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Alpharetta, GA (PRWEB) May 12, 2012

The Hospitality Design Exposition and Conference (HD EXPO) and Trade Only Design Library (TODL), the industrys largest product-level design research library exclusively for trade professionals, recently partnered to offer exhibitors, attendees and media complete access to the sites wealth of resources, including visibility within a HD EXPO online library. Since HD EXPO attracts top industry professionals including dealers, designers and remodelers, this partnership provides an ideal added-value opportunity for the shows exhibitor community to gain additional brand exposure pre and post show via the ability to create an interactive product brochure and connect with TODLs more than 65,000 members year-round.

TODL Connection

From custom architectural millwork to lighting installation, TODLs online product research and specification services help members search for ideas and connect with others in the trade industry to help execute projects. TODL provides verified trade professionals free, instant access to search more than 300,000 products and their specifications for all types of projects. Members have the ability to organize and manage a variety of design projects within the site and easily connect to the industrys top firms and manufacturers from all over the world, while also locating services to help assist with project completion.

Our partnership with TODL enables us to make the show experience even more valuable to our wide variety of attendees and exhibitors by guaranteeing increased exposure and interest in their product offering year-round, said Elizabeth Sommerville, managing director of the show. The HD EXPO Hospitality Design library will offer an array of opportunities to maintain the momentum and excitement exhibitors generate at the show while helping the librarys trade members to quickly find the ideal solutions they need to complete their dream projects.

TODL at HD EXPO

HD EXPO 2012 exhibitors will receive a free, interactive brochure listing in the TODL.com design library and will appear in all appropriate product and service searches within the TODL library. Exhibitors will also receive inclusion in a special HD EXPO Hospitality Design library featuring a range of exhibitors and links to their booth numbers, enabling attendees to tag companies to see at the show or directly link to the HD EXPO site to set appointments instantly. Free membership runs through December 2012, giving exhibitors the chance to interact with trade professionals throughout the year. Exhibitors are encouraged to provide company history, project collections and images to create an online brochure for designers to use. Media will also have access through a complementary press registration to the site to browse products and brands of all types.

The partnership between HD EXPO and TODL is all about building a bridge between online specification search and the unique in-person experience at the show, notes Stacey Tiveron, TODL founder. TODL simplifies the design process by instantly connecting designers and manufacturers at the product level. Manufacturers get increased exposure and the designers receive the products they need to complete their projects; its a win-win.

About the Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference (HD Expo)

The 2012 Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference (HD Expo) is presented by Hospitality Design magazine and produced by the Hospitality Design Group, part of Nielsen Expositions, which also produces the HD Boutique in Miami Beach on September 1112, 2012. The event is in association with: American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA), International Interior Design Association (IIDA), International Society of Hospitality Purchasers (ISHP), National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), and NEWH, Inc.The Hospitality Industry Network.

For media requests or for more information on HD EXPO, please contact Lacey Griebeler at 312.943.6900 or email lacey(at)wagstaffworldwide(dot)com. Follow HD EXPO on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/hdexpo and on Twitter at @hdexposhow or http://twitter.com/#!/hdexposhow.

About TODL.com

Leading the design industry in online product research and specification since 1997, TODL is exclusively available to qualified design professionals, providing its services to more than 43,000 verified design and architectural professionals and over 10,000 design and architectural faculty and students from more than 500 schools and universities worldwide.

TODL connects design professionals, manufacturers, reps, dealers, showrooms, industry magazines and trade shows in efficient and meaningful ways, assisting industry participants in leveraging technology to intuitively connect at the moment of research and specification.http://www.todl.com

For media requests or for more information on TODL, please contact Erik Cocks at 800-631-3111 Ext. 23 or erik(at)todl(dot)com.Follow TODL on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TODLFanPage and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/todltweets.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) May 10, 2012

Dallas-based Zaccanelli Food Group (ZFG) announced its acquisition of Hofmann Sausage Company Syracuse, New Yorks popular purveyor of premium sausages, hot dogs and other quality meat products. A family-run business founded by Frank W. Hofmann in 1879, Hofmann has become a household brand throughout central New York and select markets down the East Coast. They plan on opening a restaurant at Trinity Groves in West Dallas.

We plan to transition the brand from a regional icon to a national and international brand, while maintaining the Hofmann family tradition of quality and exceptional customer service, said Frank Zaccanelli. Hofmann Sausage Company has a strong brand, quality products and a loyal fan base. By leveraging these factors and increasing product placement, through our wholesale outlets and the development of our Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) concept created by the famed restaurateur Phil Romano, we plan to take the company to the next level of brand recognition and profitability.

Zaccanelli, a Syracuse native, will serve as the companys president and CEO. Zaccanelli is seasoned investor and investment management professional with over 32 years of merger and acquisition and business development experience in both existing businesses and venture capital start-ups. Among his most notable accomplishments, Zaccanelli served as the president, general manager, and minority owner of the NBAs Dallas Mavericks.

Rusty Flook, former Hofmann Sausage Company president and fifth generation Hofmann family owner, will remain active in the company as vice chairman, board member, and investor.

Flook draws attention to his familys tradition of providing quality meat products and exceptional customer service, saying the acquisition and succession by the Zaccanelli Food Group is a perfect way to honor and expand upon the Hofmann family legacy.

Our main objectives of excellence, quality and tradition will not change. The markets and restaurants we serve can expect the same level of legendary service, and those who enjoy our products can count on us to provide the foods they love. This acquisition will allow us to continue doing that on an even larger scale, Flook said.

Lead investor, Oneida Nation Enterprises, led by CEO Ray Halbritter, said Joining in this acquisition proves the Oneida Indian Nations commitment to diversifying our enterprises and re-investing in central New York. Hofmann is an iconic brand in this region. The Oneida Nation is proud to be part of the group that takes it to the next level, Halbritter said.

Zaccanelli said, I brought this investment opportunity to my friends at the Oneida Indian Nation because of heir entrepreneurial spirit and successful history of creating jobs and helping grow the regions economy.

Other major investors include Jim Boeheim, mens basketball coach at Syracuse University; famed restaurateur Phil Romano, creator of a number of popular national restaurants, including Fuddruckers, Romanos Macaroni Grill, eatZis Market & Bakery and Cozymels; former Syracuse Police Chief Dennis DuVal, and Roger Staubach, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and successful businessman.

As a native central New Yorker who grew up eating Hofmann hot dogs, I am excited to be a part of this fantastic opportunity, and I look forward to developing a Quick Service Restaurant featuring Hofmanns Worlds Greatest Hot Dogs, Phil Romano said.

About Hofmann Sausage Company

Hofmann Sausage Company is a high-quality meat manufacturer and distributor based in Syracuse, N.Y. The company offers more than 80 products, which are available in a variety of retail locations and online. For more information, visit http://www.hofmannsausage.com.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Belleville, Ill. (PRWEB) May 07, 2012

The Social Security Trust Funds estimated exhaustion by 2033, three years sooner than projected, may signal upcoming changes for the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds, according to Allsup, which provides Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) representation and Medicare plan selection services.

The Social Security Board of Trustees recently released its annual report, including information about the assets of the combined funds, indicating major changes are needed. A previous milestone for the Social Security program was 1983, when significant long-term modifications were made to address funding issues, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

At that time, Social Security tax rate increases were escalated, increasing from 7 percent to 7.65 percent over the span of about six years. In addition, the age of eligibility for unreduced retirement benefits was increased to 67. Workers born in 1938 were the first group affected, and benefits are still available at age 62, but at reduced levels.

A number of changes enacted in 1983 ensured the ongoing stability of the Social Security disability and retirement programs, said Mike Stein, Allsups assistant vice president of claims. People with disabilities may be concerned about this recent news, but its important to realize there is a history of legislative changes to ensure that benefits continue to be provided to people with disabilities and retirees.

The SSDI program, one part of the Social Security system, is a federally mandated disability insurance program overseen by the SSA that operates separately from the retirement and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. SSDI provides monthly benefits to individuals who are eligible and have paid FICA taxes to be insured under the program. Applicants must be under full retirement age (age 65 or older) and can no longer work because of a severe disability (injury, illness or condition) that is expected to last for more than 12 months or is terminal.

Allsup outlines the following considerations for people with disabilities, who may be concerned about what they should do.

1.????Use a Social Security disability representative such as Allsup to help you determine if you are eligible for SSDI benefits. The SSAs disability adjudication and review process is strict and requires several criteria to be met in order to receive benefits, including factors related to medical condition and impairments, age, education and work history. Its to your benefit to determine with the help of a disability representative if you are likely to qualify before applying, Stein said. Receive a free SSDI evaluation by calling the Disability Evaluation Center at (800) 678-3276.

2.????Consider contacting your legislative representative. If you feel strongly about what should be done to address the Social Security trust funds, you have the opportunity to contact your legislator, Stein said. Individuals can visit USA.gov to find and contact their elected officials, including U.S. senators and representatives, as well as state governors and legislators. Find more information at http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml.

3.????Pay attention to your personal finances, and plan for disability and retirement. Allsup provides a variety of informational resources to people with disabilities about managing finance and healthcare expenses following a disability. Experiencing a disability can be truly financially devastating, so its important to plan as much as you can for this possibility, Stein added. Find more information at http://www.allsup.com/personal-finance.aspx.

For more information or questions about Social Security Disability Insurance, contact the Allsup Disability Evaluation Center at (800) 678-3276.

ABOUT ALLSUP

Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security disability, Medicare and Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers. Founded in 1984, Allsup employs more than 800 professionals who deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. The company is based in Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis. For more information, go to http://www.Allsup.com or visit Allsup on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Allsupinc.

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McLean, Va. (PRWEB) May 03, 2012

Avectra, a leading developer of web-based Social CRM solutions for associations and not-for-profits, today announced CliftonLarsonAllen, ranked as one of the nations Top-10 certified public accounting and consulting firms, has joined the Avectra business partner program. CliftonLarsonAllen will offer associations and not-for-profits a combined solution of Avectras Social CRM and Intacct cloud financial management and accounting software. For associations and not-for profits, the partnership provides two critical services: cloud-based association management software (AMS) together with the full accounting software and services necessary to be successful in the 21st century.

Weve helped our customers adopt cloud accounting with Intacct. Now theyre ready to move the rest of their business processes into a proven cloud platform like Avectra Social CRM, said John Wooldridge, Partner in Charge of Outsourced Accounting for Non-profits at CliftonLarsonAllen. With Avectra we add a powerful tool to our arsenal. In our view, its software is the best fit for associations and not-for-profits that want a complete AMS platform without sacrificing the time and effort to install and manage software on their own.

CliftonLarsonAllens recognized consulting and financial expertise combined with our Social CRM expertise promises to generate tremendous value to our joint customers, said Avectra Chairman and CEO Richard Davis. CliftonLarsonAllen brings deep experience serving not-for profits and associations and a proven history of rolling out cloud solutions. Its a winning combination that certainly resonated with us and will be beneficial to both the association and not-for-profit markets.

Many of the most successful associations and not-for-profit organizations of all sizes use the Avectra Social CRM suite. It features association management software (AMS), a social community platform and social media monitoring. Organizations can engage internal and external audiences in more sophisticated, relevant and transparent relationships. The result: greater advocacy, community and action, all while driving business value.

The market is calling for this type of solution, and both companies bring the high level of commitment and expertise to make it a success, noted Mark Yohai, Avectras vice president of global business development. CliftonLarsonAllen is a highly respected firm whose not-for-profit service group goes beyond the traditional consulting and financial services offered by other accounting firms. Thats critical for us.

About CliftonLarsonAllen

CliftonLarsonAllen is one of the nation’s top 10 certified public accounting and consulting firms. Structured to provide clients with highly specialized industry insight, the firm delivers assurance, tax and advisory capabilities. CliftonLarsonAllen offers unprecedented emphasis on serving privately held businesses and their owners, as well as nonprofits and governmental entities. The firm has a staff of more than 3,600 professionals, operating from more than 90 offices across the country. For more information about CliftonLarsonAllen, visit http://www.CliftonLarsonAllen.com.

About Avectra

For the last 17 years, Avectra has translated our customers’ needs into a market-leading Customer Relationship Management system (CRM) – whether our customers serve members and non-members by the hundreds or hundreds of thousands. Avectra Social CRM is uniquely positioned to usher in a new era of membership success with its ability to provide world-class member management, built-in social networking and private online community, social media management and a powerful analytics suite, including Avectra’s proprietary A-Score and more. Avectra is headquartered in McLean, Virginia with regional offices in Chicago and Orlando.

To explore the Avectra family of products, please visit http://www.avectra.com, or call 800-858-8272.

Corning, NY (PRWEB) May 01, 2012

On June 23, 1972, Corning and the surrounding communities were devastated by a major flood, as a result of tropical storm Agnes. At the Museum, hundreds of objects were broken, more than half of the Librarys materials were saturated with flood water, and the facility was covered with a thick layer of slime and mud. A new exhibition, The Flood of 72: Community, Collections, and Conservation, presented at the Museums Rakow Research Library, chronicles the determination of Museum staff and the community to rebuild, and sheds light on the unique conservation techniques that were used to restore Library materials.

Spring flooding was fairly commonplace in the greater Corning area. In fact, a series of dikes had been built in response to the floods of 1935 and 1946. However, two additional dams had been planned, but not constructed, as of 1972. In June 1972, tropical storm Agnes brought torrential rainfall to the area and raised the Chemung River water level to 15 feet by June 22. Overnight, an additional 12 feet of water accumulated, causing the river to break through the dikes and flood into the Crystal City, submerging homes and businesses, including The Corning Museum of Glass and its Library.

The Museum was situated in the middle of the disaster area where water had surged 15 to 20 feet above the lower level on the west side of the Glass Center. By the morning of June 24, the river was back within its banks but the damage remained for much longer. Inside the Museum, the water line was 54 high on the walls and cases, and two inches of mud covered the floor and many of the objects and Library books. Residents and businesses had to face initial cleanup without electricity and running water, some for up to three weeks.

After the waters receded, many of the 13,000 glass objects in the Museum were covered with mud; remarkably, though, only four percent suffered damage and were in need of restoration. Books and paper materials housed within the Museums Library, however, were not as fortunate. The entire rare and special collection was flooded, as well as many of the browseable books, periodicals, documents, archives, images, slides, films, and audio tapes. The moisture and silt caused severe damage to the Library materials and made them vulnerable to mold and insects.

In the community, more than 6,000 people were displaced from their homes and property damage exceeded $ 230 million. Tragically, 18 individuals lost their lives. The City of Corning was extremely fortunate to have visionary leadership in government and industry, as well as an outpouring of volunteers who made the rebuilding of the community and restoration of the Museum and Library collections possible.

The exhibition The Flood of 72: Community, Collections, and Conservation details the damage caused by the floodwaters, as well as the spirit of the community and Museum staff that drove them to rebuild. Photographs, documents, and other selected historical materials from the Librarys collection will highlight the flood, its aftermath, subsequent reconstruction, and the development of new disaster preparedness programs and conservation techniques. The exhibition, which opens on May 24, 2012, commemorates the 40th anniversary of the 1972 flood, and will remain on view through the end of 2013.

The Corning Museum of Glass is the foremost authority on the art, history, science, and design of glass. It is home to the worlds most important collection of glass, including the finest examples of glassmaking spanning 3,500 years. Live glassblowing demonstrations (offered at the Museum, on the road, and at sea on Celebrity Cruises) bring the material to life. Daily Make Your Own Glass experiences at the Museum enable visitors to create work in a state-of-the-art glassmaking studio. The campus in Corning includes a year-round glassmaking school, The Studio, and the Rakow Research Library, the worlds preeminent collection of materials on the art and history of glass. Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes Wine Country of New York State, the Museum is open daily, year-round. Kids and teens, 19 and under, receive free admission.

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New York, NY (PRWEB) April 27, 2012

Today the Museum of the City of New York announced its selection as a finalist in Partners in Preservations New York City 2012 program. The partnership between American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, http://www.partnersinpreservation.com, provides preservation grants for local historic places. New York City has been named as this years location and the seventh city to participate. The Museum would use the award to restore the fa?ade of its landmark Georgian Revival building, which features an elegant wrought-iron entrance gate and two life-size bronze sculptures of Alexander Hamilton and DeWitt Clinton. These features have remained entirely untouched since they were first installed in 1932.

The Museum is one of 40 finalists competing for a $ 250,000 grant. The finalist will be chosen by popular vote. Individuals can vote for the Museum of the City of New York once a day by logging on to http://www.helpmcny.com/. Voting will be open from April 26 to May 21.

The Museum was chosen because of the distinct historic details of its landmark Fifth Avenue building, which stands at the top of Museum Mile. The restoration would further the preservation of one of the premier examples of the Colonial Revival style in New York City.

The two impressive bronze statues adorning the fa?ade were commissioned and designed specifically for the Museum. The now-weathered masterpieces were created by sculptor Adolph A. Weinman (1870-1952), who was also responsible for the “Mercury” dime and “Walking Liberty” half dollar for the U. S. Mint, and friezes for the U. S. Supreme Court building. The life-size statues boast their subjects in carefully selected poses. Hamilton appears as he does in a statuette owned by direct descendant Mr. Pierpont M. Hamilton, and Clintons stately stance was designed by Weinman, who requested a live model dressed in period costume to pose while he sculpted. It is believed Weinman used this technique before when he employed silent movie actress and popular live model Audrey Munson as inspiration for the Walking Liberty half dollar in the early 1900s.

The Museums 19-foot painted, wrought iron gate, installed in 1932, is accented by hand-shaped decorative elements and supported by marble piers. Restoration of the gate requires cleaning, stripping of decades of coatings, and stabilization to ensure that it will endure for many more years. The gate is attributed to the renowned designer and manufacturer, E.F. Caldwell and Co., who also produced lighting and metal features for Radio City Music Hall, Penn Station, the Waldorf-Astoria, and Grand Central Terminal. In the company of these other great New York treasures, the Museums Caldwell gate is an impressive architectural element worthy of careful restoration.

Commissioned specifically for the Museum by influential designers of the time, both the iron gate and bronze statues are important to our history, as well as New York Citys architectural landscape. These distinct features complement the buildings character, and Partners in Preservation offers the public a wonderful opportunity to support their restoration and longevity, said Susan Henshaw Jones, Ronay Menschel Director of the Museum of the City of New York.

The Museum has welcomed visitors from the city, the region, and the world to its landmark building for over 80 years. In 2006, the Museum initiated a capital campaign for a Modernization and Expansion Project that centers on the renovation and expansion of its historic building, the construction of new climate-controlled collections storage, and the creation of new state-of-the-art exhibition space. The Museum engaged the award-winning firm of Ennead Architects to undertake this three-phase project. The $ 92 million project, of which more than $ 89 million has been raised, will enhance every aspect of the institutions operations and help the Museum to achieve its goal of being a world-class museum for and about New York. Completion is anticipated in 2014. Restoration of the distinguished fa?ade is part of this project.

Some of the accomplishments of the project to date are: the completion of a three-level addition to the rear of the 1932 building that houses a two-story climate-controlled, state-of-the-art curatorial center for Museum collections, topped by a soaring 3,000-square foot space for exhibitions now named the James G. Dinan and Elizabeth R. Miller Gallery; the restoration of historic elements in the landmark building; and the installation of sophisticated mechanical and electrical systems.

ABOUT OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND

In honor of Partners in Preservation and in appreciation of public support, the Museum will host an Open House Weekend on Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6 with exhibition tours, family programs, and free ice cream. On Saturday at 10am Planning Urban Places and Spaces, a family workshop, takes participants on an exploration of urban transportation. On Sunday at 10am and noon, participants may tour the blockbuster exhibition The Greatest Grid: The Master Plan of Manhattan, 1811-2011 and learn how the citys street grid has evolved over the past 200 years.

ABOUT PARTNERS IN PRESERVATION

Each year, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation review hundreds of project proposals before selecting the participating Partners in Preservation projects. New York City is the seventh metropolitan area to be selected to participate, which in the past has made grants for preservation projects in San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Greater Boston, Seattle-Puget Sound, and Saint Paul/Minneapolis. The prospective grantees, each of which is a nonprofit organization or a government agency, complete formal grant applications, and are then reviewed towards specific criteria that includes their historic significance and accessibility to the public, demonstration of community support and organizational excellence, and evidence of a coherent and sustainable preservation plan. Voters are allotted one vote per day, from April 26 through May 21, 2012, to help give away $ 3 million to preserve historic places in New York City.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

Founded in 1923 as a private, nonprofit corporation, the Museum of the City of New York celebrates and interprets the city, educating the public about its distinctive character, especially its heritage of diversity, opportunity, and perpetual transformation. The Museum connects the past, present, and future of New York City, and serves the people of the city as well as visitors from around the world through exhibitions, school and public programs, publications, and collections.

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Grand Rapids, MI (PRWEB) April 25, 2012

U.S.-based Employee reward and recognition leader Terryberry proudly announces the acquisition of JMPresentations of the UK, a strategic partnership designed to help Terryberry continue to advance their very successful human resources-based initiatives and product lines that address employee satisfaction and company loyalty & longevity. JMPresentations, also known as JMP, has over 30 years of experience in the field of employee service recognition and creates purposeful, total reward programmes that encompass the core ethos and brand of an organization. Terryberrys new association with JMP will enable them to provide more comprehensive solutions to their clients throughout Europe one of the three continents Terryberry services extensively.

JMP is an organization with a long history of success in our industry and really compliments Terryberrys business, explains Mike Byam, Managing Partner at Terryberry. Adding JMP to the Terryberry family allows us to continue to position ourselves as a global leader in the employee recognition industry. As the demand for employee recognition systems increases outside North America, JMP Terryberry Limited is able to leverage this deeper connection with Terryberry to provide our European customers with more online tools, multilingual functionalities, increased manufacturing capabilities, and an expanded selection of employee recognition products.

With JMP already working with Terryberry for the past two years as a licensee of Terryberrys highly innovative GiveAWow platform peer-to-peer social media-based recognition that encourages and rewards employees while also developing stronger working bonds between team members Byam confides that the new partnership evolved from a trusted working relationship between the two entities and just makes strong business sense.

This is a winning situation for both companies, as well as our growing international clientele, Byam states. Were looking forward to lots of great collaboration with our UK partners and many successful years of growth and continued innovation in the realm of employee recognition and service awards programs.

About Terryberry

Terryberry serves more than 25,000 clients throughout North America, Europe and Australia. Family-owned for four generations, Terryberry specializes in employee appreciation and employee recognition gifts, products and services to keep employees engaged and motivated and companies growing in positive directions. For more information, please visit http://www.terryberry.com.

(PRWEB) April 21, 2012

Blessed with beauty, an elegant sense of style and keen business acumen, Faiza Seth has proved her mettle with her luxury interior design and d?cor firm Casa Forma. The London-based interiors prima donna shares her journey with Vandana Rana in April 2012 edition of Atelier magazine in India.

She was born in Hyderabad, raised in Chicago, worked in Hong Kong and is now settled in London, no one can argue about Faiza Seths credentials as a true global citizen. The founder and CEO of luxury interior design firm Casa Forma, Faiza says that the experience of living in different cities of the world broadened her intellect, and her journeys shaped her personality. Her time in the US taught her the ethics of hard work, perseverance and leadership qualities. Her Indian culture instilled in her a sense of pride for family values, warmth and an understanding of relationships, appreciation for society, art and history. As the London-based American businesswoman says, I have been lucky, and have tried taking the best from the cultures of each country.

After acquiring a Bachelors degree in Economics from Northwestern University and a Masters in Business Administration from Stanford University in 2006, Faiza embraced an opportunity to become an entrepreneur in luxury property development in super-prime London locations. I was interested in taking advantage of the booming property market in 2006 in super-prime locations of London, which has long-term growth prospects due to international demand and limited supply, shares Faiza. With an award-winning team of architects and interior designers behind her, she launched the bespoke luxury interior and architectural design brand Casa Forma. Now in its fifth year, the firm offers opulent customised design services to clients combining the best of global styles and quality. Erika De Carvalho, the design director for the brand says, The trade name Casa Forma grew from our belief in uncompromising luxury. Over the years, it has developed hand-in-hand with our design services making it stronger and reliable. The brand also works on culturally inspired concepts to carve aristocratic collections. Their projects in India are infusions of London design sensibilities with India-inspired elements. It is with this very distinctive approach that Casa Forma was the recipient of two International Design and architectural Awards in 2011.

Faizas own home in London is no less that an extension of her penchant for d?cor. Her triplex apartment features immaculate touches such as timber-panelled walls alongside metallic elements and hand-cut crystal.

Faiza is driven by the process of learning and evolving intellectually. Now that her brand has made its strong presence felt in the market, this entrepreneur ensures she is a role model and a positive influence. She also feels strongly for social causes, and endeavours to provide quality education to the underprivileged. Her charity school Soham for Kids, in a village hear Hyderabad in India, works to educate deprived and orphaned children. Education helps people obtain the skills they need to provide for themselves and their families. I take a holistic approach with Soham for Kids students by not only providing them with an education, but also with essential nutrition and healthcare, she explains. For this effort, she was awarded the Asian Women of Achievement award 2011 and the Social and Humanitarian Award.

Erika observes that home d?cor trends are shifting towards creating opulent, yet bespoke furniture. I think we are finally seeing the demise of the faceless mass-produced, hotel room-style interiors, she shares. On her part, Faiza believes, A house should first and foremost be a home, so it should be adapted to your lifestyle, personal style and tastes. A design is complete when it has the owners touch. More than a trend, a house should be an amalgamation of luxury and comfort reflecting timeless design so that it does not look like a museum, where people use only one room of the house and the rest is for display, she advises.

Faiza is now looking to expand Casa Forma geographically and vertically into various other sectors such as aviation, yachts, commercial and hospitality properties. For this woman with a vision, the whole world is her design board.

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Calgary, AB (PRWEB) April 19, 2012

Men In Kilts Calgary window cleaning is celebrating its grand opening launch by cleaning windows while wearing tartan kilts this Saturday in downtown Calgary. This will be the seventh franchise for the rapidly growing Men In Kilts franchise.

The company, whose professional, trained technicians complete a variety of household chores including window cleaning, gutter cleaning, pressure washing, snow removal, carpet cleaning and blind cleaning, arrives as part of a partnership with another trusted Calgary brand; Window Works. Window Works – who for 20 years has been the preferred Calgary window and exterior cleaning company – is joining forces with Men In Kilts, to become Canadas largest window cleaning company. Window Works has won numerous Consumer Choice Awards, maintains an A+ BBB rating, and has served almost 50,000 customers.

Chris Carrier, Window Works Founder and CEO, says, Our amazing team is proud to join forces with Men In Kilts, the enigmatic brand really exemplifies our values of being Honest, Trustworthy and Professional.

Staff and managers at Calgary-based Window Works are being retained by the company, and new technicians are joining the team as the busy spring and summer seasons draw near.

Carrier is certain that the blend of the two companies, Window Works with a 20 year history of success, and Men In Kilts, with its 10 year history of creating community and media buzz with their engaging kilted uniform, will be a winner with Calgarians. By the end of the year he expects to have a Kilt Crew in Edmonton as well. Adding fuel to the tartan fire is the CEO of Men In Kilts Franchise Services, Tressa Wood, who was a key member of the team that brought 1-800-GOT-JUNK? into hundreds of markets across the globe.

To celebrate their launch, Carrier and his Kilt Crew will be cleaning windows on Stephen Avenue this Saturday, April 21, 2012, from Noon until 2:30 p.m. All Calgary residents and media members are welcome.

-30-

Media Opportunity:

Saturday, April 21, 2012

12 Noon 2:30 p.m.

Stephen Avenue from Olympic Plaza to Fifth Street SW.

Interview Opportunities: Chris Carrier, CEO; Kilt Crew members in uniform.

Image and video opportunities: Kilt Crew members in uniform cleaning windows, climbing ladders, interacting with the general public just remember, no peeking!

About Men In Kilts

Men In Kilts was started in 2002 by Nicholas Brand with $ 500, a squeegee, and a hand-sewn kilt. The first franchise was opened in 2010 in Vancouver, B.C., with Fraser Valley, B.C., Seattle, Wash., and Calgary soon to follow. Men In Kilts commercial and residential services include:

????window cleaning
????gutter cleaning
????pressure washing
????exterior building cleaning
????snow removal services will be available in all colder markets later this year

Men In Kilts plans for fast expansion into all major cities across North America, including Toronto, San Francisco, LA, and Denver. The company projects a 300 percent increase in system-wide revenue in 2012.

For more information on Men In Kilts, or to see them in action, please contact Melissa McAfee at pr(at)meninkilts(dot)com or visit http://www.meninkilts.com.

–high resolution images available upon request–

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Rye, NH (PRWEB) April 16, 2012

More than just decorative accents on a mantel or bookshelf, antique wooden duck and goose decoys have long lured collectors. Less well-known and just as collectible are carved shorebirds, which are attractive folk art pieces and valued collectors’ items. Decoy collecting as a whole has become so popular during the last decade that masterpiece shorebird decoys have sold for more than $ 800,000.

“Many men and women like shorebirds,” says Russ Goldberger of RJG Antiques in Rye, NH, one of the country’s top dealers of antique decoys and American folk art. “Waterfowl and bird watching are popular and shorebird decoys are among the last areas to be discovered in American folk art. They’re also decorative and easy to display.”

What are Shorebirds?

Shorebirds, also known as beach birds, range in size from tiny peeps (about the size of a sparrow) to curlews (larger than some ducks). Distinguished by their skinny legs and thin bills, they live on tidal beaches and frequent migratory routes along the East and West Coasts of the United States, and also the Midwest.

Why Collect Shorebird Decoys?

Hunting of shorebirds was banned nearly 100 years ago and, subsequently, decoys vanished. Now, they’re prized by collectors. Goldberger offers these tips on collecting antique shorebird decoys and what to look for:

Shorebird decoys are valuable because they’re an important part of American waterfowl hunting and decoy history.

Shorebird decoys are rare. Many have been damaged or lost due to age and delicacy.

Highly collectible shorebird decoys were made by craftsmen or hunters and come in a wide variety of species, plumages, regions, and makers, available in many price ranges.

Collect authentic shorebird decoys that are 100+ years old. Make sure the dealer or auction house guarantees the age of your choices.

Buy shorebird decoys in original condition. Shorebirds with original paint and original bills are more valuable. Bills are the most delicate part of a shorebird decoy and easily damaged. A replaced bill should be reflected in the decoy’s reduced price.

Buy what you like regardless of who made it. Many fine shorebird decoys were crafted by unknown makers who created a small group of decoys for their own use.

Consider pieces by contemporary carvers. These are highly collectible, but buy them as modern recreations, not antiques. The price should reflect the decoys age.

Shorebirds are beautiful and visually arresting when displayed.

History of Shorebird Decoys

Most shorebird species in New England and the Southeast were hunted for sport and food during the 19th and early 20th centuries. American hunters used decoys as part of their practice, making shorebird decoys from painted wood, but also papier-m?ch?, tin, and leather (decoy factories, such as the Mason Decoy Factory in Detroit, MI, also marketed numerous decoys to hunters). American shorebird decoys rarely have legs; they were placed on sticks which were pressed into beach sand. The decoys were very effective: shorebirds were easy targets and large flocks could be shot at once.

Large-scale hunting decimated shorebird populations to such a degree that, in 1918, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, banning the hunting of most shorebird species in the U.S. Once hunting was banned, shorebird decoys became unnecessary so many were burned, thrown away or relegated to barns or hunting shacks. Few survived, which makes them so valuable to collectors today.

“Shorebird decoys represent one of the last areas to be discovered in American folk art,” says Goldberger. “They not only remind people of hunting still a popular sport among thousands of Americans and the outdoors, but the joys of coastal life. They’re very much products of American history.” For detailed information about the history of shorebird decoys visit RJG Antiques’ website.

About RJG Antiques

RJG Antiques is owned and operated by Russ and Karen Goldberger. A highly regarded dealer, author, counselor and broker, Russ Goldberger has been instrumental in the formation of some of the country’s finest decoy and folk art collections. He regularly represents clients at auctions and as an agent in negotiating private sales. RJG Antiques is also a pioneer in online sales of American antique decoys and folk art at its website, RJGAntiques.com; the site is also a resource on caring for, valuing, and the history of American decoys and antiques.

RJG Antiques will be at the National Antique Decoy and Sporting Collectibles Show in St. Charles, IL, April 23-28.

For more information, visit http://www.RJGAntiques.com; email: russ(at)RJGAntiques(dot)com or call (603) 433-1770.