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Marietta Resident Cassandra Blassingame joins Ashworth College as Program Development Manager

Posted by on May 8, 2012 1 comment

Marietta Resident Cassandra Blassingame joins Ashworth College as Program Development Manager











Cassandra Blassingame, Program Development Manager for Ashworth College


Peachtree Corners, GA (PRWEB) May 08, 2012

Ashworth College (http://www.ashworthcollege.edu/), a leading online school, announced today that Cassandra D. Blassingame, Marietta, GA, has been hired as Program Development Manager for the online school’s career training programs, reporting to the Chief Academic Officer.

With more than 15 years of progressive experience as an educator and administrator in both the higher education and nonprofit sectors, Blassingame will assume responsibility for maintaining Ashworth’s 65+ career diploma programs as well as the development of new programs serving the career training market.

Most recently Blassingame served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Talladega College managing development, alumni affairs, marketing, and Title III. Prior, she served both on the faculty and as program director for the Business & Technology programs at the University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Studies, in Falls Church, VA.

“Education is a vehicle by which people can be empowered to participate in the local, national, regional, or global communities,” she said. “I’m very excited to be able to bring my experiences to Ashworth.”

In both her teaching and administrative capacities, Blassingame has developed curricula, on the undergraduate and graduate levels, and ranging from individual courses to entire certificate programs in business and technology.

Dr. Leslie Gargiulo, Ashworth College’s Chief Academic Officer commented, “We’re excited to have Cassandra as part of Ashworth’s education team. Her experience and enthusiasm is proving to be a tremendous asset and her extensive knowledge and experience she brings has already started to make an impact on our business.”

Originally from Aurora, IL, Blassingame received her Bachelor of Arts in computer science at Talladega College and her MEd in Adult Education at University of Missouri-St. Louis where she is currently a PhD candidate.

Blassingame has three sons and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

About Ashworth College

Headquartered in Peachtree Corners, GA, Ashworth College, a leading online school, has built a tradition of excellence spanning 25 years, offering students worldwide more than 115 online college degrees, online certificate programs, career training, and online high school diploma options that are affordable and fit the busy schedules of working adults. Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of the DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. For more information, visit http://www.ashworthcollege.edu.

Ashworth is a Sterling Partners portfolio company. Sterling Partners is a leading private equity firm with over 25 years of experience partnering with entrepreneurs to build market-leading businesses. With approximately $ 5 billion of assets under management, Sterling Partners invests growth capital in industries with positive, long-term trends and provides ongoing support to management through a dedicated team of industry veterans, operators, strategy experts and human capital professionals. Sterling Partners is a leader in education, healthcare and business services and has offices in Chicago, Baltimore, and Miami. For more information, please visit http://www.sterlingpartners.com.











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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.









Credit Unions in U.S. and Canada Choose On Your Way To Attract, Engage, Educate, Retain Gen Y and Millennials

Posted by on May 7, 2012 1 comment

Credit Unions in U.S. and Canada Choose On Your Way To Attract, Engage, Educate, Retain Gen Y and Millennials











Michael Perryman, CEO, Tri-Co Federal Credit Union, Randolph, NJ


Dallas, TX (PRWEB) May 07, 2012

Credit unions in Randolph, NJ; Bridgewater, MA, and Porcupine Plain (Saskatchewan), Canada, have recently selected Dallas-based On Your Way (OYW) as their web portal solution for engaging, educating and retaining Generation Y (ages 18-32) members and prospects.

On Your Way, a fee-based service firm, offers a fresh, comprehensive approach to marketing to young adults. More than 60 credit unions from coast to coast with assets of $ 24 million to $ 2 billion now use services from the four-year-old company to reach young adults referred to as GenYs or Millennials. (http://www.info.onyourway.com.)

The newest clients are Tri-Co Federal Credit Union in Randolph, the Bridgewater (MA) Credit Union and Porcupine Credit Union Limited, OYW’s third Canadian customer.

“Tri-Co has seen member education as a top priority for years, whether it be for products, services or financial literacy,” said Michael R. Prettyman, President and Chief Executive Officer. (http://www.tricofcu.com/) “On Your Way fits nicely with our philosophy of keeping education interactive, lively and straight forward.”

Margaret A. Frey, Tri-Co’s VP-Lending/Operations and COO, added: “We see Gen Y as our future. We are primarily a teachers’ credit union and a SEG-based credit union. However, like a lot of our contemporary institutions, we see an aging membership when we look at our demographics.

“We realized this for years and have been shifting our product and service offerings to attract a younger clientele,” Frey emphasized. “Along with e-services to attract younger members, On Your Way did well when tested with our youthful membership base.”

Tri-Co has assets of $ 153.6 million and about 14,000 members, with almost 15% of those ages 14-35 and about 44% of them 55 years or older. Membership is open to students in two of the three counties that Tri-Co serves.

“We are doing better with this age category than our peers, but we are not happy,” Prettyman conceded. “There is so much more to do. …we spend a great deal of time in the schools. However, the format and excitement that On Your Way offers really trumps most of the financial literacy courses and curricula out there.”

“Our company motto is ‘Get there,’” said Jared Cahill, a Co-founding Partner in the financial education website serving credit unions since 2008. “We help credit Unions work smarter, not harder to attract and retain the growing monetary power of this market segment.

“We’re educating while communicating in a style that Gen Ys expect and prefer,” explained the 31-year financial services veteran. “This population segment is struggling with the current economic climate, student loans and debt, lending and basic financial needs. We reward them for their time, attention and referrals.”

“We see On Your Way as helping us convert this (young) demographic to being members,” said James C. Dufford, VP-Marketing at Tri-Co. “More importantly, we see On Your Way as being ‘sticky,’ the kind of service members keep coming back to. So, besides attracting members, we expect it to help maintain the younger member, who will move on if bored or not challenged.”

On a week day basis, OYW provides educational articles, an interactive blog and links back to the credit union’s main website. It rewards visitors for coming to the site and taking action. Cahill believes the service “can create a larger pool of borrowers and ensure they are familiar and loyal to the credit union before wealth passes to them from their parents.”

“According to wealth-watchers, Gen Y is expected to inherit more than $ 1 trillion by 2030,” he explained. “Credit Unions must be more aggressive and better skilled if they are to get their share of these customers and to help them prudently managed their financial assets.”

Each OYW client can personalize the site with its own brand colors, logo and customized content. The latter is important, because OYW has discovered that the stake holders for financial literacy are lending departments. Typical weekly maintenance time is less than 30 minutes.

Additionally, through OYW credit unions can cost-effectively offer the award-winning, online, game-based MoneyU course to help improve the financial skills and well-being of their young adult members.

The credit unions can even generate revenue on the course, which takes content relevant to college and high school students and presents it in a dynamic medium to help them become financially skilled and knowledgeable in six to eight hours. (http://www.moneyu.com) Currently, 80% of learners flunk the pretest, but 98% pass the post-test.

On Your way offers a 30-minute, one-on-one, live e-tour of its program with a key partner providing an overview of its program’s foremost features. For more info: http://www.info.onyourway.com.

“Gen Y is more mobile, more interactive and more connected than ever before. With the right messages, tools and approaches, credit unions can cost-effectively attract, inform, inspire and reward their young adult members in a sophisticated, ‘connected’ and personalized approach,” Cahill stated.

The consultant believes Gen Yers are eager to learn how C.U. products and services will help them manage their income and assets. They can become loyal members as well as voluntarily recommend their credit union to friends and peers, he contends.

“Experience indicates that time and patience are required to win Gen Y’s trust,” he observed. “Mere newspaper ads no longer cut it. Targeted direct mail campaigns, opt-in e-mail educational and lifestyle messages and web-based, read-and-reward systems are vital. Once on board, these members prove to be exceptionally loyal.”

Gift cards, electronic gear and video game systems comprise OYW rewards. The CU’s Gen-Y members receive qualifying points by visiting the website on a regular basis, by referring their friends to the client credit union and by using more of the CU’s products and services.

The progressive, fun website has occasional, entertaining videos and takes only minutes to read. Subjects range from “Why am I upside down on my car loan?” to “How to select a wedding planner” to “Should I have a joint account before marriage?” An extensive library of financial topics is available for easy searches.

In addition to assisting with viral marketing campaigns, On Your Way also produces direct mail postcards and in-branch advertising for its clients to help attract member-readers and to remind them of the website.

For More Information or Interviews:

Jared Cahill, Co-founder & Partner, TBA Marketing, LLC, dba On Your Way, Dallas TX, 214- 960-0761

Preston F. Kirk, APR, Kirk Public Relations, Austin, TX, 830-693-4447











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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.









Special BBC/KUHF Radio Broadcast from Port of Houston Authority ?Can America be Energy Independent by the Year 2020??

Posted by on May 6, 2012 1 comment

Special BBC/KUHF Radio Broadcast from Port of Houston Authority “Can America be Energy Independent by the Year 2020?”










Houston, TX (PRWEB) May 06, 2012

BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) in partnership with Houston’s KUHF-Radio, broadcast a special edition of its international current affairs program Newshour from the Port of Houston Authority this afternoon to audiences around the world. The segment, which included a live blog, can be accessed on http://www.kuhf.org.

Anchor Razia Iqbal hosted the show, alongside KUHF StateImpact Energy & Environment Reporter Dave Fehling. Program guests Amy Myers Jaffe, Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at Rice University, and John Hofmeister, Founder and CEO, Citizens for Affordable Energy, and former President of Shell Oil Company, discussed how the boom in domestic energy production could influence American policy both at home and abroad. “Can America be energy independent by the year 2020?” was broadcast live from the roof of the Executive Office Building at the Port Authority’s Turning Basin Terminal.

Col. Leonard Waterworth, Port Authority Executive Director, was featured as part of a pre-taped segment. Waterworth said, “The Port of Houston is the perfect location for this discussion. It is the largest importer and exporter of petroleum in the U.S. and home to the second largest petrochemical complex in the world.”

Last year, more than 115 million tons of petroleum products moved through the Port of Houston, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. For petroleum and all other commodities, the Port of Houston is the nation’s leading port in exports and Texas is the No. 1 exporting state.

CONTACT:    

Bill Hensel, Manager, Corporate Communications

Office: (713) 670-2893 Cell: (832) 452-5776 E-mail: bhensel(at)poha(dot)com

Lisa Ashley, Director, Corporate Communications

Office: (713) 670-2644 Cell: (832) 247-8179     Email: lashley(at)poha(dot)com

About the Port of Houston Authority

The Port of Houston Authority facilitates commerce, navigation and safe waterways promoting sustainable trade and generating economic development for the Houston region, Texas and the nation, while being a model environmental and security steward, and a community-focused and fiscally responsible organization.

For more information, please visit http://www.portofhouston.com






















Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.









Toledo Symphony Partners with Mud Hens for Family Concert on May 13

Posted by on May 5, 2012 1 comment

Toledo Symphony Partners with Mud Hens for Family Concert on May 13











Muddy and Muddonna Will Join the Toledo Symphony

Toledo, OH (PRWEB) May 04, 2012

The Toledo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) presents Take Me Out To The Ball Game with the Toledo Mud Hens on Sunday, May 13 at 3PM in the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle. Audiences can look forward to special appearances by Muddy and Muddonna and a special orchestra version of “Casey at the Bat.”

“The Mud Hens are so excited to partner with the Toledo Symphony Family Series for their “Take Me Out to the Ballgame Concert.” It’s a fun and unique way to combine two things our community loves….baseball and music. Muddy and Muddonna have been practicing their moves and can’t wait to share the stage with the talented symphony musicians.” Cheri Pastula, Manager, Community Relations for the Mud Hens.

Preconcert activities begin at 2PM in the Peristyle lobby, and are free with concert ticket purchase. The Toledo Mud Hens will have hands-on activities for children of all ages – coloring sheets, ball toss and photos with the mascots. Muddy and Muddonna will also be making a special appearance during the concert. Look for them on stage!

The Toledo Symphony School of Music (TSSM) will provide live music in the lobby and will perform the National Anthem with the TSO before the concert.

The concert will last approx 1-hour. Tickets are $ 10 for children and $ 25 for adults. For more information, call 419-246-8000 or go on-line at http://www.toledosymphony.com.

Also, Family Series subscriptions for the 2012-2013 season are on sale now. Subscribers receive a free child subscription with every adult. Partners for the 2012-2013 season are the Toledo School for the Arts, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Botanical Gardens and Toledo Opera.

The program for Take Me Out to the Ballgame on May 13 is below.

Star Spangled Banner

Charge! Bugler’s Dream

Overture – Damn Yankees

Sport Polka

Match Point

National Game March

Casey at the Bat     Robert Clemens, narrator

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Home Stretch

Summon the Heroes























Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.









Worley Helps Brothers Battle Autism and Seizures

Posted by on May 4, 2012 1 comment

Worley Helps Brothers Battle Autism and Seizures











The Darryl Worley Foundation helped five-year-old Wayden and seven-year-old Wyatt receive treatments for autism and seizures at the Tennessee Hyperbaric Center in Jackson.


Savannah, Tenn. (PRWEB) May 03, 2012

Two brothers have received help from the Darryl Worley Foundation in their battle against autism and seizures. Seven-year-old Wyatt Garrett and five-year-old Wayden Garrett recently met the singer/songwriter to thank him in person for the gift that helped them receive treatments at the Tennessee Hyperbaric Center in Jackson.

After meeting the family, Worley said, “I was blown away by the fact that these parents wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. They just kept pushing until they found something that would help their boys. Their faith and determination are great examples for all of us.”

According to the boys’ mom, Kathy Garrett, Wyatt’s seizures began when he was almost two months old. Wayden has battled seizures, also, and was diagnosed as having autism at age three. That is when he went from talking in sentences to being nonverbal.

The mom of four explained, “We had tried every treatment we could find — utilizing hospitals and testing in several states — but nothing had worked. Then we came across hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the internet.”

Garrett described how she connected with Kristi Hogg, who had sought HBOT treatments for her daughter’s mitochondrial disease before founding Mayci’s Miracle Fund to help those with special needs. Hogg, now the patient liaison at the Tennessee Hyperbaric Center (http://www.hyperbaricoxygentherapies.com), was able to answer the Garretts’ questions about HBOT.

Since insurance does not cover the cost of the treatment, the Garretts immediately began making plans for conducting fundraisers and saving money. They also applied to the Darryl Worley Foundation for assistance. The foundation approved their request and sent a check to Mayci’s Miracle Fund, a West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation fund, to help with expenses for the brothers’ HBOT. (Mayci’s Miracle Fund and The Tennessee Hyperbaric Fund of the West Tennessee Hearing and Speech Center both receive donations to help individuals receive HBOT treatments.)

In discussing the boys’ treatments, Garrett said, “We started to notice changes within the first several days. Wayden said a sentence out of the blue, and Wyatt seemed to be able to concentrate better. After the 20th of 40 treatments, we noticed that Wayden’s speech exploded. He began saying three-word sentences that were clear and meaningful, and later he started making jokes — which was huge!”

She added that soon afterward people began noticing that Wayden was making eye contact and talking to them and that his ability to concentrate was better. Wyatt’s grades improved, and his seizures stopped. She reported that in the few weeks since completing this first round of treatments, both boys have made even more progress.

The Garretts plan to continue HBOT treatments to seek additional improvements. Garrett summarized her feelings by saying, “I feel like we are a family — finally! Wayden has told us all that he loves us, and he was not able to say that before HBOT. We are indebted to those who have helped us with this treatment, especially Darryl Worley and his foundation. His down-to-earth nature and generous spirit have meant the world to us.”

While the Darryl Worley Foundation receives general donations and memorials throughout the year, most of its funding comes from Darryl Worley’s Tennessee River Run, held each September in Hardin County. This year it is planned for Sept. 13-15. Individuals can stay updated through http://www.darrylworley.com.























Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.









Dynamic Photo Book iPhone App “Mooklet” To Be Released Mid-May, Samples Now Available

Posted by on May 3, 2012 1 comment

Dynamic Photo Book iPhone App “Mooklet” To Be Released Mid-May, Samples Now Available












Kyoto, Japan (PRWEB) May 02, 2012

Mooklet Project announced a sneak preview website presenting several compilations created with “Mooklet”, the new way to create dynamic photo books on your iPhone/iPad.

“Mooklet for iPhone” is a new and unique application due to be released mid-May. Just choose your favorite pictures from a photo library, and you can create and publish your Mooklet, including a unique layout and design as well as beautiful animations, in just a few minutes.

Your published Mooklet is a HTML5-based web application, so users can view it via their browser or by installing it as an app on their iPhone or iPad.You can launch your Mooklet in full-screen mode and interact with it just like a native photo book application built with Objective-C.You can give out your Mooklet URL to family and friends, and they can easily view or add it on their iPhone/iPad. In addition to being a great tool for photo sharing, Mooklets can also be used as a picture book, a company portfolio, a pamphlet, and other forms of publication, and can be quickly distributed to the audience or customers.

Toru Kobayashi, the founder of Mooklet, commented, “We’re very excited to introduce this creative application. It can transform your favorite photos from your iPhone photo library into a wonderful photo collection – a Mooklet – and we believe this app makes a user’s photo experience more fulfilling and fun.

One beta tester said: “This application has become one of my favorites. It surprised me how fast it can create dynamic photo books after choosing some photos from my library. My friend was very pleased with the Mooklet I made from her wedding photos and installed it on her iPad immediately.”

Beta testers’ powerful sample works can be seen by here. Please access it with your iPhone/iPad.

http://mooklet.in

And sneak peek snapshots are here.

http://mooklet.in/static/snapshots/

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/mooklet_in and on Facebook at http://facebook.com/mooklet .

About Mooklet Project:

Mooklet Project was founded by a professional programmer with a career of more than 16 years in Kyoto, Japan, in 2012. The UI was designed by the professional design team “3FLab” from Tokyo, who have worked on applications, product packaging, movies and more.The server side is supported by a professional engineer from a mobile back-end. He is working in cooperation with a small but established organization managing the co-working space “Kowaki” in Kyoto.











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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.









San Diego?s Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers Opens Jewelry Buying Office in El Cajon, CA

Posted by on May 2, 2012 1 comment

San Diego’s Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers Opens Jewelry Buying Office in El Cajon, CA











Leo Hamel Jewelry Buyers has eight convenient locations throughout San Diego County.


San Diego, CA (PRWEB) May 01, 2012

San Diego—April 24th, 2012: Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers opened a new jewelry buying location in the San Diego community of El Cajon, CA on Friday, April 20, 2012. The office is located in the heart of the city at 155 West Main St. #100, El Cajon, CA 92020. This location is the eighth for renowned San Diego businessman Leo Hamel, whose seven other Leo Hamel Jewelry Buyers offices are located throughout San Diego County.

Consumers have been racing to gold buying shops to sell their old jewelry, broken scrap metal, and even family heirlooms since the price of gold skyrocketed during the summer of 2011. The per-ounce price of gold is still at record highs, so it’s no wonder the trend continues to garner such attention.

Gold buying shops range from local jewelry stores, to offices that only buy gold, to buyers that arrive from out of town to set up in hotel rooms for the weekend. Many of these buyers will melt jewelry down to get the gold from it, whether it was unwanted scrap or a precious family heirloom. Leo Hamel Jewelry Buyers tries to find mint-condition jewelry a new home by reselling it as vintage jewelry in their San Diego showroom, Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers.

Leo Hamel Jewelry Buyers employs professional Graduate Gemologists who are extremely knowledgeable about jewelry, diamonds, and precious metals and strive to offer the highest amount possible. Because selling old or broken jewelry, antiques, or collectibles can be an emotional task, it’s their policy to be sensitive to each customer’s situation and never stoop to pressure tactics to close a deal. The company’s aim is to make a customer for life, not just for one transaction.

There are many reasons that people choose to sell their valuables. Maybe they’re buying a new car or have a remodeling project at home. Maybe they’d just rather have the extra money to spend than an outdated accessory in their jewelry box. Whether they have no use for the item or simply need some quick cash, it’s a smart move to sell while prices are high, just as any investment that’s finally paying off.

Leo Hamel Jewelry Buyers pays customers immediately for gold, silver, and platinum, as well as diamonds and fine colored gemstones. They are known for buying and selling preowned Rolex watches, but they also buy most other Swiss as well as German watch brands and collectible American watches, including pocket watches. In addition, they buy many other valuables, including some kinds of sterling flatware and hollowware, collectable coins and paper currency, statues and carvings, antique firearms, military memorabilia, fine art, swords, vintage electric and acoustic guitars, old surfboards, and more.

The process of selling is simple and confidential, and the customer is in the driver’s seat—if at any time he decides not to sell, he simply takes his items and leaves. Or the Leo Hamel team can serve him a cup of coffee and snack while he thinks it over. The only way to discover how easy it is to turn unwanted valuables into cash is to stop by any Leo Hamel Jewelry Buyers location—now including El Cajon—and experience it.

Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers has been buying and selling jewelry in the San Diego area for over 30 years. In 2011 they were voted San Diego’s Best Designer Jewelry in the 10News.com A-List contest, San Diego’s BEST Jeweler in the Union Tribune’s SD BEST poll, and San Diego’s Best Jewelry Store in Citybeat’s 2011 Readers Poll. Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers has a retail showroom in San Diego near Old Town, as well as eight jewelry and gold buying locations in San Diego, La Mesa, Solana Beach, Oceanside, Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, Chula Vista, and El Cajon.

###

For more information about this press release, please contact Halee Hobson at 619-299-1500 or haleeh(at)leohamel.com.
























Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.









Take Back the Hot Shoe: The DaisyGrip? Becomes Even More Versatile with the Addition of The DaisyGrip? Bracket

Posted by on May 1, 2012 1 comment

Take Back the Hot Shoe: The DaisyGrip™ Becomes Even More Versatile with the Addition of The DaisyGrip™ Bracket











DaisyGrip™ + Bracket: Camera Goes Here


Bergen County, NJ (PRWEB) April 30, 2012

When this revolutionary new tool for child photographers was first introduced, the DaisyGrip™ needed to be attached to the camera’s hot shoe. But many photographers requested a solution to this setup as they need their camera’s hot shoe to be free to accept a flash or wireless transmitter.

Now the creator’s of the DaisyGrip™ have found a solution. Kick the DaisyGrip™ right out of the hot shoe with this right angle bracket. It is sturdy, lightweight, yet simple and inexpensive. Most importantly, it provides an ideal place to attach the DaisyGrip™. Here’s how it works: the bracket fastens to the bottom of the camera via the tripod mount and extends to the left of the body, or can be angled out towards the lens for greater extension. At the end of the bracket is a cold shoe where the DaisyGrip™ attaches, and then articulates out over the camera lens. And voila! The hot shoe is now free to hold a wireless transmitter or flash. The bracket can even be used with a tripod for added versatility for studio shooting.

For a limited time and while supplies last, get a free DaisyGrip™ Bracket with every DaisyGrip™ purchase. Please see the DaisyGrip™ website for complete information on this offer that adds great versatility to the DaisyGrip™.

For those not familiar with the DaisyGrip™, read on.

Created out of necessity by child photographer Christine DeSavino, the DaisyGrip™ was designed to help capture the smile of a child. It does this by holding a wide variety of toys just above the lens of a camera. It can hold finger and hand puppets, stuffed animals, and even an iPhone® playing a child’s favorite cartoon.

Company Info:

DaisyGrip, LLC – For a Child’s Smile – was recently formed by Christine DeSavino and David Harges, a husband and wife team, and owners of Christine DeSavino Photography. As an offshoot to their children’s portraiture business, Christine and David formed this new business to sell and promote the DaisyGrip™, a brand new tool which they designed specifically to help photographers overcome one of the toughest obstacles when photographing a child – capturing that perfect smile and natural giggle.

Christine DeSavino Photography, LLC – a NJ based children’s portrait studio – was started in 2007 and has quickly become a premiere custom photography service in northern NJ & the NYC metro area. Specializing in the fine art of children’s portrait photography, Christine focuses on the child, capturing the beauty and innocence of each stage in the child’s journey. From the expecting mother to the newborn infant, from the precious baby to the determined toddler, from the curious child to the confident teen, her photography captures the unique qualities that children embody.

About Christine DeSavino:

Christine’s passion for photography began while she was traveling Europe. Visually, she was awe-struck and wanted to be sure to remember it all, but from her own point of view. As a result, she spent three wonderful years in Barcelona studying photography.

She met her husband years later in New York, where they were both working in the film industry. After having kids, Christine couldn’t be away from them for a typical 12 hour film day. She wanted to raise her children yet continue her career. Children’s portrait photography was a natural progression.

“I had no idea how much love I had inside of me, until I had my children,” says Christine. “It’s what I try to capture in my portraits – a love and reverence for this special stage of life called childhood. Starting a family is such an incredible time of life and I am thrilled every time I have the privilege of documenting it for someone – from the joy of holding your newborn, to the endearing preschool ages, to the we-can-rule-the-world attitude of pre-teens. It’s all so amazing and passes by in a blink. I think it’s important to have it documented so you can look back and never forget.”

Company Contact:

DaisyGrip – For a Child’s Smile, For a Photographer’s Camera

Founded 2011 by the owners of NJ Child Portrait Studio, Christine DeSavino Photography

www(dot)daisygrip(dot)com

david(at)daisygrip(dot)com

Christine DeSavino Photography – Fine Art Children’s Portraiture – NYC, NJ & LBI

Christine DeSavino – Photographer & Owner

David Harges – Business Manager & Owner

www(dot)christinedesavino(dot)com

chris(at)christinedesavino(dot)com

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.









BETEX is Belize?s Rising Tourism Star, Says Chaa Creek

Posted by on April 30, 2012 1 comment

BETEX is Belize’s Rising Tourism Star, Says Chaa Creek












(PRWEB) April 29, 2012

The success of last week’s Belize tourism expo is one more indication that the growth of the Belizean travel and tourism industry is on the right track, the owner of Belize’s premier eco lodge said today.

Lucy Fleming, who along with her husband Mick own The Lodge at Chaa Creek, regarded as a pioneer in the Belize tourism industry, said that the quality of offerings at this year’s BETEX, the Belize Tourism Expo, highlighted the fact that the Belize tourism is moving in the right direction.

BETEX is a biannual tourism industry trade show organized by the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) and attracts industry professionals as well as travel agents and writers from around the world. According to BTIA President Jim Scott, this year was the biggest in the event’s history, with over 350 attendees at Belize’s Princess Hotel.

Mr. Scott said that due to the country’s small size and other unique attributes, promoting Belize in-country was more effective than attending larger trade shows overseas. “Where better can you promote your culture and your destination than at home? They get to learn about Belize, about our culture, about our natural resources, things to do while they are here… the hotels, tour operators, sites, restaurants, smells and so many good things. Things that you have pride in as a Belizean.”

Given this year’s tourism figures, it seems that Belize’s marketing efforts are getting results.

Belize’s Minster for Tourism, Hon. Manuel Heredia, said that while last year set a record for Belizean tourism, 2012 is already showing even better figures, with this year’s first quarter showing an increase of over 8% in tourist arrivals compared to last year, with record 32,000-plus overnight visitors last March.

Ms Fleming said that while interest in Belize’s Maya history and culture has increased due to the global media and internet attention on the so called Maya 2012 prophesies, she is confident that Belize vacations will continue to become more popular in coming years.

“Where else can you go from pristine rainforest studded with majestic Maya temples and remnants of ancient cities to unspoiled Caribbean islands and beaches in just a few hour driving? We’re just a short hop from the US, have a very friendly, English speaking population, a wealth of stunning natural beauty and a wide range of activities to enjoy it. Belize has developed a very professional, vibrant tourism industry over the last couple of decades, and the word is finally getting out.

“When you consider how much Belize has to offer it stands out as a very affordable destination that appeals to a wide range of people. At Chaa Creek we offer a selection of all-inclusive Belize vacation packages, some with specific focus in areas such as Maya culture, inland adventure, family and even romance with destination weddings, honeymoons and romantic getaways. With our rainforest-to-reef packages visitors get to combine a picture-perfect Caribbean beach holiday with a true jungle and wildlife experience, and that’s not something you can do just anywhere,” she said.

Ms Fleming said that positive word of mouth through social media and the publicity surrounding celebrity visits to Belize in recent years are other factors driving tourism growth. “At the end of the day, Belize really sells itself – our biggest job is to just let people know we’re here,” she said.






















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Signature Bank Is Counting Site for Misericordia Candy Days Contributions for Fourth Time

Posted by on April 29, 2012 1 comment

Signature Bank Is Counting Site for Misericordia Candy Days Contributions for Fourth Time










Chicago, IL (PRWEB) April 28, 2012

For the fourth year in a row, Signature Bank will serve as a donation counting site for Misericordia’s Annual Candy Days fundraiser on April 27 and 28, 2012.

“Signature Bank is proud to continue its involvement with and support of Misericordia by providing a counting site as they carry on their long-standing tradition of collecting donations from the community during Candy Days,” stated Mick O’Rourke, president of Signature Bank and Misericordia volunteer.

The money raised during this annual fundraiser helps Misericordia continue to provide support for individuals with developmental disabilities. Volunteers hand out information about Misericordia and candy in exchange for donations.

About Signature Bank

Signature Bank is wholly owned by Signature Bancorporation, Inc. Signature Bancorporation is the largest privately funded de novo bank holding company in Illinois. Based in Chicago, Signature Bank specializes in middle-market commercial banking and is a full-service retail bank offering a full breadth of financial product lines to consumers. Signature Bank offers a unique balance of relationship-driven service with leading-edge technology to provide customers with the personalization they expect from a community bank and the technology capabilities they demand from a national bank. Visit Signature Bank online at http://www.signature-bank.com























Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.