ramsdenjerrieas54.blogspot.com
Mortensen accepted the COO position in Januaruy after nine years as director of humab resources for the Milwaukeelaw firm, which createdf the COO job as part of a larger administrative restructurinf that's been going on sinced Mark Miller became chief executivr officer in 2001. Since then, the firm has left the traditionao structure of a management committe e and practicegroup leaders, and created a CEO, vice presidents, a boarsd of directors and, most recently, a COO. "Ou r CEO was spending a lot of time dealinf with the legal aspects of the firm and also running the and he felt it was necessary to separate thosretwo responsibilities," said Mortensen, 40.
"Expandingy our business requires a continuec investmentin management, and one of the ways to do that was to creatr the position." Although the position of COO at a law firm is traditionallt held by an attorney, Milled looked to Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek's human resource department, whers he called on Mortensen. "I thought she was supremelh qualified, and for almost the past decade she's been with us, I've seen her grow each and every year," Miller said of Mortensen. Mortensen began her careee at Whyte Hirschboeck in 1999 as directorf ofhuman resources, after holding a similaer position at an engineering firm.
She said she made the careedr change because she was intrigued by how law firms As COO, Mortensen managezs the firm's day-to-day operationd and exercises discretion over business planning and development, as well as ensurint efficient services are designed to meet the firm'e needs. The firm employs 292 peoplde at its threeWisconsin locations. While her old job was specifiv to human resource issues such as employeer insurance plans andhealth benefits, being COO broadens her exposure to otheer areas affecting the firm, she said. For she is now responsible for managingthe firm'as administrative teams that include information technologyt and marketing, among others.
"While this is a new positiojn for me, many of the duties and responsibilities are perhaps justmore formalized," Mortensen The position of COO at law firmsx traditionally has been held by lawyers, not former directorsw of human resources. Nadelle Grossman, an assistantr professor of lawat , said she hasn't hears of many firms havinf COOs who aren't practicing lawyers. What Whytw Hirschboeck has doneis unique, she "By separating (the positions), it will let the lawyer do what they do best and let the administrative grouop do what they do best," Mortensen explained.
"And that require different leaders and different management and Ithink we've been able to do Her experience in human resourcee -- with its emphasis on people skills, leadershi and compassion -- will help her succeed in her new job, Mortensem believes. "I think proactively, strategically, and creatively I have the business acumen and persistence to motivate and develop Mortensen said. Age Hometown Education : Bachelor of science human resources, Marquette University Family : Michael Mortensen, a graphic design firm owne
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Advanced Cancer Therapeutics drugs nearing phase-one clinical trials - Business First of Louisville:
hustbelogehy1857.blogspot.com
The Louisville-based company work with the ’s during early-development stages of the It then seeks to sell or licensde those discoveries to larger entities that would carrh the treatmentsthrough later-stage development and into the U of L owns a 30 percent stake in the and the balance is ownex by company founders and a group of private including local entrepreneurs Dale Boden and Ty Wilburn. Durin the past year, that investor group has grown from five tonearly 20, all of whom are in said Randall Riggs, president and CEO of ACT. To the company has generated morethan $5 milliom in investment, toward its $10 milliob goal.
Funds from various government agencies account for justover $1 millionj of the money raised so far. ACT officials expect to reacn the fund-raising goal by the end of It has become easier to raise fundx as the company has attractedother investors, Riggws said. Typically, biotech companies work to developo one drug ora technology, Riggs but ACT strives to keep a portfolip of cancer treatments in the works. ACT is working with researcherzs who are developing four drugs at the BrowhnCancer Center. They include one that targets the human which causescervical cancer. Another aims to preven t tumors from growing and is the furthest alonghin development, Riggs said.
They expecy one of the drugs to be far enough along in development this year to applyhfor phase-one clinical trials with the . At that ACT could evaluate options to sell or licensd the drug or to proceec with theclinical trials. Demand for new drugsz is outstripping the Riggs said, so the prospects of licensing or sellinh the discoveries to larger companies have improved in recen t years. He said pharmaceutical companies clamor for new revenue streamsw to replace drugs that no longer are protecteedby patents, which allows production of lower-cos generic versions of the drugs. Riggs said drugs typically lose between 70 percent and 80 percenrt of their value after apatentf expires.
As a result, he said, pharmaceuticalo companies are paying more to purchase or licensre discoveries earlier in their development For example, a drug in phase-one clinical trials today might fetch the same pric that a drug in phase-two or phase-threr clinical trials would have brought a few years ago. Riggs noted, the aging of the population ensuresthe long-ter viability of the industry. “Biotech’s the he said. “It’s not going anywhere.
”
The Louisville-based company work with the ’s during early-development stages of the It then seeks to sell or licensde those discoveries to larger entities that would carrh the treatmentsthrough later-stage development and into the U of L owns a 30 percent stake in the and the balance is ownex by company founders and a group of private including local entrepreneurs Dale Boden and Ty Wilburn. Durin the past year, that investor group has grown from five tonearly 20, all of whom are in said Randall Riggs, president and CEO of ACT. To the company has generated morethan $5 milliom in investment, toward its $10 milliob goal.
Funds from various government agencies account for justover $1 millionj of the money raised so far. ACT officials expect to reacn the fund-raising goal by the end of It has become easier to raise fundx as the company has attractedother investors, Riggws said. Typically, biotech companies work to developo one drug ora technology, Riggs but ACT strives to keep a portfolip of cancer treatments in the works. ACT is working with researcherzs who are developing four drugs at the BrowhnCancer Center. They include one that targets the human which causescervical cancer. Another aims to preven t tumors from growing and is the furthest alonghin development, Riggs said.
They expecy one of the drugs to be far enough along in development this year to applyhfor phase-one clinical trials with the . At that ACT could evaluate options to sell or licensd the drug or to proceec with theclinical trials. Demand for new drugsz is outstripping the Riggs said, so the prospects of licensing or sellinh the discoveries to larger companies have improved in recen t years. He said pharmaceutical companies clamor for new revenue streamsw to replace drugs that no longer are protecteedby patents, which allows production of lower-cos generic versions of the drugs. Riggs said drugs typically lose between 70 percent and 80 percenrt of their value after apatentf expires.
As a result, he said, pharmaceuticalo companies are paying more to purchase or licensre discoveries earlier in their development For example, a drug in phase-one clinical trials today might fetch the same pric that a drug in phase-two or phase-threr clinical trials would have brought a few years ago. Riggs noted, the aging of the population ensuresthe long-ter viability of the industry. “Biotech’s the he said. “It’s not going anywhere.
”
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Property owners advised to review valuations from assessor - Phoenix Business Journal:
showarticle-cultura.blogspot.com
million property valuation statements to ownersof commercial, residential and vacant properties across the The valuations show how much a propertuy is worth based on calculations by the Assessor’s and owners have only 60 days to appeal The notices going out through March 2 are not tax simply notices of the valur set for each The figures are used by all towns, and school, water, sewerr and fire districts acrosw the county to calculate tax bills. In Maricopq County, taxes are determined by the municipalitieas and other governing bodiesevery August.
The valuations beint sent out now will be appliefd in August 2010 to determine the tax billw sent out by the MaricopaCounty Treasurer’s Officse in September of that year, said Paul Petersen, spokesmanj for the Assessor’s Office. While the municipalitieas and voters set tax rates by approving levieand bonds, it is the Maricopa Counth Treasurer’s Office that administers the tax bills and collects the then distributes it to the cities and While the valuation statements won’t impact propertyy owners immediately, it’s importanyt to take a close look at the notices, said Kellet Gorry, an attorney specializing in real estatse and property tax law at PC.
If the owner believes the figures are too she said, it’s important to say so righg away. “Many times, propertyg owners will see and think, ‘I don’tf have to do anything about thisrighft now.’ But they only have 60 days to she said. Gorry described a valuation appeals process asa “relatively simple that requires a property owner to produce evidence of a differentg value for the property. In addition, a hearing can be requesteds where the property owner or attorney may presengtthat evidence. The process takes about three months, she said.
Small-business owner Michaeo Johnson isn’t going to hit the ceiling when he gets his property valuation inthe mail. Having gone through an appealsaprocess before, the developer behind knows he has recourse. Johnsonm said he experienced the shock of his life about two years ago when he received a high valuation for 160 acres of vacant land he ownerin Buckeye. Sent at about this time in his property valuation for 2008was $4.6 milliomn — a $2 million increase from the notice he received a year “A lot of people don’t really even look at those notices.
But taxea have to be so it was shocking and itwas scary,” Johnson He immediately hired Gorry to appeal the valuation. Even though he said he couled have doneit himself, his financial exposure and his desir e to focus on his business prompted him to use legap counsel. “This was worth it. You want to have someonse that does this on adailhy basis,” Johnson said. He put the matte r into Gorry’s hands, and she got the property reduced to its 2007 He estimates it saveds himabout $22,000 in taxes. The attorney’ fee was a small percentage of the about $5,000. “You coulcd be saving tens of thousandzof dollars, and it was worth it to Johnson said.
Petersen said the noticees being sent out now should reflect currentmarkegt data, but property valuation is a complicated and lengthy process that has to refer to a fixexd period despite an ever-changing market. “Thse data we have used to calculate these valuationws arefrom third-quarter 2007 through second-quarte r 2008,” he said. Petersen said the Assessor’s Offic is accustomed to valuation appeald and typicallyhandles 10,000 to 12,000 of them for each This month, Gorry said property owners should take a look at the documents and ask: “Can they sell theie property for the notice of value?
If they can’t hit that number, they should Maricopa County Assessor’s Office: Maricopaa County Treasurer’s Office: Rose Law Groul PC:
million property valuation statements to ownersof commercial, residential and vacant properties across the The valuations show how much a propertuy is worth based on calculations by the Assessor’s and owners have only 60 days to appeal The notices going out through March 2 are not tax simply notices of the valur set for each The figures are used by all towns, and school, water, sewerr and fire districts acrosw the county to calculate tax bills. In Maricopq County, taxes are determined by the municipalitieas and other governing bodiesevery August.
The valuations beint sent out now will be appliefd in August 2010 to determine the tax billw sent out by the MaricopaCounty Treasurer’s Officse in September of that year, said Paul Petersen, spokesmanj for the Assessor’s Office. While the municipalitieas and voters set tax rates by approving levieand bonds, it is the Maricopa Counth Treasurer’s Office that administers the tax bills and collects the then distributes it to the cities and While the valuation statements won’t impact propertyy owners immediately, it’s importanyt to take a close look at the notices, said Kellet Gorry, an attorney specializing in real estatse and property tax law at PC.
If the owner believes the figures are too she said, it’s important to say so righg away. “Many times, propertyg owners will see and think, ‘I don’tf have to do anything about thisrighft now.’ But they only have 60 days to she said. Gorry described a valuation appeals process asa “relatively simple that requires a property owner to produce evidence of a differentg value for the property. In addition, a hearing can be requesteds where the property owner or attorney may presengtthat evidence. The process takes about three months, she said.
Small-business owner Michaeo Johnson isn’t going to hit the ceiling when he gets his property valuation inthe mail. Having gone through an appealsaprocess before, the developer behind knows he has recourse. Johnsonm said he experienced the shock of his life about two years ago when he received a high valuation for 160 acres of vacant land he ownerin Buckeye. Sent at about this time in his property valuation for 2008was $4.6 milliomn — a $2 million increase from the notice he received a year “A lot of people don’t really even look at those notices.
But taxea have to be so it was shocking and itwas scary,” Johnson He immediately hired Gorry to appeal the valuation. Even though he said he couled have doneit himself, his financial exposure and his desir e to focus on his business prompted him to use legap counsel. “This was worth it. You want to have someonse that does this on adailhy basis,” Johnson said. He put the matte r into Gorry’s hands, and she got the property reduced to its 2007 He estimates it saveds himabout $22,000 in taxes. The attorney’ fee was a small percentage of the about $5,000. “You coulcd be saving tens of thousandzof dollars, and it was worth it to Johnson said.
Petersen said the noticees being sent out now should reflect currentmarkegt data, but property valuation is a complicated and lengthy process that has to refer to a fixexd period despite an ever-changing market. “Thse data we have used to calculate these valuationws arefrom third-quarter 2007 through second-quarte r 2008,” he said. Petersen said the Assessor’s Offic is accustomed to valuation appeald and typicallyhandles 10,000 to 12,000 of them for each This month, Gorry said property owners should take a look at the documents and ask: “Can they sell theie property for the notice of value?
If they can’t hit that number, they should Maricopa County Assessor’s Office: Maricopaa County Treasurer’s Office: Rose Law Groul PC:
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Signs of life seen in Greater Baltimore home prices - South Florida Business Journal:
yzirapogyg.wordpress.com
Nationally, home prices are down 13 percent from this time last ofColorado reported. But the rate at whichj those prices are falling has startefd to leveloff and, in three of four regions across the posted either stable or positive gainse in prices. Only in the South did prices continue to fall in downabout .3 percent from April brought down by still-struggling markets including several Florida communities. “It’s too soon to call this a turn in thehousingv market, particularly given all the political and regulatoryt uncertainties,” Integrated Asset Services CEO Dave McCarthuy said in a statement.
“I think that we’re still in for some difficultyspells ahead, but we are seeing a certaibn kind of pricing equilibrium in several important markets. That’ws encouraging for the long term.” In Baltimore City, home pricesx increased 3.5 percent from March to April, accordinyg to the report. Prices are still down about 12 percent when comparede toApril 2008. • Home prices climbed by .8 percent from March to April in Anne Arundel but are stilldown 5.6 percent from Aprilo 2008; • Prices fell 1 percent in Baltimore Countuy in the past month and are down 2.
3 percent from Apriol 2008; • Harford County’s home prices held steady in the past but are still down 3.5 percent from last • Prices fell .3 percent in Howarrd County, and are down about .1 percent from April 2008. The median sold price for a home sold in Greater Baltimoree fellto $234,950 in down 2.1 percent from according to Metropolitan Regional Information Systema Inc. of Rockville. That compared to a 10 percent drop fromApril 2008, when home pricess stood at about $262,000.
Nationally, home prices are down 13 percent from this time last ofColorado reported. But the rate at whichj those prices are falling has startefd to leveloff and, in three of four regions across the posted either stable or positive gainse in prices. Only in the South did prices continue to fall in downabout .3 percent from April brought down by still-struggling markets including several Florida communities. “It’s too soon to call this a turn in thehousingv market, particularly given all the political and regulatoryt uncertainties,” Integrated Asset Services CEO Dave McCarthuy said in a statement.
“I think that we’re still in for some difficultyspells ahead, but we are seeing a certaibn kind of pricing equilibrium in several important markets. That’ws encouraging for the long term.” In Baltimore City, home pricesx increased 3.5 percent from March to April, accordinyg to the report. Prices are still down about 12 percent when comparede toApril 2008. • Home prices climbed by .8 percent from March to April in Anne Arundel but are stilldown 5.6 percent from Aprilo 2008; • Prices fell 1 percent in Baltimore Countuy in the past month and are down 2.
3 percent from Apriol 2008; • Harford County’s home prices held steady in the past but are still down 3.5 percent from last • Prices fell .3 percent in Howarrd County, and are down about .1 percent from April 2008. The median sold price for a home sold in Greater Baltimoree fellto $234,950 in down 2.1 percent from according to Metropolitan Regional Information Systema Inc. of Rockville. That compared to a 10 percent drop fromApril 2008, when home pricess stood at about $262,000.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Banks take care, but loans are there for prudent deals - Kansas City Business Journal:
qalymeled.wordpress.com
“I get phone calls often from people who say they heardf no one is lending and I’m constantly trying to dispel that rumor,” said Pam Berneking, centrall region president of . “The last thing we want is for businessesd or individuals who want to buy a house ora car, or to expandr their business to accommodate growth, to think that they can’t get that done. Becauses they can.” The bank’s , originated $1.3 billion in new loans since itacceptedr $1.7 billion from the ’s Troublede Asset Relief Program (TARP) on Nov. 14, Berneking said.
The perceptionh that loans aren’t being made anymorr comes from credit guidelines adapting toeconomic conditions, she said. “What has changed is there has been a returnb to traditionally appropriatecredit guidelines,” Berneking said. “I’m beiny careful not to say lending standards are Are they tight compare to the lastfew years? Yes. But they aren’t tighgt compared to what has historically worked. Really, we’re gettingv back to a more normal place.” Marc president of , said the bank’sw focus shifted from trying to capture market share to improvingfasset quality.
It has led to financial covenanta and guarantees related to collateral value becominygmore restrictive, he said. There’s also been an effecr on loan costs. “The rate a borrower pays may be but the actual rate they pay over the cost of fundsis higher,” Maun said. “That is reflective of the pendulum swinging related to For thesame risk, banks now feel they need greaterf compensation than when the economuy was better. That is related not just to borrowersa but the overall risk profileat banks.
” Tim Skarda, president of Leawood-based business broker , said the deals he worksz on that are less than $10 million are more insulated from tighter lendinvg standards than the much bigger deals. “W e have some local lenders who have acted prudently with theitrbalance sheets, so they aren’t having to backpedal as much with theifr lending,” Skarda said. “Banks are scrutinizing deals closedthan before, but for the right deal, where the pricw can be justified, there are loanzs out there. It may be a littlwe tighter, but it’s really not a spigoty on or off typeof thing.
It’s more deal-by-deal Maun agreed, saying that banks are especiallhy willing to work with longtimeexisting “If there is good management and an issue is truly related to the poor and it’s evident that as the economt returns so will the bottom line for the company with good a lot of banks are working with these folks,” Maun John Blaylock, associate director of Sheshonoff & Co. Investment Banking in Austin, Texas, said banks don’t make any money if they aren’tr making loans.
“If I’m a builder walkingg into a bank and asking fora $1 milliojn line of credit to build three spec homes, I’m probably not going to get that Blaylock said. “But peoplse who have the capacity to repay and meet the necessary qualificationsz are going to geta loan.” One reasomn it appears banks aren’t lending as much is becausr loan demand is decreasing, he said. “Loan requests aren’r coming in as hot and heavu as they were this timelast year,” Blaylockl said. “When you lose 77,000 jobs in one day, there are that many less eligiblre borrowers that can come tothe table.
” Bernekinfg from M&I agreed, saying it also affects the willingness of companieds to invest in equipment or expandd their facilities. “Obviously, if businesses are not feelingv the needto expand, their demand for loan s is going to be less,” Berneking said. “That’s a norma l process that lending and the economhy gothrough together.” Merger-and-acquisition activity is slow righft now, Skarda said, but there are some people out shoppinfg for deals.
Some high-net-worthj executives who got laid off are looking toacquires businesses, and banks are willing to work with them if the deal is Skarda also said that the tight credi market puts some companies under stress and that theirf stronger competitors might be willing to borrosw in order to acquire Mortgage refinancing activity also is strong, Berneking “I see that as a good sign, and hopefully that will lead to some purchasingt activity,” Berneking said.
“I get phone calls often from people who say they heardf no one is lending and I’m constantly trying to dispel that rumor,” said Pam Berneking, centrall region president of . “The last thing we want is for businessesd or individuals who want to buy a house ora car, or to expandr their business to accommodate growth, to think that they can’t get that done. Becauses they can.” The bank’s , originated $1.3 billion in new loans since itacceptedr $1.7 billion from the ’s Troublede Asset Relief Program (TARP) on Nov. 14, Berneking said.
The perceptionh that loans aren’t being made anymorr comes from credit guidelines adapting toeconomic conditions, she said. “What has changed is there has been a returnb to traditionally appropriatecredit guidelines,” Berneking said. “I’m beiny careful not to say lending standards are Are they tight compare to the lastfew years? Yes. But they aren’t tighgt compared to what has historically worked. Really, we’re gettingv back to a more normal place.” Marc president of , said the bank’sw focus shifted from trying to capture market share to improvingfasset quality.
It has led to financial covenanta and guarantees related to collateral value becominygmore restrictive, he said. There’s also been an effecr on loan costs. “The rate a borrower pays may be but the actual rate they pay over the cost of fundsis higher,” Maun said. “That is reflective of the pendulum swinging related to For thesame risk, banks now feel they need greaterf compensation than when the economuy was better. That is related not just to borrowersa but the overall risk profileat banks.
” Tim Skarda, president of Leawood-based business broker , said the deals he worksz on that are less than $10 million are more insulated from tighter lendinvg standards than the much bigger deals. “W e have some local lenders who have acted prudently with theitrbalance sheets, so they aren’t having to backpedal as much with theifr lending,” Skarda said. “Banks are scrutinizing deals closedthan before, but for the right deal, where the pricw can be justified, there are loanzs out there. It may be a littlwe tighter, but it’s really not a spigoty on or off typeof thing.
It’s more deal-by-deal Maun agreed, saying that banks are especiallhy willing to work with longtimeexisting “If there is good management and an issue is truly related to the poor and it’s evident that as the economt returns so will the bottom line for the company with good a lot of banks are working with these folks,” Maun John Blaylock, associate director of Sheshonoff & Co. Investment Banking in Austin, Texas, said banks don’t make any money if they aren’tr making loans.
“If I’m a builder walkingg into a bank and asking fora $1 milliojn line of credit to build three spec homes, I’m probably not going to get that Blaylock said. “But peoplse who have the capacity to repay and meet the necessary qualificationsz are going to geta loan.” One reasomn it appears banks aren’t lending as much is becausr loan demand is decreasing, he said. “Loan requests aren’r coming in as hot and heavu as they were this timelast year,” Blaylockl said. “When you lose 77,000 jobs in one day, there are that many less eligiblre borrowers that can come tothe table.
” Bernekinfg from M&I agreed, saying it also affects the willingness of companieds to invest in equipment or expandd their facilities. “Obviously, if businesses are not feelingv the needto expand, their demand for loan s is going to be less,” Berneking said. “That’s a norma l process that lending and the economhy gothrough together.” Merger-and-acquisition activity is slow righft now, Skarda said, but there are some people out shoppinfg for deals.
Some high-net-worthj executives who got laid off are looking toacquires businesses, and banks are willing to work with them if the deal is Skarda also said that the tight credi market puts some companies under stress and that theirf stronger competitors might be willing to borrosw in order to acquire Mortgage refinancing activity also is strong, Berneking “I see that as a good sign, and hopefully that will lead to some purchasingt activity,” Berneking said.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Making apps pay - bizjournals:
ycoguqi.wordpress.com
SGN has tens of millions of Facebook and 30 percent of all iPhones and iPod Toucnh users have downloaded oneof SGN’s such as “iBowl” and “iBasketball.” “When I look at gaming, I see a form of the same as e-maill and mobile and instant messaging. It shoulcd connect people,” said Shervimn Pishevar, chief executive and founder of SGN. The venture-backe d SGN has raised nearly $15 million in Serie s A funding, including investments from and , the fund heade by founder Jeff Bezos. People who don’ft think applications will advance to include seriousw businesspurposes “suffer from a failure of he said.
Computers, afterd all, advanced through gaming. “Games are gettinhg the attentionbecause it’s the first fun Pishevar said. “But the idea of ‘mobile anywhere,’ all of the talkin that has been goingf on for the last is happening.”
SGN has tens of millions of Facebook and 30 percent of all iPhones and iPod Toucnh users have downloaded oneof SGN’s such as “iBowl” and “iBasketball.” “When I look at gaming, I see a form of the same as e-maill and mobile and instant messaging. It shoulcd connect people,” said Shervimn Pishevar, chief executive and founder of SGN. The venture-backe d SGN has raised nearly $15 million in Serie s A funding, including investments from and , the fund heade by founder Jeff Bezos. People who don’ft think applications will advance to include seriousw businesspurposes “suffer from a failure of he said.
Computers, afterd all, advanced through gaming. “Games are gettinhg the attentionbecause it’s the first fun Pishevar said. “But the idea of ‘mobile anywhere,’ all of the talkin that has been goingf on for the last is happening.”
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Sierra College gets $500K grant to attract technical career students - Sacramento Business Journal:
grachevakautawil.blogspot.com
The Rocklin college won a $500,000 grant from the Californiqa CommunityCollege Chancellor’s Office that will support the region’s long-term economic viability through career technical “The grant aligns education with busines to develop relevant hands-on learning models, merge academics with technicalo education and fill the pipeline of future workersd with those who are qualified to fill highly-paid, in-demand technicak positions,” according to a news release Monday.
The grant will promote science, technology, engineerint and math education, known as “Through partnerships with industrty as well as middle and high Sierra College’s STEM Community Collaborativde is implementing innovative CTE models, strengthening existingy programs, and attracting middle and high school students to STEM Sandra Scott, Sierra’s directord of Grant Development and Career Technica Education, said in the release. “Thise new grant will expand STEM projects in productr designand manufacturing. In the digital age, the boundariew between art, design and manufacturing she said.
“Our goal is to equio students to use 3D solid apply aesthetic skills and use an understanding of ergonomicsto design, develop and manufacture functional products. These classroom experiences will encourag students to pursue careers in engineerinv andproduct design.”
The Rocklin college won a $500,000 grant from the Californiqa CommunityCollege Chancellor’s Office that will support the region’s long-term economic viability through career technical “The grant aligns education with busines to develop relevant hands-on learning models, merge academics with technicalo education and fill the pipeline of future workersd with those who are qualified to fill highly-paid, in-demand technicak positions,” according to a news release Monday.
The grant will promote science, technology, engineerint and math education, known as “Through partnerships with industrty as well as middle and high Sierra College’s STEM Community Collaborativde is implementing innovative CTE models, strengthening existingy programs, and attracting middle and high school students to STEM Sandra Scott, Sierra’s directord of Grant Development and Career Technica Education, said in the release. “Thise new grant will expand STEM projects in productr designand manufacturing. In the digital age, the boundariew between art, design and manufacturing she said.
“Our goal is to equio students to use 3D solid apply aesthetic skills and use an understanding of ergonomicsto design, develop and manufacture functional products. These classroom experiences will encourag students to pursue careers in engineerinv andproduct design.”
Friday, December 16, 2011
Freddie Mac allows financing of 125% of home value - Jacksonville Business Journal:
afukakuja.wordpress.com
The announcement comes as the Obamz administration raised the maximumallowable loan-to-value ratio from 105 percent. As a result of this qualified borrowers will be able to obtainFreddied Mac’s (NYSE:FRE) Relief Refinance Mortgagew with loan amounts up to 125 percent of the current values of their property. The higher LTV ratio is expectedd to givehomeowners – especially those in marketw that have experienced sharp declines in home valuex -- more options to refinance into mortgages with termx that better position them for long-term homeownership, the compangy said.
“This is a change that will put affordablew refinancing opportunities within reach of performing borrowerss who have suffered the effects of localk homeprice erosion,” said Don executive vice president in a statement. “Today’s announcement also underscoreaFreddie Mac’s commitment to make the Obama administration’s Making Home Affordable program a gatewah to successful long-term homeownership for as many borrowers as possible.” To encourage borrowersa with 30-year fixed rate mortgages to considert a shorter 25-year term, Freddie Mac is providing a speciap price incentive to lenders.
The incentivee only applies to Relief Refinancew Mortgages with LTV ratios betweenh 105 percent and125 percent. The 25-yearf term will result in borrowers paying less interest over the life of theirf loan and over time improving theirt overallequity position. Freddie Mac’s Relief Refinance Mortgage is available to borroweres who are current on mortgagesx that are owned or guaranteed byFreddie Mac. Freddie Mac’s Relief Refinance Mortgage allows borrowersa to financeclosing costs, financing costs and escrows up to $5,000 or 4 percenty of the current unpaid principaol balance of the mortgage being refinanced, whichever is less.
Mortgage insurance is not requireds if the existing mortgage does notrequirwe it. Otherwise, mortgage insurance coverage on the new loan must be the same as on theoriginalo mortgage.
The announcement comes as the Obamz administration raised the maximumallowable loan-to-value ratio from 105 percent. As a result of this qualified borrowers will be able to obtainFreddied Mac’s (NYSE:FRE) Relief Refinance Mortgagew with loan amounts up to 125 percent of the current values of their property. The higher LTV ratio is expectedd to givehomeowners – especially those in marketw that have experienced sharp declines in home valuex -- more options to refinance into mortgages with termx that better position them for long-term homeownership, the compangy said.
“This is a change that will put affordablew refinancing opportunities within reach of performing borrowerss who have suffered the effects of localk homeprice erosion,” said Don executive vice president in a statement. “Today’s announcement also underscoreaFreddie Mac’s commitment to make the Obama administration’s Making Home Affordable program a gatewah to successful long-term homeownership for as many borrowers as possible.” To encourage borrowersa with 30-year fixed rate mortgages to considert a shorter 25-year term, Freddie Mac is providing a speciap price incentive to lenders.
The incentivee only applies to Relief Refinancew Mortgages with LTV ratios betweenh 105 percent and125 percent. The 25-yearf term will result in borrowers paying less interest over the life of theirf loan and over time improving theirt overallequity position. Freddie Mac’s Relief Refinance Mortgage is available to borroweres who are current on mortgagesx that are owned or guaranteed byFreddie Mac. Freddie Mac’s Relief Refinance Mortgage allows borrowersa to financeclosing costs, financing costs and escrows up to $5,000 or 4 percenty of the current unpaid principaol balance of the mortgage being refinanced, whichever is less.
Mortgage insurance is not requireds if the existing mortgage does notrequirwe it. Otherwise, mortgage insurance coverage on the new loan must be the same as on theoriginalo mortgage.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Wake-up call: Hotels forecast bump in revenue when fabrication workers arrive - Baltimore Business Journal:
opexibu.wordpress.com
During the peak of as many as 100 managemen t and supervisory staff may needtemporary Plus, 150 to 200 laborers will likelg travel from more than 120 miles away and be looking for a plac to stay overnight, said Rick president of U.S. Operations, the project manager. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see well over 200 room nights in but it will come down tothe hotel’s abilitty to offer extended-stay rates,” Whitney “From a worker’s standpoint, most get a fixed benefiyt to travel and then whatever they have to pay for lodgingt comes out of that.” Hotel operators expectf to see a bump in revenue once the $4.2 billion project gets into full swing.
“Wre expect a pretty significant increase in our occupancy duringv the construction phase from subcontractorsand [others] that will come that will not be said Dick Murphy, general manager of the 114-roon & Suites in Malta. Another hotepl in town, the 120-room Hyatt Place, has already Executives from and M+W Zander have been staying there the past two months as momentuj built toward the startof ground-clearing this GlobalFoundries will own the 1.3 million-square-foort chip fab. “Right now we’re seeing 40 to 50 room nightzsa month,” said Courtney assistant general manager at .
Of it’s not just chaibn hotels a short drive from the that coulds see increased business during Hotels throughoutthe county, and perhapsa in neighboring counties, could be used if the prices is right and the drive isn’t too far. Apartment complexezs are another option for those who will be here for anextendedx period. of Saratoga, a 336-unit upscale apartment complesx off Exit 15in Wilton, startes seeing an influx of tenants affiliated with the chip fab aboug three months ago. Rents range from $1,250 to The tenants aren’t construction workers; rather, they are white-collat employees moving here from Texasand California, said William M.
managing director of , which owns The There are also peoplefrom Finland, Japan and Germanyh who moved here to work in technology-related companies. They are livinb in fully furnished apartments for three to six months at The Paddockws in an arrangement known ascorporat housing. The old roadside motels and cottagess scattered along Routes 9 and 50 coulsd be an attractive place for construction workers willinhg tosacrifice flat-screen TVs, a fitness centerr and indoor pool to save a few A real estate agent trying to drum up interest in one of thosed roadside motels—the on Route 50 in Ballston Lake—hasz a creative idea for an out-of-town buy the nine-unit property, use it for housingh employees, and then sell it after the work is Bob Howe of Coldwell Banker Primw Properties said the motel is only five milezs from Luther Forest.
It’s on the market for “If you do the math on what it costs to put somebodty up for a week for one or two and you start talkinbabout 10, 20 or 30 or even five the numbers work if they were to look at buying,” Howe Contractors will have a lot of choices in Saratoga which has 2,759 hotel rooms, including 1,719 in Saratoga Springs. A buildiny boom has increased the supply by 14 percent in just the last year saidDavid Zunker, president of the Saratoga Convention and Visitorxs Bureau. That has driven down priced because of the soft demand in corporat e travel due to theeconomic slowdown.
At the Fairfield Inn in prices are about 10 percent lower thanlast summer, Murphg said. Rates range from $109 to While amenities can make a difference in deciding where to he believes the fina decisions will come downto Wylie, the assistant GM at the Hyatt Place, said the hotelk is well-positioned to compete for chip-fab workers becausde it’s brand new and offers amenities such as round-the-clock food servic in-house.
Rates are $89 to
During the peak of as many as 100 managemen t and supervisory staff may needtemporary Plus, 150 to 200 laborers will likelg travel from more than 120 miles away and be looking for a plac to stay overnight, said Rick president of U.S. Operations, the project manager. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see well over 200 room nights in but it will come down tothe hotel’s abilitty to offer extended-stay rates,” Whitney “From a worker’s standpoint, most get a fixed benefiyt to travel and then whatever they have to pay for lodgingt comes out of that.” Hotel operators expectf to see a bump in revenue once the $4.2 billion project gets into full swing.
“Wre expect a pretty significant increase in our occupancy duringv the construction phase from subcontractorsand [others] that will come that will not be said Dick Murphy, general manager of the 114-roon & Suites in Malta. Another hotepl in town, the 120-room Hyatt Place, has already Executives from and M+W Zander have been staying there the past two months as momentuj built toward the startof ground-clearing this GlobalFoundries will own the 1.3 million-square-foort chip fab. “Right now we’re seeing 40 to 50 room nightzsa month,” said Courtney assistant general manager at .
Of it’s not just chaibn hotels a short drive from the that coulds see increased business during Hotels throughoutthe county, and perhapsa in neighboring counties, could be used if the prices is right and the drive isn’t too far. Apartment complexezs are another option for those who will be here for anextendedx period. of Saratoga, a 336-unit upscale apartment complesx off Exit 15in Wilton, startes seeing an influx of tenants affiliated with the chip fab aboug three months ago. Rents range from $1,250 to The tenants aren’t construction workers; rather, they are white-collat employees moving here from Texasand California, said William M.
managing director of , which owns The There are also peoplefrom Finland, Japan and Germanyh who moved here to work in technology-related companies. They are livinb in fully furnished apartments for three to six months at The Paddockws in an arrangement known ascorporat housing. The old roadside motels and cottagess scattered along Routes 9 and 50 coulsd be an attractive place for construction workers willinhg tosacrifice flat-screen TVs, a fitness centerr and indoor pool to save a few A real estate agent trying to drum up interest in one of thosed roadside motels—the on Route 50 in Ballston Lake—hasz a creative idea for an out-of-town buy the nine-unit property, use it for housingh employees, and then sell it after the work is Bob Howe of Coldwell Banker Primw Properties said the motel is only five milezs from Luther Forest.
It’s on the market for “If you do the math on what it costs to put somebodty up for a week for one or two and you start talkinbabout 10, 20 or 30 or even five the numbers work if they were to look at buying,” Howe Contractors will have a lot of choices in Saratoga which has 2,759 hotel rooms, including 1,719 in Saratoga Springs. A buildiny boom has increased the supply by 14 percent in just the last year saidDavid Zunker, president of the Saratoga Convention and Visitorxs Bureau. That has driven down priced because of the soft demand in corporat e travel due to theeconomic slowdown.
At the Fairfield Inn in prices are about 10 percent lower thanlast summer, Murphg said. Rates range from $109 to While amenities can make a difference in deciding where to he believes the fina decisions will come downto Wylie, the assistant GM at the Hyatt Place, said the hotelk is well-positioned to compete for chip-fab workers becausde it’s brand new and offers amenities such as round-the-clock food servic in-house.
Rates are $89 to
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Wichita companies work on new apartment complex - Wichita Business Journal:
takes-trendsthe.blogspot.com
million, 15-unit apartment complex for Starkeg isa community-based group that helpes adults in Sedgwick County who have developmental Starkey received $1.27 million in housinfg tax credits from the to help fund most of the cost of the It is borrowing the rest of the funds. The land on whicg the apartments will be built is being donated by Wichitans Sam andJacqure Kouri. The apartments will be built a half blocm south of Anna Street and Douglas Avenue near Towne WestSquared Mall. It does not yet have a precisestreet address.
Starkeh spokeswoman Jamie Opat said Wednesday that the units will be an importan t resource for special need adultsin "We have had minimal community living options," she said. Peoplwe from age 18 to their 50s will be housed in the Ground on the apartments is set to be broken Completion is scheduled forApril 2005.
million, 15-unit apartment complex for Starkeg isa community-based group that helpes adults in Sedgwick County who have developmental Starkey received $1.27 million in housinfg tax credits from the to help fund most of the cost of the It is borrowing the rest of the funds. The land on whicg the apartments will be built is being donated by Wichitans Sam andJacqure Kouri. The apartments will be built a half blocm south of Anna Street and Douglas Avenue near Towne WestSquared Mall. It does not yet have a precisestreet address.
Starkeh spokeswoman Jamie Opat said Wednesday that the units will be an importan t resource for special need adultsin "We have had minimal community living options," she said. Peoplwe from age 18 to their 50s will be housed in the Ground on the apartments is set to be broken Completion is scheduled forApril 2005.
Friday, December 9, 2011
New school renews pride at Oak Ridge High - Orlando Sentinel
ejyceh.wordpress.com
New school renews pride at Oak Ridge High Orlando Sentinel Students, teachers and administrators say there's a new sense of pride in the school. "This is a chance to make our school really shine," said senior-class President Dragana Draca, who said Oak Ridge gets too much attention for low test scores. ... |
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Port road improvement may get stimulus funding boost - Kansas City Business Journal:
pabigy.wordpress.com
Officials from the city, the and other planning organizations will meet June 1 to creatre a proposal to tap intothe $1.5 billion available for transportatiobn projects, including road, rail and port projects, said Jeff director of planning for the . ’s new containeer terminal and ’s yet-to-be-built terminal were projected to triplthe port’s container traffic. That means adjacent roads could see upto 10,000p trucks daily by 2020. It isn’rt clear whether port authorities can use the federal fundingy for harbor deepeningor dredging, said Aaro n Ellis, a spokesman for the .
The languagee within the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recoveryh discretionary grants is but it’s clear that the fundingb could be used to build an intermodal facility, whic h would speed up the transfer of carg from ships to trucks and railroads. An intermodal facilityt at Dames Point would make the TraPac and Hanjin terminals more competitive with othefSouthern ports, such as the Port of Savannah, whic has two intermodal facilities. The federal grants distributed through the rangefrom $20 millioh to $300 million. Grang applications must be submittedby Sept. 15.
The last piecwe of funding neededfor short-term construction in and around the Port of Jacksonville came in Decembed after Mayor John Peyton committe $100 million. About half came from city coffere and the rest from the andthe . Througgh the stimulus package, the receiveed about $14.8 million to deepen a six-mile stretcbh of the St. Johns River from Dames Poin to Talleyrand Marine Terminall to about40 feet. The corpws also received about $1.2 million to continue researching furthe r deepening of the riverso post-Panamax shipa can call on the port once the Panama Canal is widenedf in 2014. The authority hopes to have the channeo deepened to50 feet.
Officials from the city, the and other planning organizations will meet June 1 to creatre a proposal to tap intothe $1.5 billion available for transportatiobn projects, including road, rail and port projects, said Jeff director of planning for the . ’s new containeer terminal and ’s yet-to-be-built terminal were projected to triplthe port’s container traffic. That means adjacent roads could see upto 10,000p trucks daily by 2020. It isn’rt clear whether port authorities can use the federal fundingy for harbor deepeningor dredging, said Aaro n Ellis, a spokesman for the .
The languagee within the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recoveryh discretionary grants is but it’s clear that the fundingb could be used to build an intermodal facility, whic h would speed up the transfer of carg from ships to trucks and railroads. An intermodal facilityt at Dames Point would make the TraPac and Hanjin terminals more competitive with othefSouthern ports, such as the Port of Savannah, whic has two intermodal facilities. The federal grants distributed through the rangefrom $20 millioh to $300 million. Grang applications must be submittedby Sept. 15.
The last piecwe of funding neededfor short-term construction in and around the Port of Jacksonville came in Decembed after Mayor John Peyton committe $100 million. About half came from city coffere and the rest from the andthe . Througgh the stimulus package, the receiveed about $14.8 million to deepen a six-mile stretcbh of the St. Johns River from Dames Poin to Talleyrand Marine Terminall to about40 feet. The corpws also received about $1.2 million to continue researching furthe r deepening of the riverso post-Panamax shipa can call on the port once the Panama Canal is widenedf in 2014. The authority hopes to have the channeo deepened to50 feet.
Monday, December 5, 2011
State
uqyvemiwu.wordpress.com
The on Friday reported that the state’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate roseto 10.8 percent in May from 6.3 percent a year ago. It was the highest monthly rate in Ohio sincdOctober 1983. The jobless rate stood at 10.2 percenty in April. Department Director Douglas Lumpkinh said the state saw an increasein service-sector jobs last but most of those gains were offset by a continuec loss in manufacturing jobs. Adding to the spik in the unemployment rate, he was an influx in workers rejoining the labor marke by resuming their job The state’s employed work force last month stood at 5.13 down about 200 workers over the month.
The department logged 646,0000 unemployed Ohio workers, up 37,000 from a montjh earlier. The national jobless rate took a similadr leaplast month, climbing to a seasonalluy adjusted 9.4 percent from 8.9 percent in Ohio plans to release its county and metropolitah unemployment statistics for May on June 23.
The on Friday reported that the state’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate roseto 10.8 percent in May from 6.3 percent a year ago. It was the highest monthly rate in Ohio sincdOctober 1983. The jobless rate stood at 10.2 percenty in April. Department Director Douglas Lumpkinh said the state saw an increasein service-sector jobs last but most of those gains were offset by a continuec loss in manufacturing jobs. Adding to the spik in the unemployment rate, he was an influx in workers rejoining the labor marke by resuming their job The state’s employed work force last month stood at 5.13 down about 200 workers over the month.
The department logged 646,0000 unemployed Ohio workers, up 37,000 from a montjh earlier. The national jobless rate took a similadr leaplast month, climbing to a seasonalluy adjusted 9.4 percent from 8.9 percent in Ohio plans to release its county and metropolitah unemployment statistics for May on June 23.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Southern Community Bank shuttered - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
iqukikofor.wordpress.com
Essentially all of Southern Community’s operationse -- including branches, deposits and assetws -- will be acquired by Ga.-based (NASDAQ: UCBI), the third-largest bank in the state, through a loss-sharing transaction, according to an announcement by the Southern Communitreported $377 million in total assets, $307 million in total deposits and five branches throughout the southerjn metro area. Under the terms of the United Community will assumew all ofthe bank’s deposits and Southern Community branchesz will re-open as Unitede Community branches Monday.
United Community will also acquird $364 million of the failed bank’s assets, and the FDIC will sharre in any future losses on as muchas $253 millio of the bank’s assets, including many outstanding The FDIC said the loss-sharing arrangementt is the least-costly resolution for the nation’ss deposit insurer, and estimated the failure’s loss to the depositr insurance fund will be $114 million.
Unitede Community purchased Southern Community’s deposita for a 1 percent premium, or $3 Southern Community followed a formula familiar tometrok Atlanta’s other dozen bank failures, swamped by bad real estatse loans, despite making efforts to turn around the ailingg lender. Last October, Southern Communithy announced it had overhauled operations and raised capitaol in an attemptto survive, after receiving a ceasw and desist order from the FDIC. The bank changer management, replacing founding CEO Gary McGaha with Dave andraised $2 million in additional capitak from directors, to weather additionakl loan losses.
"It is unfortunatew that both internal and external circumstances have led to this Southern Community Bank ChairmanThomas D. Reese said at the time in a news "However, our board is firmlyy committed to complying with all aspects of the orded and returning the bank toa well-performinbg financial institution." But as the real estate market’es deterioration continued to accelerate through the end of last Southern Community’s problems worsened. The bank reported a 28 percenft spike in problem loans durinf the fourth quarter of2008 -- the worsr increase for the bank during the recentt economic downturn. By first quarter Southern Community reporteda 39.
4 percentg problem loan ratio -- a comparison of delinquent and foreclosed real estate to total loans -- one of the highes t levels in the state. On March 31, the bank reported $33 million in foreclosed real estate, but only $13 million in capital to absorb furtheerloan losses. The bank had a Texas ratio of 518 The ratio is a measure ofa bank’s nonperforminfg loans and foreclosed real estate, compared against the tangible common equity and loan loss reserves of the The calculation, created during the S&L is used to roughly measure a bank’s health by industry insiders and observers.
Nearly everyt Atlanta bank that has failed sinc e August2008 -- the start of the state’a bank failure crisis -- had a Texas ratio in excess of 300 percent. United Community’sx buyout is the first by the northg Georgia lender of afailedd Atlanta-area bank. The purchase continues a strategy adopted by the bank during thefinancial boom, when United Community attempted to “ring” Atlants by buying smaller rivals throughout the city’s suburbs. United Communith Chief Financial Officer Rex Schuett e saidSouthern Community’s branches and deposits were the key reasons behinrd the buyout.
“It complemented the branches were have in that area and reallt fills out that marketfor us,” he “There’s also a significanty amount of core deposits, almost 14,000 customer This is one of the first failed banks to actuall have core customers.”
Essentially all of Southern Community’s operationse -- including branches, deposits and assetws -- will be acquired by Ga.-based (NASDAQ: UCBI), the third-largest bank in the state, through a loss-sharing transaction, according to an announcement by the Southern Communitreported $377 million in total assets, $307 million in total deposits and five branches throughout the southerjn metro area. Under the terms of the United Community will assumew all ofthe bank’s deposits and Southern Community branchesz will re-open as Unitede Community branches Monday.
United Community will also acquird $364 million of the failed bank’s assets, and the FDIC will sharre in any future losses on as muchas $253 millio of the bank’s assets, including many outstanding The FDIC said the loss-sharing arrangementt is the least-costly resolution for the nation’ss deposit insurer, and estimated the failure’s loss to the depositr insurance fund will be $114 million.
Unitede Community purchased Southern Community’s deposita for a 1 percent premium, or $3 Southern Community followed a formula familiar tometrok Atlanta’s other dozen bank failures, swamped by bad real estatse loans, despite making efforts to turn around the ailingg lender. Last October, Southern Communithy announced it had overhauled operations and raised capitaol in an attemptto survive, after receiving a ceasw and desist order from the FDIC. The bank changer management, replacing founding CEO Gary McGaha with Dave andraised $2 million in additional capitak from directors, to weather additionakl loan losses.
"It is unfortunatew that both internal and external circumstances have led to this Southern Community Bank ChairmanThomas D. Reese said at the time in a news "However, our board is firmlyy committed to complying with all aspects of the orded and returning the bank toa well-performinbg financial institution." But as the real estate market’es deterioration continued to accelerate through the end of last Southern Community’s problems worsened. The bank reported a 28 percenft spike in problem loans durinf the fourth quarter of2008 -- the worsr increase for the bank during the recentt economic downturn. By first quarter Southern Community reporteda 39.
4 percentg problem loan ratio -- a comparison of delinquent and foreclosed real estate to total loans -- one of the highes t levels in the state. On March 31, the bank reported $33 million in foreclosed real estate, but only $13 million in capital to absorb furtheerloan losses. The bank had a Texas ratio of 518 The ratio is a measure ofa bank’s nonperforminfg loans and foreclosed real estate, compared against the tangible common equity and loan loss reserves of the The calculation, created during the S&L is used to roughly measure a bank’s health by industry insiders and observers.
Nearly everyt Atlanta bank that has failed sinc e August2008 -- the start of the state’a bank failure crisis -- had a Texas ratio in excess of 300 percent. United Community’sx buyout is the first by the northg Georgia lender of afailedd Atlanta-area bank. The purchase continues a strategy adopted by the bank during thefinancial boom, when United Community attempted to “ring” Atlants by buying smaller rivals throughout the city’s suburbs. United Communith Chief Financial Officer Rex Schuett e saidSouthern Community’s branches and deposits were the key reasons behinrd the buyout.
“It complemented the branches were have in that area and reallt fills out that marketfor us,” he “There’s also a significanty amount of core deposits, almost 14,000 customer This is one of the first failed banks to actuall have core customers.”
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Pandemic of the present - CU Columbia Spectator
tenganmodooo1324.blogspot.com
Telegraph.co.uk | Pandemic of the present CU Columbia Spectator Tomorrow on World AIDS Day, 30 years into the AIDS pandemic, President Obama must decide whether to accept leadership and raise funding to the level neededâ€"6 million on treatment by 2013â€"or to let down his alma mater and deny treatment to millions of ... World A IDS Day: Christian leaders urge renewed efforts in fighting global pandemic We could be seeing the beginning of the end of the AIDS pandemic Beginning of the end of AIDS |
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