Look to universities to boost region economy, speaker says - nwitimes.com

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Look to universities to boost region economy, speaker says nwitimes.com But the head of a regional technology trade group based in Pittsburgh said Wednesday the city is revitalizing itself with universities attracting talent from around the world, supporting a network of technology business ventures and building a thriving ... Region looks to Pittsburgh for turnaround ideas Post-Tribune  »

Direct-mail firm adds staff to target fundraising sector - bizjournals:

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Winston-Salem’s has launched its new advancement services division withfive employees, including formert university advancement officers and marketing The division will study past fundraising appeals, develop strategies to target the most likelt donors, and design, prinrt and mail materials. Excalibure has about 50 other employees. Andy Tennille, director of marketingf and business developmentfor Excalibur, said the new divisiobn builds on work the company has done sincd its founding in 1972. “As relationships (wityh schools and nonprofits) endured, we saw we could reallhy package some of ourcore competencies,” Tennille said. “Wse see it as a natural evolution.
” J.D. Wilson, Excalibur’d co-founder and president, took his firsf job out of college with the advancement departmenytat , an experience he said has filteres through his entire career. “We’rd unique because we’re so data-driven,” Wilson said. “Organizations who are luckyy enough to have an endowment are seein it down 40percent (becausee of the recession), and they are cutting stafv to cut costs. They can reach out to a strategicd partner like us to makesure they’re maximizing the resourcexs they do have.
” While Excalibur has focusedd mostly on long-term relationshipzs with clients, the advancement division will also try to secure contract s on a project basis to meet a client’e specific need, Wilson said. Excalibu r has managed the annual fund prograj atsince 2007, and “during that time we’vs seen an increase in participation among alumni, attractedd new donors to the school and exceeded our goals for annual fund solicitations,” said Suzanns Hilser-Wiles, the school’s chief advancement

Equitable Building auctioned for $30M - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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The new owner, , an affiliate of Capmark boughtthe 33-story tower for $29.5 said attorney William Rothschild, with law firm . Sutherlandd was representing the , which was foreclosing on the Equitable Capmark was the only bidder onEquitabled Building, as most commercial real estater observers expected. Equitable's former owner, San Diego-baser , paid about $57 million to acquire the buildingin 2007, but its value plummeted to $42 million by earlyy 2009. Equastone received 90 percent financing from Capmark to acquire but plans to stabilizethe building's occupanch and turn it into an income-producingt asset never materialized amid the worst commercial real estate crisisx in 20 years.
The tower -- designed by renowned architecturapfirm -- has remained about half occupied this is managing and leasing the building. It's expected to cour the Fulton Countypublic defender’s office, whicnh is seeking at least a 50,000-square-foot lease The public defender's office was looking at the Equitabl Building, but the financial crisis facing the towerf helped derail the move. Rothschild was assisted in the transactionby Sutherland's Jason Kirkham.

Kinect Hardware for Windows Confirmed for 2012 - ITProPortal

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ITProPortal

Kinect Hardware for Windows Confirmed for 2012 ITProPortal In a blog post, Microsoft said that building on its commitment to bring Kinect for Windows software to customers in 2012, the company has decided to dish out specialised Kinect hardware along with the software, optimised for use on a PC. ... Kinect is coming to Windo ws, but are TVs next? Los Angeles Times Microsoft Preps Kinect for Windows Hardware eWeek Microsoft announces Windows-specific Kinect hardware TechSpot EE Times -The Seattle Times -TechShout!  »

Hanger Orthopedic gets credit rating upgrade - Triangle Business Journal:

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Bethesda-based Hanger Orthopedic announced Monday thatStandard & Poor's Ratin g Services had raised its rating on Hanger Orthopedid Group, Inc. to "B+" from raised the issue leveo ratingon Hanger's senior secured debt to from "B+;" and raised the seniotr unsecured debt rating to "B-" from "CCC+." Standardd & Poor’s outlook for Hanger is “stable.” "Wwe are extremely pleased with the S&Pl upgrade especially given the current economic environment," said Hangetr Orthopedic chief financial officer Georgre McHenry.
"The upgrade reflects, among other things, our consisteng performance over the lastthree years, solid liquidity as well as no significantr near-term debt maturities." In its latestf quarter Hanger Orthopedic (NYSE: HGR) reported that net incomwe increased 27 percent to $4.5 million as revenue increased 7 percent to $169.1 million.

Jabil strengthens solar panel footprint - Phoenix Business Journal:

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Terms were not The agreement, according to a is the first stepin SunPower’s long-term strateggy to implement regional panel assembly that will result in reduced costs. SunPoweer (NASDAQ: SPWRB) also is continuing to evaluate establishing localize manufacturing facilities in large solar marketxs in theUnited States. “Wee are in the process of rampinyg production capacity to manufacture solar panels in Europe and North America for customers inthosew markets,” said Brian Althaver, Jabil’s vice president for strategix development, in a release.
“Thiss agreement gives us the opportunitty to use our capabilities as a global manufacturetr to providea responsive, reliable and cost-effectivse manufacturing solution in close proximity to solar markets.” Jabil (NYSE: JBL) also will collaborate with SunPowet with the Solar America Initiative, a effortr to accelerate the development of advanced solar energy Through those efforts, both SunPower and Jabil intend to explore the possibility of creatinb more plants around the country to produced solar panels. SunPower, based in San Jose, lost $4.8 million, or 6 cents per in the most recent quartedr ended March 29 on revenueof $213. 8 million.
It made $12 million, or 14 centx per share the year before on revenudof $273.7 million. Jabil shares closed at $8.58 on Friday, and have trades between $3.10 and $18.78 over the past

Large Companies with Nonlocal Headquarters - Philadelphia Business Journal:

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Employees: 500 Description: Software and services. Extraa perks and benefits: Wellness/stres s management program, discount or reimbursemenr for off-site fitness, commuter/parking discounts or reimbursements, outsidee vendor discounts. What employees say: “uI feel that every day I am contributing not only to my companyg but to my federal I feel like I make a difference to our country by helping federal agencies and our government meettheir mission-critica jobs/goals.” “Exciting place to work where we accomplish amazing Huge opportunities to experimentr with new technologies and have a big impacr on the world.
” Vienna Employees: 500 Description: Creates storagse and data management systems. Extra perks and benefits: On-sit e fitness center or instruction, wellness/stress management discount or reimbursementfor off-site fitness, commuter/parking discounts or outside vendor discounts and/or company What employees say: “I am proud to be workinyg here and really enjoy the camaraderie and how the companty puts fun spins on events held in the officr to raise money for charities.” “NetApp is a very good place to work. They have done a good job of managinva high-growth organization in a very troubledd economy.” Location: D.C.Employees: 530 Hotel.
Extra perks and benefits: On-site fitness centedr or instruction, wellness/stress management program, on-sitr cafeteria, discount or reimbursement for off-site commuter/parking discounts or reimbursement. What employee s say: “I truly feel that the Omni Shorehaj is a great placeto work. My feedbacmk is always considered bymy manager, and I believe the companty cares about me as a person.” “It’sx a great place to work. I have been here for 19 and Ilove it.” Kimpton Hotelk & Restaurant Group LLC L ocation: Arlington, Alexandria Employees: 500 Description: Upscalde hotels.

Vangent call center in Riverview to employ at least 600 - Tampa Bay Business Journal:

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The company is hosting a 9 a.m. ceremonyg at 100 Legacy Park in Riverview, the 99,000-square-foot call center that Vangent has subleased fromThe Va-based information technology managemeng and outsourcing company has hired between 50 to 100 employees so far and expects to hire a tota of 1,000 by Nov. 15, the starf of Medicare’s open enrollment period. Abouf 400 will be temporary employees and only workthroughy Dec. 31. Vangent, which primarily workw for thefederal government, has 6,000 employees who work in locationx around the world, said Eileen Cassidy vice president of communications and investor relations.
It has other including officesin Iowa, Kentucky, Arizona and Kansas, that also servicre 1-800-Medicare. The company because of its turnke y operation and the large number of Hispanix workers who live inthe region, Rivera There is a growing number of Spanish-speaking Medicaree beneficiaries, and “it’s nice to help them in their nativse language,” she said. Businesses interestedx in working with the company can register at by submittiny information through thepartners section. Jobs are posted through the site’s career section.

More funds available for SBA loans - Sacramento Business Journal:

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The timing of the thaw workecd well for Steve who is running out of room athis business, . He just got an SBA 504 loan to buy a historidc garage building in downtown Sacramento to free up spacs in the automotive repairshop he’sw been leasing for 30 years. Barber’s Shop Automotivde will continue repairingAlfa Romeo, , and otheer makes at 1116 18th St., and will open a seconx business in the additional building at 16th and G streetw that will sell high-end scootersa and do restoration work on classic motorcycles, cars and even boat motors.
“I’m goingb to the new building for all the thing wedo — but don’yt have room for — here,” Barber The 16th Street building, is actually a garagr built in 1927 that spanx about 6,000 square feet inside. That will alloa Barber to storesome high-end as well as take on long-term restoratio projects on everything from classic sport s cars to wooden boats. Barber likes restoring classic machines, and he’s also taking an interesty in restoring theclassic building. “It’s alwayas been a repair shop.
I like that I can keep that goint inthe building,” he Barber used the SBA loan to buy the building and do some requiree repairs inside and out. The SBA program made the purchase possible because it stretches the mortgaged on a real estate loan to20 years, significantlyg lowering monthly payments. The SBA guaranteese some portions of anSBA loan, which historically has made them attractive to investoras in secondary markets. Those markets suffered along with the entired financial system following the collapse of Wall Stree t firmslast year.
When the likes of investment bank stalwarts such as and confidence in themarket disappeared, and even efficien secondary markets — like those for SBA-relatedr commercial paper — were priced so high that trading, in effect, was That halt in secondary market trading meant that any lender whose strategy in the past six monthsw was to sell loans had no placse to sell them. The bond side of SBA 504 lending also In thepast month, SBA-related products are finally priced to sell in the secondary “Pricing has come back to levels where trading is said Tony Wilkinson, president of the in Okla., an advocacy and trade group for SBA 7(a) lenders.
“When the secondaryy markets werelocked up, it did prevent he said. “It is finally now getting back to almosthistorical pricing.” The SBA’zs two most popular programs are the SBA 504 real estated loan, which must be used to buy building or land, and the SBA 7(a) loan, which can be used for generak business purposes, inventory and real estate. Loans approved by the SBA carr y a government guarantee that at least some portion of the loan will be The guarantee ranges from 50 percent to 100 depending on the type of For a couple of decades there has been an activer secondary market forSBA loans, both the guaranteed and the unguarantee d portions.
That secondary market is importany for some lenders because it means they can sellSBA loans, and therebyu retain their own capital to go out and make more And in the realm of 504 loans, therre is a bonding component that makes up half of the At the height of the credit that bonding market was constrained becauswe the banks that were previously in the market for thoss investments were unable to buy them because they were worriedr about their own capital positions. The return of confidence to secondarty markets has meant the return of themarket itself.
At the end of last year and the early part ofthis year, all kinda of lending were “locked up,” said Brian senior commercial lending officer with ’es office in Sacramento. The values of commercial real estat have declined in most of thelocall market, making the cost of a long-term SBA loan compar e favorably to the terms of a lease, Kerfoot said. “It’w a good time to look for a and a lot of peopled are starting to lookright now. We’re gettinbg a lot of people pre-qualifying right now, so I expecgt a lot of deals in the next three he said. As it turns out, the timinf of the secondary marketd freeze ended up working wellfor Barber.
He had been lookinb for another building ayear ago, and with the pricesx then, he couldn’t make it work. Sincee commercial real estate priceshave fallen, he was able to find a deal that made

SolarCity raises $30 million - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

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The Foster City business has raises $56 million in venture capital and equity financing and is the largest residential installerdin California. The money will help the companyt expand into other states in additionb to Oregonand Arizona. The relationshio with Phoenix-based First Solar (NASDAQ: marks SolarCity’s first foray into thin film solard panels. The company has to this poing installed silicon-based panels like those producedby ESLR), (NYSE: BP) and KYO) and will add First Solar’s to the mix.
“Ouer company is on a fantasti trajectory with seeing really aggressiveadoptionm (of solar) and there’s not one technologyg solution that fits for all customers,” said Lyndonj Rive, CEO of SolarCity. As part of the First Solar will supply 100 megawatts of thin film panels to SolarCitgy over the nextfive years. First Solar’e thin film panels use cadmium telluride toabsorb sunlight. Firsgt Solar is producing its thin film panelsat $1.14 per watt this year comparedd to silicon panels that average $2.50 per watt.
But thin film is also less which means it requires larger panels and therefore more roof spaces to produce the same amount of electricithas silicon-based panels. “What I really like abouy it isthe look,” Rive said. “It’ s a very good lookingv module.” First Solar’s panels will help the company driv e down costs in itslease program, which offers residentiak customers in some markets the opportunity to lease thei r panels at a lower cost than what they pay for But with the more expensived silicon-based panels, SolarCity can only offer immediate cost savings in placea like San Francisco and Berkeley where extra incentives are available to solar customers on top of what the statde and federal government already offers.
With thin film, SolarCity can offer immediate cost savings in more markets in theUnitee States, Rive said.

Denver Broncos get key players healthy again in time for second-half run in ... - Washington Post

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Bleacher Report

Denver Broncos get key players healthy again in time for second-half run in ... Washington Post The Denver Broncos are in contention at the halfway point of the season thanks to a middling AFC West and a return to health. In their 38-24 win at Oakland on Sunday, the Broncos got key contributions from four players who had been sidelined for a ...< /p> Better Luck Next Year: Sorting Out the Denver Broncos' QB Conundrum Bleacher Report Quarterback's mom inspires right-to-life crowd Journal and Courier Denver Broncos team report: Can Tim Tebow keep running so much? SportingNews.com Inside Pulse -ESPN (blog) -Mile High Report (blog)  »

Berkshire Bank bolsters business lending unit - The Business Review (Albany):

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Michael Carroll joined Pittsfield, Mass.-based Berkshire in early May, as senio r vice president and commercialregional executive. At the same the bank beefed up its lending team by hiring RichardVan Auken, David Niles and Peter That brings Berkshire’s local commercial lending department, which is based at 41 State St., to a dozen people including six loan officers. Carroll, who most recentlyt was vice president of middle markeg lending for the Albany regionof , took over the position that had been held by Josepu Richardson. Richardson, who spent 44 years in corporate banking, including four with Berkshire, has moverd to a part-time business developmenty role withthe bank.
Jeff upstate New York presidentfor , said he understands Berkshire sees an opportunit y to build a team to “replacd what they will be missing” with Richardson’se semi-retirement. He said he considers Berkshire a worth y competitor in themarkeft “and I expect it to still be the same goiny forward.” Berkshire currently has a local commerciapl loan portfolio of about $130 million.
Carroll’s goal is to increase averagse loans outstanding tobetween $170 million and $190 He said this actually means booking $80 millioh to $90 million in new loanxs and lines of “It is going to be a challenge in this economy, but I thino it’s a realistic goal,” Carroll said. “We’ll get there.” He also hopes to diversifu the bank’s portfolio, the majority of which is now incommerciakl mortgages. “We will go out and look for more of thosrtypical middle-market commercial and industrial loans,” he These loans may range from as little as $50,009 to as high as $25 million.
Carroll said the bank’es “sweet spot” is in the $10 million to $15 millioh range. The bank is open to lendinh to just about any typeof business, as long as “thre deal makes sense, the structure is right and we know the This is where Carroll will rely on his “There are over 250 yearsx of experience between those six he said. “Rich and Dave alone have 60 Van Auken spent 32 years with Key before retiring about ayear ago. Niles most recentlty was with TD Carroll has been in local bankinh for23 years. The bank’s New York reachj goes beyond theAlbany market, where it has nine branches and is looking to open at leasg two more.
Carroll said his team will reachu north toGlens Falls, west to Syracuse and soutj to about Newburgh. “Albany is an over-banked market,” he said. “Yoj can’t just sit in your own backyard.”

Alpha says Massey site safety slow to improve - Charleston Gazette

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Charleston Gazette

Alpha says Massey site safety slow to improve Charleston Gazette --Alpha Natural Resources officials said Thursday it's going to take more time for them to clean up poor safety practices at Massey Energy operations it purchased five months ago. Alpha CEO Kevin Crutchfield said his company has conducted 55000 hours ... Alpha Says Safety Improving at Legacy Massey Mines ClaimsJournal.com Safety improves at Massey mines despite violation notices: Alpha Platts United Mine Workers issues findings on Upper Big Branch mine disaster World Socialist Web Site  »

Md. colleges given $11M to combat nursing shortage - Denver Business Journal:

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The grants, being divvied among 17 Maryland nursing will be used to lure faculty and and improve technology atthe Maryland’s nursing shortage is expectede to reach 10,000 by according to the . The curren t vacancy rate of nurses at stat hospitals is8 percent. The economic downturn has helpedd the industry because many retired nurses have come back to but once the recession ends the shortagerwill worsen, said Carmela CEO of the Maryland Hospita l Association. The first round of grants will increasew the number of nurses graduatinyg by 300 students and add 20 faculty positionsx at nursing programs acrossthe state.
“The number of nursex graduating from Maryland schools are simplynot enough,” said Ronal B. Peterson, president of and co-chair of the “Who Will Care?” campaign at a presa conference Monday. “We cannot take our eye off thenursinv demand.” The campaign’s goal is to add 1,50p new nursing students. The program has raised $15.56 million to date through the state’s busineszs community, including funds from the Baltimore constructiojnform , , the region'sx largest hospital system, and , the region's largest health Greater Baltimore Medical for example, gave $500,000.
The goal is to raiswe $20 million from the private sector by the end of the and then raise anaddition $40 million in state, locakl and federal funds. • • • • • ; and, • .