Franchise Social Media Summit 2011 made history by being the first-ever social media seminar, exclusive to franchising, to be held entirely online. Today, its organizers continue to receive accolades from the broad audience, residing throughout five continents, who attended the Sept. 21 event. "Our attendance included c-level executives of franchise companies, independent franchise consultants, franchise attorneys, marketing and development executives and master franchisees," said Paul Segreto, co-organizer of Franchise Social Media Summit. "All responses ...

Velas Vallarta, a prospering Mexican travel resort on the western coast of Mexico, continues to offer vacationers a safe haven from drug violence in a protected, quiet area of the Central American nation. Many Americans show undue concern regarding the southern neighbor of the United States, even amid outcries that these uneducated tourists are throwing out the proverbial baby with the bathwater when they cross Mexico off of their potential destination list. In April, the U.S. State Department issued a public warning to U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico for any reason. ...

Hollister Creative, a Philadelphia area custom publishing firm, has won a gold award in the 20th annual National Mature Media Awards competition for an article that appeared in Milestones, the monthly newspaper Hollister produces on behalf of Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA). "Inspired by grandma, architect runs writing class for seniors," by Constance Garcia-Barrio, was about Hong Kong-born Benita Cooper, founder/director of Project Best Day, a writing workshop at Philadelphia Senior Center. Milestones is read by more than 180,000 mature Philadelphians. ...

New York based Inherent Artists Music and Tinderbox Arts are hosting Piano Driven Women a showcase to benefit Mill Street Loft Outreach Programs PASWORD and Project AWARE. The benefit will take place on November 2nd at Joe's Pub in New York City. Inherent Artists Music Management, a company which values female empowerment and equality, is happy to be putting together a show whose proceeds will go to aid young women in the impoverished Upstate New York town of Poughkeepsie. Tinderbox Arts is also no stranger to giving back to the female community - 100% of their net ...

Lanner, a provider of simulation software proven to maximize performance and optimize resources, has announced the appointment of Ian Dabney as head of products. Reporting to Group CEO David Jones, Dabney will drive Lanner's growth strategy for the next two years, overseeing the introduction of a number of new products, partnership frameworks and accreditations. Ian joins Lanner from Pennsylvania CAE developer ANSYS, where he headed up European marketing. Prior to that role, he worked with Lanner in a consultancy capacity, shaping marketing and product development ...

Debut Author Maha Huneidi joins the Stories for Children Publishing October '11 World of Ink Virtual Tour Stories for Children Publishing will be touring debut author Maha Huneidi and her picture book, When Monsters Get Lonely all month in October 2011. Maha Huneidi is a wife, mother and now grandmother, who finally found out what she wants to be when she grows up...a writer of children's book. When Monsters Get Lonely is the first step of her journey. Huneidi began writing this book and later found out her granddaughter was afraid of monsters. "It was ...

REC Solar has become a sponsor of coffee-breaks of the 3rd International Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Forum in Kyiv One of the leading players of the world market, REC Solar will share its experience of creating of the highly efficient vertically-integrated company in the sphere of solar power engineering at the 3rd International Forum on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, REF-2011, that will be held in Kyiv on 17-18th of October, 2011. The REC Solar company is the sponsor of the REF-2011 and is getting prepared to present its own economic models of ...

Ahead of the Great California Shake Out earthquake preparedness drill, the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) will host the Buildings at Risk - Earthquake Loss Reduction Summit Oct. 13 to address the critically important issues of seismic retrofitting and risk mitigation for the thousands of earthquake-vulnerable buildings across the Southland. "Drills like the Great California Shake Out are vital exercises to keep citizens safe, but the most effective preparedness starts with ensuring that the damage to our buildings is minimal while ...

Teen sensation Justin Reynolds releases his new video "Runaway". The highly anticipated single produced by DJ Blackout and written by Ava-mae Curah featuring a cameo by Terror's Squad's Fat Joe, is a dance-pop track with a contagious chorus and lively melody. The video for "Runaway" directed by Antoine "SHAKE" Smith can be seen at http://vimeo.com/29910329 You can also watch "The Making of Runaway" a complete behind the scenes look at Justin Reynolds and the cast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KkzMzKBZQA Currently ...

Employee Benefit Services has been named as the employee benefits agency of record for Ricos Product Company, originator of concession nachos and premier supplier of snack foods around the globe. Effective October 1, 2011, EBS is spearheading the management of Ricos' employee benefits program to its more than 80 employees. EBS services will include benefit management and third-party benefit services for Ricos. "We're excited to partner with Ricos in an effort to allow its management to focus on their growing business," said Pete Villemain, President of ...

Europe's largest private broadcaster recently contacted home staging expert Debra Gould about filming one of her client projects for a home staging TV show. Because Google ranks Gould's home staging websites very highly, she receives requests from broadcasters on a regular basis. Rather than appearing on these television shows herself, Gould often forwards these opportunities to members of her home staging directory, as she did in this case. As a result, a representative of the European TV network approached several members of Gould's Staging Diva Directory of Home Stagers ...

The CIO Insurance Summit team announced today keynote and agenda session details for the upcoming technology event to be held October 16-19, 2011, at InterContinental in Miami, Florida. The CIO Insurance Summit is an opportunity for CIOs, IT executives, analysts, and solution providers to network and attend in-depth, interactive agenda sessions. This year's event includes roundtables, panels, and think tanks that will allow attendees to share best practices and IT pain points. On Monday, October 17th at 7:30 pm, Clara Shih, CEO and Founder of Hearsay Social and author ...

Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP former Partner Forrest Smith is honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Chapter of the Texas General Counsel Forum. To be announced Oct.4 at the annual Robert H. Dedman Award for Ethics and Law Dinner at the Belo Mansion in Dallas, the organization also has named its annual law scholarship for Smith. Smith retired from Bell Nunnally in 2007 after 13 years with the firm and 55 years of practice. He remains active in private practice and as a mediator. Founder of the Texas General Counsel Forum and a long-time ...

The Anti-Cruelty Society, Chicago's oldest and largest private animal welfare organization—building a community of caring by helping pets and educating people—helps raise funds and awareness by hosting its 11th annual It's Raining Cats and Dogs! benefit on Friday, October 21 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. It's Raining Cats and Dogs!, The Anti-Cruelty Society's second largest annual fundraiser sponsored by Chopper Trading, Hill's Science Diet, RCN Cable and CS Magazine, will be led by NBC5's Andy Avalos. The event will feature over 15 chef ...

Joint Venture Jewelry will host its Annual Vintage Show and Sale beginning on October 8th running through October 22nd. For those two weeks only, Joint Venture will feature exclusive vintage selections, courtesy of a third-generation vintage dealer from the North East. This will be Joint Venture's ninth year working with this dealer for its Vintage Show. His collection is vast and unique due to his travels all over the world, hand selecting only the best vintage pieces. His gatherings, featuring rings, necklaces, earrings, wedding bands and more will be on display during ...

NelsonJersett is pleased to announce it has been appointed interactive agency for Cameroon Healthcare Development Program, a non-profit medical exchange and education organization based in Duluth, Minnesota. The website will be used to drive recruitment, volunteers, and funding to continue advancing the quality of healthcare in northern Cameroon, Africa. Headed by Drs. Johannes and Martha Aas, retired SMDC physicians, the program was originally established in 1999 as a SMDC (Essentia Health) and Cameroon medical exchange program. In January 2010, the independent, non-profit ...

The new Ramada Plaza Hartford Downtown Hotel recently announced its conversion from a Crowne Plaza. To complement the conversion, the Hotel has begun a multi-million dollar improvement project which includes extensive property renovations. GF Management, a national leader in hospitality management, through its operating affiliate HARC Associates, LLC has assumed operation of the Hotel. The Ramada Plaza Hartford Downtown boasts upscale, full-service luxury at the center of Hartford's thriving business and event district. With the expanded amenities and modern renovations, ...

Wyld's Wingdom is pleased to be exhibiting at the 45th Annual H.H. Backer Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show and Educational Conference on October 14-16, 2011 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. Wyld's Wingdom, a wholesale pet supply distributor for exotic and pet bird products, will be at Booth 604 to showcase the various products they distribute and provide avian expertise to the trade show attendees. Wyld's Wingdom will be one of the over 750 exhibitors in the more than 1,250 booths that will be presenting their products and services ...

LSS Life Safety Services, an industry leader in Passive Fire Protection Inspection services such as fire and smoke damper inspections, firestopping and fire door inspections, announced today the addition of Suzanna Stephan as the Account Executive for their new Dallas based office. Mrs. Stephan was hired to continue to build business relationships on behalf of LSS Life Safety Service and to consult, educate and train facility managers and engineers on Passive Fire Protection safety in the Texas and Oklahoma markets. "We extremely excited about our latest stride ...

KAI Texas has been chosen as the architect for major renovations and additions to Sam Houston High School in San Antonio, TX, a high school within the San Antonio Independent School District. Sam Houston will receive a total of $16.9 million of major renovations funded by bond 2010. The project is currently in the planning phase and construction is expected to be complete by late 2014. "Our relationships with ISD's throughout Texas mean so much to us," says KAI Texas' President and COO Darren L. James, AIA. "Serving the San Antonio Independent School District ...

Our reverse circulation Prospector II rig is still waiting for that part from Canada called an "interchange"; the original one has cracked and has to be replaced. Customs clearance took longer than expected. We know that it has now cleared customs and is en route from Guadalajara to Hermosillo. Consequently, it will be available immediately after the week-end. Reconnaissance RC drilling then will resume on the East and Central Zones of Rome's Don Luis Silver-Gold-Tungsten Greisen-Porphyry Property. A bulldozer is currently cutting several additional trenches on ...

Adha Zelma Jewelry previews their new collection "Spirit Dancer" on the runway at Grand Opening- 139 Norfolk St, NYC (btw: Stanton & Rivington) as a part of the L.E.S. runway fashion showcase and pop-up shop on September 30, 2011. They will be hosting 3 intimate shows at 7pm, 8:15pm and 9:30pm. The designers, Sheanan Bond and Cherise TrahanMiller, were selected from over 75 emerging and local fashion/accessory designers to present their work on the creative Catwalk and alongside body painting artist, Danny Setiawan, to bring Spirit Dancer to life. The ...

Deon Estus, award winning bassist for Wham! and George Michael, is giving aspiring musicians and devoted fans the experience of a lifetime. On November 3, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. PST, Estus will be participating in his first ever backBEAT session for virtual ticket-holding fans. The session will allow fans the exclusive opportunity to learn bass from and ask questions of the legendary Estus, all via likeZebra.com. likeZEBRA, the premiere online platform where fans and bands connect, recently launched backBEAT as a means to better connect fans with the artists they love. As ...

Continuing its effort of mobilizing college students and young adults to remedy community issues, San Diego-based Embrace was awarded with a $20,000 grant from The California Endowment (TCE), for its focus on improving the status and health of California communities. This is the third year in a row that Embrace has been granted funding from TCE, the largest health foundation in the State of California, to support its programs and events. In 2009, the non-profit received a planning grant for $15K from Dr. Winnie Willis, a TCE board member. Last year, TCE provided Embrace ...

The Connecticut Real Estate Investors Association, or CT REIA, announces the 8th Annual New England Real Estate and Entrepreneur Conference And Trade Show. This event will take place from October 29th to October 30th at the Four Points Sheraton, located at 275 Research Parkway in Meriden, CT. Tuition for this conference varies according to package selected. As an added bonus, the first 25 VIP registrations will receive a copy of the New York Times Bestseller "How come that Idiot's Rich and I'm not?" All VIP registrations will receive access to Robert Shemin's ...