Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Ecotech Institute’s First Graduating Class Finds Success in the Workforce

Companies Across the Country Are Hiring Graduates from Ecotech’s First-Ever Graduating Class

Denver, CO, August 01, 2012 - Ecotech Institute’s first group of graduates crossed the stage on June 21, 2012 and dozens of graduates are already working in the cleantech industry. Three companies have hired a combined 20 graduates, five additional companies have hired one or two graduates, and several students have offers pending. The companies range in size and specialty, with renewable energy graduates receiving jobs in six different states.


In addition to demand from hiring organizations and job placements across the country, positive feedback from new employers about the graduates has been tremendous.

“Hiring managers across the board have been extremely complimentary about the quality of our graduates and their job readiness,” said Michael Seifert, president of Ecotech Institute. “One company even said that Ecotech graduates are the best new hires he has ever worked with. Another company actually created a new position to better utilize the skills and knowledge of an Ecotech graduate. We are thrilled to see our alumni already experiencing great success and making an impact in the workplace.”

Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in clean technology and careers in sustainability. At the school’s first-ever graduation, forty-one students received their associate’s degrees in the following areas: Wind Energy Technology, Solar Energy Technology, Renewable Energy Technology and Electrical Engineering Technology.

Former Governor Bill Ritter, who currently serves as the Director of the Colorado State University Center for the New Energy Economy, delivered the commencement speech. He offered perspectives from his position as governor, discussed Colorado’s aggressive role in the new energy economy, and applauded the promising future of the cleantech and clean energy industries.

“We were in the worst recession since the Great Depression and the only part of the private sector that grew during that was the cleantech/clean energy [sector],” said Ritter. “For your purposes, you chose right. You chose well. You chose the thing that grew, it has the potential to grow and grow and grow.”

The Ecotech curriculum is focused on the development of soft skills (communication, workplace etiquette), and math and science basics and technology skills, but the educational emphasis is on hands-on, practical training. Ecotech’s national board of advisors, who all work in cleantech industries, helped design the school’s curriculum, providing coursework that reflects what students will experience upon graduation.

Ecotech Institute, which is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, offers five highly practical associate’s degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers. Ecotech’s second commencement will be in September.

To learn more about Ecotech Institute, visit us online at www.ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576. The next round of classes begins in October and applications are being accepted now. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify.

About Ecotech Institute:
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, the college offers five associate’s degrees designed by experts in the industry for people seeking careers in the emerging cleantech economy. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com.

Contact:
Alicia Hassinger or Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group, on behalf of Ecotech Institute
303.433.7020

About Education Corporation of America:
Education Corporation of America is a leader in the post-secondary career school market with current enrollment of almost 20,000 students.  The ECA website is ecacolleges.com.  In addition to Ecotech Institute, ECA schools include Virginia College, founded in 1983, a private institution of higher education that offers non-degree and associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the areas of Health and Medical, Business, Information Technology, Interior Design, Computer Design, Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Nursing and more in eighteen different cities.  Virginia College campuses are located in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama; Jacksonville and Pensacola, Florida; Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah, Georgia; Biloxi and Jackson, Mississippi; Charleston, Spartanburg, Columbia, and Greenville, South Carolina; Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Richmond, Virginia; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Austin, Texas. The Virginia College website is vc.edu.  Virginia College also offers classes worldwide via the Internet, with student services and admissions facilities in Birmingham, Alabama, and Tampa, Florida, and a Military Student Center also in Tampa.  Information about online classes at Virginia College is available at vconline.edu.  Additionally, ECA operates Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College, with locations in Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama; Richmond, Virginia; Savannah, Georgia; and Jacksonville, Florida.  The website is culinard.com.  ECA also operates Golf Academy of America, with locations in Phoenix, Arizona; San Diego, California; Dallas, Texas; Orlando, Florida; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The Golf Academy website is golfacademy.edu.

Contact:
Alicia Hassinger
CSG|PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020

Luxury Travel Ltd is an official Supporter of WTM Responsible Tourism Day

Luxury Travel Ltd (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) is now an Official Supporter of this global event.

Hanoi, Vietnam, August 01, 2012 - The World Travel Market is the leading global event for the world’s travel industry, where travel agents, tour operators, hotel & transport suppliers, and just about anyone else with a connection to the world of holidays and travel can come together, network, and build long-term business relationships.

The four-day event at London’s ExCel will begin on Monday 5th November 2012, and anyone working within the travel and tourism sector may register, and attend any or all of the scheduled events from Tuesday 6th until Thursday 8th November.

Wednesday 7th November 2012 is the WTM World Responsible Tourism Day, and Luxury Travel Ltd proud to announce that due to our “year-round responsible tourism work”, Luxury Travel Ltd (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) is now an Official Supporter of this global event.

“Responsible tourism is defined as: “Travel conducted in such manner as not to harm or degrade the cultural or natural environment of the places visited. “Acting as a local and responsible tour operator, we aim to create better places for people to visit and better places for people to live. We are committed to making our business more sustainable and responsible. We believe that by taking measured steps to build corporate and social responsibility into every aspect of our business, we can reduce the negative effects of the travel industry on our environment, and accentuate the positive impact of tourism by working to preserve the destinations we love for future generations. We continue to explore innovative and positive ways to promote Southeast Asia, while showcasing the beauty of its countries through responsible travel. In fact, in 2008, Luxury Travel won an award for sustainable development, and we are confident that, with your help, more awards are on the way,” said Pham Ha, Founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd.

Since the World Travel Market introduced World Responsible Tourism Day some five years ago, travel companies and organizations from around the world have demonstrated determination to make a real difference, proving that this international day of action really can help protect the world.

This year, Luxury Travel has representatives Richard Parks, Anita Sach in the UK office, Pham Ha and David Hung Nguyen from Vietnam will attend the WTM London 2012.

“We are proud of being an official supporter to World Travel Market World Responsible Tourism. We believe that if we all strive to promote responsible and sustainable tourism, we can limit the negative impact our travels have on the planet, and by sharing our knowledge with others, we can help tourists to become responsible travellers. If you are attending the WTM this November, please drop us a line at wtm12@luxurytravelvietnam.com.” said David Nguyen, sales and Marketing Manager of Luxury Travel Ltd.

Vietnam-based Luxury Travel Ltd (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) is a long established Asian specialist in the art of travel and serves today’s most sophisticated travelers, in luxury privately guided and fully bespoke holidays in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand. Luxury Travel excels in designing tailor-made tours and providing unique travel experiences to fulfill the most sophisticated traveler’s expectations. Luxury Travel Ltd. has won numerous travel awards for excellent performance, including the most recent award: Best Luxury Tour Operator.

Contact:
Link Doan
Luxury Travel Ltd
05 Nguyen Truong To Str.,
Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi 84444
Vietnam
84439274120

Veritas Prep Expands, Launches SAT Prep Course Developed with a Perfect Score Recipient

Veritas Prep is the Largest Global Provider of Test Prep and Admissions Consulting Services

Malibu, California, August 01, 2012 - Veritas Prep announced its expansion into the undergraduate market today with the launch of its SAT prep course, Veritas Prep SAT 2400. With the addition of the SAT course, the company is now the largest global provider of test prep and admissions consulting services. The course was developed with Shaan Patel, Director of SAT Programs at Veritas Prep and one of the few test takers in the world to achieve a perfect 2400 on the SAT, making it the only global SAT prep course created by a perfect SAT score recipient. To date, more than 9.2 million students have taken the new SAT worldwide and fewer than 2,000 have received a perfect score. The course combines Veritas Prep’s proven test preparation philosophy and course model with the strategies and techniques that helped Shaan master the exam.

“Ten years ago Veritas Prep’s ‘think like the test maker’ approach to test prep, along with its longer course format and higher instructor standards, revolutionized the way students prepared for the GMAT. A decade later, with the launch of Veritas Prep SAT 2400, we have now reinvented SAT prep,” said Chad Troutwine, co-founder and CEO of Veritas Prep. “We built Veritas Prep SAT 2400 on the philosophy that SAT mastery begins with smart strategies. It is not about how much you are able to memorize or your grades in high school. This course helps students achieve their highest possible score.”

Following the model the company put in place when it was first founded, in-person and live online Veritas Prep SAT 2400 courses are both longer than competitors’ courses – 36 hours, offering twice as much instruction time – and require instructors to have scored in the 99th percentile on the exam; the strictest instructor standards of any provider. Additionally, Veritas Prep offers the only zero risk, money-back guarantee in the industry – if a student’s score doesn’t go up from a previous official SAT or converted PSAT, they can take the course again at no charge or receive a full refund, no questions asked. No other SAT prep provider refunds tuition without checking attendance and homework/practice test completion.

“Like many students, I struggled with standardized tests in high school. After a disappointing score on my first practice test, I dedicated myself to learning every aspect of the SAT until I finally mastered the exam,” said Patel. “Veritas Prep SAT 2400 captures and shares every strategy, method and approach I used to achieve a perfect 2400 and it is designed with the student’s perspective at its foundation. Unlike most other courses that use technical language and complex terminology, Veritas Prep SAT 2400 is engaging and makes the information easy to digest and understand.”

Every Veritas Prep SAT 2400 course includes:

* 36 hours of instruction, more than twice the length of other courses

* The strictest instructor standards in the industry, requiring instructors to have scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT

* The only no hassle, zero risk money back guarantee available

* 10 official practice tests – no provider offers more

* Unlimited access to Veritas Prep instructors

* Veritas Prep SAT 2400 Workbook

* Veritas Prep SAT 2400 Vocabulary Builder

* Immediate online scoring of SAT practice exams and quizzes

* Shaan Patel’s best-selling book, SAT 2400 in Just 7 Steps: Perfect-Score Student Reveals How to Ace the Test, published by McGraw Hill

* Full SAT 2400 On Demand HD Online Course Featuring Perfect-Score SAT Instructor Shaan Patel

Last month Veritas Prep celebrated a significant milestone: its ten-year anniversary. Co-founders Chad Troutwine and Markus Moberg met at the Yale School of Management while earning their MBAs and started Veritas Prep after winning several business plan competitions, including Yale’s. At its launch, Veritas Prep’s flagship classroom GMAT prep course was more comprehensive than others on the market. It was the first of its kind to focus on higher order thinking and to be taught exclusively by instructors who scored in the 99th percentile on the GMAT. The company was also first to create online “on demand” (self-paced) GMAT courses and GMAT mobile apps. To date, Veritas Prep is the only company to assemble a team of admissions consultants representing all of the top 20 MBA programs.

“For the last decade Veritas Prep has been the leader in GMAT Prep and graduate admissions. We are excited to begin this new chapter with our expansion into the undergraduate market,” said Troutwine. “We look forward to helping students maximize their score on the SAT -- a crucial step to getting into their college of choice and securing a lucrative scholarship."

Veritas Prep is currently enrolling students in its August, September and October Live Online SAT classes and accepting pre-orders for the Veritas Prep SAT 2400 On Demand HD online course. For more information, visit www.veritasprep.com.

About Veritas Prep
Veritas Prep is the largest global provider of test prep and admissions consulting services, offering industry-leading programs to help applicants improve their test scores and gain admission to the world’s best colleges and universities and graduate schools. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management, Veritas Prep offers its flagship, live GMAT prep course in more than 90 cities worldwide and as an interactive online course available to students everywhere. Its Veritas Prep SAT 2400 course is delivered live online and on demand and features the only zero risk, money back guarantee in the industry. Additionally, Veritas Prep offers admissions consulting services for applicants seeking admission to the most competitive undergraduate institutions and business schools, law schools and medical schools in the world. For more information, visit veritasprep.com.

Contact:
Lindsey (Mikal) Read
CSG|PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
937 408 9321

AAA Endorses Women Investing in Women

AAA is supporting the Women Investing in Women Initiative as part of a widespread endorsement of impact investment options that support women in developing nations.

Boston, MA, August 01, 2012 - Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) is supporting the Women Investing in Women Initiative as part of a widespread endorsement of impact investment options that support women in developing nations.

AAA, an alternative investment advocacy group, claims that World Bank statistics show that if more women joined the labor force, the world’s GDP would improve. In addition, in regions including Africa and the Middle East, average household earnings would rise by up to a quarter if women had more opportunity to work.

“Investing in women isn’t about donating to charity, but is instead about investing in social enterprises and small businesses that will employ and educate women,” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson. he added that this comes with its own financial benefits to those investing, with returns being seen as soon as the enterprises are making cash.

The Calvert Foundation has launched the Women Investing in Women Initiative, which is hoping to raise $20 million to provide women in the US and developing countries with small business loans. The money is also needed to help them cover childcare and healthcare costs. The scheme is being aimed at women but men and institutional investors are also welcome to invest in the scheme.

“Anyone can invest through a regular broker to help women all over the world achieve their dreams, to education their children and help their families to thrive,” added Mr Johnson.

AAA support impact investing as well as other ethical investment options, such as timberland investment. Investing in timberland that is sustainably managed and growing non-native species in vulnerable regions is a great way to help reduce deforestation, according to AAA. “Another bonus, aside from the clear conscience that this type of investment affords you, is that returns on this asset class have regularly outperformed equities over the past decade or so,” added Mr Johnson.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596

Axicon Auto ID Launch New Mobile Website

Axicon Auto ID Ltd, a world leader in barcode verification, announce the launch of a mobile website based on strong demand from mobile web users.

Oxford, UK, August 01, 2012 - Axicon Auto ID Ltd, (Oxford, UK) a world leader in barcode verification, announce the launch of a mobile website based on strong demand from mobile web users. Over the past few years mobile web usage has increased to the point where it represents a significant part of total internet usage. These huge increases are seen in both wealthy and developing nations, faster mobile broadband connections and cheaper data packages drive the growth in wealthy nations, whilst in developing nations users tend to skip using laptops or desktops in favour of mobile connectivity due to lower entry price and accessibility.

Axicon’s new mobile website was launched in response to strong global trends and also from direct requests from resellers and colleagues. The new website will allow easier navigation in the mobile format and also allow users to download product specific PDF’s direct to their mobile phones. This offers a significant step forward in customer and product support due to the mobile nature of Axicon’ s supply chain based products and users.

Passing comment, James Bernard Chairman of Axicon Auto ID Ltd said, “When you analyse global trends in web usage, it was the next logical step to launch a mobile website and also to compliment our recent website launches in Europe and in the United States.,” he continued, “We are very pleased to launch a new initiative that will benefit our mobile users and we will continue to develop innovative solutions and apps for the rapidly growing mobile market.”

About the company, the Axicon Group is a world leading barcode verification solution provider. Based in the UK, Axicon Auto ID Ltd specialise in barcode verification, barcode images, barcode labels and distribute their product range through a network of international partners across the globe. Axicon invites anyone with an interest in barcode technologies to trial their new mobile site, the site can now be viewed at http://m.axicon.com.

For Further information or an illustrative image:
Media contact - Mathew Taylor, Director, Algorythm Solutions Ltd, mobile: +44 (0)773 403 2112, email: mtaylor@algorythmsolutions.com, website: www.algorythmsolutions.com

Contact:
Mathew Taylor
Director
Algorythm Solutions Ltd
10 Torkington St
Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2UY
+44 (0)773 403 2112

Joe Francis with The Nelson Riddle Orchestra

US Singer Joe Francis will complete two albums with the famed Nelson Riddle Orchestra ( conductor Christopher Riddle), ending 2012 with a blast.

Tempe, AZ, August 01, 2012 - US Singer Joe Francis will complete two albums with the famed Nelson Riddle Orchestra ( conductor Christopher Riddle), ending 2012 with a blast.

Nelson Riddle’s work for Capitol Records help keep such vocalists as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Johnny Mathis, Rosemary Clooney and Keely Smith household names. He found commercial and critical success again in the 1980s with a trio of Platinum albums with superstar vocalist Linda Ronstadt.

The first album will be an album of traditional Christmas songs with lush orchestrations in the inimitable Riddle style.

The subsequent album will consist of original Nelson Riddle arrangements with such classics as “Too Young”, “Ballerina”, “Unforgettable”, “Soliloquoy” and many others.

“ I am so excited at the prospect of recording with the NRO “ said Joe Francis, who is London, England promoting his current album “ Where Do I Go From Here?”

Contact: Sarah Stanley
La Conoscenza
+ 44 1252 678550
Twitter: @jersyjoefrancis
FB: /jerseyjoefrancis

Contact:
Scott Kelly
Black Dog Promotions
9920 S. Rural Rd., Ste 108
Tempe, AZ 85284 USA
480-206-3435