Trials Vanish as Litigation Grows

Trials Vanish as Litigation Grows

Despite the continual rise of legal activity, the number of trials is declining.

(PRWEB) November 7, 2004

The absolute number of civil trials in federal court has fallen by sixty percent since the 1980s. Criminal trials, bankruptcy trials, and trials in state courts have displayed comparable declines. A study published in the recent issue of the Journal of Empirical Legal Studies explores this issue. “Although virtually every other indicator of legal activity is rising trials are declining, not only in relation to cases in courts, but to the size of the population and the size of the economy,” states author Marc Galanter. The decline has been recent and steep.

There are five times as many civil cases in the federal courts as there were forty years ago. The decline in trials owes something to mass settlements in tort cases, to Congress’s campaign to suppress prisoner petitions, to increased cost and complexity, and to the proliferation of ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) forums. Perhaps the largest factor of all is a shift in judicial ideology and court practice, marked by the onset of managerial judging and the multiplication of summary judgments and other forms of non-trial adjudication. “The change is less a reflection of the cases coming in,” Galanter explains” than of what happens to them in the courts.”

This study is published in the current issue of Journal of Empirical Legal Studies. Media wishing to receive a pdf of this article please contact journalnews@bos. blackwellpublishing. net

The Journal of Empirical Legal Studies (JELS) is a peer-edited, peer-refereed, interdisciplinary journal that publishes high-quality, empirically-oriented articles of interest to scholars in a diverse range of law and law-related fields, including civil justice, corporate law, criminal justice, domestic relations, economics, finance, health care, political science, psychology, public policy, securities regulation, and sociology.

Marc Galanter is John and Rylla Bosshard Professor of Law and Professor of South Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also a LSE Centennial Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Mr. Galanter is available for questions and interviews. Please call him at (608) 239-7254 or email at msgalant@wisc. edu.

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Marlborough Hospital and Single Digits Team to Provide Wireless Internet Access for Patients and Visitors

Marlborough Hospital and Single Digits Team to Provide Wireless Internet Access for Patients and Visitors

Marlborough Hospital and Single Digits, Inc., today announced a joint effort to provide state-of-the-art internet services through the deployment of a managed wireless service for patients and visitors of the hospital called the Marlborough Hospital Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Network.

Marlborough, MA; Manchester, NH (PRWEB) April 11, 2007

Marlborough Hospital and Single Digits, Inc., today announced a joint effort to provide state-of-the-art internet services through the deployment of a managed wireless service for patients and visitors of the hospital called the Marlborough Hospital Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Network.

The new Single Digits Internet service features a Marlborough Hospital welcome web page that automatically appears when patients first access the Internet via their Microsoft Explorer or Netscape browsers. Laptop or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) users may also access email, send instant messages to family and friends, play games, surf the web, and get school assignments all free-of-charge by clicking on various links or accessing the Internet directly.

"We are constantly striving to deliver the highest quality health care in a personal, community setting, paying close attention to the needs of our patients and their families," said John Polanowicz, CEO and president of Marlborough Hospital. "We are pleased to be able to partner with Single Digits to provide this service which is among the first for MetroWest hospitals."

The free wireless service went live on April 2 and is available in the hospital's Main Lobby, Emergency Department Waiting Area, and the Union Street Café. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and no account is needed for access. The Marlborough Hospital Wi-Fi Network offers wireless network speeds at the 802.11b/g standards.

"We're excited to be providing support to Marlborough Hospital to provide free internet access patients and their families," said Bob Goldstein, CEO of Single Digits. "We believe the service will be invaluable not only to patients, but also to visitors balancing the need to be with their loved one at the hospital and still stay in touch with the outside world."

Managed Internet Service Provided by Single Digits

Single Digits business-class hotspot management software has been deployed by hospitals, resort communities, marinas, airports, restaurants, schools, and many other organizations worldwide. The intelligent software resides within Single Digits Network Operation Center, where the company is able to remotely manage, monitor and support its customer's high-speed Internet service -- alleviating them from hiring additional technical support or having to address connectivity issues themselves. Unlike many competitive hotspot offerings, Single Digits business-class solution empowers the hotspot host to become an actual Internet Service Provider, allowing them to retain control over the terms of use.

About Marlborough Hospital

Marlborough Hospital is served by a medical staff of more than 200 primary care physicians and specialists. The hospital provides a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and ancillary services, including oncology, laboratory and radiology services, physical therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient mental health services as well as diabetes education and management. A state-of-the-art Emergency Department, staffed by emergency medicine physicians from the UMass Memorial Medical Center, provides 24-hour emergency care. As a member of UMass Memorial Health Care, Marlborough Hospital provides patients with a direct link to the advanced medical resources of UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, a nationally recognized academic medical center. Marlborough Hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and is certified as a primary stroke service by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. For more information about the hospital visit: www. marlboroughhospital. org.

About Single Digits

Single Digits, Inc. is the preeminent provider of business-class wireless hotspot management software and hosting solutions enabling full service, customized Wi-Fi access for businesses of all sizes. Single Digits hotspot software enables companies to deliver their own brand of Wi-Fi service to their customers, meeting the growing demand for mobile, high-speed Internet access. Headquartered in Manchester, NH, Single Digits has operations in North America, the Middle East and Africa. For more information visit their web site at www. singledigits. com or call (866) 516-4533.

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Combined Insurance Offers Guidelines When Planning for Final Expenses

Combined Insurance Offers Guidelines When Planning for Final Expenses

Affordable supplemental life insurance can help offset costly funeral expenses.

Chicago (PRWEB) March 7, 2008

Many people consider the welfare of their loved ones by purchasing life insurance to provide some financial security in the future. But, how many people consider the burden of paying the immediate costs for "final expenses" when a loved one dies? Combined Insurance, leading provider of supplemental insurance, offers guidelines consumers can use to ensure their family has adequate coverage for final expenses.

Final expenses are the costs incurred when one dies -- expenses such as a funeral service, burial or cremation, taxes and more. According to the National Association of Funeral Directors, the average cost of funeral expenses is approximately $7,000. These are expenses that often must be paid immediately, generally before the settlement of the deceased's estate. This can place a heavy financial burden on family and friends, compounding the emotional strain from their loss.

One option to help offset this burden is an affordable supplemental life insurance policy.

Immediate Expenses, Immediate Assistance
Following the death of a loved one who has not made plans in advance, survivors are responsible for making arrangements -- many of which require immediate payment such as:
Transportation of remains to a funeral home Casket or cremation urn Burial plot or urn vault Tombstone or memorial Visitation and/or funeral services Hearse and limousine services Floral arrangements Taxes and probate expenses

"To help cover such expenses and ease the burden on surviving -- and grieving -- family and friends, a small, supplemental life insurance policy is a good option," says to Bill Wade, head of Claims for Combined Insurance. "Most supplemental life insurance policies afford faster payment, usually in about a week or so, which can help cover immediate expenses." And having a supplemental life insurance policy specifically earmarked for paying final expenses allows the estate and any other life insurance policies to go directly to beneficiaries, instead of bills.

Minimal Cost, Significant Benefits
Many small life insurance policies -- those with benefits from $10,000 to $25,000 -- are relatively inexpensive. "Once someone purchases a policy, the cost generally does not go up and the coverage rarely goes down," adds Wade.

The key to finding the right policy to meet individual needs is finding a licensed insurance agent who can look at your personal situation, evaluate your existing coverage and help you find a supplemental life insurance policy to meet your needs.

About Combined Insurance Company
Combined Insurance Company of America (www. combined. com) is a leading provider of supplemental accident, health and life insurance products. With a field sales force and corporate staff in excess of 10,000 people worldwide, Combined meets the growing coverage needs of policyholders around the globe. For more information, call 800-225-4500 or visit www. combined. com.

About Aon
Aon Corporation (NYSE:AOC) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting. Through its 43,000 professionals worldwide, Aon readily delivers distinctive client value via innovative and effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. Our industry-leading global resources, technical expertise and industry knowledge are delivered locally through more than 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Aon was ranked by A. M. Best as the number one global insurance brokerage in 2007 based on brokerage revenues, and voted best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance intermediary, and best employee benefits consulting firm in 2007 by the readers of Business Insurance. For more information on Aon, log onto www. aon. com.

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Kaiser Permanente to be Honored for Business Leadership by LAEDC at 15th Annual Eddy Awards

Kaiser Permanente to be Honored for Business Leadership by LAEDC at 15th Annual Eddy Awards

Region’s largest private employer spotlighted for corporate and civic leadership in L. A. County.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 14, 2010

Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (http://www. laedc. org) today (Monday) announced Kaiser Permanente as its corporate honoree for the 15th Annual Eddy Awards® to be held on Wednesday, November 10th at the Beverly Hilton. Inaugurated in 1996, the annual gala has become the most important economic development award program in the state of California. This year’s celebration pays tribute to Los Angeles County’s single largest private employer and one of the nation’s leading health plan and managed care providers, Kaiser Permanente.

“As the largest private employer in Los Angeles County, Kaiser Permanente has created tens of thousands of quality jobs, while providing a critical service for our residents and communities,” said Bill Allen, LAEDC president and CEO. “Kaiser Permanente has transformed how health care is administered and delivered with its integrated care model and focus on health prevention, and in doing so has helped propel Los Angeles County’s health services sector to one of our region’s leading economic clusters.”

“This honor is a testament to the physicians, other care-givers and employees of Kaiser Permanente who work each day to improve the health of our members and our community,” said Benjamin Chu, M. D., president of Kaiser Permanente’s Southern California Region. “Our electronic medical record system, KP HealthConnect, brings 21st century medicine to our patients and helps them to live healthy lives and thrive.”

In Los Angeles County, Kaiser Permanente (http://xnet. kp. org/newscenter/aboutkp/index. html) employs more than 36,000 people working at seven medical centers and dozens of outpatient medical offices as well as specialty laboratory, pharmacy, and manufacturing facilities and regional headquarters. The Southern California workforce numbers nearly 58,000 technical, administrative, and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 6,800 physicians representing all specialties.

Kaiser Permanente is a dedicated community partner and a strong supporter of the health care safety net. They work to expand health care to the uninsured and in 2009, in Southern California, the Kaiser Permanente Child Health Plan, a subsidized comprehensive coverage program, covered 37,000 children. Other Community benefit programs include initiatives with local communities to make it easier for residents to access healthy food and exercise, and the Educational Theater Program that uses live drama, comedy, and music to help over 250,000 students to make smart choices about food, exercise and healthy behavior.

In addition to recognizing Kaiser Permanente and announcing an individual honoree in the coming weeks, the LAEDC will announce the winners of the 5th Annual “Most Business-Friendly City in Los Angeles County” competition live at the Eddy Awards. Last year, Long Beach and Santa Fe Springs won the “Most Business-Friendly City” recognition for cities with populations of more than 60,000 residents and less than 60,000, respectively.

About Kaiser Permanente (http://xnet. kp. org/newscenter/aboutkp/historyofkp. html)
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 3.3 million members in Southern California. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. More information about Kaiser Permanente can be found at http://www. kp. org/newscenter (http://www. kp. org/newscenter).

About the Eddy Awards ® (http://www. laedc. org/eddy)
The Eddy Awards® were introduced by the LAEDC in 1996 to celebrate individuals and organizations that demonstrate exceptional contributions to positive economic development in the region. For sponsorship and event information, please contact Justin Goodkind at (213) 236-4813 or justin. goodkind(at)laedc(dot)org. For more information about the Eddy Awards®, visit http://www. laedc. org/eddy (http://www. laedc. org/eddy).

About LAEDC
The LAEDC, the region’s premier business leadership organization, is a private, non-profit organization established in 1981 under section 501(C) (3). The LAEDC’s mission is to attract, retain, and grow business and jobs for the regions of Los Angeles County. Since 1996, the LAEDC has helped retain or create more than 162,000 jobs, providing $8 billion in direct economic impact from salaries and $136 million in annual tax revenue benefit to Los Angeles County. For more information, visit http://www. laedc. org (http://www. laedc. org) or http://www. ChooseLACounty. com (http://www. ChooseLACounty. com) or call (888) 4-LAEDC-1.

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Relevante's Professionals to Present at 2006 DIA Annual Meeting

Relevante's Professionals to Present at 2006 DIA Annual Meeting

Relevante’s Chairman of the Board of Advisors, Joseph Curran and Robert Rausch, Consultant and former vice president of finance, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals will be presenting on ‘‘Sarbanes-Oxley: Impacts in 2005 and Beyond’’ with specific focus on the pharmaceutical industry at the Drug Information Association’s 42nd Annual meeting to be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA from June 19-22, 2006.

Horsham, PA (PRWEB) May 4, 2006

Relevante’s Chairman of the Board of Advisors, Joseph Curran and Robert Rausch, Consultant and former vice president of finance, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals will be presenting on ‘‘Sarbanes-Oxley: Impacts in 2005 and Beyond’’ with specific focus on the pharmaceutical industry at the Drug Information Association’s 42nd Annual meeting to be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA from June 19-22, 2006.

“Sarbanes Oxley has proven to be a significant and costly initiative for publicly traded companies. The impact on companies both public and private has been profound. This session will provide an update on the costs, best practices, and key learning’s from the year of implementation” said Joe Curran, CPA.

“Companies are straining to meet new internal controls and reporting requirements not only to avoid major fines and forfeitures, but also restrictions, which can damage brands and erode profits. It's critical for executives to demonstrate effective risk management capabilities to all internal & external constituents” said Robert Rausch, CPA, MBA.

About the Drug Information Association (DIA)

DIA is a not for profit organization with over 23,000 members in over 80 countries. The Association has been actively involved with the exchange of information in areas such as discovery, development, regulation, surveillance, and marketing of pharmaceuticals and related products. The DIA is committed to improve society through exchange of information and ideas that are aimed at greater access for and usage of ethical drugs and a better understanding of the health and economic outcomes of drugs. Visit DIA online at www. diahome. org

About Relevante

Relevante is an accounting and technology resourcing & consulting solutions provider with offices in Horsham and Conshohocken, PA, Wilmington, DE and Hyderabad, India. Relevante’s consulting practice offers a wide range of solutions that include outsourced accounting, internal audit, business transformation & forensic & litigation support and information technology solutions to clients across a cross section of industries, ranging from manufacturing to financial services. Relevante also provides resourcing & staffing of professionals in finance & accounting and information technology. Relevante was recognized as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the Philadelphia region placing 2nd in the 2005 Philadelphia 100® awards. It was also ranked at the 18th spot in the Philadelphia Business Journal’s list of top accounting firms. Visit Relevante online at www. relevante. com

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Leadership New Jersey, Program to Educate Civic Leaders, Launches Podcasts With Cherry Hill-Based Professional Podcasts LLC

Leadership New Jersey, Program to Educate Civic Leaders, Launches Podcasts With Cherry Hill-Based Professional Podcasts LLC

Leadership New Jersey, a nonprofit organization that helps civic and business leaders to develop their knowledge of state issues and hone their skills to solve statewide problems, has launched a series of audio "podcasts," or Internet-distributed audio programs, based on its recently completed “Forum on the Future of New Jersey,” an all-day conference on issues facing New Jersey held in Trenton earlier this month. The podcasts were produced in cooperation with Cherry Hill-based Professional Podcasts LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lubetkin Communications.

Cherry Hill, NJ (PRWEB) October 15, 2006

Leadership New Jersey, a nonprofit organiza-tion that helps civic and business leaders to develop their knowledge of state issues and hone their skills to solve statewide problems, has launched a series of audio "podcasts," or Internet-distributed audio programs, based on its recently completed “Forum on the Future of New Jersey,” an all-day conference on issues facing New Jersey held in Trenton earlier this month.

The podcasts were produced in cooperation with Cherry Hill-based Professional Podcasts LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lubetkin Communications.

Recordings of the daylong seminar were divided into six podcast programs, each about one hour in length:

  The Last 20 Years: A Report Card for New Jersey  Who We Are  How We Get Our Money  Keynote Address by Gov. Jon S. Corzine  Who Decides How We Spend Our Money  What We Spend It On

More information on panel participants is available at the podcast blog, http://lnjpodcasts. blogspot. com (http://lnjpodcasts. blogspot. com), or at www. forumonthefutureofnewjersey. org.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Professional Podcasts and Lubetkin Communica-tions to take advantage of podcasting technology to advance Leadership New Jersey’s objective of making New Jersey a better place to live,” said Michael Willmann, CEO of WMSH Marketing Communications in Haddonfield, and a Leadership New Jersey Class of 2001 participant. “Podcasting is especially effective for distributing LNJ’s unique insights, because many of our Fellows– and others active in civic life -- are busy professionals who need actionable information and news from us in a portable format.”

The podcast programs will be available for downloading and listening on computers or digi-tal audio players at no charge at Leadership New Jersey’s website (www. leadershipnj. org). Visitors to the LNJ website can also get information on how to “subscribe” to distribution of the podcast so that they receive future episodes in the series automatically. (There is no charge for “subscribing” to podcasts). The programs are also available at no charge to subscribers to the Apple iTunes Music store (www. itunes. com). The podcasts are also available in the Apple iTunes Music Store at this URL: http://phobos. apple. com/WebObjects/MZStore. woa/wa/viewPodcast? id=201750461 (http://phobos. apple. com/WebObjects/MZStore. woa/wa/viewPodcast? id=201750461).

Podcast listeners can also subscribe to the RSS "feed" for the podcast programs at http://feeds. feedburner. com/lnjpodcasts (http://feeds. feedburner. com/lnjpodcasts).

“Podcasts extend the longevity of a daylong panel like the Forum on the Future of New Jer-sey, so that interested audiences who couldn’t attend can still benefit from the content,” said Steven L. Lubetkin, managing partner of Professional Podcasts and Lubetkin Communications. “Leader-ship New Jersey has a clear vision for how to use podcasting as a business application, allowing busy and time-constrained listeners to get the information they need -- at a time when they want it.”

Podcasts are digital audio or video recordings distributed using Internet technology. Visitors to an organization’s website can download podcast programs for review on their desktop com-puters, or synchronize them with a portable digital media device. Software programs called “feed readers” or “podcatchers” allow users to “subscribe” to podcasts at no cost, and receive new programs in a podcast series automatically.

About Leadership New Jersey

Leadership New Jersey's goal is to expand and improve the pool of the state's civic leaders. The program, founded in 1986, honors men and women who combine a successful career with leadership in serving their communities. It challenges them to do more.

Each year, LNJ selects a new group of about 50 emerging leaders from more than 100 applicants. Fellows come from all parts of the state and from diverse backgrounds in business, government, non-profits, the arts, health care, the professions, and labor. Their politics and philosophies differ, but they share a commitment to making New Jersey a better place in which to live and work.

Leadership New Jersey is a program of The Partnership for New Jersey, an association of the chief executives of New Jersey's major corporations and non-profit institutions. It has receieved generous financial support from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, ADP, Bank of America, Bell Atlantic, The CIT Group, ETHICON, The Prudential, Merrill-Lynch, AT&T, Atlantic Electric, Exxon Research and Engineering, GPU, Hoffman-La Roche, Johnson and Johnson, PSE&G, SME Corporation, and other Partnership members.

About Professional Podcasts LLC/Lubetkin Communications

Professional Podcasts LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lubetkin Communications, is a leading provider of business podcasting services for corporations and professional organizations. The firm launched its Internet broadcasting practice in April 2005, counseling clients about the effective use of podcasts and blogs, online journals that facilitate two-way communications with customers, employees, and others. The firm, which focuses on production of high-quality podcasts for clients, has produced podcasts for ACE-INA Insurance, Sun National Bank, the Rutgers University School of Business Administration’s popular Quarterly Business Outlook Seminar, NJBankers, a trade association representing major banks in New Jersey, Leadership NJ, and for the Public Relations Society of America. The firm also produces its own podcasts focusing on public relations, computer technology, bond ratings, and interviews with book authors.

More information is available at www. lubetkin. net or at www. professionalpodcasts. com.

Editors, Note: Mr. Lubetkin is available to discuss how podcasting technology can help organizations communicate effectively with their audiences. Copies of the LNJ podcasts are available on request. Please call Steve Lubetkin at (856) 751-5491.

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AskMen. com And HowStuffWorks. Com Reiterate that Content is King

AskMen. com And HowStuffWorks. Com Reiterate that Content is King

The leader in online men's lifestyle content and one of the Web's most popular editorial reference sites, have been successfully exchanging links to content that resonates with each sites respective user base.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada (PRWEB) May 19, 2005

www. AskMen. com the leader in online men's lifestyle content, and www. HowStuffWorks. com, one of the Web's most popular editorial reference sites, have been successfully exchanging links to content that resonates with each site's respective user base.

AskMen. com's articles in men's lifestyle topics such as fitness, entertainment, fashion, and health are made available on HowStuffWorks. com, providing varied and opinioned content to accompany HowStuffWorks' award-winning articles on how just about anything works. In turn, AskMen. com's audience benefits from access to the wealth of information available at HowStuffWorks. com. The two sites' union was recently exemplified as part of a recent special section devoted to the upcoming "Star Wars Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" movie. By featuring "Star Wars"-related articles from HowStuffWorks. com directly alongside AskMen. com's own content, readers at both sites were provided with varying styles of writing, that when combined, offered a more complete user experience.

"Being able to provide HowStuffWorks' straightforward and engaging content on AskMen. com is a fantastic bonus for our readers," said Chris Rovny, AskMen. comÂ’s VP of Marketing, "and teaming up with them on our recent Star Wars feature proved what a great content partner they really are. Providing quality content to our predominantly male audience is our top priority, and HowStuffWorks certainly delivers in that regard."

HowStuffWorks also anticipates that the partnership will be a fruitful one. "HowStuffWorks exists to provide positive consumer experiences. Over the past six years, we've realized that the only way to do that is by offering consistently good content that is both informative and entertaining. Providing access to AskMen. com content provides our users with a style of writing that, although is markedly different from what HowStuffWorks normally features, ultimately adds to the user experience," said Gabe Vehovsky, VP of Marketing and Business Development at HowStuffWorks.

About AskMen. com

AskMen. com is a leading website for men in the world, with 3.8 million unique visitors in March 2005, according to comScore Media Metrix*. One of the Web's foremost content providers, with an archive of over 11,000 articles available for free online, AskMen. com updates daily and features over 200 new articles a month across a variety of sections: Dating & Love, Sexuality, Celebrity Profiles & Interviews, Health & Sports, Fashion & Lifestyle, Power & Money, and Entertainment. AskMen. com also publishes daily features such as the Cool Site of the Day, Joke of the Day, Fact of the Day, Quote of the Day, Question of the Day, Video of the Day, and Gadget of the Day. The annual Top 99 Most Desirable Women feature is a popular draw on the site. AskMen. com hosts an active and popular online community with over 25,000 members. AskMen. com has had content partnerships with the likes of MSN, AOL, Netscape, CompuServe, Univision, Overture, Lycos Asia, and more.

About HowStuffWorks:

HowStuffWorks is widely recognized as the leading source for clear, reliable explanations of how everything around us actually works. Through the flagship Web site HowStuffWorks. com, a popular series of books, an acclaimed kids' magazine, as well as many other ventures, the award-winning company has helped explain the world for millions of curious people. With thousands of articles, content features and illustrations populating ten different content channels, HowStuffWorks is updated daily and has something for everyone. Attracting several million unique users each month, HowStuffWorks. com has become a popular destination among an information-seeking audience interested in learning how just about anything works.

Contact:

Ash Karbasfrooshan

514-908-2552

Pressrelease@askmen. com

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Twenty-three States Improve Children's Health Coverage Despite Economic Slump

Twenty-three States Improve Children's Health Coverage Despite Economic Slump

Twenty-three states improved children's health coverage programs this year despite a tough economic climate, according to a report by Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families. Strong support for children's health coverage at the state and national level have helped drive the number of uninsured children to the lowest level in two decades, The report should be encouraging news for lawmakers working on health reform as it shows that the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) has been a big success and demonstrates that addressing the needs of the uninsured in a timely and cost-effective manner is within reach.

Washington, D. C. (PRWEB) September 15, 2009

Twenty-three states expanded or improved children's health coverage programs this year despite a tough economic climate, according to a report by the Center for Children and Families (CCF) at Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute (http://ccf. georgetown. edu/).

"Last year, the strong support for children's health coverage at the state and national level helped to drive the number of uninsured children to the lowest level in two decades," said Jocelyn Guyer, Co-Executive Director of CCF. "By making sure children's health care coverage continues to be a top priority, these states are extending a lifeline to uninsured children just when they need it most."

The report finds that an overwhelming majority of states have taken advantage of the passage of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act and other federal support to maintain or strengthen their efforts to cover more children. Despite an extremely challenging budget climate, nearly all states have "weathered the storm" when it comes to coverage of children, according to the report.

In 2009, twenty-three states took steps to continue moving forward by expanding eligibility for their Medicaid or CHIP programs or made it easier for uninsured children already eligible to enroll and stay enrolled in the programs. The states moving forward on children's coverage include: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

"CHIPRA has been a big success and already has had a positive impact on children across the country," said Guyer. "As Congress debates health reform (http://theccfblog. org/) legislation, it should be encouraged by the impact its legislative efforts have had on children's health coverage. The experience with CHIPRA demonstrates that addressing the needs of the uninsured in a timely and cost effective manner is an attainable goal."

The report also concludes that coverage for children and their families is at a critical juncture as states face ongoing budget pressures and the prospect that national health reform will dramatically alter the coverage landscape for children and families.

"Children and their families have much to gain from health reform, but if reform doesn't incorporate the key ingredients of the successful children's coverage initiatives, the progress we've made in recent years may unintentionally be eroded," said Guyer. "Health reform will need to ensure that children now covered through Medicaid and CHIP continue to secure affordable coverage options and a decent benefit package and extend these opportunities to uninsured parents and adults."

While the U. S. Census data released last week paint an encouraging picture for uninsured children, the numbers are much more bleak for parents and other uninsured adults. According to the Census, the number of uninsured children declined to 7.3 million in 2008, the lowest number since 1987. Meanwhile, the number of uninsured adults increased by 1.5 million to 38 million.

"The health and wellbeing of children depend on whether they have access to affordable, high-quality health coverage, but can also be dramatically affected by the health of their parents and the financial stability of their families," said Guyer.

For more information on the report, "Weathering the Storm: States Move Forward on Child Health Coverage Despite Tough Economic Climate," visit CCF's website (http://ccf. georgetown. edu/) or Say Ahhh! A Children's Health Policy Blog (http://theccfblog. org/).

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Lakeside Occupational Medical Centers, Inc Adds 'Quick Check' Urgent Care Services to All Clinics

Lakeside Occupational Medical Centers, Inc Adds 'Quick Check' Urgent Care Services to All Clinics

Lakeside announced today the initiation of urgent care services. Urgent care patients can now enjoy the $55.00 walk-in visit at all clinic locations. This new service, targeted for adults, will allow patients access to medical care without an appointment for many treatments that are typically sought at a primary care office or an emergency department. Lakeside's ability to conduct a level of medical testing, including x-ray and minor trauma treatments, provides a walk-in intermediate level of care not generally available at primary care offices. This level of care also avoids costly emergency room visits for most minor medical conditions.

St. Petersburg, FL (PRWEB) May 26, 2009

Lakeside Occupational Medical Centers, Inc., (http://www. lakesideoccmed. com), southwest Florida's most comprehensive resource for occupational health services, announced today the initiation of urgent care services. This new service, targeted for adults, will allow patients access to medical care without an appointment for many treatments that are typically sought at a primary care office or an emergency department. Lakeside's ability to conduct a level of medical testing, including x-ray and minor trauma treatments, provides a walk-in intermediate level of care not generally available at primary care offices. This level of care also avoids costly emergency room visits for most minor medical conditions.

Lakeside clients will be able to direct employees to a Lakeside clinic where they can receive care when normally they would have to miss work and schedule an appointment with their primary care office. This service benefits both the employer and the employee with the fastest, most convenient care while helping the employee make the quickest recovery and return to work.

According to Lakeside CEO, Fred Nussbaum, "Not only will the employer get their employee back to work quickly and enhance employee productivity, but also the employee will have the value-added benefit of the same highest standard of care and quality treatment that is associated with Lakeside's Occupational Medicine Centers. Nussbaum added, "Keeping employees healthy and on the job has always been most important, and Lakeside's customer focus will now make health care access easier and more cost-effective for even more people."

Lakeside's urgent care services that are provided include the diagnosis and treatment of minor/moderate injuries and illnesses; including minor wounds and lacerations, respiratory infections, minor skin conditions, urinary tract infections, minor gastrointestinal conditions, routine immunizations, and minor conditions in the ear, nose, and throat. Lakeside's new urgent care, Quick Check™, strengthens Lakeside's position as a business partner to meet the health care needs of the community. This relationship with the employer can now extend to employees and the families of employees to use Lakeside Urgent Care services.

About Lakeside

Expert in the field of occupational medicine, Lakeside Occupational Medical Centers, Inc. is the single solution provider that employers and insurance companies trust to optimize the quality of patient care, assist with complex occupational health issues, and keep their workforce safe, healthy, and on the job. Lakeside strives to provide customized solutions to address unique health care needs and develop mutually beneficial relationships with client companies and their employees. Founded in 1978, Lakeside's corridor of care in Florida covers the Tampa Bay area in St. Petersburg, Largo, Palm Harbor, Tampa, Temple Terrace, Town & Country, Plant City, and Orlando.

For more information, please contact Evin Pennington, marketing specialist at (727) 532-7658.

Copyright © 2009, Lakeside Occupational Medical Centers, Inc. All rights reserved.

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New Prescription Medication Reminder Service Launched by <a href="http://www. MedAlerts. net" onclick="linkClick(this. href)">www. MedAlerts. net</a&gt

New Prescription Medication Reminder Service Launched by www. MedAlerts. net

New prescription medication reminder service launched by www. MedAlerts. net. The state-of-the-art system will call subscribers to remind them to take their medication at a specified time. Prescription non-compliance can potentially be a dangerous situation that takes 125,000 lives annually. This service can assist seniors, caregivers and people just too busy to remember to take their medication.

(PRWEB) June 12, 2004

MedAlerts, a new prescription medication reminder service, has launched its state-of-the-art program to combat prescription non-compliance, a highly dangerous problem affecting over 40% of all people taking medication.

Dr. Fred Tyson, PhD., President of MedAlerts, stated “Our new program was designed using the telephone to call a subscriber to remind them that it is time to take their medication. Prescription non-compliance is a tremendous problem in health care as it claims over 125,000 lives annually.”

According to numerous medical studies, prescription non-compliance has symptoms that include, but are not limited to, taking medication at the wrong time, skipping a dosage, not taking it according to instructions (i. e. with food), not completing the prescription, not refilling it or not getting it filled. Patients trust their doctor to make them well yet do not follow their medication orders. Complications arising from non-compliance also account for 10% of all hospital admissions, an increase in hospital stays by 4.2 days, 23% of all nursing home admissions and a staggering cost to insurance companies of $270 million daily solely attributable to non-compliance.

“With increased health care costs near $100 billion annually, insurance companies will continue to increase their rates to cover this amount,” stated Dr. Tyson. “59% of people taking medications are in compliance. Our goal is to increase that number and ultimately keep people healthier to enable them to enjoy their life.”

MedAlerts can easily be signed up for on the Internet at www. medalerts. net. The company has performed clinical trials with doctors and other health care professionals proving that MedAlerts, unlike other companies and their past attempts (using pagers, talking pill boxes, and other devices), has found the common denominator to all Americans, the telephone. Health care professionals are excited about it as they fully understand the ramifications of not taking medication correctly and how MedAlerts can help. The typical subscriber to this service would be people that are required to take medications, their loved ones wanting to ensure that they are compliant with their health needs, caregivers and health care professionals. Initial responses from these people all agree that the reasonable price for this service is nothing compared to their health and/or their loved oneÂ’s health. Pharmacists and other health care providers with Web sites can provide a link directly to MedAlerts that will allow their patients to view the Web site and download free charts that allow the consumer to track their medication and also read medical information on the effect of prescription non-compliance.

The company currently markets its service through independent pharmacies, doctorsÂ’ offices, other health care providers, various associations and groups focused on senior health care and health care related publications.

“Could you or a loved one benefit from this service?” asks Dr. Tyson. That question is the one that people should be thinking of the next time they take their medication. The company is so confident of their product that they are offering a free ten day trial for a limited time. Pharmacies and doctors can be compensated for their promotion and/or assistance in providing a necessary service to their patients.

About MedAlerts. MedAlerts, LLC is a Florida based company that utilizes a proven telecommunication system to call people at a chosen time, telephone number (may vary throughout the day) and remind the person to take a certain medication. The company was formed solely to alleviate the devastating effects of prescription non-compliance. If you have any questions, please call the company at 866-502-5378 or info@medalerts. net.

FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work For" Are Creating New Jobs, Absorbing High Healthcare Costs, and Improving Internal Communications, Reports Research Firm

FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work For" Are Creating New Jobs, Absorbing High Healthcare Costs, and Improving Internal Communications, Reports Research Firm

America's best employers are creating jobs, absorbing high health care costs, and improving internal communications. These are the most important trends gleaned from the data for FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work for" list by Great Place to Work® Institute, the global research and consulting firm that compiles the list for the magazine each year. The list appears in FORTUNE’s January 24th issue on newsstands January 17th. List nomination and methodology information included.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 13, 2005

America's best employers are creating jobs, absorbing high health care costs, and improving internal communications. These are the most important trends gleaned from the data for FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work for" list by Great Place to Work® Institute, the global research and consulting firm that compiles the list for the magazine each year. The list appears in FORTUNE’s January 24th issue on newsstands January 17th.

The “100 Best” companies showed a net increase of 22,590 jobs this year, as opposed to a net loss of 14,679 jobs last year. Marriott added the most new jobs, with a net increase of 3,679 positions; while Genentech had the largest percentage increase, with 24 percent growth by adding 1,286 jobs.

On the healthcare front, 20 of the “100 Best” companies do not charge some or all of their employees any premiums for their health insurance. Of the 38 firms that changed their coverage policies over the last year, 13 of the “100 Best” actually decreased the portion that is paid by employees. Of the firms that did increase their premiums, most did so by less than 2 percent. Stew Leonard’s, a Connecticut supermarket chain, only charges premiums to its most highly compensated managers.

One trend that’s increasing among the “100 Best" is the active sharing of information throughout company ranks and increased accessibility of leaders. For example, Genentech’s website allows employees to pop questions to the seven top executives. Cisco CEO John Chambers meets with all new employees within four months of their hiring. Goldman Sachs has introduced a new online photo directory showing the faces of colleagues around the world – on opening day, nearly half the firm accessed the site. At Starbucks, Executive VP Dave Pace runs a monthly “Dave’s Diner,” hosting a lunch for up to a dozen employees.

“'100 Best’ companies’ focus on improving communications is crucial,” says Robert Levering, co-founder of Great Place to Work® Institute and co-author, with Milton Moskowitz, of the FORTUNE list. “The single most important factor in creating a great workplace is establishing trust between management and employees, and the best companies know that formal and informal communication mechanisms are the cornerstones for building this trust.”

Great Place to Work® Institute established its model for great workplaces through more than 25 years of research and testing. In the last year alone, the Institute has used its survey assessment tool with over 3,000 companies in more than 25 countries around the world.

“There is not a single defined set of benefits and programs that makes a great workplace,” says Brooke Huston, Vice President of Consulting Services at Great Place to Work® Institute. “In fact, the challenge of becoming a great workplace is less about making sure you have a specific set of benefits and programs, and more about building an environment of trust between employees and management. Organizations who seek to build great workplaces need to have a clear understanding of how to build trust in their workplaces in an authentic way, and need to integrate those behaviors with the rest of their business model. Employee benefits and programs are just one piece of the puzzle.”

“What you find when you look at the nation’s best employers,” says Levering, “is that being a great place to work is not a separate workplace initiative exclusively relegated to the HR department. Instead, it is an essential part of the companies’ business activities. This integration allows companies both to be more successful in creating their unique cultures, as well as explains some of the many business benefits companies report from building great workplaces.”

In selecting the companies for the FORTUNE list, the Great Place to Work® Institute distributes its proprietary employee survey instrument (Great Place to Work® Trust Index©) to a random selection of at least 350 employees at each of the candidate companies. The companies also must fill out an extensive management questionnaire (Great Place to Work® Culture Audit©) that details the firm’s workplace policies and practices. A report containing data from employee surveys is provided to each participating company upon conclusion of the assessment process.

US-based companies that are at least seven years old and have more than 1,000 employees are eligible to apply to FORTUNE’s list. This year, a record 356 companies out of the original pool of 1,000 candidates participated in the full assessment process and competed for inclusion. 304 participated the previous year. The Great Place to Work® Institute evaluators give the most weight to employees’ own views about their workplaces, with two-thirds of a candidate company’s score based on responses to the Trust Index© survey. A team of eight evaluators dedicates four months to the analysis of companies’ submissions.

Nominations for next yearÂ’s FORTUNE list will be accepted through March 31, 2005. Further information about the process and an online nomination form can be found at www. greatplacetowork. com.

Great Place to Work® Institute is hosting an educational conference April 20-22, 2005 in San Francisco where companies can learn more about creating great workplaces. An online registration form for the 2005 Great Place to Work® Conference can be found at www. greatplacetowork-conference. com.

About Great Place to Work® Institute

Great Place to Work® Institute, Inc. is a global research and consulting firm dedicated to “building a better society by helping companies transform their workplaces.” Through its education, consulting, and best companies list activities, Great Place to Work® Institute recognizes the world’s best workplaces and shares information and resources with those who seek to create great workplaces of their own. In addition to its headquarters in San Francisco, Great Place to Work® Institute has 25 affiliates in countries throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia. www. greatplacetowork. com

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

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Sunset Grill Opens New Location in the Heart of Downtown Toronto

Sunset Grill Opens New Location in the Heart of Downtown Toronto

Fans of the original Sunset Grill in the beaches or any of its other locations in Toronto will now be able to enjoy their favourite breakfast at the new downtown location on Yonge and Richmond streets, one block south of the Eaton Centre and the Queen subway station.

Toronto, (PRWEB) January 27, 2005

Sunset Grill, the Toronto restaurant famous for its all-day breakfast, is celebrating the grand opening of its newest franchised location in the Southwest corner of Yonge and Richmond streets, a block south of the Eaton Centre and across the street from The Bay. Sunset Grill first opened its doors in the beaches neighbourhood of Toronto in March of 1985. With the principle that “Fresh is Tastiest”, it quickly became very popular with line-ups of hungry breakfast lovers and lunch crowds.

“We like to do everything using the freshest ingredients possible and the healthiest cooking methods” says Angelo Christou, founder of Sunset Grill. “It has always been very important for us to stick with this philosophy, and our customers appreciate that. In fact, numerous times Sunset Grill have been voted best breakfast/brunch restaurant in the city by local newspaper polls, including NOW Magazine and Toronto Sun.”

“In addition to a great menu, we offer a relaxed and casual atmosphere and fast service,” adds Christou, “Even with frequent line-ups, customers know they’ll be seated and served fast”.

“This brand new location is expected to fill a gap in the downtown core, as increasing numbers of downtown workers, residents and tourists look for a fast and friendly place to eat a hearty breakfast or lunch for the right price.” Sunset Grill offers an assortment of breakfast and lunch options, including omelettes, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, salads, and burgers, but the favourites are still its famous three-egg all-day breakfasts.

The California-inspired concept was named after the Don Henley song of the same name. Besides the original Sunset Grill in the Beaches, the chain now has six other locations in the GTA, in areas like Bloor West Village, Yonge and Eglinton, Danforth, Ajax, Mississauga, and now Yonge and Richmond streets. Like most of the other locations, the new Sunset Grill offers take-out service and is open 7:00 A. M. to 4:00 P. M. Monday to Friday and 7:00 A. M. to 5:00 P. M. Saturday and Sunday. It is located at 1 Richmond Street West - Phone (416) 861-0514.

Sunset Grill started franchising in 2004 and has several territories available for the GTA. For franchising information contact Angelo Christou at (905) 286-5833.

Note to editors:

A copy of the new Sunset GrillÂ’s menu can be emailed (PDF format) or faxed upon request. For further information: Angelo Christou, at (905) 286-5833

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After the Diagnosis: What's Next?

After the Diagnosis: What's Next?

POST-DIAGNOSIS SUPPORT PROGRAM AN 8-PART TELECLASS SERIES Do you want to be empowered to take control of your life, in spite of a chronic health condition? Do you care about someone who does? Then this program is the answer. Over the course of 8 weeks, we will walk through the critical steps necessary to achieve positive and powerful living despite being diagnosed with a chronic illness.

(PRWEB) August 27, 2005

This series will be limited to ONLY 6 participants so register NOW by visiting my website at www. ChangingPaces. com and email me from there with 'After the Diagnosis' in the subject line.

Upcoming program dates include:

Monday, September 12th, 19th & 26th,

October 3rd, 17th, 24th & 31st and November 7th

All sessions are 7:30 to 8:30 pm (Eastern/NY time)

Cost:

A single payment of $149.00 or 2 monthly payments of $79.00 each, payable by personal cheque or credit card through PayPal. That's less than $20 per session!

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You will feel unconditionally supported while you and fellow participants work through the concerns, struggles and successes of adopting a new lifestyle.

This life-altering program is for anyone who has recently been diagnosed with a chronic health condition and wants to move beyond the "illness" to find optimal health in spite of the challenges.

If you've been told that you have diabetes, multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, depression or any other long-term condition, give yourself permission to maximize your ability to live life to the fullest while honouring your health along the way.

Reward yourself with the synergetic energy that comes from this group-enhanced learning experience.

There are endless opportunities in life to either sabotage or nurture ourselves. Learn critical strategies for making healthier choices.

Empower yourself to acknowledge that even if your condition is "incurable", you still have the ability to make an impact on your prognosis and your quality of life!

During this group intensive, you will:

· Have a chance to see that you’re not alone,

· Find comfort in the discovery that others have the same difficulties that you do,

· Learn about both unique and similar perspectives to your own,

· Decide how you can make the transition from denial to acceptance,

· Be invited to approach life in a way that will enable you to transform your outlook from uncertainty to hope,

· Create a healthy emotional foundation so that you can shift from reactive to proactive living,

· Learn tried and true strategies to be empowered to take control of your life.

This is an opportunity to break down the anxieties and the isolation that are inherent for many who live with chronic illness.

You will learn valuable tools that you can use each and every day to help you to move from aggravation to accommodation and from doubt to self-assurance so that you can build a joyful life, regardless of your chronic health condition.

I hope you'll join us for this powerful experiential workshop series. It'll be the best money you've ever spent on your health!

If you're ready to move past the trauma of your diagnosis and through the steps to finding your optimal health, then visit my website at www. ChangingPaces. com and email me from there with 'After the Diagnosis' in the subject line and we'll travel that journey together.

If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to contact me. I'd love to hear from you! Visit me on the web to read about all the free services that I offer. I can be found at http://www. ChangingPaces. com (http://www. ChangingPaces. com).

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ABOUT THE COACH:

Trish Robichaud is a Maximum Life Coach who lives with major depression and multiple sclerosis. Her passion is helping people to maximize their quality of life in spite of a chronic health condition or a disability. Through the process of coaching, she takes her clients from a state of overwhelm to a comfortably paced lifestyle.

Trish has been facilitating groups for over a decade. She is truly genuine and always "says it like it is". Her style is highly interactive and her participants always leave with a sense of knowing themselves better for having attended. Trish's idea of a successful session is one where the participants learn through "feeling" the content, not just understanding it.

Trained in support counselling, self-advocacy, social action and life skills, Trish has been providing coaching, counselling and advocacy support to people with multiple sclerosis and other chronic illnesses for over a decade. Minimizing her own MS symptoms through profound lifestyle changes, self-awareness, proper treatment and conflict and stress management, she has lived a very joyful and rewarding life despite her 20-year battle with depression. Trish coaches people facing all kinds of life, health and vocational transitions. To learn more about Trish Robichaud and Changing Paces, visit her on the web at www. ChangingPaces. com.

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Urgent Care Provider NextCare Enhances Patient Services, Adds PhyTCare Physical Therapy

Urgent Care Provider NextCare Enhances Patient Services, Adds PhyTCare Physical Therapy

NextCare's PhyTCare Physical Therapy and New Patient Services, Including Nurse Follow-Up, To Enhance Patient Care.

Mesa, AZ (PRWEB) February 27, 2008

NextCare (www. nextcare. com), the nation's largest urgent care provider, has announced an expansion in its offerings to better serve patients. PhyTCare, physical therapy services, will launch at select clinics and soon expand to other markets. NextCare's Patient Services program includes the initiative for medical providers to call patients after each NextCare visit. It will also serve as a means for patients to get post or pre-care medical advice.

PhyTCare, first being offered at North Carolina urgent care clinics on Wake Forest Road, in Garner, Falls Ridge and Fayetteville, will provide quality physical therapy services including focused and managed utilization, active rehabilitation, exercise, education, stabilization and manual therapy. PhyTCare will accept all major forms of commercial insurance as well as Medicare, and workers' compensation plans.

"We believe physical therapy as well as patient education on injury prevention plays a big part in the musculoskeletal healing process and at the same time believe in providing high-quality, efficient care with the least amount of visits as possible," commented Laurel Stoimenoff, President, NextCare Urgent Care.

As of January 2008, NextCare has increased its follow-up care services to its patients. Allowing for a more comprehensive experience, NextCare will staff medical providers who call patients within the first few days following their visit to check up on them. Patient Services also provides a convenient means for patients to call healthcare professionals for medical advice whether they are post-care patients or are seeking care.

One NextCare patient raved about the "Excellent and quick service. Also I was shocked to find that you would call me afterwards. Thank you!"

Visit urgent care provider NextCare (http://www. nextcare. com) to learn more about PhyTCare physical therapy and their Patient Services, or to find the clinic location closest to you.

About NextCare Urgent Care
Urgent care provider NextCare (http://www. nextcare. com/ (http://www. nextcare. com/)) is the world's largest privately owned provider of urgent care and occupational medical services, known for bringing together service-driven healthcare and innovative medical technology to the delivery of medicine. NextCare operates 28 urgent care facilities among Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina and Georgia.

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INSYSTEK Announces TotalView VMWare BETA program

INSYSTEK Announces TotalView VMWare BETA program

Physical and Virtual Enterprise Management provider INSYSTEK (INSYSTEK. com) announced today that it is making publicly available a beta program for its new TotalView VMWare management and reporting tools. To participate in the beta program please visit www. insystek. com/community. Using INSYSTEK's TotalView technology, customers will be able to discover and map virtual environments, create virtual machines, track and manage physical and virtual relationships and automate the lifecycle of a large number of virtual servers and desktops.

Topeka, KS (PRWEB) January 4, 2008

Physical and Virtual Enterprise Management provider INSYSTEK (INSYSTEK. com) announced today that it is making publicly available a beta program for its new TotalView VMWare management and reporting tools. To participate in the beta program please visit www. insystek. com/community (http://www. insystek. com/community ). Using INSYSTEK's TotalView technology, customers will be able to discover and map virtual environments, create virtual machines, track and manage physical and virtual relationships and automate the lifecycle of a large number of virtual servers and desktops.

"We are very excited to make available the beta program for our newest VMWare management and reporting tool," said Alex Turner, president and CEO at INSYSTEK. "VMWare is a great platform for virtualization and in combination with TotalView VMWare, will offer tremendous benefits to administrators. There is clear need for centralized virtualization management and reporting tools that allow access to both the physical and virtual environments."

About TotalView VMWare
INSYSTEK® TotalView technology provides the ability to effortlessly manage complex virtual infrastructures from the same console used to manage the physical one. In addition to the Agentless desktop and server management features in our existing solution the TotalView VMware features include:
Common user interface - Manage VMWare ESX Servers, VirtualCenter, Windows Desktops and Servers from a single console. TotalView is the connection between physical and virtual environments, providing access to control and configure multiple VMWare Servers and Windows hosts at the same time in one view. Discovery, Link and Manage - Auto Discover virtual infrastructure systems and resources and dynamically link physical to virtual machine relationships. Deploy software applications, patches, and critical updates. Inventory and audit both physical systems and virtual resources for full hardware and software configurations and changes. TotalView Wizards - Wizards automate many administrative functions including the ability to completely replicate inventoried physical systems as image ready virtual machines in a single easy to use wizard for hot site, backups, disaster recovery planning or desktop and server migration. Audit, Track and Compliance - TotalView technology extends the already comprehensive inventory model for the complete inventory of virtual machines, resource pools and physical servers. The extended model Includes all INSYSTEK's baseline configuration audit and historical tracking features. Systems monitoring - Continuously monitor physical servers and virtual machines for availability and utilization from a single interface. Set five separate alarms levels for hundreds of performance stats for physical and virtual systems and resources to manage and prevent problems. Quickly identify servers for consolidation. Reports - TotalView technology extends INSYSTEK's Crystal Reports features to include all VirtualCenter resources in additional to combined reports that provide a holistic view of the Physical to Virtual environment. Please visit http://www. insystek. com/VirtualizationManagement. htm (http://www. insystek. com/VirtualizationManagement. htm) for more information.

About INSYSTEK:
INSYSTEK provides superior scalable enterprise management solutions, enabling customers to manage complex Virtual and physical infrastructures with a single comprehensive TotalView solution
INSYSTEK has clients in business, government, education and healthcare in the United States, Israel, Canada, United Kingdom and South Africa. More information can be found at www. insystek. com or by sending an e-mail to info@insystek. com or calling toll free 1-877-467-9783.

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Dr. Mickey Kim Joins Canaan Partners as Principal in Firm's East Coast Office

Dr. Mickey Kim Joins Canaan Partners as Principal in Firm's East Coast Office

Focused on Investments in Biopharmaceuticals, Medical Device, Healthcare Services, and Diagnostics in the U. S. and Asia.

Menlo Park, CA (PRWEB) September 25, 2007

Canaan Partners (http://www. canaan. com), a $2.3 billion global venture capital firm, today announced that Mickey Kim (http://www. canaan. com/p_kim. html), MD has joined the firm as a Principal in its Westport, CT office. Dr. Kim will work with Canaan's global teams to identify healthcare trends and pursue investment opportunities, particularly in the biopharmaceutical, medical device, healthcare services, and diagnostic sectors in the U. S. and Asia.

"Mickey brings to Canaan a unique mix of investing, entrepreneurial, consulting, and technical experience in both the U. S. and Asia," said Stephen Bloch, venture partner at Canaan. "Our healthcare investment team has an outstanding track record with nine positive exits in the past three years. Mickey's unique background will help us to build an even stronger global investment portfolio, as we continue to invest in companies that are innovators in the healthcare field targeting unmet medical needs worldwide. We are very fortunate to have attracted him to our team."

Prior to joining Canaan, Dr. Kim co-founded Pacific Point Ventures, a venture capital fund investing in biotechnology service companies in Asia, and was a Principal at BioVentures Investors, a venture capital fund investing in biopharmaceutical and medical device companies in the U. S. He also served as a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Company and CSC Healthcare, and co-founded an Asian technology venture capital fund. Dr. Kim earned his MD degree from Northwestern University and an MBA from the JL Kellogg Graduate School of Management. He also holds an AB in History, Philosophy, Social Studies of Science and Medicine from the University of Chicago.

"I am delighted to join Canaan's healthcare investment team, a group that has established a strong track record of success," said Dr. Kim. "I have known Canaan for the past five years and feel very fortunate to join a cohesive team that takes a rather thoughtful, strategic, and hands on approach to investing."

About Canaan Partners:
Canaan Partners invests in visionary entrepreneurs and provides them the networks, insights and operational guidance required to build high-performance technology and healthcare companies. For 20 years, they have taken an active and committed role in the companies in which they invest, and have completed more than 65 mergers and acquisitions and 51 IPOs. With $2.3 billion under management and a worldwide footprint, the firm's healthcare team is committed to catalyzing the development of biotechnology, medical device, diagnostic and therapeutics companies that are revolutionizing the practice of medicine. Among its recent successes are Dexcom Inc., the largest diagnostic IPO of 2006, and Cerexa Inc., the largest private biotech merger and acquisition in history. Other recent Canaan healthcare investments include Amicus Therapeutics, Chimerix, Inc., ReVision Optics, Inc., and Transoma Medical, Inc. Canaan is headquartered in Menlo Park, California and also has offices in Connecticut, India and Israel. For more information visit: www. canaan. com.

Contact:
Erin McMahon-Lyman
Marketing Alchemist
Phone (510) 649-1390

Gina Vakili
Canaan Partners
Phone (650) 854-8092

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The Pool Guy named H2flow pool & spa contractor of the month for June

The Pool Guy named H2flow pool & spa contractor of the month for June

H2flow names Kingsport, Tennessee based contractor as pool & spa contractor of the month for June, 2010.

Maumee, OH (PRWEB) June 6, 2010

H2flow, a privately held corporation based in Maumee, Ohio, is pleased to announce The Pool Guy as pool and spa contractor of the month for June, 2010.

The Pool Guy is focused on VGB compliance and eco-friendly pools. As a remodeler, renovator, and repair company, The Pool Guy uses Eco-Flow VFDs to help his commercial and residential customers see a quick return on their investment through energy savings. The Pool Guy also uses the PSP20 exclusively as his secondary layer of protection for VGB compliance.

In addition to promoting H2flow products, Wes Burdine of The Pool Guy:
  Teaches VGB Compliance classes for the State of Tennessee  Teaches VGB Compliance classes for the Interstate Environmental Health Conference  VGB Compliance Inspector  Nationally Certified Pool Operator  Over 20 years experience maintaining and operating pools  State contact for National Water Safety Month for the State of Tennessee  Instrumental in continually coordinating state efforts to include the VGB law into the 2010 rules At H2flow, our Pool & Spa Products Division accounts for a rapidly growing segment of our business. We have developed innovative new technologies specific to the pool & spa industry for both energy savings and safety. At H2flow, we are continually on the forefront of cutting edge technologies for the markets which we serve.

For more information about H2flow products, visit The Pool Guy online at http://www. callthepoolguy. com (http://www. callthepoolguy. com) or visit H2flow at http://www. h2flow. net (http://www. h2flow. net) or call 1-888-635-0296.

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Horizon National Contract Services Deploys DefinedLogic Mobile Solution for more Efficient Quality Control

Horizon National Contract Services Deploys DefinedLogic Mobile Solution for more Efficient Quality Control

DefinedLogic, LLC, a company with a long track record of developing and deploying mission-critical solutions for enterprise customers, announces that Horizon National Contract Services, the countryÂ’s premier contract management and self-perform cleaning services company, has selected DefinedLogicÂ’s Mobile Solutions Methodology to facilitate the design and development of a custom mobile application to provide communication capabilities of Service Quality and Management Quality ratings in a more timely manner from the field.

West Long Branch, NJ (PRWEB) May 27, 2005

DefinedLogic, LLC, a company with a long track record of developing and deploying mission-critical solutions for enterprise customers, announces that Horizon National Contract Services, the countryÂ’s premier contract management and self-perform cleaning services company, has selected DefinedLogicÂ’s Mobile Solutions Methodology to facilitate the design and development of a custom mobile application to provide communication capabilities of Service Quality and Management Quality ratings in a more timely manner from the field. After going from concept to test within six weeks, Horizon National is complete with its initial pilot stage and has now rolled out the application nationwide.

Focusing on the retail, financial and healthcare industries, Horizon NationalÂ’s roster of clients include such leading retailers as the TJX Companies, Office Max, Home Depot, Toys R Us, Target, and Rite Aid. Since the company manages multi-state, multi-site facilities through a network of area managers and numerous on-site contract cleaning professionals located throughout the country, it is paramount to the success of the organization to maintain a steady flow of communication in a timely manner to and from the field.

Formed as a result of an acquisition in January 2003, Horizon National immediately began a review of its operations and found that the paper-based reporting process from the field was taking up to 45 days to complete. This meant that there could be significant lag time between an area managerÂ’s routine monthly site visit and when their findings finally reached corporate headquarters in Red Bank, NJ. As a result, this directly affected HorizonÂ’s ability to provide timely and accurate status updates to their customerÂ’s national headquarters on the cleanliness and overall presentation and appeal of their locations nationwide.

“When we made the acquisition in January, it was apparent to us that we had two parallel management models that weren’t integrated – our area managers in the field who were gathering data on individual customer locations and our corporate account managers in the home office who were required to report to customer executives with nationwide operational responsibilities,” said Kristen Bunnell, Executive Director, Horizon National Contract Services. “We began to explore ways to develop an internal management tool that would help us run the business in a more streamlined and efficient manner, which ultimately led us to mobility.”

During this time, DefinedLogic approached longtime partner and customer Broadbeam, a leader in delivering proven software to support and facilitate the rapid development and deployment of enterprise mobility solutions. Broadbeam was selected to provide the platform and middleware on which the solution would be built. DefinedLogic and the Broadbeam Corporation worked with Horizon National to assess their business processes from an information technology (IT) perspective and agreed that mobility would offer a means for the company to improve communication from the field. Since then, DefinedLogic has worked with Horizon National to develop a customized mobile application that is capable of transmitting information on a daily basis.

“We were looking at a relatively short turn around time between the initial concept and the timeframe for the test pilot with about six weeks, as well as a budget of $20,000 -- $25,000 to get the solution up and running,” stated Alex Shanley, Principal Analyst, DefinedLogic. “The overall experience of using the application needed to be powerful and user-friendly while still offering a low cost. We were able to bring the project from concept through deployment, fulfilling these goals, by following our proven methodology in developing enterprise-level mobility strategies and the technology to support them.”

The Bottom Line

Once a month, Horizon NationalÂ’s area managers conduct quality control visits to inspect the various locations within their region and meet with each siteÂ’s local management team. The Horizon National area manager and the customerÂ’s local management team are responsible for assigning the site a Service Quality Rating and a Management Quality Rating, which are based on a scale of one to five. These ratings serve to measure the performance of Horizon NationalÂ’s locally contracted cleaning professionals. This information is then communicated back to headquarters along with an action plan and rationale for following up with the siteÂ’s manager.

With the wireless solution fully deployed, Horizon NationalÂ’s area managers are able to document and transmit their findings directly from the device, which is cradled at the end of the day. This automated system alleviates the need to fax or mail the findings, which would then have to be manually entered into the system in order to compile a report for all the sites nationwide. Also, the end of day docking of the device in the cradle will compensate for any coverage issues that may exist throughout the country, which could preclude the report from being submitted wirelessly. Further, when the area manager returns to the site, he/she will be able to access the information from the previous visit on their handheld device.

“Essentially, the mobile solution will enable our internal management structure to be set up around the information that’s being transmitted from the field, which will consolidate our internal functions,” commented Bunnell. “For example, we currently perform about 6,000 quality control phone calls a month to make sure that all locations are satisfied with our service. When we have access to the findings from on-site visits in a timelier manner, we expect that about half of these will be eliminated. “

According to Bunnell, Horizon National expects to reach a return on their initial $100,000 investment within a year, which will occur through the consolidation of their internal management structure, resulting in greater efficiencies of time and increased productivity by freeing up staff members to focus on other issues.

About DefinedLogicÂ’s Mobile Solutions Methodology

DefinedLogicÂ’s mobile solutions methodology is a proven approach to successfully developing and deploying enterprise-level mobile applications. Focused on one goal, predictable results, the companyÂ’s methodology is grounded by its stressed importance of identifying key business drivers of workforce mobility prior to embarking on any technology decisions. The Mobile Solutions Methodology provides the structure necessary to ensure a successful and predictable project delivery, but remains flexible for use in all types of mobile application development including sales force automation, field service automation, work force management and route sales pick-up and delivery, among others.

About DefinedLogic

DefinedLogic, LLC (www. definedlogic. com) is the leader in developing and delivering proven technology solutions to enterprises that need their employees, customers and partners to be integrated into business processes. DefinedLogic offers highly experienced business analysts, project managers, designers, and developers to assist enterprises with completing projects on time, on budget and in line with their objectives. DefinedLogic prides itself in remaining technologically agnostic to provide its clients with the best unbiased advice and service available.

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Clarity Launches Hearing Health Blog - MyHearingHealth. com to Provide Educational Forum for Hearing Loss Community

Clarity Launches Hearing Health Blog - MyHearingHealth. com to Provide Educational Forum for Hearing Loss Community

Clarity®, a division of Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) and the nation’s leading supplier of amplified telephones, today launched MyHearingHealth. com – a blog devoted to the hearing loss community.

Chattanooga, Tn (PRWEB) October 5, 2006

Clarity®, a division of Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) and the nation’s leading supplier of amplified telephones, today launched MyHearingHealth. com – a blog devoted to the hearing loss community.

MyHearingHealth. com is an online educational resource for anyone connected to the hearing loss community, including people who suffer from a hearing loss, family members, audiologists and individuals or groups involved in hearing loss education, prevention and solution.

“Millions nationwide are affected by hearing loss. Unfortunately, we are often an overlooked community in mainstream media,” said Carsten Trads, president of Clarity. “The blogosphere presents us a great opportunity to give like-minded people a resource to share, discuss, debate and inform one another.”

MyHearingHealth. com, which will be maintained by Clarity, is a collaborative effort. For the past several months, Clarity has been working with audiologists, hearing health professionals, advocates, designers and the company’s internal staff to develop the blog.

The blog will feature different authors on a daily basis. Content will vary, covering everything from the latest medical advances to new technological solutions, and the site will also link to other hearing-related blogs and communities.

“Like many blogs, the content will flow organically,” said Chris Dutton, Clarity’s Marketing Communications Manager and one of the site’s primary contributors. “By using different authors, we can tap into multiple perspectives. No matter who the writer is, the focus will always be on hearing loss – a serious health issue that our team devotes every minute of every day to.”

About Clarity

Clarity®, a Division of Plantronics Inc. (NYSE:PLT), is a leading supplier of amplified telephones, notification systems, assistive listening devices and other communications devices for the hearing loss and deaf markets. A leader in sound amplification, Clarity’s patented technologies, Clarity® Power™ and Digital Clarity Power™, provide customized solutions for customers who otherwise could not communicate easily and effectively with the outside world. As more people begin to address their hearing needs, Clarity will continue to provide effective technologies that are simple and easy to use. The company began in 1969 as a telecommunications manufacturer, and was acquired in 1986 by Plantronics, Inc., a leading provider of headsets to business and individual consumers worldwide. For more information about Clarity and its products, please call (800) 426-3738 or visit www. clarityproducts. com.

About Plantronics®

In 1969, a Plantronics headset carried the historic first words from the moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Since then, Plantronics has become the headset of choice for mission-critical applications such as air traffic control, 911 dispatch, and the New York Stock Exchange. Today, this history of Sound Innovation™ is the basis for every product we build for the office, contact center, personal mobile, entertainment and residential markets. The Plantronics family of brands includes Plantronics, Altec Lansing, Clarity, and Volume Logic. For more information, go to www. plantronics. com or call (800) 544-4660.

Altec Lansing, Amplifying Your Life, Clarity, Clarity Power, Digital Clarity Power, the logo design, Plantronics, Sound Innovation, and Volume Logic are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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California Company Brings Low Cost SaaS Technology to Vertical Markets

California Company Brings Low Cost SaaS Technology to Vertical Markets

Terrosa Technologies announces a strategic partnership with Product Design Group to develop marketing strategies and distribution channels. This partnership expands on Terrosa's successful SaaS software conversion services and will speed time to market for their clients. Terrosa launches products that have unique niche software applications in Health Systems, Direct Sales, Geographical Information Systems and other fields. In uncertain and financially challenging times, it is critical that companies deliver software efficiently and with less risk. SaaS is the fastest growing software segment for small and mid-sized businesses.

Thousand Oaks, CA (PRWEB) January 28, 2009

Terrosa Technologies announces a strategic partnership with Product Design Group to develop marketing strategies and distribution channels. This partnership expands on the company's successful SaaS software conversion services and will speed time to market for their clients.

Terrosa launches products that have unique niche software applications in Health Systems, Direct Sales, Geographical Information Systems and other fields. In uncertain and financially challenging times, it is critical that companies deliver software efficiently and with less risk. SaaS is the fastest growing software segment for small and mid-sized businesses.

"Response for this type of comprehensive service has been tremendous because of the Return on Investment and Total Cost of Ownership benefits," states Terrosa President, Kim Terry. "We work with software companies who have domain expertise, turning them into SaaS providers with a powerful marketing and sales program."

Software assessments are being scheduled through Tom Landau, Inquiry (at) terrosatech (dot) com, or 818-991-1992.

About Terrosa Technologies:
Terrosa Technologies (www. terrosatech. com) was born out of the recognition that software provided as a service (SaaS) produces greater efficiency, value and benefits over traditional site installed solutions. The company's team of professionals has managed hundreds of SaaS product roll outs and have an average of 15+ years of experience in information technology.

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Mount Sinai School of Medicine Ranked in the Top 20 Best Medical Schools by US News & World Report

Mount Sinai School of Medicine Ranked in the Top 20 Best Medical Schools by US News & World Report

The 2011 US News & World Report has ranked Mount Sinai School of Medicine 18th out of 146 medical schools and schools of osteopathic medicine nationwide, jumping from 32nd in 2005.

New York (Vocus) April 20, 2010

The 2011 US News & World Report has ranked Mount Sinai School of Medicine 18th out of 146 medical schools and schools of osteopathic medicine nationwide, jumping from 32nd in 2005. Mount Sinai’s improvement in the rankings is one of the largest by any institution.

The new rankings were released April 15th in the 2011 edition of the US News & World Report “America’s Best Graduate Schools” issue. “This achievement is the result of our commitment to provide a top-tier education, one that gives students many opportunities to be mentored by, and to conduct research with, world-renowned scientists and physicians,” says Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at The Mount Sinai Medical Center.

US News & World Report rankings are based on statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research, and students. This information is obtained through surveys of program directors as well as academics and professionals. Criteria used in the rankings include peer assessment surveys, research activity, grade point averages, MCAT scores, and National Institutes of Health funding. Mount Sinai’s ranking in NIH funding also continues to improve as it is currently ranked in the top 20 medical schools in receipt of such funding.

About The Mount Sinai Medical Center

The Mount Sinai Medical Center encompasses both The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Established in 1968, Mount Sinai School of Medicine is one of few medical schools embedded in a hospital in the United States. It has more than 3,400 faculty in 32 departments and 15 institutes, and ranks among the top 20 medical schools both in National Institute of Health funding and by U. S. News & World Report. The school received the 2009 Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Service from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

The Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is a 1,171-bed tertiary - and quaternary-care teaching facility and one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most-respected voluntary hospitals. In 2009, U. S. News & World Report ranked The Mount Sinai Hospital among the nation’s top 20 hospitals based on reputation, patient safety, and other patient-care factors. Nearly 60,000 people were treated at Mount Sinai as inpatients last year, and approximately 530,000 outpatient visits took place.

For more information, visit http://www. mountsinai. org.

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Weekly Venture Capital Activity Week Nov. 15 Through Nov. 21

Weekly Venture Capital Activity Week Nov. 15 Through Nov. 21

Www. CapitalHunter. com was able to verify that $369.6 million of venture capital was invested in 40 U. S.-based companies during this week’s reporting period. The average deal size was approximately 9.25 million. The amount of venture capital invested this period decreased by 9% compared to last periods $408 million.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) November 30, 2005

Venture capital exceeded $300 million for the eighth straight week, as $369.6 million was invested into forty different companies. The majority of this new funding was placed into early stage companies and software in particular, which accounted for more than a quarter of total sector funding for this reporting period. Biotechnology had a surprisingly dormant week, with just a paltry $14.7 million, or 4% of this week’s total invested capital. On the whole, however, funding was surprisingly spread out between many different sectors, with ten sectors receiving at least $10 million, the first time that has happened in many months.

With the improving conditions in the stock market (at least short-term), companies are becoming a bit more willing to float offerings to the public. Six companies had initial public offerings this week, which is the same number of companies that floated last week. The six companies that listed are as follows:

Vimicro International priced at $86.97 million on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange and is a Beijing-based fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and markets chips for multimedia-enabled consumer electronic applications.

InterContinentalExchange priced at $416 million on the New York Stock Exchange and is an Atlanta-based electronic global futures and over-the-counter marketplace for energy products.

SunPower Corporation priced at $138.6 million on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange and is a Sunnyvale-based designer and manufacturer of solar electric power products.

Under Armour priced at $157.6 million on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange and is a Baltimore-based developer and distributor of athletic performance products.

Dover Saddlery priced at $27.5 million on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange and is a specialty retailer and direct marketer of equestrian products.

Amerisafe priced at $72 million on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange and is a specialty provider of worker’s compensation insurance for small to mid-sized employers engaged in hazardous industries.

Note: We will not be publishing a newsletter next Tuesday (11/29) due to the fact that activity during Thanksgiving week tends to be very low. We will publish 11/21-11/27 results with the 11/28-12/4 newsletter on December 6th.

Www. CapitalHunter. com was able to verify that $369.6 million of venture capital was invested in 40 U. S.-based companies during this week’s reporting period. The average deal size was approximately 9.25 million. The amount of venture capital invested this period decreased by 9% compared to last periods $408 million.

California was the most popular destination for venture capital, as sixteen California companies raised $141.35 million in new equity financing, which accounted for 38% of the total venture capital invested this reporting period. The largest private venture financing in California was placed into Hansen Medical. Hansen Medical raised $30 million in Series C funding and is a Mountain View-based medical device company that develops robotic technology for the three-dimensional control of catheter movement during cardiac procedures.

The software sector regained its crown this week, with twelve software companies raising $96.3 million in venture financing, which accounted for 27% of all venture capital this period. The largest private venture financing in the software sector this period was placed into Perfect Commerce. Perfect Commerce raised $30 million in Series C funding and is a Kansas City-based provider of on-demand supplier relationship management solutions.

Startup companies raising their first institutional rounds of financing represented the largest share of the funding pie, as one-third of all money invested this period went into companies raising either a seed or Series A round of funding. The largest private venture financing in the Series A round was placed into Pittsburgh-based Millennium Pharmacy System. Millennium Pharmacy System raised $14.5 million and is a provider of contract pharmacy services to the long-term care industry.

The three largest venture deals this period are as follows:

1 Hansen Medical Medical Devices $30 million

2 Perfect Commerce Software $30 million

3 OQO Computers & Peripherals $20 million

The following sixteen companies and other unnamed investors funded the above mentioned top three venture capital investments for $80 million:

1 Apax Partners

2 AsiaTech Management

3 Azure Capital Partners

4 De Novo Ventures

5 Mayfield Fund

6 Mobius Venture Capital

7 Motorola Ventures

8 New Enterprise Associates

9 Paladin Capital Group

10 Prospect Venture Partners

11 Sapient Capital

12 Skyline Venture Partners

13 Soundview Ventures

14 Thomas Weisel Healthcare Venture Partners

15 Vanguard Ventures

16 Wand Partners

A total of 72 equity financings of private and public companies occurred during this reporting period. Each of the 72 equity financings are profiled in a weekly report which include venture financings, private placements, secondary offerings, PIPE’s, and IPO’s.

About www. CapitalHunter. com

Www. CapitalHunter. com is a web-based financial information company that identifies, preserves and electronically disseminates worldwide data on venture capital and other equity financings. Customers utilize the CapitalHunter. com searchable database to research newly and historic financings and to identify active investors.

Please come visit our new and improved web site at CapitalHunter. com. We have made improvements to both the look and functionality of our web site, including business resources, glossary terms, and other helpful information provided free of charge for the budding entrepreneur. For private equity firms, consulting firms, business journals, and individuals looking to do research on venture backed companies, you can still gain complete access to our entire database for $59 a quarter and $199 a year.

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Pacific Community Ventures Awarded $165,000 for Job Creation Programs

Pacific Community Ventures Awarded $165,000 for Job Creation Programs

Hearst Foundation contributes $100,000 for effective business advising model

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 31, 2010

Hundreds of small businesses in California received a boost recently when Pacific Community Ventures www. pacificcommunityventures. org, an economic development nonprofit organization, secured $165,000 for its job creation programs. An award from the Hearst Foundation for $100,000 will bolster Pacific Community Ventures’ Business Advising program. With a $65,000 Community Development Block Grant from the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Pacific Community Ventures and local non-profit SFMade will provide business advising services to San Francisco-based manufacturers.

Pacific Community Ventures’ Business Advising program recruits California’s brightest business minds to volunteer their time to coach small business owners on issues such as human resources, financial management and socially responsible practices. The companies Pacific Community Ventures advises are primarily manufacturing, service, and retail businesses located in or hiring from economically underserved communities.

“When we saw that Pacific Community Ventures’ advised companies were adding jobs at a rate of 3% during the worst economy in a generation,” said Paul "Dino" Dinovitz, Executive Director of the Hearst Foundation, “we knew their approach to job creation was delivering results. We’re pleased to support these effective strategies to help those in lower-income communities find and keep quality jobs.”

The funding from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development establishes a unique partnership for Pacific Community Ventures. With this Community Development Block Grant, the nonprofit is helping to seed SFMade, a new organization that supports small businesses that produce goods in San Francisco. Pacific Community Ventures will offer its Business Advising program to SFMade’s member entrepreneurs, helping these companies to remain in the city, hiring from the local community and contributing to the local economy.

“Between our collaboration with SFMade and our work with entrepreneurs throughout the state, we aim to support more than 200 small companies that, in turn, employ over 4,000 California workers, including 3,000 from lower-income communities,” noted Pacific Community Ventures’ Executive Director Beth Sirull. “Thanks to supporters such as Hearst and the city of San Francisco, Pacific Community Ventures is helping small businesses create jobs and rise up in down times.”

Since its founding twelve years ago, Pacific Community Ventures has created over 5,000 quality jobs. Virtually all of the organization’s companies pay their lower wage workers - workers at the 10th percentile of the company’s wages - a higher wage than companies in the same industry in California. Eighty-one percent of Pacific Community Ventures’ companies offer health insurance to their lower wage workers, compared to 73% of California companies.

ABOUT PACIFIC COMMUNITY VENTURES
Pacific Community Ventures builds responsible small businesses to create jobs and opportunities in lower income communities. We help create quality jobs—cost-effectively—for the people who need them most. Pacific Community Ventures accomplishes this mission through two core nonprofit programs, Business Advising and Insight, and through our affiliated equity funds. To learn more, visit www. pacificcommunityventures. org Pacific Community Ventures is a fiscal sponsor of SFMade; for more information, visit www. sfmade. org

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