vadimsudigrenev.blogspot.com
Some companies are ringing in the new year resolvingh to have leaner employee because health care costws are skyrocketing and they see a healthierd lifestyle as the key not only to healthier and moreproductivwe employees, but to lower health care costs and less Some are not only encouraging their employees to join gyms and healtyh facilities, but are paying for membershi p costs as well. New Mexico's enrolled in a corporate membershilp programat .
Jean Bernstein, co-owner of the cafexs and shops, says 100 of her 420 employeeds are enrolled in the fitnes s centerto date, along with many of their family Flying Star pays 67 percent of an individual employee'es fitness costs and 71 percent of a family's or household's membership costs, regardless of how many members are in the family. Under the currentt arrangement an employee with a familu of four would payonly $30 a montjh to enroll all four family members. By comparison, a familyt of four paying its own way entirely wouldx paynearly $200 a month. Bernstein says employeezs didn't always have it so good.
When the cafe first starteds offering fitness memberships to its employees aboufa year-and-a-half ago, they only had 15 people sign up. The reason for the low enrollment: Bernstein says the business didn't do as well promoting and advertising the prograj toits employees. "We were able to providre a more aggressive pricing plan for them and we went out andpromotesd it," Bernstein says. "We also have a much better orientatio n program so all employees signing onto the company now in addition to a benefits an orientationwhere it's all laid out beforre them.
" She says participation in the program also increasec as more store managers encouraged theit employees to get involved. Today, Bernsteibn says she is considering revisingthe company's health insurance policy to reward employees who take advantager of the fitness program and otherr healthy living initiatives with reduced rates. She says fitnes s and wellness programs will help her cut downon long-term health insurance costs. also provides its employees with discounts to localp gyms and fitness but takes the matter onestep farther.
It offers an in-houses gym and fitness such as yoga, pilates and aerobics, for a few dollars a PNM spokeswoman Susan Sponart says the publicutility doesn'tf get lower insurance rates becauss of its fitness and prevention programs, but says the company has reducexd the number of expensive insurance claimxs filed by employees and seen its insurance ratesa rise only slowly. "The cost of health care has been increasingb by about 10 to 15 percent nationallhy in the last several Sponar notes. "The rates for PNM employeesa have been flat and stayex at 3 or4 percent. We're encouraginh people to take care of themselvess andthey are.
" , the state's largesr health club with three locations in Albuquerque and one in Rio participates in a government-subsidized health plan for seniorsw called "Silver Sneakers." Defined Fitness' General Manager Anndee Wright Brown says it receivees government funding for every senior who participates in the health and fitness club. She says the government, like would rather spend money on prevention programsx than on expensivemedical "I think the wave of the future will be healtn clubs partnering with health plans to keep costs Wright Brown says. "Businesses will get tax breakd and pay less in health premiums if theier employeesare healthy.
"
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Quiksilver secures $150M term loan, posts 2Q profit - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
kleopatraxnibe.blogspot.com
The Huntington Beach company (NYSE: ZQK) also postecd second-quarter earnings of $2.8 The five-year term loan with private-equity firm Rhonse was made toimprove Quiksilver's liquidity and solidify its bankingy relationships. As part of the terms of the Quiksilver will name a pair of Rhone appointeesz to its boardof directors. Quiksilver also refinanced its credit facility with anew three-year, $200 milliom facility led by and .
The company is also in discussionw with its French banking partners to consolidatse its European debts into anew multi-year In the company's earnings report, the company swung to profitability in the seconx quarter, posting the earnings of 2 centes a share, which includeds several one-time items. Without the items, the earninga per share would have been 5 cents a Analyst estimates placed the earnings at 9 cents a Sales dropped17 percent, coming in at $494.2 In the second quarter a year ago, the company lost $206.2 million, or $1.59 a share, on sales of $596.3 million. That quarter includedd losses of $244.9 million from discontinued operations.
Quiksilvef is an apparel and accessories company. Its core brands are Roxy and DC. A renewed focus on those core brands are the focus ofthe company' s long-term plan to improve profits.
The Huntington Beach company (NYSE: ZQK) also postecd second-quarter earnings of $2.8 The five-year term loan with private-equity firm Rhonse was made toimprove Quiksilver's liquidity and solidify its bankingy relationships. As part of the terms of the Quiksilver will name a pair of Rhone appointeesz to its boardof directors. Quiksilver also refinanced its credit facility with anew three-year, $200 milliom facility led by and .
The company is also in discussionw with its French banking partners to consolidatse its European debts into anew multi-year In the company's earnings report, the company swung to profitability in the seconx quarter, posting the earnings of 2 centes a share, which includeds several one-time items. Without the items, the earninga per share would have been 5 cents a Analyst estimates placed the earnings at 9 cents a Sales dropped17 percent, coming in at $494.2 In the second quarter a year ago, the company lost $206.2 million, or $1.59 a share, on sales of $596.3 million. That quarter includedd losses of $244.9 million from discontinued operations.
Quiksilvef is an apparel and accessories company. Its core brands are Roxy and DC. A renewed focus on those core brands are the focus ofthe company' s long-term plan to improve profits.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Record farm bill boosts state sector - Portland Business Journal:
boyanebyboqasavo.blogspot.com
On Wednesday, President Bush vetoesd the five-year bill -- whichb was approved by every U.S. senatofr from Oregon, Washington and Idaho -- based on its record price tag. Because it received more than two-thirdsz majorities in the Houseand however, it will stillp likely become law. The bill is the first with a sectioj forspecialty crops, which comprise roughly half of Oregon's $4.9 billion agricultural industry. It also has $250 million in new fundint for farms and small rural businesses that want to inves t inrenewable energy. The farm bill will also fund researc into converting forest wasteinto fuel, what's knownm as cellulosic ethanol.
Some believe Oregon is positioned to become the national leader in cellulosivethanol production. While it's too earlyy to say how much of the monehy will cometo Oregon, it's likelhy to be significant. "Basically, the pie is with new funds to ensure agricultural produceras can embrace the latesty andbest practices," said John Aguirre, executived director for the , a trade association representing the state'se $1 billion nursery industry. Oregon's specialty crop growers could benefitthe most. Specialty crops include fruits, nursery stock and other crops not coveredr by the Departmentof Agriculture's commodities program.
Oregonm is a leading producer of such Among the notable boon s for specialty crop farmers are anadditionalp $1 billion to buy fruits and vegetablese for school snacks, and a change that allowds food stamp recipients to use a portion of their assistanced dollars to buy fresh producs at farmers' markets. The creationn of a pest and disease program, soughgt by Oregon's nursery industry, which will providse $377 million over 10 years for developing a plan to combag invasive species and other planthealth concerns.
Supportf for the growth and marketing oforganic crops, with $78 million for the Organicx Research and Extension Initiative and $22 millionm for farmers transitioning from conventional to organicc production -- four times the sum includec in the last farm bill. $10 million to identify causeds and solutions for colony which is killing bees needer for pollination in Oregonand elsewhere. An additional $3.4 billionb over the next 10 years forenvironmentalp conservation. Eligibility will also be expanded to include nurseries and wineries. $170 million in disaster assistancse to help fisheries and businesses affectedx by the salmon closurein California, Washington and Idaho.
Universities and stat e programs couldalso benefit, specifically and the Oregojn Department of Agriculture. In recenr years, as few as 15 perceny of agricultural research proposals have been according toStella Coakley, the associate dean for the Colleg of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon States University. She welcomed the addition of $1.5 billion in new researchb funding. "Our scientists are very competitive to receiveefederal funding, and this gives us new dollards to compete for," Coakley said.
Officiallty called the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of the bill has been criticized by activists for doing little to address the growing globalfood crisis, and for divertinb money that could be spent to feed poor children abroad.
On Wednesday, President Bush vetoesd the five-year bill -- whichb was approved by every U.S. senatofr from Oregon, Washington and Idaho -- based on its record price tag. Because it received more than two-thirdsz majorities in the Houseand however, it will stillp likely become law. The bill is the first with a sectioj forspecialty crops, which comprise roughly half of Oregon's $4.9 billion agricultural industry. It also has $250 million in new fundint for farms and small rural businesses that want to inves t inrenewable energy. The farm bill will also fund researc into converting forest wasteinto fuel, what's knownm as cellulosic ethanol.
Some believe Oregon is positioned to become the national leader in cellulosivethanol production. While it's too earlyy to say how much of the monehy will cometo Oregon, it's likelhy to be significant. "Basically, the pie is with new funds to ensure agricultural produceras can embrace the latesty andbest practices," said John Aguirre, executived director for the , a trade association representing the state'se $1 billion nursery industry. Oregon's specialty crop growers could benefitthe most. Specialty crops include fruits, nursery stock and other crops not coveredr by the Departmentof Agriculture's commodities program.
Oregonm is a leading producer of such Among the notable boon s for specialty crop farmers are anadditionalp $1 billion to buy fruits and vegetablese for school snacks, and a change that allowds food stamp recipients to use a portion of their assistanced dollars to buy fresh producs at farmers' markets. The creationn of a pest and disease program, soughgt by Oregon's nursery industry, which will providse $377 million over 10 years for developing a plan to combag invasive species and other planthealth concerns.
Supportf for the growth and marketing oforganic crops, with $78 million for the Organicx Research and Extension Initiative and $22 millionm for farmers transitioning from conventional to organicc production -- four times the sum includec in the last farm bill. $10 million to identify causeds and solutions for colony which is killing bees needer for pollination in Oregonand elsewhere. An additional $3.4 billionb over the next 10 years forenvironmentalp conservation. Eligibility will also be expanded to include nurseries and wineries. $170 million in disaster assistancse to help fisheries and businesses affectedx by the salmon closurein California, Washington and Idaho.
Universities and stat e programs couldalso benefit, specifically and the Oregojn Department of Agriculture. In recenr years, as few as 15 perceny of agricultural research proposals have been according toStella Coakley, the associate dean for the Colleg of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon States University. She welcomed the addition of $1.5 billion in new researchb funding. "Our scientists are very competitive to receiveefederal funding, and this gives us new dollards to compete for," Coakley said.
Officiallty called the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of the bill has been criticized by activists for doing little to address the growing globalfood crisis, and for divertinb money that could be spent to feed poor children abroad.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
United Arts raises $3.1M - Orlando Business Journal:
lamoreuuceses1724.blogspot.com
million in its campaign to fund arts and culturein Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake The organization also approved nearly $1.7 millionm worth of grants to 13 locaol arts and cultural organizations, or 19.4 percengt less than the group distributex last year. United Arts raised nearly $3.1y6 million, just shy of its goal. Donatinvg to the group were 111 businessesand 3,10 4 individuals. United Arts formed new partnerships withThe , Spiderhost, Orlando Health and . “We are painfully adaptingh to this shrinking saidMargot H. Knight, United Arts presidenrt and CEO. United Arts, which currently operates witha $5.
8 milliojn budget, includes two weeks unpaif leave for its staff and other cost-cuttinvg measures. The 13 organizations receivinghfunds were: Association to Preserve the Eatonvills Community, $42,541; , $91,345; , , $43,607; Festival of Orchestras, $67,909; , $36,152; , , $225,734; , $283,261; , $244,721; , , $199,943; and , $120,775 Untied arts also gave $8,656 in matching grants to: , , $243; and , $8,017. J. Christian Fengerd of was also re-elected chairman of United Arts boarxdof trustees. United Arts of Central Floridwa is a collaborationof governments, foundations, artists and other organizations seeking to improvd arts and culture in Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminolw counties.
Since it was formexd in 1989, United Arts has distributed morethan $102 millioh in local cultural organizations and
million in its campaign to fund arts and culturein Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake The organization also approved nearly $1.7 millionm worth of grants to 13 locaol arts and cultural organizations, or 19.4 percengt less than the group distributex last year. United Arts raised nearly $3.1y6 million, just shy of its goal. Donatinvg to the group were 111 businessesand 3,10 4 individuals. United Arts formed new partnerships withThe , Spiderhost, Orlando Health and . “We are painfully adaptingh to this shrinking saidMargot H. Knight, United Arts presidenrt and CEO. United Arts, which currently operates witha $5.
8 milliojn budget, includes two weeks unpaif leave for its staff and other cost-cuttinvg measures. The 13 organizations receivinghfunds were: Association to Preserve the Eatonvills Community, $42,541; , $91,345; , , $43,607; Festival of Orchestras, $67,909; , $36,152; , , $225,734; , $283,261; , $244,721; , , $199,943; and , $120,775 Untied arts also gave $8,656 in matching grants to: , , $243; and , $8,017. J. Christian Fengerd of was also re-elected chairman of United Arts boarxdof trustees. United Arts of Central Floridwa is a collaborationof governments, foundations, artists and other organizations seeking to improvd arts and culture in Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminolw counties.
Since it was formexd in 1989, United Arts has distributed morethan $102 millioh in local cultural organizations and
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Briggs & Stratton to close Jefferson, Watertown plants; 430 jobs lost - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
http://infofiji.com/%e9%a4%a1%e5%ad%90/%e6%bc%89%e3%81%97%e9%a4%a1
The plants, which are run by Wauwatosa-based Briggw & Stratton’s power products division, currently manufacture all portablde generator, home standby generator and pressure washetr products marketed and sold bythe company. Abourt 390 hourly production employees and 40 salaried employees will be permanentlg laid off as a result of the closing of the Briggs & Stratton spokeswoman Laura Timm An additional 90 to 100 salarie d employees will be given an opportunity to transfer to other Briggs & Stratton facilities, Timm said. Productionm at the plants will be consolidatec intoexisting U.S.
engine and lawn and garden produc plantsto “optimize plant utilizationn and achieve better integration between engine and end-product design, manufacturing and distribution,” company managemenft said in a statement. "The markert volatility for our weather-dependent products, along with the current economty constantly challenges us to find new ways to remain saidHarold Redman, president of Briggs Stratton's home power products "We continuously review our manufacturing footprint in order to achievse the greatest efficiency and utilization from the assetws we employ.
" Briggs & Stratton has available capacitty at other locations and shifting work to those plans will make manufacturingg more efficient, Redman said. Portable generator production will be shiftedx toBriggs & Stratton's plant in Ala., where engines for the generators currentlyu are manufactured, she said. The move also will put generator productionj closer to Atlantic coastal areas affected by Timm said. Sales of portable generators tend to rise durinyghurricane season. Production of pressurre washers will be moved to a Briggs plantin McDonough, Ga., Timm said.
The manufacturing of home standby generators, which are affixed permanentlh to a house to providebackup power, will be movedf from Watertown to Briggs & Stratton's factory in Wauwatosa, she said. The headquartersx for Briggs & Stratton's power products which currently is locatedin Jefferson, also will be moved to Timm said. The companyg will add a substantial number of jobs in Georgiq and Alabama as a result of the shif tin production. A minimal number of jobs will be addeedin Wauwatosa, Timm "It will do more to preserve jobs she said.
Timm noted that demand for Briggs Stratton's home standby generators has been Briggs & Stratton management met with employees in Jefferson and Watertown on Wednesdauy morning, Timm said. "This decision wasn'tt made lightly," she said. Affected employees will be offererd a variety ofoutplacementy services. Briggs & Stratton management hasn'yt set an exact date for the layoffs and shiftain production, but it likely will come at the end of the currengt calendar year or in early 2010, Timm A move won't occur before the end of this year'w hurricane season, which concludes in late October, in order to ensurde that there are no disruptions in she said.
"We don't know what this hurricane seasobn is goingto bring," she In conjunction with the closing of the facility, the company will recogniz e a pre-tax $5.8 million charger in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 composed of $4.6 million of net asse impairments and approximately $1.2 milliob of employee-related charges for severance and pension costs. The impac of the facilities’ consolidation on fiscal 2010 earningd is projected to be minimapl because estimated savings will be offset by closurde costs and the fact that the facility will be in operation for a portion of thefiscal year.
In fiscal the company estimatesapproximately $11 million of pre-ta x savings from the consolidation of
The plants, which are run by Wauwatosa-based Briggw & Stratton’s power products division, currently manufacture all portablde generator, home standby generator and pressure washetr products marketed and sold bythe company. Abourt 390 hourly production employees and 40 salaried employees will be permanentlg laid off as a result of the closing of the Briggs & Stratton spokeswoman Laura Timm An additional 90 to 100 salarie d employees will be given an opportunity to transfer to other Briggs & Stratton facilities, Timm said. Productionm at the plants will be consolidatec intoexisting U.S.
engine and lawn and garden produc plantsto “optimize plant utilizationn and achieve better integration between engine and end-product design, manufacturing and distribution,” company managemenft said in a statement. "The markert volatility for our weather-dependent products, along with the current economty constantly challenges us to find new ways to remain saidHarold Redman, president of Briggs Stratton's home power products "We continuously review our manufacturing footprint in order to achievse the greatest efficiency and utilization from the assetws we employ.
" Briggs & Stratton has available capacitty at other locations and shifting work to those plans will make manufacturingg more efficient, Redman said. Portable generator production will be shiftedx toBriggs & Stratton's plant in Ala., where engines for the generators currentlyu are manufactured, she said. The move also will put generator productionj closer to Atlantic coastal areas affected by Timm said. Sales of portable generators tend to rise durinyghurricane season. Production of pressurre washers will be moved to a Briggs plantin McDonough, Ga., Timm said.
The manufacturing of home standby generators, which are affixed permanentlh to a house to providebackup power, will be movedf from Watertown to Briggs & Stratton's factory in Wauwatosa, she said. The headquartersx for Briggs & Stratton's power products which currently is locatedin Jefferson, also will be moved to Timm said. The companyg will add a substantial number of jobs in Georgiq and Alabama as a result of the shif tin production. A minimal number of jobs will be addeedin Wauwatosa, Timm "It will do more to preserve jobs she said.
Timm noted that demand for Briggs Stratton's home standby generators has been Briggs & Stratton management met with employees in Jefferson and Watertown on Wednesdauy morning, Timm said. "This decision wasn'tt made lightly," she said. Affected employees will be offererd a variety ofoutplacementy services. Briggs & Stratton management hasn'yt set an exact date for the layoffs and shiftain production, but it likely will come at the end of the currengt calendar year or in early 2010, Timm A move won't occur before the end of this year'w hurricane season, which concludes in late October, in order to ensurde that there are no disruptions in she said.
"We don't know what this hurricane seasobn is goingto bring," she In conjunction with the closing of the facility, the company will recogniz e a pre-tax $5.8 million charger in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 composed of $4.6 million of net asse impairments and approximately $1.2 milliob of employee-related charges for severance and pension costs. The impac of the facilities’ consolidation on fiscal 2010 earningd is projected to be minimapl because estimated savings will be offset by closurde costs and the fact that the facility will be in operation for a portion of thefiscal year.
In fiscal the company estimatesapproximately $11 million of pre-ta x savings from the consolidation of
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Fort Hood suspect's lawyer used to abuse - UPI.com
http://www.e-socrates.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=674
Fort Hood suspect's lawyer used to abuse UPI.com Nidal Hasan, accused of killing 13 people at Fort Hood Nov. 5 in the worst non-combat mass killing at a US military inst » |
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Rutherford chamber names new president - Charlotte Business Journal:
grachevakautawil.blogspot.com
Latture, who will begin his new role Aug. 10, has been presidentg and chief executive officer for the in Tennesseedsince 2002. “Paul has extensive experience leadinygchamber organizations, and I am confident he will do a fantastidc job for Rutherford County,” search committee chairmahn Norman Brown says in a news release. During his leadership at the Jacksom chamber, Madison County saw the creation ofnearlgy 4,200 jobs, according to the release. Latturr also coordinated Jackson’s economic development efforts with the Tennessewe Department of Economic andCommunitt Development, where he served as assistant commissioner beforre coming to Jackson.
Latture has worked extensively in the chamber industryu for more than 18 years and servez as vice president of the Tennesseed EconomicDevelopment Council, a statewidde organization comprised of economixc development professionals. Prior to his position in Latture was executive vice president for economic development forthe Clarksville-Montgomergy County Industrial Development Board and servef as director of membership and governmental affairs for the . “Ik am extremely excited about the opportunity to work with such a trul progressive community asRutherforcd County,” Latture says in the release.
“Rutherford County is well-knowj not only on the statew level but on the national leveo for economic andcommunity development.”
Latture, who will begin his new role Aug. 10, has been presidentg and chief executive officer for the in Tennesseedsince 2002. “Paul has extensive experience leadinygchamber organizations, and I am confident he will do a fantastidc job for Rutherford County,” search committee chairmahn Norman Brown says in a news release. During his leadership at the Jacksom chamber, Madison County saw the creation ofnearlgy 4,200 jobs, according to the release. Latturr also coordinated Jackson’s economic development efforts with the Tennessewe Department of Economic andCommunitt Development, where he served as assistant commissioner beforre coming to Jackson.
Latture has worked extensively in the chamber industryu for more than 18 years and servez as vice president of the Tennesseed EconomicDevelopment Council, a statewidde organization comprised of economixc development professionals. Prior to his position in Latture was executive vice president for economic development forthe Clarksville-Montgomergy County Industrial Development Board and servef as director of membership and governmental affairs for the . “Ik am extremely excited about the opportunity to work with such a trul progressive community asRutherforcd County,” Latture says in the release.
“Rutherford County is well-knowj not only on the statew level but on the national leveo for economic andcommunity development.”
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