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The Kansas City-based compant bought of Santa Monica, which specializezs in development, placement and administratio support of student healthinsurancr programs; of Walnut Creek, whic provides employee benefits, retirement services and HR outsourcinvg primarily for nonprofits; and Inc. of Agoura Hills, whic specializes in administration of studenthealthn insurance, including intercollegiate sportas injury programs. Overall, the acquisitions will bring Ascension’z annual revenue to about $75 million, rankingt it among the nation’s biggest 35 agencies, Ascension CEO Leonardx Kline said in an The company said ithad $55 million in revenue in March, after its in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Ascensiob now has more than 400 employees at 20 officelocations nationwide. “Th acquisitions ... represent a valuable opportunityu for us to expand our West Coast operations and to fulfill our goal of providing the best-quality expertise, markets and resources to the middles market,” Kline said. “Each organization brings uniqude capabilities to our growing portfolio ofinsurancew agencies, as well as dedicated employees who share our missio to provide outstanding service to our customers in Californiaa and throughout the United States.” Kline said the deal closex Thursday afternoon.
Ascension is a full-service insurance and employeed benefits agency providing brokerageand risk-management services to middle-market companiee nationwide. Ascension has been a active in the mergersx and acquisition market since it was foundedr from scratch inAugusft 2007, making . The company is assistee by funds from its privateequitty partners, and . The goal is to increase the company’s annual revenude to $200 million within the next five years.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Kendall
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million foreclosure lawsuit against the developer of theRivendello single-family home project in West Kendall. The Miami-based bank filex the foreclosure action on June 9against Miami-based Crestvieqw II, Marsol One LLC and managing member Marcial Solis, according to records. The complaint targetss 28 unsold homes and home sitesin Rivendell, which is alonf Miller Drive (Southwest 56th Street) between Southwestf 167th Avenue and the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club. Aftee starting construction in 2004, Crestview II sold 103 homezs in Rivendell from 2005 through the most recen t salein January. Fort Lauderdale-based attorneh Charles Lichtman, who represents TotalBank in its demandfor $12.
w million on the outstanding mortgage, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. TotalBank reportexd having $86.4 million in late or unpaid ornearly 6.5 percent of its totalo loans, as of March 31. In filed a foreclosure action against Crestview II and Solis overa $2.1 milliomn mortgage.
million foreclosure lawsuit against the developer of theRivendello single-family home project in West Kendall. The Miami-based bank filex the foreclosure action on June 9against Miami-based Crestvieqw II, Marsol One LLC and managing member Marcial Solis, according to records. The complaint targetss 28 unsold homes and home sitesin Rivendell, which is alonf Miller Drive (Southwest 56th Street) between Southwestf 167th Avenue and the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club. Aftee starting construction in 2004, Crestview II sold 103 homezs in Rivendell from 2005 through the most recen t salein January. Fort Lauderdale-based attorneh Charles Lichtman, who represents TotalBank in its demandfor $12.
w million on the outstanding mortgage, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. TotalBank reportexd having $86.4 million in late or unpaid ornearly 6.5 percent of its totalo loans, as of March 31. In filed a foreclosure action against Crestview II and Solis overa $2.1 milliomn mortgage.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
URA re-releases RFP for Heppenstall site in Lawrenceville - Triangle Business Journal:
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The URA is re-releasing a requestf for proposals after its previousltchosen developer, Urban Villages working with Boterok Development decided not to go forward with the Urban Villages and Botero were selected over one other finalist, S&sA Homes, in partnership with the Lawrencevills Corporation, a community nonprofit. The footballl field-sized parcel includes the site on which the offices building for the Heppenstalpl plant once was located as well as a formerdwarehouse property. In a prepareds statement, mayor Luke Ravenstahl describedthe property’s redevelopmen t as an important part of the city’sz larger revisioning of the Allegheny riverfront.
“We have begun a planningg process to create a vision for the Allegheny riverfront and reconnec our neighborhoods to ournatural amenities,” he said. "The Hatfield Street site is one of the greatr opportunities to see this vision come to The URA wants adeveloper “to design, develop and operatd or resell the site.” The URA’e effort comes as the Regional Industrial Development Corporationb (RIDC) continues to redevelop the Heppenstall complex itself. Hatfield Streer is considered a dividing line betweenthe neighborhood’ds residential community and its industrial zone.
As a selling point, the URA notes that the median home price in centrapl Lawrenceville has increased 64 percent in the past three a growth rate it claims is second highest in the city to theSouthu Side. “We are excited with the real estate appreciation that were seeinfg inthe neighborhood,” said Rob Stephany, Executive Directotr of the URA, as well as a Lawrenceville “And (we’re) very excitee about the prospect of a new residentia product and how that will add fuel to the
The URA is re-releasing a requestf for proposals after its previousltchosen developer, Urban Villages working with Boterok Development decided not to go forward with the Urban Villages and Botero were selected over one other finalist, S&sA Homes, in partnership with the Lawrencevills Corporation, a community nonprofit. The footballl field-sized parcel includes the site on which the offices building for the Heppenstalpl plant once was located as well as a formerdwarehouse property. In a prepareds statement, mayor Luke Ravenstahl describedthe property’s redevelopmen t as an important part of the city’sz larger revisioning of the Allegheny riverfront.
“We have begun a planningg process to create a vision for the Allegheny riverfront and reconnec our neighborhoods to ournatural amenities,” he said. "The Hatfield Street site is one of the greatr opportunities to see this vision come to The URA wants adeveloper “to design, develop and operatd or resell the site.” The URA’e effort comes as the Regional Industrial Development Corporationb (RIDC) continues to redevelop the Heppenstall complex itself. Hatfield Streer is considered a dividing line betweenthe neighborhood’ds residential community and its industrial zone.
As a selling point, the URA notes that the median home price in centrapl Lawrenceville has increased 64 percent in the past three a growth rate it claims is second highest in the city to theSouthu Side. “We are excited with the real estate appreciation that were seeinfg inthe neighborhood,” said Rob Stephany, Executive Directotr of the URA, as well as a Lawrenceville “And (we’re) very excitee about the prospect of a new residentia product and how that will add fuel to the
Friday, July 27, 2012
Developing in suburbia is Taylor & Mathis'plan - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
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"A lot of people say that the problem is thesuburbamn sprawl. But if we build office parkw closer to wherepeople live, then we are, in helping solve the problem because peopl e do not have to drive as far to Taylor said. "When you have 200 people working in an officed who only drive for 20 minutes instead oftwo you're definitely helping the air quality," he said. And the presidentf of Taylor & Mathis is helping out personally.
"I live in Buckhea d and drive to our headquarters at Cobb so I'm going against the flow of It only takes me about 20 minutes to get to the Taylor & Mathis relocated its main offices to TownParki last April after years in Buckhead. That is only one of the many changes that have occurred at the companhy since Taylor became presidentin 1995. His Mack, co-founded the company, one of the oldesyt and most respected commercial building and management firms in in 1969 with the late Harvey The elder Taylor retiredin 1995. Taylor & Mathis has always been on the cutting edge of commercial buildingin Atlanta.
locatiojn was farm property when it was firstg purchased about 30years ago. Almosft unnoticed was the firm's purchase of land 12 miles nortu of the Interstate 285 perimeter in Cobb County in the That is now the site of the Town Centef at Cobb mall and surroundingcommerciao development, including TownPark Commons, slated for July completiobn as the last of four buildings at the developer's 243-acrse TownPark office complex on Chastain Road betweebn Interstate-75 and I-575. "The Perimeted Center was on the edge of the expandinb developmentin Atlanta. The TownPark land was a real speculatives purchase that took 10 years for the growth to reachj it so it could be Taylor said.
"We feel that with TownPark we had the10 o'clocjk position on the map covered, but we didn't have anythinhg at noon or 2 o'clock," Tayloe said. "We didn't have anything on the Georgi 400 corridor orthe I-85 area in Gwinnetr County. But we are developing the Georgiaa 400 Center property with MetLife and the Sugarloaf Corporate Centerfor ourselves." A six-story, 135,000-square-foot office building will be completed by September as the first phased of Georgia 400 Center. Sugarloaf Corporate Centedr isa 62-acre office park at I-85 and Sugarloatf Parkway, whose 90,000-square-foot initial building will open early this month.
Taylo r & Mathis takes the higher-end residential building trail and followds with commercial developments inthe area. "We definitelgy look at high-growth areas," Taylor said. "Because quality of life issues are so and commuting is a big part of the decision-makers for companies might live in those areas and want to have their corporate location nearby. They may be moving from the Buckhead or the Platinumn Triangle area to an area such as the Georgiaz400 Center. By locating the company in that the workers canlive closer," he said. "There are changes that have to be made in how Atlantans Carpooling is going to have to be part ofthe solution.
Cleanb air standards are going to mandate how we live andhow we, as a continue to develop areas," he said. Taylotr sees continued growth to the northin Cherokee, Forsytnh and Gwinnett counties. He also sees a resurgencse south of the city with residential growth alonthe I-85 corridor toward Peachtree City and commercia development down I-75 into Henry Countuy because of the increasing distribution centerz there that serve business to Florida. Taylor Mathis has three areasunder development, Taylor In Cobb County, the company is working on a 50-acr development project and has completed a 131,000-square-foot parts distributionh center for American Suzuki Motorcycle Co.
It will complete a 260,000-square-foort distribution center this summer in Buford and has a mastert planfor 640,000 square feet of freight and offics space at Southwoods on Old Dixie plus a 182,000-square-foot facility under constructiob in the same area. And the development is not restrictesto Atlanta. The firm has satellite officesin Birmingham, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, and Winston-Salem, N.C., with a totalo of 270 employees. Taylor has been on the Atlantaz development scene for many years and has seen the good timee and theslow times.
"Thesee things go in cycles," he "It was very slow in the earlgy 1980s and then stopped again in 1990and 1991, but then kicked back into action. "Thee music will stop again," he said. "It's not if it will just when." But Taylor said that Taylorf & Mathis is poised to keep runninbg smoothly. "The core of our busineses has become management and leasing forthird parties, such as MetLife, our longtimes partner in developing areas such as Perimeter Cente r and our new Georgia 400 Center. We currentlyu have about 9.
3 million square feet of officw and commercial space underour "When the current cycle ends, we'll still have something to he said.
"A lot of people say that the problem is thesuburbamn sprawl. But if we build office parkw closer to wherepeople live, then we are, in helping solve the problem because peopl e do not have to drive as far to Taylor said. "When you have 200 people working in an officed who only drive for 20 minutes instead oftwo you're definitely helping the air quality," he said. And the presidentf of Taylor & Mathis is helping out personally.
"I live in Buckhea d and drive to our headquarters at Cobb so I'm going against the flow of It only takes me about 20 minutes to get to the Taylor & Mathis relocated its main offices to TownParki last April after years in Buckhead. That is only one of the many changes that have occurred at the companhy since Taylor became presidentin 1995. His Mack, co-founded the company, one of the oldesyt and most respected commercial building and management firms in in 1969 with the late Harvey The elder Taylor retiredin 1995. Taylor & Mathis has always been on the cutting edge of commercial buildingin Atlanta.
locatiojn was farm property when it was firstg purchased about 30years ago. Almosft unnoticed was the firm's purchase of land 12 miles nortu of the Interstate 285 perimeter in Cobb County in the That is now the site of the Town Centef at Cobb mall and surroundingcommerciao development, including TownPark Commons, slated for July completiobn as the last of four buildings at the developer's 243-acrse TownPark office complex on Chastain Road betweebn Interstate-75 and I-575. "The Perimeted Center was on the edge of the expandinb developmentin Atlanta. The TownPark land was a real speculatives purchase that took 10 years for the growth to reachj it so it could be Taylor said.
"We feel that with TownPark we had the10 o'clocjk position on the map covered, but we didn't have anythinhg at noon or 2 o'clock," Tayloe said. "We didn't have anything on the Georgi 400 corridor orthe I-85 area in Gwinnetr County. But we are developing the Georgiaa 400 Center property with MetLife and the Sugarloaf Corporate Centerfor ourselves." A six-story, 135,000-square-foot office building will be completed by September as the first phased of Georgia 400 Center. Sugarloaf Corporate Centedr isa 62-acre office park at I-85 and Sugarloatf Parkway, whose 90,000-square-foot initial building will open early this month.
Taylo r & Mathis takes the higher-end residential building trail and followds with commercial developments inthe area. "We definitelgy look at high-growth areas," Taylor said. "Because quality of life issues are so and commuting is a big part of the decision-makers for companies might live in those areas and want to have their corporate location nearby. They may be moving from the Buckhead or the Platinumn Triangle area to an area such as the Georgiaz400 Center. By locating the company in that the workers canlive closer," he said. "There are changes that have to be made in how Atlantans Carpooling is going to have to be part ofthe solution.
Cleanb air standards are going to mandate how we live andhow we, as a continue to develop areas," he said. Taylotr sees continued growth to the northin Cherokee, Forsytnh and Gwinnett counties. He also sees a resurgencse south of the city with residential growth alonthe I-85 corridor toward Peachtree City and commercia development down I-75 into Henry Countuy because of the increasing distribution centerz there that serve business to Florida. Taylor Mathis has three areasunder development, Taylor In Cobb County, the company is working on a 50-acr development project and has completed a 131,000-square-foot parts distributionh center for American Suzuki Motorcycle Co.
It will complete a 260,000-square-foort distribution center this summer in Buford and has a mastert planfor 640,000 square feet of freight and offics space at Southwoods on Old Dixie plus a 182,000-square-foot facility under constructiob in the same area. And the development is not restrictesto Atlanta. The firm has satellite officesin Birmingham, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, and Winston-Salem, N.C., with a totalo of 270 employees. Taylor has been on the Atlantaz development scene for many years and has seen the good timee and theslow times.
"Thesee things go in cycles," he "It was very slow in the earlgy 1980s and then stopped again in 1990and 1991, but then kicked back into action. "Thee music will stop again," he said. "It's not if it will just when." But Taylor said that Taylorf & Mathis is poised to keep runninbg smoothly. "The core of our busineses has become management and leasing forthird parties, such as MetLife, our longtimes partner in developing areas such as Perimeter Cente r and our new Georgia 400 Center. We currentlyu have about 9.
3 million square feet of officw and commercial space underour "When the current cycle ends, we'll still have something to he said.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
RealtyTrac Inc. Company Profile | Company Information
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Founded in 1996, RealtyTrac
Founded in 1996, RealtyTrac
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Demolition work begins at future site of a UPMC hospital - Pittsburgh Business Times:
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The former Palace Inn motelk on Mosside Boulevard is being torn down to make way fora $250 120-bed hospital, according to Monroevills Manager Marshall Bond. Althougyh the hospital will have the same numbere of beds as when it was proposexlast November, the building will be about 10 percen t smaller, he said. The original plan was for a 333,789-square-foof building. “It’s not a small job, but it’s Bond said. Demolition is expectex to lasta month. UPMC officials say the hospital is needed to better serv e patients who live in theeastern suburbs, but criticss say the facility will drive up the overall cost of health care because it duplicatesx existing services.
The Forbed Regional Campus of The , which is operaterd by UPMC’s crosstown rival, , is located less than a mile away from theproposesd hospital. Among the people who have questioned the need for the new hospitalpwere M. Christine Whipple, executive director of the ; Dr. Kenneth president and CEO of ; and Ann deputy director of Gov. Ed Rendell’ws Office of Health Care Reform.
The former Palace Inn motelk on Mosside Boulevard is being torn down to make way fora $250 120-bed hospital, according to Monroevills Manager Marshall Bond. Althougyh the hospital will have the same numbere of beds as when it was proposexlast November, the building will be about 10 percen t smaller, he said. The original plan was for a 333,789-square-foof building. “It’s not a small job, but it’s Bond said. Demolition is expectex to lasta month. UPMC officials say the hospital is needed to better serv e patients who live in theeastern suburbs, but criticss say the facility will drive up the overall cost of health care because it duplicatesx existing services.
The Forbed Regional Campus of The , which is operaterd by UPMC’s crosstown rival, , is located less than a mile away from theproposesd hospital. Among the people who have questioned the need for the new hospitalpwere M. Christine Whipple, executive director of the ; Dr. Kenneth president and CEO of ; and Ann deputy director of Gov. Ed Rendell’ws Office of Health Care Reform.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
FII inflow into stock markets crosses $10 bn mark - Hindustan Times
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Firstpost | FII inflow into stock markets crosses $10 bn mark Hindustan Times Experts cautioned, however, that inflows will continue to sustain only if » |
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Emphasis on energy efficiency brings supplier opportunities - bizjournals:
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Public entities have long been concerned about energh efficiency andconservation but, until now, they have not been incentivized to focus intently and immediateluy on finding solutions. That all changed with the federal stimulus bill. Funding is now available, public interesr has intensified, budgets cry out for reliec and elected officials are championing the Asa result, there are an unprecedenteed number of immediate opportunities for vendors with energy-savingv solutions.
Every construction, renovation and new initiativw begins with a discussion about what is known as LEED The Leadership in Energy and Environmentalk Design green building rating system isa third-partg certification program and a nationally accepted benchmark for construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. In Texas, the Austijn City Hall received LEED Gold In Dallas, the Jack Evans Police Headquarters earned LEED Silver. Houston has set a targer for LEED Silver certification for new replacement facilities and major renovations ofall city-owned building of more than 10,000 square feet.
Many energy-savingv projects are planned, undef way or recently completed in More will follow as stimulus funds dedicatecd to this objective flow to governmental entitiese ofall sizes. The Recovery Act offerss funding forweatherization assistance, state energy programs, efficient transportatiobn and more. If ever there was a time for privats firms to approach government with energyefficiencyt solutions, it is now. Localp governments throughout Texas are gearing up for a newenergg initiative, a $3.2 billion Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program (EECBG).
In March, it was announced that Texas wouldreceivs $209 million from this program for projects that reduce total energy use and fossilo fuel emissions and/or improve energy A complete list of allocated fundinyg for state, city and county governments in Texads is available at www.spartnerships.com. Look at the Recent Reports sectiohn ofthe Website. The EECBG program funding will support activities such asenergy audits, energy efficiency retrofits in residential and commercial advanced building codes and inspectionss and financial incentive programs such as rebates for energyu efficiency improvements.
Other eligible activities include transportation programs that reduce fuel projectsto reduce/capture methane from landfills, renewable energy installations, such as solad panels, on government buildings, energy efficient trafficf signals and street lights and others. No award is underf $150,000. • The mediab award amount is $786,500. The largest award is to the City of Houstonhfor $22.7 million. Applicationz for more funding are due to the this Here are a few examples of upcoming EECBG projectsain Texas. • Dallas plans to use $2.4 millio n of a $12.8 million allocation to achieve energy efficiency improvements inselected communities.
Contractingg opportunities will includeenergy audits, primary weatherizatioh and energy upgrades. • Lubbock is eligibl e to receive morethan $2.1 million. The city is expected to installp more efficient lighting inMahon Library, upgrade to more efficientr traffic signal lights and initiate other • Huntsville plans to use its $166,500 on an existinv capital improvement project to replacwe lighting in Kate Barr Ross Memorial Park. Fort Worth is still developingg plans forits $6.7 million allocation.
In a recenft city council meeting, the following projects were • Installation of solar panels for the regionaollibrary ($750,000)
Public entities have long been concerned about energh efficiency andconservation but, until now, they have not been incentivized to focus intently and immediateluy on finding solutions. That all changed with the federal stimulus bill. Funding is now available, public interesr has intensified, budgets cry out for reliec and elected officials are championing the Asa result, there are an unprecedenteed number of immediate opportunities for vendors with energy-savingv solutions.
Every construction, renovation and new initiativw begins with a discussion about what is known as LEED The Leadership in Energy and Environmentalk Design green building rating system isa third-partg certification program and a nationally accepted benchmark for construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. In Texas, the Austijn City Hall received LEED Gold In Dallas, the Jack Evans Police Headquarters earned LEED Silver. Houston has set a targer for LEED Silver certification for new replacement facilities and major renovations ofall city-owned building of more than 10,000 square feet.
Many energy-savingv projects are planned, undef way or recently completed in More will follow as stimulus funds dedicatecd to this objective flow to governmental entitiese ofall sizes. The Recovery Act offerss funding forweatherization assistance, state energy programs, efficient transportatiobn and more. If ever there was a time for privats firms to approach government with energyefficiencyt solutions, it is now. Localp governments throughout Texas are gearing up for a newenergg initiative, a $3.2 billion Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program (EECBG).
In March, it was announced that Texas wouldreceivs $209 million from this program for projects that reduce total energy use and fossilo fuel emissions and/or improve energy A complete list of allocated fundinyg for state, city and county governments in Texads is available at www.spartnerships.com. Look at the Recent Reports sectiohn ofthe Website. The EECBG program funding will support activities such asenergy audits, energy efficiency retrofits in residential and commercial advanced building codes and inspectionss and financial incentive programs such as rebates for energyu efficiency improvements.
Other eligible activities include transportation programs that reduce fuel projectsto reduce/capture methane from landfills, renewable energy installations, such as solad panels, on government buildings, energy efficient trafficf signals and street lights and others. No award is underf $150,000. • The mediab award amount is $786,500. The largest award is to the City of Houstonhfor $22.7 million. Applicationz for more funding are due to the this Here are a few examples of upcoming EECBG projectsain Texas. • Dallas plans to use $2.4 millio n of a $12.8 million allocation to achieve energy efficiency improvements inselected communities.
Contractingg opportunities will includeenergy audits, primary weatherizatioh and energy upgrades. • Lubbock is eligibl e to receive morethan $2.1 million. The city is expected to installp more efficient lighting inMahon Library, upgrade to more efficientr traffic signal lights and initiate other • Huntsville plans to use its $166,500 on an existinv capital improvement project to replacwe lighting in Kate Barr Ross Memorial Park. Fort Worth is still developingg plans forits $6.7 million allocation.
In a recenft city council meeting, the following projects were • Installation of solar panels for the regionaollibrary ($750,000)
Friday, July 20, 2012
Graduate students calculate Batman tech feasibility - Texas A&M The Battalion
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Graduate students calculate Batman tech feasibility Texas A&M The Battalion But the questionable feasibility of Hollywood technologies found in movies such as the Dark Knight trilogy are a comical fallacy for some student-engineers, however still entertaining as ever.“Batman is known for having all sorts of gadgets and ... |
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Former Atlanta broker gets 6 years in prison for fraud - New Mexico Business Weekly:
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The 48-year-old Atlanta resident also mustpay $878,10o in restitution. He was sued previously by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which obtained a judgment againsy Barton and his former investment firms for morethan $4 milliohn in penalties and disgorgement of as well as various injunctive and othet relief. From at least 1995 through Barton was a manager at an Atlantz branch of the national brokeragefirm , based in St. After he was fired from A.G. Edwards in 2002, he beganh his own investment advisory firms, LLC and LLC, both basedx in Atlanta. From at leasty 2001 through 2007 -- beforde and after leaving A.G.
Edwards -- Barton fraudulently diverted to himselft client funds that he was entrustedwith investing. In Barton defrauded a 90-year old Alzheimer'w patient, identified in court by her “RF.” After learning of RF's diagnosis in Barton fraudulently diverted morethan $1 million of RF's assets to his own checking which he spent on personal lifestyle expensess and to fund the development of Twinspamn Capital. As a result, the balance in RF'es investment and bank accounts fell fromapproximateluy $1.3 million in 1999 to less than $100 in 2004.
In additioj to diverting client money from RF and at least oneothe client, Barton committed securities fraud by sellintg shares in his new company, Twinspan, based on falsd pretenses. Specifically, he raised more than $1 million in investmentxs in Twinspan by claimingt he would use the proceeds to operate and growthe However, he instead diverted at least half of thesed supposed investments to himself, which he used to satisf personal debts and pay personal lifestyle Barton was indicted in Decembet 2008. He pleaded guilty in Marc h 2009.
The 48-year-old Atlanta resident also mustpay $878,10o in restitution. He was sued previously by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which obtained a judgment againsy Barton and his former investment firms for morethan $4 milliohn in penalties and disgorgement of as well as various injunctive and othet relief. From at least 1995 through Barton was a manager at an Atlantz branch of the national brokeragefirm , based in St. After he was fired from A.G. Edwards in 2002, he beganh his own investment advisory firms, LLC and LLC, both basedx in Atlanta. From at leasty 2001 through 2007 -- beforde and after leaving A.G.
Edwards -- Barton fraudulently diverted to himselft client funds that he was entrustedwith investing. In Barton defrauded a 90-year old Alzheimer'w patient, identified in court by her “RF.” After learning of RF's diagnosis in Barton fraudulently diverted morethan $1 million of RF's assets to his own checking which he spent on personal lifestyle expensess and to fund the development of Twinspamn Capital. As a result, the balance in RF'es investment and bank accounts fell fromapproximateluy $1.3 million in 1999 to less than $100 in 2004.
In additioj to diverting client money from RF and at least oneothe client, Barton committed securities fraud by sellintg shares in his new company, Twinspan, based on falsd pretenses. Specifically, he raised more than $1 million in investmentxs in Twinspan by claimingt he would use the proceeds to operate and growthe However, he instead diverted at least half of thesed supposed investments to himself, which he used to satisf personal debts and pay personal lifestyle Barton was indicted in Decembet 2008. He pleaded guilty in Marc h 2009.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Delphi salaried retirees eye pension suit - Denver Business Journal:
oryzacody.wordpress.com
If not stopped, retirees fear that the move could drasticallu cut the value ofyounger ex-white collar pensions by as much as 50 percent, said Jamee Frost of Clarence, a board member and organizer of the Delph i Salaried Retiree Association. The legal action is being spearheadex by 100 to 200 retiree s in Ohio who belong tothe 5,400-member DSRA but who are actintg on their own, Frosyt said. “We (the DSRA) are serving as support by gatherinh information and sharing it with all our member and by contacting legislators aroundthe country,” Frosf said.
“We are not starting our own action because it would duplicate what they are The opposition sprang out of the modified reorganizatio plan Delphi disclosed onJune 1. The company, to emergse from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, said it would cancel its pension obligations and have assume thehourlyt workers’ pensions and the PBGC take over the salariee employees’ plan. Frost, who worked at GM for 25 years and at Delphfor six, said hourly workers’ pensiond won’t be affected “at leas t in the short term” but salaried workers who retired at 55 couled lose half the value of theirs. “W e want our pensions also to be transferredxto GM,” he said.
The suit would charge Delphi, GM, the II and the U.S. Treasuryu with collusion againstthe retirees. In the reorganizationb plan for Delphi, GM’s former partx operation, II LLC — a unit of Platinun Equity — would acquire and operatr Delphi’s U.S. and non-U.S. businesses by supplying $3.6 billionn in capital.
If not stopped, retirees fear that the move could drasticallu cut the value ofyounger ex-white collar pensions by as much as 50 percent, said Jamee Frost of Clarence, a board member and organizer of the Delph i Salaried Retiree Association. The legal action is being spearheadex by 100 to 200 retiree s in Ohio who belong tothe 5,400-member DSRA but who are actintg on their own, Frosyt said. “We (the DSRA) are serving as support by gatherinh information and sharing it with all our member and by contacting legislators aroundthe country,” Frosf said.
“We are not starting our own action because it would duplicate what they are The opposition sprang out of the modified reorganizatio plan Delphi disclosed onJune 1. The company, to emergse from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, said it would cancel its pension obligations and have assume thehourlyt workers’ pensions and the PBGC take over the salariee employees’ plan. Frost, who worked at GM for 25 years and at Delphfor six, said hourly workers’ pensiond won’t be affected “at leas t in the short term” but salaried workers who retired at 55 couled lose half the value of theirs. “W e want our pensions also to be transferredxto GM,” he said.
The suit would charge Delphi, GM, the II and the U.S. Treasuryu with collusion againstthe retirees. In the reorganizationb plan for Delphi, GM’s former partx operation, II LLC — a unit of Platinun Equity — would acquire and operatr Delphi’s U.S. and non-U.S. businesses by supplying $3.6 billionn in capital.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Outsourcing IT should be long-term strategy - bizjournals:
fusajacuxejilyp.blogspot.com
Doing so, however, can be a daunting task, and unlesz your company knows exactlywhat it’s doing, a wrong choice can lead to a plethora of including wasted time, money and resources. “A commobn problem many businesses face is outsourcing for thewron reasons,” said Christopher Ambrose, research vice presidentr at out of Stamford, an information technology researc and advisory company. “Many times businessew use outsourcing as a tactical decision to solve a problej instead of tying outsourcing to abusiness strategy.” This businesse strategy, according to is the first step prior to outsourcing IT services.
Businessesx often will rush into outsourcing before it’s determined to be the most efficientf route to take, but once a detailex business strategy is completed and it’x determined that outsourcing is the best then the search for the perfect IT service providerr for the company begins, he said. Dependingv on the IT service needed and how much expertise the companyalready has, many companies go through a third-partu IT consultant to help choose potentiap vendors. This option should be decidedc ona case-by-case basis, but looking for solid word-of-mouth references is a good place to said Maureen Majury, senior program manager for the Wash.-based .
Ambrose said using a request forinformation (RFI) is another recommendeds way to whittle down potentia IT service providers before using a request for proposalds (RFP) for the bidding process. Once your needx are outlined and you’ve found potential vendors, it’s time to begib contact with theservice providers. Showing theses companies your business plan and labeling the exact specifications your compan will need is crucial at this juncture asyou don’t want to leavre anything out that could result in According to Ambrose, a networo assessment should also be done and given to the potentiall service providers during this phas e to ensure the IT needsa are possible given the current bandwidth or othedr network variables of your company.
When contacting different IT service providers, Ambrose and Majury both advised makinbg sure the providers have the proper credentials for the industry as well as back-checking the financiap stability of the firms and their track “Talk to [the IT servicre providers] and dig beyond its client list to look for possibld dissatisfied customers,” Majury said. “Then make sure all the potholesware covered, the company you’re working with is committed, there is enough server space and that your company won’t be competingt with other projects to ensure you get the utmosg attention.
” Then selecting the finalistse begins, and Ambrose said this is the time to go over pricingt and the contract. He recommends hiring a legal team familiafr with the service and industry when creatin contracts to ensure that from startto finish, and even post-service every aspect of the projecty is covered. From here, it’xs up to the judgment of the compangy to decide on which IT servicw provider will be thebest fit.
But even after makingh the decision, Ambrose said the process is still not To fully understand and get the maximum efficiency of thenew service, he said an on-sitre visit from the provider and having a retainex staff, usually in-house, for whole supplier management, architecture policy standards, busines s analysis and design, and securitu standards and policies, should be put into placs to alleviate possible post-service hassles. “Having staff with subject-mattetr expertise is important because you want someone on board to keep suppliers honest about the technologies andits services,” he said.
Once you’vd found the IT service provide that best fitsyour company’s needs, it’s time to go forthh with the project. Even when everything is maintaining contact with the service provide r throughoutthe project, which should be outlined in the is what’s left because even when the job is there can be unforeseenh factors that arise that must be addressec for a successful and efficient “You really need to think of all the problemw that could possibly be out there before makiny a decision,” Majury said. “Don’t ever make assumptiond and don’t ignore your instincts.
”
Doing so, however, can be a daunting task, and unlesz your company knows exactlywhat it’s doing, a wrong choice can lead to a plethora of including wasted time, money and resources. “A commobn problem many businesses face is outsourcing for thewron reasons,” said Christopher Ambrose, research vice presidentr at out of Stamford, an information technology researc and advisory company. “Many times businessew use outsourcing as a tactical decision to solve a problej instead of tying outsourcing to abusiness strategy.” This businesse strategy, according to is the first step prior to outsourcing IT services.
Businessesx often will rush into outsourcing before it’s determined to be the most efficientf route to take, but once a detailex business strategy is completed and it’x determined that outsourcing is the best then the search for the perfect IT service providerr for the company begins, he said. Dependingv on the IT service needed and how much expertise the companyalready has, many companies go through a third-partu IT consultant to help choose potentiap vendors. This option should be decidedc ona case-by-case basis, but looking for solid word-of-mouth references is a good place to said Maureen Majury, senior program manager for the Wash.-based .
Ambrose said using a request forinformation (RFI) is another recommendeds way to whittle down potentia IT service providers before using a request for proposalds (RFP) for the bidding process. Once your needx are outlined and you’ve found potential vendors, it’s time to begib contact with theservice providers. Showing theses companies your business plan and labeling the exact specifications your compan will need is crucial at this juncture asyou don’t want to leavre anything out that could result in According to Ambrose, a networo assessment should also be done and given to the potentiall service providers during this phas e to ensure the IT needsa are possible given the current bandwidth or othedr network variables of your company.
When contacting different IT service providers, Ambrose and Majury both advised makinbg sure the providers have the proper credentials for the industry as well as back-checking the financiap stability of the firms and their track “Talk to [the IT servicre providers] and dig beyond its client list to look for possibld dissatisfied customers,” Majury said. “Then make sure all the potholesware covered, the company you’re working with is committed, there is enough server space and that your company won’t be competingt with other projects to ensure you get the utmosg attention.
” Then selecting the finalistse begins, and Ambrose said this is the time to go over pricingt and the contract. He recommends hiring a legal team familiafr with the service and industry when creatin contracts to ensure that from startto finish, and even post-service every aspect of the projecty is covered. From here, it’xs up to the judgment of the compangy to decide on which IT servicw provider will be thebest fit.
But even after makingh the decision, Ambrose said the process is still not To fully understand and get the maximum efficiency of thenew service, he said an on-sitre visit from the provider and having a retainex staff, usually in-house, for whole supplier management, architecture policy standards, busines s analysis and design, and securitu standards and policies, should be put into placs to alleviate possible post-service hassles. “Having staff with subject-mattetr expertise is important because you want someone on board to keep suppliers honest about the technologies andits services,” he said.
Once you’vd found the IT service provide that best fitsyour company’s needs, it’s time to go forthh with the project. Even when everything is maintaining contact with the service provide r throughoutthe project, which should be outlined in the is what’s left because even when the job is there can be unforeseenh factors that arise that must be addressec for a successful and efficient “You really need to think of all the problemw that could possibly be out there before makiny a decision,” Majury said. “Don’t ever make assumptiond and don’t ignore your instincts.
”
Saturday, July 14, 2012
UC Davis opens stem cell lab for horses - San Francisco Business Times:
xysecurakihir.blogspot.com
Horse owners who provide a sample oftheirt animal’s bone marrow can have a treatment for a soft tissu injury within two weeks, lab director Sean Owens told the San Francisc o Business Times . The cost is abour $1,800. Treatments can be frozen for future use. Though it’sz been in business aboutr six weeks, the new lab formallh celebrated its opening with a partyon Monday. an assistant professor in thevet school, overseess the lab, which has 11 faculth and a handful of post doctora l students. A $2.
5 million grant from hors e enthusiast Dick Randall providesd most ofthe center’s funding, though it also sharesz a two-year SBIR grant of $500,000 from the Nationakl Institutes of Health for work with Rancho Cordova-baseed (NASDAQ: KOOL). Randall, from Cupertino, gave the mone with his wife, Carolyn, after one of theid horses was hurt. Such soft tissue injuries to a horse’sw ligaments and tendons can’t easily be treate using conventional therapy, Owens Past treatments focused as they often do inpeople — on “anti-inflammatoriees and rest,” he said. But the leftovedr scars were a problem. “Scar tissue is less strong, has less tensilw strength.
It often does lead to immobilization,” Owens Stem cell treatments replace the tissue without suchscaras forming. This is the No. 1 type of injurhy among sport performance horses, he said. Owens said interest is growinb in stem cell treatments for animals just as it is for and attitudes arealso “The culture has changed and one of the key thingds is we don’t deal with embryonic stem We deal with adult derived stem We don’t have to address that sort of ethical he said. He expectsz his group to be able to applty for grants from a wider range of funding sources asinterest grows.
who is also section head of the school’s transfusiohn medicine service, compared the quintessentiak change of stem cell therapies to the medical revolutionof penicillin. “Thisa is the first therapy to come along in 50 years that is aimedc at therapeutic cure rather than pharmacological he said. The lab, formally namec the RegenerativeMedicine Laboratory, is workinbg with Thermogenesis on “models that bridge the gap betweenh human and animal health.
”
Horse owners who provide a sample oftheirt animal’s bone marrow can have a treatment for a soft tissu injury within two weeks, lab director Sean Owens told the San Francisc o Business Times . The cost is abour $1,800. Treatments can be frozen for future use. Though it’sz been in business aboutr six weeks, the new lab formallh celebrated its opening with a partyon Monday. an assistant professor in thevet school, overseess the lab, which has 11 faculth and a handful of post doctora l students. A $2.
5 million grant from hors e enthusiast Dick Randall providesd most ofthe center’s funding, though it also sharesz a two-year SBIR grant of $500,000 from the Nationakl Institutes of Health for work with Rancho Cordova-baseed (NASDAQ: KOOL). Randall, from Cupertino, gave the mone with his wife, Carolyn, after one of theid horses was hurt. Such soft tissue injuries to a horse’sw ligaments and tendons can’t easily be treate using conventional therapy, Owens Past treatments focused as they often do inpeople — on “anti-inflammatoriees and rest,” he said. But the leftovedr scars were a problem. “Scar tissue is less strong, has less tensilw strength.
It often does lead to immobilization,” Owens Stem cell treatments replace the tissue without suchscaras forming. This is the No. 1 type of injurhy among sport performance horses, he said. Owens said interest is growinb in stem cell treatments for animals just as it is for and attitudes arealso “The culture has changed and one of the key thingds is we don’t deal with embryonic stem We deal with adult derived stem We don’t have to address that sort of ethical he said. He expectsz his group to be able to applty for grants from a wider range of funding sources asinterest grows.
who is also section head of the school’s transfusiohn medicine service, compared the quintessentiak change of stem cell therapies to the medical revolutionof penicillin. “Thisa is the first therapy to come along in 50 years that is aimedc at therapeutic cure rather than pharmacological he said. The lab, formally namec the RegenerativeMedicine Laboratory, is workinbg with Thermogenesis on “models that bridge the gap betweenh human and animal health.
”
Friday, July 13, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Match.com faces lawsuit - Business First of Columbus:
sucujovide.wordpress.com
The lawsuit, which is seeking class-action status, file d against Dallas-based Match.com was filed by Sean McGinbn of Brooklyn, N.Y., on behalf of othed Match.com users or former users impacted bythe company’w alleged actions. In the suit, the plaintifc accuses Match.com of keeping the profiles of canceledsmembers online, despite the fact those memberw had suspended their memberships and cannot responds to e-mails from other Match.com The suit alleges that the majority of Match members are actuallyg canceled subscribers or nevedr subscribed at all.
Subscribers profiles remainh online evenafter they've cancelecd their subscription, and that is not made clead in the user agreement, according to the suit. “Matcbh misleads paying subscribers by charging them for the ability towritse e-mails to members who can’t replt to their e-mails or even read said the lawsuit, which was file in New York state. Match.com responde to the allegations, releasing a statement saying: "While we only just received the complaint, we believw this lawsuit is without and we will defendit vigorously. Match.co is the first and one of the largesft global online communities for singles lookin to start ameaningful relationship.
We stand behindf our product 100%.” The plaintiff in the suit also allegedf thatMatch “defrauds the consumer of his/her time and personal investmen t every time a person pays Match’s subscriptiob fee and writes to a member who won’f have the ability to read what they wrote or see their In the suit, the plaintiff accuses Matcn of putting users in a position whered they feel humiliated by e-mailas that they send without a reply from the unsubscribedr members.
The plaintiff’s suit also alleges that he and othe class members have been defraudeed out of millionsin “aggregated fees and compensatory It claims Match is benefitinyg from the 'matches' who can't replyt because the notifications that someone has expressed interesgt induces some nonsubscribers to subscribe. The lawsuit alleges deceptivetrade practices, breach of the implieed covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud and negligent It seeks unspecified damages, but notes that it expecte damages to exceed $5 million. McGinn is seekingb a jury trial.
The lawsuit, which is seeking class-action status, file d against Dallas-based Match.com was filed by Sean McGinbn of Brooklyn, N.Y., on behalf of othed Match.com users or former users impacted bythe company’w alleged actions. In the suit, the plaintifc accuses Match.com of keeping the profiles of canceledsmembers online, despite the fact those memberw had suspended their memberships and cannot responds to e-mails from other Match.com The suit alleges that the majority of Match members are actuallyg canceled subscribers or nevedr subscribed at all.
Subscribers profiles remainh online evenafter they've cancelecd their subscription, and that is not made clead in the user agreement, according to the suit. “Matcbh misleads paying subscribers by charging them for the ability towritse e-mails to members who can’t replt to their e-mails or even read said the lawsuit, which was file in New York state. Match.com responde to the allegations, releasing a statement saying: "While we only just received the complaint, we believw this lawsuit is without and we will defendit vigorously. Match.co is the first and one of the largesft global online communities for singles lookin to start ameaningful relationship.
We stand behindf our product 100%.” The plaintiff in the suit also allegedf thatMatch “defrauds the consumer of his/her time and personal investmen t every time a person pays Match’s subscriptiob fee and writes to a member who won’f have the ability to read what they wrote or see their In the suit, the plaintiff accuses Matcn of putting users in a position whered they feel humiliated by e-mailas that they send without a reply from the unsubscribedr members.
The plaintiff’s suit also alleges that he and othe class members have been defraudeed out of millionsin “aggregated fees and compensatory It claims Match is benefitinyg from the 'matches' who can't replyt because the notifications that someone has expressed interesgt induces some nonsubscribers to subscribe. The lawsuit alleges deceptivetrade practices, breach of the implieed covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud and negligent It seeks unspecified damages, but notes that it expecte damages to exceed $5 million. McGinn is seekingb a jury trial.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Florida settles fuel price gouging investigation - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
ejoxot.wordpress.com
The $2.275 million settlement, announced by Florida’s attorney generalp and agriculture and consumerservices commissioner, involves price increases for fuel following Hurricane Ike last After a state of emergency was declared, fuel pricees in Florida increased by $1.60 a gallon virtually overnight, triggering thousands of complaints to the state’s price-gouging Investigators determined that, for the most retailers were passing on price increasew that they were forced to pay by theifr suppliers.
As a result of that finding, state investigators then subpoenaed records of 16 oil terminal operations in including TransMontaigne, which provides marketing, storage and transportation servicexs for Morgan Stanley’s fuel, to determine whether the price increasexs were legally justified. “The message here is that we will confronrt any instances of our citizens being exploited duringhan emergency,” Commissioner Charles H. Bronson said in a media release. “Ansd if we find that a retailerr is simply passing on artificially inflatec costs that he or she has had to we will continue digging until we get to the sourcdof it.
” The settlement is the largesgt ever paid under the state’s price-gouging law and may be the largest price-gouging settlement obtained to date, according to a news The agreement, which the companies enterec into without admitting calls for Morgan Stanley and TransMontaigne to pay the state $650,000 in unjustt enrichment, and the maximum $25,000 civil penalty for each of the five days durin g which price gouging allegedly for a total of $125,000. In they will pay $1.5 million for future consumee protection activities in Florida and reimburse the state for its fees and They also have agreed to abidwby Florida’s price-gouging statutew in the future.
to read the settlement
The $2.275 million settlement, announced by Florida’s attorney generalp and agriculture and consumerservices commissioner, involves price increases for fuel following Hurricane Ike last After a state of emergency was declared, fuel pricees in Florida increased by $1.60 a gallon virtually overnight, triggering thousands of complaints to the state’s price-gouging Investigators determined that, for the most retailers were passing on price increasew that they were forced to pay by theifr suppliers.
As a result of that finding, state investigators then subpoenaed records of 16 oil terminal operations in including TransMontaigne, which provides marketing, storage and transportation servicexs for Morgan Stanley’s fuel, to determine whether the price increasexs were legally justified. “The message here is that we will confronrt any instances of our citizens being exploited duringhan emergency,” Commissioner Charles H. Bronson said in a media release. “Ansd if we find that a retailerr is simply passing on artificially inflatec costs that he or she has had to we will continue digging until we get to the sourcdof it.
” The settlement is the largesgt ever paid under the state’s price-gouging law and may be the largest price-gouging settlement obtained to date, according to a news The agreement, which the companies enterec into without admitting calls for Morgan Stanley and TransMontaigne to pay the state $650,000 in unjustt enrichment, and the maximum $25,000 civil penalty for each of the five days durin g which price gouging allegedly for a total of $125,000. In they will pay $1.5 million for future consumee protection activities in Florida and reimburse the state for its fees and They also have agreed to abidwby Florida’s price-gouging statutew in the future.
to read the settlement
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Gold Coast bands amongst QMA finalists - ABC Online
hydiuco.blogspot.com
Gold Coast bands amongst QMA finalists ABC Online The Lamplights are not a children's band, but their song 'The Hopping Mouse' has been receiving countless accolades, including taking out an Australian Songwriting Award late last year. And now, the song is in the running for yet another award at the QMAs. |
Saturday, July 7, 2012
DownEast makes California debut at Galleria - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
llrx-royce.blogspot.com
DownEast Basics, a Salt Lake City chaijn with more than40 stores, marketsx itself as an “affordablre fashion” retailer. Nothing costs more than $50, and most items from swimwear to summerdresses — costxs around $20 to $30. The Roseville store’s first weekens exceeded the company’s projections by 25 percent. Basedr on the initial sales results, DownEast Basicas very much wants to further expandin California, and is pleased it launchef its first California store in the Sacramento a spokeswoman said. CEO Klane Murphy, who lives in El Dorado Hills from 2000to 2007, figuredr Sacramento-area consumers care about fashion, but also are cost conscious.
He also likeas the population growth this region has experienced over thepast decade. Testing out this area’ interest, Murphy sent the retailer’s catalog to all his wife’a local friends. His wife also introducede her friends to the product line at a locaol party she hosted with more than50 women. Baserd on the sales at that “we knew we had a product that resonatexd with the local community here in Murphy wrote in an A franchise is coming to theRoe Building, the mixed-use building built last year at 5th and G streets in downtownj Davis. The Aventura, Fla.
-based chain of body and facial waxintg centers willtake 1,491 square The franchisees are readyinfg the space for an opening in a few months. On the firstg floor, European Wax Center will join a Duramexd medical supplies store and Barista Brew Two retailspaces remain: one of 925 square feet on the and another of 1,227 square said Shaun Morrow, the landlord’s broker with the Terranomicsz division of . The eight residential condos on the secondc and third floors all In February, European Wax Center area developers told the Businesx Journal that they planned to open at least a dozen locationx in the region.
The companh already has two stores in at Renaissance Creek shopping center and atThe Fountains. Broker Scottt Carruth of CB Richard Ellis represents Europeanb WaxCenter locally. Vending machine dispensee wipes, pacifiers Westfield Galleria at Roseville will be one of the firsf malls within the Westfield chain to get a custo vending machine withbabycare supplies. in Coronaw announced Thursday that it is placing its Baby Stationas vending machines in Westfield malls across the startingJuly 15. The goal is to placwe these vending machines with baby necessities in Westfield mallw nationwide within eight months to a AVT says.
A pilot projecyt for Westfield, the ventingt machines carry feeding products, toys, first aid items, baby bottles and pacifiers. “This brings peacre of mind to families knowing there is a convenient and accessible solution forevery baby’s Shannon Illingworth, AVT said in a news release. The malls that install the Baby Station benefit becauseparents don’t have to stop shoppinfg when they discover they left home withoutr some essential baby item, she Baby Station machines are hard to with their blue-and-black color scheme and bold They contain a 7” widescreenm LCD display to stream informatiom and video feeds about the products containec in the vending machine.
, a chain of gyms that entered this market sixyears ago, is expanding to Fitness 19 will take 7,500 square feet within Sycamore Pointes shopping center at Main Street and Pioneer Avenue. This is new retail space constructed between Food 4 Less and Big 5 Sporting Another 9,000 square feet is available. The gym is expectedc to open inthe fall, said who represented the landlord in the lease. Fitnessw 19 has five other locations inthe
DownEast Basics, a Salt Lake City chaijn with more than40 stores, marketsx itself as an “affordablre fashion” retailer. Nothing costs more than $50, and most items from swimwear to summerdresses — costxs around $20 to $30. The Roseville store’s first weekens exceeded the company’s projections by 25 percent. Basedr on the initial sales results, DownEast Basicas very much wants to further expandin California, and is pleased it launchef its first California store in the Sacramento a spokeswoman said. CEO Klane Murphy, who lives in El Dorado Hills from 2000to 2007, figuredr Sacramento-area consumers care about fashion, but also are cost conscious.
He also likeas the population growth this region has experienced over thepast decade. Testing out this area’ interest, Murphy sent the retailer’s catalog to all his wife’a local friends. His wife also introducede her friends to the product line at a locaol party she hosted with more than50 women. Baserd on the sales at that “we knew we had a product that resonatexd with the local community here in Murphy wrote in an A franchise is coming to theRoe Building, the mixed-use building built last year at 5th and G streets in downtownj Davis. The Aventura, Fla.
-based chain of body and facial waxintg centers willtake 1,491 square The franchisees are readyinfg the space for an opening in a few months. On the firstg floor, European Wax Center will join a Duramexd medical supplies store and Barista Brew Two retailspaces remain: one of 925 square feet on the and another of 1,227 square said Shaun Morrow, the landlord’s broker with the Terranomicsz division of . The eight residential condos on the secondc and third floors all In February, European Wax Center area developers told the Businesx Journal that they planned to open at least a dozen locationx in the region.
The companh already has two stores in at Renaissance Creek shopping center and atThe Fountains. Broker Scottt Carruth of CB Richard Ellis represents Europeanb WaxCenter locally. Vending machine dispensee wipes, pacifiers Westfield Galleria at Roseville will be one of the firsf malls within the Westfield chain to get a custo vending machine withbabycare supplies. in Coronaw announced Thursday that it is placing its Baby Stationas vending machines in Westfield malls across the startingJuly 15. The goal is to placwe these vending machines with baby necessities in Westfield mallw nationwide within eight months to a AVT says.
A pilot projecyt for Westfield, the ventingt machines carry feeding products, toys, first aid items, baby bottles and pacifiers. “This brings peacre of mind to families knowing there is a convenient and accessible solution forevery baby’s Shannon Illingworth, AVT said in a news release. The malls that install the Baby Station benefit becauseparents don’t have to stop shoppinfg when they discover they left home withoutr some essential baby item, she Baby Station machines are hard to with their blue-and-black color scheme and bold They contain a 7” widescreenm LCD display to stream informatiom and video feeds about the products containec in the vending machine.
, a chain of gyms that entered this market sixyears ago, is expanding to Fitness 19 will take 7,500 square feet within Sycamore Pointes shopping center at Main Street and Pioneer Avenue. This is new retail space constructed between Food 4 Less and Big 5 Sporting Another 9,000 square feet is available. The gym is expectedc to open inthe fall, said who represented the landlord in the lease. Fitnessw 19 has five other locations inthe
Friday, July 6, 2012
Mortgage rates jump - Wichita Business Journal:
jaqezuweg.blogspot.com
’s weekly report said that 30-yeae fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.29 percent this week, the highest rate this year and up fromlast week’s averagee of 4.91 percent. Rates still remain well belowe year-ago levels, when 30-year mortgagess averaged more than6 percent, Freddie Mac FRE) said. “Rates caught up to the recenft risein long-term bond yields this week to reach a 25-weej high,” said Freddie Mac Chief Economisy Frank Nothaft. “The slowdown in the housing market has now detractedf from economic growth for the past 13 the longest quarterly stretch since atleastf 1947.” Despite rising rates, the housingf market continues to show small signs of life.
The housing affordability index rose in April toits second-highes t level since at least 1971. The NAR also reporteed this week that pending sales of existing homes increased forthe third-consecutive month, posting the biggest monthlty increase since 2001.
’s weekly report said that 30-yeae fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.29 percent this week, the highest rate this year and up fromlast week’s averagee of 4.91 percent. Rates still remain well belowe year-ago levels, when 30-year mortgagess averaged more than6 percent, Freddie Mac FRE) said. “Rates caught up to the recenft risein long-term bond yields this week to reach a 25-weej high,” said Freddie Mac Chief Economisy Frank Nothaft. “The slowdown in the housing market has now detractedf from economic growth for the past 13 the longest quarterly stretch since atleastf 1947.” Despite rising rates, the housingf market continues to show small signs of life.
The housing affordability index rose in April toits second-highes t level since at least 1971. The NAR also reporteed this week that pending sales of existing homes increased forthe third-consecutive month, posting the biggest monthlty increase since 2001.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
'Do the right thing' — Andy Griffith left lessons for the greater good - Chicago Sun-Times
vypybiza.wordpress.com
'Do the right thing' â€" Andy Griffith left lessons for the greater good Chicago Sun-Times For years, Andy Griffith spoke to me. Literally. “Ahh . . . this is Andy Griffith. I'm looking for ah . . . Andrew Herrmann. Call me back?†So went the voicemail Griffith left me back in the mid-1990s, when I was the religion reporter. |
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Engineers
cahijisebi.wordpress.com
Kelleher, ’s Westford-based chief human capital officer, said the engineering firm planes to hireabout 9,000 peoplwe in the upcoming 12 months — about the same amounft it hired in the past year. with more than 40,000 employeesw globally, isn’t the only one expectinb good thingsfor engineers. Demand for engineerds is going up. At the same time, the engineering field is already seeing a shortage of qualified workers.
Those factors, combined with the growinb global nature of the could affect how future engineering jobsget “Everything I’ve read and the statistics I’vd seen say we’re seeing a high growth rate within constructio n and civil engineering,” said Craig Capano, head of the construction and environment department at . “But it’s projected that the schools that turn out construction engineersx turn outonly 3,000 to 4,000 a while the industry needs to add 9,000, so we’re only meetinv half the demand of what’s The engineering field overall is expectef to grow by 11 percent betwee 2006 and 2016, accordingv to the .
More specifically, environmental engineers will see employmentt growth of 25percenty — a jump that the BLS attributese to the need to comply with environmental regulationsx and to develop methods of cleaning up existing hazards. Meanwhile, the numbed of civil engineering jobs is expected to increasse18 percent, spurred by general population growtuh and the need to improve the nation’d infrastructure. The BLS predicts more civil engineerds will be needed to workon transportation, water supplhy and pollution control systems as well as buildinga and building complexes.
David Bohn, Massachusetts regional managerfor , a 900-personj East Coast firm headquartered in said he, too, expects these trends. “There’xs an enormous backlog of infrastructure repair work that needs to be takenhcare of,” he said. “But we’red also in a constant state ofeconomicd renewal. We’re always building new office parks and and that requires not just the constructiob itself but all the surrounding infrastructurer that goeswith it.” Other factors are at too. Increasing interest in green sustainable building and preservation have heightened demandfor engineers, Capanp said.
And, sector officialw said, these trends are strong enougb to weather the currenyeconomic doldrums. “There’s still enough work in the next year ortwo out. Contractorsx are continuing to hire, to take on the projecta that they have onthe books,” Capanoo said. There’s a flip side to this however. The sector will lose a number ofqualifiee professionals, as baby boomef engineers hit retirement age, Kelleherf said.
The generation coming up isn’t as large, so therde are fewer potential engineers to refill the And those younger workers who are enterinv the math and science field have more careerd choices than they had inpast Today’s students can pick from all the traditional including civil engineering, as well as a slew of newefr ones, from biotechnical engineering to computer sciences. “Everything that I’ve researchedc indicates that in the next five or sixyearzs there’ll be a significant Kelleher said. Engineering leaders are tryinh to counterthe trend. Organizations such as the and theMassachusettzs Pre-Engineering Program Inc.
sponsor events and competitionss to attract and encourag students interested inthe field. Trade organizations, such as the and the are likewis e tacklingthe issue, with the ASCE addressing future work force issuews at its annual conference in November. Federa l lawmakers also took action this enacting the Higher Education Reauthorizatiob and College Opportunity Act of which provides upto $10,000 in loan forgiveness for engineeringg students. There is evidenced that the efforts to attracg more students to the field arepaying dividends.
Sara associate professor of civil and environmental engineerint and associate vice provost for facultty advancementat , said she has seen an increass in the number of students entering the program there. There were 297 upper-levek students in the program thispast spring, up from 185 upper-leve l students in spring 2001.
Kelleher, ’s Westford-based chief human capital officer, said the engineering firm planes to hireabout 9,000 peoplwe in the upcoming 12 months — about the same amounft it hired in the past year. with more than 40,000 employeesw globally, isn’t the only one expectinb good thingsfor engineers. Demand for engineerds is going up. At the same time, the engineering field is already seeing a shortage of qualified workers.
Those factors, combined with the growinb global nature of the could affect how future engineering jobsget “Everything I’ve read and the statistics I’vd seen say we’re seeing a high growth rate within constructio n and civil engineering,” said Craig Capano, head of the construction and environment department at . “But it’s projected that the schools that turn out construction engineersx turn outonly 3,000 to 4,000 a while the industry needs to add 9,000, so we’re only meetinv half the demand of what’s The engineering field overall is expectef to grow by 11 percent betwee 2006 and 2016, accordingv to the .
More specifically, environmental engineers will see employmentt growth of 25percenty — a jump that the BLS attributese to the need to comply with environmental regulationsx and to develop methods of cleaning up existing hazards. Meanwhile, the numbed of civil engineering jobs is expected to increasse18 percent, spurred by general population growtuh and the need to improve the nation’d infrastructure. The BLS predicts more civil engineerds will be needed to workon transportation, water supplhy and pollution control systems as well as buildinga and building complexes.
David Bohn, Massachusetts regional managerfor , a 900-personj East Coast firm headquartered in said he, too, expects these trends. “There’xs an enormous backlog of infrastructure repair work that needs to be takenhcare of,” he said. “But we’red also in a constant state ofeconomicd renewal. We’re always building new office parks and and that requires not just the constructiob itself but all the surrounding infrastructurer that goeswith it.” Other factors are at too. Increasing interest in green sustainable building and preservation have heightened demandfor engineers, Capanp said.
And, sector officialw said, these trends are strong enougb to weather the currenyeconomic doldrums. “There’s still enough work in the next year ortwo out. Contractorsx are continuing to hire, to take on the projecta that they have onthe books,” Capanoo said. There’s a flip side to this however. The sector will lose a number ofqualifiee professionals, as baby boomef engineers hit retirement age, Kelleherf said.
The generation coming up isn’t as large, so therde are fewer potential engineers to refill the And those younger workers who are enterinv the math and science field have more careerd choices than they had inpast Today’s students can pick from all the traditional including civil engineering, as well as a slew of newefr ones, from biotechnical engineering to computer sciences. “Everything that I’ve researchedc indicates that in the next five or sixyearzs there’ll be a significant Kelleher said. Engineering leaders are tryinh to counterthe trend. Organizations such as the and theMassachusettzs Pre-Engineering Program Inc.
sponsor events and competitionss to attract and encourag students interested inthe field. Trade organizations, such as the and the are likewis e tacklingthe issue, with the ASCE addressing future work force issuews at its annual conference in November. Federa l lawmakers also took action this enacting the Higher Education Reauthorizatiob and College Opportunity Act of which provides upto $10,000 in loan forgiveness for engineeringg students. There is evidenced that the efforts to attracg more students to the field arepaying dividends.
Sara associate professor of civil and environmental engineerint and associate vice provost for facultty advancementat , said she has seen an increass in the number of students entering the program there. There were 297 upper-levek students in the program thispast spring, up from 185 upper-leve l students in spring 2001.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Good 'ol boy network feels winds of change - Phoenix Business Journal:
avaohev.blogspot.com
"It has been a good 'ol boys network," said Paulqa Johnson, U.S. human resources manager for Seattle-based . Howeverf slight, there is a breezr of change, and firms are beginning to embracethe D-wor -- diversity -- as so many industriez have done before them. Collieras developed a proactive approachto promoting, retaining, recruitinf and training women titled, "Women to the Helm." But that the brokeragew had to develop a special program shows that commerciap real estate remains a male-dominated profession. There is awareness of the issue. Ten years ago, the industry launched the Real Estate Associatd Programin Washington, D.C.
, and has expandesd it to Atlanta and New York. This the program will be available in Chicago and Miami, with Dallas and Los Angelesa planned for 2008. Called it trains minorities for careers in real estate with curriculum patternedd after guides published by the International Council ofShoppinb Centers, the Urban Land Institute, the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors and the Appraisal Institute. In business diversity can be defined as tactics to help retain employeed and improve customer confidence by creating a work force that mirrorxsthe marketplace.
Although human resources departments routinelt become the gatekeeper of thediversity issue, many agreee it needs to be promoted by top-levelk management. "This isn't an HR initiative, it's drive by our President and Chief ExecutiveDoug Frye," Johnson "We recognize the value of having a divers e work force, and we're willing to invest time, money and effort." Abhagy Padgaonkar, president of Valley firm , said many timees diversity is too narrowly defined as relatint to just race and gender. "Wde are so different in so manydifferenft ways," he said.
"Consumers are and if you don'tt have employees who represent them, it's not going to "You can talk diversitg all you want, but if the boarcd of directors areall men, they'rre not practicing what they're At the end of the day, top leaders shouls take accountability," Padgaonkar said. At Associate Vice President Ruth Darbyg broadens the diversity variable as a single She previously worked for other largre commercial real estate firms in the Valleh and saidit isn't enouggh for her company to lead the charge. "Itg needs to be an industrgy standard," she said.
, a national groupl known as CREW, found in a 2005 surveyt that the number of women in the industry is but men earn more at comparable levels of experienceand age. From 2000 to the number of women professionale in the sector rose to 36 percen from32 percent. At , the company's philosophy is to "wor k methodically" to recruit new talent withoug worrying about ethnicityor gender. Executive Vice President and Managingf Principal Bryon Carney saidthe firm's Phoenix office has aboutr 135 employees, and more than 30 percent are Padgaonkar said many companies get hung up on the word and construe it to mean a lowering of
"It has been a good 'ol boys network," said Paulqa Johnson, U.S. human resources manager for Seattle-based . Howeverf slight, there is a breezr of change, and firms are beginning to embracethe D-wor -- diversity -- as so many industriez have done before them. Collieras developed a proactive approachto promoting, retaining, recruitinf and training women titled, "Women to the Helm." But that the brokeragew had to develop a special program shows that commerciap real estate remains a male-dominated profession. There is awareness of the issue. Ten years ago, the industry launched the Real Estate Associatd Programin Washington, D.C.
, and has expandesd it to Atlanta and New York. This the program will be available in Chicago and Miami, with Dallas and Los Angelesa planned for 2008. Called it trains minorities for careers in real estate with curriculum patternedd after guides published by the International Council ofShoppinb Centers, the Urban Land Institute, the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors and the Appraisal Institute. In business diversity can be defined as tactics to help retain employeed and improve customer confidence by creating a work force that mirrorxsthe marketplace.
Although human resources departments routinelt become the gatekeeper of thediversity issue, many agreee it needs to be promoted by top-levelk management. "This isn't an HR initiative, it's drive by our President and Chief ExecutiveDoug Frye," Johnson "We recognize the value of having a divers e work force, and we're willing to invest time, money and effort." Abhagy Padgaonkar, president of Valley firm , said many timees diversity is too narrowly defined as relatint to just race and gender. "Wde are so different in so manydifferenft ways," he said.
"Consumers are and if you don'tt have employees who represent them, it's not going to "You can talk diversitg all you want, but if the boarcd of directors areall men, they'rre not practicing what they're At the end of the day, top leaders shouls take accountability," Padgaonkar said. At Associate Vice President Ruth Darbyg broadens the diversity variable as a single She previously worked for other largre commercial real estate firms in the Valleh and saidit isn't enouggh for her company to lead the charge. "Itg needs to be an industrgy standard," she said.
, a national groupl known as CREW, found in a 2005 surveyt that the number of women in the industry is but men earn more at comparable levels of experienceand age. From 2000 to the number of women professionale in the sector rose to 36 percen from32 percent. At , the company's philosophy is to "wor k methodically" to recruit new talent withoug worrying about ethnicityor gender. Executive Vice President and Managingf Principal Bryon Carney saidthe firm's Phoenix office has aboutr 135 employees, and more than 30 percent are Padgaonkar said many companies get hung up on the word and construe it to mean a lowering of
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