By Sparrow R. Jones

February 27, 2013 (MMD Newswire) -- This Saturday, scores of Autistic people from around the globe wrote poetry and essays to protest the negative image of autism reflected in the autocomplete options offered by the Google search engine.

The popular search engine attempts to complete the sentence "Autistic people should ..." with such phrases as "be killed" and "be exterminated." The protest, called a Flash Blog, hopes to give Autistic people an opportunity to have their voices heard, increase positive awareness of autism, and counteract the negative suggestions of Google's autocomplete function. A second follow-up Flash Blog, focused on the equally negative Google results for "Autistic people are ..." is planned for next Saturday, March 2nd.

"We, Autistics, want and deserve to live our lives with dignity and respect," writes Amy Sequenzia, noted Autistic poet. "Autistic people should have communication, inclusion and civil rights," writes Henry Frost, an Autistic student who recently attained fame for his successful campaign through change.org for his right to attend the public school in his neighborhood. "We ALL benefit when we work toward ending oppression and respecting every person's right to exist," writes Ariane Zurcher, Huffington Post blogger and mother of Emma, an Autistic pre-teen.

Links to all writing from last Saturday's Flash Blog can be found at http://autisticpeopleshould.blogspot.com and the results of next Saturday's Flash Blog will be published at http://autisticpeopleare.blogspot.com. Autistic advocates and their allies hope that this project will bring much-needed attention to the many positive attributes of Autistic people.

Contact

To learn more about this protest and the follow-up protest, contact:

Autistic People Should

http://autisticpeopleshould.blogspot.com

Autistic People Are

http://autisticpeopleare.blogspot.com

AutisticFlashBlogs@gmail.com

Rose Jordan, Rose198172@yahoo.com

Sparrow R. Jones, sparrowrose@gmail.com, (208) 232-5784

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-"If our end goal is the eradication of Bill 101 and Bill 14, then we must consensus on a universal reframe of the entire topic such that economics, not language becomes the key discourse driver domestically. This is also how ALLiance Quebec 2.0 envisions us expanding our tent, to include ALL Quebecer's interests, by reframing Bill 101 and Bill 14 as a bread and butter issue that affects every dinner table in this province."

ALLiance Quebec 2.0 launches with a crowd-funding campaign on Indiegogo:

http://igg.me/at/alliancequebec2, a slick bilingual website, a quickly populating Youtube channel and a new line of Bill 101 Product/Merchandise that will be used as pledge gifts for supporters. ALLiance Quebec 2.0 is also developing a line of Bill 101 Apps, the first of which will be our second-by-second Bill 101-Cost-O-Meter clock. Plans to add an ANGLO-BULLYING live forum to our website are in the works.

-"We want to diminish the power of the Bill 101 brand, and to that end, we are introducing an in-house line of Bill 101 products that should do the trick. ALLiance Quebec 2.0 is very proud of its in-house developed BILL 101 line including Bill 101: Le Board Game, Bill 101: Le Card Game, Bill 101: Le Toilet Paper and our children's book on bullying, "101 Reasons Why Bill Shouldn't Be Afraid to Go to School". Join your voice to ours! Help us spread the word, both here in Quebec and abroad, to the world at large.

ABOUT BILL 101

*Bill 101 is a Quebec law designed to protect the French language here in Quebec, but it does so at the expense of all other languages, cultures, people... Make no mistake, BILL 101 is a series of Human Rights Violations, legislated, by a western, developed democracy. Bill 101 is illegal according to the UN and by Canada's own Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms; in fact, last year as Canada celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Charter, the Quebec Liberal government was hiring new language police to patrol the streets of Montreal!

ALLiance Quebec 2.0 is asking its international media friends for some much needed spotlighting on this - help us tell the world just what is going on here in one of Canada's provinces! We need the international spotlight of shame shone on us like never before... actually, we've never had it shone on us! Be the first to break this story internationally and help us restore democracy to Canada and Quebec.

For more info please contact President Ian Stone at info@alliancequebec2.com Or call: +1 514 318 4672

http://www.alliancequebec2.com/

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Steingaden / Sacramento (MMD Newswire) February 28, 2013 -- Seccua GmbH, technology leader in the field of health-related drinking water treatment based in Upper Bavaria/Germany is happy to announce that the State of California / U.S. has certified its Virex Pro series water treatment system. Since California has the strictest standards for drinking water hygiene globally, this certification is a great success for Seccua in its further market development in the U.S. and worldwide.

Since the beginning of February 2013, the Seccua Virex Pro series, together with the SeccuMem Pro filter modules are officially certified for use for complete removal (> 99.99%) of bacteria and parasites from drinking water in the State of California. After more than two years of detailed third party testing, the company from Bavaria received the sought-after certification as a filter for pathogen removal for its Virex Pro series water treatment system. California is well known for its highest standards of drinking water hygiene in the world, and for raising the highest admission demands on health-related technologies.

For this approval, Seccua in a first step had to provide evidence that their filter modules SeccuMem Pro meet the strict guidelines for the removal of viruses, bacteria and parasites (i.e., greater 99 99% removal). For this, a Virex Pro system was installed and monitored in a public water training center and laboratory close to the town of Ely/MN for several months, supervised by the Health Department of the State of Minnesota. In a second step, Seccua had to prove that the integrated standard procedure of monitoring membrane integrity in its Virex Pro series water treatment system could ensure the complete removal of parasites even over the long term. These experiments took place on another installation in a Public Water Supply north of San Francisco/CA.

In the letter of conditional acceptance now received, the Water Treatment Committee of the California Department of Public Health on Feb 08, 2013, confirmed that the Virex Pro, along with the installed SeccuMem Pro modules, are accepted as an Alternative Filtration Technology and do comply with California's Surface Water Treatment Rule and United States Federal Long Term Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rules 1 and 2.

"The Water Treatment Committee (WTC) of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) hereby accepts the SeccuMem Pro 1000 membrane for Seccua Virex Pro 1000 Ultrafiltration Systems as an alternative filtration technology for compliance under the California Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR), Federal Long Term 1 and Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rules (LT1ESWTR, LT2ESWTR)."

"North America, currently the world's largest market for decentralized drinking water treatment is extremely important for us. The successful approval for California is crucial for the further expansion of our business in the U.S. and Canada," Michael Hank, founder and CEO of Seccua GmbH, explained the Company's strategy. "The Certification for California along with our U.S. patent regarding the membrane integrity test, as well as our NSF 61 compliance of our solutions is a strong unique selling point, which will help us in our successful market development.", Owen Boyd, Chief Operating Officer and Partner of Seccua Americas, LLC adds to the explanation.

Successful performance in the North American market Seccua could increase its sales in the U.S. by over five times in 2012 compared to the previous year - over 77 new plants could be implemented. In autumn 2012, Seccua opened an office close to Boston (Massachusetts), from where now Seccua is continuing to grow its US operations. In parallel, Seccua is building up outsourced warehouse operations in St. Clair / MI to support its customer's demand short handed.

The approval in California now follows approvals and first installations in the States of Oregon, Washington, Virginia, Ohio, so Seccua now has a significant base of installations in place within the US.

In addition, last year, the company received patent protection for the United States for its integrated membrane integrity test, a mandatory requirement under US regulation, if the systems are to be applied in Public Drinking Water Treatment for pathogen removal. This test checks the integrity of membrane filter automatically for damages large enough to potentially let bacteria and parasites pass the filter. If a membrane defect occurs that would be large enough that individual pathogens could pass, the system will be stopped automatically and the operator will be notified via mobile phone or alarm output to an existing control center.

Innovative environmental technology: Seccua Ultrafiltration

Seccua Ultrafiltration removes germs and particles without irradiation or the use of chemicals and disinfectants. In extensive field application, ultrafiltration technology has proven its reliability in the removal of pathogens: more than 99.99 percent of bacteria and parasites, as well as turbidity are removed from the water by the ultrafiltration process in a single step, leaving it in microbial perfect condition. Other water contamination, such as color or fluoride can be removed by Ultrafiltration in combination with efficient pre-treatment such as flocculation or precipitation.

Furthermore dissolved organic matter in the water, such as pesticides or pharmaceuticals, can be effectively removed by combining ultrafiltration with other technologies offered by Seccua like activated carbon filtration. Please find further information at www.seccua.com.

About Seccua

Seccua is a worldwide leading developer and producer of compact and economical devices for complete removal of pathogens from drinking water. With its equipment for private, commercial and public applications, Seccua has received approvals in several US States as one of the first manufacturers of compact, integrated treatment devices. With the Seccua UrSpring systems, the company from Upper Bavaria/Germany provides highest quality of drinking water for home use. Seccua UrSpring does not only remove bacteria and Legionella, which are flushed out of public supply networks into the water pipes of houses, but also dissolved pollutants such as pesticides, residuals of pharmaceuticals and many others. Seccua systems are distributed not only in Germany and the U.S. but also worldwide, including China, Australia and Canada. In autumn 2012, Seccua was awarded the important German Cleantech Media Award. For more information, visit www.seccua.com.

Seccua Americas LLC
Mr. Owen Boyd
1900 West Park Drive, Suite #280
MA 01581 Westborough
USA
Phone: +1 508-983-1440
sales@seccua.com

www.seccua.com

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The official Tabata™ system will be launched in America and the UK initially as a group exercise class. It'll be based around the so-called 'Tabata™ Protocol' of 20 seconds of intense exercise followed by 10 seconds of rest. This system was developed by Prof Tabata when he was working as an advisor to the Japanese Olympic speed skating team. It is scientifically proven to be the most effective way to increase both aerobic and anaerobic fitness. In laboratory trials, this '20/10' system was shown to be significantly more effective than other commonly used forms of HIIT.

Tests using the Tabata™ system increased VO2 max - the gold standard test for fitness - by 13% in 6 weeks. In contrast a trial using 30 seconds bursts of intensity, with 2 minute rest periods was not as effective even though the exercise was more intense and longer-lasting. Tabata™ classes will also be short and effective at 30 minutes with the most intense section being just four minutes long. Prof Tabata's latest research shows that if this method is followed correctly, using the authentic Tabata™ Protocol, the body will continue to consume more calories for up to 12 hours after the exercise class. These are additional calories to those consumed by the body at rest - so over and above the so-called RMB or Resting Metabolic Rate.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for UPIE and Big Shot Productions said "We are thrilled that we have signed Professor Tabata to be the figurehead for this new fitness brand. This is an exercise system that works - and in double quick time, so we're sure it'll be a big hit with gym members- around the world. We also feel that gym operators will welcome a fitness system which has scientific credibility and a format which is flexible enough to be used for group personal training as well as group exercise classes."

There are plans for a marketing campaign built around international celebrities and world class athletes who already use Tabata™ to get themselves in the best possible shape. Tabata™ will launch in the United States in March at the IHRSA Trade Show in Las Vegas, and then in the UK in April at Fitpro Convention 2013 Loughborough University (Stand 47), using the key marketing messages 'Tabata™ - Get Fit Fast', 'Tabata™ - Four Minute Fitness' and 'Tabata™ - The Science of Fitness'. Fitpro delegates can sign up for Tabata™ Presenter Sessions, which will also include a practical demonstration. Professor Tabata himself will visit London on March 14th for a Tabata™ Presentation Event to leading sports scientists and health journalists.

About Universal Pictures International Entertainment

Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPIE) is the international home entertainment division of Universal Pictures, headquartered in London and headed by President, Eddie Cunningham. UPIE markets and distributes all Universal new releases, catalogue, special interest and local content titles, as well as some third party product, via direct operations in the UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, New Zealand and Japan. UPIE also has distribution partnerships in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Spain and Russia, and sells and distributes home entertainment product via licensees covering another 55 territories.

UPIE is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.

For further information please contact:
Rae Young:
rae@brandnation.co.uk
D: +44 (0) 207 940  7176
T: +44 (0) 207 940 7170

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Houston, TX (MMD Newswire) March 1, 2013 -- Mieko Mahi, an award-winning photographer/videographer, is now offering workshop classes. Using her nineteen years of experience as a corporate freelancer, Mahi is offering workshops the first weeks of June, July and August in Hallettsville, Texas. Hallettsville, an historic German and Czech community surrounded by oilfield and cattle ranches, is located half way between San Antonio and Houston, twelve miles west of Shiner, Texas.

Costs for the Workshops must be paid in advance. Cancellations are not discounted; however, funds can be used for a future workshop. Local accommodations in Hallettsville are recommended (http://www.hoteltexas.net/).

Please plan to attend one of these educational seminars to learn the basics or add to what you already know. You will also receive instruction in learning the business side of photography and how to get repeat business.

"These workshops take out all the guess work and will emphasize creating quality imagery."--Mieko Mahi

Basic Photography with Mieko Mahi    $875 June 5 - June 8, 2013
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Amateurs, Advanced Amateurs
This is a four-day work workshop that covers everything from how a camera operates to hands-on 
lighting techniques. Fee includes lunch and models. SLR camera with manual settings required.

Portrait Photography with Mieko Mahi    $875 July 10 - July 13, 2013
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Amateurs, Advanced Amateurs
This is a four-day workshop that covers portrait techniques on location and in the studio. Fee 
includes field trips, lunch and models. SLR camera with manual settings required.

Video Production with Mieko Mahi    $875 August 7 - August 10, 2013
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Amateurs, Advanced Amateurs   Video camera not required.
This four-day workshop introduces scripting, lighting, recording and basic editing.

Self-Promotion with Mieko Mahi    $275  June 4, July 9, August 6, 2013
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:  Students (all levels), Business Owners
This one-day workshop covers social media, writing press releases for self-promotion. Mieko Mahi 
was among 33 Best of Category winners for AMA Houston Marketer of the Year in 2008.

To register for any of the Mieko Mahi Workshops email mieko@miekomahi.com or use the twitter online link: #miekomahiworkshop or url: http://goo.gl/kJpYl

Contact: Mieko Mahi, mieko@miekomahi.com, 713-661-9440

Charlotte, NC (MMD Newswire) March 4, 2013  -- Fishcat Farm produces catfish sustainably in an advanced automated raceway environment. The solid waste from the fish is captured and removed in order to maintain excellent quality of the water. Fishnure™ is a high quality humus compost made from the solid fish manure that has been captured from the raceways. The resulting humus compost is a soft putty-like substance. Only a small amount is needed making Fishnure™ economical to ship and use. For example, 1 pound will treat 60 sq. ft. of lawn.

Humus compost is organic matter combined with clay, broken down by microbes then polymerized by microbes into humus. The clay provides the necessary structure for the polymers to form. The fish manure used in the process is the solid waste from a high protein diet excreted by fish in the raceways where the solid waste can be captured and removed quickly from the water before nutrients can leach from the waste. The clay used in the process is from the rich soil of the Mississippi Delta. In addition the clay comes from the bottom of discontinued catfish ponds that grew intensive populations of catfish for over 12 years. The organic wastes were not removed from the ponds and as a result beneficial nutrients accumulated in the clay in the bottom of the ponds. The carbon source used to create the proper carbon to nitrogen ratio for the compost is oat straw. The resulting Fishnure humus compost has no fishy smell and is more clay-like than that of regular compost. It consists of small moist colloidal putty-like modules that are soft and spongy. Only a small amount of these modules are needed per square yard of area. Fishnure™ has the smell of freshly tilled soil.

Unlike regular compost the organic matter that is bound to the microscopic clay particles in humus compost will not decompose further and will remain in the soil and increase the total organic matter. Increased organic matter in the soil will increase fertility, water retention, water absorption, microbial life and all the other benefits of good fertile soil.

Fishnure™ is an excellent product for providing nutrients for gardens, patio, lawn or vegetable plants. It is an economical alternative to regular composts that require much more product per sq. ft and to chemical products that damage the environment. Humus compost provides long lasting benefits to the soil rather than the short benefits from chemical fertilizers.

Contact:
Jim White
Fishcat Farm
4100 Rotunda Rd.
Charlotte, NC28226
704-907-2059
jim@fishnure.com

http://www.fishnure.com

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Throughout the Company's quarter century of providing quality environmental and engineering services, Apex has experienced multiple milestones, including being named to Inc. Magazine's 500 list of America's fastest growing companies, honored with NAEP's 2011 National Environmental Excellence Award for environmental stewardship and named a Zweig Letter Hot Firm, among others.

"From inception Apex has been dedicated to putting clients first, providing high quality, cost effective business solutions to address their needs," says Peter Young, Chairman of Apex. "Together with the help of our talented employees, vendors and clients, we've translated hard work into successful longevity. It's been an amazing quarter of a century and the future looks very bright."

Apex recently accomplished a significant fiscal landmark, recording record revenues of more than $100 million in 2012, a 43 percent increase over 2011. The increase was attributable to organic growth and the synergistic impact of the acquisitions of two privately held environmental and engineering services firms, TITAN Engineering and Ash Creek Associates the previous year. In 2012 the Company acquired A2L Technologies, a Tampa-based environmental consulting, engineering and remediation company specializing in real estate and financial institutions.

Focused on minimizing environmental liabilities and hurdles to help clients maximize their business opportunities, Apex was recently named a Top 200 Environmental Firm and Top 500 Design Firm by Engineering News-Record Magazine (ENR Magazine).

For more information: www.apexcos.com, 301.417.0200.

About Apex Companies

Founded in 1988, Apex Companies, LLC is a leading national water resources and environmental services consulting and engineering firm dedicated to providing private and public sector clients with full-service, single-source solutions for routine and complex projects. Clients rely on the Company to provide the technical expertise and solutions requisite in the industry, while differentiating itself with a quick response time, professional performance, high-quality results and cost efficiency. Apex employs more than 450 professionals, including geologists, hydrogeologists, engineers, air quality experts, environmental scientists, industrial hygienists, safety specialists and field technicians, across a network of more than 35 offices throughout the United States.

CONTACT:
Kevin Satz
301.417.0200
ksatz@apexcos.com

www.apexcos.com

www.facebook.com/ApexCompaniesLLC

www.twitter.com/apexcos

-- END --

Houck Anderson is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. The firm is also named a Best Law Firm in America in Maritime Law by US News and World Report. Founded in 1992, the firm has earned an outstanding reputation in maritime and admiralty law, and its principals, Mark Houck and Andy Anderson are sought-after speakers at maritime conferences worldwide. The firm, with offices in Miami and in Ft. Lauderdale, expanded its practice areas to include general liability, premises, construction, aviation and other defense litigation over recent years. Houck Anderson represents many of the leading insurers, P & I clubs, brokers and commercial interests, here and abroad, in matters ranging from Superyacht and pleasure craft liability to international shipping, hull and machinery claims and crew member litigation.

The Chartwell Law Offices, LLP was founded by four lawyers in 2002 in Valley Forge, PA. Following rapid growth and the opening of offices in Pittsburgh, Scranton, Philadelphia and Harrisburg PA, Chartwell expanded into New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Florida. The firm now has 85 attorneys practicing principally in first and third party insurance coverage, casualty, employment and commercial litigation. With the addition of the Houck Anderson attorneys, Chartwell now has 13 lawyers in its Florida offices.

"This is an important new chapter for Houck Anderson," said Mark Houck, founder of the firm, and now the Managing Partner of Chartwell's Florida operations and Maritime Practice. "We have worked hard to gain the respect of the maritime industry, and to be a leader in this arena. The timing of this merger is perfect as it gives us the opportunity to use Chartwell's positioning to expand our marine-based practices to the entire eastern seaboard, while Chartwell can increase its footprint in the important Florida market." Houck added that the two firms share important contacts in the London insurance market, as well as a culture of providing top-flight niche expertise. "This merger is a great fit," he noted.

The merged firm will operate under the Chartwell name. Chris Troy, Chair of Chartwell's Insurance Practices & Property section, said, "An expanded Florida presence is important to our domestic, European and London clientele. We handle major property and catastrophe work around the world, and with the addition of the Houck Anderson attorneys, we are now better positioned to meet our clients' needs in Florida and throughout the Gulf Coast." Chartwell is currently representing various insurance markets in several dozen major claims stemming from Hurricane Sandy losses.

Chartwell's practice areas have also expanded to handle toxic tort, creditor's rights and construction defect litigation. "We will continue to expand our firm, both geographically and by practice area, whenever we come across talented litigators who are also good people. The team at Houck Anderson certainly fits that bill," noted Chartwell CEO Cliff Goldstein.

For more information contact:

Mark Houck
mhouck@houckanderson.com
305.372.9044

Cliff Goldstein
cgoldstein@chartwelllaw.com
610.666.8425

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Cage-free boarding and daycare suites: With 55 roomy, Deluxe suites, All American Pet Resorts of North Brunswick has plenty of space for dog owners to choose from, even a more cozy and intimate area for our smaller boarding guests. Our Standard Deluxe Boarding includes, 24-hour care, Kurunda beds with lambskin bedding, Group-play, walks and all meals.

Additionally, eight VIP suites, with private, password protected webcams, individual TV's, deluxe bedding, gourmet meals and private exercise areas await our most pampered guests.

Even our guests visiting for just the day will get their own Deluxe suite to rest in when not in Group Play.

Experienced & well-trained staff: The owners of All American Pet Resorts, as part of a national franchise system, bring over 35 years of proven protocols, practices and procedures in pet care and customer service to the market.

Exercise: Part of a dog's overall well-being is proper exercise and socialization. All American Pet Resorts has the largest indoor and outdoor play yards in the area. These yards, divided into six separate play areas, are where pets of like temperament, and size play together and exercise safely. Additionally, all play yards are covered with either sports turf or a thick rubber surface designed to protect pet's joints, bones and pads, and keep them dirt free, while at play.

State-of-the-art Technology: It is important to us at All American Pet Resorts that we do everything in our power to keep pets healthy while staying with us. Our resort is 100% climate controlled and we've invested in the latest air exchange and handling. The resort is also equipped with a custom sanitation system to prevent the chance of cross canine contamination. Finally, we insist that all pets are up-to-date on their individual vaccinations prior to entering the resort.

Grooming: All American Pet Resorts of North Brunswick is pleased to welcome Debbie Schwarz as their exclusive groomer. Debbie owns and operates Adorable Doos in North Brunswick and will be bringing her talents and 24-year experience to All American on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays by appointment. She subscribes to the highest pet industry standards in the care and grooming of owner's pets. A wide range of services and products are available for pets, including oatmeal and aloe baths, flea and tick shampoos and dips, odor removal, and hot oil treatments. De-skunking, teeth brushing, anal gland expelling, nail polishing and filing, as well as priority grooming appointments for the more sensitive pets including aged or disabled pets is available.

This exciting pet resort is waiting for you and your dog. Spring and summer vacations will be here before you know it and this beautiful resort will book up fast. Call today at 732-709-PETS or book online at www.aaprnb.com.

# # # # #

For further information please contact:

Glenn Shapiro

732-709-7387

gshapiro@aaprnb.com

A recently filed Stipulation and Order of Settlement was entered in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, dismissing the Government's case with prejudice against Cybamar by agreement. In that case, the Government had filed a money laundering and forfeiture suit against various parties, including Cybamar, seeking millions of dollars and alleging a Hezbollah-related money-laundering scheme. After an exhaustive investigation, the Government determined that it did not, in fact, have any claim against Cybamar, that Cybamar had done nothing wrong, that Cybamar does not support terrorism, nor does Cybamar engage in drug trafficking. The Stipulation requires that Cybamar surrender all of its rights to seek claims and sanctions against the Government. Cybamar was represented by James T. Bacon of Allred, Bacon, Halfhill & Young, PC, from Fairfax, Virginia.

In the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement, the Government concedes that there is no prohibition or impediment preventing or discouraging any of Cybamar's business partners, contractors, banks, and/or credit or lending institutions from doing business with Cybamar. Cybamar's CEO, Bassem Salhab, stated, "I am pleased to see that the U.S. Government recognizes my innocence and the innocence of my companies, and I hope to be able to quickly restore our good name and good will."

The Government's suit has had an extremely negative impact on Cybamar's impeccable reputation and goodwill, and Cybamar has been abandoned by all of its worldwide business partners for fear that they might be dragged into the suit. Cybamar now faces the formidable task of attempting to rebuild its destroyed business. "With the assistance of our business partners, many of whom I hope will come back to us, we intend to bring back to prominence Cybamar's once thriving business, which has been devastated by this lawsuit," promised Bassem Salhab.

View Stipulation and Order of Settlement: http://mmdnewswire.com/cybamarswiss.pdf

Media Contact:
James T. Bacon
jbacon@abhylaw.com
703-352-1300

###

ECA's National Salary Comparison is a unique guide to the difference in local pay levels between countries and enables companies to see at a glance whether an individual's spending power would be protected if they were moved to work in another country and paid a local salary to do a similar job.

Choosing a competitive and equitable remuneration approach

While a local salary approach ensures equity among local peers in the host country, it may not always provide sufficient incentive for an employee to take up a posting to a different country.

Simple comparisons of gross salaries can be very misleading - what may look like a pay rise might not make the employee better off depending on how far that salary stretches in the host location once factors such as tax, social security and cost of living are taken into account.

"In an environment of intense competition for suitably skilled staff, companies need to have all the information to hand to determine the most suitable pay approach for their international assignee workforce," said Steven Kilfedder, Cost of Living and Remuneration Services Manager, ECA International. "This includes being able to compare spending power to assess whether transferring their employees on local terms will provide sufficient remuneration in the new location, or whether additional allowances or an alternative method of salary calculation is necessary."

Relative buying power varies significantly by seniority

The report also reveals how relative wealth comparisons can change from country to country according to seniority. While European countries dominate at the lower end of the management scale in terms of purchasing power, at the higher end a shortage of suitably qualified staff has contributed to

pushing up salaries for senior employees in many less developed nations. Four of the countries with the highest buying power at executive level are in South or Central America: Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Brazil. Of these, only Chile features in the top ten when the buying power of junior managers is compared.

Balancing an attractive salary with a workable policy

Another issue highlighted in the report is the need for companies to bear in mind future scenarios such as repatriation or consecutive assignments when choosing their salary approach.

For example, middle managers in Hong Kong and Singapore command significantly larger salaries than their contemporaries in many other Asian countries and enjoy considerably higher buying power. An assignment from either of these countries to elsewhere in the region on a local salary basis is unlikely to be considered competitive unless additional benefits are provided on top. However, moves in the reverse direction on local terms could be so attractive that the company will have trouble motivating their assignee to return to their home location - should that be the aim of their global mobility policy.

Companies also need to be aware that the reward landscape is constantly changing. Currently, salaries in many developing countries such as China are increasing at a faster rate those in Europe and the US, for example. Up-to-the-minute intelligence on the evolving situation equips companies with the tools they need to stay competitive and keep abreast of the implications for global mobility. To find out more, download ECA's free National Salary Comparison report here: http://www.eca-international.com/resources/white_papers

# # #

About ECA International's National Salary Comparison research

Survey results in the report have been calculated on a euro base, i.e. all salaries have been converted to euros and all cost of living indices have been stated relative to the cost of the shopping basket in Belgium. All local salary data has been provided by Towers Watson, an independent research company. Re-basing the data to different country bases will change the outcomes, as does looking at different levels of seniority. ECA is able to compile the information using any country featured in this report as a base for ease of use.

About ECA International (www.eca-international.com)

ECA International is the world's leader in the development and provision of solutions for the management and assignment of employees around the world. Delivering data, expertise, systems and support in formats which suit its clients, ECA's offer includes a complete 'out-source' package of calculations, advice and services for companies with little international assignment management experience or resource; subscriptions to comprehensive online information and software systems for companies with larger requirements; and custom policy and system development projects for companies who manage thousands of international assignees around the world.

Follow us on twitter: @ECAintl

For press enquiries, please contact:

Josephine Woolley

PR Manager, ECA International

T +44 (0)20 7351 5000

josephine.woolley@eca-international.com

Neuilly-sur-Seine, France (MMD Newswire) March 12, 2013 -- Bluehorse Associates, a pioneer in the development of sustainability metrics applications, today announced that their product, Carbonostics, received a stellar score in the Environmental Leader Technology Reviews program. The Carbonostics energy accounting and product lifecycle assessment tool earned an impressive 4.5 Stars (out of a possible five), and is considered by judges as an exemplary product. This high score ranks Carbonostics well above comparable tools in the Technology Hall of Fame.

"Unique benefits - focus on food and beverage sector, data-resource transparency, diverse and impressive client list, ability to enter your own primary data, addition of cost and nutrition metrics - make Carbonostics best-in-class," commented one judge of Carbonostics.

Another added, "The lifecycle and carbon accounting features of the tool are very important to track impacts in non-integrated supply chains. Creating a common set of metrics is key and their 200 end users are testimony to the value [of Carbonostics] to companies such as Marks and Spencer."

The Environmental Leader Technology Reviews is a program recognizing excellence in products and services that provide companies with energy and environmental benefits. Scores were determined by a panel of independent judges from companies including PepsiCo, Staples, the University of California Berkeley, ISS Facilities Services, The Green Grid, LNS Research, Owens Corning, Yahoo! Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Legrand, Petco, and New Belgium Brewing Company.

"The caliber of the entries was impressive, and truly showed the innovation taking place in the industry today," says Paul Nastu, publisher of Environmental Leader. "The judges had their work cut out for them. It was a tough playing field for those that entered, and the products that scored 3.5 Stars or higher are those that the judges say have viable attributes that set them apart from others in the field," Nastu continues, adding,"And, with a 4.5-star score, Carbonostics proves to be a unique and innovative tool that delivers clear and substantial benefits to the food and drink industry."

With today's crowded playing field, energy and sustainability professionals have a notoriously difficult time knowing what products to choose to help their companies increase energy, environmental and sustainability performance. The Environmental Leader Technology Reviews program gives companies a solid base of products, vetted by experts, from which to choose.

"Our mission is to democratize access to robust and sophisticated environmental impact measurement tools for the food industry by offering a platform that is easy- to-use and affordable to implement for people with different levels of sustainability experience - in all sizes of companies.

We are delighted that the panel of judges recognizes the best-in-class value of Carbonostics to provide actionable results that will enhance efficiency and performance of food and drink companies globally," Bluehorse President Sara Pax comments.

To view the Environmental Leader Technology Reviews Hall of Fame, visit: http://www.environmentalleader.com/el-technology-reviews/

To learn more about Carbonsotics' innovative technology, visit: http://www.carbonostics.com

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About Bluehorse Associates

Bluehorse Associates is a pioneer in the field of sustainability metrics. Our mission is to embed sustainability into all aspects of today's businesses by developing metric tools that bridge the gap between environmental science and the strategic business objectives of today's companies. Bluehorse builds web-based environmental measurement tools for the FMCG industry that are practical to use and affordable to implement.

Bluehorse is headquartered in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France and has offices in the US, UK and Belgium. Visit: www.bluehorseassociates.com

About Carbonostics

Since its launch in 2009, Carbonostics has become the food and drink industry's standard for sustainability metrics. Carbonostics is an integrated suite of environmental impact measurement tools delivering actionable results for company's carbon and energy accounting, hot-spot screening, product portfolio analysis, product carbon footprinting and product lifecycle assessment needs. Carbonostics has over 200 users, including manufacturers, retailers, food service providers, scientists, academics and consultants. For more information, visit: www.carbonostics.com

About Environmental Leader

Since 2006, Environmental Leader's website and daily email newsletter have provided the definitive and objective voice in reporting on business-related energy, environmental, and sustainability issues, while Energy Manager Today is the leading daily trade publication keeping corporate executives informed about energy management news. For more information, visit: www.environmentalleader.com or www.energymanagertoday.com.

About the Environmental Leader Technology Review program

The Environmental Leader Technology Reviews is a program that recognizes excellence in products and services that provide companies with energy and environmental benefits. It is a five-star rating system designed to offer companies feedback and recognition. Third-party judges came from the following companies: GlaxoSmithKline, The Green Grid, ISS Facility Services, Legrand, LNS Research, New Belgium Brewing, Owens-Corning, PepsiCo, Petco, Staples, University of California, Berkeley, and Yahoo. More information at: http://www.environmentalleader.com/el-technology-reviews/

CONTACT:

Lori Gustavus, VP Communications

lori.gustavus@bluehorseassociates.com

+33(0)1.47.38.22.64

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ROCKVILLE, MD (MMD Newswire) March 12, 2013 -- Apex Companies, LLC - a leading national energy, water resources and environmental consulting and engineering firm - has named Dr. Craig Straub Senior Project Manager and Brian Kwiatkowski Senior Ecologist, both based out of the company's Cincinnati, OH office.

Straub is a Restoration Ecologist with more than 20 years of experience in sustainable stormwater management systems, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem reconstruction, endangered species and wetland science. A Certified Professional Ecologist and fluvial geomorphologist, Kwiatkowski has more than 12 years of experience in the water resources field. He has collected and analyzed data on more than 250 miles of open channel throughout the U.S., including geomorphic and vegetative process indicators, erosion and deposition features, and bedload transport data.

"The additions of Craig and Brian substantially bolster Apex's water resource service and capabilities in the Midwest and nationally," says Roger NordlingeruirH, Senior Vice President - National Programs and Business Development. "As we continue to look to expand and create new opportunities within this category, their breadth of professional experience and relationships will be a strong asset."

Focused on minimizing environmental liabilities and hurdles to maximize client's business opportunities, Apex recently acquired TITAN Engineering, Inc. (Dallas, TX), Ash Creek Associates, Inc. (Portland, OR) and A2L Technologies (Tampa, FL), privately held environmental and engineering services firms. The company's prominent M&A efforts have expanded the company's presence in Texas and various west coast markets, as well as enhanced oil and gas, and water related services throughout the country.

Recently named a Top 200 Environmental Firm and Top 500 Design Firm by Engineering News-Record Magazine (ENR Magazine), Apex is a portfolio company of Tailwind Capital, a private equity firm focused on investing in growth-oriented middle market companies.

For more information: www.apexcos.com, 301.417.0200.

About Apex Companies

Founded in 1988, Apex Companies, LLC is a leading national water resources and environmental services consulting and engineering firm dedicated to providing private and public sector clients with full-service, single-source solutions for routine and complex projects. Clients rely on the Company to provide the technical expertise and solutions requisite in the industry, while differentiating itself with a quick response time, professional performance, high-quality results and cost efficiency. Apex employs more than 450 professionals, including geologists, hydrogeologists, engineers, air quality experts, environmental scientists, industrial hygienists, safety specialists and field technicians, across a network of more than 35 offices throughout the United States.

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In April 2010, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA") Auditing Standards Board issued Standards for Attestation Engagements No. 16 ("SSAE 16"), titled Reporting on Controls at a Service Organization. SSAE 16 was issued to replace Statement on Auditing Standards 70 ("SAS 70") and converge with international standards.

Also known as a "Type II Service Auditor's Report" or "Independent Service Auditor's Report on Description of a Service Organization's System and the Suitability of the Design and Operating Effectiveness of Controls", the SSAE 16 Type II report provides independent third party verification of management's assertion that a service organization's policies and procedures were correctly designed and were operating effectively throughout the period in order to achieve the specified control objectives.

Nate Evans CEO of LexServ stated, "To our knowledge we are the only servicer in the space to offer this level of external process validation to the industry."

The independent SSAE 16 audit was conducted by Ernst and Young a public accounting and consulting firm who evaluated and tested LexServ's internal operational controls and processes, and issued an unqualified opinion. SSAE 16 is an auditing standard utilized by service organizations to demonstrate their internal controls and security practices to their clients. By successfully completing the SSAE 16 audit, LexServ demonstrates, with third-party validation, the effectiveness of its significant control practices and operational procedures.

LexServ pursued this certification to support client audit requirements and as part of its ongoing goal to provide world class service.

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Fisher is a seasoned industry expert specializing in experiential environments, museum exhibits, event production, executive briefing centers, and sports marketing, with more than 20 years of experience. In her role as Sr. Vice President of Business Development, Fisher will focus on experiential environments, museum projects and other 3D marketing initiatives for a diverse array of clients with projects around the world, including the USA.

"I have seen the work that Susan Fisher has directed over the years," stated Jeff Hannah, President of Nuance International. "We are thrilled to now have her on our team, with the great depth of expertise that she brings to the interior side of the industry."

Fisher has managed exhibit programs, live events, and corporate, retail and experiential interiors for global brands such as Nike, J.P. Morgan Chase, Johnson Controls, Siemens, Fidelity, AT&T, Dr Pepper at Dallas Cowboys Stadium, New England Patriots, Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Capitals/Wizards. Fisher brings extensive museum experience, which includes 100 Years of Pro Football for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the McAuliffe Shepard Discovery Center (NH), the USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor (HI), the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (CA), the Museum of Natural History in Morro Bay (CA) and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles (CA).

Fisher holds a Masters in Business Communication from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, and a Bachelor's Degree in Speech, Communications and Theatre from Temple University in Pennsylvania. Originally from Chicago, Fisher is now based Scottsdale, Arizona.

Gielissen Interiors & Exhibitions (www.gielissen.com) produces interior environments (museum, public, retail, special leisure projects, hospitality, banking, government, schools), exhibitions and special events for many global brands such as Samsung, Etihad Airways, Hilton Hotels, Ferrari, Delta Air Lines, Coca-Cola, Novartis, Sony, Heineken, Dell, BMW, Amstel and hundreds more. Gielissen was founded in 1937, and has since expanded to become the market leader in The Netherlands and one of the top in the world, with production facilities throughout Europe and the Middle East, and more than 300 industry professionals. Services include: strategic consultancy, concept development, exhibit design, project management, show program management, event management, engineering, manufacturing, installation & dismantling, warehousing and logistics. Gielissen has offices in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, North America and the United Arab Emirates, and has a worldwide network of strategic partners.

Nuance International (www.nuanceinternational.com) is the USA branch of Gielissen, and is a world-class provider of design, project management, and production of trade show exhibits, interior environments, private events, corporate theater and experiences, with offices in Atlanta (GA) and Scottsdale (AZ). By utilizing on-demand, web-based project management tools, and focusing on the cultural aspects of engaging global customers, Nuance has built a reputation that is unparalleled in the industry. The company has created exhibits for trade shows as well as interiors around the globe, such as the highly-acclaimed, Premium Lounges for Etihad Airways at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. Gielissen / Nuance has completed projects in over 70 countries covering the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.

USA / North America Contact:
MeLinda Long
T) 678-376-1008
E) MeLinda@nuanceintl.com

Europe / Middle East Contact:
Saskia van Kasteren-Snep
Manager Corporate Communication
T) +31-40-235-3637
E) Saskia.van.Kasteren@Gielissen.nl

Jupiter, Florida (MMD Newswire) March 15, 2013 -- For many people, there's nothing quite as frustrating as trying to wade through a bewildering sea of listings when they are in need of a doctor, dentist, lawyer, or contractor. As of April 1, LLH Data, LLC will be making these searches considerably easier for consumers by providing an innovative new line of "We Know" search sites that will allow several industries to easily get their information out to their target audience. This search suite, which will initially comprise weknowlawyers.com, weknowphysicians.com, weknowdentists.com and weknowrealtors.com, will have listings not only for doctors and lawyers but also for support personnel such as paralegals and medical assistants.

The "We Know" search suite is the brain child of LLH Data's CEO, President, and Managing Member, Tom Gardner, who says, "This new line of search sites will make it extremely easy to find exactly what - or whom - you are looking for. They will be more comprehensive than other similar sites. Our attorney search site, for instance, is the first one that incorporates paralegals as well as lawyers, and our physician search site is the first to list physician's assistants. He adds that the company wants to give everyone involved in these professions the opportunity to have a listing, because service providers and consumers alike benefit from having access to this enhanced database.

Gardner says that professionals wishing to be listed on one of the "We Know" sites can claim their profiles for free between April 1, 2013 and October 1, 2013. After that, there will be a nominal fee to continue an extended profile.

Accordingly, Gardner encourages attorneys, paralegals, dentists, physicians, physician's assistants, and realtors to register early. LLH Data will notify registrants as soon as the sites go live. "We will also be relying on registrant and consumer feedback to continue to improve our services," says Gardner, "so by all means, we want people to go to these sites and let us know what they think."

A true data pioneer, Tom Gardner began his career in the technology sector working for Seisint, where he stayed at the top of the Executive Sales Team, specializing in the media industry. From there, he started IRBsearch, a company specializing in selling data to the private investigative market, of which he has moved on from. While building that company into an industry leader, Gardner was also one of the founders of, and sat on the board of, IDology, a company specializing in identity verification solutions.

Says Gardner, "I have a love for data and information. Having been a fireman in Jersey City, and having owned several data companies, I know that the 'We Know' sites will let individuals and companies find and list information with pricing tailored to small businesses."

Stephanie Peck, the Operations Manager at LLH Data, says, "Tom Gardner really knows how to create products for the web based market that offer a great deal of bang for a very small buck. He is also a small business owner bringing more jobs to South Florida. He doesn't outsource his developers or any other staff. He believes in giving everyone a chance."

The four sites launching in April are only the beginning for the "We Know" product suite. Gardner says LLH Data will be launching weknowdata.com in May. "It will allow credit managers to look up business credit reports for an insanely small amount," he explains. Several more data sites are planned as well.

"The bottom line," says Gardner, "is that we want to get the word out there that there is a place for individuals and companies to list their services and to get information - without spending an arm and a leg."

For more information about LLH Data, visit www.llhdata.com

For more information about the "We Know" product line, visit the individual sites:

www.weknowlawyers.com

www.weknowdentists.com

www.weknowphysicians.com

www.weknowrealtors.com

Media Contact:
Stephanie Peck
Operations Manager, LLH Data, LLC
speck@llhdata.com
LLH Data, LLC
1935 Commerce Lane, Suite 1, Jupiter, FL 33458
(888) 908-4309 ext 402

###

Innovative search sites for consumers in search of lawyers, doctors, contractors will also include support personnel such as paralegals & physicians' assistants

Jupiter, Florida (MMD Newswire) March 18, 2013 -- For many people, there's nothing quite as frustrating as trying to wade through a bewildering sea of listings when they are in need of a doctor, dentist, lawyer, or contractor. As of April 1, LLH Data, LLC will be making these searches considerably easier for consumers by providing an innovative new line of "We Know" search sites that will allow several industries to easily get their information out to their target audience. This search suite, which will initially comprise weknowlawyers.com, weknowphysicians.com, weknowdentistsusa.com and weknowrealtors.com, will have listings not only for doctors and lawyers but also for support personnel such as paralegals and medical assistants.

The "We Know" search suite is the brain child of LLH Data's CEO, President, and Managing Member, Tom Gardner, who says, "This new line of search sites will make it extremely easy to find exactly what - or whom - you are looking for. They will be more comprehensive than other similar sites. Our attorney search site, for instance, is the first one that incorporates paralegals as well as lawyers, and our physician search site is the first to list physician's assistants. He adds that the company wants to give everyone involved in these professions the opportunity to have a listing, because service providers and consumers alike benefit from having access to this enhanced database.

Gardner says that professionals wishing to be listed on one of the "We Know" sites can claim their profiles for free between April 1, 2013 and October 1, 2013. After that, there will be a nominal fee to continue an extended profile.

Accordingly, Gardner encourages attorneys, paralegals, dentists, physicians, physician's assistants, and realtors to register early. LLH Data will notify registrants as soon as the sites go live. "We will also be relying on registrant and consumer feedback to continue to improve our services," says Gardner, "so by all means, we want people to go to these sites and let us know what they think."

A true data pioneer, Tom Gardner began his career in the technology sector working for Seisint, where he stayed at the top of the Executive Sales Team, specializing in the media industry. From there, he started IRBsearch, a company specializing in selling data to the private investigative market, of which he has moved on from. While building that company into an industry leader, Gardner was also one of the founders of, and sat on the board of, IDology, a company specializing in identity verification solutions.

Says Gardner, "I have a love for data and information. Having been a fireman in Jersey City, and having owned several data companies, I know that the 'We Know' sites will let individuals and companies find and list information with pricing tailored to small businesses."

Stephanie Peck, the Operations Manager at LLH Data, says, "Tom Gardner really knows how to create products for the web based market that offer a great deal of bang for a very small buck. He is also a small business owner bringing more jobs to South Florida. He doesn't outsource his developers or any other staff. He believes in giving everyone a chance."

The four sites launching in April are only the beginning for the "We Know" product suite. Gardner says LLH Data will be launching weknowdata.com in May. "It will allow credit managers to look up business credit reports for an insanely small amount," he explains. Several more data sites are planned as well.

"The bottom line," says Gardner, "is that we want to get the word out there that there is a place for individuals and companies to list their services and to get information - without spending an arm and a leg."

For more information about LLH Data, visit www.llhdata.com

For more information about the "We Know" product line, visit the individual sites:

www.weknowlawyers.com

www.weknowdentistsusa.com

www.weknowphysicians.com

www.weknowrealtors.com

Media Contact:
Stephanie Peck
Operations Manager, LLH Data, LLC
speck@llhdata.com
LLH Data, LLC
1935 Commerce Lane, Suite 1, Jupiter, FL 33458
(888) 908-4309 ext 402

A Licensed Site Remediation Professional and Professional Geologist, Connor has nearly 30 years of environmental project management experience. His primary focus will be expanding Apex's service area and capabilities in New Jersey and the surrounding region.

"Jim brings an impressive record of project management experience that will support the Company's operations and undoubtedly serve an important role in our continued growth in the important Tri-state region," says Doug Newton, Apex's Malvern Division Manager. "His addition was a necessity as we continue to expand. His breadth of technical expertise, as well as project and client management in the northeast will be a great asset."

Focused on minimizing environmental liabilities and hurdles to maximize client's business opportunities, Apex recently acquired TITAN Engineering, Inc. (Dallas, TX), Ash Creek Associates, Inc. (Portland, OR) and A2L Technologies (Tampa, FL), privately held environmental and engineering services firms. The company's prominent M&A efforts have expanded the company's presence in Texas and various west coast markets, as well as enhanced oil and gas, and water related services throughout the country.

Recently named a Top 200 Environmental Firm and Top 500 Design Firm by Engineering News-Record Magazine (ENR Magazine), Apex is a portfolio company of Tailwind Capital, a private equity firm focused on investing in growth-oriented middle market companies.

For more information: www.apexcos.com, 301.417.0200.

About Apex Companies

Founded in 1988, Apex Companies, LLC is a leading national water resources and environmental services consulting and engineering firm dedicated to providing private and public sector clients with full-service, single-source solutions for routine and complex projects. Clients rely on the Company to provide the technical expertise and solutions requisite in the industry, while differentiating itself with a quick response time, professional performance, high-quality results and cost efficiency. Apex employs more than 450 professionals, including geologists, hydrogeologists, engineers, air quality experts, environmental scientists, industrial hygienists, safety specialists and field technicians, across a network of more than 35 offices throughout the United States.

CONTACT:
Kevin Satz
301.417.0200
ksatz@apexcos.com

www.apexcos.com

www.facebook.com/ApexCompaniesLLC

www.twitter.com/apexcos

-- END --

"TDM has been in business now for 7 years and our client list continues to grow with each successful campaign. The diversity of services enables our successes to include clients ranging from fortune 100 companies to small and medium sized web based business owners. It is always rewarding to continue to help businesses of all types and sizes achieve success online." Said Anthony Feriozzi, President of Triangle Direct Media.

As one of the first companies to utilize blog marketing and social media outlets, TDM has now expanded its services to include local search for businesses and social media management. The company's online marketing programs, including search engine optimization (SEO) and social media marketing (SMM) are constantly evolving as technology continues to change and develop.

A wide range of services are now offered through Triangle Direct Media. TDM is able to revolutionize social media marketing strategies, search engine rankings and site conversions for thousands of clients.

Other than its loyal commitment to their customers, TDM also gives back to communities by participating in local events and donating to various charities.

To learn more about Triangle Direct Media's online marketing, social media and organic search services please visit http://www.triangledirectmedia.com/.

About Triangle Direct Media:

An Internet marketing agency headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, Triangle Direct Media's (TDM) many online services provide an array of social media and search engine expertise to drive traffic to online businesses as well as improve their social reach. TDM has leveraged several years of the development of best-of-breed methodologies to place many Fortune 500 businesses in top search engine positions. The company's unique approach sets them apart from many other "web tactics" based search engine optimization (SEO) firms, helping clients truly achieve successful rankings in Google, Bing and other major search engines.

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After consulting with their benefits broker, Mark Thornton, with First Merchants, NPP decided it was time to address the health of their employees and their families, along with the health care decisions the plan participants were making.

Company owner and president, Bill Ruch comments, "Our people are our most important asset and differentiator. We had to do something to help them become healthier and smarter health care consumers for everyone's benefit."

Two aggressive changes were implemented in hopes of becoming a healthier workforce; a single high deductible health plan and a health coaching program with American Health Network. Communication and incentives were key components to drive engagement in the programs.

Early on employees engaged with the nurse health coach and health care advocate for help understanding their new benefit plan and to earn the incentive of dollars in their health savings account. By the end of the year, employees had a personal relationship with the health coach. Several employees were well on their way to making healthier lifestyle choices - eating fruits and vegetables, eliminating soda, exercising consistently, taking medication as directed and visiting their doctor for an annual physical.

Liz, the Dietician Health Coach with American Health Network, shared, "Employees never miss an appointment with me. They look forward to reporting their progress and learning new tips for staying on course. The real difference in our program is it's not one program for all. Every person has a different health goal and we are here to help them achieve that and maintain it for life."

Fast forward one year. The NPP health plan renewal was 5.2%, something the group had never seen before. Prior to sharing the good news, Ruch asked employees to complete a short survey about the health coaching program. While he believed the program was successful and the primary reason for the relief in medical trend, he wanted to see how employees felt. Over 97% of the employees reported that the onsite coach and health care advocate had changed their life for the better.

Employees not only answered the survey they went out of their way to share personal stories with Ruch about how their health had changed as a result of working with the coach. One employee told of how he had reestablished time for himself which led to getting adequate sleep and exercise. Another shared their poor eating habits prior to the coach, "daily drive thru" and has since traded in the cheeseburger for healthy brown bag options. Probably the most significant story was one of a diabetic employee who was disregarding his health completely by not taking medication, not eating well, exercising or getting the proper amount of rest. By helping this employee get back on track with meds and a healthy lifestyle, the costs avoided exceed $12,000.

Tracy Minor, Wellness Manager with American Health Network gives her take on the success with NPP, "It's all about the human connection. Employees and spouses finally have a resource to help navigate them through this complicated health care system and someone to help them make better decisions for themselves in a very personal way."

When the question was asked of employees whether NPP should continue offering the health coaching program, the answer was a resounding "Yes!"

Ruch realizes another 5.2% health plan renewal may not be in the cards again this year, but stands confident knowing his employees have been forever changed by the health coaching program. The culture of NPP Graphics will never be the same and in this case that is a very good thing.

About American Health Network Employee Health Management

American Health Network's employee health management division focuses on helping employers, employees and families proactively engage the health care system and maintain a level of compliance in managing conditions. The results are healthier people and controlled expenses.

Visit www.ahni.com to learn more about American Health Network and the employee health management division.

Mary Delaney
Director of Employee Health Management
P: 317-580-6326
Mary_delaney@ahni.com

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