guronelogoh.blogspot.com
Hotel consultant Drew Dimond expects hotels in Greater Nashvillew to see occupancy plummet 15 percent to 20 percenft fromlast year’s levels. But the is battlingh the decline, in hopes of keeping any occupanc drop-off below 5 percent. Bureau staf is Twittering, Facebooking and sending out e-blasts to announcw free stuff to do, last-minuter travel deals, CMA Music Festiva l updates andattractions specials. “Wes certainly don’t think it’s going to be some greatg summer,” says Butch Spyridon, presidentt of the visitors bureau. “Ift we were flat to last year, I’d be ecstatic.
I expect that we will be down Spyridon hopes the value of Nashvillwe will draw visitors because ofthe city’ds wealth of free, live, around-the-clock has brought back its free music poolside and is offering “kide eat free” inside the hotel for the firsty time this summer. “At every we’re creating events, promoting and marketing and adding extra valurewith events,” Spyridon says, such as offering flight-hotel packagexs when touted $49 flights to Nashville during a one-day sale in The Nashville Symphony has half-price ticketx for select shows, the Country Musicf Hall of Fame has been givinh out $5 off coupons through June 7, and Gaylorx is offering four-night hotel and attractions packagesd at 40 percent off.
Keith Wright, presidenyt of the , says attractions are sweetening discounts this summert and focusing onthe drive-in “Regional tourism has become extremely important to us, and we are marketinhg more to that audience,” he says. Nashville’sz biggest months for tourism are June and mainly because of the CMA Music Festival thatpumps $25 milliomn into the city every Officials at the would not say how tickegt sales are going for this summer’s festival, which kicks off next week. Octoberr is a popular convention month because of the fall Nashville tourism has been hit in recent In April, the averag e nightly hotel rate dropped 6.3 percent to $92.8 5 from $99.
05 in the same month last according to Smith Travel Research in Hotel occupancy plunged 15 percent in April to 56.9 percent, down from 67 perceng a year ago. Revenue per available room, a key metricv for hoteliers, was down 20.5 percen in April. The amoung of attendees for booked conventions this summer is down about 24 percentt fromlast year. Nashville’s hospitality however, is outperforming much of the rest ofthe country. For the firs t quarter of 2009, Nashville’sa average daily rate dropped 4.5 percent. Only five cities did better, and 19 of the top 25 marketasdid worse.
The decline in hotel tax collections is greater than the drop in which shows tourists are coming but choosinb lessexpensive hotels, says Walt executive director of the . Nashville’s hotel occupancy dropped 11.6 percentr in the first quarter compared to theyear before, a drop that registeredf eighth best among the top 25. Travel has continue to descend atthe , nearing 2005 says airport spokeswoman Emilh Richards. Passenger counts were down 9.5 percent in April as compared to theyear before, and down 9.3 percent in the first four monthxs of the year.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
'Insidious' Is the Most Profitable Film of 2011 - Hollywood Reporter
ukatekexo.wordpress.com
Ology | 'Insidious' Is the Most Profitable Film of 2011 Hollywood Reporter The microbudgeted horror film marks another win for "Paranormal Activity" team Jason Blum, Oren Peli and Steven Schneider. They say lightning doesn't strike twice. Don't tell that to the Paranormal Activity team of Jason Blum, Oren Peli and Steven ... Horror "Insidious" the year's most profitable film Insidious Most Profitable Movie of 2011! Insidious is ... The Most Profitable Film of the Year |
Monday, April 25, 2011
Oregon Senate to vote Monday on health exchange - Stamford Advocate
uqudenlid.blogspot.com
KATU | Oregon Senate to vote Monday on health exchange Stamford Advocate (AP)  The Oregon Senate is scheduled to take up legislation creating a health insurance exchange to benefit individuals and sm » |
Friday, April 22, 2011
Law to protect workers has others fearing for jobs - Kansas City Business Journal:
ralawizewy.wordpress.com
The state’s Independent Contractor law, also known as the Misclassificatiobn Law, was created in 2004 to protect construction workerss from beingdeliberately “misclassified” by companies as contract workers who receivw no benefits, instead of as employees who by law are entitled to a varietyt of benefits. Companies that violate the law are subjecgt totreble damages, as well as potentialk criminal charges. Since the law was the attorney general’s office has gone afterr construction firms, the apparent intent when the measure passesd throughthe Legislature.
But the law is in no way limitec toconstruction companies, whic h left some lawyers specializing in employment matters wondering in recen years whether other businesses might become Moreover, the law explicitlyh holds top executives liable for Earlier this month, executives at Pearson a textbook publisher in Upper Saddle River, N.J., apparentlyu decided to interpret the law more broadly. Not wanting to risk prosecutiohn byMassachusetts authorities, the company decidef to discontinue work with all of its freelancerws in the state.
Freelance editorr and writer John Sisson counted Pearson Educatiohn as one of his largest clientws until hereceived e-mails from the company notifying him citing the Independent Contractor Law, no longee would use Massachusetts contract workers. “I’ved lost business and I stand to lose more said Sisson, a Newton resident. “Iy hurts firms in Massachusetts because it does not allows them to outsource the work they need to do and it hurtx independent professionals who rely onthat work,” Sissoj said. “The fact of the mattet is that theattorney general’s officd is between a rock and a hard It’s a bad law and they’res in charge of enforcing it.
” A Pearson spokeswoman declined to comment for this story. Critics of the law are also concerneed that a successor to Attorney General Martha Coakley could choose to interprett the law more broadly than she or her stafcapparently has. “A number of employment lawyers have worriex since the law was enacted that a different attorneyy general might take a much broader and aggressivw approachto it,” said Joshua M. Davis, managinhg shareholder of the labor and employment law firm in Boston. “The law was designed to protec folks who the Legislature believee were being wrongfullydenied benefits.
” Daviz notes that some clear guidance from the AG’s office about the scope of the law is The fact that an out-of-stated firm has decided not to work with Massachusetts freelancers is worrisome, but not yet a crisis, said Stephemn Adams, a small-business advocate in the ’x Boston office. “We don’t know if it’s isolated and we don’t know if it’s warranted,” Adams said.
“The problem is for the you’re relying on the AG’x interpretation and power to set Ultimately, you do want to fix the
The state’s Independent Contractor law, also known as the Misclassificatiobn Law, was created in 2004 to protect construction workerss from beingdeliberately “misclassified” by companies as contract workers who receivw no benefits, instead of as employees who by law are entitled to a varietyt of benefits. Companies that violate the law are subjecgt totreble damages, as well as potentialk criminal charges. Since the law was the attorney general’s office has gone afterr construction firms, the apparent intent when the measure passesd throughthe Legislature.
But the law is in no way limitec toconstruction companies, whic h left some lawyers specializing in employment matters wondering in recen years whether other businesses might become Moreover, the law explicitlyh holds top executives liable for Earlier this month, executives at Pearson a textbook publisher in Upper Saddle River, N.J., apparentlyu decided to interpret the law more broadly. Not wanting to risk prosecutiohn byMassachusetts authorities, the company decidef to discontinue work with all of its freelancerws in the state.
Freelance editorr and writer John Sisson counted Pearson Educatiohn as one of his largest clientws until hereceived e-mails from the company notifying him citing the Independent Contractor Law, no longee would use Massachusetts contract workers. “I’ved lost business and I stand to lose more said Sisson, a Newton resident. “Iy hurts firms in Massachusetts because it does not allows them to outsource the work they need to do and it hurtx independent professionals who rely onthat work,” Sissoj said. “The fact of the mattet is that theattorney general’s officd is between a rock and a hard It’s a bad law and they’res in charge of enforcing it.
” A Pearson spokeswoman declined to comment for this story. Critics of the law are also concerneed that a successor to Attorney General Martha Coakley could choose to interprett the law more broadly than she or her stafcapparently has. “A number of employment lawyers have worriex since the law was enacted that a different attorneyy general might take a much broader and aggressivw approachto it,” said Joshua M. Davis, managinhg shareholder of the labor and employment law firm in Boston. “The law was designed to protec folks who the Legislature believee were being wrongfullydenied benefits.
” Daviz notes that some clear guidance from the AG’s office about the scope of the law is The fact that an out-of-stated firm has decided not to work with Massachusetts freelancers is worrisome, but not yet a crisis, said Stephemn Adams, a small-business advocate in the ’x Boston office. “We don’t know if it’s isolated and we don’t know if it’s warranted,” Adams said.
“The problem is for the you’re relying on the AG’x interpretation and power to set Ultimately, you do want to fix the
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Heat need to be careful with 2-0 lead - FS Florida
uraa-quartely.blogspot.com
Heat need to be careful with 2-0 lead FS Florida Follow the Heat and Lakers as these favorites shoot for the NBA Finals. » Visit Heat or 3Peat Central Sometimes there's no such thing as a commanding 2-0 series lead. Sometimes it's a myth. Things are going along fine, the series shifts sites and, bam, ... |
Monday, April 18, 2011
Advanta agrees to refund customers up to $35M in FDIC agreements - Dayton Business Journal:
http://www.kreativamente.com/workforce/page19.html
That agreement addresses charges that theSpringf House, Pa.-based company violated federao trade laws through its pricinf strategies on business credit cards, and in its marketing of cash-back rewardsz on the cards. Advanta said it did not admitf wrongdoing and that it entered theagreementss “in the interest of expediency and to avoisd litigation.” Advanta said it took a $14 millionj charge to cover refunds tied to the allegef marketing violations in third-quarter 2008 and will take a second-quarterr 2009 charge to cover refunds over its pricin strategies, which it said could total $21 Advanta also agreed to a $150,0009 fine.
In a separate agreement with the Advanta’s ability to use cash and pay dividend hasbeen restricted. The compang must submit a plan to remain and submit a plan to terminateits deposit-taking operations and deposit insurance once its deposits are repaid in a process expected to take a few years. The seconcd agreement with the FDIC placese restrictionson Advanta’s use of its cash assets, paymen of dividends and transactions that would materiall y alter its balance sheet composition and takingb of brokered deposits.
Advanta said the secondx order does not in any way restrict it from continuing to service itsmanaged credit-card accounts and In an effort to limit losses and erosiom of its capital as credit deteriorates, Advantaw said in early May that its securitization trusty will go into early amortizationn — where the company uses receivables from customeres to accelerate payment to investor bondholders. While that protectes investors from prolonged exposure to a pool of receivablez whose credit performancehas deteriorated, Advant a would have needed an alternative way to fund new purchasesa on its customers’ credit cards. So it had to shut down future use, effective May 30.
It has since referred some customer s to AmericanExpress Co. Advanta’s stock closed 2 7 percentg lower Wednesday at42
That agreement addresses charges that theSpringf House, Pa.-based company violated federao trade laws through its pricinf strategies on business credit cards, and in its marketing of cash-back rewardsz on the cards. Advanta said it did not admitf wrongdoing and that it entered theagreementss “in the interest of expediency and to avoisd litigation.” Advanta said it took a $14 millionj charge to cover refunds tied to the allegef marketing violations in third-quarter 2008 and will take a second-quarterr 2009 charge to cover refunds over its pricin strategies, which it said could total $21 Advanta also agreed to a $150,0009 fine.
In a separate agreement with the Advanta’s ability to use cash and pay dividend hasbeen restricted. The compang must submit a plan to remain and submit a plan to terminateits deposit-taking operations and deposit insurance once its deposits are repaid in a process expected to take a few years. The seconcd agreement with the FDIC placese restrictionson Advanta’s use of its cash assets, paymen of dividends and transactions that would materiall y alter its balance sheet composition and takingb of brokered deposits.
Advanta said the secondx order does not in any way restrict it from continuing to service itsmanaged credit-card accounts and In an effort to limit losses and erosiom of its capital as credit deteriorates, Advantaw said in early May that its securitization trusty will go into early amortizationn — where the company uses receivables from customeres to accelerate payment to investor bondholders. While that protectes investors from prolonged exposure to a pool of receivablez whose credit performancehas deteriorated, Advant a would have needed an alternative way to fund new purchasesa on its customers’ credit cards. So it had to shut down future use, effective May 30.
It has since referred some customer s to AmericanExpress Co. Advanta’s stock closed 2 7 percentg lower Wednesday at42
Friday, April 15, 2011
Blue Clover making international push for newest client Futurex - San Antonio Business Journal:
tarpleypymibujuh1491.blogspot.com
“I think we become more effective as businesses andmore results-drivehn for our clients,” Sena says. With Blue Clover’s recent signinf of cyber securityclient Futurex, Sena intendds to prove his theory. More than 15,000o financial institutions and related entitiee currentlyuse Futurex’ encryption solutions to protec t their highly sensitive financial Futurex has a goal of beingf the leading provider of cryptographic solutions in the world and has tapped Blue Clover to present its capabilities on a globakl scale. Blue Clover’s first marketing efforts will be initiated in Centrak andSouth America.
Blue Cloveer PR Director Jeanne Albrecht says her priority is to present the benefits of encryption solutions ina user-friendly way. “Whenever your credit card is swipeed at a restaurant orgrocerty store,” she explains, “encryptio n hardware systems ensure your transaction is safe and highly secure, both from the retailer’ws end and your bank. Futurex create s these systems and provides the most innovatived and robust data encryption security inthe industry.” While Futurex’ technolog has potential on a global scale, it’s the company’s focus on a specififc industry and product that attracted Blue Clover.
“Inh these economic conditions, Futurex is exactly the type of clienrt that we are searching for in 2009 to fulfilol ourstrategic direction, which is focusing in niche markets,” Sena says. originally owned by and located in Californi a for nearly25 years, was acquired in 2001 by Bret Smith, a financial services and electronic payments industry veteran. Smith relocated the company headquarterssto Bulverde, Texas, in 2005, wherw it has continued to be an industr leader.
Marketing on a worldwide scale is a task that Blue Clover isup for, Sena says, noting the firm’sx existing multicultural, global relationship network it has in “With this account, we get to capitalizee on our excellent global relationships to satisft their international sales objectives — something we really enjoyt doing but don’t always get to, with most of our Sena says. Blue Clover’s current international clients includwe architecturalfirm , and Paris-based Hotels Preference.
“Futurex is excited to work withBlue Clover,” says its CEO “With the help of Blue Clover’s PR we’ll be able to vastlt expand our international presence.” If anyonw ever doubted the fine line between genius and insanity, The (AAF) San Antonio will test it as they host the AAF 10th regional advertising conference Jan. If you haven’t been involvedr with AAF, organizers say it’s time to experimenf a little. The American Advertising Federation is the oldest nationalp advertisingtrade association, representinb 40,000-plus professionals in the advertising industry.
Nurturing younbg ad sprouts rates highon AAF’s priority “One of our main goals as an organization is to connectt students considering careers in advertising, graphic design and communications, with professionals who can help mentodr them,” explains Beverly AAF San Antonio president. The conference, A Method to the Madness,” will be attenderd by 28 advertising clubsd ina four-state area.
Taking place at El Tropicanp Hotel, MadLab will feature notable conference topicxs suchas “The Big Pitch: Pitching the NCAA Finall Four Committee” — a panel discussion with the ; “Colotr Trends” by Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the ; and “Maximize Your On-location Experience: Working with Today’s Film a panel discussion with the . For more go to www.sanantonioadfed.org/madlab or e-mail madlab09@yahoo.com. Some may argues that antique hunting is an artwithin itself.
With this inspiration, the artistic minds at The have hatcheed a unique outreach andawarenesx tool/fundraiser designed to pull in support for a variett of treasures (including thosre sporting tutus) titled “CIRCA Antiques Appraisal Fair.” The Conservatory’ss “CIRCA” will take place on Friday, Jan. 23 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the at 2415 Boardwall St. (at Broadway.) San Antonio’s top appraisers and renowned antiquities experts will appraisegeneralk antiques, including items such as pottery, china, art, western items and firearms. A brief live antiquwe auction will take placeat 7:30 p.m.
For detail on the Conservatory’s fundraiser, contact Jill Garciza at 210-387-6513 or by e-mail at jillg@satx.rr.com.
“I think we become more effective as businesses andmore results-drivehn for our clients,” Sena says. With Blue Clover’s recent signinf of cyber securityclient Futurex, Sena intendds to prove his theory. More than 15,000o financial institutions and related entitiee currentlyuse Futurex’ encryption solutions to protec t their highly sensitive financial Futurex has a goal of beingf the leading provider of cryptographic solutions in the world and has tapped Blue Clover to present its capabilities on a globakl scale. Blue Clover’s first marketing efforts will be initiated in Centrak andSouth America.
Blue Cloveer PR Director Jeanne Albrecht says her priority is to present the benefits of encryption solutions ina user-friendly way. “Whenever your credit card is swipeed at a restaurant orgrocerty store,” she explains, “encryptio n hardware systems ensure your transaction is safe and highly secure, both from the retailer’ws end and your bank. Futurex create s these systems and provides the most innovatived and robust data encryption security inthe industry.” While Futurex’ technolog has potential on a global scale, it’s the company’s focus on a specififc industry and product that attracted Blue Clover.
“Inh these economic conditions, Futurex is exactly the type of clienrt that we are searching for in 2009 to fulfilol ourstrategic direction, which is focusing in niche markets,” Sena says. originally owned by and located in Californi a for nearly25 years, was acquired in 2001 by Bret Smith, a financial services and electronic payments industry veteran. Smith relocated the company headquarterssto Bulverde, Texas, in 2005, wherw it has continued to be an industr leader.
Marketing on a worldwide scale is a task that Blue Clover isup for, Sena says, noting the firm’sx existing multicultural, global relationship network it has in “With this account, we get to capitalizee on our excellent global relationships to satisft their international sales objectives — something we really enjoyt doing but don’t always get to, with most of our Sena says. Blue Clover’s current international clients includwe architecturalfirm , and Paris-based Hotels Preference.
“Futurex is excited to work withBlue Clover,” says its CEO “With the help of Blue Clover’s PR we’ll be able to vastlt expand our international presence.” If anyonw ever doubted the fine line between genius and insanity, The (AAF) San Antonio will test it as they host the AAF 10th regional advertising conference Jan. If you haven’t been involvedr with AAF, organizers say it’s time to experimenf a little. The American Advertising Federation is the oldest nationalp advertisingtrade association, representinb 40,000-plus professionals in the advertising industry.
Nurturing younbg ad sprouts rates highon AAF’s priority “One of our main goals as an organization is to connectt students considering careers in advertising, graphic design and communications, with professionals who can help mentodr them,” explains Beverly AAF San Antonio president. The conference, A Method to the Madness,” will be attenderd by 28 advertising clubsd ina four-state area.
Taking place at El Tropicanp Hotel, MadLab will feature notable conference topicxs suchas “The Big Pitch: Pitching the NCAA Finall Four Committee” — a panel discussion with the ; “Colotr Trends” by Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the ; and “Maximize Your On-location Experience: Working with Today’s Film a panel discussion with the . For more go to www.sanantonioadfed.org/madlab or e-mail madlab09@yahoo.com. Some may argues that antique hunting is an artwithin itself.
With this inspiration, the artistic minds at The have hatcheed a unique outreach andawarenesx tool/fundraiser designed to pull in support for a variett of treasures (including thosre sporting tutus) titled “CIRCA Antiques Appraisal Fair.” The Conservatory’ss “CIRCA” will take place on Friday, Jan. 23 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the at 2415 Boardwall St. (at Broadway.) San Antonio’s top appraisers and renowned antiquities experts will appraisegeneralk antiques, including items such as pottery, china, art, western items and firearms. A brief live antiquwe auction will take placeat 7:30 p.m.
For detail on the Conservatory’s fundraiser, contact Jill Garciza at 210-387-6513 or by e-mail at jillg@satx.rr.com.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Businesses navigate new trends in employment law - South Florida Business Journal:
http://mountainrunner.us/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/mtnrunnr/managed-mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=662
Enter Mark Neuberger, the society’s attorney at in Miami. He helpecd the nonprofit rewrite itsemployee handbook. In the next few months, the societt will launch new policies. Not evergy employee is eligible, but the result coulsd be more open parking spaces andhappier employees. “Iu have this theory we’re on the cusp of tectonivc change in the employment Neuberger said. “The underlying factorsa are oil, politics and technology.” Telecommuting is one possibles answer to growing costs and legalo challenges facing local employers in thecoming years, as long as policiese and company habits are adjusted to avoid legalp problems.
Managers and human resources directorws in South Florida are navigating a changing politica climate where new standards are proposed for union illegal immigration, sex harassment, federal leavwe requirements and discrimination. The regionn continues to lead the country inovertimer lawsuits, with no letup in No matter who wins November’s presidential election, South Florida attorney believe dramatic change will come soon in many aread of employment law.
Already, congressional Democrata are crafting the first changes in yearsz to key legislation like the Famil and MedicalLeave Act, and writing completelyg new laws like the proposed Employee Free Choice Act to ease requirementsa for union elections. The common thinking is, if Democrats get more more so-called labor reforms will be pushed for betteror worse. “Politically, you have pent-uo demand for change in some areas,” Neuberger “Also, because of oil and the there’s a growing need for changes. And technology makes it possible to do things wenevere could, in terms of working from home or wherever.
” Neuberger said none of his clientd have been hit with “BlackBerry overtime” lawsuits, whers employees file overtime claims for the extra work caused by remots connectivity. Dora Shade, the society’s HR manager, said the company is pleased with the new buttelecommuting isn’t appropriate for everyone. The which sets standards for has more than 100 employees in Miamjiand 53,000 members worldwide. “We did put together guidelines, investigated the legalities,” Shadse said.
“Mark’s advice was we needef to provide laptop computers and not allow companyu information to be put on personal Neuberger also told the society that employees are coveredsunder workers’ compensation while working at home but not if they hurt themselves while eating lunch in their Whether prompted by BlackBerry usage or not, there’s no end to the crush of overtimse lawsuits being filed in Sout h Florida. Employment attorneys said they continuw to spend a lot of time advising clients on how to avoids and litigatethe claims. “My advice is, even if you classifhy an employeeas exempt, you should still keep detailedf records.
The burden is on the employer,” said Antoinettwe Theodossakos, partner with in West Palm Beach. Theodossakoss cited federal court datashowingy Florida, in many years, generatee at least one-third of the nation’s overtimwe lawsuits under the Fair Labor Standards Act. South Florida accountsx for a large chunkof that. In there were 4,207 overtime lawsuits nationwide, with 1,860 in Floridqa (44 percent), of which 1,217 were in Southg Florida (29 percent).
The ratio decreased somewhat in 2007 because the numbefr of lawsuits nationwide grewfaster – to more than 7,00p – but Florida’s percentagse of nationwide suits over the last eighgt months is back up to 47 Theodossakos said Florida employers are targetesd because it is a home to many smaller, seasonalp companies with less sophisticates resources. She said there is one cardinalp rule for avoiding lawsuits if a company issues BlackBerrys to employees: “Have a strict policy in specifically for set hours.” Despite the best employers are sometimes confronted with overtime litigation.
attorneys in West Palm Beacn recently won an overtimee case for their Delray Plants owners Ed Koorneet andRandolph Gilde. Morgan and a Florida firm that has handled many similar hit the company with an overtimew suit in 2007 that also soughft to certifya class. The plaintiff was a non-exemp t laborer, Daniel Saldibar. The big question in a jury trialkover Saldibar’s case came down to whether he was an agricultural workeer or not under the Fair Labotr Standards Act. A jury said he was, and was therefore not subjecf toovertime requirements. In smaller agriculturalk operations, overtime payment is not always required forall workers.
Enter Mark Neuberger, the society’s attorney at in Miami. He helpecd the nonprofit rewrite itsemployee handbook. In the next few months, the societt will launch new policies. Not evergy employee is eligible, but the result coulsd be more open parking spaces andhappier employees. “Iu have this theory we’re on the cusp of tectonivc change in the employment Neuberger said. “The underlying factorsa are oil, politics and technology.” Telecommuting is one possibles answer to growing costs and legalo challenges facing local employers in thecoming years, as long as policiese and company habits are adjusted to avoid legalp problems.
Managers and human resources directorws in South Florida are navigating a changing politica climate where new standards are proposed for union illegal immigration, sex harassment, federal leavwe requirements and discrimination. The regionn continues to lead the country inovertimer lawsuits, with no letup in No matter who wins November’s presidential election, South Florida attorney believe dramatic change will come soon in many aread of employment law.
Already, congressional Democrata are crafting the first changes in yearsz to key legislation like the Famil and MedicalLeave Act, and writing completelyg new laws like the proposed Employee Free Choice Act to ease requirementsa for union elections. The common thinking is, if Democrats get more more so-called labor reforms will be pushed for betteror worse. “Politically, you have pent-uo demand for change in some areas,” Neuberger “Also, because of oil and the there’s a growing need for changes. And technology makes it possible to do things wenevere could, in terms of working from home or wherever.
” Neuberger said none of his clientd have been hit with “BlackBerry overtime” lawsuits, whers employees file overtime claims for the extra work caused by remots connectivity. Dora Shade, the society’s HR manager, said the company is pleased with the new buttelecommuting isn’t appropriate for everyone. The which sets standards for has more than 100 employees in Miamjiand 53,000 members worldwide. “We did put together guidelines, investigated the legalities,” Shadse said.
“Mark’s advice was we needef to provide laptop computers and not allow companyu information to be put on personal Neuberger also told the society that employees are coveredsunder workers’ compensation while working at home but not if they hurt themselves while eating lunch in their Whether prompted by BlackBerry usage or not, there’s no end to the crush of overtimse lawsuits being filed in Sout h Florida. Employment attorneys said they continuw to spend a lot of time advising clients on how to avoids and litigatethe claims. “My advice is, even if you classifhy an employeeas exempt, you should still keep detailedf records.
The burden is on the employer,” said Antoinettwe Theodossakos, partner with in West Palm Beach. Theodossakoss cited federal court datashowingy Florida, in many years, generatee at least one-third of the nation’s overtimwe lawsuits under the Fair Labor Standards Act. South Florida accountsx for a large chunkof that. In there were 4,207 overtime lawsuits nationwide, with 1,860 in Floridqa (44 percent), of which 1,217 were in Southg Florida (29 percent).
The ratio decreased somewhat in 2007 because the numbefr of lawsuits nationwide grewfaster – to more than 7,00p – but Florida’s percentagse of nationwide suits over the last eighgt months is back up to 47 Theodossakos said Florida employers are targetesd because it is a home to many smaller, seasonalp companies with less sophisticates resources. She said there is one cardinalp rule for avoiding lawsuits if a company issues BlackBerrys to employees: “Have a strict policy in specifically for set hours.” Despite the best employers are sometimes confronted with overtime litigation.
attorneys in West Palm Beacn recently won an overtimee case for their Delray Plants owners Ed Koorneet andRandolph Gilde. Morgan and a Florida firm that has handled many similar hit the company with an overtimew suit in 2007 that also soughft to certifya class. The plaintiff was a non-exemp t laborer, Daniel Saldibar. The big question in a jury trialkover Saldibar’s case came down to whether he was an agricultural workeer or not under the Fair Labotr Standards Act. A jury said he was, and was therefore not subjecf toovertime requirements. In smaller agriculturalk operations, overtime payment is not always required forall workers.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Downtown Staybridge Suites seeks receivership - Houston Business Journal:
http://vinyl-sidings.blogspot.com
SJ Properties Suites Buyco EHF, which includes an investoe from Reykjavik, Iceland, filed the petition Monday in Milwaukee CountuyCircuit Court. Judge Mel Flanagan scheduled a hearingh for June 30 on a motioj to appoint Milwaukee attorneyt Seth Dizard asthe receiver. Work stopperd in December 2008 onthe high-rise at 1150 N. Wate Street when the construction manager and developerf DOC Milwaukeebecame insolvent, according to the receivership petition. The Icelandic investors said that in November 2006 they provided an advancerof $17.4 million for a 120-room extendedd stay hotel and at least 18 luxuryu condos. The project also received $13.
e4 million in financing from a unit of in which in May was placed in receivership by the The Milwaukee receivership petition said the propert on Water Street alreadyhas furniture, flooring and fixtures in the Staybridgd portion of project. Liens against the project totapl morethan $3.4 according to the receivership petition. The largest liens were filed by Milwaukee-areaz contractors and suppliersUihlein Electric, , and Klein-Dickert. SJ Propertiexs recently sued DOC Milwauker and Economou Partnersin U.S. District Courf in Milwaukee claiming a fraudulent transfer of fundsa intended for the WaterStreegt project.
SJ Properties Suites Buyco EHF, which includes an investoe from Reykjavik, Iceland, filed the petition Monday in Milwaukee CountuyCircuit Court. Judge Mel Flanagan scheduled a hearingh for June 30 on a motioj to appoint Milwaukee attorneyt Seth Dizard asthe receiver. Work stopperd in December 2008 onthe high-rise at 1150 N. Wate Street when the construction manager and developerf DOC Milwaukeebecame insolvent, according to the receivership petition. The Icelandic investors said that in November 2006 they provided an advancerof $17.4 million for a 120-room extendedd stay hotel and at least 18 luxuryu condos. The project also received $13.
e4 million in financing from a unit of in which in May was placed in receivership by the The Milwaukee receivership petition said the propert on Water Street alreadyhas furniture, flooring and fixtures in the Staybridgd portion of project. Liens against the project totapl morethan $3.4 according to the receivership petition. The largest liens were filed by Milwaukee-areaz contractors and suppliersUihlein Electric, , and Klein-Dickert. SJ Propertiexs recently sued DOC Milwauker and Economou Partnersin U.S. District Courf in Milwaukee claiming a fraudulent transfer of fundsa intended for the WaterStreegt project.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Reality Rocks convention hits few high notes on first day - Los Angeles Times
http://work-ideas.livejournal.com/5398.html
Reality Rocks convention hits few high notes on first day Los Angeles Times The producers of the inaugural Reality Rocks Expo may aspire for the event to eventually become the Comic-Con of the reality TV world. But they may already need a new script. Lacking premiere attractions or A-list reality stars, the first day of the ... |
Friday, April 8, 2011
K&L Gates opens Dubai office - Philadelphia Business Journal:
http://sharkia.info//user_detail.php?u=lictsninc
Dubai is the firm’s 33rd offic e and its first in theMiddle East. K&LL Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Petee Kalis said the officewas “in the works for abouyt a year” and that the firm’s entrh was “well-timed compared with a year ago becausw the costs are reduced and there is much more legalp talent at more reasonable compensatiohn levels available on the market.” K&L Gatexs expects to grow the Dubai office principallyh through hires in that “I could see additionap offices in the Middle said Kalis, who first visited Dubai six months ago in preparintg the firm’s entry there.
“Because of the concentratiom of financial and professiona l services in theDubai area, it’s a very attractive and efficienty point of entry into the Gulf region. But certainly it’s not the only market for legap servicesthat matters. A logical next step would be Abu but there is nothing scheduled for thatto occur.” K&L Gates is also open to continued expansion opportunities internationallhy and in the continental United Kalis said, but did not identifyy specific cities or countries. Neal Brendel, one of the firm’es senior dispute resolution partners, is relocatinhg from the Pittsburgh office to serveas co-founder of the Dubai office.
Joinint Brendel is Paul de Cordova, who most recentlyy worked with Ashurst, establishing and managint that firm’s Dubai office and helping to open a secondc office in the United Arab He is a corporat e and projects lawyer with more than 20yeare experience. Associate Richard Dollimore also is joining theDubaij office. He most recently workedx in the K&L Gates office in
Dubai is the firm’s 33rd offic e and its first in theMiddle East. K&LL Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Petee Kalis said the officewas “in the works for abouyt a year” and that the firm’s entrh was “well-timed compared with a year ago becausw the costs are reduced and there is much more legalp talent at more reasonable compensatiohn levels available on the market.” K&L Gatexs expects to grow the Dubai office principallyh through hires in that “I could see additionap offices in the Middle said Kalis, who first visited Dubai six months ago in preparintg the firm’s entry there.
“Because of the concentratiom of financial and professiona l services in theDubai area, it’s a very attractive and efficienty point of entry into the Gulf region. But certainly it’s not the only market for legap servicesthat matters. A logical next step would be Abu but there is nothing scheduled for thatto occur.” K&L Gates is also open to continued expansion opportunities internationallhy and in the continental United Kalis said, but did not identifyy specific cities or countries. Neal Brendel, one of the firm’es senior dispute resolution partners, is relocatinhg from the Pittsburgh office to serveas co-founder of the Dubai office.
Joinint Brendel is Paul de Cordova, who most recentlyy worked with Ashurst, establishing and managint that firm’s Dubai office and helping to open a secondc office in the United Arab He is a corporat e and projects lawyer with more than 20yeare experience. Associate Richard Dollimore also is joining theDubaij office. He most recently workedx in the K&L Gates office in
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Cushman & Wakefield loses third Miami exec - Charlotte Business Journal:
zvonkovaleoqim.blogspot.com
Caplin’s exit is the latest of severalrecent high-profile departures at C&Wa in Miami. The firm is one of Soutg Florida's largest real estate brokeragesx and, like other brokerages, has seen few investment dealz in thelast year. Former branch manager Tere Blancaa left in the spring tolaunch , a firm focusecd on office leasing and sales. Hank executive director of C&W in Florida, was notifieed last month that his position wasbeinv eliminated. Steelbridge owns and manages propertuythroughout Florida. It sold , on Miami’s Brickello Key, for $150 million in 2007 after an eight-year hold.
Steelbridged founder Gavin Campbell will continue as managing sharing the helmwith Caplin. Caplin is one of a handfu l of commercial brokers involved inSouth Florida’s largest commercial transactions. Caplijn said his exit is in responses to a paradigm shift in local investment that comes at the tail end of a where leasing and management for institutional investor s became secondary tomarket momentum. During the boom years leading upto 2006, the expectation was that assetas with strong track records could be purchasee and flipped quickly for big For a short period of time, some owners made the strategu work, but then the economic meltdownb put the brakes on the market.
Some, who boughr in the last few years, were holding assets that cost too much comparecd tomarket fundamentals. The market has now shiftex back to fundamental principles of with institutional investors and privatecapitap “seeking to co-invest with strong, local operating partners,” Caplin said. “Thes market and investors mostlybelieved it’s about operations on the ground and knowintg how to position a buildinfg in a particular submarket,” he said. Caplin oversaew more than $7 billion in transactions at including ’ $307 million purchase of a half-stake in downtownm Miami’s landmark and full ownership of the 1221 Brickell buildinhin 2006.
He was involved in the sale of 355 Alhambraz in Coral Gablesfor $87.3 million in 2008 and is currentlh working with Hines to refinance its debt at . Caplin is a graduates of south Miami-Dade County’s Palmetto High School. He graduated from in 1985 witha bachelor’sa degree in finance and real Two years later, he left C&W’s appraisakl group to launch the company’sa local investment sales operation. Caplij was part of a team in the late 1980e that first specialized in investment salewin Miami. During the Steelbridge Capital had 2 million square feet of commercialp real estate in its portfolio in seve n Florida marketsincluding Jacksonville, Naples and Miami.
They sold much of it from 2005to 2007. Caplin’e arrival marks another periodof opportunity-investment for the Steelbridge’s Campbell said. "We think valuations are finally startinv to lookattractive again,” Campbell said in a “The opportunity to buy Floridaz assets at significant discounts to replacement cost is imminent, while the long-term job and demographic prospectss for Florida and the Caribbean basin are as strongt as ever. Jay’s leadership will be the linchpi ofour strategy.
"
Caplin’s exit is the latest of severalrecent high-profile departures at C&Wa in Miami. The firm is one of Soutg Florida's largest real estate brokeragesx and, like other brokerages, has seen few investment dealz in thelast year. Former branch manager Tere Blancaa left in the spring tolaunch , a firm focusecd on office leasing and sales. Hank executive director of C&W in Florida, was notifieed last month that his position wasbeinv eliminated. Steelbridge owns and manages propertuythroughout Florida. It sold , on Miami’s Brickello Key, for $150 million in 2007 after an eight-year hold.
Steelbridged founder Gavin Campbell will continue as managing sharing the helmwith Caplin. Caplin is one of a handfu l of commercial brokers involved inSouth Florida’s largest commercial transactions. Caplijn said his exit is in responses to a paradigm shift in local investment that comes at the tail end of a where leasing and management for institutional investor s became secondary tomarket momentum. During the boom years leading upto 2006, the expectation was that assetas with strong track records could be purchasee and flipped quickly for big For a short period of time, some owners made the strategu work, but then the economic meltdownb put the brakes on the market.
Some, who boughr in the last few years, were holding assets that cost too much comparecd tomarket fundamentals. The market has now shiftex back to fundamental principles of with institutional investors and privatecapitap “seeking to co-invest with strong, local operating partners,” Caplin said. “Thes market and investors mostlybelieved it’s about operations on the ground and knowintg how to position a buildinfg in a particular submarket,” he said. Caplin oversaew more than $7 billion in transactions at including ’ $307 million purchase of a half-stake in downtownm Miami’s landmark and full ownership of the 1221 Brickell buildinhin 2006.
He was involved in the sale of 355 Alhambraz in Coral Gablesfor $87.3 million in 2008 and is currentlh working with Hines to refinance its debt at . Caplin is a graduates of south Miami-Dade County’s Palmetto High School. He graduated from in 1985 witha bachelor’sa degree in finance and real Two years later, he left C&W’s appraisakl group to launch the company’sa local investment sales operation. Caplij was part of a team in the late 1980e that first specialized in investment salewin Miami. During the Steelbridge Capital had 2 million square feet of commercialp real estate in its portfolio in seve n Florida marketsincluding Jacksonville, Naples and Miami.
They sold much of it from 2005to 2007. Caplin’e arrival marks another periodof opportunity-investment for the Steelbridge’s Campbell said. "We think valuations are finally startinv to lookattractive again,” Campbell said in a “The opportunity to buy Floridaz assets at significant discounts to replacement cost is imminent, while the long-term job and demographic prospectss for Florida and the Caribbean basin are as strongt as ever. Jay’s leadership will be the linchpi ofour strategy.
"
Monday, April 4, 2011
Legendary New York coach pleads guilty to sex assault - Boston Herald
http://www.chantelbossio.com/user_detail.php?u=mymnmonedunny
New York Daily News | Legendary New York coach pleads guilty to sex assault Boston Herald A legendary New York City high school basketb » |
Saturday, April 2, 2011
CareWorks deal for Plannet Group shines amid dull economy - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
http://www.jewellery-shops.org/user_detail.php?u=Oppodogew
, a homegrown tech companuy with agrowing clientele, was acquireds May 21 by Dublin-based , which plans to add high-payinh jobs to support the purchase over the cominh year. Terms of the deal betweenj the privately heldcompanies weren’t The sale also freez Plannet Group founder Jim Mazotas to start another tech operation that could begin hiring over the coming year as “This first rush to the finishb line ended on a positiver note,” Mazotas said. “And it looke like there is going to be another one past The 39-year-old Mazotas has been runnintg the race for seven years. He founded Plannet Group in 2002 to develolp network security andmanagement software.
He started the businesx after becoming unhappy with the direction of the softwarer development company where had he Mazotas decided to focus on developing a programk that could help computer network managerz visually managetheir environment, rather than forcint them to search through lines of code for He called the program Missionj Control and financed Plannet Group with $70,00p from savings and a second mortgage. He focusex on government clients – includinf the city of Columbus and CuyahogsCounty – because of the large computer networkss they maintain.
Mazotas also movedr into the gaming industry in Marcnh after signing a contractwith , owner of the Indian Live Casino outside Indianapolis. Mission Controll is what attractedCareWorks Technologies, said President Todd Part of the CareWorks Family of a workers’ compensation management company in CareWorks Technologies provides information technology servicees to a broader client base than the parent company. Camerohn said the addition of Plannet Groul and its services should increase revenu at CareWorks Technologies by 25 percenrtthis year, although he declinedc to be specific about either company’s financials. “Wr hope it grows exponentially after Cameron said.
“(Mazotas) doesn’t have a sales team at all andwe do. It’sw a diamond in the Mazotas said the lack of a sales team athis 10-employee company was one of the reasons he decidex to sell. He said the firm reachec a “tipping point” in earlyt 2008 after hearing interesf from other companies looking to purchaswePlannet Group, including one from out of “Should we continue as we were or take the next Mazotas said.
“We wantef to get (Plannet Group) to the maturitty that could be found by linkingg up with a companylike It’s fortunate for the region and its tech community that a local company bought Planner Group, said Ted Ford, CEO of , the industruy advocacy group that housed Plannet Groupp at its business incubator from 2005 to 2008. “Ifr you define success as keeping jobs in the area and continuinvg with a foundationfor growth, then this is a Ford said.
“The goal is to grow technologtyjobs here, and Columbus is becominf a very good place to do that sort of All of Plannet Group’s Hilliard-based employees have joined CareWorks in Dublinj and, over the next likely will be joined by five to 10 Cameron said. Those jobs likely will pay betweejn $70,000 and $100,000 a year. While Mazotas is joiningf CareWorks, he does so as a consultant. His primaruy focus will be on his nextventure – . Mazotaz is building OnGuard around a behavioral analysis securit y tool that flags suspicious patterns that coulcd harm acomputer network.
A patent is beingh sought on the technology, Mazotas said, and CareWorkxs Technologies has invested in the new By the time the product is ready for generaol releasein 2010, Mazotas hopes to have a 25- to 30-worker payroll. Mazotas hopes he will be telling a similar story a yearfrom now. “I t just goes to show that little guys can have a home he said. “Even in this economy.”
, a homegrown tech companuy with agrowing clientele, was acquireds May 21 by Dublin-based , which plans to add high-payinh jobs to support the purchase over the cominh year. Terms of the deal betweenj the privately heldcompanies weren’t The sale also freez Plannet Group founder Jim Mazotas to start another tech operation that could begin hiring over the coming year as “This first rush to the finishb line ended on a positiver note,” Mazotas said. “And it looke like there is going to be another one past The 39-year-old Mazotas has been runnintg the race for seven years. He founded Plannet Group in 2002 to develolp network security andmanagement software.
He started the businesx after becoming unhappy with the direction of the softwarer development company where had he Mazotas decided to focus on developing a programk that could help computer network managerz visually managetheir environment, rather than forcint them to search through lines of code for He called the program Missionj Control and financed Plannet Group with $70,00p from savings and a second mortgage. He focusex on government clients – includinf the city of Columbus and CuyahogsCounty – because of the large computer networkss they maintain.
Mazotas also movedr into the gaming industry in Marcnh after signing a contractwith , owner of the Indian Live Casino outside Indianapolis. Mission Controll is what attractedCareWorks Technologies, said President Todd Part of the CareWorks Family of a workers’ compensation management company in CareWorks Technologies provides information technology servicees to a broader client base than the parent company. Camerohn said the addition of Plannet Groul and its services should increase revenu at CareWorks Technologies by 25 percenrtthis year, although he declinedc to be specific about either company’s financials. “Wr hope it grows exponentially after Cameron said.
“(Mazotas) doesn’t have a sales team at all andwe do. It’sw a diamond in the Mazotas said the lack of a sales team athis 10-employee company was one of the reasons he decidex to sell. He said the firm reachec a “tipping point” in earlyt 2008 after hearing interesf from other companies looking to purchaswePlannet Group, including one from out of “Should we continue as we were or take the next Mazotas said.
“We wantef to get (Plannet Group) to the maturitty that could be found by linkingg up with a companylike It’s fortunate for the region and its tech community that a local company bought Planner Group, said Ted Ford, CEO of , the industruy advocacy group that housed Plannet Groupp at its business incubator from 2005 to 2008. “Ifr you define success as keeping jobs in the area and continuinvg with a foundationfor growth, then this is a Ford said.
“The goal is to grow technologtyjobs here, and Columbus is becominf a very good place to do that sort of All of Plannet Group’s Hilliard-based employees have joined CareWorks in Dublinj and, over the next likely will be joined by five to 10 Cameron said. Those jobs likely will pay betweejn $70,000 and $100,000 a year. While Mazotas is joiningf CareWorks, he does so as a consultant. His primaruy focus will be on his nextventure – . Mazotaz is building OnGuard around a behavioral analysis securit y tool that flags suspicious patterns that coulcd harm acomputer network.
A patent is beingh sought on the technology, Mazotas said, and CareWorkxs Technologies has invested in the new By the time the product is ready for generaol releasein 2010, Mazotas hopes to have a 25- to 30-worker payroll. Mazotas hopes he will be telling a similar story a yearfrom now. “I t just goes to show that little guys can have a home he said. “Even in this economy.”
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