Said Tim Westergren, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Pandora, “Like the GRAMMY Awards, Pandora internet radio is about celebrating new musicians as well as honoring well-known ones. Our mission is to give people music they love and help musicians find a wider audience of listeners. A special-edition station, like this GRAMMY station, adds yet another way for listeners to enjoy and discover great music from a wide range of styles.”

On Pandora internet radio, composers and performers earn a royalty every time their songs are played.  Pandora has 75 million listeners who each have the ability to create up to 100 personalized radio stations.  Pandora internet radio is free, easy to use, and currently accessible on more than 200 connected devices including smartphones, cars, TVs and more.

ABOUT PANDORA

Pandora gives people music they love anytime, anywhere, through connected devices. Personalized stations launch instantly with the input of a single “seed” – a favorite artist, song or genre.  The Music Genome Project®, a deeply detailed, hand-built musical taxonomy, powers Pandora® internet radio’s personalization using musicological “DNA” and constant listener feedback to craft personalized stations from a growing collection of hundreds of thousands of recordings. Tens of millions of people in the U.S. turn on Pandora® internet radio to hear music they love. www.pandora.com

ABOUT THE RECORDING ACADEMY

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization’s social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/thegrammys, a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/thegrammys, and a YouTube channel subscriber at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.

SOURCE Pandora

Source – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grammy-station-launches-on-pandora-114287494.html

Vision Care (Contact Lenses and Spectacle Lenses) – Global Pipeline Analysis, Opportunity Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2016

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0363025/Vision-Care-Contact-Lenses-and-Spectacle-Lenses—Global-Pipeline-Analysis-Opportunity-Assessment-and-Market-Forecasts-to-2016.html

Vision Care (Contact Lenses and Spectacle Lenses) – Global Pipeline Analysis, Opportunity Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2016

Summary

GlobalData’s new report, “Vision Care (Contact Lenses and Spectacle Lenses) – Global Pipeline Analysis, Opportunity Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2016″ provides key data, information and analysis on the global vision care market. The report provides market landscape, competitive landscape and market trends information on the vision care market. The report provides comprehensive information on the key trends affecting the market, and key analytical content on the market dynamics. The report also reviews the competitive landscape and technology offerings.

This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by GlobalData’s team of industry experts.

Scope

- Key geographies covered include the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, China, India, Australia, and Brazil.

- Key segments covered include Contact Lenses (Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses, Soft Contact Lenses), and Spectacle Lenses.

- Annualized market revenues data from 2002 to 2009, forecast forward for 7 years to 2016. Company shares data for 2009.

- Qualitative analysis of key market trends, market drivers, and restraints by each category within cataract surgery devices market.

- The report also covers information on the leading market players, the competitive landscape, and the leading pipeline products and technologies.

- Key players covered include Essilor International, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, CIBA Vision Corporation, HOYA Corporation, Carl Zeiss, and Bausch & Lomb.

Reasons to buy

- Develop business strategies by understanding the trends and developments that are driving the vision care market globally.

- Design and develop your product development, marketing and sales strategies.

- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.

- Identify key players best positioned to take advantage of the emerging market opportunities.

- Exploit in-licensing and out-licensing opportunities by identifying products, most likely to ensure a robust return.

- What’s the next big thing in the vision care market landscape? – Identify, understand and capitalize.

- Make more informed business decisions from the insightful and in-depth analysis of the global vision care market and the factors shaping it.

To order this report:

: Vision Care (Contact Lenses and Spectacle Lenses) – Global Pipeline Analysis, Opportunity Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2016

More  Market Research Report

Check our  Company Profile, SWOT and Revenue Analysis!

CONTACT:

Nicolas Bombourg

Reportlinker

Email: nbo@reportlinker.com

US: (805)652-2626

Intl: +1 805-652-2626

SOURCE Reportlinker

Source – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reportlinker-adds-vision-care-contact-lenses-and-spectacle-lenses—global-pipeline-analysis-opportunity-assessment-and-market-forecasts-to-2016-114267779.html

Telmar announces the complete integration of the Traffic Audit Bureau’s (TAB) Eyes-On Data into its suite of media planning services.  Telmar’s integration of Eyes-On data allows advertisers, planners, and buyers the opportunity to fully realize the impact of outdoor advertising.  With this additional level of integration available, Telmar now has the only system that allows media planners to refine a general plan and evaluate the pluses and minuses of specific units or schedules.

Using the Eyes-On Data in Telmar systems, buying services like Posterscope USA can use traditional media metrics such as % reach, average frequency, TRPS, and compare cost efficiencies using CPMs and CPPs.  These industry-standard measurements for out of home facilitate bringing outdoor easily into the media mix, with common denominators to other forms of media.

“The expansion of Telmar’s applications into the realm of general media planning significantly extends the value of the system beyond out of home buyers and into the general planning community,” said Joe Philport, president, Traffic Audit Bureau for Media Measurement.  ”Detailed information and summary information are now combined into a single system that will be essential for considering outdoor in multimedia planning.”

Posterscope, a market leader in out of home media buying , was the first media buying agency to utilize site level planning and has been testing market level analysis during the beta period.  Posterscope will be using the Telmar system to develop plans for its esteemed client base including such notable advertisers as Coca-Cola, among others.

“Out of home media is going through its largest change in decades.  We finally have data that allows us to compare it equally to other forms of media,” said Chris Gagen, SVP Managing Director, Posterscope.  ”Telmar provides the industry with a great tool for buyers enabling them to sift through massive amounts of optimized data to easily create plans that meet new communication goals.”

“The power of Telmar has always been to help the industry take layers of complex data and be able to extract an impactful media plan,” said Stan Federman, Chairman and CEO, Telmar.  ”Telmar has the only system that media planners can use to refine a general plan based on site level and market level summary information.  Until now, the industry has not been able to provide data that allows outdoor to easily “compete” for resources across the media landscape.  We’re delighted to be able to roll up out of home planning to market level for immediate use in executing schedules.”

About Telmar

Telmar is a world-wide leading supplier of advertising and media information software and services.  Telmar’s 10,000 users across 85 countries include many of the world’s leading advertising agencies, digital and print publishers, broadcasters and advertisers.  For advertisers and advertising agencies, Telmar provides software for survey analysis, data integration, media planning and optimization and more.  For digital and print publishers, broadcasters and outdoor operators, Telmar offers the ability to collect, store and manage media research for media planning, media sales, revenue management and optimization.  Telmar has offices around the world and is headquartered in New York City, New York.  For more information on Telmar and its international services, please visit www.telmar.com.

SOURCE Telmar

Source – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/telmar-announces-market-level-planning-for-out-of-home-114238769.html

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NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — For the seventh consecutive year, PwC US has been named as one of FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.” PwC ranks number 73 overall and number 23 among large companies on this year’s list, the 14th annual installment.  PwC was also highlighted among companies seeking to hire the most people and organizations with the highest percentage of telecommuters.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100917/NY66894LOGO)

PwC has a culture and long history of providing its people with extensive development opportunities, an inclusive and respectful workplace environment, distinctive work/life programs and meaningful activities that support local communities.  The firm understands that providing quality services to clients requires an ongoing commitment to its own people.  

To help celebrate the latest FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” list and PwC’s repeated appearances on it, Bob Moritz, PwC U.S. chairman and senior partner, will join FORTUNE staff, executives from The Great Place to Work Institute and leaders from several other “100 Best” companies to ring the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange today.

“Creating a great career experience for your people is the only way for an organization to realize its goals. At PwC, we want to provide our people with a rewarding personalized experience that helps them develop personally and professionally.  By doing so, we are able to attract and retain the best people, who in turn will be inspired to create that same quality experience for our clients,” said Moritz.

“We are proud of  all our people and their accomplishments, and we will continue to look at new and innovative ways to attract, develop and retain the best people possible,” added Dennis Finn, Global and US Human Capital Leader, PwC.

In addition to longstanding firm benefits such as flexible work arrangements and generous parental leave policies, other activities and programs supporting PwC’s repeated inclusion on the FORTUNE list include:

PwC devoted more than 1.7 million hours to learning and education in its last fiscal year.  Increasingly, PwC is blending virtual and in-person programs to create year-round development opportunities for its people while significantly reducing the firm’s carbon footprint.

PwC partners and staff donated more than 129,000 hours of service through firm-sponsored programs in the last fiscal year.  In addition to donating time, the firm and its people also provided nearly $35.6 million in charitable donations, including those made through the PwC Charitable Foundation.

Through PwC’s mobility program, firm professionals broaden their business knowledge and expertise from a global lens, while simultaneously providing clients with global solutions. The program stretches across business units, markets and geographies and provides participants with unique opportunities for professional growth and development.  Globally, PwC has more than 2,000 professionals on long-term inbound or outbound assignments.

In addition to FORTUNE, a number of other external organizations have validated PwC’s human capital strategy.  PwC is featured in The Great Workplace Institute’s new book published by Jossey-Bass, The Great Workplace.   Training magazine ranked PwC No. 1 in its “Training Top 125″ for the last three years, making the firm eligible for induction into the magazine’s Hall of Fame.  PwC has also been named to Working Mother’s “Best Companies” list for 16 consecutive years, including seven successive years in the top 10, and has ranked in the top five of the “Universum Global Top 50,” an index of the world’s most attractive employers, for the past two years.  For a list of other awards and recognition achieved by PwC, visit the “About us” section at www.pwc.com.

About the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” List

To pick the 100 Best Companies to Work For, FORTUNE partners with the Great Place to Work Institute to conduct the most extensive employee survey in corporate America. Three hundred eleven companies participated in this year’s survey.  Two-thirds of a company’s score is based on the results of the Institute’s Trust Index survey, which is sent to a random sample of employees from each company.  The survey asks questions related to their attitudes about management’s credibility, job satisfaction, and camaraderie.  The other third of the scoring is based on the company’s responses to the Institute’s Culture Audit, which includes detailed questions about pay and benefit programs and a series of open-ended questions about hiring practices, internal communications, training, recognition programs and diversity efforts. Any company that is at least seven years old with more than 1,000 U.S. employees is eligible.

The full list and related stories can be found at: FORTUNE.com/bestcompanies.

About the PwC Network

PwC firms provide industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to enhance value for their clients. More than 161,000 people in 154 countries in firms across the PwC network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice. See www.pwc.com for more information.

© 2011 PwC. All rights reserved. “PwC” and “PwC US” refer to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership, which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate legal entity.

SOURCE PwC

Source – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pwc-named-to-fortunes-100-best-companies-to-work-for-list-for-seventh-consecutive-year-114355969.html

“Our expansion into North America marks a major step towards our goal of becoming a truly global company,” said Jim Southwell, general manager of Infratel’s North American operations. “We’re just beginning to get set-up here but already have some new U.S. customers on-board and look to grow that base dramatically in 2011.”

Since launching in Europe in 1999, Infratel has experienced steady and significant growth in the current markets it serves, including an exceptionally strong 2009, and is now re-investing those profits to open new markets beginning with North America.

“Our products and services run on a Windows platform and are accessible to a wide range of small- and mid-size businesses,” said Southwell, an industry veteran that comes from Avaya. “This allows us to level the playing field for small businesses that need call center solutions that are on-par with their larger counterparts.”

“Seattle is a major hub for software and technology companies and a big reason we chose the area to set-up shop,” said Southwell. “In the year ahead, we’ll be hiring sales and operations professionals to work out of the Seattle office and know that we’ll have access to a deep pool of talent that’s already based here in the area.”

The company’s Infra Call Center provides a suite of solutions that deliver call routing, reporting and analytics, IVR, call recording and proactive contact. Infra CommSuite delivers a robust software platform that serves the general telephony needs of small- and medium-sized businesses. The suite of software allows companies to reduce costs, enhance customer satisfaction and increase revenue.

In addition to its traditional call center platform, Infratel has plans for full social media integration in the year ahead that enables agents to recognize user trends and sentiments. This added layer of information will ultimately give agents the tools they need to circumvent problems and reward brand loyalty.

The company has also differentiated itself by its ability to offer services in a range of delivery options that provide best-fit solutions for their customers including: premise-based, hosted, managed or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) models.

“While we know that core call center functionality is critical to small- and medium-sized business, we’re also investing in social media integration as the notion of what constitutes a ‘call’ is going to evolve considerably over the next few years,” said Southwell.  “Our goal is to be a leader in making these innovative solutions accessible to the SMB market.”

About Infratel

Infratel was founded in 1999 by managers and engineers from Genesys Labs (now an Alcatel-Lucent company) who had witnessed, firsthand, the challenges small- to mid-sized companies face with shrinking budgets and increasing demands. From its inception, Infratel’s goal has been to offer a world-class suite of contact center and interaction solutions designed primarily for small- and medium-sized businesses.

The company’s flagship product, Infra Call Center, is a pure SIP-based application built on Microsoft Windows Server. Its corporate telephony solution, Infra CommSuite, is one of only a few Microsoft Windows Server-based IP PBX solutions available. Both were developed to help executives, IT departments and call center managers to truly do more with less through innovative technology. Worldwide, Infratel has more than 700 customers and 10,000 users.

More information on the company and its products can be viewed online at www.infratel.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dan Branley  (206) 914-1231

dbranley@launchcmus.com

SOURCE Infratel

Source – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infratel-expands-global-reach-chooses-seattle-as-na-headquarters-114357149.html

In addition to its local mobile broadband expansion, AT&T recently deployed mobile broadband service to nearby cell sites in Old Forge and Prospect. The new cell sites are one part of AT&T’s ongoing efforts to drive investment and innovation to deliver the nation’s best, most advanced mobile broadband experience for customers. With the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T provides accelerated mobile data speeds and simultaneous voice and data capabilities.

“Our goal is pretty simple: We want you to have an extraordinary experience whether you are sharing videos and photos with friends, watching a movie, checking the latest scores, or keeping your business mobile on your AT&T device,” said Robert Holliday, vice president and general manager, AT&T upstate New York. “We’re always looking for new opportunities to provide enhanced coverage, and our investment in the local wireless network is just one way to accomplish this.”

AT&T’s mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most widely used wireless network platforms in the world. AT&T has the best international coverage of any U.S. wireless provider, providing access to voice service in more than 220 countries and data service in more than 200 countries. AT&T also offers voice and data roaming coverage on more than 140 major cruise ships, as well as mobile broadband services in more than 125 countries.

AT&T also operates the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network** with more than 23,000 hotspots in the U.S. and provides access to more than 125,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. Most AT&T smartphone customers get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn’t count against customers’ monthly data plans.

For more information about AT&T’s coverage in upstate New York or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. Using the online tool, AT&T customers can measure coverage quality of coverage from a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.

For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.

* AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

** Largest based on company branded and operated hotspots. Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.

© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE AT&T Inc.

Source – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/att-expands-mobile-broadband-coverage-between-watertown-and-utica-114353439.html

“After careful consideration, we selected BrightSource’s LPT 550 energy system because of the technology’s superior performance, low impact environmental design and ability to be customized to Crete’s unique energy load profile,” said Kevin Sara, founder and CEO of Nur Energie. “When completed, this will be the largest tower installation and the most technologically advanced CSP plant in Europe.”

BrightSource Energy’s proprietary LPT 550 energy system is designed to offer the industry’s highest operating efficiencies and lowest capital costs. The system uses thousands of small mirrors – called heliostats – to reflect sunlight onto a boiler atop a tower to produce high temperature steam. The steam is then piped to a conventional turbine, which generates electricity. In order to conserve water, the steam is air-cooled and piped back into the system in a closed-loop, environmentally friendly process. By using a dry-cooling technology, the plant consumes approximately 95 percent less water than competing wet-cooled solar thermal technologies.

“This licensing agreement reflects growing recognition of power towers as the commercial solar thermal technology of choice for energy markets around the world,” said John Woolard, president and CEO of BrightSource Energy. “We’re proud to be working with Nur Energie to provide the people of Crete with highly efficient, reliable and environmentally responsible power.” For Nur Energie, this is the first CSP plant to be licensed within a portfolio of solar development activities, including large scale solar power plants in North Africa.

Nur Energie Ltd is an independent solar power producer in the Mediterranean region. Since 2008, it has focused on developing projects with CSP, PV and CPV technology in five core markets- Greece, Italy, France, Morocco and Tunisia, and has a pipeline of over 100MW of PV projects and over 2210MW of CSP projects in development. Please visit http://www.nurenergie.com for more information.

Motor Oil (Hellas) has been a leader in the oil and energy market in Greece for decades. Its Refinery with its ancillary plants and offsite facilities forms the largest privately held industrial complex in Greece and is considered as one of the most advanced refineries in Europe. It is active in the Greek electricity market through its participation in the company Korinthos Power for the construction of a 437MW CCGT power plant within the refinery facilities. Motor Oil is listed on the Athens Stock Exchange. Please visit http://www.moh.gr for more information.

BrightSource Energy, Inc. provides clean, reliable and low cost solar energy for utility and industrial companies worldwide. The BrightSource Energy team combines nearly three decades of experience designing, building and operating the world’s largest solar energy plants with world-class project development capabilities. The company now has contracted to sell 2610 megawatts of power to be generated using its proprietary solar thermal technology. BrightSource Energy’s solar plants are designed to minimize their impact on the environment and help customers reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Headquartered in Oakland, Calif., BrightSource Energy is a privately held company with operations in the United States, Israel, and Australia. To learn more about BrightSource Energy and solar thermal energy, visit http://www.brightsourceenergy.com.

For BrightSource information contact:
Kristin Hunter +1(415)281-7161
Hill & Knowlton for BrightSource Energy
kristin.hunter@hillandknowlton.com

For Nur MOH information contact:
Marleen Franke +44(0)203-102-5358
mf@nurenergie.com

SOURCE Nur MOH

Source – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/crete-38mw-solar-electricity-license-granted-from-greek-regulatory-agency-114266709.html

This is also true if you have wooden or metal chairs in the kitchen. The chair pads cushions tie onto the slats of most type of wooden chairs. This keeps the cushions in place while people are sitting and enjoying their meal at the kitchen table. The pads and cushions that are used for chairs come in a wide assortment of fabric, colors and patterns. This makes them easy to incorporate into an existing decor of a room. If you have small children you may want to use items that are easy to clean.

The chair pads you find for use with outdoor furniture also come in easy to clean materials. Some of the cushions can actually be removed from the padding so you can wash them in the washing machine. Most of the sets of lawn chairs and settees will have matching cushion pieces available. You can also find several styles of foam pads and cushions that you can take to outdoor events for use on bleachers.

Source – http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/chair-pads-and-cushions-for-your-outdoor-or-patio-furniture-4073087.html

ezW2 software prepares and prints 1099 and W2 forms for employees and vendors, including the multiple copies of each form required by U.S. tax law. ezW2 also prepares and prints Form W3 and Form 1096.

The new edition of ezW2 software is more user-friendly and powerful than ever. User can import data from csv file – which will save users valuable time by entering such information one by one. ezW2 2010 also electronically prints W2’s, 1099’s and other forms in portable document format (PDF) for delivery to employees and vendors by email or other electronic means, eliminating the need for unnecessary paper copies.

Small business owners love ezW2 software because it is simple and flexible to use, handles all their w2 and 1099 filing needs and is very affordable. ezW2 tax application is designed for use by non-accountants with minimal computer skills. However, even accountants like it because it is so flexible and supports unlimited accounts with one flat rate.

"We believe payroll and tax software should be designed for the non-technical people who are actual end-users," explains Mark Ge, President and Founder of halfpricesoft.com. "We always keep in mind that our customers are small business owners, not computer whizzes or financial gurus. But that makes them the best possible people to listen to when designing payroll software, so we include them as members of our design team."

ezW2′s interface is so intuitive and user-friendly that first time users can start printing forms w2 or 1099 immediately. The long learning curve typically associated with financial software is non-existent with ezW2, even if the user does not have an accounting background.

ezW2 software saves money for small businesses in 8 key ways:

(1) ezW2 2010 can print 2 forms on one sheet—using half as many expensive red form sheets
(2) ezW2 2010 eliminates need for W2 Copy A and W3 by laser printing Social Security Administration-approved substitutes on plain white paper
(3) Users save valuable time by eliminating the learning curve – ezW2 2010 is designed to be simple and intuitive, allowing users to get started right away
(4) Users save valuable time by importing employee data and contractor data from csv file – no need for users to enter the data one by one.
(5) Users save even more time by saving form data for later use and modification
(6) Support unlimited accounts with one flat rate
(7) PDF document converting
(8) At $39, ezW2 is among the lowest priced, full-featured software available for small businesses.

Business owners can try ezW2 risk free

New customers can make sure ezW2 meets their needs by trying the software risk free. The trial version is fully functional and there is no time limit to the trial offer. The trial version of ezW2 is limited only by printing a “SAMPLE” or “DEMO” watermark on printed forms. To unlock the software for printing actual W2 and 1099 forms, customers simply purchase a license key online at http://www.halfpricesoft.com/w2-software-free-download.asp.

To learn more about ezW2, 1099 and W2 printing software, please visit:
http://www.halfpricesoft.com/w2_software.asp

Or check YouTube Video: Fast 1099 reporting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB5RRCBveP8

About halfpricesoft.com

Founded in 2003, Halfpricesoft.com develops and distributes a wide range of small business software titles that are affordable and easy-to-use, including ezW2. Additional titles available from Halfpricesoft.com include ezCheck Personal Edition, ezCheck Printing, ezPaycheck 2011 and ezTimeSheet. The Halfpricesoft.com web site also contains resources and links to help small businesses with their payroll, accounting and tax reporting needs.

For More Information Please Contact:
halfpricesoft.com
P.O. Box 17067 Louisville, KY 40217 USA
email: contact(at)halfpricesoft(dot)com
Fax: (866) 909-6448
or visit the Web Site http://www.halfpricesoft.com/w2_software.asp

# # #

Source – http://www.prweb.com/releases/w2/1099/prweb8079207.htm

The technology is designed to make searching for a holiday easier by allowing customers to search for their next holidays the way they want to rather than forcing them to go through the process of researching every cruise line available.

Cruise Amour has created two new search criteria Cruise Type and Formality. These options means customers can pick from cruise options such as Friends & Family, Couples Getaway and Adults only, with Formality Options such as Formal, Semi-Formal and Informal. These combined with Destination, Date and three Sort By options have transformed the way customers search for cruise holidays.

Managing director Tim Hurrell commented: “After deciding where you want to go on holiday, the next choice people make is what type of holiday they want. Unless you know all there is to know about the different cruise lines and their ships its very hard to decide if a particular cruise is right for you or not. With so many new ships flooding the market place, practically every ship out there is at least 4* quality, which makes it hard for customers to know if a cruise will be too formal or relaxed for their liking. Our new Formality option helps customers select the right cruise for them.”

The Search Your Way technology also includes the option to switch to searching by Cruise Line and Cruise Ship for the customers who know what they’re looking for. Every time a customer changes an option the search system narrows down the search results and tells them how many cruises now match their criteria.

Oke Ugwu, Cruise Amour’s junior web developer said: “Everything we do is designed to make our customer’s experience of searching for and booking a cruise easier and more enjoyable. We’ve got lots of new features we’re working on so it’s a very exciting time for us.”

About Cruise Amour:

Cruise Amour is part of the Freedom Travel Group a subsidiary of Co-operative Travel. Specialising in selling cruise holidays, including P&O cruises and the latest cruise deals. Cruise Amour was started in December 2008 and is regarded as the “best in industry” when compared to other on-line cruise agencies. The company’s website offers P&O reviews as well as information on P&O ships.

PR Contact:

Tim Hurrell

Managing Director

1000 Lakeside

North Harbour

Portsmouth

PO6 3EZ

02393990036

www.cruiseamour.co.uk

SOURCE Cruise Amour

Source – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cruise-amour-announces-new-search-your-way-technology-114287224.html

NCA has consignments for it’s first Heavy Equipment Sale totaling over One Million Dollars. “We have secured consignors from Ohio, Louisiana, Texas and several here in Oklahoma with one thing in mind, gaining liquidity from their equipment,” comments Stephen Karbelk, CAI, AARE, President and Founder of National Commercial Auctioneers.

The new equipment division will be managed by Steve Sorrell, an auctioneer and experienced equipment trader with over 20 years in the truck and trailer business.  

“Providing our online auction service to our corporate clients is an exciting part of the business for me,” says Steve Sorrell.  ”Our platform reaches buyers in all vertical markets in all major parts of the equipment business, including transportation, construction, and manufacturing equipment.”

National Commercial Auctioneers has a strong focus on providing auction services in the commercial space, whether it’s commercial real estate, commercial equipment or other commercial assets.  By offering equipment auctions along with its real estate auctions, NCA becomes a turn key solution for its clients that have a diverse set of assets to liquidate.  

“Unlike other companies that simply list equipment on an auction website and hope the buyers find out about it, we have taken the approach that an online auction is just like every other auction we do,” comments Stephen Karbelk.  ”Just like a live auction event, we widely advertise it, the buyer has the opportunity to inspect the equipment, and we proactively pursue likely buyers to make sure they know about the auction event.  Instead of showing up at the property, they simply show up online.”  

Their next scheduled auctions include an Agriculture/Equine Equipment Auction in Early March and another heavy equipment auction set for mid March 2011.  The latest catalog of equipment is available on their website at www.natcomauctions.com.   NCA expects to be adding new commercial equipment on a weekly basis.  

“We will continue to be a leader in selling commercial real estate at auction around the country.  Our sales have doubled this year over last year, and we expect to continue that pace into 2011,” projects Karbelk.

SOURCE National Commercial Auctioneers

Source – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-commercial-auctioneers-expands-into-commercial-equipment-auctions-114359469.html

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SAN FRANCISCO and ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Everist Genomics, a prognostics company focused on developing gene-based molecular assays for the prediction of cancer recurrence, today announced the positive results of the first external validation study of its OncoDefender-CRC colorectal cancer recurrence test.  The study is being conducted by Mayo Validation Support Services, and is being coordinated with investigators and resources from all three Mayo Clinic sites. The study, which will be presented in a poster presentation on Saturday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s 2011 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GI) in San Francisco, demonstrates that the OncoDefender-CRC assay can accurately predict individual recurrence risk in stage I and II colorectal cancer patients.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110110/NY26865LOGO )

“One of the most pressing challenges for physicians who treat colorectal cancer is the early identification of patients who are at risk of recurrence and could potentially benefit from prophylactic post-surgical chemotherapy,” said Lisa A. Boardman, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and principal study investigator. The study’s objective is to develop an effective tool to guide treatment decisions and for identifying those patients most likely to benefit from adjuvant therapy following surgical resection of tumor tissue.”

About the study

The OncoDefender-CRC test provided higher diagnostic accuracy than standard of care assessment measures in predicting probability of recurrence, with a statistically significant improvement in specificity and prognostic accuracy as compared to NCCN guidelines. The study demonstrated that the computed recurrence score maintained significance (p=0.020) in differentiating colorectal cancer recurrence probability between high-and low-risk patients. In contrast, standard assessment measures did not maintain significance (p=0.315) in differentiating colorectal cancer recurrence probability in this population.

Among the key performance indicators of the study, patients who were identified as “high risk” by the OncoDefender-CRC assay had a significantly higher probability of recurrence within 36 months than patients identified as “low risk.”

“The OncoDefender-CRC test equips physicians with critical data about the genetic properties of a tumor, which when used in conjunction with standard pathological tests, enables clinicians to make better individualized treatment decisions for high-risk patients, while minimizing the exposure of low-risk patients to unnecessary, costly and potentially toxic chemotherapy and radiotherapy,” said Peter F. Lenehan, M.D., Ph.D. Chief Medical Officer of Everist Genomics and principal study investigator. “We are confident that the OncoDefender-CRC assay has the potential to emerge as a valuable tool in the clinical management for early stage colorectal cancer patients.”

Colorectal cancer is the third most-common cancer, and accounts for 55,000 deaths in the United States annually. While effective screening and testing of colorectal cancer patients is vital in improving patient outcomes, the current treatment paradigm is unclear, particularly with regards to Stage I and II patients. The decision to treat patients with chemotherapy following surgery is based on an assessment of how likely their disease is to recur. Such assessments are typically limited to information related to the cancer’s anatomic characteristics, such as tumor size and depth of tissue invasion. There is growing evidence, however, that additional characteristics, such as certain cancer-specific gene expression levels, can help provide a more robust clinical picture for determining recurrence risk when analyzed in conjunction with traditional assessment criteria and testing methodologies.

Based on the positive validation study results, Everist Genomics expects to make the OncoDefender-CRC test commercially available to physicians and patients in the first quarter of 2011.

About OncoDefender-CRC™

OncoDefender-CRC™ colorectal cancer assay is a prognostic gene-based test used in stage I and II colon cancer and stage II rectal cancer patients that assesses the risk of recurrence of cancer following surgery. The test examines expression levels of a panel of genes extracted from cancer tissue taken at the time of surgery, and uses a proprietary computer-generated decision rule to accurately and reliably identify patients who are at risk of recurrence. Ultimately, this prognostic test serves as a clinical decision support tool, helping physicians and patients determine an appropriate individual treatment plan and to evaluate the need for additional therapy.

About Everist Genomics

Everist Genomics is a prognostics company focused on developing gene-based molecular assays for the prediction of cancer recurrence and proprietary point-of-care equipment for the evaluation and management of cardiovascular disease.  Using its patented, evolutionary drug development™ technology and methods, Everist Genomics is able to produce molecular signatures which are aimed at fostering personalized medicine.  These technologies generate information that healthcare providers and patients can use in making individualized treatment decisions.  The privately owned company was founded in 2002 and is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  For more information, please visit www.everistgenomics.com.

About Mayo Validation Support Services

Mayo Validation Support Services, an affiliate of Mayo Clinic, based in Rochester, Minn. Assists pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostic companies in validating the clinical significance of emerging biomarkers and technologies.  Mayo’s contribution of well-annotated biospecimens and clinical follow-up data support the development of individualized medicine, one of Mayo’s strategic initiatives.

www.mayovalidation.com

SOURCE Everist Genomics

Source – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/everist-genomics-announces-external-validation-of-oncodefender-crc-test-for-predicting-recurrence-risk-for-stage-i-and-ii-colorectal-cancer-patients-114355609.html

In his new role, Bocchi will continue to lead the field sales team and employee engagement and community outreach efforts in Portland and Seattle. He also assumes responsibility for alliance sales activities, sales information systems and EasyBiz, the airline’s corporate online booking product.

“While continuing his leadership role in Portland, Mark will also lead an effort to refine and enhance the role of our field sales team. They will play an even greater role in local community marketing efforts, employee engagement and support for leisure marketing promotions, along with their ongoing efforts to secure and boost corporate account activity on Alaska and Horizon,” said Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of marketing.

Bocchi worked at Horizon Air for 17 years before joining Alaska. He holds a bachelor of science degree in business management from the University of Oregon and currently serves as a board member for the Portland Business Association and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Oregon chapter.

Note to media: A high-resolution image of Bocchi is posted online in Alaska Airlines’ newsroom image gallery at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve more than 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008, 2009 and 2010 North America Airline Satisfaction Studies(SM). For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines

Source – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alaska-airlines–horizon-air-sales-veteran-mark-bocchi-promoted-to-lead-community-marketing-efforts-114354644.html

Consumers should reevaluate their family’s life insurance needs annually or when a major life event indicates the need for more, or less, life insurance coverage, according to experts. Such events include, getting married, having children, buying a new home, getting a job promotion, paying off outstanding debts, accumulating more debts or retiring.

“All too often, we get caught up in the daily hustle and bustle of our lives and forget to check important financial matters, like our life insurance coverage,” says Byron Udell, founder and CEO of AccuQuote. “That’s why there’s no better time to review your life insurance needs than the New Year. Whether it’s obtaining more coverage to protect a growing family or you’re buying a policy for the first time, make your New Year’s resolution a promise to protect your family financially should the unthinkable happen.”    

AccuQuote reveals five reasons to reevaluate life insurance needs in the New Year:

1.    Life events require more coverage, or less – Life insurance experts suggest having 10 to 20 times one’s annual salary in life insurance coverage. However, true coverage needs are indicative of number of children, amount of debts and other expenses, current and future financial goals, etc. Use AccuQuote’s term life insurance calculator to determine accurate life insurance needs.
2.    Policy length needs to be extended – Life insurance policies are typically sold in terms of 10 to 30 years. “The younger you are, the longer your term should be and vice versa,” says Udell. “If you find yourself with only a few years left on your policy, you probably need to extend your coverage, especially if your children or elderly parents still depend on you financially.”
3.    Health has changed for the better, or worse – Heath is the primary factor that affects one’s life insurance rate. “If your health has declined since you first purchased your policy, it would be wise to exercise your policy’s conversion option. Converting your term life insurance into permanent coverage guarantees coverage for life, regardless of changes in health, even conditions that would otherwise make you ‘uninsurable’, says Udell. “On the other hand, if your health has improved, you may be able to reapply for a lower rate.”
4.    Current policy is too expensive – Having trouble meeting your monthly or annual premium? Currently, term life insurance rates are near historic lows and still dropping. “If you can’t afford your current premium, check out a multi-carrier life insurance quoting and brokerage firm, like AccuQuote, to shop for the lowest rates,” says Udell. “But remember; never cancel an existing policy until a new one is paid for and in force.”
5.    Life insurance is more important than ever before – “In today’s economy, life insurance is one of best and most affordable ways to protect your family financially because other aspects of your financial life may not be what they were just one year ago,” says Udell.

About AccuQuote
AccuQuote helps consumers find the best values in term life insurance by combining instant online life insurance quotes with the personal service of unbiased life insurance professionals who answer questions, identify important issues and make meaningful recommendations. The company offers consumers an extensive selection of life insurance products, including term life, whole life, universal life, accidental death, long-term care, disability and selected annuities. AccuQuote.com has many handy insurance tools, including a term life insurance calculator to help consumers determine their life insurance needs, a glossary of industry terminology, a collection of articles and press releases that cover many life insurance topics and a blog that provides opportunities for discussion on life insurance and personal finance. For additional information or to get free quotes for low cost life insurance, please call AccuQuote at 888-314-4455.

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Source – http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/1/prweb8065887.htm

“Scan and send documents and photos up to 4” x 8” to such popular sites such as Costco.com, Evernote, facebook, Flikr, Picassa, Shutterfly, SnapFish and walmart.com without any PC required,” said Murray L. Dennis, president and CEO of iVina, Inc. “With almost ubiquitous access to Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, restaurants, Starbucks, corporate offices, personal residences and public facilities, the BulletScan M40 is becoming one of the most intelligent, easy-to-use, compact and cost-effective solutions for capturing, storing and sharing your most important photos, business contacts and receipts anywhere you go.”

The BulletScan M40 Photo Scanner is for the person who needs to quickly convert photos or paper files to digital files anywhere. Ideal for archiving family photos or reliving favorite memories, the BulletScan M40 helps bring favorite photos into the digital age where they can be easily stored, found, viewed and shared with others. Scanned images are automatically cropped and straightened without any software to install. Scan a 4” x 6” photo at 300dpi in color in under 7 seconds. Offering the ultimate in portability, the BulletScan M40 automatically scans photos directly to USB Flash drive, SD or MicroSD card – there is no PC required in order to capture photos, business cards and receipts digitally.

The Eye-Fi card is the 1st wireless memory card with built-in Wi-Fi that uses a wireless network to easily transfer captured images such as photos and documents. Upon setup, specify which networks the Eye-Fi card uses to transfer images. The Eye-Fi card supports up to 32 networks. When the BulletScan M40 scanner with the Eye-Fi card is within range of a specified network, scanned photos, documents and receipts will fly to your computer and favorite sharing site. During set up, customize where the scanned images are to be sent to one of over 25 popular sites. When the Eye-Fi X2 cards with Endless Memory selected are inserted into the BulletScan M40, scan an unlimited number of images as the Eye-Fi card will start making space on its cards once the uploaded images have been safely delivered to the sharing site.

iVina’s BulletScan scanners are available on-line from national resellers such as amazon.com, buy.com, costco.com, newegg.com, PC mall.com, tigerdirect.com and walmart.com, among others. For more information, please visit http://www.bulletscan.com.

About iVina, Inc.
iVina, Inc. designs, develops, markets, and supports innovative document scanning solutions. iVina combines best of class software and hardware to meet the ever-increasing business necessities in today’s digital world. iVina, Inc. is a privately-owned company headquartered in Milpitas, CA. See http://www.bulletscan.com.

About Eye-Fi
Founded in 2005, the company is dedicated to building products and services that help consumers navigate, nurture and share their visual memories. Eye-Fi’s patented and patent-pending technology works with Wi-Fi networks to automatically send photos from a digital camera to online, in-home and retail destinations.

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Source – http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/01/prweb4947714.htm

“Dell Inc. plans to spend more than $100 billion over 10 years to broaden operations in China. The flagship base of China’s second operations center in Chengdu adds manufacturing, sales and services, to support the rapid growth in business occurring in western China. The expansion is also to support the Western-China Development Strategy (Go-West policy) aimed at developing the country’s inner-western region for trade and commerce,” said Steve Felice, President of Dell’s global small and medium business operations.

China’s national “Go West Policy” strategy has successfully attracted a large number of foreign enterprises to Chengdu in the past few years, such as Intel, Texas Instruments, Alcatel-Lucent, Motorola, Sony and Hitachi. As per today, 179 Global 500 companies have a presence in Chengdu as well as11 of the top 20 software enterprises. Chengdu was listed as one of the World’s Fastest-Growing Cities over the next decade by Forbes Magazine last October, and named as the top investment destination in China by the American Chamber of Commerce in 2010.

“Chengdu is China’s IT hub, and it has become the preferred location for foreign investors to layout in West China,” Bai Gang, the Vice city major stated.

The customer service center is the first project of Dell’s flagship base launched in Chengdu; other projects will be started up successively in 2011. The Chengdu site could grow to 3,000 team members in the end of this year.

About Tianfu Software Park

Tianfu Software Park is one of the key national level software industry bases and the largest software park operation in West China with a total construction area of over 1.2 million m2, Tianfu Software Park is invested and supported by Chengdu Hi-tech Zone government. As per December of 2010, over 160 companies, including IBM, Accenture, SAP, Cisco, EMC, Nokia-Siemens Networks, Ericsson and Huawei, employing over 26,000 people.

Contact:

Tammy Zhou

Phone: +8628-8533-1111*8181

Email: zhoumin@tianfusoftwarepark.com

SOURCE Chengdu Tianfu Software Park

Source – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dell-locates-its-first-western-china-customer-service-center-in-tianfu-software-park-114359789.html

Leading employers have rallied around the ambitious plan that allows all companies, regardless of size or industry, to list jobs free of charge, automatically upload new listings on a daily basis, and intelligently distribute job listings to relevant web sites. For example, an IBM listing for an engineering job in New York will be distributed to multiple relevant websites, such as http://www.newyork.jobs and http://www.engineering.jobs.

The .JOBS Universe is led by Bill Warren, Executive Director of DirectEmployers Association, a former President of the Monster.com job board who is widely regarded as the founder of online recruiting. Approximately forty thousand of the .JOBS domains, including 126 international locations, will be functioning in January with tens of thousands more planned by the end of the year.

Mr. Warren states “The very largest of employers in the world have pooled their resources to build this recruitment vertical. They want greater efficiencies from the Internet and are taking matters into their own hands to invest in the outcome. With the recent advances in cloud computing, the scalability of the .JOBS Universe is off the charts. The potential for cost savings is natural, real and sustainable as well as available free of charge to every employer worldwide regardless of industry or size.”

Benefits job seekers will find include intuitive web site entry points, verified job listings and the ability to connect directly with employers. "I’m excited about the .JOBS Universe because it’s going to revolutionize the way someone will look for a job. Right now the process is very difficult. It takes so much time and there’s so much duplication of effort. With .JOBS, candidates will be able to go to one, intuitive location and know that the opportunities listed are straight from employers," says Randy Goldberg, Vice President Recruiting, Hyatt North America Operations.

Job listings in the .JOBS Universe are fully integrated with social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and others. Job seekers can build their own profile and identify which of their friends or connections are working at a particular company of interest. They can also find and follow companies and recruiters on the various social networks and share job listings with their friends on social news sites. The .JOBS Universe platform has also been optimized for easy access on mobile browsers. Its “open source” approach allows industry vendors to develop apps that will result in even greater efficiencies in the future.

Mr. Warren adds “Building out the .JOBS TLD, owned and managed by employers through a non-profit association, is revolutionary for the Internet and a gigantic step for both employers and job seekers. It provides employers low-cost advertising and branding opportunities while reducing recruiting costs. It also provides job seekers a direct connection to employers and a trusted, reliable source on the Internet to locate employment opportunities.”

The .JOBS Universe is the result of a proposal made by DirectEmployers Association to Employ Media LLC, the licensed operator of the .JOBS TLD.

About DirectEmployers Association

DirectEmployers Association, Inc. is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, 550-member employer association.
As provided in its corporate bylaws, the business and affairs of the Association are managed by a board of directors consisting of member company representatives. Daily operations are managed by an executive director and operations staff at the direction of the president and board of directors. Its mission is to provide employers an employment network that is cost-effective, improves labor market efficiency and reaches an ethnically diverse national and international workforce.

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Source – http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/01/prweb4978684.htm

“It is with great confidence that I announce a consolidation of our reporting structure to better posture our Bank, and its flexible and proven business model, to continue to be an even more robust and diversified partner to our affiliated Associations serving rural America. Brian and Bill exemplify successful and diversified experience from both within and outside the Farm Credit System and demonstrate the strength of the executive team we have built to sustain our future,” said Bill York, AgriBank CEO.

O’Keane’s newly created position includes Association relationship management and government affairs in addition to his current leadership of treasury and finance. He joined AgriBank in 2007 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining AgriBank, he held a series of key financial leadership roles within CNH Capital, the captive financial services arm of Case New Holland Inc., including global treasurer. O’Keane holds a BS Degree in Finance from Indiana University and an MBA Degree in Finance, Accounting and International Business from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University.

Johnson’s newly created position includes broader responsibilities for business services, minerals management, insurance and AgriBank communications in addition to his current leadership of technology and enterprise risk management. Having most recently served as AgriBank Senior Vice President, Chief Risk & Information Officer, Johnson has a diversified background within the Farm Credit System including positions at Northwest Farm Credit Services (Spokane), Farm Credit Services of Mid-America (Louisville) and the Farm Credit Bank of Louisville. Prior to joining AgriBank, he was Executive Vice President of Farm Credit Financial Partners, Inc. Johnson is a graduate of the University of Evansville with a BS Degree in Finance and holds an MBA from Gonzaga University.

About AgriBank
AgriBank, FCB is the largest of five banks within the national Farm Credit System, with over $68 billion in total assets. It facilitates agricultural lending in a District that stretches from Ohio to Wyoming and from Minnesota to Arkansas. AgriBank is committed to fulfilling its mission by providing a stable and reliable source of credit and services to Associations, supporting rural development and maintaining a sustainable model for Farm Credit. From its headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, AgriBank serves as a trusted partner, wholesale lender and business-service provider to a 15-state network of Associations.

Additional Information
For more information about AgriBank, including its annual and quarterly reports, visit the Bank’s website at http://www.agribank.com.

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Source – http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/01/prweb4988944.htm

“We think it is very important to share fundraising technology trends with the nonprofit community, yet the fundamentals familiar to any fundraiser still apply,” said Kristen Fulks, Blackbaud principal consultant and co-author of the paper. “With the ever-demanding challenges of the economy and other influences, it is even more critical to get donors engaged faster, rather than just using technology for technology’s sake.”
Highlights from Blackbaud’s Top Technology Trends include:

–    Technology is a crucial tool in delivering accurate, up-to-date information about prospects and donors in real-time across departments. Information consumers, both internal and external, will come to expect access to data in line with progressive forums, such as mobile, cloud-based tools. Nonprofits should expect mobile-powered major giving applications that provide constituent data on the go to become widely used in the coming years.

–    The web continues to grow as a primary channel for messaging and communicating an organization’s mission. Based on an audience and its needs, nonprofit websites will increasingly offer virtual opportunities for education, conversations, community, and stewardship, tailored to the user’s level of engagement with the organization.

–    The best fundraisers are those who ask their personal network for support. No one can promote an organization better than those who already believe in the mission and have a built-in network of high-propensity prospects. Tools to localize and personalize fundraising through independent fundraising events and other network-based fundraising tools – while retaining efficiencies and economies of scale associated with centralized systems – will be key.

–    Social remains an evolving medium and is best deployed as part of a comprehensive, mission-based strategy, although many organizations have found new constituencies who respond to this channel exclusively. Social networks provide the ability to communicate a mission and message to a large group, serving as a supplementary or primary acquisition channel. Nonprofits can deliver updates and announcements while leveraging a network of supporters for a tangible return on investment.

“Determining where technology can best complement an organization’s mission, also helps to establish the best use of resources; from staff, funding, board, donor, and otherwise,” said Bo Crader, principal consultant at Blackbaud and co-author of Top Technology Trends. “With the proliferation and divergence of technology readily available in the past few years, it is even more important for organizations to be fluent with trends in the market and their potential fit within their organization and strategies.”

Read Top Technology Trends and get access to a library of free nonprofit resources at http://www.blackbaud.com/resources.

About Blackbaud
Blackbaud is the leading global provider of software and services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, enabling them to improve operational efficiency, build strong relationships, and raise more money to support their missions. Approximately 24,000 organizations — including The American Red Cross, Boston University, Cancer Research UK, The Taft School, Lincoln Center, The Salvation Army, Tulsa Community Foundation, Ursinus College, Earthjustice, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and the WGBH Educational Foundation — use one or more Blackbaud products and services for fundraising, constituent relationship management, financial management, website management, direct marketing, education administration, ticketing, business intelligence, prospect research, consulting, and analytics. Since 1981, Blackbaud’s sole focus and expertise has been partnering with nonprofits and providing them the solutions they need to make a difference in their local communities and worldwide. Headquartered in the United States, Blackbaud also has operations in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit http://www.blackbaud.com.
Media Contact:

Melanie Mathos
Blackbaud
melanie.mathos (at) blackbaud (dot) com
843.216.6200 x3307        
Source: Blackbaud

Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks related to our dividend policy and share repurchase program, including potential limitations on our ability to grow and the possibility that we might discontinue payment of dividends; risks relating to restrictions imposed by the credit facility; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles, particularly in larger organizations; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov or upon request from Blackbaud’s investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Source – http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/1/prweb8079523.htm

Kim & Scott’s Cafe Twist sweet selections include Chocolate Crumb, Cheesecake, Apple Cinnamon, Iced Blueberry or Cinnamon Roll.  All pretzels are stuffed with all-natural, nut-free ingredients.

This deal is in honor of the Bears sweet success.  The Cafe’s nut-free, all-natural soft pretzels are such a hit that Mayor Daley is including them in the food wager against Green Bay!

Cafe Twist is open 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.  For deliveries, please call 773-281-3634

Go Bears!

And for more, visit us on our blog, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and You Tube.  

http://kimandscotts.wordpress.com

http://twitter.com/kimandscotts

http://www.facebook.com/kimandscotts

http://www.youtube.com/user/kimandscotts

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimandscotts

SOURCE Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels

Source – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kim–scotts-cafe-twist-offers-bears-fans-free-pretzels-this-weekend-114359939.html