San Diego, CA (PRWEB) February 21, 2012

StackIQ, the Big Infrastructure Company, today announced that Dhruba Borthakur has been appointed to its Technical Advisory Board. Borthakur, a leading contributor to the Apache Hadoop Distributed File System open source project, will serve as advisor to the company’s product & engineering team, guiding the development of Big Data management software.

Mr. Borthakur is a software engineer at Facebook and has been one of the lead contributors for the Hadoop Distributed File System. He has been associated with Hadoop since its inception while working for Yahoo, and is currently instrumental in scaling Facebook’s Hadoop cluster to multiples of petabytes. Dhruba also contributes actively to the Apache HBase project.

“We’re thrilled to have such an experienced Apache Hadoop contributor on board,” said Mason Katz, Chief Technology Officer, StackIQ. “With Dhruba’s guidance, StackIQ will provide our users with big infrastructure management software that is finely tuned to the way Big Data clusters operate.”

About StackIQ

StackIQ (formerly “Clustercorp”) is a leading provider of software that automates the deployment and management of Big Infrastructure. Based on open-source Rocks cluster management software, StackIQ’s Rocks+ product simplifies the installation and management of the hardware and software that provides the infrastructure for large scale environments having hundreds or thousands of servers supporting Big Data, Analytics, or High Performance Computing.

StackIQ is located in La Jolla, California, adjacent to the University of California, San Diego, where the open-source Rocks Group was founded. To learn more visit http://www.StackIQ.com.

Rocks+ includes software developed by the Rocks Cluster Group at the San Diego Supercomputer Center at the University of California, San Diego and its contributors. Rocks® is a registered trademark of the Regents of the University of California.

# # #

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Englewood, CO (PRWEB) February 21, 2012

Latisys today announced that Photobucket Corporation, the world’s leading dedicated photo and video sharing service, has renewed its contract for data center colocation services – including access to high density data center space, power and cooling.

Denver, Colorado-based Photobucket has 100 million users and hosts more than 9 billion images and videos (approximately four million images and videos are uploaded every day). As a result of these demanding, bandwidth-intensive requirements, Photobucket has for the past five years relied upon Latisys’ data center colocation services to ensure it has the scalability, reliability and flexibility to support user and business growth. Photobucket will benefit from enhanced disaster recovery and redundancy through Latisys’ national footprint that spans all U.S. time zones, and will also leverage an expanded Denver presence that includes the existing Latisys 30,000 square foot data center and its newest 82,000 square foot, Tier III data center currently under construction.

“It has been critical during the past five years to work with a data center provider that understands the evolving and often unpredictable business requirements for an emerging, fast growing firm such as ours,” James Goss, Vice President of Operations, Photobucket Corporation. “No matter how challenging or unique the request, Latisys has, time and time again, remained flexible and fully responsive to our specific needs.”

While traditional data center colocation providers lock customers into long-term contracts with required minimums for space, power, cooling and other services, Latisys employs a highly flexible approach for pricing, support and IT infrastructure that enables enterprise customers to scale up and down quickly depending on changing business and market conditions.

By leveraging Latisys’ data center colocation services, Photobucket will also continue to benefit from:

    Reduced data center footprint – Latisys’ flexibility in adapting to technology advancements within the data center has enabled Photobucket to refresh some hardware and consolidate its footprint.
    Strategically located facility – Located near the tech center in Denver, Colorado, the Denver 2 data center provides easy reach from Denver International Airport, Centennial Airport, and major Interstates.
    Carrier Choice – The Latisys facility offers carrier neutral connectivity or its own redundant multi-homed IP access point, providing Photobucket with access to the best high performance bandwidth in the region, with over 23 Gigabits of Internet bandwidth currently active over multiple Tier 1 providers.
    State-of-the-art security – Each Latisys data center facility features multi-layered security systems, digital video surveillance, network monitors and a 24x7x365 fully manned Network Operations Center (NOC) that is tied to the national support team.
    Reduced TCO with elimination of capital expenditures – Rather than making capital investments in power, cooling, security and network access often required for a leased space, organizations can leverage Latisys’ investments in next-generation technologies, operational expertise and efficiencies, in addition to the data center infrastructure.

“Photobucket has established itself as one of the most promising technology companies in the Denver region, and we are excited to continue this partnership,” said Bryan Walsh, Denver Regional Sales Director, Latisys. “Our team focuses on working with customers like Photobucket to understand their unique needs, and then remaining flexible as these needs change. By taking this approach – and continuing to invest in new services and capabilities as evident with the recent Denver expansion – we are positioned to not only gain new customers, but keep them.”

With multiple high-density, Tier III data centers in Denver, Orange County, Chicago and North Virginia, Latisys offers a complete array of IT Outsourcing Services from colo to cloud, covering all U.S. time zones – including gateways into Asia Pacific and Europe – and providing unmatched scalability and multi-site redundancy to enterprise businesses.

About Latisys

Latisys is a leading national provider of colocation, managed hosting, managed services, disaster recovery and private cloud solutions to medium-sized businesses, enterprise customers and government agencies. With a heritage serving business customers since 1994, and multiple high-density, SAS70 Type II compliant data centers across the United States, Latisys offers scalable outsourced IT infrastructure management solutions that provide customers what they need, when they need it. As a data center-centric company, Latisys is quickly becoming the hosting and colocation company of choice for companies that demand more from their IT infrastructure partner. All while optimizing clients’ return on investment. All while ‘delivering more’. Call 1-866-956-9594 or visit http://www.latisys.com for additional information.

About Photobucket

Photobucket is the world’s leading dedicated photo and video sharing service. With over 100 million registered members, Photobucket users upload over four million images and videos per day from the Web and connected digital devices. Photobucket hosts, preserves and protects photos and videos while bringing members the very best browsing, sharing and editing experiences. In addition to uploading and sharing with friends and family on the Photobucket site, users can also instantly share memories across all of the most popular social networks, instant messenger applications, through email, and from their mobile phones. Photobucket’s headquarters are in Denver, Colorado with a regional office in San Francisco, California. For the latest feature announcements and news, please visit the Photobucket press blog at http://blog.photobucket.com/photobucket_press.

# # #

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Learning! 100 awards

Corona, California (PRWEB) February 20, 2012

The Enterprise Learning! Summit DC focuses on how executives can build smarter organizations. The Learning! 100 winners, America’s top performing organizations will also be honored at the Summit. Over the 2 day conference, executive can access 66 experts, across 16 sessions and 20 sponsors. Executives should attend the Summit to share, network and learn from top learning leaders, analysts and experts.

The Enterprise Learning! Summit will be held March 20th & 21st at the Old Town Hilton in Alexandria, VA. Attend the Summit and expand your horizons. Take home new ideas, new perspectives, and re-ignite the learning passion in your enterprise. Hear Leland Melvin, Astronaut and U.S. Rep., NASA, Dave Carey, Ret. Navy Captain, Karie Willyerd, CLO, SuccessFactors, Nick van Dam, Global CLO Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Jay Cross, principal, Internet Time Alliance and 25 of Elearning! Magazine’s top Learning! 100 Award winners as they discuss secrets of top performing companies, the new leadership role, creating collaborative cultures and much more.

The Opening Keynote, titled “Enterprise 2020: Thriving in the Net-Work Era,” features three of the best minds in enterprise learning. Jay Cross, principal, Internet Time Alliance and author of “The Working Smarter Fieldbook,” is joined by Nick van Dam author of “Next Learning Unwrapped.” Karie Willyerd, author of “The 2020 Workplace: How Innovative Companies Attract Tomorrow’s Employees Today” rounds out the panel. During this lively panel discussion hear how to prepare for the social network era, critical talent shortages, and the new rules of leadership.

Nick van Dam, Global CLO for Deloitte moderates the “Learning! 100: Secrets of Top Performing Organizations.” Panelists include senior executives from American Express, Starbucks, IBM and CISCO. Join them and see how they leveraged an immersive learning culture, Innovation and leadership to achieve outstanding business performance.

Following Nick’s session is “Learning! 100: Creating Collaborative Environments” featuring Dr. Chris Hardy, Director of Global Learning Center for Defense Acquisition University. William Peratino Associate Director, U S Office of Personnel Management and Al Styles Learning Technology Leader, Department of Justice. These leaders will discuss the future of learning, distributive work strategies and learning management solutions.

The closing keynote speaker Leland Melvin, Astronaut & U.S. Rep, NASA will discuss his team’s strategy to improve NASA’s education offerings, while at the same time helping to usher in a new era of opportunity to inspire our next generation of explorers. Join this session and hear Melvin’s inspiring story as well as the new challenges we face to advance STEM Education. Attendees will discover how organization can partner to advance education across all levels of learners.

“I’ve witnessed the direct impact that educators can have in a community and on an individual’s destiny. NASA’s people, programs and resources are unparalleled. Our unique assets are poised to engage students, to captivate their imagination and to encourage their pursuit of STEM-related studies that are so vital to their future. This is an exciting challenge and I am ready to work with Administrator Bolden, my colleagues at NASA, our partners, and students across the country to usher in a new era of opportunity to inspire that next generation of explorers,” concludes Leland Melvin.

Enterprise Learning! Summit conference sessions will continue on March 22nd, with opening session “Learning! 100 Best in Class” hosted by Joe DiDonato, Angeli Primlani, Catherine Upton, Elearning! Media Group. This panel will share the best practices and benchmarks of today’s top learning organizations. Learn which training processes drive business impact and the tools to leverage to close performance gaps.

Vicki Tamberlini, President of edu1World, hosts the “Government Learning! 100: Survive and Thrive in a Challenging Environment.” Panelists include Wendy Frederick. Learning Technology Director at Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and Alice Muerllerweiss, Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Learning University. Discover how these two very different organizations launched new learning & technology programs across a small and very large government agency.

“Learning! 100: Innovative Workplaces” session is hosted by Karie Willyerd, co-author, The 2020 Workplace. Leaders from The Cheesecake Factory, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, American Heart Association and Vi Living (Hyatt Hotels) will share how they keep talent engaged and innovations coming from their dynamic workforce.

Bob Danna, COO, Bersin & Associates hosts Ed Cohen, VP Learning Technologies, SuccessFactors (SAP), Jason Corsello, VP of Strategy, Cornerstone On Demand, Dave Wilkins, VP Research, Taleo (Oracle) in the session “Digitizing the Enterprise: Cloud, Mobile & More.” Enterprise software has gone to the cloud, APIs are rampant, and instant access is empowering our workforce. Hear from these CTOs and technologists who are driving the technologies that will enable the Enterprise 2020.

The Summit’s “Learning! 100: Mobilizing Learning” session will feature Gary Woodill, author, The Mobile Learning Edge. Woodill hosts executives from Advanced Distributive Learning Initiative, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Cricket Communications.

How to Register and Receive a Tablet

Register by March 13th to secure a two day conference pass and a 4.0 OS Android Tablet. Register for the Enterprise Learning! Summit at http://www.els.2elearning.com. ELS 2012 is also available virtually, for those with limited time or travel budgets. Two ELS Virtual Pass options are available with rates starting from complimentary to $ 299.

To learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Sales at 888-201-2841 x842 or email sales(at)2elearning(dot)com. Due to the leadership conference nature of this event, onsite sponsorship opportunities are very limited, so contact sales today.

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Ankeny, Iowa (PRWEB) February 17, 2012

QA Graphics, a leading source of design services for the building automation and green building industries, is pleased to announce the hiring of Allen Brown as their newest HVAC graphic outsourcing specialist.

Allen has joined QA Graphics’ fast-growing graphic outsourcing department and will primarily be involved in creating BAS graphics for one of the company’s largest clients, Johnson Controls, Inc. He may also be involved on other projects, as QA Graphics provides BAS graphics for any type of building automation system, experienced with Alerton, Andover, Automated Logic, Computrols, Delta, Distech, Honeywell, KMC Controls, Reliable Controls, Siemens Building Technologies, Teletrol, Tridium and Trane. The company also provides interactive design services including Flash development, mobile applications for Apple iOS (iPhone/iPad/iTouch), Android and BlackBerry devices, touchscreen application design, kiosk development and other multimedia.    

Allen earned his Bachelor’s of Science in graphic art and design from Grand View University. He also earned his AAS in graphic art from Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). While attending school, Allen worked for The Printer Inc. as a production designer, responsible for managing the structure and organization of all product images, printed materials and marketing collateral for client projects. QA Graphics is excited to welcome Allen to the team.

About QA Graphics

QA Graphics is an Iowa-based interactive design company specializing in Flash development, touchscreen applications, 3D design/animation, mobile apps and other multimedia. The company is also a leader in the building automation and green building industries, providing graphic outsourcing and energy dashboards to help create occupant awareness about building performance and sustainability. Visit http://www.qagraphics.com to learn more.

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Lubbock, TX (PRWEB) February 16, 2012

EyeGuide™ Assist enables users with limited-to-no hand movement to control a computer with their eyes instead of a mouse. The eye moves the pointer on the screen, then the user can choose to blink, talk, or dwell (stare) to select links, type, or carry out any of the other commands that a mouse typically performs, including dragging and scrolling. A built-in spotlight magnifier and sticky feature make it even easier for users to find and click. In addition, Assist can be used on both Windows and Mac platforms and works with users’ pre-existing computer set up. That means users can use their own computers, even other assistive technologies they may already have, with Assist.

While other companies have developed assistive technologies that work similarly to Assist, most are far too expensive to be accessible for those on a budget. “Good technology shouldn’t be expensive,” said Dr. Brian Still, Grinbath CEO. “Accessibility isn’t just about the technology’s features. It’s also about the technology’s price. What’s the point of making something really amazing that no one can afford. We built this first generation of Assist to be versatile and effective, but also affordable.”

Go online to http://www.grinbath.com to see Ryan, a 13 year old from Texas, USA, use Assist to play games and browse the web.

If you’d like more information about this topic or would like to schedule an interview with Dr. Brian Still, please contact Tasha Fowler at (806) 544-1993 or by email at tashafowler(at)grinbath(dot)com.

###

Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) February 18, 2012

QualityStocks would like to highlight Single Touch Systems Inc., a publicly traded company, focused on providing technology based mobile solutions serving businesses, advertisers, and brands. Through patented technologies and a modular, adaptable platform, SITO’s multi-channel messaging gateway enables marketers to reach consumers on all types of connected devices, with information that engages interest, drives transactions and strengthens relationships and loyalty.

In the company’s news yesterday,

Single Touch reported financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2011.

Fiscal first-quarter revenue increased 57.1 percent to $ 1.6 million, compared to revenue of $ 1.0 million for the same period in 2010. The company attributes the increase in revenue to the launch of new programs and increased message volume through retailers, which helped grow quarterly message volume 83 percent compared to the first fiscal quarter of the year prior.

James Orsini, CEO of Single Touch, said the positive trends through the company’s retail channels are driven by retailers acknowledging the efficiency and relevance of mobile marketing.

“As more and more companies recognize the importance of an integrated mobile marketing and communications strategy, Short Message Service (SMS) has emerged as the most intimate and trusted communications channel. Single Touch is well positioned to capitalize on the strength of its highly-scalable technology platform to cost effectively increase both its client base and message volume throughput,” Orsini stated in the press release.

The company reported a 17.9 percent decrease in its loss from operations for the period ended December 31, 2011, excluding stock-based compensation and depreciation and amortization (adjusted EBIDTA) at $ 0.4 million compared to a loss of $ 0.5 million in 2010.

Single Touch acknowledged that while adjusted EBITDA is not a measure in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the company uses adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the performance of its underlying business:

The net loss (non-GAAP) for the period ended December 31, 2011, was $ 0.6 million compared to a loss of $ 4.9 million for the same period last year. The company attributes the improvement to significantly lower stock-based compensation expense of $ 31,000 incurred during the period, compared to $ 3.6 million incurred during the same period in 2010.

As of December 31, 2011, Single Touch reports cash and cash equivalents of $ 1.6 million compared to $ 0.5 million at the beginning of the period. During the first quarter, the company raised $ 1.8 million through the issuance of convertible debt. Cash used in operations during the period was $ 0.6 million. Additionally, the Company invested $ 0.1 million in CapEx.

About QualityStocks

QualityStocks, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a free service that collects data from hundreds of Small-Cap and Micro-Cap online Investment Newsletters into one Daily Newsletter Report. QualityStocks is dedicated to assisting emerging public companies with their investor communication efforts and connecting subscribers with companies that have huge potential to succeed in the short and long-term future.

To sign up for The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter, please visit http://www.QualityStocks.net.

To connect with QualityStocks via Facebook, please visit http://Facebook.com/QualityStocksPage.

To connect with QualityStocks via Twitter, please visit http://Twitter.com/QualityStocks.

Please read FULL disclaimer on the QualityStocks website: http://Disclaimer.QualityStocks.net.

Forward-Looking Statement:

This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. Risks and uncertainties applicable to the company and its business could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in any forward-looking statements.

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Rockville, MD (PRWEB) February 17, 2012

CTS Guides, a leading publisher of construction software reviews, ratings and evaluation tools, has added a new review to its extensive Construction Software Selection Kit. With the addition of Jonas Premier, there are now nearly two dozen reviews in the kit, which is a free resource that helps contractors evaluate and select new software.

Choosing the right software for construction is a challenging process. CTS’ Construction Software Selection Kit makes the process less daunting by providing free, unbiased reviews of leading construction software solutions like Jonas Premier. Also included in the kit are exclusive evaluation tools developed by CTS President Sheldon Needle, including a Construction Requirements Tutorial and ROI Calculator.

“Jonas Premier is positioned as a construction ERP solution that provides a wide range of construction accounting software applications along with electronic document storage,” Needle stated. “The flexible Windows Azure cloud platform means that Jonas Premier offers scalability, accessibility and affordability, which are important factors to today’s construction software buyers.”

As the CTS Jonas Premier software review points out, the system offers robust job costing and accounting functions that can be configured to handle all types of projects, including large, sophisticated jobs with complex costing requirements. The review concisely explains the type of operations that this construction ERP software supports, highlights the system strengths and pinpoints its limitations. It also includes information such as product pricing, support costs and training options that allow software buyers to compare Jonas Premier to the other construction software solutions in the kit.

Contractors looking for new software can get a preview of CTS’ Jonas Premier software review at http://www.ctsguides.com/jonas-premier.asp. Visitors can quickly and easily access the detailed product review by downloading the free Construction Software Selection Kit, which also includes reviews of Viewpoint Construction Software, Foundation for Windows and Dexter + Chaney’s Spectrum software. Visitors that download the kit qualify for the CTS Smart Shortlist® consult, a free 15-minute telephone consultation with Sheldon Needle that saves time during the software evaluation process.

ABOUT CTS GUIDES

Established in 1983, CTS was the first company to perform hands-on, independent evaluations of software for the middle market. Since then CTS has helped over 23,000 companies select new software and technology. CTS Guides are also widely used by CPAs, consultants and software resellers to assist their clients.

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Nashville, TN (PRWEB) February 17, 2012

Clear Payments, Inc. (“CPI®”) and Chexar Networks, Inc. (“CHEXAR®”) have developed a comprehensive integrated solution for the seamless processing and clearing of check-to-card remote deposits called Deposit Choice. The new platform enables mobile and remote deposit application providers and their bank, retailer, check casher, and prepaid clients to offer the consumer a choice between loading or depositing a check with delayed provisional availability or with immediate irreversible availability of good funds in a single integrated back end settlement solution.

The new solution has been developed in response to rapid market adoption of reload-able prepaid cards and bank accounts and the resulting mobile banking applications supporting these account products. One of the hottest trends in this arena is the move to add functionality to offer the remote deposit capture of checks. Enabling this consumer to snap a picture of any check and deposit it into their account or load it onto a prepaid card using their smartphone is considered by many to be the biggest game changing feature of the prepaid industry.

Drew Edwards, Chexar Founder and CEO explained that “there are many providers of remote deposit capture technologies to enable the capture and deposit of checks from smartphones in the traditional sense where funds are provisionally made available and often with a delay of several days. Lately, Chexar has been covered up with these providers seeking to access our Good Funds Network to provide for immediate and irreversible funds availability to the underbanked consumer.”

Randy Simoneaux, CPI Founder and Chairman added that “the Deposit Choice solution is a joint and integrated offering with our partners at Chexar to enable the players in the remote deposit capture space to offer their consumer a choice of deposit options at the time of the transaction for two different price points, but with a single back end processing and settlement solution integrated with Chexar’s Good Funds Network.”

Edwards went on to say “CPI has been our partner in the processing and settlement of network transactions for a long time and we turned to them to build this product for the marketplace. Deposit Choice is being made available to all remote deposit capture players in the industry as a back end processing and settlement solution to support their client facing models.”

Richard Pinson, CEO of CPI added that “we are delivering a turnkey dual deposit, dual settlement and returns management API that helps standardize a client’s entire capture network. Because of the compelling cost and efficiency advantages, we anticipate significant early adoption and Deposit Choice becoming an industry standard interface.”

KPMG estimates that there are more than 88 million consumers in the nation considered underbanked, meaning they do not fully utilize traditional banking services, but rather rely upon alternative services such as check cashing and prepaid products. Banks, retailers, alternative financial services providers and consumer companies are rapidly launching product offerings targeting the financial needs of these valuable consumers.

About Clear Payments, Inc.

CPI® is an innovative remote deposit and payments technology company. We specialize in select vertical markets with an emphasis on underserved financial service organizations, prepaid companies, software integrators, large corporate clients and financial institutions. A 100% commitment to these segments has provided CPI a unique opportunity to build proprietary check management applications with segment targeted features and functionality. Consistent performance, proven technology and time tested solutions have allowed the company to grow an impressive list of clients. An emphasis on the underserved check cashing industry has helped CPI develop and lead in the areas of check cashing integration and feature functionality used to support the largest portfolio of underserved clients in the US. For more information, please visit our website http://www.clearpaymentsinc.com or contact Allison Jones at (615) 656-2510.

About Chexar

CHEXAR® is the national leader for technology and solutions that enable clients to cash, deposit or load any check with immediate funds availability. Chexar’s solutions provide clients with the ability to truly serve the nation’s under-banked population now estimated to be almost 100 million people. The gating factor for these consumers is their need to change all types of checks into cash or value before they can acquire other services including bill pay, money transfers, or prepaid cards.

Chexar’s solutions enable any business to convert ANY type and ANY size of check to cash or to immediate credit onto Prepaid Cards or as fee-based deposits into bank accounts and to mitigate the risk of duplicate deposits on all check transactions. The company’s one-of-a-kind solutions combine multiple national databases, rules engines, and proprietary technology with redundant 24/7 risk management centers to achieve the industry’s highest automated and overall approval rates on any check. Chexar’s solutions are deployed across multiple platforms including turnkey point of sale solutions, assisted and self-service kiosk solutions, mobile devices, and full XML integrations. For more information, please visit http://www.chexar.com.

# # #

Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Inland Empire, CA (PRWEB) February 16, 2012

As America’s economy strengthens, remodeling and home renovation are once again on the rise and kitchens are no exception. According to Kitchen and Bath Business magazine, this year a whopping six million homeowners will remodel their kitchens.

Kitchens have always been the epicenter for cooking, dining, spending family time, and entertaining family and friends. In addition to sheer enjoyment and function, kitchens also capture high resale cachet and can help sell a home. The importance of a kitchen area makes it one of the most critical remodeling projects a homeowner takes on. So where should a homeowner begin when considering a kitchen remodel?

“Many people start by picking out the style of kitchen they like best, but it’s important that you start by determining how you want to use the space,” says Chuck Badger, who has more than 20 years experience in the construction industry and is owner of Chuck Badger Construction. “Consider how your kitchen fits your lifestyle and how you need it to function. Do you have ample space to work efficiently, do you have enough storage, or do you need a space to pay bills or a computer workstation for your child to do homework? Once you know what you need from your new kitchen you can move forward.”

One new emerging kitchen design trend is to move away from an open floor plan with a combined kitchen, dining, and great room in favor of more defined rooms. Open floor planning is great for entertaining and family gatherings, but the combined space can become too noisy, lose a sense of intimacy, and expose kitchen clutter to guests.

In new mid-market to upscale homes, many homeowners are designing specific areas for a family room and a dining room set around a kitchen. When remodeling, there are a number of ways to define spaces such as using lowered ceilings, soffits, built-ins, and cabinetry.

“Remember the design process takes time,” says Chuck, who enjoys staying up-to-date on all the latest trends. “Hire a general contractor who is a careful listener and provide as much upfront information as you can on your ideas and expectations.”

Chuck Badger Construction has been building new homes from the ground up, remodeling, and providing room additions for 20 years. Experienced and skilled, Chuck Badger is able to perform 90 percent of the work himself instead of relying on subcontractors, allowing better overall control of the project and improving lines of communication.

For more information about this company that offers personalized service, please call (951)-306-4295 or check them out on the Web.

About Chuck Badger Construction

Since 1992, Chuck Badger Construction has been providing new construction, remodels, room additions, and home repair and built his excellent reputation by word-of-mouth referrals and repeat customers. His attention to each individual client and timely and superior quality craftsmanship has earned him an impeccable reputation in the Coachella Valley. Chuck Badger Construction serves the Southern California desert community including Palm Springs, Indio, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, and La Quinta.

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Downers Grove, IL (PRWEB) February 16, 2012

With more than 50 years of experience and offices around the globe, Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) has perfected the art of unobtrusively helping couples find the perfect place, being there when they need help…and disappearing when they don’t.

When it comes to the romantic journey of a lifetime, an off-the-shelf itinerary just won’t do. A&K’s Romance Travel Concierges are specialists in designing unforgettable, custom-made honeymoons and anniversary celebrations. Call for a complimentary consultation or take the Road to Romance Quiz at abercrombiekent.com/romance for inspiration.

For Die-Hard Romantics

Morocco: Land of the Kasbahs

The land of the kasbahs, nomadic Berbers, high mountains and expansive desert offers a romantic escape from the world. Romantic Dar Ahlam is a private oasis between the Atlas Mountains and the Moroccan desert. Explore the picturesque sand dunes of Erg Chebbi on camelback and overnight in a luxuriously-carpeted “Caidal”-style royal tent. Nine days from $ 9,660.

View a Virtual Visit of Fez, the Heart of Morocco http://youtu.be/SmpWOUsbNIA

Egypt: Love on the Nile

Relive the romance of Anthony and Cleopatra floating down the Nile on a luxury dahabieh, a traditional lanteen-rigged sailboat. Experience the Valley of the Kings and Queens, along little-known treasures, such as the tombs of the Nobles and Workers (Deir el-Madina), el Kab and Gebel Silsileh’s Temple of Horemheb. Nine days from $ 22,820.

View a Virtual Visit of the Nile River: Lifeline of the Pharaohs http://youtu.be/7gRul1DNQjI

Peru: Mysteries of Machu Picchu

The mysterious citadel of Machu Picchu becomes the backdrop for a vow renewal ceremony, conducted by an Incan shaman. Enjoy an exclusive cooking lesson with a Lima chef. Relax in a hot bath drawn by your personal bath butler. Nine days from $ 7,490.

View a Virtual Visit of the Lost City of Machu Picchu http://youtu.be/2yayGJuC_w8

For Nature Lovers

Botswana: Romance Under the Stars

Experience true luxury in the wilderness. Each suite at Sanctuary Baines’ Camp has a private deck to enjoy a “star bath” or sleep out under the stars. Spot the big five (lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, buffalo) on game drives by boat or 4WD. A helicopter flight over Victoria Falls tops off this adventure for two. Twelve days from $ 10,475.

View a Virtual Visit of Victoria Falls: The Jewel of Africa http://youtu.be/uRQW2yEi3gE

Antarctica: The Last Frontier

Vast and breathtakingly beautiful, Antarctica is a wonderful destination to discover as a couple. In addition to viewing incredible wildlife in the company of our expert naturalist guides, travellers may find the White Continent the perfect setting for an unforgettable marriage proposal, vow renewal or even a marriage ceremony, performed by the ship’s captain. Fourteen days from $ 9,895 and twenty days from $ 15,295.

View a Virtual Visit of Antarctica: Setting Foot on the Seventh Continent http://youtu.be/Dj9TVtFjgZs

Thailand: Bangkok to the Golden Triangle

Imagine the romance of a 19th-century adventure in Thailand. Hidden in a bamboo jungle, each spacious tent has all the amenities, including a hand-hammered copper bathtub. Relax with a rejuvenating spa treatment in an open-air sala. Delight in Elephant Camp, where these gentle giants live out their lives in a natural setting. Twelve days from $ 10,795.

For Culture Enthusiasts

Turkey: Turkish Delight

In this land where East meets West, renew bonds of devotion with a solemn ceremony in the ancient ruins of Ephesus, with the Izmir State Symphony providing the soundtrack. Later, discover the otherworldly landscape of Cappadocia on a hot-air balloon flight. Eight days from $ 11,995.

View a Virtual Visit of Cappadocia: Land of the Fairy Chimneys http://youtu.be/FVWvsXjWeEA

India: Romance Eternal

Beginning with the glorious Taj Mahal, India brims with the sights and sounds of romance. Experience them to the fullest with a vow renewal ceremony at an ancient Shiva temple, complete with ornate Indian wedding attire, live music and a private dinner. Enjoy a private sunset cruise on the Maharana’s barge on Lake Pichola. Experience the scenic beauty of the Aravali Hills on a private camel safari. Twelve days from $ 7,120.

For Foodies

South Africa: The Six-Carat Safari

The most powerful shared experiences are about discovering something new—spectacular scenery, exotic wildlife, award-winning vineyards, renowned cuisine, and lively culture. Thirteen days from $ 23,730.

View a Virtual Visit of Spotting Kruger National Park’s Elusive Leopards http://youtu.be/yoD8CuAPq6Y

Italy: Flavors of Venice, Tuscany & Rome

Live la dolce vita as you traverse the canals of Venice in a private gondola, steal a kiss on Juliet’s balcony in Verona, savor a private picnic in the heart of an Umbrian vineyard and explore romantic Rome. Eight days from $ 11,825.

View a Virtual Visit of Rome: The Eternal City http://youtu.be/Mwrn0Njkb0Q

The Trip of Your Dreams, Made For You

A second honeymoon or anniversary celebration presents a different kind of challenge. A trip to Hawaii or the Caribbean may be fine the first time around, but those who are more well-travelled, want something different. Where to begin? One phone call to a Travel Agent or Abercrombie & Kent starts the ball rolling. A&K’s Romance Travel Concierge knows every romantic destination, every thrilling adventure, every pampering resort on all seven continents.

Believe it or not, a year ahead isn’t too early to start planning for such a momentous trip. With an unparalleled network of 50 on-site offices around the globe, Abercrombie & Kent is uniquely qualified to find the perfect balance of inspiring sightseeing and rejuvenating relaxation. Consult an Abercrombie & Kent Romance Travel Concierge at 800 595 0169. For more inspiration go to: http://www.abercrombiekent.com/romance

Prices are per person, double occupancy

Download photos at:

http://portfolio.abercrombiekent.com/res/sites/press-road-to-romance

About Abercrombie & Kent

http://www.abercrombiekent.com

Abercrombie & Kent pioneered luxury adventure travel with the first photographic safaris in 1962. Today its award-winning travel services extend around the globe to more than one hundred countries on all seven continents. Custom itineraries and small-group journeys offer one-of-a-kind inspiring experiences, while 50 on-site offices ensure invitation-only access to the people and places that make every destination unique. Join the world of A&K by on Facebook and Twitter: @AKTravel_USA.

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.