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NC WARN was mobilizing to oppose the nominatiojn of CEOJim Rogers, who reportedl was on the short list of candidateas for the top post at the U.S. Departmenr of Energy. A recent article in The Washington Post, citinvg “well informed Democrats,” listed Rogersw among the candidates forthe job. NC WARN has been a thornj in Duke’s side; the grouop has opposed a new coal planf and has challenged the projectee savings fromthe utility’s “Save A energy efficiency program. NC WARN and othed advocacy groups claim that Rogers does not give sufficient supporg to energy efficiency efforts and renewableenergt generation. From the good news file comee this.
members, through the SECU Foundation, are workingt to provide permanent financing for transitional housing to benefirt homeless veterans in The SECU is partnering with the North Carolin a Housing Finance Agency to buils a facility to be called MapleCouryt Apartments. The project is being developed by Volunteers of Americq of the Carolinas with support from the city of Durhanm and theVeterans Administration. The apartmentz will offer 24 rental units ona 1.
6-acre site at the southeasft corner of East Carver Stree t and Commons Boulevard in north Raleighites who take in ’s annual productionn of a “A Christmas Carol” might noticed that all the dancing and prancing has a littls different twist to it this That might be because Brijet Henderson-Whitney, the wife of Carolinw Hurricanes left wing Ray signed on as the production’s choreographer this Brijet’s family has a dance studiop in Edmonton, and she has been choreographing and performing dance routines for years.
Biz says “bravo” for her work on the “Thwe Christmas Carol” but does wondet if she couldn’t work a few ice hockeyg moves intothe program. Biz woulfd love to see the ghost of Jacob Marleuy check Scrooge and Teddy into the boards justonce … Maybe Brijet’s work on the show is the reasomn Canes goalie Cam Ward and his bride took in a productioj of “The Christmas Carol” on Dec. 9. So, Cam, how is that groinb injury?, Biz asked Ward. “oI was sore after practice this he said. “But hopefully, I will be ready to go by this And thoughts on thenew coach?
“Haven’tr had a chance to sit down and talk to Mo (Paul I had a good relationship with Peter Here’s Biz hoping Ward comes back stronger than ever and Coach develops a trusting relationship with the goaltender. In the years sincd Hurricane Katrina, students at the University of Nortb Carolina School of Law have volunteered their time to providre free legal services to NewOrleans residents. Each wintefr break since 2005, 15 to 20 students have advised residents on matters ranging from land ownershilto divorces. For their efforts, UNC’ws law school has been honorede with the Pro Bono Law Schookl of theYear award.
The award was bestowed by the Pro Bono a not-for-profit group that servexs low-income clients in and around the Crescent The events that have made up the banking and financial crisi s may have been coming hot and heavy in recent months, but that hasn’yt stopped the scholars at the University of North Carolinaz Center for Banking and Finances from trying to make sensre out of it all.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Valley hotels see low occupancy rates as winter season nears - Phoenix Business Journal:
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“Everybody has always been able topredict — but right now, all bets are said Debbie Johnson, president and CEO of the . “Wer expect business will be but thequestion is, how said Brent DeRaad, executive vice president of the . According to , an internationap firm specializing in the hospitalityt andlodging industry, hotel occupancy in metro Phoenix dropped by 11.5 percent, from 60.6 percent in Septembet 2007 to 53.7 percent in September 2008. The Valley’a stats are more dramatic than Smith’s national figures, which show occupancy down by aboutt 6percent nationwide, to 60 for the same period.
Hoteliera and industry leaders say similar declines were seen immediatel yafter 9/11, when the fear factor kept people at home. Thesee days, however, it’s job losses, tighteningy credit markets andweakened 401(k) plans that are keepinv travelers at bay. “In this there is more consumer doubt and DeRaad said. is forecasting a national decrease of almost 4 perceng in hotel occupancy in to 60.7 percent, the largest drop since 2001. The accountin firm expects the downturn to continud into 2009 with an occupancy rateof 58.6 percent, the lowesrt since 1971.
“We are seeing decreased consumetr confidence and a slowdown across the We anticipate that visitation and direcg spending willbe down, but at this pointg we can’t predict,” said Tina Miller, directorf of communications for the . Despite the decline in occupancy at Valley hotelsand resorts, room rates have increaseed by 5.1 percent, from $121.45 to $127.588 a night. Industry officials said that increase is reflectivs of a more metropolitan market that can drawhighe rates.
Hoteliers still have a baseline thatmirrord higher-end markets, they This past February, the Valley benefitef from Super Bowl XLII and the swarj of fans — not to mention the hordes of media, NFL players, officials and their familiex — who filled hotel rooms across Arizona in the weeks surroundinyg the event. “The Super Bowl provided us with a 20 percent bumpin bed-tazx revenue over February 2007.
It will be extremelyu difficult for us to make thatup (this season),” said That event helped soften the blow of a slowinh economy, which was becoming evident early this year but worsened over the There are no up-to-date statistics on winter visitationn in metro Phoenix, so it’s harder to determinre how those numbers stack up to previous years. Thoss in the industry say the meetint and convention businessremains steady. The duratiom and number of attendees, however, are somewhat In addition, attendees are taking less advantageof amenities, spa servicesw and day outings.
the Valley is facing increasing competition withothe warm-weather destinations, including Mexico, that can be just as attractive to tourists facing pricey airline tickets. There is some good though: Sunshine and lowet gas prices may help the Valley keep its headabove “At least regionally, we are hoping that might stimulatwe visitors,” Miller said. “With fuel prices comingg down, we are also seein the cost of airline tickets come and that is very importanrfor us,” DeRaad said. New hotels have entered the Valleyu marketplacethis year, including the 1,000-room Sheraton Phoenidx Downtown Hotel.
In addition, the newly expandedc Phoenix Convention Center has bookeds large meetings for itsinaugural season, such as the National Cattleman’s Beef Association.
“Everybody has always been able topredict — but right now, all bets are said Debbie Johnson, president and CEO of the . “Wer expect business will be but thequestion is, how said Brent DeRaad, executive vice president of the . According to , an internationap firm specializing in the hospitalityt andlodging industry, hotel occupancy in metro Phoenix dropped by 11.5 percent, from 60.6 percent in Septembet 2007 to 53.7 percent in September 2008. The Valley’a stats are more dramatic than Smith’s national figures, which show occupancy down by aboutt 6percent nationwide, to 60 for the same period.
Hoteliera and industry leaders say similar declines were seen immediatel yafter 9/11, when the fear factor kept people at home. Thesee days, however, it’s job losses, tighteningy credit markets andweakened 401(k) plans that are keepinv travelers at bay. “In this there is more consumer doubt and DeRaad said. is forecasting a national decrease of almost 4 perceng in hotel occupancy in to 60.7 percent, the largest drop since 2001. The accountin firm expects the downturn to continud into 2009 with an occupancy rateof 58.6 percent, the lowesrt since 1971.
“We are seeing decreased consumetr confidence and a slowdown across the We anticipate that visitation and direcg spending willbe down, but at this pointg we can’t predict,” said Tina Miller, directorf of communications for the . Despite the decline in occupancy at Valley hotelsand resorts, room rates have increaseed by 5.1 percent, from $121.45 to $127.588 a night. Industry officials said that increase is reflectivs of a more metropolitan market that can drawhighe rates.
Hoteliers still have a baseline thatmirrord higher-end markets, they This past February, the Valley benefitef from Super Bowl XLII and the swarj of fans — not to mention the hordes of media, NFL players, officials and their familiex — who filled hotel rooms across Arizona in the weeks surroundinyg the event. “The Super Bowl provided us with a 20 percent bumpin bed-tazx revenue over February 2007.
It will be extremelyu difficult for us to make thatup (this season),” said That event helped soften the blow of a slowinh economy, which was becoming evident early this year but worsened over the There are no up-to-date statistics on winter visitationn in metro Phoenix, so it’s harder to determinre how those numbers stack up to previous years. Thoss in the industry say the meetint and convention businessremains steady. The duratiom and number of attendees, however, are somewhat In addition, attendees are taking less advantageof amenities, spa servicesw and day outings.
the Valley is facing increasing competition withothe warm-weather destinations, including Mexico, that can be just as attractive to tourists facing pricey airline tickets. There is some good though: Sunshine and lowet gas prices may help the Valley keep its headabove “At least regionally, we are hoping that might stimulatwe visitors,” Miller said. “With fuel prices comingg down, we are also seein the cost of airline tickets come and that is very importanrfor us,” DeRaad said. New hotels have entered the Valleyu marketplacethis year, including the 1,000-room Sheraton Phoenidx Downtown Hotel.
In addition, the newly expandedc Phoenix Convention Center has bookeds large meetings for itsinaugural season, such as the National Cattleman’s Beef Association.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Colorado ski visits down nearly 6%, but ahead of some forecasts - Denver Business Journal:
haga-aa8xuq.blogspot.com
percent in January and February from ayear earlier, and 5.9 percenty for the full season to date, reports. But the trade group said that visits for the first two months of 2009 were slightlh abovethe five-year average for Colorado resorts. The percentagess are actually beatingsome pre-season forecasts for skier , operator of resortw in the Aspen-Snowmass area, had forecast a skied drop of 5 to 15 percentt before the season began, . Coloradoi Ski Country USA countws a person skiing or snowboarding for any part of one day at a mountainh resort as oneskier visit.
It did not releasew the number ofskier , Melanie Mills, president and CEO of Colorado Ski Country USA, said the latesft visitation figure in comparison to the multi-year trend "speaks to Colorado's worldwidre reputation as the best place to The association's figures do not include Vail, Keystone and Beaver Creek resorts, whicb have withdrawn from Colorado Ski Country USA. Vail the operator of those four resorts, said season-to-date visits were up 9 percent at Vailand 7.2 percentt at Beaver Creek, but down 1.7 percent at Breckenridge and 9.8 percengt at Keystone, .
percent in January and February from ayear earlier, and 5.9 percenty for the full season to date, reports. But the trade group said that visits for the first two months of 2009 were slightlh abovethe five-year average for Colorado resorts. The percentagess are actually beatingsome pre-season forecasts for skier , operator of resortw in the Aspen-Snowmass area, had forecast a skied drop of 5 to 15 percentt before the season began, . Coloradoi Ski Country USA countws a person skiing or snowboarding for any part of one day at a mountainh resort as oneskier visit.
It did not releasew the number ofskier , Melanie Mills, president and CEO of Colorado Ski Country USA, said the latesft visitation figure in comparison to the multi-year trend "speaks to Colorado's worldwidre reputation as the best place to The association's figures do not include Vail, Keystone and Beaver Creek resorts, whicb have withdrawn from Colorado Ski Country USA. Vail the operator of those four resorts, said season-to-date visits were up 9 percent at Vailand 7.2 percentt at Beaver Creek, but down 1.7 percent at Breckenridge and 9.8 percengt at Keystone, .
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Study Debunks Operation to Prevent Strokes - New York Times
bengeyqafiba1640.blogspot.com
Baltimore Sun | Study Debunks Operation to Prevent Strokes New York Times So why weren't patients who had the surgery better off? It was because the operation itself caused strokes: 14.4 percent of the surgical patients had a stroke within a month of the operation, compared with a stroke rate of only 2 percent in the ... New Bypass Surgery for Stroke Riskier Than Drug Treatment Surgical procedure does not appear to reduce risk of subsequent stroke after ... No Added Benefits of Cranial Bypass in Stroke Prevention |
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Stop acting like a salesperson; start acting like a consultant - Portland Business Journal:
egogakydo.wordpress.com
Why do we ask questions? Here are some of the • So we fully understand the prospect’s needss and “hot buttons.” • So when we present our solutionas they match what our prospects said was important and they feel yourxs is acustom solution. • To get beyonds the initial reason why they needthe product. • To make prospectss feel like they are a part of the buying When theyare talking, they are beginning to sell So what questions should we ask? That has a lot to do with what you have learneds about the prospect before you try to “sell” You need to learn somethingf about the company, the decision-makers, etc. before callingh on them.
That’s pretty easy. Use theitr Web site, Google, any of the social networks, then when you call them you have something with which to beginthe conversation. The most important thinh about asking questions is that theyare open-ended and thoughr provoking. Here are some examples of questions that may or may notbe • How has the economy affected your companhy and the ways you are making decisions now compared with last year • I noticed on your Web site that you will be launchinhg a new product. Can you tell me abour that? • I read that your industry is going throughb changes when it comesto financing. Can you sharde with me how that will affectyour organization??
• If it was May 2010 and you said you just had a very successfuo year, what would have happened?? • Let’s pretend we worked together this past A year later you said the relationship was a positivee one. What does that look like? • What do the next five year s look like foryour organization? • What differentiatees you from your competitors? What are you most proufd of? I wouldn’t ask all of theser questions all of the time. They are Certainly, more specific questions are appropriate as but it is important to fullyu understand the big If you take time to learn more abougtthe prospect, you may learn about some additional needs they might have.
A consultant and salespersonn are really the same with only one a consultant is paid up front and a salesperson is paid inthe end. So act like a consultany and you will selllots
Why do we ask questions? Here are some of the • So we fully understand the prospect’s needss and “hot buttons.” • So when we present our solutionas they match what our prospects said was important and they feel yourxs is acustom solution. • To get beyonds the initial reason why they needthe product. • To make prospectss feel like they are a part of the buying When theyare talking, they are beginning to sell So what questions should we ask? That has a lot to do with what you have learneds about the prospect before you try to “sell” You need to learn somethingf about the company, the decision-makers, etc. before callingh on them.
That’s pretty easy. Use theitr Web site, Google, any of the social networks, then when you call them you have something with which to beginthe conversation. The most important thinh about asking questions is that theyare open-ended and thoughr provoking. Here are some examples of questions that may or may notbe • How has the economy affected your companhy and the ways you are making decisions now compared with last year • I noticed on your Web site that you will be launchinhg a new product. Can you tell me abour that? • I read that your industry is going throughb changes when it comesto financing. Can you sharde with me how that will affectyour organization??
• If it was May 2010 and you said you just had a very successfuo year, what would have happened?? • Let’s pretend we worked together this past A year later you said the relationship was a positivee one. What does that look like? • What do the next five year s look like foryour organization? • What differentiatees you from your competitors? What are you most proufd of? I wouldn’t ask all of theser questions all of the time. They are Certainly, more specific questions are appropriate as but it is important to fullyu understand the big If you take time to learn more abougtthe prospect, you may learn about some additional needs they might have.
A consultant and salespersonn are really the same with only one a consultant is paid up front and a salesperson is paid inthe end. So act like a consultany and you will selllots
Friday, November 4, 2011
Riders stranded, shocked after Detroit bus transit crippled - Detroit Free Press
moffaiqohegesa1490.blogspot.com
Riders stranded, shocked after Detroit bus transit crippled Detroit Free Press Riders stranded, shocked as protest halts Detroit ...: A walk-out by at least 100 Detroit Department of Transportation bus drivers today has crippled service for bus riders across the city of Detroit. / MIKE BROOKBANK / Detroit Free Press 11/4/2011 ... |
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Local BAE Systems office wins $12 million task order - Jacksonville Business Journal:
acklinegymejac1362.blogspot.com
The company’s task order is worth up to $12 The company designed a training technologuy called the Visual Threat Recognitiobn and Avoidance Traineror VTRAT. The system is used to teacyh flight crews how to identify andavoicd ground-to-air threats. Through this interactive system, Air Forcew personnel learn how to visually detect threats such as missilesw and how to initiate defensive maneuversand countermeasures. The San Antonio office developed the software asa off-the-shelf training system. It is used to provide trainingto C-130 cargo plane and MH-5w helicopter crews. The local office also provides technical software developmentand sustainment.
“We know how important it is to our Air Forced war fighters to provide the training they need to surviver incombat situations,” says Mike vice president of Professional Serviced Solutions for BAE Systems. BAE San Antonio office won the task order as part of its participatiohn in theAir Force’s Future Flexible Acquisition and Sustainment Tool contract. Rockville, Md.-base BAE Systems is a primes contractor on that contracton Aug. 15, 2008. The Air Forcse has $6.9 billion available undet that contract. BAE is a global defense, securitt and aerospace company thatsupport air, land and naval forces.
The companyt has 105,000 employees worldwide and concluded 2008 with salesof $34.4
The company’s task order is worth up to $12 The company designed a training technologuy called the Visual Threat Recognitiobn and Avoidance Traineror VTRAT. The system is used to teacyh flight crews how to identify andavoicd ground-to-air threats. Through this interactive system, Air Forcew personnel learn how to visually detect threats such as missilesw and how to initiate defensive maneuversand countermeasures. The San Antonio office developed the software asa off-the-shelf training system. It is used to provide trainingto C-130 cargo plane and MH-5w helicopter crews. The local office also provides technical software developmentand sustainment.
“We know how important it is to our Air Forced war fighters to provide the training they need to surviver incombat situations,” says Mike vice president of Professional Serviced Solutions for BAE Systems. BAE San Antonio office won the task order as part of its participatiohn in theAir Force’s Future Flexible Acquisition and Sustainment Tool contract. Rockville, Md.-base BAE Systems is a primes contractor on that contracton Aug. 15, 2008. The Air Forcse has $6.9 billion available undet that contract. BAE is a global defense, securitt and aerospace company thatsupport air, land and naval forces.
The companyt has 105,000 employees worldwide and concluded 2008 with salesof $34.4
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