee. That

Lawsuit is pending, but in the meantime DOT has reiterated that other airlines may not charge more than US$25 per flight.

The portion of the law requiring airlines to accommodate passengers holding ticket on insolvent airlines was originally scheduled to expire on 18 May 2003. Congress has extended it twice, most recently

Through 18 November 2004, but each time with a "sunset" provision that will cause it to expire automatically unless Congress takes new action.

Q. Does this law mean I can still count on getting to

My destination?

A. No. There's no guarantee there will be any space

Available on another airline, especially since an

Airline faced with the prospect of having to transport

A bankrupt airline's passengers for US$25 each would

Have a strong reason to lower its prices to fill those

Seats with its own passengers for US$26 each. Even if

Seats are available, you might have to travel several

Days earlier or later than you had planned. On some

International routes, there may be no other USA-based

Airline that serves the route, or only very limited

Capacity on USA-based airlines. Airlines based in

Other countries have never had any obligation to help

Holders of tickets from bankrupt or insolvent

Airlines.

Q. I already have tickets on an airline that is in

Bankruptcy. What should I do?

A. You should:

1. Wait and see. You can't get retroactive

insurance, now that they are already in

bankruptcy.

2. Be prepared for schedule changes, flight

cancellations, or other disruptions of your plans,

before or during your trip, possibly with little

or no warning.

3. If you have electronic tickets, consider

going to the airline's ticket counter at an

airport, or one of its city ticket offices,

and paying to get your tickets converted to

paper tickets. (You have a much better

chance of getting another airline to accept a

paper ticket than of getting them to accept an

electronic ticket, especially if the airline

has shut down. Paper tickets are verifiable,

but e-ticket receipts are easy to forge, and

thus don't provide definite proof of payment.)

4. If you don't want to pay to have your

e-tickets converted to paper tickets, you may

still be able to get a printout on airline

ticket/boarding pass stock of the "passenger

receipt" coupon of your e-ticket. (Some

travellers need these for expense reimbursement

and/or tax purposes, and there should be no charge

for a "passenger receipt" coupon.) This isn't

a ticket per se, but is much stronger evidence

of having a ticket, and more likely to be

useable on another airline, than an ordinary

itinerary or confirmation notice.

Q. What about tickets on "codeshare" flights that have

A flight number of a bankrupt airline, but are

Operated by another airline, or have another airline's

Flight number but are operated by a bankrupt airline?

A. Legal responsibility for tickets on codeshare

Flights depends on which airline is the "validating"

Or "issuing" airline -- not which airline operates the

Flight, which airline's flight number appears on your

Tickets, or from which airline you bought your

Tickets.

To determine the validating carrier, look in the "Issued By" box on your tickets. If you have an e-ticket, get a printout of the "passenger receipt" coupon of your e-ticket, and look in the "Issued By" box. Itineraries and Web and e-mail confirmation

Notices almost never identify the validating carrier. Remember, this is not necessarily the same as the airline that operates the flight, whose name and number appears on the flight, or from which you bought

The tickets.

The validating or issuing airline identified on your ticket is the airline with which you have a contract. If the ticket was issued by an airline that is still in business, they have a contractual obligation to arrange transportation -- regardless of whether an

Airline that was, in effect, their subcontractor to provide the transportation has gone out of business. On the other hand, if the ticket was issued by an airline that has gone out of business, it doesn't matter that the transportation was supposed to be

Provided by an airline that is still flying.

Yes, this is confusing and counterintuitive. Since most ticket sales Web sites don't identify the validating airline before tickets are purchased, it's almost impossible for travellers to make informed

Decisions about what financial risk they are taking. These are some of the reasons why I think codesharing is inherently fraudulent, as I've discussed elsewhere.

Q. I have frequent flyer mileage credits on a bankrupt

Airline. Are they safe?

A. No. You may think of mileage credits as "money in

The bank". But they aren't. According to the terms and

Conditions of these programs, airlines can change or

Eliminate them at any time, whether or not they are

Bankrupt. Bankrupt airlines will probably try to keep

Their frequent flyer programs as long as they are

Still flying. But some airlines in, or at risk of,

Bankruptcy are already increasing the numbers of miles

Required for awards. And of course, if they shut down

Entirely, mileage credits will be worthless.

Q. If a bankrupt airline is liquidated, will some

Other airline take over their frequent flyer program?

A. Maybe. Maybe not. More likely frequent flyer

Records will be sold to a data mining or direct

Marketing company. You might think that records about

You and your travel and purchasing history belong to

You. In Canada or the European Union, that's true --

But not in the USA. Under current law in the USA,

"your" frequent flyer and travel records belong to the

Airline, and are theirs to sell. If the airline is

Liquidated, those customer records will be sold at the

Bankruptcy auction. No comparable customer database --

Identified by name, computerized, extending back for

Decades, and with information on tens of millions of

People -- has ever been auctioned. But the frequent

Flyer and customer records of an airline like United

Or American are probably worth US$50-250 million --

More than any other cash-strapped airline could

Afford. Only if Congress passes a Federal travel or

Data privacy law could such a sale of travel records

About you be prevented.

Q. What should I do about my current frequent flyer

Mileage credits on bankrupt airlines?

A. Use them up as soon as possible, while you still

Can.

Q. Should I care about accumulating more miles in

These programs?

A. No. Don't waste money paying extra for tickets in

Order to earn more credits in a frequent flyer program

That may disappear or be devalued at any time, without

Warning.

Q. Should I avoid buying tickets on bankrupt airlines

For future travel?

A. Yes. All else being equal (including price), use

Another airline that isn't bankrupt.

Q. As long as they are still flying, should I care

That they are bankrupt?

A. Yes. They could stop flying with little or no

Warning. If they do, it would be a major inconvenience

To make alternate arrangements to travel on another

Airline. You might have to pay more for tickets, or

Seats might not be available at any price on other

Airlines. You could lose all the money you paid for

Tickets. Before you buy tickets on a bankrupt airline,

Think carefully about how much it is worth to you to

Avoid those risks and possible expenses.

Q. Are there any circumstances when it would still

Make sense to buy tickets on a bankrupt airline?

A. Yes, but only if all of the following are true:

1. The price or routing is substantially

better than any other airline that isn't

bankrupt;

2. You can pay for the tickets with a credit

card, and the charge will be made directly by the

airline (this rules out almost all consolidator

tickets, as discussed below);

3. You will use all of your tickets within at

most 60 days of when you buy them, so you can get

your money back from the credit card company

if the airline shuts down or cancels the

flights;

4. Your trip is inessential, so it will be

won't be a serious problem if you can't take

the trip at all because the flights are cancelled

and no other airline has space available;

5. Your plans are very flexible, so you don't

really care what time of day, or exactly what

day, you fly; and

6. You haven't made any non-refundable

arrangements that require you to be on

specific flights, or to fly on a specific day

(e. g. you aren't meeting a cruise or tour

that departs on a specific date, or connecting to a

flight on another airline).

Q. What should I do to protect myself if I'm buying

Tickets on a bankrupt airline?

1. Pay for your tickets with a credit card. If

you pay by credit card, you may be able to get your

money back, eventually, from the credit card

company, even if the airline goes out of

business. (See "The Practical Nomad Guide to

the Online Travel Marketplace" for a detailed

discussion of credit card chargeback rights

and procedures.)

2. Make sure the credit card charge will be

made, and will appear on your credit card statement,

in the name of the airline, not in the name the

travel agency, consolidator, or tour operator. (In

general, only tickets at published fares can be

charged directly by the airline. If you pay for a

consolidator ticket with a credit card, the charge

usually has to be made by the travel agency or tour

operator, not the airline. This reduces your rights

and protections, and can make it difficult, often

impossible, to recover the money from your credit

card company if the flight is cancelled or

discontinued.)

3. Get paper tickets whenever possible.

Consider paying extra, if necessary, for paper

tickets. If you buy e-tickets, try to get a printout

on airline ticket stock of the "passenger receipt"

coupon of your e-ticket. (See above.)

Q. What about other airlines? Will they go bankrupt

Too?

A. Maybe.

Q. Which other airlines might go bankrupt?

A. Almost any of them might. I don't know which ones

Will. There is no airline that is certain not to go

Bankrupt, especially if there is more prolonged or

Widespread war, or more terrorist incidents involving

Airlines.

Q. I'm buying tickets on another airline that isn't

(yet) bankrupt. What can I do to protect myself?

A. You can:

1. Get travel insurance (trip cancellation and

interruption insurance) when you buy your tickets

that covers "supplier default", i. e. airline

bankruptcy. Read the fine print carefully -- some

travel insurance policies only cover certain

airlines that the insurers think are less

likely to go bankrupt. Note also that

you can't usually get insurance for tickets on an

airline that is already in bankruptcy, so this won't

help you if you already have tickets on a bankrupt

airline, and didn't buy insurance before they went

into bankruptcy.

2. Pay for your tickets with a credit card.

(See above.)

3. Get paper tickets whenever possible.

Consider paying extra, if necessary, for paper

tickets. (See above.)

Q. What will happen to airline ticket prices as a

Result of these bankruptcies?

A. No one knows for sure. Most airlines want to reduce

The supply of airline seats, in order to be able to

Raise prices to profitable levels. If bankrupt

Airlines cut back their flights, other airline will

Probably try to raise prices. But if people avoid

Buying tickets on bankrupt airlines, they may have to

Reduce prices sharply. And other airlines that serve

The same routes may feel they have to match those

Price reductions. The result could well be a more

Extreme yo-yoing of prices than usual, with a general

Upward trend in ticket prices punctuated by "fare

Wars" started by desperate bankrupt airlines.

Q. So what should I do? How do I get the best prices?

A. Watch for short-lived but potentially extreme

Discounts, especially on routes served by bankrupt

Airlines. If you get a good price, buy tickets

Immediately, as prices are much more volatile than

Usual, and prices are always subject to change without

Notice.

If a bankrupt airline offers a tempting deal, try to

Find an airline that isn't bankrupt that's matching

The price.

Airlines are still selling tickets below cost. In the

Medium to long term, there will be fewer flights per

Capita, and prices will be higher. Travel now, while

You can still afford it.

Latest version of this FAQ:

Http://hasbrouck. org/articles/bankruptcy. html (http://hasbrouck. org/articles/bankruptcy. html)

Latest travel news updates from Edward Hasbrouck:

Http://hasbrouck. org/blog (http://hasbrouck. org/blog)

Contact the author for more information, interviews, talk shows, or public appearances:

Prweb@hasbrouck. org

More information about the author:

Http://hasbrouck. org (http://hasbrouck. org)

# # #

The Zalkin Law Firm Explains Why a Compromise with Institutions that Harbored Pedophiles is Bad Policy

2011-03-07T03:35:00.000-08:00

The Zalkin Law Firm Explains Why a Compromise with Institutions that Harbored Pedophiles is Bad Policy

Sexual Abuse Attorney Irwin Zalkin explains why a compromise with the institutions that harbored pedophiles is bad policy.

New York, New York (PRWEB) May 5, 2009

Recently, the New York Assembly has begun to consider whether it should limit the amount of money that a jury can award to remedy the damage endured by a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. That proposal was supported in a recent article in 5 Towns Jewish Times, entitled "Sexual Abuse Legislation: A Proposed Strategy For Reform," by David Mandel. Under the proposed scheme, regardless of the facts in a case and the financial cost to the survivor of taking on well funded and insured religious corporations at trial, the most that can be recovered is $500,000. The attorney representing the victim would be limited to a 10% fee. "Such a compromise, to please pedophiles and their masters, is bad policy," states Irwin Zalkin, an attorney helping survivors of childhood sexual abuse (http://www. zalkin. com) across the country. "The compromise supported by the 5 Towns Jewish Times and others is nothing more than a sham to discourage and prevent victims from ever seeking civil justice," said Zalkin.

As Zalkin explains, "The institutions protected by the compromise supported by Mandel and 5 Towns Jewish Times are those who have purposely engaged in acts which deceived whole communities regarding the safety of children left in their care."

"The offending institutions have insurance and their own substantial resources to hire the biggest most expensive law firms to put on million dollar defenses. The survivor, of course, has none of these resources," states Zalkin. He further explains that: "For survivors their only hope of equaling the playing field is to hire a lawyer on a contingency basis who gets nothing if there is no recovery. That lawyer has to spend thousands of hours of work and advance the thousands of dollars to hire a team of professionals including, investigators; forensic experts in psychiatry or psychology; and various disciplines of rehabilitation; experts regarding what were the best practices to follow when caring for children; and economists." "The compromise scheme would ensure that, at the most, a long suffering David must once again take the field against a well conditioned and equipped Goliath. At the end of the day the wounded child remains forever maimed," said Zalkin.

With offices in New York and San Diego, The Zalkin Law Firm is one of the premier sexual abuse and personal injury law firms in the country. The firm's lawyers have achieved groundbreaking results in numerous high-profile clergy abuse (http://www. nyclergyabuse. com) cases across the United States. Mr. Zalkin has negotiated over $200 million in settlements in Catholic clergy sex abuse (http://news. zalkin. com) cases.

Mr. Zalkin is available to speak to the media about clergy sexual abuse and the Child Victim's Act of New York (A2596). Please call Lisa Maynes (212-889-1300) to arrange interviews. To speak to Mr. Zalkin about legal representation, please call The Zalkin Law Firm (212-889-1300).

###

Hull Barrett Attorneys Licensed in Georgia & South Carolina

2011-03-06T14:33:00.000-08:00

Hull Barrett Attorneys Licensed in Georgia & South Carolina

Hull Barrett’s Thomas L. Cathey & Chris Driver sworn into the South Carolina Bar

Augusta, GA (Vocus) October 4, 2010

Hull Barrett, PC is pleased to announce that Thomas L. Cathey and Chris Driver have been sworn into the South Carolina bar. The South Carolina Bar began in 1884 as an organization of approximately 200 lawyers. Today the Bar serves more than 13,000 members through a variety of programs and services designed to advance justice, professionalism and understanding of the law.

Hull Barrett, PC now has 13 attorneys who are licensed to practice in both Georgia and South Carolina. “Real estate and labor and employment matters are important issues to businesses in South Carolina and Georgia,” said Rand Hanna, senior member at Hull Barrett. “Having more attorneys who can provide representation in both states in these and other related matters helps our firm better serve the CSRA area and outlying areas in both states.”

Tom graduated cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Chappell Hill School of Law in 2000. Senior member of Hull Barrett’s labor and employment practice group, Tom is licensed to practice in Georgia, North Carolina and now South Carolina. His practice focuses in the area of general civil litigation with extensive experience in employment litigation, governmental liability and public employment litigation and worker’s compensation law. Using his vast knowledge of state and federal employment laws and keeping up to date on current employment trends, Tom is equipped to counsel a number of public and private entities in employment and personnel matters, including employee discipline and termination issues. From his first hand experience and to better serve clients, Tom has drafted employment policies and handbooks that meet the business needs of the employer and comply with state and federal regulations. He also assist employers during investigations by the EEOC or Department of Labor and helps employers navigate personnel matters with attention to the intersection of worker’s compensation laws, the American with Disabilities Act and the Family Medical Leave Act.

Chris graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2002. Since joining Hull Barrett, he has practiced in the areas of construction and real estate law, both transactional and litigation, with a focus on the use and enjoyment of real estate, including land use, zoning, eminent domain, and property rights. He also practices local government law and has been Columbia County’s primary counsel for its right-of-way acquisitions and eminent domain litigation. Chris is instrumental in working with both large national employers and small local businesses for their transactional needs and provides counsel to help prevent litigation. He is a member of the institute of city and county attorneys and currently serves on the board of the Kiwanis Club of Augusta.

About Hull Barrett, PC:
Hull Barrett, PC is a full service law firm with 28 attorneys firm wide. The firm is engaged in a general civil practice providing a broad range of legal services with an emphasis on general litigation, trials and appeals; securities and corporate law; mergers, acquisitions and public offerings; local government law and eminent domain actions; health care; computer and technology law; internet ventures; trademark and copyright law; taxation; public finance; commercial real estate; construction law and disputes; employment law; banking law; insurance law; trusts, estate planning and probate; First Amendment and media law and environmental matters. Hull Barrett represents a broad client base of major corporations, small businesses, professional entities, financial and lending institutions, local governments, public authorities, public utilities, railroad companies, insurance companies, health care institutions and individuals.

Hull Barrett is also a member of the International Society of Primerus Law Firms (Primerus), which is the leading alliance of small and medium-sized, top-rated, independent firms. Primerus has 160 law firms located in Canada, China, Cyprus, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Mexico, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, and 44 states in the United States. Primerus firms provide clients with responsive, partner-level service at reasonable fees. Law firms in the U. S. and Canada must be AV-rated using the Martindale-Hubbell peer review service. For firms outside of North America, consideration is given to respected resources, such as, Chambers Global Guide, Legal 500 EMEA, and IFLR 1000. Additionally, once approved for membership, every Primerus firm is audited, annually, to ensure that the legal services they continue to provide to clients are of a consistent, high quality, year after year. Each member is committed to the following standards: Integrity, Excellent Work Product, Reasonable Fees, Continuing Legal Education, Civility and Community Service.

###

Encryption Confirmed as Best Safeguard to Protect Sensitive Data by U. S. House of Representatives

2011-03-05T20:57:00.000-08:00

Encryption Confirmed as Best Safeguard to Protect Sensitive Data by U. S. House of Representatives

Data Accountability and Trust Act (H. R. 4127) approved by the House for Protection of Consumer Information.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) March 30, 2006

The Energy and Commerce Committee of the U. S. House of Representatives unanimously approved The Data Accountability and Trust Act (H. R. 4127), a bill that requires companies to launch nationwide notification campaigns if the security of sensitive consumer information, such as Social Security Numbers, drivers license numbers or financial data, is breached and could be used for identity theft. This act recognizes data encryption as an essential, underlying security technology that provides organizations with “safe harbor” in the event of a security breach. It states that encrypted electronic data is “presumed” secure and that businesses that employ encryption technology are exempted from the nationwide notification requirement.

“The Data Accountability and Trust Act recognizes encryption is a fundamental enabling technology for protecting electronic data and fulfilling regulatory compliance,” said GuardianEdge Technologies’ President and CEO Alan Fudge. “An increasing number of government regulations, such as California’s SB 1386 and 22 other state laws around the country, exempt encrypted data from these stiff notification requirements”

Highlights of the Act

Introduced by Representative Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and co-sponsored by eight members of the House, The Data Accountability and Trust Act is one of many measures lawmakers have introduced to protect sensitive consumer information since the watershed ChoicePoint data breach in March 2005.

The act affects any person or business “involved in interstate commerce that owns or possesses [sensitive] data in electronic form.” Upon discovering a breach in the security of sensitive data, these businesses are required to implement a nationwide notification program, informing each individual whose data may have been compromised. In addition, the bill calls for notification of the Federal Trade Commission, placement of website or Internet notice and notification to any financial institutions that may be affected.

However, the act also says that the “encryption of (sensitive) data, combined with appropriate safeguards of the keys necessary to enable decryption of such data, shall establish a presumption” that there is no “significant risk of identity theft to the individual to whom the personal information relates.” This means businesses that utilize encryption would be exempted from the required notifications.

The act gives the FTC enforcement powers and allocates $1 million a year to fund enforcement activities. If passed, the bill would take effect in approximately one year. The full text of the bill is available at: http://thomas. loc. gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z? d109:H. R.4127 (http://thomas. loc. gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z? d109:H. R.4127):

Other Legislation

Similar laws are also under consideration in the U. S. Senate, including The Identity Theft Protection Act (S. 1408, introduced by Senator Gordon Smith, R-Ore.); The Notification of Risk to Personal Data Act (S. 115 and S. 751 introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.); and The Personal Data Privacy & Security Act of 2005 (S. 1789, co-sponsored by senators Arlen Spector, R-Pa., and Patrick Leahy, D-Ver.).

GuardianEdge has established a resource on the current U. S. legislative landscape and pending consumer information protection acts. The report, titled: “Identity Theft and U. S. Data Protection Legislation: An Overview,” provides an update on the current state of federal information security laws as well as Sarbanes-Oxley, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). It is available online (http://www. guardianedge. com/Additional_Resources/ads/EP_Hard_Disk_White_Paper_2005121_Identity_Theft. html).

In addition, GuardianEdge has posted frequently asked questions about the Specter-Leahy bill, S. 1789. This FAQ also appears on the GuardianEdge Web site (http://www. guardianedge. com/data_security/specter-leahy_faq. html).

About GuardianEdge

GuardianEdge Technologies is a market leader in reducing the cost and complexity of enterprise data security. More than 1 million users around the world depend on GuardianEdge solutions to protect sensitive and proprietary information, to ensure compliance with rules for safeguarding privacy and to enable secure enterprise mobility. Major organizations that now use the company’s encryption software include Lockheed Martin Corporation, Deutsche Bank AG and Humana Inc., as well as numerous agencies in the US departments of defense, state and education. www. guardianedge. com

For Information Contact:

Steven Lerner-Wright

415-683-2291

# # #

Healthplansny. com Introduces "Mini Med" Plans for New Jersey and Connecticut Small Business Owners

2011-03-05T08:29:00.000-08:00

Healthplansny. com Introduces "Mini Med" Plans for New Jersey and Connecticut Small Business Owners

HealthplansNY, a New York based group benefits provider, has partnered with a major insurance carrier to offer low cost solutions to employees that cannot afford group health insurance coverage from their employer.

Westchester, NY (PRWEB) October 30, 2008

"Mini Med Plans" or "Limited Medical Plans" are becoming increasingly popular with small business employers that want to offer affordable health insurance coverage to employees who can no longer afford the contribution costs of the employer sponsored major medical plan. These plans have been around for over 25 years. They are most widely used by restaurants, fast food chains, casinos and temporary personnel agencies. Mini Med plans can provide limited health coverage for seasonal or part time employees that do not qualify for or cannot afford traditional health coverage.

"We're excited to add Mini Med Plans to our product line says Jay Gerlitz, a partner at HealthplansNY. We have several restaurants that we currently insure with major medical plans but in many instances the waiters and waitresses are ineligible due to their part-time status. In addition to being part-time or seasonal, many of these employees that earn minimum wage simply can not afford the monthly cost of a major medical plan."

A Mini Med plan is basically a limited health insurance plan that will cover Doctor's visits, hospitalization and even prescriptions up to a specified amount in relation to the plan designs chosen by the employee. Depending on the plan design, weekly premiums can be as low as $20.00 per employee. The employer can pay all or part of the premium or leave it up to the employee to pay for their own coverage. There are over 15 different plan designs that can be chosen from. In addition, ancillary benefits such as dental, vision and short term disability can be added for an additional cost.

Mini Med plans are available in most States with the exception of New York. "Right now, we only have plans available for our New Jersey and Connecticut clients. We are waiting for these plans to be approved in New York but we don't see that approval coming in the near future," says Bill Behr a Partner at HealthPlansNY.

Mini plans can offer relief from the high cost of health insurance to employers that are cutting back on benefits due to increasing healthcare costs.

About www. Healthplansny. com:

Healthplansny is a group benefits provider to small and medium sized businesses in the New York tri-State area. We offer cutting edge solutions to our clients to help them reduce the high cost of health insurance.

###

The Unscientific Nature Of The Diagnostic And Statistical Manual For Mental Disorders

2011-03-04T14:53:00.000-08:00

The Unscientific Nature Of The Diagnostic And Statistical Manual For Mental Disorders

Canadian psychologist Tana Dineen reports, "Unlike medical diagnoses that convey a probable cause, appropriate treatment and likely prognosis, the disorders listed in DSM-IV are terms arrived at through peer consensus"-literally, a vote by a psychiatric association member.

(PRWEB) September 5, 2005

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV), published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the psychiatrist's bible of "disorders" from which psychiatric diagnoses and their treatment are derived. The current edition lists 374 psychiatric conditions that have been identified as mental disorders.

It is not only used to diagnose mental illness and prescribe treatment, but as an authoritative source to resolve child custody battles, discrimination cases based on alleged psychiatric disability, augment court testimony, modify education, and much more. It is also an essential element of the pharmaceutical/ psychiatric alliance to invent diseases and then sell the drugs to manage these diseases and keep the public medicated.

Yet, the disorders contained in the DSM-IV are arrived at by consensus, not by scientific criteria. Canadian psychologist Tana Dineen reports, "Unlike medical diagnoses that convey a probable cause, appropriate treatment and likely prognosis, the disorders listed in DSM-IV are terms arrived at through peer consensus"-literally, a vote by a psychiatric association member.

Further refuting any medical validity to DSM-IV, in 2004, John Read, senior lecturer in psychology at Auckland University, New Zealand said, "More and more problems have been redefined as 'disorders' or 'illnesses,' supposedly caused by genetic predispositions and biochemical imbalances. Life events are relegated to mere triggers of an underlying biological time-bomb. Feeling very sad has become 'depressive disorder.' Worrying too much is 'anxiety disorder.' Excessive gambling, drinking, drug use or eating are also illnesses. Â Making lists of behaviors, applying medical-sounding labels to people who engage in them, then using the presence of those behaviors to prove they have the illness in question is scientifically meaningless."

Brian Beaumont, President of the Vancouver Chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights says ÂChildren signs of ÂdisorderÂ, as reported in the DSM, occur when they are deceitful, break rules, can't sit still or wait in lines, have trouble with math or writing, donÂt pay attention to details, don't listen, don't like to do homework or lose their school assignments or pencils, or speak out of turn, gaze out of the window in class, fidget and on and on. These things describe any healthy, active, normal child. Psychiatrist are therefore diagnosing normal childhood behavior as a Âmental DisorderÂ and then prescribing powerful mind-altering drugs to ÂtreatÂ the made up disorderÂ.

Just as illnesses can be "voted in" and then used to justify a treatment, political pressure can be brought to bear to vote illnesses "out" - as in 1973, when APA committee members voted-5,584 to 3,810-to cease calling homosexuality a mental disorder after gay activists picketed the APA conference. Attorney Lawrence Stevens, a former assistant District Attorney in California, commented: "If mental illness were really an illness in the same sense that physical illnesses are illnesses, the idea of deleting homosexuality or anything else from the categories of illness by having a vote would be as absurd as a group of physicians voting to delete cancer or measles from the concept of disease."

To understand how this "not very good" collection of opinions assumed its false scientific aura, it is also necessary to examine the influence of the pharmaceutical industry. Research has documented that at least one third of the 182 international advisors to the DSM IV (released in 1994) have received funding by pharmaceutical companies. They also all belong to one or more international and national psychiatric groups (i. e. the World Psychiatric Association, the World Federation for Mental Health, and the Association for European Psychiatrists) that in turn receive the majority of their funding from pharmaceutical companies. Non-medical groups, such as National Mental Health Association and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) that also receive pharmaceutical funding, also provided their opinion for the construction of DSM-IV. These groups create the illusion that there is a big demand for psychotropic drugs.

Dr. Thomas Dorman, a member of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom and fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, says, "In short, the whole business of creating psychiatric categories of 'disease,' formalizing them with consensus, and subsequently ascribing diagnostic codes to them, which in turn leads to their use for insurance billing, is nothing but an extended racket furnishing psychiatry a pseudo-scientific aura. The perpetrators are, of course, feeding at the public trough."

There are so many signs of unethical behavior and public deception that a full governmental investigation is warranted into the DSM. Currently, millions of children are being diagnose with some mental "disorder" in our schools based on the DSM, leading to their being prescribed dangerous psychiatric drugs.

Prepared by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights International, a mental health watchdog group established by the Church of Scientology in 1969 to investigate and expose psychiatric violations of human rights.

IF you feel you have been harmed by a psychiatrist please call the Citizens Commission on Human Rights at 1-800-670-2247.

###

EagleView Technologies™ and GAF® Announce Partnership

2011-03-02T10:30:00.000-08:00

EagleView Technologies™ and GAF® Announce Partnership

GAF Contractors Utilize EagleView Roof Measurement Reports

Bothell, WA (PRWEB) August 11, 2010

EagleView Technologies™, the leader in aerial roof measurements, in conjunction with GAF, the largest roofing and ventilation manufacturer in North America announce a partnership to promote EagleView 3D aerial roofing reports to GAF steep slope and low slope contractors throughout North America.

EagleView reports will complement the work of GAF contractors, both residential and commercial, with the most accurate roofing reports in the industry. Including pitch, square footage and lineal square feet measurements, the EagleView 3D aerial roofing reports have lead the industry in helping contractors to reduce costs and to increase profit per project by increasing the accuracy of material ordering and proficient production planning.

GAF leads the industry for both residential and commercial roofing materials with the strongest group of roofing contractors in the industry. The combination of GAF materials with the accuracy of EagleView 3D aerial roofing reports will provide both homeowners and property management with competitive, quality oriented bids and production.

“We are very happy to be working closely with GAF,” stated Chris Barrow, president and CEO of EagleView. “We feel the partnership brings two very strong companies together for the benefit of the contractor and ultimately the consumer. The accuracy that comes from the patent pending 3D technology that EagleView is able to offer will give GAF contractors an even greater edge in the marketplace.”

“GAF prides itself on aligning with the best vendors in the industry and providing our contractors with innovation that works,” stated James R. Slauson, Vice President Certified Program and Services. “The technology that EagleView will be able to offer our contractors will continue to position them as the leaders in their respective markets.”

About EagleView Technologies
Headquartered in Bothell, Wash., EagleView Technologies, Inc. invented the concept of aerial roof measurements and the proprietary patent pending software and process which provides detailed calculations that offer the highest accuracy and precision of any other method. EagleView is currently in its sixth generation of aerial measurement software. With the EagleView reports, roofing contractors and insurance adjusters see significant improvement in measurement accuracy along with dramatic increase in profitability. For more information contact EagleView Technologies at (866) 659-8439 or at www. eagleview. com.

About GAF Materials Corporation
GAF Materials Corporation is the largest roofing and ventilation manufacturer in North America, with sales of nearly $3 billion annually. The company's products include a comprehensive portfolio of steep-slope roofing systems (marketed under the GAF-Elk brand) and low-slope roofing systems (marketed under the GAF brand), which are supported by an extensive national network of factory-certified contractors. Its success is driven by a commitment to provide property owners and specifiers with the best and safest choice in roofing and by helping supportive contractors and distributors to build their businesses and avoid hassles. For more information please visit www. gaf. com.

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Providence Speech and Hearing Center Selects Chart Links Rehabilitation Software for its 25 Therapists

2011-03-01T13:51:00.000-08:00

Providence Speech and Hearing Center Selects Chart Links Rehabilitation Software for its 25 Therapists

Chart Links announces the selection of its rehabilitation workflow management software by Providence Speech and Hearing Center, a not-for-profit leading provider of services to the speech and hearing impaired of Orange County, California. The system selection includes functionality to manage electronic therapy documentation, scheduling, referrals, insurance authorizations and charges.

New Haven, Connecticut, and Orange, California (PRWEB) September 28, 2009

Chart Links, a provider of rehabilitation workflow management software, announces the selection of its electronic therapy documentation and scheduling system by a team of 25 audiologists, speech therapists and pediatric occupational therapists at Providence Speech and Hearing Center, a not-for-profit leading provider of services to the speech and hearing impaired of Orange County, California. The software implementation will include functionality for electronic therapy documentation, cross-discipline therapy scheduling, referrals, insurance authorizations and charges. It also includes a patient demographic and billing interface to the existing practice management system.

"Our mission is to enrich life through the gifts of speech and hearing," says Linda H. Smith, CEO of Providence Speech and Hearing Center. "Because of the efficiencies we'll gain by automating our administrative and clinical workflows with Chart Links, we're projecting an increase in patient load and a drastic reduction in our wait list of 1000 patients, all of whom are children."

In 2008, Providence provided services to more than 21,000 people. Approximately 80% of Providence Speech and Hearing Center's work is dedicated to low-income patients who are either uninsured or underinsured.

"We selected Chart Links over other systems because it was built for therapists practicing in an outpatient setting," says Smith. "By enhancing their productivity, we expect to increase our time spent with patients and improve outcomes."

Chart Links software streamlines all of the daily tasks associated with a patient's physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, or audiology visit. The software manages adult and pediatric therapy treatment by automating evaluations, flow sheets, plans of care, progress notes, patient education, and clinical correspondence. It also manages payer compliance, provider reimbursement, outcomes reporting, administrative functions, business intelligence and enterprise productivity.

About Chart Links, LLC
For 15 years, Chart Links has developed rehabilitation software that automates workflow for referrals, insurance authorizations, cross-discipline scheduling, documentation, charges, and more. Chart Links allows medical rehabilitation facilities to be more efficient and to provide a higher quality of care by delivering results in the areas of compliance, outcomes, analytics and revenue. http://www. chartlinks. com? source=prweb (http://www. chartlinks. com? source=prweb)

About Providence Speech and Hearing Center
Founded in 1965 by Sister Margaret Anne Inman Ph. D., Providence Speech and Hearing Center is the leading service provider to the speech and hearing impaired of Orange County, California. With over 40 years of experience, Providence has grown from a one room house to a multi-million dollar non-profit organization. Providence served over 21,000 appointments in 2008 to over 3,200 unique patients. They offer a full array of speech and hearing services for children and adults alike; and, because they believe everyone deserves the gifts of speech and hearing, they accept most major insurance companies and medical groups as well as providing grants, scholarships and financing options for patients from low-income families. http://www. pshc. org (http://www. pshc. org)

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idiotsstew

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Cottage Health System to Implement Galvanon's MediKiosk to Ensure a Faster and More Accurate Patient Registration Process

Art For Progress Announces a Special Artist Membership Offer

The American College Launches New Monthly Online Poll in Connections Newsletter

Building Industry Experts Agree In-house Resources Hold Prices Steady

Vive la France! Confused. com Advises Eurotrippers to Brush Up on French Motoring Law Before Crossing the Channel

Tanya M. Pavlik Forms New Firm A-lign™ -- Breathing Energy and Effectiveness in the Compliance Auditing Industry

Meridian Management Announces New Tuition Refund Insurance Product

Armchair Millionaire Community Bulletin: Shopping for a Mortgage - Don't Borrow Trouble

Remnants of the Mafia in Galveston Texas

SureCircle Announces Automated Service for Employer Self-Funded Dental Plan Administration

Newly Discovered Texas Poet Creates Sensation Across United States

CollegeInfoUSA. com Sees Traffic Rise, Students Turn to Most Convenient, Complete Source for Schools

Irish Inventor Obtains US Patent for an Inexpensive Powder Complement to Water Based Sprinkler Systems

MedTechIQ Selects TheBrain to Visualize Expansive Biointellingence Database and Connect the Dots Between Life Sciences, Medicine and Venture Capital

M&S Money Report Record Sales of Dubai Currency

Damage Appraisal Division Expands to Social Network Scene

Eriksen Translations Receives Prize in Women Presidents' Educational Organization Challenge

Can CFOs and CEOs Ever Love Environmental and Safety Compliance?

Expand Media Takes a Costly Stand for the Environment and Good Labor Practices

Phishing, Account Hijacking Myths Exposed

Wortix Healthcare Takes Aim at the Healthcare Crises

Benefit Software Inc. Receives High Customer Approval Ratings For Delivery of Printed Benefits Statements

Generating Growth in a Contracting Economy

C&C Security Systems, LLC Releases a Portable Security System to Reduce the $1 Billion Annual Theft in the Construction Industry

Your Web Site May Be Broadcasting, &#194;We Don&#194;t Really Care,&#194; Says Usability Psychologist Susan Weinschenk, Threatening Your Organization&#194;s Survival

Non-savers? Most Cite Bills, Medical Expenses as Barriers

Brightway Insurance Earns a Spot on the INC 5000

Saveology. com™ Purchases 100,000 Nets Ticket Vouchers for Charities and Customers

Cary, North Carolina's Borders Bulge as More Find Nirvana within City Limits

Morgan and Morgan Offers Legal Help and Information to Consumers Though Online Video Center

Barney & Barney, LLC Chooses Succeed Management Solutions, LLC to Provide its Clients with risk management solutions

Internet Matrix, Inc. Recognized for Supporting “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer”

LogMatrix Enhances Ability to Achieve Compliance & Security Goals at Lower Cost with Latest Versions of Log & Event Management Solutions

MBS Financial, LLC is on a National Recruitment Campaign for Regional Managers

Embanet’s e-Learning Insurance™ Brings Certainty and Protection to its Clients with Merger Between Blackboard™ and WebCT™

How to Increase Customer Loyalty and Competitiveness In Today's Insurance Market: Silanis & Thunderhead Host a Free Live Webcast

Real Estate Investors Expo in Orlando Florida Featuring the TOP Names in National Speakers

New technology will save billions in dental costs

UK SMEs Set to Back Conservatives at Election - But Prefer Cable as Chancellor

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Bernstein Liebhard LLP Wins $14.7 Million Jury Verdict

Xtremesoft Announces Beta Release of AppMetricsÂ® for BizTalk Server; New Version Supports Microsoft BizTalk Server 2002 and Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM)

Post Office® Travel Insurance reveals children's top holiday health hazards

Lafayette Breast Center Installs New ImageChecker Â® Computer Aided Detection (CAD) System for Breast Cancer Screening

Your Web Site May Be Broadcasting, ÂWe DonÂt Really Care,Â Says Usability Psychologist Susan Weinschenk, Threatening Your OrganizationÂs Survival

The Spectrum Ruling Â A Lesson For the Future?

Hull Barrett Attorneys Licensed in Georgia & South Carolina

EagleView Technologies™ and GAF® Announce Partnership