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December 13, 2007

LV Ranch Estates Finishes Phase II Wells, Tapping Into Exceptionally Abundant Water Supply

The thought of living in the desert is enough to make some people thirsty, which is why long-term water supply is always a consideration when it comes to making an arid habitat a home. Fortunately, LV Ranch Estates perches above plenty of water - water that Garth Owens and his company, Drill-Tech, Inc., have brought to the surface. "It doesn't matter where you drill out there, there's water everywhere - and a lot of it," says Owens, the owner of Prescott-based Drill-Tech, the company drilling the wells for each of the 120 ranch parcels in this 4,900-acre community.

Prescott, Ariz. (PRWEB) December 13, 2007 -- The thought of living in the desert is enough to make some people thirsty, which is why long-term water supply is always a consideration when it comes to making an arid habitat a home. Fortunately, LV Ranch Estates perches above plenty of water - water that Garth Owens and his company, Drill-Tech, Inc., have brought to the surface.

"It doesn't matter where you drill out there, there's water everywhere - and a lot of it," says Owens, the owner of Prescott-based Drill-Tech, the company drilling the wells for each of the 120 ranch parcels in this 4,900-acre community.

Owens has been drilling wells for about 20 years, and he's very familiar with the Arizona landscape and what lies beneath it. He estimates the average well depth in the Prescott area to be between 350 to 500 feet, that is, where there is water to be tapped. By contrast, just outside of town at LV Ranch Estates, in Williamson Valley - a catchall for the recharge from the surrounding mountains and Mint Creek - well depths are much shallower, measuring 100 to 300 feet deep and producing water at a robust 50-plus gallons per minute. These domestic wells take just a day or two to drill and case. And because the water table is shallow and the supply is abundant, Owens says irrigation is an option for future residents of this Prescott, Arizona real estate development who dream of doing a little farming or gardening.

Of the diverse jobs Drill-Tech takes on - some of which require around-the-clock attention for several weeks at a time - the wells at LV Ranch Estates are what Owens dubs "little fun holes." "They're quick," he says.

Fun as the jobs may have been, the crew worked hard to minimize its impact on the land. Owens and LV Ranch Estates developer Peter Gooding studied and walked each parcel to determine the optimal placement of every well, envisioning and marking a pleasing, meandering driveway through each of these Arizona ranches for sale that would lead to the parcel's best homesite. Drill-Tech then entered the property on that "driveway," backing out later on the very same tracks. All of this careful planning was aimed to capitalize on what Owens calls the glory and beauty of LV Ranch Estates: "the size of the lots, the privacy." "Where else are you going to find a 40-acre piece parcel that has tremendous ground water, paved roads, underground utilities and backs up against the national forest?" he asks. His answer: "Next to nowhere!"

LV Ranch Estates also boasts gated entrances, paved roads, underground utilities and high-speed Internet. Its ranch estates (priced from the $400,000s) measure a luxurious 36 to 51 acres each with limited rights to divide. The development is bordered by its namesake working ranch, the award-winning 20,000-acre Las Vegas Ranch, as well as state and national lands ideal for exploration on horseback, mountain bike or foot.

Thanks to proximity to charming Prescott, LV Ranch Estates offers the perfect blend of city and country amenities. Residents can head to town for shopping, dining, entertainment and recreational opportunities, or stay put on their estates to relish the peace and privacy.

LV Ranch Estates is a Northern Arizona real estate development of True West Companies, a Scottsdale, AZ-based company respected for its high-quality, rural residential projects throughout Arizona. True West has developed other residential and ranch-style projects in Coconino, Yavapai and Maricopa Counties. To learn more about LV Ranch Estates and True West Companies, visit www.lvranchestates.com. To find out more about nearby Prescott, visit www.prescott.com or www.cityofprescott.net.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:21 AM | Comments (0)

Johnson Controls Metasys Enhancement Prevents Building Disasters - One Step Backup Insures System Reliability

Backing up Johnson Controls Metasys files has been a long and time consuming process made simple with the new MetaBAK™ product. www.metasysbackup.com The MetaBAK™ is a system on a USB Module to backup Metasys system information. Simply plug the MetaBAK™ into a USB port on the Metasys Operator Workstation (OWS) and it starts the backup program to save Metasys data for the building automaton system automatically. The data is saved on the MetaBAK™ module which is small enough to fit in your shirt pocket and can be stored in a safe place. System backups are always important and increasingly important as systems age because equipment is more likely to fail. If a Building Automation System fails and there is not a reliable backup of the software the Mean Time To Repair is increased dramatically since all the data needs to be recreated and reentered. In many cases it can take weeks to bring the Building Automation System back to normal operations.

Racine, WI (PRWEB) December 13, 2007 -- Backing up Metasys files has been a long and time consuming process that is made simple with the new MetaBAK™ product. www.metasysbackup.com The MetaBAK™ is a fully contained backup system on a USB Module to backup Metasys system information. Simply plug the MetaBAK™ into a USB port on the OWS (Operator Workstation) and it starts the backup program to save Metasys data including feature data, global database and All NCM (Network Control Module) databases for the system. The data is saved on the MetaBAK™ module which is small enough to fit in your shirt pocket and can be stored in a safe place.

System backups are always important and become increasingly important as systems age since equipment is more likely to fail. If a Building Automation System fails without a reliable software backup the Mean Time To Repair hours can increase dramatically since all the data needs to be recreated and reentered. In many cases it can take weeks to bring the Building Automation System back to normal operations.

Even though most of us know that we need to do regular backups, the fact is that many, if not most of us, don't do it because it is time consuming. MetaBAK solves this problem with a simple one step system backup solution.

MetaBAK is an easy to use backup solution that insures reliability.

"I just got the MetaBak software and ran it for the first time... Wow. Great product. My Johnson Controls Metasys system has 45 NCM's and after launching this program It uploaded all my NCM's, decompiled all DDL files and saved the database with one click of the mouse," said Greg Morris - Emcor. "It also showed me if I had any errors in the database and which NC the errors were in. I wish I had this tool years ago. A must have for anyone maintaining a Metasys system. Great job Dave."

There are a number of things that can corrupt Metasys databases.

Hard disk failure -- Mean Times Between Failure (MTBFs) have improved dramatically in the past several years for all peripherals. But so has data capacity and the amount of data that can be lost on disk failure. The problem is failures are unpredictable. Following Murphy's Law the loss will occur at the worst possible time. MetaBAK™ provides users a way to quickly and reliably recover from unpredictable disk failures.

Virus protection and spyware protection -- Viruses continue to be a problem and wreak havoc with systems, causing errors, lockups and data loss. Using MetaBAK™ user can quickly restore data lost through virus infection when used in conjunction with good virus detection software.
Events beyond an owner's control -- Natural and man-made disasters can occur that can cause the loss of Metasys data. These include fire, floods, lightning and malicious activity by a disgruntled employee. After such an occurrence, owners of a Metasys Building Automation System must regenerate configuration and system information which takes a long time. Using MetaBAK™ allows users to quickly and reliably restore system data after such calamity.

Since the MetaBAK™ is economical users can easily justify having multiple MetaBAK™ devices to preserve system integrity by storing backups in a fireproof safe and at an off-site location. If the users system goes, their data stays -- it may mean the difference between business as usual and buildings out of control with wasted energy.

MetaBAK is a Custom Computer Systems product.

About Custom Computer Systems:
Custom Computer Systems delivers add-on applications to add functions and features to Johnson Controls Metasys building automation systems. The company was founded in 2000 by David Hagemann based on 17 years of experience with the Johnson Controls Metasys Facility Management System and over 35 years of programming experience. Customer Computer Systems has delivered applications for a wide range of organizations including County of Sacramento, United States Air force, Cooper Power Systems, Center for Disease Control, John Deere, and Hyatt. Testimonials from these and other companies can be found on the company web site, www.davidhagemann.com.

Contacts:
David Hagemann
Custom Computer Systems
(262) 989-2771
1200 Cleveland Ave.
Racine, WI 53405
(262) 989-2771

Bill Lydon
Applied Marketing Concepts
Phone: 414-427-5853
www.mrktgsolutions.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:18 AM | Comments (0)

Adam Mermelstein of TreeTop Development Announces Complete Lease-Up of Triangulum Rental Building in Brooklyn, NY

Adam Mermelstein of TreeTop Development has announced leasing is now complete for Triangulum, a renovated rental building the Manhattan-based development company introduced earlier this year in the historic Williamsburg section of New York City's Brooklyn.

New York, NY (PRWEB) December 13, 2007 -- Adam Mermelstein of TreeTop Development has announced leasing is now complete for Triangulum, a renovated rental building the Manhattan-based development company introduced earlier this year in the historic Williamsburg section of New York City's Brooklyn.

Impressively, all of the 30 renovated apartments in the six-story corner building located at 326 South 1st Street were reserved just one week after leasing began, according to Mr. Mermelstein, a principal of TreeTop Development. Triangulum features completely redesigned two-bedroom rental homes with upscale appointments such as modern baths and kitchens and hardwood floors.

"At Triangulum, tenants enjoy the perfect blend of old world charm and the latest in luxurious amenities," says Mr. Mermelstein. "An intensive rehabilitation effort has not only recreated the apartments themselves, but also totally modernized lobbies and common areas.

"With an influx of new development in Williamsburg, there has become a significant lack of affordably-priced rental homes. Judging by its success, Triangulum apparently goes a long way towards easing the demand by offering new artsy-designed apartments in a renovated building at attractive rents."

Triangulum will also offer 1,650 square feet of ground-floor retail space with 65 linear feet' of frontage which is now available for leasing.

The main focus of the Triangulum's renovated interior design was to upgrade the visual look and feeling of the apartments and common spaces, Mr. Mermelstein points out.

"Renovations included stripping the hallway floors to return them to their original luster," Mr. Mermelstein points out. "We also removed plaster to expose the original brick. We took out the entire staircase in the central lobby and replaced it with a unique steel construction that provides a sleeker, more modern silhouette. And we added various accessories and amenities to bring the building more in tune with the surrounding residential addresses."

Treetop Development has also begun similar renovations at a six-story rental building at 188 South 3rd Street in Williamsburg. When combined with the Triangulum, the rehabilitation programs will introduce more than 40 new one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments to the Brooklyn neighborhood.

For additional information, please call 212-400-8860 or visit www.treetopdev.com.

Contact:
George M. Cahn
CAHN Communications
201-876-3100
gcahn @ cahncomm.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:16 AM | Comments (0)

Drywall Tools Outlet.com Offers New Spanish Language Version of its Popular Online E-shop

Drywall Tools Outlet.com has answered the call for more Spanish language tools sites with a fully functioning version of their expanding web store.

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) December 13, 2007 -- DrywallToolsOutlet.com is pleased to announce the addition of a fully integrated Spanish language version of their online store. www.AcabadosProfesionalesdeDrywall.com will lead the shopper to the Drywall Tools Outlet.com site with all tools, parts and accessories listed in Spanish.

"Our customers have requested this direct Spanish language site to speed their purchasing of all their drywall tools. While we have provided a Spanish translation on the Drywall Tools Outlet site before, it required the user to enter the site via the DTO domain name. Now, the Spanish speaking drywall contractor only needs to know the Spanish domain name, www.AcabadosProfesionalesdeDrywall.com ," said Ronald Sagaert, Vice President of Drywall Tools Outlet.

A drywall professional looking for drywall tools who would prefer shopping in Spanish will find all his favorite brand name taping tools, stilts, taping and finishing knives, mud pans and accessories listed in an easy to use format. Manufacturers that the drywall professional knows and trusts include, TapeTech, USG Sheetrock Tools, NorthStar Tools, NuWay Tools, Hyde, Marshalltown, Kraft, Warner, Wal-Board, 3M and many more fill the pages of this unique online e-store.

Besides the everyday low prices common with Drywall Tools Outlet.com, www.AcabadosProfesionalesdeDrywall.com will also offer the same Rewards program that has made Drywall Tools Outlet.com such a favorite place to shop. Every dollar spent on either site can earn reward points for that customer; points which can then be tracked and redeemed for valuable free gifts. Low prices and free stuff -- what's not to like about that?

About Acabados Profesionales de Drywall:
Acabados Profesionales de Drywall is the Spanish domain of the popular e-store, Drywall Tools Outlet.com and offers the same unique, high quality, brand name tools, parts and accessories for the drywall professional. Our offices are located in both North Carolina and Georgia.

Ronald Sagaert, Vice President
1-888-295-8665
http://acabadosprofesionalesdedrywall.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:14 AM | Comments (0)

New OMAX® 60120 JetMachining® Center Offers Large Scale Precision Versatile Precision Abrasive Waterjet Offers Unmatched Flexibility to Machine Shops

The new 60120 JetMachining® Center is the latest addition to OMAX® Corporation's line of precision abrasive waterjets. The large format machine is ideal for quick and accurate cutting of larger or multiple parts from stock up to 5' x 10' (1.5m x 3m).

Kent, Washington (PRWEB) December 13, 2007 -- The new 60120 JetMachining® Center is the latest addition to OMAX® Corporation's line of precision abrasive waterjets. The large format machine is ideal for quick and accurate cutting of larger or multiple parts from stock up to 5' x 10' (1.5m x 3m).

An innovative traction drive makes the 60120 one of the most accurate large format machines in the OMAX line of JetMachining Centers. The traction drive achieves its high accuracy by closing a positioning loop with linear encoders in the same manner as a linear motor. The result is a robust and reliable system that is well-suited to harsh environments and requires little maintenance. In addition, the traction drive of the 60120 enables faster traverse speeds, which can greatly reduce the throughput times when machining multiple and nested parts.

The OMAX 60120 employs a bridge style Y-Axis design that allows the cutting head to move past the catcher tank for unobstructed loading of materials. Like all OMAX JetMachining Centers, the 60120 has the ability to cut a wide variety of materials, including ceramics, composites, plastic, glass and stone, as well as metals like aluminum, tool steel, stainless steel, mild steel and titanium with an accuracy of motion up to .003".

The 60120 comes standard with OMAX Corporation's patented "Compute First - Move Later" motion control technology, which incorporates Windows® XP software. The system can calculate the velocity of a tool path at over 2,000 points per inch, allowing for complete control over the motion of an abrasivejet, and enabling precise, rapid machining. Other standard features of the 60120 include a durable abrasive feed system, MAXJET® 5 Diamond Nozzle Assembly and an ultra-high pressure direct drive pump.

The 60120 offers substantial productivity gains by eliminating the need for tool changes and complex fixturing, reducing setup times by up to 50% over traditional cutting methods. Its fast cutting speed, combined with minimal set up times, maximizes a user's flexibility and productivity.

Like all OMAX products, the 60120 JetMachining Center comes with the OMAX Technology Guarantee, which provides free software updates to existing customers for the life of the machine.

About OMAX
Headquartered in Kent, Washington, OMAX ® Corporation is the leading manufacturer of precision abrasive waterjet systems. Each OMAX JetMachining® system is powered by the company's innovative control software, bringing affordable abrasivejet technology to an expanding and diverse group of industries, particularly including the machine shop environment. For more information on OMAX products and accessories, contact Sandra McLain at 800-838-0343 or visit www.omax.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:12 AM | Comments (0)

Award-Winning Green Community Invites Home Buyers to Join in Conservation

Log Homes along the Blue Ridge Parkway in demand.

Blues Ridge Parkway, NC (PRWEB) December 13, 2007 -- Cielo Falls, a gorgeous premium log home community with an emphasis on sustainable development, is proud to announce having earned the prestigious "Mountain Homes Award" for Environmental Conservation.

Mountain Homes and FRIENDS, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting North Carolina's Blue Ridge Parkway, established the award to honor efforts to protect the environment of our Southern Mountains. Cielo Falls stands out with miles of low-impact trails, expertly managed, blue-ribbon trout streams, a more energy efficient design than traditional wood or brick construction, and a groundbreaking rainwater collection and water management system. Pairing green development values with the serene setting and family-friendly activities made Cielo Falls the "very best" among a group of nominees that "exceeded expectations", says Norma Lugar of Mountain Homes.

Cielo Falls is an ecologically-conscious, luxury log home community set on 1,100 acres of pristine Blue Ridge Mountain real estate in North Carolina. Just 1.2 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, the private gated, master-planned community offers the relaxation of an exclusive mountain resort, just minutes from Boone, Blowing Rock and West Jefferson.

The development consists of approximately 250 residences, with the initial homes under construction and 40 amazing homesites available for sale now. The homes are exclusively designed by Heritage Log Homes, featuring traditional log and timber construction, gourmet kitchens, high-speed internet, cable and networked security/fire alarm systems.

Among the facilities listed in the Property Report is a grand 30,000 sq. ft. rustic Clubhouse, featuring a massive great room with a standing 45 foot tall fireplace, catering kitchen for events, executive center and library, fitness facilities, game room, racquet ball court, two tennis courts, a basketball court, media room, and a 12.000 sq. ft sparkling heated indoor pool with an expansive hot tub and sprawling terraces with unbelievable vistas. Throughout the property, more than nine miles of low-impact trails, rustic gazebos, play areas, four more intimate outdoor pool facilities and picnic pavilions will provide a lifetime of warm memories for the whole family while protecting the beauty of the natural surroundings in this gated private community.

Residences are available for sale now, and visits to the award-winning property may be scheduled through the main office in scenic Boone, NC.

About USP Development:
USP Development LLC is an investment and development company with primary concentration on investment-grade real estate assets in premier markets throughout the Eastern United States. For nearly twenty years, USP Development LLC has created long-term value by carefully evaluating, securing and enhancing key real estate assets in a variety of categories. With a portfolio of residential and commercial developments, apartments, office buildings, mixed-use, and luxury hotel properties representing more than $400 million in real estate value, USP Development LLC is widely known for its analytical approach to investment and its unique ability to deliver a world-class customer experience.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:11 AM | Comments (0)

Work begins on Trinity Gardens, Meyer Bergman's 'Sanctuary in the City'

Work on major real estate firm Meyer Bergman's first Scottish project, a luxury residential development in Edinburgh, is now underway. Trinity Gardens, situated just off Ferry Road, will feature 246 spacious apartments located in a peaceful landscape of mature trees, within the private enclosure of an existing listed stone boundary wall.

Edinburgh, Scotland (PRWEB) December 13, 2007 -- Work on major real estate firm Meyer Bergman's first Scottish project, a luxury residential development in Edinburgh, is now underway.

Trinity Gardens, situated just off Ferry Road, will feature 246 spacious apartments located in a peaceful landscape of mature trees, within the private enclosure of an existing listed stone boundary wall.

The high-end development embraces the vision of a sanctuary within the city, and involves some of the UK's most illustrious names in the architecture and design industries including Scotland's celebrated Richard Murphy Architects, Comprehensive Design Architects, and interior designers Conran & Partners. The first phase of Trinity Gardens is due to be completed in Spring/Summer 2009.

Ensuring that Trinity Gardens complements the existing look of the Trinity area, inspiration has been drawn from several of its Victorian sea captain's houses, resulting in a clean and simple, high-quality red brick façade. The development's towers, with their glazed rooftop lanterns articulating the corners of the buildings, make further reference to the towers typically found on many traditional Trinity villas.

Comprising three separate star-shaped buildings, the innovative design of each block maximises light and views from every room, providing the best possible aspects over the gardens.

As its name suggests, the gardens will be a focal point of the development, with a mixture of woodland and grassland affording residents both privacy and space. Prioritising the current landscape, the majority of the development will be designated to green areas, with buildings occupying only one third of the site. New mature trees and foliage are also being added to complement the existing mature environment in a modern interpretation of a traditional estate garden.

Richard Murphy, Director of Richard Murphy Architects, commented, "The Trinity Gardens development represents a wonderful opportunity to live in a mature garden close to the centre of Edinburgh. The U-shaped, essentially perimeter, plan allows most of the apartments direct views into a large, private, communal garden with many of the upper flats almost being tree houses in the branches of the many mature trees on the site. Clustering of the apartments around lift and stair cores has resulted in a great variety of sizes, most of which have substantial corner windows to living spaces looking out onto landscape."

The interior fittings are being designed by Conran & Partners, Sir Terence Conran's architecture and design studio. Maintaining the high standards of Trinity Gardens' external qualities, Conran & Partners has developed a modern and stylish palette with quality fixtures and fittings that capture the spirit of the Victorian establishment buildings in the Trinity area, including oak parquet flooring, reconstituted stone, and marble.

Ton Meijer, Chairman of Meyer Bergman, said, "Meyer Bergman is naturally attracted to exclusive opportunities and exciting design, and we're delighted to be working in a city as architecturally unique as Edinburgh.

"With Trinity Gardens, we are creating a very special living opportunity - the perfect modern solution for people who want to live close to the heart of the city, while benefiting from the privacy and tranquillity of a mature walled garden. Working with some of the top names in design, the result will be an exceptional and aesthetically compelling development."

The website for these new properties in Edinburgh is at http://www.trinity-gardens.com

For all media enquiries about the Trinity Gardens property development in Edinburgh, please contact Beverley Bruce or Conrad Robson at Stripe Communications, at 0131 561 8628.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:09 AM | Comments (0)

New York Construction Magazine Honors JRS Architect, P.C. Bank Project

McGraw Hill's New York Construction magazine presented JRS Architect, P.C. with an award of merit in the retail category for its design of Madison National Bank's first branch on Long Island.

Mineola, NY (PRWEB) December 13, 2007 -- JRS Architect, P.C. has been honored by McGraw-Hill's New York Construction magazine for its unique architectural design for Madison National Bank's branch in Merrick, NY.

The architectural firm, which has offices in Long Island, New York City and New Jersey, received the Award of Merit in the retail category in the publication's Best Of 2007 winners, which was voted on by a jury of industry leaders. The award was presented today.

"It's always gratifying to receive recognition for our work and we are especially proud of our work for Madison National Bank," said John R. Sorrenti, F.A.I.A., President of JRS. "Awards, such as this New York Construction's Award of Merit, inspire us to accomplish even greater things in the future."

JRS, one of the nation's leading bank architectural and design firms, created a unique design that serves as a cornerstone to the brand image of Madison National Bank, which was opened its doors earlier this year. The design was based upon Madison National Bank's vision to have their bank reflect a warm and inviting environment.

"The bank's founders wanted something that was different, eye catching and reminiscent of old world design, coupled with the benefits of the latest building technology and products," said Sorrenti.

The firm designed an almost 3,700-square foot branch with a towering brick chimney, high sloping roof and turreted vestibule that allows it to stand out on Merrick's busy streetscape.

JRS' design for the bank was based on American revival architecture of the mid to late 19th Century, a style called Richardson Romanesque and named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church in Boston. Richardson's style is characterized by massive stone walls and dramatic semicircular arches over windows and entranceways, rounded towers with conical roofs whose counterpoint resides in the dynamism of interior space. To create an open, inviting and warm interior, JRS used a cathedral ceiling supported by Queen Ann trusses, a burning fireplace, wrought iron bronze chandeliers and red and gold floral carpeting and upholstered chairs.

About JRS Architect, P.C.:
JRS Architect, P.C., with offices in Mineola, NY, New York City, and Princeton, NJ, has grown from six people since its establishment in 1986 to more than 50 today serving New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It has developed design expertise in the corporate, financial, healthcare, educational and institutional, hospitality and public-spaces, and retail markets. For the past four years, the firm has ranked within Interior Design Magazine's list of 100 Interior Design Giants and the last three years has ranked within the top 40 Healthcare Design Giants. For more information about JRS Architect, P.C., call (516) 294-1666 or visit www.jrsarchitect.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:07 AM | Comments (0)

Homeowners Are Dreaming Big When It Comes to Planning Their Ultimate Home Wish List

Adding gourmet kitchens, home theaters, game rooms and other luxury elements top the list for homeowners considering their dream home.

Portland, Ore. (PRWEB) December 13, 2007 -- What are homeowners dreaming about? ReliableRemodeler.com, a leading home remodeling resource for homeowners providing a trusted connection between homeowners and local contractors, found the answer with their latest survey compiling a homeowner's ultimate home wish list. While homeowners had a variety of answers for which home improvement projects they would want to start, kitchens were the most frequently mentioned.

Twenty-nine percent of homeowners stated that if they could start one room remodel in their home right now, they would start a kitchen remodel. Posed with a hypothetical unlimited budget for a new house, adding a gourmet kitchen topped the list of projects homeowners would make their first priority. The full survey results can be found at: http://www.reliableremodeler.com/about_us/media_center.asp

"It's not surprising that homeowners would want to add a gourmet kitchen to their home," says ReliableRemodeler.com President, Eric Doebele. "Kitchen remodeling brings a substantial return on investment for homeowners, but it also heightens the living experience at home."

Homeowners obviously have their home experience and quality of life on the mind. While gourmet kitchens topped the list of projects for a new home; home theatres, heated floors and master bedroom remodels were also popular answers.

"Adding luxury elements to a home such as a sauna, swimming pool or game room creates an overall feeling of comfort in the place homeowners spend the most of their time," added Doebele.
For the exterior of the home, 39 percent of homeowners stated that if they could start one project, they would re-do their landscaping. Adding a new deck or patio was the second most popular project with 31 percent of homeowners choosing the project.

About ReliableRemodeler.com:
ReliableRemodeler.com is a leading nationwide home improvement contractor referral service working to bring together homeowners and contractors. To date, the company has matched over 475,000 homeowners with home improvement projects to quality, local contractors. Besides homeowners, the company targets over 1.2 million home improvement and remodeling contractors in the United States, providing them access to quality home improvement leads using proprietary matching technologies.

Both homeowners looking to start a home improvement project, or contractors who want to start receiving qualified leads, can visit our website, http://www.reliableremodeler.com

For information about this press release or about http://www.reliableremodeler.com please contact:
Paige Thomas or media @ reliableremodeler.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:05 AM | Comments (0)

Aquascape, Inc Announces Strategic Initiatives for 2008

Aquascape, a leading innovator in water gardening and ecosystem ponds, announces key strategic initiatives with an eye towards expanding in 2008.

St. Charles, IL (PRWEB) December 12, 2007 -- Greg Wittstock, founder and CEO of Aquascape, Inc. is delighted to announce key strategic initiatives for 2008. After more than 10 years of significant growth, Aquascape has positioned itself as the leading supplier of innovative water gardening products. With an eye to the future, Wittstock recently revealed the company's plan for continued expansion in the coming year.

Moving into 2008, Aquascape has partnered with top landscape distributors in every major U.S. market. "Aquascape has over 500 distributor locations that have chosen to stock our product exclusively," stated Wittstock. "We'll provide comprehensive training to these distributors and their employees, in addition to helping them recruit and train contractors in their area." Aquascape's national sales and training force of more than 60 highly-trained teammates is positioned to support the distributors. Aquascape has more than 400 standard and advanced hands-on and classroom seminars slated for the coming year.

Wittstock is excited about offering key initiatives for contractors as well, including an improved warranty program, increased field seminars, and a new pump which is the first to be designed exclusively for the professional water garden installer. The Certified Aquascape Contractor (CAC) program will also see new benefits in 2008. Certified Aquascape Contractors will have access to free sales promotional packets, free personalized company profile pages on the Aquascape corporate web site, dedicated technical service support, free sample test products, exclusive access to in-depth educational events, and much more.

To invest in these key strategic initiatives, the management team and president, T.D. Decker decided to reallocate overhead structure to ensure the company is positioned for future growth. Several existing initiatives were eliminated that no longer serve Aquascape's improved strategy, along with several positions within the company. Eliminations include the Aquascape Lifestyles magazine, The Aquascaper print newsletter, and publications. "We need to focus on serving and delighting contractors, distributors, and retailers," commented Decker. "A major internal initiative is the replacement of our antiquated information technology system. Investing in a new ERP software system will provide the infrastructure needed to better support our expanded distribution model."

New products will continue to be at the forefront of Aquascape's strategy for 2008. "Our new product development team has many environmentally-focused, innovative products in the works, most of which have never been seen in the landscape industry. We've made tough decisions to reallocate our resources to focus on our customers, we're excited about the future," said Wittstock.

Aquascape is North America's leading innovator in the water gardening industry. Aquascape invented the low-maintenance, naturally balanced ecosystem pond that is the # 1 contractor-installed water garden. The St. Charles, Illinois headquarters, dubbed "Aqualand," received Silver Level recognition in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating system. Aquascape's mission is to help our customers succeed at building, selling, and retailing water garden products. Aquascape and its vast network of Authorized AquascapePRO™ Distributors sell exclusively to contractors and retailers. Founded in 1991, Aquascape made the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing private companies four years in a row. In 2005, founder and CEO Greg Wittstock was named one of America's Best Bosses by FORTUNE Small Business Magazine and Winning Workplaces™.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:03 AM | Comments (0)

Real Estate Marketing Company Yourkasa Offers Discounted Rate on Special Sales Packages

Real Estate Marketing Company takes action to help those looking to sell a home in a volatile market.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) December 12, 2007 -- In response to the actual volatility in the real estate market, Yourkasa.com, an online real estate marketing company, is taking proactive steps to help sellers facing foreclosure and others who've been unable to sell a home for numerous months. Yourkasa executives have decided to extend a deeply discounted price on its "Until It Sells" package. The package, which helps sellers get more exposure to buyers in the market, is being reduced to $9.99 (one month listing price) from its regular $29.99 price.

The unlimited "Until It Sells" real estate marketing package is an easy way to list a house on the site. It includes a dedicated one-page site that features the home for sale; an easy way to create and print customized flyers to help sell the home; the ability to have buyers contact the seller via text message, phone, or email; and discounted services from a wide range of service providers. If they feel they need someone with more real estate experience, sellers will also have the option to be connected with qualified local real estate agents for additional help with the sale of the home. These and other options are being offered to the seller until the house is sold.

"The real estate market's weakness is impacting thousands of families and local economies throughout the US and as a real estate marketing company assisting sellers nationally, we can help. Insufficient marketing seems to be one of the biggest issues affecting those trying to sell a home and we believe we would be attacking it directly. The more exposure a house is given, the easier it will be for buyers to find." said Neil Terc, president of Yourkasa.com. "By offering a discount on our most versatile real estate marketing package, we are able to help more people looking to increase their exposure, while they work to sell a home quickly."

To take advantage of this offer, visitors to Yourkasa.com need to use the promo code SELL. Simply input this code on checkout to be given the special discounted pricing. This is a limited time deal, and those looking to sell a home are invited to take advantage quickly, before it expires.

This announcement follows the successful participation representatives from Yourkasa recently had while attending the 2007 National Association of Realtors conference and exposition to expand awareness of its real estate marketing website. The company attracted over 1,000 leads and was one of the companies that created the most interest at the Expo.

About Yourkasa.com:
Yourkasa.com is a feature-rich online real estate property listing service that connects home sellers with home buyers. Packed with resources and easily navigable, the site provides sellers with the ability to market their homes to a large, targeted audience and enables potential buyers to view thousands of real estate property listings online via detailed profiles, pictures and maps. For more information, visit www.yourkasa.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:01 AM | Comments (0)

Increasing Air Travel Leads to Increased Demand for Parking

Most airports are facing a parking problem or soon will be as the U.S. Department of Transportation predicts 1 billion air passengers by 2015. Airport planners and managers continue to look for real, economical, innovative and greener solutions to difficult airport parking situations. Simon Design Engineering LLC and its subsidiary, Urban Parking Concepts, both of Wellesley, MA, is continually studying this problem and offers solutions which include new construction, existing garage expansion, temporary and moveable garages, and automated parking facilities.

Wellesley, MA (PRWEB) December 12, 2007 -- According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington's Sea-Tac International Airport is having a parking dilemma; there simply aren't enough spaces for passenger and rental cars on site. To free spaces for passengers, they are considering requiring rental companies to build off-site depots. But, off-site parking hosts a myriad of issues, including continuous shuttling which leads to more traffic, pollution, cost of shuttling busses and the added headaches for passengers. Keeping passengers on airport grounds is the ideal solution, but ideal conditions for parking aren't always available as land becomes scarcer, security tighter, funds are reallocated or drying up, and decisions take longer to be made.

This parking dilemma isn't unique, most airports are facing this problem or soon will be; the U.S. Department of Transportation predicts 1 billion air passengers by 2015.

Simon Design Engineering LLC and its subsidiary, Urban Parking Concepts, both of Wellesley, MA, has been studying this intensifying situation and is providing real, economical, innovative and greener solutions to difficult airport parking situations.

"We look beyond the traditional approach which tends to be very expensive and disruptive to operations and passengers," said William Wieners, of Simon Design Engineering. "Our solutions include new construction, existing parking facility expansions, temporary and movable parking facilities and state of the art automated parking facilities which can be used independently or in combination. Simon Design works with planners to determine the optimal parking solution that is most economical, efficient and optimizes land use."

Expanding Existing Airport Parking:
When airport garages were built in the past, the need for a future expansion of airport operations and the need for parking were not always considered in tandem. Expanding existing airport garages is generally disruptive to operations and involves partial demolition, supplemental support of the existing building and integrated facade aesthetics. But Simon Design engineers have developed a systemized approach that addresses these issues, makes expansion to these structures feasible and minimizes interruption to parking operations during construction.

Simon Design Engineering is a national leader in design and delivery of pre-manufactured parking facilities. Pre-manufactured systems using precast concrete and a combination of steel and precast elements have been used for decades. Simon has taken the basic design concepts of steel frame and precast concrete decking elements and combined them in a way that brings a new dimension to the optimization of parking programs. Simon Design parking solutions are durable, and easily maintained providing both longevity and economy.

Most recently, Simon Design Engineering parking solutions has teamed with Berlin Steel and Scalamandri Construction for Jet Blue Airlines employees at JFK Airport with a new 1,500 space free standing parking structure

Burlington International Airport in Burlington, VT has engaged Simon Design, along with Freeman French Freeman Architects, to expand its existing parking facility. Simon Design Engineering is scheduled to add additional spaces to the Burlington airport moving forward in two additional phases. These will be the third phase and forth phases of parking expansion at the Burlington International Airport that began in 1997 and will bring the total available spaces to 3,200.

Manchester International Airport retained Simon Design Engineering with DMJM Harris Architects to expand their existing parking by 7,000 spaces, with this two-phase expansion scheduled for completion in 2010.

Temporary and Moveable Parking Facilities:
Temporary/Movable parking garages, like Urban Parking Concepts' ReloPark System, are moveable or removable structures which are generally leased. The structures are constructed using the same structural soundness and construction code criteria of permanent parking facilities, but don't require a permanent long-term commitment of scarce land. The structures are prefabricated off-site to provide timely, safe and convenient field assembly, usually in less than 8 months. These structures are ideal for use in land banking and during expansion or new garage construction. Various façade systems can be used to enhance the aesthetics of the structure.

"There is no capital outlay required by the client for this solution. Temporary garages offer a quick, effective solution to parking shortages while buying time to further evaluate needs and long term solutions," explains Wieners.

Automated Parking Facilities
For land use efficiency and a greener solution, automated parking systems, such as those offered by Urban Parking Concepts, can hold up to three times the number of cars as traditional ramped parking garages. The patented Triple-Motion technology moves passenger cars from the arrival level to a parking space and back without human assistance. Urban can provide 500 spaces of new automated parking in as little as 10,000 square feet of land and 1,500 new spaces using only 20,000 square feet of available land. "Automated parking facilities have been in use for years in Europe and Asia. They offer a fast, economical and green solution for scarce land," continues Wieners. "For those facilities actively practicing land banking, this is an ideal solution which enables developers to meet parking requirements in less space over the long term."

Taking a unique approach when working with airport management, Simon Design Engineering and Urban Parking Concepts looks at the whole picture, including campus planning, capital outlay, profitability, projected growth, traffic studies, daily operations and building aesthetics. Their goal is to meet the increasing demand for both passenger and rental car parking while keeping travelers on-site.

About Simon Design Engineering, LLC
Simon Design Engineering, a Professional Engineering Design Services organization, provides the latest client focused concepts and solutions to Owners, Developers, Public Agencies, Architects and Builders throughout the U.S. In addition to traditional design services, the group specializes in planning and design of all types of parking concepts including automated parking facilities, free-standing parking facilities, integral mixed use parking facilities and underground parking facilities. For more information about Simon Design's Temporary and Moveable Parking garages, call (781)237-2226 or visit www.sde-us.com.

About Urban Parking Concepts
Urban Parking Concepts is a turn-key provider of state-of-the-art automatic parking. Based in Wellesley, MA, the company's patented system delivers impressively more parking in less time and at a lower cost than conventionally available systems. To learn more about the unique business advantages of automated parking garages and Urban Parking Concepts systems, call (617)224-2651 or visit www.urbanparkingconcepts.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:58 AM | Comments (0)

Exclusive Composite Decking Line for Distributors, Launched by BuildDirect

New 'Vanguard' brand of composite deck aimed at distributors is set to meet upcoming demand for spring 2008.

Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) December 12, 2007 -- BuildDirect has launched its new Vanguard label of composite decking today under its exclusive distributor program. The Vanguard brand is aimed at medium-to-large-scale buyers looking to stock up on new products to meet the demand for a premium composite deck in spring of 2008.

Information on Vanguard composite decking is available on the newly launched BuildDirect distributor site (www.builddirectdistributors.com). There are two major lines of composite decking offered under the Vanguard label; the Complement and the Traditional Series. Each product offers:

A tiered pricing rebate structure for volume purchases
Consistency of supply
High quality, managed at the manufacturing stage

Campbell Macdonald, Decking Department Head for BuildDirect is leading the effort to bring Vanguard products to market. "We're looking forward to connecting with more distributors and exploring the opportunities that are opening up because of this launch," said Macdonald.

Product launch aimed at medium-to-large-scale buyers

The Vanguard brand of composite decking is aimed at distributors, wholesalers, and large-scale retailers and will only be available to those buying a minimum of 10 containers over a 12-month period. Unlike other BuildDirect products it will not be available for the public to purchase online. This is one of several products being made available exclusively to distributors through BuildDirect's new distributor program.

"Part of what we're looking to do with this line is to form stronger relationships with big buyers", said Macdonald. "We want to allow them to participate in the value, service, and quality that the Vanguard label represents, with a new line of products that is exclusively available to them."

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:56 AM | Comments (0)

Innovation Seminar Helps Chief Innovation Officers Put Structure Behind the Fuzzy Front End

"Chief Innovation Officer - Leading your Company's Growth and Performance Initiatives," is a two-day seminar for senior innovation leaders. Hosted by global performance excellence training firm, Breakthrough Management Group, Inc., "CIO" is focused on teaching leaders how to develop a culture of innovation, and providing a roadmap for developing a sustainable and measurable innovation program. Dates: February 25 - 26, 2008 in Denver.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) December 12, 2007 -- Most every forward-thinking company sees greater innovation as critical to their survival in an increasingly diverse and global market. But few organizations understand what it actually takes to develop a culture of innovation and to how to design a program that achieves measurable and repeatable results.

This quandary has plagued senior leaders for many years, and this year Breakthrough Management Group hopes to put some of the head scratching to rest with a course for senior leaders that puts a structure and roadmap behind the fuzzy topic of product innovation, service innovation and even business model innovation to help organizations drive more measurable results.

The course, entitled "Chief Innovation Officer - Leading your Company's Growth and Performance Initiatives," is a two day Executive Education Program for business leaders who are leading the charge for growth and innovation inside their organizations or who are poised to take on that role. The event is being held in Denver February 25 - 26, 2008.

This CIO course will feature emerging strategies, tools and techniques from a variety of innovation leaders today. These leaders know how to enable the right people, employ the right tools and identify the right projects to drive a successful innovation initiative that will contribute to any organization's growth and long-term success. The comprehensive curriculum is designed around four core topics:

The Emerging Role of the CIO
Fostering an Innovative Company Culture
Establishing a Systematic Innovation Process
Accelerating Innovation in Your Organization

Faculty for this program, all of whom are distinguished academicians, award-winning authors, and entrepreneurs in their respective fields include: David Silverstein, President and CEO of BMG, author of Insourcing Innovation and a highly regarded speaker on the topic of innovation. Dr. Phil Samuel, Chief Innovation Officer for BMG, an innovation thought leader who has authored many articles and papers on the subject and presented at numerous conferences. Cheryl Perkins, President, Innovationedge. Ms. Perkins is the former Chief Innovation Officer of Kimberley Clark and was named one of Business Week's "Top 25 Champions of Innovation."

This is the third time BMG has offered the CIO course. The company hosted two similar events in 2007, each time heralding attendees from industries as diverse as healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and financial services into one room to discuss and learn about what they all have in common - the need to better drive growth and innovation in order to compete in the future.

For more information on Chief Innovation Officer, please visit the BMG Web site

Participation is limited to 30 and BMG reserves the right to decline any enrollee it feels does not represent a peer with the other senior executives participating in the program.

For additional information, please also visit David Silverstein's BLOG on the Emerging Role of the CIO.

About Breakthrough Management Group:
BMG is the world's leading provider of training and consulting for performance excellence. Specializing in Lean, Six Sigma and Innovation, BMG works with leading companies around the globe to help "in-source" new capability and develop new core competencies. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Longmont, Colo., BMG has developed a loyal clientele that today exceeds 200 active businesses in industries as diverse as biotechnology, health care, finance, telecommunications, manufacturing and energy. BMG has offices in 12 countries and has more than 100 employees worldwide. For more information, visit our web site.


About Innovationedge:
Innovationedge is breaking barriers to help companies achieve innovation capabilities and a growth pipeline. Its new interactive Web site and blog, www.Innovationedge.com, serves up insightful answers, tips, a calendar of innovation events and career growth opportunities.

Among its many offerings, Innovationedge helps its industry-diverse clientele assess innovation capabilities and pipeline, create an innovation roadmap, build successful open innovation models, deliver disruptive product and technologies solutions, streamline portfolio management and metrics, realign business processes and create a culture that delivers innovation.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:53 AM | Comments (0)

Construction Business Coach to Present Tools for Sustaining Business Growth at World of Concrete Trade Show and Conference

Business and life coach Clay S. Nelson will give construction business owners a fresh look at tools for improving leadership skills, employee efficiency and long term business growth and profitability in two presentations at the upcoming World of Concrete 2008 trade show and conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Santa Barbara, CA (PRWEB) December 12, 2007 -- Business leadership and accountability will take center stage for attendees of the World of Concrete 2008 trade show and conference in Las Vegas, Nevada as nationally-known business and life coach Clay Nelson presents two programs on January 21st, 2008 designed to help business owners and management implement the tools necessary for sustaining business growth.

Getting Back to Leadership Basics

In today's challenging times, companies can't afford to have their leaders, those responsible for sustaining the company's direction, motivation, and profitability, be anything but the leaders they are paid to be. This program will help leaders get centered and in touch with who they are as leaders, what their jobs as leaders really are, and how they, as leaders, can grow their team members into powerful leaders and build a team that has great success.

"As a leader, it's your job to build a powerful team of unstoppable people, who are capable of carrying out the vision you create for the company," Nelson explains. "If you're constantly in a reactionary mode, putting out fires and barking orders, you're just creating a culture of followers. A company of followers will never grow--to grow your company, you need to grow your team!"

Accountability = Success

Accountability = Success shows the power accountability has to create fun, excitement, and take the guess work out of what is expected from whom and by when!


Discover the tools needed to set and track goals
Learn how to ask for help and communicate effectively
Make accountability a part of the company's toolbox for success
"Accountability is an invaluable tool for all aspects of running a business," Nelson says, "from having a great home life, to running a productive office, to maintaining an efficient environment at the jobsite and all points in between. Management needs to know how to ask for help so they don't wear themselves out trying to do everything themselves, and the team needs to know how to communicate what they need so that everyone is clear on what needs to be done to complete projects on time, on budget, and to keep the customer happy."

Mr. Nelson spent 14 years as a contractor and has been coaching clients in the construction and remodeling industry for the past two decades. He has been a featured speaker at several national construction events and conferences this year, including the Northwest Builders Show and NAHB Custom Builder Symposium, and is scheduled to present at the 2008 International Builders Show this February in Orlando, FL. Nelson's presentations and workshops on business and life balance concepts give conference attendees the insights, encouragement, and straightforward tools they need to get the most out of their conference experience and keep the momentum going once they've returned to the jobsite.

Clay Nelson Life Balance was founded out of Nelson's own life philosophy: To teach what one has learned in life is the greatest gift one has to give. The company's innovative programs teach individuals and businesses how to set goals, get past what stops them from accomplishing them, and create written plans that help them attain extraordinary results.

For more information about Clay Nelson's speaking schedule, and to learn more about the products and services Clay Nelson Life Balance provides for contractors and remodelers, please visit http://www.claynelsonlifebalance.com. For more information about World of Concrete 2008 and to register, visit http://www.worldofconcrete.com/.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:51 AM | Comments (0)

Hanley Wood Business Media Unveils All New ebuild Web Site

"The re-launch signifies the first official step in ebuild's long-term strategy of becoming the search engine of choice for pro builders' interested in residential building products."

Washington, DC (PRWEB) December 12, 2007 -- Hanley Wood, LLC, the leading business-to-business media and information company serving the housing and construction industries, announces the re-launch of ebuild, www.ebuild.com.

ebuild is the destination for residential construction professionals searching for relevant, comprehensive information about building products and materials. It provides visitors with a source of unbiased and unprecedented coverage of new building products, trends, news and issues that help construction pros specify building products and make the best buying decisions. Pros visit ebuild to learn how they can do their jobs faster and more safely, make installations easier, and make home building and remodeling more profitable. ebuild connects professionals to building product manufacturers, experts and peers.

"The re-launch signifies the first official step in ebuild's long-term strategy of becoming the search engine of choice for pro builders' interested in residential building products," said Brooke Warner, ebuild Product Manager.

"It was time for ebuild to be completely overhauled," says Warner. "We spent months talking to our users and our advertisers as well as analyzing other successful product-based Web businesses in order to create the new ebuild."

The most obvious change is a much-improved user interface that is cleaner and easier to use. More importantly ebuild has been redesigned to function as a search engine for building products and related information. Key features include:


More than 400 searchable product catalogs provide detailed building product information and specs from the leading building product manufacturers.
More than 3,500 building product manufacturers can be found in ebuild's new manufacturer directory.
More than 100 building product demonstrations, how-to product installations, product test results and a wealth of overall building product information can be found in ebuild's new video library.
Industry news, trends and new building product announcements are available in ebuild's news and articles section.

ebuild's twice-weekly companion e-newsletter, ebuild New Product News, continues to deliver information on the best new building products, articles from BUILDING PRODUCTS magazine and important building industry announcements.

For more information about ebuild or to sign up for ebuild New Product News, visit www.ebuild.com.

About Hanley Wood
Hanley Wood, LLC, is the premier media and information company serving housing and construction. Through four operating divisions, the company produces award-winning magazines and Web sites, marquee trade shows and events, rich data and custom marketing solutions. The company also is North America's leading publisher of home plans. Hanley Wood Business Media (Washington, D.C.), publishes 36 award-winning residential and commercial construction titles, including BUILDER, REMODELING, CUSTOM HOME, CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION and residential architect. Hanley Wood Business Media also offers the construction industry's foremost collection of Web sites, including BUILDER ONLINE, REMODELING ONLINE, and ebuild, the comprehensive online guide to building products, as well as the largest collection of house plans online through eplans.com and Dream Home Source.

Founded in 1976, Hanley Wood is a $250 million company owned by affiliates of JPMorgan Partners, LLC. CCMP Capital Advisors manages the Hanley Wood investment for JPMorgan Partners.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:49 AM | Comments (0)

Arizona's Real Estate Website Introduces a Master Planned Community Section

Arizona's Real Estate website, NewHomesSection.com, introduces a new informational section meant to complete the online Arizona new home shopping experience.

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) December 12, 2007 -- It's no secret that in today's hi-tech world more and more consumers are searching online for important information before making a purchase. They are increasingly searching online for the best incentives, warranties and product features because they can do so from the comfort of their own home without dealing with sales pitches or traveling from one location to the next. In most cases, consumers are able to purchase a product without leaving home. With over 80% of new home buyers searching for a new home online, Internet providers of new home information are constantly searching for new ways to supply their visitors with as much valuable information as possible.

New Homes Section, an Arizona real estate website, is no exception. Recently, NewHomesSection.com has added a resale home section, quick links to home builder move-in ready homes and, most recently, a section dedicated to providing home buyers with information about Arizona's many master planned communities. The Arizona Master Planned Community section is up and running and currently features 12 communities across the state.

This new section currently receives hundreds of visitors each week and features articles about master planned communities throughout many areas of Arizona including Tucson and Prescott. Each article describes the master planned community features, amenities, surrounding areas, homes and home builders. Many articles include information about the community's schools and nearby commercial centers. In addition, there are links to each Arizona home builder and the master planned community's website for more information.

"We want to provide our visitors with as much valuable information as possible and feel that a master planned communities section is one thing many of our visitors will appreciate", mentioned Rick Jacobsen of New Homes Section.

New Homes Section is an Arizona based company that features Arizona new homes, home builders, home builder incentives, resale homes and real estate resources. For more information about New Homes Section please visit http://www.newhomessection.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:46 AM | Comments (0)

CADopia Ships CADopia 8 with Support for DWG 2007/2008

CADopia 8, based on IntelliCAD and Open Design technologies, is now available for purchase.

San Diego, Calif. (PRWEB) December 12, 2007 -- CADopia, a leading developer and distributor of products based on the OpenDesign and IntelliCAD technologies, announced today the release of CADopia 8 software.

Designed for engineers and architects, the major features in CADopia 8 include:

DWG 2007/2008 support
Enhanced image support
Multi-language character set
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) support for multiple layouts
Drawing preview
3D DWF support
Entity snap enhancements
Enhanced text editing in the command line
Mtext formatting enhancements
Wipeout entity
COM API enhancements
Performance enhancements
General functionality improvements

To learn more about the new and updated features, please visit http://www.cadopia.com/about_us/news/cadopia8_released.asp

CADopia 8 is currently available in 2 editions – Standard and Professional. A floating network license option is available for volume license users. Educational versions of the products are available at substantial discounts for accredited educational institutions.

CADopia OEM is available to CAD application developers as a platform technology for their niche CAD applications, allowing them to leverage the functionality that is already available in CADopia 8.

To download an evaluation copy of CADopia 8 Standard Edition or to request an evaluation CD, visit www.cadopia.com. Existing CADopia and IntelliCAD users may upgrade to the new version by contacting sales @ cadopia.com.

About CADopia
CADopia (www.cadopia.com) is creating the industry standard for an affordable and powerful CAD solution. With a network of strategic ISV partners, distributors and resellers, and a user base spanning over 80 countries across the globe, CADopia is one of the world's most popular providers of professional CAD software. Founded in 1999 in San Diego, CADopia is a privately held California Corporation. For more details, please visit CADopia’s web site at www.cadopia.com and send an e-mail to Lauren @ strategicreachpr.com or call 303-487-7406 .

CADopia and the CADopia logo are the trademarks of CADopia Inc. All other trademarks, trade names, or company names referenced herein are used for identification only and are the property of their respective owners. CADopia 8 is based on Open Design 2.03 and IntelliCAD 6.4 technologies.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:40 AM | Comments (0)

Chesapeake Homes - NC Division Recognizes Builder Representative For First Home Sold

Chesapeake Homes - NC Division, today announced the sale of its first home since expanding into the Triangle market less than six months ago. The ENERGY STAR" qualified townhome was purchased in The Revival Collection at Renaissance Park, a new Wakefield Development Company master-planned community located just minutes from downtown Raleigh. In recognition of this milestone, sales agent Danya Bizzell was presented with a certificate for this achievement.

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) December 12, 2007 -- Chesapeake Homes - NC Division, today announced the sale of its first home since expanding into the Triangle market less than six months ago. The ENERGY STAR" qualified townhome was purchased in The Revival Collection at Renaissance Park, a new Wakefield Development Company master-planned community located just minutes from downtown Raleigh. In recognition of this milestone, Coldwell Banker Howard Perry & Walston Builder Representative, Danya Bizzell, was presented with a certificate for this achievement.

"We are excited to celebrate this milestone and expect demand to increase exponentially once we get product on the ground early next year," said Paul Luck, North Carolina Division Manager for Chesapeake Homes. "Danya Bizzell has been instrumental in generating interest in this prestigious community and we felt he deserved special recognition."

Chesapeake Homes - NC Division broke ground earlier this month on 252 three-level, 3 bedroom/ 2.5 bath, energy-efficient townhomes at Renaissance Park. The first townhomes will be completed in Spring '08 with product available in three different home styles, including The Venetian, The Bellagio and The Riviera.

Priced from the $140s with square footage ranging from 1,638 to 1,742, floorplans include first floor kitchens, family and dining rooms, second floor guest bedrooms or an optional second master bedroom. The third floor is home to the grand master suite, which can include an optional wet bar for optimal living.

Located in southeast Raleigh, Renaissance Park will feature the best of city living, culture and convenience, close to the rapidly growing downtown area, while incorporating innovative technology and Wi-Fi access scattered throughout the community. The Welcome Center complex includes a 7,000 square-foot clubhouse with a state-of-the-art fitness center, lighted tennis courts, full-service business center, sand volleyball, a large pool with 4,500 square feet of water surface and a playground.

For more information about Chesapeake Homes - NC Division, please call 919-256-3060 or visit www.cheshomesnc.com. For more information about the community, please contact the Renaissance Park sales office toll-free at 1-888-RENPARK, or visit www.renaissancepark.com.

About Chesapeake Homes - NC Division
Chesapeake Homes - NC Division, an ENERGY STAR" BUILDER PARTNER, is backed by Virginia-based L.M. Sandler & Sons, Inc., the largest privately owned developer of master-planned communities in the United States and sister company to Wakefield Development Company, central North Carolina's largest developer of residential communities. Due to the success in the Hampton Road's area, Chesapeake Homes expanded into the North Carolina market with its first area projects, 12 Oaks, Wakefield Development Company's newest, high-end master-planned community in Holly Springs and Renaissance Park, a new Wakefield Development Company master-planned community located just minutes from downtown Raleigh.

Media Contact: Emily Canaday
Littleton Advertising & Marketing
Direct: (919) 865-7269
emily @ littletonadvertising.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:38 AM | Comments (0)

Mobile-Shop Adds Marketing and Sales Executives

Roger Morris of Dublin, Ohio, has joined Mobile-Shop as chief marketing officer and Bob Duff of Dallas, Texas, has been named regional sales director. Mobile-Shop is adding these marketing and sales executives to build on early successes and to take advantage of new opportunities and markets as the reputation of the tools and parts organization system grows.

Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) December 12, 2007 -- The Mobile-Shop® Company (www.mobile-shop.com) has added two key executives to enhance its marketing and sales efforts as the Columbus-based manufacturer continues its remarkable growth.

Roger Morris is the new chief marketing officer and Bob Duff joins as regional sales director.

"We are very fortunate to have attracted two highly experienced professionals to help us build upon the early successes of the Mobile-Shop and take advantage of the many new opportunities that we are discovering every day as news of our product travels," said Mobile-Shop President Edward "Jerry" Guirlinger.

Morris is a veteran marketing and communications professional who has operated his own consulting business for the past three years. He previously served as vice president of state media relations for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America in Des Plaines, Ill., and as vice president of public affairs for the Alliance of American Insurers in Downers Grove, Ill.

A Dublin, Ohio, resident, Morris was the first president of the Columbus/Franklin County News Bureau and director of communications for Columbia Gas Distribution Companies.

He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Cincinnati.

Duff, who resides in Dallas, Texas, previously was with OAKLEAF Waste Management for three-and-a-half years as vice president - national sales executive. Prior to that, he was with Waste Management Inc. for six years, his latest assignment being a national account manager selling and managing waste and recycle programs to multi-location/multi-state companies.

Duff will be responsible for selling the Mobile-Shop System to national companies in industries such as residential property management, commercial property management, retail, hospitality, education, and industrial. He will also be supporting the development of retail and wholesale distribution relationships.

He earned a B.S. degree from the University of North Texas, and has been certified as a Professional Sales Skills and Professional Negotiation Skills trainer.

The patented Mobile-Shop System organizes and includes 230 professional quality tools and 180 critical small parts. It is highly transportable and boasts an accountability system that allows every tool and part to be inventoried in less than sixty seconds.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:36 AM | Comments (0)

Existing Conditions Survey Company Makes Big Technology Investment

V.E.C.S. Group LLC. doubles sales in 2007 and expect same in 2008.

Morris Plains, NJ (PRWEB) December 12, 2007 -- V.E.C.S. Group LLC (VECS) announced today that it has launched its new website www.VECSGroup.com as part of its technology upgrade to handle the influx of new customers and projects. VECS doubled its sales in 2007 and all indications are for continued growth into 2008 and beyond. A number of months ago VECS retained the services of a marketing and business development consultants MHKogan Corp. to aid the company with its staggering growth and to establish its market presence on the World Wide Web.

"The first phase is now complete with the launch of their new website which better represents the company's capabilities and provides streamlined services for their customers" says Michael H. Kogan, President of MHKogan Corp. "The online portfolio gives potential customers a clear understanding of the companies ability and level of quality while the private sections streamline the workflow for existing customers" Kogan goes on to say.

For Phase 2 the company is increasing their investment in software such as PowerCAD Sitemaster 3 installed on Pocket PC's along with Bluetooth technology which allows a direct connection to their Leica Disto A6's (laser measure distance meters). "Now we can measure a building and have a majority of the facility already drafted in CAD format before we leave the site", says Jason Caravello, CEO of the VECS Group. "It is imperative that we build out our infrastructure in pace with our growth so that we can maintain the high level of quality that our customers have come to expect and trust" continues Caravello. Phase 2 is expected to be complete in early 2008 when the company will reassess its investment for 2008/2009.

About V.E.C.S. Group LLC.:
Specializes in existing conditions surveys, as-built surveys, computer aided design CAD and computer aided facilities management CAFM. Our team produces high quality measured drawings for architects, engineers, building owners, developers, and facility managers. www.VECSGroup.com

For more information on MHKogan Corp. please visit www.MHKoganCorp.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:33 AM | Comments (0)

A Safer Work Environment? Nuclear Secrets Revealed

How the US Commercial Nuclear Power Industry has achieved a working environment that is almost 41 times safer than the US national average.

Chester, VT (PRWEB) December 11, 2007 -- A Special Report has just been released that provides details on specific tools and strategies used at US commercial nuclear power plants to achieve occupational injury and accident rates that are 97.55 percent lower than the national average for all industries.

"These are the same tools and strategies we used to lower the incidence of human error by 87.5 percent over a 30-month period," cited Tim Autrey, CEO of The Practicing Perfection Institute, Inc.

The Special Report, "Beyond Behavior-Based Safety: Taking Safety Performance to the Next Level," tells the story of how a holistic approach was used to achieve an eight-fold reduction in human error.

"Consider this," continues Tim Autrey, "statistics show that (1) as many as 95 percent of all injuries and accidents can be attributed (at least in part) to human error, and (2) that 84 to 94 percent of all human error can be directly attributed to process, programmatic, and organizational issues. What this means is that any 'program' that simply focuses on worker behavior at the point of contact will never get you where you want to go. You've got to address the whole picture."

How should an organization, or a safety professional within an organization go about 'addressing the whole picture'? The Special Report, available for free download, provides the details in the form of a case study, revealing exactly how it was achieved in US Commercial Nuclear Power (and how it is now being achieved in other industries, helped by the efforts of the Practicing Perfection Institute, Inc. (PPI)).

"Human error will never be eradicated," continues Autrey, "but it can be lowered to very low levels. An entire industry has proven this to be true, and the stats have made it obvious -- lower the incidence of human error, and you have fewer people getting hurt on the job."

About PPI
The Practicing Perfection Institute, Inc. provides information, tools, training materials, certification programs, and services to assist organizations of all types and sizes rapidly and sustainably reduce human error.

For more information, contact:
Suzette Pare'
Practicing Perfection Institute, Inc.
http://www.PracticingPerfectionInstitute.com">http://www.PracticingPerfectionInstitute.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:31 AM | Comments (0)

BidClerk.com Reports Construction Projects Up For Bid in the Pittsburgh, PA Area

BidClerk's daily update of Pennsylvania construction projects coming up for bid and starting construction within the next 90 days.

(PRWEB) December 11, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following commercial construction projects are planning to go out for bid or start construction in the next 90 days in the Pittsburgh, PA area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Pittsburgh, PA - Charlotte Russe #115 / Pittsburgh, 1000 Ross Park Mall Dr., 7,913-square-foot retail tenant improvement, January 2008, $400,000. Project ID: 688885

Pittsburgh, PA - Duquesne Union Second Floor Renovation, 1000 Locust St., 18,900-square-foot educational building, January 2008, $500,000. Project ID: 703276

Pittsburgh, PA - UPMC Lounge Renovation / Pittsburgh, medical facility lounge renovation, February 2008, $100,000. Project ID: 703522

Pittsburgh, PA - Jefferson Regional Medical Center - Lobby Renovation, Coal Valley Road, hospital lobby renovation, January 2008, $100,000. Project ID: 701143

Ebensburg, PA - L. Robert Kimball Office Addition / Ebensburg, 615 W. Highland Ave., 15,000-square-foot office building addition, February 2008, $2 million. Project ID: 704129

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of construction projects coming up for bids all throughout the United States. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction project leads are available to contractors and businesses in related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk online or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:28 AM | Comments (0)

Mexican Law Firm Eliminates Billing Conflicts of Interest

'I´ve Struck Gold With May Cruz Consultores' Says Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) Regional General Counsel

QUERETARO, Mexico (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) December 11, 2007 -- The prevailing system used by law firms to charge for legal work has long been considered the scourge of the legal profession. The practice of billing clients by the hour for work has been roundly criticized, both by clients, who see it as a conflict of interest and a disincentive to efficiency, and lawyers, who feel pressure to bill more and more hours. Yet despite nearly uniform disdain for the practice, few international law firms have voluntarily abandoned it.

Now, a prominent Mexican law firm has announced it has discarded hourly billing in favor of alternate billing methods that better meet the needs of their clients. May, Cruz Consultores, a boutique international corporate, real estate and environmental firm catering to multinational clients, has virtually eliminated the concept of billing clients for time worked.

“We will use hourly billing only in very special circumstances in which it really benefits the client, or when the client insists,” said managing partner Robert R. May. “But we will first offer clients other options.”

Struck Gold With May Cruz

“I feel like I've struck gold with May Cruz,” said Steven M. Bradford, vice president and regional general counsel for the Americas for British chemical conglomerate Imperial Chemical Industries PLC (ICI). “Over the years we have used a variety of counsel in Mexico — large and small law firms. I struggled to find a firm with whom I had full confidence.”

“May Cruz provides excellent value and expert targeted legal service,” Bradford said. “Their new billing system simply shows me once again that their primary concern is for the wellbeing of the client.”

“For some time we have had a fixed retainer with the firm,” continued Bradford, “but recently we have had some extraordinary M&A and joint venture work that would normally have been charged separately. We were quite pleased when they made us a rather innovative proposal to enable those more complicated and time-consuming matters to be included in our standard retainer at no additional cost to us.”

According to May, the ICI flurry in 2007 of complex legal work on a variety of matters, including the more than €11 billion (US$16.7 billion) sale of the company to Akzo Nobel, demonstrated to the firm´s partners that they could offer alternatives to hourly billing for virtually all matters while preserving its high-quality service. “The increased activity with ICI this year gave us the opportunity to be creative and give the client an attractive alternative that ensured the work was properly handled without undue expense,” May said.

“May Cruz Consultores provides excellent value and expert targeted legal service” — Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) Regional General Counsel.

“We know that May Cruz is concerned about all of our needs and long-term interests, including managing the costs of our legal services, and that´s what ICI looks for in its service providers,” said Bradford. “We want experience and excellent service at a reasonable price. By using alternatives to hourly billing, we get the level of service we need and don´t have to worry about unpleasant surprises when the bill comes.“

According to May, the elimination of hourly billing came as the result of the firm´s desire to innovate and provide added value to its services. “We have never gotten a complaint about our billing, but we believe the future of legal services will be based on fair-value billing instead of charging for time,” said May. “Our firm prides itself on its leadership in providing value for our clients, and implementing a fairer billing system is just part of that continuing effort.”

For more information on MAY CRUZ CONSULTORES or about Doing Business in Mexico, visit the May Cruz website by clicking here: www.maycruz.com

For information on May Cruz publications, click here: May Cruz Publications

For information on the weather in Mexico, click here: May Cruz Weather

For information on currency and measure conversions, click here: May Cruz Conversions

For information on official holidays in Mexico, click here: Mexico Official Holidays

Contact: Robert May robert.may@maycruz.com

MAY CRUZ CONSULTORES, S.C.

Libramiento Sur Poniente 802

Fracc. Campestre Italiana

Querétaro, Qro. C.P. 76080

MEXICO

Tel: +52-442-497-3737

Fax: +52-442-497-1854 (direct)

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:26 AM | Comments (0)

New York City Proposing Drastic Measures in an Effort to Control Pigeon Population

A New York City council member is proposing steep fines, feeding contraceptives to birds and employing hawks as methods of pigeon control in the big city.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) December 11, 2007 -- Pigeon control has become a hot topic in country's most populous city. City council member Simcha Felder is asking council to levy fines of as much as $1000 to people caught feeding pigeons. In addition, he would like to see the city distribute bird contraceptives and even employ hawks to scare the birds away.

According to media reports, he believes the government needs to take responsibility for the issue and take drastic measures to end the reign of pigeons on the city.

There are many proponents against these measures, including local citizens and animal rights groups. "Other cities have tried similar measures and have done little to affect pigeon control," states Davey Jones from DeterAPigeon. "Pigeons are smart creatures and provide a city like New York with some wildlife."

New York City has tried other pigeon control methods previously. In 2003, they utilized a hawk to scare pigeons in Manhattan Park. The program was halted after only a few months when the hawk attacked a Chihuahua.

Felder's feeding legislation will likely be introduced this month. He is reported as saying he is confident it will pass by the summer.

Jones from DeterAPigeon urges cities throughout the country to install humane pigeon control methods like their Defender anti roosting spikes. "These spikes prevent pigeons from perching on your property without injury. The bird spikes are simply glued onto any window, pipe or ledge where pigeons roost. The dense pattern of protruding pints makes it impossible for pigeons to land, encouraging them to go elsewhere without hurting them," Jones explains.

Any individual, business or government employee interested in learning more about humane pigeon control methods is encouraged to visit the DeterAPigeon website or to contact them directly for further information.

ABOUT DETERAPIGEON
For 10 years, Deterapigeon has been a leader in safe pigeon spike solutions in the UK. In 1995, David Jones, Director of Deterapigeon invented and patented the Defender 4 pigeon spikes which safely deter pigeons without harming them. This still remains the only pest control product recommended by the Pigeon Control Advisory Service (PiCAS).

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:24 AM | Comments (0)

Thorburn Associates Welcomes New Senior Audiovisual Consultant

Thorburn Associates (TA) hires Lance Sturdevant as its new Senior Audiovisual Consultant for the Raleigh-Durham office.

Castro Valley, CA (PRWEB) December 11, 2007 -- Lance Sturdevant joins the TA team in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina office as a Senior Audiovisual Consultant.

Lance brings with him over 27 years in the Audiovisual Industry. For the past two years, Lance served as the Systems Engineer at Video Corporation of America and previous to that, as an Associate Principal for Cerami and Associates, and an Engineer at Electronic Systems Associates, a division of Syska and Hennessy. "I am looking forward to the collaboration and design process with new clients," said Sturdevant. "Just give me a call to discuss your requirements."

Lance's enthusiasm has already been a boost to our team," said Lisa Thorburn, President of Thorburn Associates. "His senior-level management experience has prepared him well to jump in and take on projects. Lance will also be a great asset to our standards program."

Some of his notable personal projects include:


Hearst Publishing: new headquarters building, auditorium design - New York, NY
Clinton Presidential Library and Museum - Little Rock, AR
Time Warner: new headquarters building, corporate offices - New York, NY
Morgan Stanley: conference rooms and training rooms - New York, NY
Marsh & McLennan: New Harbor side office building, conference rooms and training rooms - Jersey City, NJ
Bank of Boston: new office tower, conference rooms, boardroom, auditorium - Boston, MA
Union Bank of Switzerland: conference rooms, training rooms, boardroom - New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA and San Francisco, CA.
Lance is originally from Callicoon -- a native Indian word for "Wild Turkey" -- a small town along the Delaware River in New York. He has spent the last 28 years developing his career in New Jersey. His move to North Carolina was smooth and he says he's getting to know all the local barbeque spots.

Photo for Mr. Sturdevant can be found at: http://www.ta-inc.com/photogallery/LASFullRes.jpg

Thorburn Associates is a professional service firm providing acoustical consulting and technology system engineering for the commercial, corporate, leisure, residential and retail industries. For more information please visit http://www.ta-inc.com/.

Corporate Office: Castro Valley, California 510-886-7826
Regional Office: Burbank, California 818-569-0234
Regional Office: Morrisville, North Carolina 919-463-9995

Thorburn Associates: 15 years of Designing Quality Environments

Acoustics ~ Audio ~ Video ~ Data/Telecom ~ Lighting ~ Security

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:23 AM | Comments (0)

Robbins Inc. Selects BuyDesign Configurator Software from TDCI

Global Supplier of Sports Flooring Systems to Streamline System Configuration and Pricing using BuyDesign Integrated with Existing Infor ERP BPCS System

Columbus, OH (PRWEB) December 11, 2007 -- TDCI, Inc. (TDCI), a leading enterprise software solution provider, announced today that Robbins Inc. (Robbins), the leading global supplier of high performance maple and synthetic sports flooring systems to the arena, education, religious and fitness markets, has licensed TDCI's BuyDesign® Configurator to enhance the configuration and pricing process for the company's highly customizable sports surface products. BuyDesign Configurator will be integrated with Robbins' existing Infor ERP BPCS Enterprise Resource Planning system to provide guided configuration and pricing during quote creation and order entry. BuyDesign Configurator will also generate detail manufacturing information which will be passed into BPCS to drive the production and kitting process.

BuyDesign Configurator is a powerful product configuration engine which can be deployed via the web, or as part of either server or desktop-based software applications. It is a key component of TDCI's BuyDesign guided selling and configuration solution suite developed to streamline the sales process for highly customized products. BuyDesign helps companies that manufacture products with a wide range of features, options, and dimensions to increase sales by becoming 'easy to do business with' while at the same time helping them improve profitability by reducing order processing time, cost, and errors.

In describing the sophistication of Robbins Sport Surfaces, Jay Stoehr III, Robbins President and CEO says: "Whether it's for a professional basketball arena, an Olympic venue, or a high school gymnasium, a wood or synthetic sports flooring system is more complex than most people realize, with many design options in terms of sub-floor, resiliency components, and other materials that dramatically affect performance characteristics."

"We chose BuyDesign Configurator to streamline our configuration process because it has the flexibility to handle the many variables in our flooring systems, and because it provides an intuitive graphical user interface that can be integrated with our IBM iSeries-based BPCS system," adds Tony Kleier, Robbins IT Director.

With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Robbins, Inc. is the premier supplier of high performance maple and synthetic sports flooring systems to the arena, education, religious and fitness markets. In more than 60 nations around the world, professional and amateur athletes compete and practice on millions of square meters of Robbins' Sport Surfaces. Learn more at www.robbinsfloor.com.

About TDCI and BuyDesign:
TDCI is an enterprise solution provider that specializes in helping manufacturers and their distributors streamline the buying process for customized products. TDCI's BuyDesign® software is a comprehensive guided selling and configuration solution developed to help companies increase sales by becoming 'easy to do business with' while improving profitability by reducing order processing time, cost, and errors. BuyDesign provides modular components for guided product selection and configuration, product visualization, quoting and ordering, drawing generation, and status inquiry. It also includes applications for front-end specification capture from within popular design products such as AutoCAD and others. For more information about TDCI and BuyDesign, visit www.tdci.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:21 AM | Comments (0)

Small Business Funding Available

The Interface Financial Group® (IFG) today confirmed their commitment to support the working capital needs of their small business clients in the face of tighter credit constraints at mainstream banks.

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) December 11, 2007 -- President of IFG, Mr. David T. Banfield, stated that IFG has established additional funding facilities to support the growing demand from small businesses. Interface Financial is a "boutique" funder specializing in a dedicated financing approach specifically geared to the needs of small and growing companies in their formative years. Banfield also commented Fortune 500 companies will probably experience no problem in accessing growth-funding, however, if you are a one- or two-year old business that is growing rapidly, the options are very limited.

A small business no longer has to be a victim of their own success, there is help available - from IFG through a network that currently extends to over 100 offices nationwide.

Acknowledging that small business owners have a difficult time in attracting conventional funding, Interface founder Mr. John Sheehy created the Interface organization with the specific purpose of servicing the needs of that small business marketplace. Today, some 35 years later, IFG continues to service that same market and is now the largest alternative funding source for small business in North America. Interface has also grown to service small business needs in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; and is evaluating other international opportunities.

If you would like to learn more about specific services, call 877-210-9748 or visit www.interfacefinancial.com or www.ifgnetwork.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:19 AM | Comments (0)

Seattle Construction Attorneys with Post-Katrina Experience Publish Top Ten Ways to Avoid Scams

Wolfe Law Group, a construction boutique firm on First Avenue in SoDo, was founded in New Orleans, LA, and brings experience in post-disaster environments to Western Washington. Today, the firm published a list of the Top Ten ways to avoid falling victim to a construction scam.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) December 11, 2007 -- Wolfe Law Group, a construction boutique firm on First Avenue in SoDo, can offer something special to the residents of Western Washington in the aftermath of the recent devastating floods: post-disaster legal experience.

Prior to opening its doors in Seattle earlier this year, the firm practiced exclusively out of its New Orleans office, and weathered the economic and social twists and turns of the post-Katrina era.

Today, the firm published a "Top Ten" list of ways to avoid construction scams, and with first hand knowledge and recent memory echoes the WA Attorney General's warning to residents to beware of post-catastrophe scam-artists.

"Sadly, victims of widespread disasters have to pay close attention to this," said Scott Wolfe, founding partner of the firm. "From our experience in New Orleans, the affected residents get put in tight financial spots during the post-disaster period, and are particularly vulnerable to scams."

Doug Resier, an attorney in the firm's Seattle office, highlights that there's no shortage on those willing to take advantage of the vulnerable.

"A lot of people see the billions of dollars being poured into a disaster area and rush in to take their share," said Reiser. "After Katrina, thousands came into the area to capitalize on the rebuilding work. In fact, we found there were many people who spent their lives chasing disasters and the quick cash that could be made by catching victims off guard."

The firm published an article on its blog at http://www.wolfelaw.com providing some insight as to why disaster victims are vulnerable to construction scams, how they happen and how to avoid them. A list of the "Top Ten" ways to avoid a construction scam is included in the article, and the list, without its notes, is reproduced below in this release.

"In post-Katrina New Orleans, our firm has represented hundreds of homeowners, contractors, architects and engineers in projects of all shapes and sizes to help residents rebuild their lives," said Wolfe. "Unfortunately, a poorly informed decision can cost a victim further heartache, expense and delay. Our advice to victims is to take a deep breath before hiring a contractor, do some research, and hire experienced counsel."

How to Avoid Construction Scams
Top Ten Red Flags and Tips

1. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Don't let your contractor find you, find your contractor.
3. A permit is not a license, insurance is not a license. A license is a license.
4. Be weary of unstructured payment plans, and upfront deposits.
5. Nothing good can come from dealing in cash.
6. Contractors who promise to work with your insurance company or promise to get you insurance proceeds are likely pulling a scam.
7. Copies of insurance certificate do not always equal insurance coverage, and insurance will not cover poor workmanship and/or work defects.
8. If your contractor doesn't want to get a building permit, he might not be a contractor.
9. You should get a written contract, and the contract should be more than an "estimate" or "invoice."
10. Hiring an attorney is a prudent investment.

About Us
Wolfe Law Group has construction lawyers in Seattle, WA and New Orleans, LA. Our practice focuses on serving the construction industry and the parties involved with construction projects. In post-Katrina New Orleans we've worked on hundreds of construction projects of all shapes and sizes. Since Hurricane Katrina, the firm has also represented plaintiffs against their insurance companies and negotiated over 3 million dollars in insurance settlements.

Wolfe Law: http://www.wolfelaw.com

Article on how to avoid Construction Scams:
http://www.wolfelaw.com/main/news/index.php?article=40&location=Seattle

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:17 AM | Comments (0)

Omni West Group to Host Broker Open House Celebrating Completion of Eight-Building Industrial Project in Inland Empire; Up to 100 Percent Financing Available to Buyers

Omni West Group will host an open house on Thursday, December 13, 2007, to celebrate completion of Rivera Industrial Park, an eight-building, 50,000-square-foot complex in Riverside. The open house is open to commercial real estate brokers and sales agents and is scheduled from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the project site at 485 Rivera Street. Reservations are required. During the open house, Omni West Group will provide tours of the facilities, as well as provide details on a number of sales and lease incentives available to prospective buyers and tenants, including financing up to 100 percent.

Riverside, CA (PRWEB) December 11, 2007 -- Omni West Group Inc., a real estate development and property management firm based in Laguna Hills, Calif., announced today it will host an open house on Thursday, December 13, 2007, to celebrate completion of Rivera Industrial Park, an eight-building, 50,000-square-foot complex in Riverside.

The open house, which is open to commercial real estate brokers and sales agents, is scheduled from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the project site at 485 Rivera Street. Reservations are required. During the open house, Omni West Group will provide tours of the facilities, as well as provide details on a number of sales and lease incentives available to prospective buyers and tenants, including financing up to 100 percent through an agreement with Orange County-based Business Community Capital.

"What makes this project unique is that it offers smaller users all the amenities that are typically only available in big-box units," said Kip Dubbs, president of Omni West Group. "The buildings range from 5,220 to 6,746 which features include mezzanine office, 600 amp, 20-foot warehouse clearances, yard space in some units and dual roll-up doors, which are rare amenities on buildings of this size. Plus, we're offering a number of attractive financing options and other incentives."

According to Joan Darhart, vice president of Business Community Capital, many business people use the equity in their homes or other properties to provide the down payment on their commercial building purchases, but the current mortgage lending situation has severely impacted their ability to access those funds. To alleviate this problem, Business Community Capital will allow the equity in other property to be pledged as additional collateral to support 100 percent financing of their purchase.

The loan will be underwritten using standard SBA lending criteria, eliminating the need for FICO scores or debt to income ratios.

"Using the same equity without making the borrower qualify for a separate mortgage loan will allow for a faster, easier process and help more people qualify, since we do not underwrite our loans in the manner of a mortgage lender," said Darhart.

Other incentives for buyers include savings up to 10% of the asking price, which makes units available for as low as $129 per square foot.

Rivera Industrial Park enjoys proximity to three major freeways - including the 60, I-10 and I-215 - to accommodate the Inland Empire's growing manufacturing, trucking and warehousing sectors.
Rivera Industrial Park is represented by NAI Capital. To reserve a space at the open house, or for sales and leasing information, call (909) 945-2339.

Omni West Group is a privately held commercial real estate firm specializing in retail, office and industrial business parks in Southern California. The company partners with city planners and other government officials to enhance the quality of life in local communities. Omni West Group's real estate expertise includes land acquisitions and development, asset and investment management, entitlement, property management and construction management. For more information, visit www.omniwestgroup.com or call (949) 215-9790.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:15 AM | Comments (0)