Saturday, August 30, 2014

Poppy Hills Golf Course Launches Unique “Make the Turn” Corporate Training Program

Emphasizing Peak Performance, Mindset, Fitness and Nutrition

Pebble Beach, CA, August 31, 2014 – Poppy Hills Golf Course has recently partnered with the innovative golf lifestyle company “Make the Turn” to offer corporations a rare opportunity to train key employees at an exclusive, championship-caliber golf course in the world-renowned resort community of Pebble Beach.

“What makes MTT a powerful tool for businesses is the program's primary focus is to help companies create new tremendous business results that dramatically impacts its bottom line in a golf inspired environment,” says Poppy Hills GM Brad Shupe. “The world renowned Poppy Hills Golf Course is the conduit that allows for this corporate training program which provides executives and sales teams with the tools to elevate their performance in and out of the workplace!”

MTT Founder/CEO Jeff Ritter has assembled a team of experienced and professional leaders in the world of performance, mindset, fitness and nutrition to achieve these results, which have been highlighted in a variety of media platforms such as Golf Digest Magazine, FOX Sports, ESPN, The Katie Couric Show, US NEWS and World Report, Men’s Health, Sirius XM Radio and The Golf Channel.

The Leadership component is designed around the behaviors, not the characteristics, of great leaders. Says mental toughness coach, Chris Dorris, “Our definition of ‘Leadership’ at the MTT Program is ‘Getting the most out of your people.’ The program is designed to teach the leaders to be excellent coaches, which, in turn, of course, translates into increased revenue/performance/productivity and thus profitability.” Leadership and sales curriculum include such topics as: Emotional Mastery: The Cornerstone of Mental Toughness; Converting Adversity to Fuel; and The Pre-Game Mental Prep Routine.

MTT fitness and nutrition programming inspires participants through “No Excuses” exercise regimens and eating plans tailor made for busy executives and business travelers. Cate Ritter, who runs THE LEAN 18 Nutrition initiative says, “What you eat influences every major function in the human body. Our simple and sustainable approach to food dramatically increases energy, improves focus, promotes restful sleep, all while helping eliminate aches and pains for better performance in and out of the workplace.”

Fitness professional, David Jack, recently completed a longtime stint as health advisor on the Katie Couric Show and has worked with top athletes such as Olympic Champion swimmer Ryan Lochte. According to Jack, “People are at their best when they feel their best. When an organization invests in the well-being of its people, they support a lifestyle that serves the individual, while guaranteeing the company gets a higher return on their investment.”

MTT corporate offerings include three-day business leadership programs for executives and sales teams. Each program challenges and inspires participants to incorporate cutting edge practices in lifestyle and sustainability, while actively building a more powerful corporate culture.

In addition to intensive daily coaching, event activities may include golf at Poppy Hills, Spyglass Hill Golf Course or Pebble Beach Golf Links; The Land Rover Experience; dining at some of the finest restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula; and wine tasting of some of the best wines of Monterey County.

Lodging is selected to the needs of a particular group. Preferred partners include some of the most luxurious properties on the Monterey Peninsula, including La Playa Carmel, The Monterey Plaza on Cannery Row, The Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach and The Lodge at Pebble Beach.

Cost is $7,500 per person (excludes airfare and lodging), with group not to exceed 15 participants. If three days doesn't fit into the plans, there is also an immersive and intimate, private one-day session for $10,500.

MTT's golf school and executive programming is designed to be flexible and mobile, giving individuals and companies the opportunity to create unique experiences with the MTT team anywhere in the world.

For detailed program descriptions, rates and scheduling contact info@mttperformance.com  or call (480) 695-2017. Learn more at www.poppyhillsgolf.com and http://mttperformance.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox
Carmel, CA 93923
831-747-7455
http://www.poppyhillsgolf.com

Embracing Authentic Experiences in Vietnam, Luxury Travel launches “Tailored Lux Experiences 18-day Tour”

Voted as the leading specialist in the art of travel for luxurious and private services, Luxury Travel Ltd has added a“Tailored Lux Experiences 18-day tour” to its portfolio of toursincluding all the major destinations in Vietnam.

Hanoi, Vietnam, August 31, 2014 - Voted as the leading specialist in the art of travel for luxurious and private services, Luxury Travel Ltd has added a“Tailored Lux Experiences 18-day tour” to its portfolio of toursincluding all the major destinations in Vietnam.


Commencing with the new season 2014/15,this 18-day tour gives savvy cultural travelers the opportunity to discover the timeless charm of Vietnam.

According to Mr Pham Ha, Luxury Travel CEO and Founder, the unique selling point of this tour package is its5 showcase categories:

Inside Lux allows guests to get beneath the surface of our destinations, taking them to special locations and giving them access ‘behind the scenes’.

Expert Luxprovides guests with the opportunity to meet experts in their field. All departures are accompanied by an English-speaking tour guide to ensure the best interpretive experience

Gourmet Lux offers gastronomic experiences where guests savour the best local cuisine,are shown how to cook various Vietnamese dishes, introduced to local food experts, and taken to restaurants that many tourists overlook.

Building Luxgives travelers the unique opportunity to help local underprivileged communities.This is especially designed for guests who wish to make meaningful contributions to support the local communities they visit.

Access Lux offers once in a lifetime experiences. Travelers discoverthe many attractions and traditional culture, engage with the easy going and welcoming locals, and enjoy the improving tourist infrastructure.

Mr Nguyen Cuu Hung, Director of Sales and Marketing, said: “This tour provides the opportunity to experience the genuine and timeless charm of Vietnam. From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City you will take in the highlights of each city as well as the stunning beach resorts and small towns of the central coast.”

The package costs from £2126 per person in a twin share and includes all transportation, boat trips, meals, entrance fees and the services of an English-speaking guide.

Vietnam’s first luxury tour operator/DMC (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) is based in Hanoi, with offices throughout Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Luxury Travel is exceptional at designing tailor-made tours and providing unique travel experiences.

Contact:
Thu Hien
Luxury Travel Ltd
05 Nguyen Truong To Street
Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi
84.4.39274120 Ext 107
http://www.luxurytravelvietnam.com

Global Technology Solutions provider Netswitch launches product to Maximize Network Security for all Businesses and Company COO and Chief Security Officer Launches eBook

When a computer virus infected the network at Crouse and Associates in San Francisco, the insurance services company ground to a halt during a weeklong outage — costing a significant amount of time and money to resolve.

San Francisco, CA, August 31, 2014 - When a computer virus infected the network at Crouse and Associates in San Francisco, the insurance services company ground to a halt during a weeklong outage — costing a significant amount of time and money to resolve. The company does not have a large IT staff or a chief information security officer, it can’t afford to employ security experts and it doesn’t have the time or expertise to wade through the complicated Internet security landscape filled with intimidating terminology like “botnets,” “kill-chains,” “application firewalls” and “advanced persistent threats.”

So the busy company left it all up to global technology solutions provider Netswitch and its innovative MADROC® Integrated Security Platform that maximizes network security for more than 2,500 global businesses, large and small. MADROC® provides complete intrusion detection and prevention along with event management and immediate alerting and remediation — complete peace of mind within a monthly subscription plan.

The future is very clear: Cyber-crime is growing rapidly and as security gets better, the criminals get smarter. To respond to this real problem, Netswitch has revolutionized the way IT security is delivered — controlling and monitoring a heterogeneous mix of IT technology from top to bottom at every touch point; a true Defense in Depth security strategy. A MADROC® subscription includes all engineering, configuration, tuning, licenses and maintenance, along with a dedicated Security Operations Control Center providing support around the clock, with 15 minute response and immediate remediation.

“Netswitch is applying technology to important security and social issues that I care deeply about,” said Ken Chrisman, Board Member of Netwitch. “This is an important opportunity to use technology to protect personal information and doctor/patient confidentiality. I believe MADROC® is poised to revolutionize the personal information security space with enhanced security protection through advanced behavioral analytics while leveraging the cloud to manage the massive data being generated.”

For more information go to http://www.netswitch.net/.

MADROC® Integrated Security Platform Customer Testimonial:

Pam Quilici, executive vice president of Crouse and Associates

“We chose MADROC® to ensure that our network will be secure and that we are protected from similar attacks in the future,” said Pam Quilici, executive vice president of Crouse and Associates. “Netswitch has been a trusted supplier of IT services for years. We love the way the MADROC® service is designed and we know we can always count on Netswitch for the smartest and most professionally responsive support.”

Shane Isaaks, the CIO of the Peninsula Hotel Group and Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Group:  (See detailed information on this case study below)

"We have used Netswitch Security Services and their experts for years to insure that the Peninsula Hotels are protected against data breaches and other security threats. Their new MADROC program is revolutionary in that it combines all levels of protection in a single service package that is amazingly affordable. We are looking forward to a threat-free future."

e-Book Breach Launches
In addition to the launch of MADROC® Integrated Security Platform, Netswitch COO and Chief Security Officer Steve King has launched an eBook called “Breach” that describes the current state of data breaches, and what you can do to protect your company.

Excerpt from eBook Breach: We have seen the trends in cyber-crime and malware attacks. With these attacks evolving at such an astounding pace, your organization needs security solutions today that address head-on every attack vector from the surface to the core, aka Defense in Depth. We believe that the principle of Defense in Depth should be the foundation strategy for any and all business security policies and approaches. Defense in Depth is the coordinated use of multiple security countermeasures to protect the integrity of the information assets in an enterprise. The strategy is based on the military principle that it is more difficult for an enemy to defeat a complex and multi-layered defense system than to penetrate a single barrier.

In terms of computer network defense, Defense in Depth measures should not only prevent security breaches, but will also buy an organization time to detect and respond to an attack, thereby reducing and mitigating the consequences of a breach.

“I wrote this book because I wanted to help business leaders sort through all of the jargon and arcane references in the data security world so that they could understand both the actual threats, the dangers of doing nothing and the easiest, simplest and lowest cost ways to insure against the inevitable data breaches that will occur in the future,” said King.  “One of the many dangers in doing nothing is that it will invite the government (both) to insert themselves into the process of "protecting consumer personal information". The costs of compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley have risen more than 60% over the last 10 years and have had significant unintended consequences in area like IPOs and increased compensation for lawyers, auditors and run-away consulting fees. It would be much worse with a Federal Security Compliance Act.”

NOTE:  On Tuesday, August 26th the first of many bills to come is on Jerry Brown's desk imposing government rules and protection legislation on businesses (who do not do it themselves) to insure against the loss of consumer and personal information and to offer one year free credit access to consumers whose financial information has been compromised.
The book is complimentary and can be downloaded at http://www.netswitch.net/ebook-breach-by-steve-king/.

Background on Steve King, Chief Operating Officer, COO and Chief Security Officer and eBook Author

After college, Steve turned down an offer to be a copy-writer on the Hoover Vacuum account for Hoefer-Dieterich and Brown to pursue a career in IT, but never lost sight of the future impact of consumerization on Information Technology. Steve subsequently logged over 30 years of computer industry experience in sales and marketing, software engineering, product development and professional services. Steve also has extensive market experience in Information Security Management Internet, Digital Media, Business Intelligence, Document Management, eCommerce, and Business Process Reengineering.

Steve has managed product development with UNIX, Windows and Java platforms, founded three software and services startups and raised $32m in venture capital. Steve has held a variety of executive management positions in development, sales, and marketing  for ConnectandSell, Whittman-Hart, marchFIRST, the Cambridge Systems Group, Memorex, Health Application Systems, Endymion Systems, Blackhawk Systems Group and IBM.

He has also led digital marketing engagements for Abercrombie & Fitch, Tommy Bahama, REI, Harley Davidson and wrote a best-selling business book on Retail Web Marketing.

As a co-founder of the Cambridge Systems Group, Steve led the marketing effort for ACF2, which would become the leading Enterprise Data Security product for IBM mainframe computers. As a direct result, Steve is now known as the God-father of Information Security. Over the years, Steve has been issued multiple engineering patents encompassing contextual semantic search technologies, web-enabled multimedia audio transfers, imaging capture and database smart query processing.

Steve studied toward a B. S. in Mathematical Probability and Statistics from the University of California at Berkeley with a Minor in Journalism and studied Social Justice Law at the Santa Clara University School of Law.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox
Carmel, CA 93923
831-747-7455
http://www.netswitch.net

Creekside Farms debuts its Special line of themed Wreaths and Garlands for everyone on your shopping gift list…year-round!

Bringing the Serenity and Beauty of Nature to your Home

Greenfield, CA, August 31, 2014 - Creekside Farms is now drawing upon its passion, creativity and more than 25 years of experience creating tens of thousands of exceptionally beautiful artisan made wreaths. Family-owned and operated Creekside Farms has recently unveiled a new and “classics” line of themed wreaths to please everyone on your gift list! The holidays are fast-approaching but for those with special occasion gift needs coming up sooner (including birthdays, anniversaries, births and weddings), Creekside Farms offers some new unique gift ideas with an array of long-lasting, natural and pesticide-free ingredients composing their specialty themed wreaths.

For those in your life who are foodies or wine aficionados, check out their line of hand-picked culinary herb natural wreaths with many ingredients harvested right on their family-owned farm in Central California. Their California Herb Wreath features marjoram, sage, yarrow, bay, and a sprinkling of dried red-hot chili peppers. Creekside Farms also offer its Kitchen Herb Wreath, sure to please the cooks in your life. This fragrant wreath, “cooks in the kitchen” will love, contains six different pesticide-free culinary herbs including fresh bay and rosemary, dried dill, oregano, sage and lavender.

Cheers to everyone who has a passion for wine. Creekside Farms’ Wine Country Wreath includes a lush greenery base including fragrant eucalyptus and lavender and accented with amazing faux grapes. Their Fall Artichoke Wreath features California’s recently declared “Official State Vegetable” and a plethora of fall leaves, pods, and grains. It is a perfect wreath for the Fall season and Thanksgiving guests. The website, www.creeksidefarms.com, has many other herbal wreaths that are sure to please, plus helpful wreath care tips and more.

For your friends and family who appreciate the wonders of nature and love to spend time “nesting” in their home and making their gardens flourish, Creekside Farms offers a wide array of gorgeous wreaths to enhance their home décor. They feature everyone’s favorite herb grown and harvested on their farm, lavender, an especially beautiful and soothing element of a Creekside Farms wreath. For all who love its subtle scent and rich color, there is the Lavender Eucalyptus Wreath featuring fragrant lavender and fresh seeded eucalyptus and the Lavender Herb Wreath featuring rich lavender, chilis and feverfew, and many more. These stunning wreaths adorning a front door reinforce “home sweet home” every day.

Although wreaths are certainly a thoughtful gift year-round, when the holidays approach, Creekside Farms offers a great seasonal assortment of fresh holiday-themed wreaths to welcome family and friends, such as the Berried Cone Wreath, a wonderfully traditional, fragrant, and festive wreath. This handmade wreath is sure to ignite holiday spirit with fresh eucalyptus, fir, and salal, and accented with vibrant pepperberries and pine cones. The Berries and Moss Wreath is a perfect holiday addition made with a blend of fresh fir and seeded eucalyptus. Pine cones, moss, Artemisia, and pepperberries artfully adorn this festive fragrant wreath. The Magnolia Pepperberry Wreath includes fresh magnolia, cedar, and juniper that are artfully decorated with bright pepperberries, making this an exquisite, one of a kind wreath. The many beautiful Creekside Farms’ holiday wreaths feature unique assortments of Christmas greens mixed with California greens such as eucalyptus, bay, olive and rosemary and other adornments including pinecones, pomegranates and more.

Dozens of other gorgeous themed wreaths are also displayed on their website, www.creeksidefarms.com and Creekside Farms offers a Gift Concierge, Connie Bauer, to help with choosing just the right wreath for a gift…and yourself! Also, through the popular Corporate Gifts Division, Connie is available to help take the stress out of selecting corporate gifts for clients and employees and offers volume discounts.

About Creekside Farms:
With two family farm locations, Creekside Farms is a high quality designer of tens of thousands of handcrafted, upscale wreaths and garlands. Their wreaths are featured in high end home décor retailers and catalogues, including Williams-Sonoma (for over 18 years), Pottery Barn, Sur La Table, Front Gate, Pro Flowers, Orvis and Harry and David. In 2011, they also launched their own retail site, www.creeksidefarms.com, and have received a wonderful response from consumers who love to pick out their favorite wreaths, often many times a year.

Creekside Farms began in 1969 when Carol and Larry Umbarger bought a ranch in Monterey County so they could raise their children in a rural setting with their seven horses. In the late 1980’s, the Umbarger’s began growing flowers and ornamental and culinary herbs to help with college expenses for their two older children. They began making wreaths for Smith & Hawken and soon expanded to providing beautiful wreaths to many other top retailers and catalogues. Since then, many members of the three generations of their family have enthusiastically joined Creekside Farms to expand their growing family legacy. Housed in their large manufacturing facility, Creekside Farms’ dedicated staff, both family members and longtime employees, assemble and carefully pack each shipment. The staff is available to answer any questions and also expertly handle any corporate gift orders within any budget.

Contact information:
For more information, go to www.creeksidefarms.com or call 831-674-1234. To schedule an interview, a farm tour, or receive high resolution jpg photos, call Wendy Brickman at (831) 633-4444 or Brickman@BrickmanMarketing.com or call Marci Bracco at (831) 747-7455 or Marci@ChatterboxPublicRelations.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox
Carmel, CA 93923
831-747-7455
http://www.creeksidefarms.com

Tickets On Sale! 2015 Big Sur Foragers Festival

A Culinary Exploration into the World of Wild Foods

Carmel, CA, August 31, 2014 - A celebration of the amazing array of wild foods will be the centerpiece for a weekend of gourmet food, world-class wine and beer, entertainment, expert-led foraging hikes and a friendly chef competition with celebrity judges.

Save the dates of January 16th through 18th, 2015. Big Sur area restaurants will host the culinary expertise of notable chefs preparing unique fare from rustic to elegant, paired with the region's amazing selection of wines and beers.

The event also serves as a fundraiser for the Big Sur Health Center. The community's non-profit health center will receive the proceeds from the foraging events to support the continued presence of local health care services.

Event schedule to include:

* "Wild Foraging Walk and Talk" at Pfeiffer State Park and through the Big Sur Wilderness, both led by expert foragers. This year we will have 2 walks. One through Pfeiffer State Park (level beginner hiker) and one through the Big Sur Wilderness (level intermediate hiker). The intermediate hike through the Bug Sur Wilderness will be led by Stephen Copeland of Big Sur Guides and Hiking.

* "Fungus Face-Off" on the deck at Ventana Inn & Spa

* A silent auction full of culinary delights, hotel stays, tickets to explore the area, art and so much more will take place during the food and wine sampling. There will be more than 60 items this year!

* Purchase raffle tickets for $5 per ticket of $25 for 6 tickets. Enter to win your choice of 7 culinary delights or hotel packages!  Raffle package values begin at $200 to $700!  Tickets available for purchase at the event.

* Grand Celebrity Chef Dinner at Ventana Inn & Spa. "Foragers Dinner" at the Restaurant at Ventana beginning at 6:00 pm. The multi-course dinner, destined to be a memorable feast paired with an incredible wine selection, costs $175.00 per person.

* "The Forager's Kitchen" A dynamic, not-to-be-missed Sunday afternoon master cooking class on how to prepare your foraged bounty in your own home kitchen, given by a group of the region's best chefs.

Stay tuned for details on our Friday night kick off dinner at The Big Sur Roadhouse and Sunday events!

Tickets are now on sale at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-sur-forager-festival-2015-tickets-12739388855.

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bigsurforagersfestival for this year’s new event venues or at www.bigsurforagersfestival.org.  The Big Sur Foragers Festival Media Partner is Edible Magazine Monterey Bay.

Big Sur Foragers Festival Media Partner:

About Edible Monterey Bay
Founded in 2011, Edible Monterey Bay produces an award-winning quarterly magazine, a weekly e-newsletter and occasional events that celebrate the local food cultures of Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties, season by season. For more information, go to www.ediblemontereybay.com or call (831) 298-7117.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox
Carmel, CA 93923
831-747-7455
http://www.bigsurforagersfestival.org

New book reveals Revolutionary Technique for Conflict Resolution

Shoto-Chi founder Robert J. Norton releases realistic guide to resolving day to day conflicts

Pickering, ON, August 30, 2014 - Drawing perspective from many years of experience in the field of martial arts and conflict management, Shoto-Chi founder and first time author Robert J. Norton bares revolutionary insights about the nature of conflict and its underlying psychology — explored in detail in his debut nonfiction title "Pine-Wave Energy"(published by Trafford Publishing). He introduces dynamic techniques in conflict resolution that have further applications in both personal and professional aspects of living.


In "Pine-Wave Energy," Norton takes a rounded perspective that not only deals with understanding one’s own personal emotions and perception, but also continues through to protecting one’s personal space from a perceived or actual physical threat. It is a tool to understanding perception within conflict, how emotions become the catalyst for conflict, communication styles and personality types. It also shares effective techniques regarding verbal and non-verbal communication inclusive of the systematically developed QSC strategy. Furthermore, it introduces the basics of the dynamic technique known as the Fence. This technique has been developed over many years of studying human behavioral patterns by the Shoto-Chi’s founder. This technique integrates NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) to assist in the control of one’s personal space.

“The rounded nature of the book offers a fresh perspective on all things about conflict and provides effective strategies for both personal and professional environments,” Norton says. Through his writing, the author hopes to create a positive impact in many lives, both in the individual and organizational levels.

Pine-Wave Energy: A Guide to Conflict Resolution by Robert J. Norton Ph.D.

Trade Paper ISBN: 978-1-49074-022-5
$10.77; 150 pp.
Hard Cover ISBN: 978-1-49074-023-2
$20.77; 150 pp.
E-book ISBN: 978-1-49074-024-9
$3.99; 119 pp.

Release Date: June 29, 2014
Available through: Amazon and Barnes & Noble

“Calmness is paramount and one of the most usable skills in almost all aspects of life. It doesn’t matter if you are entering conflict or climbing a mountain. Calmness helps us to focus. It allows us to digest information and objectively make a decision. When in conflict with another, calmness provides us structure. It provides us the key skill to attempt to resolve. It allows us to think and to evaluate the conflict, the environment, and the potential impact our actions will have on the conflict.”

“I have yet to come across a book that covers so many areas within conflict as this does. The insight into perception and especially calmness helped me tremendously as a teacher.”

“One of the best books I have ever read on the topic of verbal conflict and resolution. I recommend it to everyone, regardless of their occupation or qualifications.” – Chris Roberts

About The Author:
Robert J. Norton is the founder of a unique art specializing in the realistic approach to conflict resolution through the understanding of human behavior. This art is called Shoto-Chi. After founding his art over 24 years ago he has continuously evolved his art by learning more about conflict resolution and especially human behavior within conflict. As result he has now put his extensive research and principles into this book. Rob and his family currently reside in Canada. Visit Rob’s website at shoto-chi.com for more information.

Pine-Wave Energy: A Guide to Conflict Resolution is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Trafford Publishing.

Contact:
Robert J. Norton Ph.D.
Norton Arts
Pickering, ON
416-417-5690
http://www.shoto-chi.com

Decoding the Billing Process: Urgent Care vs. Primary Care Billing

The owner operators of urgent care centers can bill the services they provide in several different ways.

Dallas, Texas, August 30, 2014 - The owner operators of urgent care centers can bill the services they provide in several different ways. The writers at The Ambulatory M&A Advisor take readers through the different options, from billing strictly urgent care to taking on a panel of primary patients.

“The reason why dual urgent care/primary care practices would want to be contracted as primary care—despite lower reimbursement—is that longitudinal and chronic care patients won’t want to pay the higher urgent care co-pay for regular visits with their PCP and also because insurance often won’t reimburse urgent care centers for preventive and routine care like vaccinations and annual wellness physicals—which should be done in a primary care office,” said Alan Ayers, Vice President of Corporate and Market Development at Concentra Urgent Care.

It’s important for owner operators to understand everything that goes into the billing process as each option carries its own set of pros and cons. Rates of reimbursement differ greatly between urgent care and primary care. Furthermore, if a center is to be operated as urgent care, there are certain types of services that it must be able to provide.

To read the full article, you can find it here.

The Ambulatory M&A Advisor is a one-stop information destination for business, legal, and transactional insights on Ambulatory Care Centers. With contributions from industry professionals, as well as on-staff writers, the publication recognizes excellence, presents thought leadership and facilitates connections among the industry's leading deal making experts.

Visit The Ambulatory M&A Advisor at www.ambulatoryadvisor.com.

Contact:
Blayne Rush, MHP, MBA
Ambulatory Alliances, LLC
18181 Midway Rd Ste 200
Dallas, Texas 75287
469-385-7792
publisher@AmbulatoryAdvisor.com
http://www.ambulatoryadvisor.com

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Veteran Technology CEO Showcases Video Marketing Technology or Realtors at Agent Recharge Conference

#vidit, The Hashtag Keyword Strategy That Ranks Real Estate YouTube Videos Higher In Google Search

Scottsdale, AZ, August 28, 2014 — #vidit, a revolutionary video marketing technology created by female technology CEO, Jennifer Sultzaberger, provides realtors the ability to have their real estate videos ranked at the top of major search engines.


Sultzaberger developed this powerful strategy that uses hashtag #keywords to get YouTube videos noticed quickly. #vidit guarantees a keyword listing on the first page of Google within 30 days or your money back.

With affordable price points, any real estate agent can justify the #vidit service in their marketing budget for the opportunity for so many home buyers to see their videos. More traffic equals more real estate sales and commissions.

Sultzaberger commented of the technology, Virtual home tour videos are becoming a major tool for real estate agents to market their properties. Our technology can now push these videos to the top of the search engines and get them seen by more buyers. We are excited to offer this technology to real estate agents throughout the U.S.”

On Monday September 22 Ms. Sultzaberger will be presenting her technology to hundreds of Real Estate Agents at Fidelity National Title’s “Agent Recharge” conference at the Hyatt Gainey in Scottsdale, AZ

To learn more about #vidit visit http://DoYouVidit.com or call 480-463-4640

About #vidit:
With one #keyword search, one click and buyers can instantly hear your message. #vidit uses the isolation of a video on YouTube with one #keyword string, leveraging the #hashtag phenomenon to increase response, search queries and social conversation.

The idea behind a hashtag is to get people using the same symbol when talking about a specific topic. The isolated video will also rank at the top of all major search engine results for that #keyword easily found by viewers, listeners and readers.

#vidit will revolutionize #keyword marketing by means of video isolation; optimization and the dominant share of voice the company gains with #vidit’s sticky, social, engaging solution. #vidit can be used for products you sell, services you offer and even contest entries or a special promotion. It’s simple, easy and cost effective for every business’ marketing budget.

About Jennifer Sultzaberger:
Jennifer is known by colleagues and peers as a tech savvy, digital marketing expert with an entrepreneurial spirit. Her background of over 10 years of experience in Digital Marketing and 15 years in traditional marketing, have branded Jennifer as an expert in Search Engine Optimization. Her experience includes other areas such as website design, hosting and management, digital video testimonials, email newsletter and social media campaigns.

Jennifer's entrepreneurial road began in 2006 when she founded Find It Media, a firm specializing in boutique SEO solutions with locations in Harrisburg, Pa., and Phoenix, Ariz. Jennifer also partners with Terry Barnes, Founder of Nusani Corporation developer of EBO, Engine Branding Optimization, patent pending software that helps clients protect their online reputation, manage social media and dominate the search engines using content marketing strategies.

Jennifer’s most recent venture, with an unchallenged “30-Day Money Back Guarantee,” is for the patient pending technology of #vidit. Jennifer used her vast knowledge of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) and social media campaigns to develop this latest strategy.

#vidit consists of coupling the power of the “#keyword" and “video” together for isolation on YouTube. Bringing page one Google search results for any size client. Jennifer’s main goal was to provide powerful video solutions while making it affordable for any size business to gain national online exposure no matter the budget. Positioning clients to be found on page one of the SERP is extremely rewarding.

Her creation #vidit, will change how small businesses design their marketing strategies and give them the power to get noticed in the sea of marketing dodge ball.

Jennifer’s experience in working for many industry giants such as Pitney Bowes, AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless and The Cobalt Group, an ADP company, has given her the confidence and knowledge to launch #vidit and bring this revolutionary technology to all small businesses in affordable price ranges.

Jennifer is also a professional member of the National Speakers Association has been speaking professionally since 2008, to organizations such as National Automobile Dealers Association, Nichols Campbell Marrow, PA Jewelers Association and PA Professional Realtors Association.

Contact:
Scott Kelly
Black Dog Promotions
9920 S. Rural Rd., Ste 108
Tempe, AZ 85284
480-206-3435
http://DoYouVidit.com

Holman Ranch Vineyards & Winery Estate Wines and Wine Caves Announces The Release of its New Rose and Olive Oil Release

Select Wine samples available for reviews.

Carmel Valley, CA, August 28, 2014 - The estate wines of Holman Ranch include: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rosé of Pinot Noir. Holman Ranch’s 21 acres of vineyards lie between 950 and 1150 feet in elevation. The root stocks and soils are most important in producing excellent fruit from the vineyards.

The surrounding Santa Lucia Mountains are very important to Carmel Valley viticulture. The local hills hold back the marine layer and broad breezes, which is beneficial to producing consistently good fruit. Sedimentary soils, such as, chock rock and Carmel stone also play a major role in wine producing methods by providing good soil drainage. Holman Ranch “stresses the vines” of the fruit with emphasis on reproduction, which in turn, stops growth and ripens fruit. The valley configuration allows for fog in the morning but with it rapidly moving out as the air warms which is great for Pinot Noir grapes. The proximity to the ocean and the elevation are positive characteristics for the vines.

Holman Ranch’s vines are planted 15 degrees off due north which allows for all day sunlight on fruit zone and good protection from breeze. No chemical herbicides or pesticides are used on our fruit and we have received our sustainable and organic certification. Holman Ranch is also 100% estate vineyards and winery.

Holman Ranch’s wines are unfined and crafted to deliver the true varietal of the grape from harvest to table. Purity and passion are key ingredients in the wine-making process, and this is where Holman Ranch truly stands out.

Holman Ranch announces two new releases:

2013 Rosé of Pinot Noir Blushing Bride

Holman Ranch 2013 Blushing Bride truly does embrace the spirit of warm weather wine, all while staying true to the tenets of this classic bistro tradition. A bright nose with a subtle hint of wildflowers jumps out of the glass and its lengthy palate and juicy overtones finish off this all estate selection. Did we mention Absolutely Stunning? Personality, style, beauty and values. Sounds like the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

No. of Acres: 4.73

Year Planted: 2007

No. of Cases: 104

Price: $20

2013 Olive Oil

There will only be 50 cases of Holman Ranch 2013 Olive Oil!  With its dark golden color, light grassy aromas and creamy finish with no after taste, Holman Ranch Olive Oil should be a staple in every kitchen!  Holman Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil -- This flavorful, distinctive oil from our Tuscan varietal olive trees was carefully hand-harvested, cold pressed and bottled.  Organic, estate-grown and bottled olive oil from Holman Ranch’s 100 Tuscan varietal olive trees. Size: 375ml (12.6 fl oz) Price: $25

Wine Caves:
The winery at Holman Ranch, located in The Caves, is completely underground in order to take advantage of the natural cooling and humidity held below. The 3000 square foot area maintains a constant temperature of 58°F-60 °F and contains four 750 gallon tanks, four 1200 gallon tanks, and four open top tanks that can hold two tons each. One hundred (100) French oak barrels are maintained year round. Winery operations such as destemming, pressing, fermenting and aging take place within the cool environment of The Caves, while bottling is done directly outside using a mobile bottling line. During harvest, 6 to 8 tons of grapes a day are processed. This may seem low but it is due to the fact that harvesting hours are between 7am to noon on any given day. Grapes are hand picked and loaded into half ton bins, transferred to the winery by tractor and then moved by forklift to the destemmer. White wines take around three weeks to ferment at 50°F and are bottled in February, while red varietals ferment for two weeks and are bottled in early June. All skins, seeds and stems are composted and returned to the fields. Slow months for our winery are June, July and August with the busiest time being September. The winery will produce 3000-5000 cases annually.

Vineyard & Winery Background:
Located at the north eastern tip of the Carmel Valley Appellation, the family-owned Holman Ranch resides approximately 12 miles inland from the Pacific Coast. Immersed in history and romance, the ranch has not only proven to be an excellent growing location for our vineyards but also for the Tuscan varietal olive trees which have flourished under the temperate climate.

Our estate-grown wine varietals are planted on approximately 21 acres of undulating terrain.

The wines produced are unfined and crafted to deliver the true varietal of the grape from harvest to bottle.

The climate and terroir of the appellation has played a critical part in the success of our wines. The warmth of our inland valley coupled with the cooling marine layer has established itself as an ideal microclimate for the production of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Our Burgundy Clones have thrived from the perfect blend of ideal climate, southern exposure and thin rocky soils.

Holman Ranch Tasting Room:
Holman Ranch’s Carmel Valley tasting room offers the perfect backdrop to swirl, sip and savor the different complexities of Holman Ranch Vineyard and Winery wines. There is something for everyone (4 varietals in fact), from the full-bodied Pinot Noirs to the light, fruity flavors of our Pinot Gris and lightly oaked Chardonnay. Holman Ranch also offers estate grown and bottled Olive Oil available for tasting and purchase at the Tasting Room.

The Tasting Room showcases the estate wines of Holman Ranch which includes our Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rosé of Pinot Noir. Carefully hand-harvested, cold pressed and bottled, the Extra Virgin Olive Oil produced from the fruits of our Tuscan trees has a delightful spice followed by a buttery finish.

Three tasting flights of three wines each (White, Mountain and Pinot Noir) are available 7 days a week. The Tasting Room also holds a series of cooking demos called In Your Backyard. For more information, call (831) 659-2640.

Olive Grove:
Holman Ranch has its own distinctive olive grove located on a south facing hill of our vineyard. The grove is comprised of 100 trees with multiple cultivars planted. These cultivars consist of 25 Frantoio, 25 Leccino, 10 Mission, 25 Coratina, 5 Pendolino, and 10 Picholine, all of which were originally planted in 2194 in a Carmel Valley orchard then replanted at Holman Ranch in 2007. These mature olive trees allowed us to produce olive oil right away. They are planted in shale for the best production and harvesting results possible. We harvest our fruit by hand in December, which is then milled, producing a superb, high quality product. Although the Olive Grove is not certified organic, we do employ organic practices when farming our trees. Our mill, however, is certified organic. An interesting fact is that olive trees are alternate bearing, which means that one year they may produce 650, 375ml bottles worth of oil, while next year they may produce only 50, 375ml bottles.

Media FAM Trips Available – Airfare Not Included Contact marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com  for details and dates.

Holman Ranch Background:
Holman Ranch: Where the Past is Always Present. Tucked away in the rolling hills of Carmel Valley, Californian historic Holman Ranch provides a unique and memorable setting for weddings, special events, family gatherings, corporate retreats, and team-building events. With its charming gardens, stunning mountain views and serenity, this private estate affords old-world charm while providing modern day conveniences. This stunning Property includes a fully restored stone hacienda, overnight guest rooms, vineyards, olive grove, horse stables and more. www.holmanranch.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox
Carmel, CA 93923
831-747-7455
http://www.holmanranch.com

An Owner Operator’s Guide to Private Equity

The world of Private Equity (PE) can be unfamiliar for many owner operators of ASC and other outpatient surgery centers.

Dallas, Texas, August 28, 2014 - The world of Private Equity (PE) can be unfamiliar for many owner operators of ASC and other outpatient surgery centers. The writers at The Ambulatory M&A Advisor have interviewed several experts in PE to give a deeper understanding into the life cycle of a fund and why PE is interested in the outpatient surgery center sector.


Several terms that might come up in discussing PE are also explained and laid out in the article, which can be read in full here. Overall, the world of PE has a great interest in urgent care centers and the like.

“The services provided by urgent care centers will always be in relatively high demand, resulting in stable, predictable cash flow,” said Neil Blair, Managing Director in the Canadian Corporate Finance group at KPMG. “Investing in health services businesses allows private equity firms to achieve diversification in their portfolios, given that health services are only loosely tied to the economy. Lastly, there may be significant value that urgent care centers could provide in regions that are underserved by healthcare providers, or regions where emergency rooms are overburdened.”

The Ambulatory M&A Advisor is a one-stop information destination for business, legal, and transactional insights on Ambulatory Care Centers. With contributions from industry professionals, as well as on-staff writers, the publication recognizes excellence, presents thought leadership and facilitates connections among the industry's leading deal making experts.

You can read this and articles like it at ambulatoryadvisor.com.

Contact:
Blayne Rush, MHP, MBA
Ambulatory Alliances, LLC
18181 Midway Rd Ste 200
Dallas, Texas 75287
469-385-7792
publisher@AmbulatoryAdvisor.com
http://www.ambulatoryadvisor.com

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

MAX Agency Press Release - August 26, 2014

Max Agency has recently welcomed new talent including future high fashion and runway model Juliana Meloche.

Toronto, ON, August 26, 2014 - Max Agency has recently welcomed new talent including future high fashion and runway model Juliana Meloche. I asked Juliana how she got started in the business and she had this to say, “I was approached by MAX Agency on the street. My family was always telling me to get into Modeling, because of my height and my looks, that it was something I should try. I didn’t really think about it until I was approached by MAX Agency. Honestly I’m really focused on school right now but MAX has made everything really easy.”


After being scouted on the streets of Toronto for Modeling and thinking about the approach for a while, Juliana decided to pursue the opportunity and apply through the MAX Agency website. I asked her what it was like in the beginning and she said “It was fairly easy. I went online with the card thing, the max business card, took a couple pictures of myself, filled out the online modeling application and they called me within a day and I made an appointment.”

What was your first appointment like and who did you meet?

“I met with Kamran first. I decided to get the whole package and we looked at our options and we agreed. The photo shoot was a lot of fun. It was a great experience and the people I was working with were great. It was my first time, they made it super easy and it was a lot of fun for me. Then we came in to look at our photos. The Toronto MAX Agency modeling agent helped us choose the photos for my composite cards. When I got my composite cards I thought they looked really good. The orientation was good and MAX Agency has made everything so easy for me. It was effortless.”

Juliana is a Toronto model but she will also be pursuing Toronto acting and was required to take the free acting class through The Talent Shop. Juliana is pursuing higher education and she had this to say about the introductory acting class, “I liked it. I did. I liked all of the people I worked with. Everyone was really nice. It was great to work with Andy. I learned a lot. I had never pictured myself doing acting before but I thought, it’s something I think I can do. I’m a Toronto model doing an Arts and Science degree thinking about majoring in Ethics, Society and Law.”

MAX Agency is really happy to have Juliana as on of their top models. Juliana definitely has a promising future with a great agency, “I am looking forward to seeing where this whole thing takes me. You guys have been so awesome. You’ve been great. Everyone I’ve worked with has been great.”

MAX Agency’s Bookers are currently looking for new Talent, Toronto Models and Actors! If you are interested we highly recommend visiting www.maxagency.com and filling out an application. Wishing MAX continued success in the industry we’re looking forward to future press releases featuring individual models and talent and projects and finding out more about MAX Agency Toronto!

Contact:
Natalya O
MAX Agency
2063 Yonge St. Suite 202
Toronto, Ontario M4S-2A2
416-482-5392
http://www.maxagency.com

How to use Google Classroom

Google Classroom Quick Start Guide.

Sunnyvale, CA, August 26, 2014 - Google launched “Google Classroom” service earlier this month for all of Google Apps for Education users. This is Netkiller’s quick start guide for Google Classroom. Google has not distributed a detailed end user’s guide yet.


To begin, visit your Google Apps Admin Console and turn “ON” Classroom.

If the service is ON, then you can access Classroom from your Gmail.

There are two different types of users of Google Classroom: teachers and students. The web interfaces for Teachers and Students look very similar; the only difference is that Teachers will be able to create new classes and manage them from their panel while Students can only join the classes.

Teachers View
Teachers access Classroom, through the Home menu. They can create a new class by clicking the + icon.

We’ve created a class named “Test” for this demo. When the class is created, teachers will be able to see the Announcement and Assignment menu.

In order to invite students to a newly created class, teachers can either click on the Student tab and click Invite button or give students the invitation code so they can log on join the class.

We created an Announcement for our class.

Now we can click on the Assignment button and begin entering content such as a description of the assignment and the due date, and you can also attach reference files.

Reference files can be chosen from your Google Drive, link, or video and Teachers can manage access privileges. In our demo, we selected “View only” for students.

Students View
This is the screen that students will see if they access Classroom from Gmail. Upon clicking the + icon, students will be asked to enter the invitation code. They can enter codes for each of the classes that they wish to join.

Now we have now joined a class. We can now view announcements and assignments for that class. When we click on assignments, we see a description of the assignment and attached files.

Students then can turn in their completed assignments by clicking the “Add” button to upload from their Google Drive, computer, or a link. They can also click the “Create” button to begin work on the assignment. After completion, they click on the “Turn In” button to submit their work.

After clicking the “Turn In” button, the student will see a popup window for confirmation. Students have to click “Turn In” one more time to finish submitting their assignments.

Teachers look again: Check students’ work

Now we are back to teacher mode. Teachers can see the of number of students who have turned in their assignments so far.

Teachers can click the assignment that they want to check to see names of students who turned in the assignment as well as a timestamp of when the assignment was submitted.

If the Teacher has to return the assignment to a student without a grade, the Teacher can click on the “Return” button.

When grading is done for an assignment, the Teacher can enter points against a perfect score that is established by the Teacher.

It’s very easy! Please contact Netkiller for more information.

Contact:
Harry Jung
Netkiller
440 N Wolfe Rd
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
408-641-0114
http://www.netkiller.com

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Monterey's Old Fisherman’s Wharf Association Continues “Wharf Walks at Monterey's Old Fisherman's Wharf" on Saturday, September 6, 2014 with "Sardine Tales of the Monterey Bay"

The Monterey Old Fisherman’s Wharf Association continues to team up with noted Monterey Bay Fisheries Historian and author, Tim Thomas, who is offering monthly “Wharf Walks” - Walking Tours at Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey

Monterey, CA, August 24, 2014 - The Monterey Old Fisherman’s Wharf Association continues to team up with noted Monterey Bay Fisheries Historian and author, Tim Thomas, who is offering monthly “Wharf Walks” - Walking Tours at Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey (www.montereywharf.com) on the first Saturday of every month from 10:00 AM – Noon. Wharf Walks will be held on Saturday, September 6th with "Sardine Tales of the Monterey Bay." Tours meet at the head of Old Fisherman’s Wharf (near the pink “Harbor House” store, #1 Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey. Advance reservations are required by calling Tim Thomas at (831) 521-3304 or via email timsardine@yahoo.com. The tour is for ages 10–adult only and the cost is $20 for adults and kids are $15 (10-15 years). Group Rates are also available. NEW! After the Wharf Walk, enjoy a complimentary appetizer of delicious calamari (squid) - either traditional style or pesto calamari - with your purchased entree at Paluca Trattoria located at the head of the Wharf.


For thousands of years people have made their living fishing the Monterey Bay, beginning with the Rumsien Ohlone, the Native People of the Monterey area. From abalone to rockfish, everything was fished and utilized and the Monterey Bay was a multi-cultural stew, made up of whalers from the Azores, squid fishermen from China, salmon fishermen and abalone divers from Japan, and Sicilians fishing sardines in the “dark of the moon.” This entertaining tour of Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the waterfront will take us back in time to explore the history of the Monterey Wharf, early history of the Monterey waterfront, The Rumsien/Ohlone People--Monterey's first fishermen, the abalone industry, whaling the bay and of course, the legendary sardine industry. Discover some of the people and cultures of Monterey’s colorful past and hear fascinating stories about Old Fisherman’s Wharf and those who worked and walked there. Learn more about the sardine and squid industry, too.

Tim Thomas, fourth-generation native of the Monterey area, is a popular speaker and lively tour guide. For 16 years, he was historian and curator for the Monterey Maritime & History Museum and has worked with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, California State Parks and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. He is author of "The Abalone King of Monterey: 'Pop' Ernest Doelter," “The Japanese on the Monterey Peninsula” and co-author of “Monterey’s Waterfront.”

For more information, go to www.montereywharf.com

Contact:
Wendy Brickman
Brickman Marketing
395 Del Monte Center #250
Monterey, CA 93940
831-633-4444
http://www.BrickmanMarketing.com

A Special Evening with Award-winning Singer/Songwriter Brenn Hill on Monday, September 8, 2014 at The Courtside Bistro in Corral de Tierra

Save the date! On Monday, September 8, 2014, the Courtside Bistro at Chamisal Tennis and Fitness Club and The Monterey Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival are presenting a very special evening performance

Monterey, CA, August 24, 2014 - Save the date! On Monday, September 8, 2014, the Courtside Bistro at Chamisal Tennis and Fitness Club and The Monterey Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival are presenting a very special evening performance with multi-award-winning American Western music singer/songwriter Brenn Hill.


Since winning the Western Music Association Crescendo Award in 2001, Hill has developed a significant career as a performer and songwriter, and was named the 2004 Academy of Western Artists Male Vocalist of the Year. Hill has developed an extensive loyal fan base and has gained a significant reputation for his authentic contribution to country and cowboy music.

At a Glance:

When: Monday, September 8, 2014 at 8:00 p.m.

What: The Courtside Bistro at Chamisal Tennis and Fitness Club and The Monterey Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival will hold a special evening with Brenn Hill. There is a no host bar and event menu available. This evening performance is a benefit concert for the 16th Annual Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival and Cowboy Art & Western Marketplace at the Monterey Conference Center, One Portola Plaza in Downtown Monterey from Friday through Sunday, November 21, 22 and 23, 2014.

Where: The Courtside Bistro at Chamisal Tennis and Fitness Club, 185 Robley Road off Laureles Grade in Corral de Tierra, CA (Take Highway 68 from Monterey or Salinas to Corral de Tierra).

Cost: $10 donation at the door to support the Monterey Cowboy Festival’s Cowboys in the Schools Program.

Information: Ed Bonilla at 831-484-6000.

About Brenn Hill:
Singer/Songwriter Brenn Hill doesn't just sing about the American West, he reveals its heart to anyone who will take the time to listen. His most recent CD, “Ode To Selway” was released in 2013 is a collection of music that honors the great Selway Wilderness and beyond. Featuring twelve all-new, all-original songs and a cover of legendary Ian Tyson’s “Fifty Years Ago,” Ode To Selway marks another milestone for an artist that continues to pay homage to life and love in the Rocky Mountain West.

Born into a 6th generation of a family anchored to the West and raised in Utah, Brenn and his music revisit the many stories that come from the land with a fresh, contemporary and personal twist. Home for the Hill's is Hooper, a rural community in Northern Utah where Brenn resides with his wife, three children and a cavvy of horses.

Like other award-winning recording artists, Brenn is committed to his music and the making of every album is a milestone. For each and every CD release in his fast-moving career, the title list is a key to a wealth of personal experiences and images.

Brenn explains, "The foremost inspiration for my songs is people. My friends, my foes, my heroes - they are all sources of great inspiration for writing. I am fortunate to be a part of a genre and lifestyle that is people-oriented. I am able to call my fans my friends and vice-versa. They're full of rich life experiences and character that inspires me to dig deeper and deeper as a songwriter."

About The Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival:
The Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival is a popular annual event for all ages. It celebrates Monterey's contribution to our western heritage with cowboy poetry, music and a first class Cowboy Art & Western Marketplace. The festival brings together people from all over the United States and Canada to enjoy and learn more about the "cowboy way of life," including its culturally diverse history, including the Vaqueros and Californios and the Mexican and Spanish traditions, plus its current values and cowboy culture.

The Festival's outstanding 2014 performer line-up includes multi-award-winning performers - the best of the best: Juni Fisher, Dave Stamey, Cow Bop and many others to be announced. Tickets are now on sale at www.montereycowboy.org.

The festival has many shows scheduled over the three days plus a fabulous Cowboy Happy Hour with Meet and Greets with some of the performers on Friday night. There is also a Late Night Jam Session on Friday night, a Saturday Night Dance with a Best Dressed Cowboy and Cowgirl Contest, the Cowboy Art & Western Marketplace, a Vaquero Breakfast, Silent Auction and adult Open Mic. There is a special Sunday morning Cowboy Church, which benefits The Salvation Army and features many of the top performers of the weekend.

There are different performance sessions throughout the weekend that fits everyone’s schedule and interests, with a great mix of cowboy music and poetry. Come out and celebrate the “Cowboy Way of Life” in a comfortable indoor setting in beautiful downtown Monterey!

About the Cowboy Art & Western Marketplace:
The Cowboy Art & Western Marketplace features over two dozen artisans that offer an array of interesting items for Christmas gifts and collectors, including outstanding Western art, photography and books, clothing, (hats, jewelry, handmade boots, belts, purses, jackets, etc.), custom and antique saddles, Navajo blankets and much more.

About the Cowboys in the Schools Program:
The Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival also coordinates the popular “Cowboys in the Schools Program” with a special educational event that will be held at the Carmel Valley Trail and Saddle Club on September 25, 2014 for hundreds of visiting schoolchildren. During the school year, volunteers work with local educators to introduce the concept of Cowboy Culture and the influence of the vaquero to a diverse group of elementary school students. This "Cowboy Way of Life" program helps to teach youth self-esteem, ethics, values, writing, art and history. Young people also participate in the "Open Mic" event during the festival weekend. Monterey County has a long historic cowboy tradition that is celebrated at the Festival events.

Sponsors are now being sought to underwrite the costs of the Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival.

For more information about the Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival, to become a valued sponsor, or a volunteer, visit the website at www.montereycowboy.org.

Contact:
Wendy Brickman
Brickman Marketing
395 Del Monte Center #250
Monterey, CA 93940
831-633-4444
http://www.BrickmanMarketing.com

Shred-it to Provide Mobile Shredding Services at the 2nd Annual CIG Insurance Community Safety Saturday™ September 6, 2014, in Monterey, California

Shredding is the most secure means of document destruction, and is a safe way to protect privacy and help prevent identity theft.

Monterey, CA, August 24, 2014 – In addition to over 30 other organizations who will provide important safety information and activities, Shred-it will bring their mobile truck to CIG Insurance’s 2nd CIG Community Safety Saturday™ hosted by Capital Insurance Group in partnership with CIG Insurance Advisor, Monterey Insurance. Shred-it will offer its services to shred documents, helping attendees protect their privacy and fight identity theft and fraud. People are invited to a maximum of two legal size document boxes per person for shredding to the event at Capital Insurance Group, 2300 Garden Road, on Saturday, September 6, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.


Arne Chatterton, CIG Vice President of Field Operations & Business Relations explains, “Protecting privacy and preventing identity theft and fraud is something we all need to be aware of. Shredding is the most secure and cost-effective means of document destruction. It is also an environmentally-friendly means of information destruction because all the shredding material is recycled. We invite the public to bring a maximum of two legal size document boxes per person to Community Safety Saturday where Shred-it will safely shred the material on site.”

Identity theft is currently a huge challenge for us all:
• In 2010, 7.0% of households in the United States, or about 8.6 million households, had at least one member age 12 or older who experienced one or more types of identity theft victimization.

• Among households in which at least one member experienced one or more types of identity theft, 64.1% experienced the misuse or attempted misuse of an existing credit card account in 2010.

• From 2005 to 2010, the percentage of all households with one or more type of identity theft that suffered no direct financial loss increased from 18.5% to 23.7%.

“The best safeguard against personal identity theft is to regularly destroy confidential, personal, and business documents,” says Ken Hafner, General Manager of Shred-it, San Francisco. “Organizing Community Shred events across America raises awareness about the dangers of identity theft and fraud, and encourages consumers and businesses to take the necessary steps to protect themselves from these crimes.”

Capital Insurance Group hosted its first Community Safety Saturday s in 2010; ever since, the event has been held throughout California and Nevada. CIG Community Safety Saturday features activities, demonstrations, and educational services designed to improve the safety and security of children, teens, families, and communities. People of all ages will enjoy free games, prizes, and a wealth of materials and information from many different booths staffed by local and regional organizations.

Capital Insurance Group and its local agency, Monterey Insurance, will co-host the event’s main booth with additional safety information, giveaways and prize drawings. Prize drawings include exciting, family- oriented giveaways, such as an annual family membership to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Family Plus annual memberships to MY Museum, four season passes to the 2015 Monterey County Fair, four passes for whale watching at Randy’s Whale Watching & Fishing, four passes to a performance at the Pacific Repertory Theatre, four passes for kayaking from Adventures By The Sea, a family pass to Elkhorn Slough Safari Nature Tours, and a family pass to the Monterey Zoo.

Special Presentations will include:
• Jaws of Life Demonstration at 11:30 am provided by the Monterey Fire Department

• Whiskie the Whale Spotter™, the famous rescue dog from Marine Life Studies, will perform whale tricks at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm

Additionally, Community Safety Saturday will feature the following attractions:

• California Highway Patrol will coordinate the child car-seat inspection station. They will also bring safety handouts and present information about their CHP Start Smart Driver Education classes available statewide for teens and their parents. Start Smart classes increase traffic-safety knowledge and better prepare teens for the road ahead. Fred and Kathy Forgnone will be on hand to talk with attendees about the Start Smart program.

• Monterey Police Department will bring a squad car as well as crime prevention information.

• Monterey County Sheriff’s Office–Coastal Station Monterey will bring crime prevention handouts as well as their K-9, SWAT Team, and Search and Rescue vehicles. They will also do “meet and greets” with their K-9 team.

• Monterey County Crime Prevention Officers Association will provide safety brochures.

• Monterey Fire Department will bring a 55' ladder fire engine and safety information.

• American Red Cross–Monterey Bay Area Chapter will give out Family Disaster Plans. Test your knowledge of Disaster Readiness and win prizes when you spin the “Wheel of Preparedness”.

• California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) will bring a fire engine and fire safety materials.

• California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services will provide educational materials about how to prepare for earthquakes and tsunamis.

• Monterey County Office of Emergency Services will bring emergency preparedness information.

• U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will bring water and boating safety materials as well as environmental protection information.

• Boy Scouts of America–Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council will provide emergency survival and safety tips.

• Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast will provide safety information.

• Young artists from Youth Arts Collective will be on hand to sketch portraits and share information about YAC, the local after school art studio and mentoring program for artists, ages 14-22.

• Independent Transportation Network of Monterey County will bring information about its organization that offers rides to seniors and the visually impaired in Monterey County, California.

• United Way Monterey County will have an information booth including handouts about the 2-1-1 program.

• U.S. Forest Service will bring informational handouts as well as a wildland fire engine. Smokey Bear will also be on hand if he’s not busy fighting a forest fire!

• Sponsored by First 5 of Monterey County, MY Museum will bring the Wheelie Mobilee, a playground for the mind and so much more.

• Restorative Justice Partners will bring information about dispute resolution programs that foster empathy, accountability and restoration of fairness to victims and the community.

• Family Service Agency of the Central Coast/Suicide Prevention Service of the Central Coast will have a bean-bag toss and tic-tac-toe game and distribute their brochures and STOP cards.

• KlaasKids Foundation will conduct a Print-A-Thon that provides digital photo IDs & fingerprinting for every child.

• Community Emergency Response Volunteers (CERV) of the Monterey Peninsula will give out materials about turning off the gas/electricity and water in emergencies and simple medical responses learned in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training.

• Recovers.org will provide information about community resilience and their project in Seaside and Monterey.

• Central Coast CERT Association will provide emergency preparation information.

• MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) will bring their “crash car” and provide handouts about the dangers of drinking and driving.

• The U.S. Coast Guard will bring their boat and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will provide water, boating and environmental protection information. Auxtter the Sea Otter mascot will also be on hand.

• Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District will provide information about trail hiking and wildlife safety.

• YWCA Monterey County will present information about domestic violence and the services it offers at both its Seaside and Salinas locations.

• YMCA will provide “Healthy Family Home” handouts and youth development information.

• Marine Life Studies will share information about protecting whales, dolphins and other marine wildlife and observing them safely in the wild. Whiskie the Whale Spotter™, a rescue dog, will perform her whale tricks and attendees will learn how Whiskie spots whales from Marine Life Studies' research boat in the Monterey Bay National Sanctuary.

• Monterey County Boys and Girls Club will have a Wheel of Fortune Safety Game and information about their organization.

• Community Partnership for Youth will bring face painters and offer a lanyard-making activity.

• Shred-it will bring their mobile truck for shredding documents on site.

• Property Restoration Service will provide information about disaster preparation plans and taking inventory of your possessions.

• KION/Telemundo is the media sponsor.

• Radio station 101.7 The Beach will provide music and prize giveaways.

For more information about the event, please go to www.CIGsafetysaturday.com or call
(831) 233-5500.

Publicity Contacts: Wendy Brickman
Office: (831) 633-4444/Cell: (831) 594-1500
Email: Brickman @ BrickmanMarketing . com

Barbara Howard
Office: (831) 920-2759 /Cell: (831) 521-8608
Email: writermarketer @ gmail.com

About Capital Insurance Group:
Capital Insurance Group® (CIG) is the leading regional property and casualty insurer serving the Western U.S. since 1898. CIG insures Personal Auto, Homeowners, Farmowners, Condo Owners, Vacation Property, Renters, Apartment Building Owners, and many kinds of Commercial and Agricultural Auto and Property. The more than 115 year-old company is rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best, the independent financial monitor of the insurance industry. CIG manages personal, business, and agriculture risks underwritten by its affiliate companies: California Capital Insurance Company, Eagle West Insurance Company, Nevada Capital Insurance Company, and Monterey Insurance Company. Types of policies may vary from state to state. For more information, please visit www.CIGinsurance.com
CIG DELIVERS MORE. Continuously. ™

About Shred-it:
Shred-it, is the world’s leading on-site document destruction company with over 160 branches operating in 18 countries. Shred-it trucks are equipped with custom-built shredders that can efficiently destroy everything from confidential paper documents to CD’s and all types of media. Founded in 1988, Shred-it currently services over 300,000 global, national, and local businesses and organizations worldwide.

Contact:
Wendy Brickman
Brickman Marketing
395 Del Monte Center #250
Monterey, CA 93940
831-633-4444
http://www.BrickmanMarketing.com

Friday, August 22, 2014

Newfound Road Frontman Tim Shelton sets Fourth on Solo Debut with Moving New Single “Learning How to Live Alone ”

Stream On Soundcloud Download for Free on Heyo

Los Angeles, CA, August 22, 2014 – An already well-respected frontman and singer in the bluegrass community, Tim Shelton rose to fame with his band NewFound Road. After signing to Rounder, a string of hits and critical praise, Shelton aims to venture into a brand new creative project as a solo artist, combining his love for rock, country, and folk.

Stream On Soundcloud Download for Free on Heyo

“I’ve always loved and appreciated all kinds of music, and it was almost nagging at me that I wanted to do something else … I didn’t want to deal with reinventing NewFound Road, I’d been wanting to do other things musically, to go other places, and so I thought, now is the time.”

Recorded in Nashville and produced by Barry Bales, this first single to debut his solo album is both heartbreaking and soothing to the ear that one can empathize about living a lonely, single life. Shelton’s crisp vocals and simple guitar riffs are what make it a solid country song and a memorable anthem.

Honest lyrics and Shelton’s pure voice are what make “Learning How To Live Alone” such a relatable song with it’s repetitive, convincing chorus and steady pace. Shelton’s confident introduction to his full-length debut is only driven by his respected reputation and vision.

“I just want to make music that isn’t necessarily traditional Bluegrass.  I love it, but I also love James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Rock, hard Rock, traditional Country—all of those.  Just music.”

Learning How To Live Alone” is now available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon and all major digital outlets.

Follow Tim Shelton:
http://www.timsheltonmusic.net/
https://www.facebook.com/timsheltonmusic
https://twitter.com/TimSheltonMusic

Contact:
Chip Schutzman
Miles High Productions
P.O. Box 93157
Hollywood, CA 90093
323 806-0400
http://www.mileshighproductions.com/

The Importance of Business Rules in Business Process Management

In the AuraPortal BPM suite, the Business Rules house all the company regulations and procedures, and can be directly integrated with the processes without losing their independence.

Woburn, MA, August 23, 2014 – AURA (www.auraportal.com), a global provider of AuraPortal.(*) Business Process Management (BPM) software, has announced that AuraPortal Training School's latest course offering will focus on the synergy that is created when using Business Rules in the Processes. It will also cover the technology and methodology necessary to create a Business Process model that widely automates the activities performed in any organization.

AuraPortal has been distinguished with great advantage over its competitors by Ovum in its Decision Matrix report and by other renowned analyst firms.

AuraPortal BPM offers an innovative Business Rules concept, much more simple and powerful than any other system. Besides containing the company regulations and procedures, this module can also store information as rules, to be kept independent from the processes. These rules can be summoned automatically from the processes at the appropriate time, and are calculated and the values returned to the processes instantly.

"There are two parts to a process model, one permanent and the other changing. When designing the Processes in a BPM suite, the part that is considered permanent (the structural part that determines the workflow) is modeled in the process diagram, whereas everything that is conceptualized as operating standards that change frequently is constructed in the form of Business Rules." Comments Francisco Chinchilla, Director of AuraPortal Training School.

ABOUT AURA (http://www.auraportal.com)
AURA is a global BPM (Business Process Management) software provider delivering a solution that creates, without the need of IT programming, Business Process Workflow Execution Models. AuraPortal is 100% Web-based, and is complementary to existing ERP and CRM systems.

AURA has a presence in 40 countries with more than 300 customers including, among others: Walmart, Toyota, General Motors, Pemex (Petroleos Mexicanos), Carrefour, ArcelorMittal, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Danone, INCAE, Kimberly-Clark, Yamaha, Royal KPN, Bristol-Myers Squibb, etc., as well as many Government Agencies and Departments in several countries. All of these customers benefit from maintenance contracts.

It is headquartered in Europe and has an executive branch in North America (Florida). It also has offices in several countries and a vast network of partners who locally attend customers throughout the world.

Contact:
Cristina Siscar
Auraportal
400 Trade Center
Woburn, MA 01801-7472
978-808-6340
http://www.auraportal.com

Discover The Next Chapter in Luxury Jewelry With MARLI

A New Brand for the Modern Fine Jewelry Enthusiast

New York, NY, August 22, 2014 – MARLI, a luxury brand for today’s confident, cosmopolitan women, has just launched its first collection for the Fall 2014 season. Offering designs that are simple but significant, MARLI combines the best of modern luxury, style and craftsmanship with innovative techniques; resulting in pieces that are chic and inventive with just the right edge.


MARLI was created to fill a void in the fine jewelry market. Designing fashion forward quality pieces, MARLI’s goal is to encourage women to create personalized, high fashion looks that compliment their lifestyle and personality. Whether she is sipping champagne at brunch in SoHo, hosting a gala event in Midtown, or enjoying a weekend beach romance in the Hamptons, MARLI jewels were designed to become a glittering staple in everyday life.

“Our designs are simple and significant – they are conversation starters, empowering women who write their own life stories,” Maral Artinian, Co-Founder & Brand Curator, Marli

MARLI’s debut collection features nineteen capsules boasting a remarkable array of styles inspired by the shapes, colors, sounds and reflections of its beloved city. Angular chain links embedded with diamonds, brilliant gold woven into architecturally patterned pieces and geometric stones set in sparkly rose, are just a few of the design elements implemented through out the collection. Intricate ear cuffs, delicate hand-pieces enveloped in diamonds and onyx, multi-finger rings and bold chokers add unexpected glamour to the collection. Not only does pristine design play an important roll in the creation of MARLI’s unique pieces, but comfort and ease are imperative as well. Using a flex technique, rare in most fine jewelry designs, MARLI is able to create pieces that fit comfortably and are wearable throughout the day.

MARLI jewelry is designed in Soho, New York and manufactured in Thailand, a perfect combination of modern luxury and artisan craftsmanship. The collection retails from $950 - $8,000 with select special items reaching $50,000, and can purchased at Fragments, NYC.

Contact:
Monserrat Fernandez
Cameo Public Relations
10 W. 33rd St.
Suite 1118
New York, NY 10001
646-360-3488
http://www.cameopr.com