American Academy of Pediatrics, Getty Images Named 2013 Chicago’s 101 Best And Brightest Companies To Work For

Chicago’s 101 Best And Brightest Companies To Work For™ Announced By The National Association For Business Resources.

WARREN, Mich., June 11, 2013, Companies that excel at employee relations, use innovation to motivate employees, implement creative compensation programs and more will be recognized by National Association for Business Resources (NABR) at the “Chicago’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For™“ symposium and awards luncheon on Mon., Aug. 5, 2013 at the Oak Brook Double Tree.

This year’s winners practice innovative strategies and represent best practices in human resources in industries as diverse as insurance, hospitality, communications, staffing and nonprofit. (See the attached list of honorees.)

An independent research firm evaluates each company’s entry based on key measures in various categories. They include Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment, Selection and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; Work-Life Balance; Community Initiatives; Strategic Company Performance and the Best of the Best Small Business.

The winning 101 companies also vie for 11 elite awards, one granted for each category. Also, an overall winner that excelled in all categories will be honored with a “Best of the Best Overall” award. The elite award winners will be announced during the luncheon. Judy Hsu from ABC 7 Chicago News and Pat Cassidy from WBBM-AM News Radio will emcee the awards ceremony.

The event starts at 8:00 a.m. with registration and a networking continental breakfast. The morning continues with a series of interactive educational sessions on human resource practices starting at 8:30 a.m., followed by the awards luncheon honoring all winners and announcement of the 12 elite winners.

“Profitability and stability is essential for businesses in today’s economic climate. Companies that recognize that their employees are the key to their success achieve staying power. Our 2013 winners create their human resource standards to ensure employee satisfaction and they set standards for every business to aspire toward,” said Jennifer Kluge, NABR president. “We are proud to honor this year’s winners.”

A series of workshops covering leading human resources topics will also be presented. This year’s educational sessions include “Recruitment, Retention and Engagement with the Generation Gap,”  “The Real Solution for Healthcare Reform,” “Culture Identification: Creating a Strong Employer Brand” and “The Virtual Office: Achieving Productivity and a Work Life Balance.”

Chicago’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For™ is sponsored by ABC 7 Chicago, Assurance Agency, Corp!  Magazine, FONA International, Harrah’s Joliet, IIT Center for Research and Service, Ryan, LLC, The Management Association of Illinois and Verizon Wireless.

Admission for the awards luncheon and symposium is $265 for individuals and tables for 10 are $2,500. If you are interested in attending the conference, contact the National Association for Business Resources at 866-321-1822 or visit www.101bestandbrightest.com.

The “101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For™”, a program of the National Association for Business Resources is presented annually in several markets: Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, West Michigan and Nationally.  Nominations are now being accepted. Visit www.101bestandbrightest.com to obtain an application.

The National Association For Business Resources based in Warren, Mich. boasts a statewide sphere of influence that no other organization of its kind can claim, leveraging a depth of programs and community initiatives that positively impact more than 150,000 businesses.

Chicago’s 101 Best And Brightest Companies To Work For 2013 Winners

Of the hundreds of nominations received, the companies listed below met the criteria as a “Best and Brightest Company to Work For”

Adage Technologies, Inc.
ADP
Advanced Resources LLC
American Academy of Pediatrics
ARCO/Murray National Construction
Armstrong Aerospace, Inc.
Arrow Strategies, LLC
ArrowStream
Assurance
BDO USA, LLP
Bel Brands USA
BGT Partners
Blue Plate
Bosch Rexroth Corporation
Burwood Group, Inc.
Capgemini
Capital One Financial
Care Communications, Inc.
Celergo LLC
CITYTECH, Inc.
Comcast
Community Counseling Centers of Chicago
ContextMedia, Inc.
Enesco, LLC
Ernst & Young LLP
Event 360
Flexco
FlexPrint, Inc.
Flex-Weld Inc.
FONA International
Fusion OEM
Geneca
Getty Images
Ghafari Associates, LLC
GiveForward
GoHealth
GolinHarris
Greeley and Hansen
GTCR LLC
Harley Ellis Devereaux
Harold Zeigler Auto Group
Harrah’s Joliet Casino & Hotel
HealthScape Advisors
Hephzibah Children’s Association
iD Commerce + Logistics
Impact Networking, LLC
Infinite
Instant Technology
kCura
KPMG LLP
Kutchins, Robbins & Diamond Ltd.
LaSalle Network
Laurus Strategies
Loma Systems
McGladrey
Milhouse Engineering and Construction, Inc.
Mortenson Construction
Mutual Trust Financial Group
National Futures Association
NCSA Athletic Recruiting
Nitel
NOW Foods
Office Concepts
Omron Automation and Safety
OtterBase, Inc
Pepper GroupPlexus
PLS
Prestige Staffing
Prominence Advisors
Protiviti
PSC Group, LLC
Rabjohns Financial Group
Red Frog Events
Rightpoint
Robbins Schwartz
Ryan, LLC
Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc.
Service Express, Inc.
Shop Smart LLC
Shure Incorporated
Sikich LLP
Skender Construction
Sonoma Partners, LLC
Spot Trading L.L.C.
Stout Risius Ross, Inc.
SunCoke Energy
SWC Technology Partners
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
The Comprehensive Group
The James Chicago
The Marketing Store Worldwide
ThoughtWorks
Total Quality Logistics
Turner Construction Company
Utopia Global, Inc.
Verizon Wireless
VW Credit, Inc.
Wheels
WMS
WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone

About 101 Best and Brightest:
The 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For is an awards competition providing the business community with the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase their best practices and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work.

This is the premier awards symposium that celebrates those companies that are making the lives of their employees better as well as the community as a whole. The 101 Best and Brightest program provides yearlong education, benchmarking, assessment tools and interaction amongst the best employers. For more information visit http://www.101bestandbrightest.com/about-us

 Sources: National Association For Business Resources, PRNewswire-USNewswire

Mary Ann Omega from FACC LA Joins Council of Presidents of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce of Southern CA

Los Angeles, CA — On June 8, 2013, Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos celebrated with the newly-formed Council of Presidents of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce of Southern California. Committed to a major effort in increasing the economic empowerment initiatives of the Southern California region, the five chambers are collaborating on “Federation 2013,” the Bi-National Conference that will be held in Los Angeles on November 8-10, 2013. The conference is organized by the Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce (FPACC) and hosted by the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce-Los Angeles (FACC-LA).

The Chair of the Council is Jun Jao, president of the FACC of Orange County. Councilmembers include Mary Ann Omega, president of the FACC of Los Angeles (San Fernando Valley), Felix Lopez, president of the FACC of South East Corridor, Johnny Chua, FACC of the San Gabriel Valley and Evelyn Andamo, president of the FACC of the South Bay of LA Area.

The historic formation of a broad coalition of Filipino American business organizations in 1995 which eventually evolved into the Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce (FPACC.net) had been inspired by President Ramos and implemented by its founding President, humanitarian Yolanda Stern. For more information, contact info@FPACC.net.

About Mary Ann R. Omega:
Mary Ann Rosete Omega graduated Bachelor Arts in Communication from St. Paul College of Manila in 1980. She immigrated to the U.S.A. right after she graduated from college at the age of 21 and became naturalized citizen in 1986.

She joined the work force in the healthcare industry rising to the ranks to handle high dollar portfolios of accounts receivables of UCLA Medical Center for 24 years. Mary Ann is an active member of the community for over 10 years and is married to Noel S.V. Omega who is also an active member of the community for over 30 years of leadership in business and civic activism.

Mary Ann has been active member with the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles (FACC-LA) since 2005. She served as the FACC-LA Secretary from 2007 to 2009, then rose to ranks of FACC-LA Vice President from 2010 to 2012. On February 16, 2013 Mary Ann Omega was inducted as the 2013 President of Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles and was appointed as the Chairperson for the upcoming Federation of Philippine Chamber of Commerce Bi-National Conference at Sheraton Gateway LAX on November 8, 9, 10, 2013.

Mary Ann Omega believes that the secret of successful accomplishments is in the 4 C’s: Commitment, Communication, Cooperation, and Contribution. For more information visit http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5546363/

AT&T Tops (HACR) Prestigious List Of Companies That Invest In Hispanic Talent

With a 95 rating – the highest obtained by any other participating company— leading Hispanic advocacy group HACR recognizes AT&T’s inclusion of Hispanics.

DALLAS, April 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — With nearly 50 million Hispanic consumers in the U.S., Fortune 100 companies are continually doing more to reflect the diverse communities they serve. Among those leading the way is AT&T, as recently recognized by the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) in its 2012 Corporate Inclusion Index (CII) survey.

AT&T topped the list of 55 participating Fortune 100 companies and HACR corporate members with a 95 rating – the highest received in 2011 and 2012. This is the second year in a row that AT&T obtains a stellar rating in the areas of workforce, procurement, philanthropy and governance. In last year’s HACR CII report, AT&T was one of two companies to obtain a 95 rating score – receiving the highest rating for all telecommunication firms.

“We pride ourselves on being an innovation leader that hires, retains and develops talented individuals that reflect our diverse customer base. We have a personal and business responsibility to serve our diverse customers in their preferred language and invest in the communities where they live and work,” said Debbie Storey, AT&T senior vice president of Talent Development and chief diversity officer. “This recognition by HACR acknowledges our commitment, and we couldn’t be prouder.”

The HACR CII, a component of HACR’s Corporate Accountability Strategy, takes a comprehensive measurement of Hispanic inclusion at Fortune 100 companies and HACR corporate member companies by focusing on HACR’s four pillars of corporate social responsibility and market reciprocity: Employment, Procurement, Philanthropy, and Governance.

“On behalf of HACR’s Board of Directors, congratulations to AT&T for their commitment to Hispanic inclusion, which is reflected in their 95 rating,” HACR President & CEO Carlos F. Orta said.

Key findings from the 2012 HACR CII include:

• The average Hispanic hiring rate remained steady from 2011 to 2012 at 11 percent
• The average attrition rate for Hispanics was 13 percent
• Fifteen percent of survey participants reported less than one percent procurement spend with Hispanic suppliers
• An average annual philanthropic investment of nine percent of total dollars distributed to Hispanic communities
• Twenty-eight companies reported having a Hispanic on their board of directors, with only one company reporting having two Hispanic board members

Our inclusive culture dates back more than 100 years
AT&T’s inclusive culture dates back more than a century. Throughout our history the telecom leader has welcomed individuals from all walks of life and backgrounds. “That’s what makes AT&T a desired business partner and telecommunications provider,” Storey said. In 2012, the AT&T retention rate for people of color was 88 percent.

AT&T also:

• Has a 13 percent representation of Hispanics in its workforce.  The total U.S. AT&T workforce is 38 percent female and 39 percent people of color.
• Sponsors an award-winning employee resource group , HACEMOS (the Hispanic/Latino Employee Association of AT&T).
• Is a top-rated global supplier diversity program that spent more than $12.8 billion with minority, women and disabled-veteran suppliers in 2012, representing 23.96 percent of the company’s procurement base. AT&T’s goal is to always achieve 21.5 percent of its procurement from diverse suppliers.
• Has a strong focus on the Hispanic Consumer Market , which includes converting 720 retail stores in high-density Hispanic markets including California, Florida, New York and Texas to a bilingual AT&T stores (Spanish/English) format; full AT&T’s Spanish-language website and social media presence in Spanish; a strong advertising investment in Hispanic media; and sponsorship of top-rated Hispanic music, television, sports and entertainment programs and events.
• Supports the Hispanic community by investing resources to advance education, strengthen communities and improve lives. In 2012, AT&T contributed more than $131 million to the diverse communities it serves through corporate, employee and AT&T Foundation giving programs.
• Has significant representation of Hispanics in its most senior ranks including Ralph de la Vega, president and Chief Executive Officer of AT&T Mobility; Jose Gutierrez, President-Wholesale Solutions of AT&T Business Solutions; Thaddeus Arroyo, Chief Information Officer of AT&T Services, Inc.; and Carmen Nava, Senior Vice President-Customer Experience of AT&T Services, Inc.

The HACR CII is open to all Fortune 100 companies and HACR corporate members. The 2012 HACR CII saw a record number of participants, and certain industrial classifications were better represented than others. AT&T has been a participant in the HACR CII since its release four years ago.

For employment opportunities visit www.att.jobs

About AT&T:
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world . Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. For more information visit http://www.att.com/aboutus on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR):
HACR’s mission is to advance the inclusion of Hispanics in Corporate America at a level commensurate with our economic contributions. HACR focuses on four areas of corporate responsibility and market reciprocity. They are: Employment, Procurement, Philanthropy, and Governance.

In pursuit of its mission, HACR offers Corporate America direct access to the Hispanic community – its talent, entrepreneurs, and leadership – creating a forum to ensure corporate responsibility and market reciprocity for the nation’s Hispanic population. For more information visit http://www.hacr.org/about/mission/

Sources: AT&T Inc. & HACR

Hit Recording Artist and Singer Fawn in Marketing and Merchandising for Musicians Book by Robert Safir

Hit Singer/Songwriter and Recording Artist Fawn is included in the Music Industry Book ‘Marketing and Merchandising for Musicians’ book by Robert Safir. today April 17, 2013.

On April 17, 2013, World Wide Vital Marketing & Public Relations announced that hit singer-songwriter and recording artist Fawn, also known as ‘Songirl’, is in the music industry book, ‘Marketing and Merchandising for Musicians’ by Robert Safir.

The book addresses the issues and differences in today’s music industry compared to the industry of yesteryears, and gives the reader concrete advice on how to make a living at music through marketing and merchandising. It cover topics such as How To Keep Up With ‘The Change,’ Music Libraries, Latest Trends Towards Digital Music, Music Merchandising, Music Licensing, Developing Merchandise, Marketing Your Music The Traditional Way, Understanding Marketing, Knowing Your Audience, The Record Business and many more.

Fawn said, “I was very excited to be included in this book with other industry professionals, especially since it’s a book that helps people advance their careers.” She continued, “It can be rough out there in this music business, and I think Robert did a great job exploring the industry today and giving people some concrete tools to get their music and themselves out there.”

Robert Safir states, “The old way of ‘making it’ in the music business—get a recording contract, then relax and enjoy the ride while your record label does all the work—is gone forever. Succeeding as a musician today calls for new skills, new attitudes, and a new approach.” He explains, “Today, more than ever, how far you get in the business depends on you. The technology-driven, do-it-yourself ethos that revolutionized the way music is recorded and distributed has also transformed the way musicians and songwriters market themselves and their creations.”

In ‘Marketing and Merchandising for Musicians,’ veteran composer, producer, and engineer Robert Safir gives the reader ‘nuts-and-bolts’ type of information needed to craft a promotional strategy that will draw attention and get results.  The book teaches it’s audience to learn how to understand markets and target them with precision, grow a fan base, make CDs and websites, sell music online, leverage social media as a promotional tool, create T-shirts, hats, and other merchandise, keep up with the rapid changes in the industry, and more. Robert continues, “There are great opportunities in today’s music business, but achieving success is as tough as it’s ever been, maybe tougher. And there’s a lot to learn. This book will give you every possible advantage. It’s up to you to get your music career on the fast track.”

You can find ‘Marketing and Merchandising for Musicians’ on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and all the major outlets.

Robert Safir:
http://www.robertsafir.com/

Fawn:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2779641/

MEDIA CONTACT FOR RECORDING ARTIST FAWN:
Alex Leon, Director of Marketing & PR
World Wide Vital Marketing & Public Relations Inc.
TELS: (323) 465-3945 or (213) 321-9408
worldwidevitalpr.wordpress.com/
worldwidevitalpr@gmail.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: Please post press release or mention event in your magazine, website, radio and television shows and if you would like more information contact Alex Leon via email at worldwidevitalpr@gmail.com

Tax Help Available For Those Facing Financial Hardship by State of CA Franchise Tax Board

Sacramento –4-3-2013, With the April 15 tax deadline looming, the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) today advised taxpayers who face financial hardship to contact FTB for assistance. FTB has many options to help taxpayers handle their tax bills.

FTB assists those with financial hardships by establishing payment plans and sometimes delaying collection activities. The number of taxpayers seeking relief through payment plans has remained the same as last year but has increased by 126 percent over the last five years.

File Your Tax Return 
First and foremost, taxpayers should file their state tax return on time and pay what they can. This can reduce the penalties and interest down the road. FTB will send a Statement of Tax Due when a tax return is submitted without full payment. Once taxpayers receive that statement, they can begin to look at other assistance from FTB.

Payment Plans
FTB generally approves monthly payment plan requests if the balance owed is less than $25,000 and can be paid within 60 months. Liens are not typically filed on taxpayers paying their state tax through payment plans. Taxpayers can request payment plans online atftb.ca.gov by selecting “installment arrangement” under Online Services or by calling our automated phone line at 800.689.4776. Service is available in both English and Spanish.

Offer in Compromise
The Offer in Compromise (OIC) Program is for taxpayers who do not have, and will not have in the foreseeable future, the income, assets, or means to pay their tax liability. An OIC is an agreement between a taxpayer and FTB that settles the taxpayer’s tax liabilities for less than the full amount owed. FTB looks at the taxpayer;s income and assets to make a determination regarding the taxpayer’s ability to pay. Absent special circumstances, FTB will not accept an offer if FTB believes the liability can be paid in full as a lump sum or through an installment agreement. For more information go to ftb.ca.gov and search for “Offer in Compromise.”

Help with State Tax Liens
If you have a state tax lien and are trying to sell or refinance your home, FTB can help. State tax liens must typically be paid before real estate can be sold or refinanced. If a taxpayer suffering a financial hardship is selling or refinancing a home for less than the loan balance, FTB can remove the tax lien to allow the homeowner to complete the sale. This can generally occur within two weeks of the taxpayer submitting the required documents. However, the tax lien remains in effect on any other property the taxpayer currently holds or later acquires. For more information go to ftb.ca.gov and search for “Lien.”

About State of CA Franchise Tax Board:
They are responsible for administering two of California’s major tax programs: Personal Income Tax and the Corporation Tax. They also have responsibility for administering other nontax programs and delinquent debt collection functions, including delinquent vehicle registration debt collections on behalf of the Department of Motor Vehicles, and court–ordered debt. For more information visit https://www.ftb.ca.gov

Source: FTB Newsroom

State of CA Franchise Tax Board Reports Statewide Median Income Up In 2011

Sacramento – April 2, 2013, The statewide median income for all 2011 individual tax returns was $34,684, an increase of 2.2 percent over 2010’s median income amount.  For joint returns, the statewide median income was $68,122, an increase of 3.6 percent over 2010, according to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB).

“Median income” is the point where one half of the tax returns are above and one half is below the midpoint of the range of values.  Median income represents the income reported by a typical California individual or couple.

Californian taxpayers filed 15.8 million 2011 state income tax returns, reporting $1.1 trillion of adjusted gross income.  This is an increase of 5.7 percent from tax year 2010 figures. Adjusted gross income is a tax term that means the total income increased or reduced by specific adjustments, before taking the standard itemized deduction.

Over the past 40 years, the Bay Area counties of Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Contra Costa have consistently reported the highest median incomes. Marin County still has the highest median income for joint returns, reporting $120,170, an increase of 5.4 percent over 2010.  Santa Clara County ranked second with $103,019, while San Mateo County ranked third with $102,793 and Contra Costa County ranked fourth with $89,924.

Los Angeles County taxpayers filed 25.4 percent of all 2011 income tax returns in California. They reported median incomes of $30,255 for all individual returns, and $58,859 for joint returns, ranking 38th and 26th respectively.


The largest percentage gain in median income for all counties was 8.2 percent, reported in Alpine County. For joint filed returns the largest increase was in Trinity County, with a 7.0 percent increase.

About State of CA Franchise Tax Board:
They are responsible for administering two of California’s major tax programs: Personal Income Tax and the Corporation Tax. They also have responsibility for administering other nontax programs and delinquent debt collection functions, including delinquent vehicle registration debt collections on behalf of the Department of Motor Vehicles, and court–ordered debt. For more information visit https://www.ftb.ca.gov

Source: FTB Newsroom

The National Society of Hispanic MBAs (“NSHMBA”) Launches Student Business Case Competition sponsored by PepsiCo

IRVING, Texas, March 19, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – The National Society of Hispanic MBAs announced the launch of the Student Business Case Competition, a unique event designed to give high-powered MBA student teams an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, problem-solving skills and teamwork abilities in a formal competition.

Starting now and running through April 26, 2013, high-potential MBA candidates from the nation’s leading business schools will have the opportunity to compete for $3,000 in scholarships and prizes. The winners will be announced at The Annual NSHMBA Conference & Career Expo taking place in San Antonio, TX on October 10-12.

Students interested in participating in the competition can enter by signing your team up, review the Business Case Challenge and submit your case. If picked as a finalist, 3-5 members will present the Final Case at The Annual NSHMBA Conference & Career Expo.

To sign up please visit: http://www.nshmba.org/?page=PepsiCoCaseStudy

The competition is being sponsored by PepsiCo, a longtime NSHMBA supporter and corporate leader in advancing diversity and inclusion in the workforce. As part of the competition, teams will be given a hypothetical business case from which they will develop business solutions for a current operational, marketing or financial challenge. Each student team will then prepare and present its case before a panel of experienced business leaders from PepsiCo. Teams will be judged on their analysis of the case, the feasibility of their recommendations and the quality of their presentations.

“We love to challenge MBA students with real-world scenarios, and our business case competition is an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge and capabilities to PepsiCo, an industry leader and strong advocate of diversity and inclusion.” said Manny Gonzalez, CEO of NSHMBA. “NSHMBA is glad to host this business case competition at its Annual Conference & Career Expo, and we’re very proud to have PepsiCo serve as sponsor for this year’s competition.”

“Hiring and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities in which we operate has long driven PepsiCo’s success as a company. NSHMBA does tremendous work to promote the development and advancement of future business leaders, and we are proud to be part of this year’s competition,” said Steven Williams, Senior Vice President, Sales, and PepsiCo Beverages.

About NSHMBA:
The National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) was created in 1988 as a nonprofit organization. Widely known as the “Premier Hispanic Organization,” NSHMBA serves 39 chapters and more than 21,000 members in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. NSHMBA is dedicated to building and advancing Hispanic leadership, advocating the pursuit of higher education and providing its members with world-class career management programs. For more information, visit www.nshmba.org.

For more information about Business Case Competition visit:
http://www.nshmba.org/?page=PepsiCoCaseStudy

For more information about Conference and Career Expo:  www.nshmba.org/page/NationalConference

About PepsiCo:
PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. PepsiCo’s people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo’s promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment by conserving energy and water and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

Source: National Society of Hispanic MBAs

Diversity News Magazine, Diversity News Publications and Steven Escobar Joint Statement on Harassments & Reporting Practices

Multi-media producer and content Hollywood companies Diversity News Magazine, Diversity News Publications and Journalist Steven Escobar Joint Statement on Harassments and Reporting Practices.

Hollywood, CA — Wednesday, February 27, 2013, Diversity News Publications publisher of Diversity News Magazine managed by Steven Escobar has made a joint statement to tell all of our readers, fans, friends and supporters of recent harassment issues concerning our reporting practices.

A small group of people have proclaimed that they do not want anything negative written or reported to the masses about their fraudulent business affairs and questionable charitable events.

As we have stated in the past-although we did cover some of those events-upon further investigation, found them to not be forthright and honest establishments. Because of our responsibility and obligation to every single consumer, we decided to publish our investigative reports in our magazine, Diversity News Magazine. Diversity News Magazine believes in honest and accurate investigative reporting. We believe that you, the consumer deserve to be informed of such establishments and individuals. It is your right to know the truth, and our right to report it.

Unfortunately, a few individuals have taken it upon themselves to create drama and gossip. They have contacted our past and current friends and partners. Diversity News Magazine, Diversity News Publications nor Steven Escobar have lied to any of our allies/partners. Whatever we have promised, we have delivered.

We strongly believe in being real and fair to every one we encounter. There is no hidden agenda from us and we feel no obligation to stop reporting the facts-the truth. We do, however, feel an obligation to continue servicing our worldwide, diverse community by accurately investigating and reporting fraudulent individuals and organizations that take advantage of we, the people. Because of numerous calls, letters and emails from concerned individuals/readers, we decided to investigate and report our findings of such establishments in question. Diversity News Magazine is built on and run by volunteers. There is no paid staff. We are reporting the news and our findings. This is not a personal issue. We are not a strictly entertainment magazine publishing and doing free PR for individuals with hidden agendas.

In light of recent events, Steven Escobar is making a new promise. He states that, “We are not going to care anymore or get involved if someone takes advantage of their friends, partners or organizations. We will not entertain any personal drama in our proprietary outlets.”

Steven Escobar has been the messenger and bearer of honest investigative reporting and in no way should be under fire, due to lack of integrity and dishonest dealings of other individuals or their illegal practices. Steven Escobar reports what he observes and his investigative findings. He added, “People should not take this personally. I am doing my job by reporting the truth for my readers. I have never intended to hurt anyone in this process, but the truth is, authenticity must be reported. My job is to educate and alert our consumers/readers so they can make accurate decisions for themselves.”

He went on to say, “I am being harassed by a job I am not even getting paid a salary for! Diversity News Magazine is a labor of love for the community. Our writers and photographers are freelance volunteers/consultants; they are not employees of Diversity News Magazine or Diversity News Publications. We are an independent media outlet and our team does not get any paychecks, health benefits or holiday pay.” He continued, “Our outlet helps people. We have been targeted and victimized by honest news reporting.”

Diversity News Magazine and Diversity News Publications have affiliate partnerships relationship for media content and distribution with the following media, news and entertainment leader companies such as MediaMax Online via EPK TV, PartyBy5.com, The Miss Universe Organization, ABC Television Network, CBS Television, NBC Universal, Inc via NBC Universal Media Village, Fox Broadcasting Company via Fox Flash, Summit Entertainment, Lions Gate Entertainment, Conscience Entertainment, Tehran International Weekly Magazine, Studio One via Men’s Life Today, Repost.Us, Film District Publicity, Grab Media formerly the Voxant Newsroom and many more.

Additionally Diversity News Magazine and Diversity News Publications are working with some of the finest advertising organizations in the world such as Google Ad Sense, Google Affiliate Network, Rakuten LinkShare Corporation, Chitika, Inc., Share A Sale, media.net, Blip TV, YouTube, MGM Resorts International, Advertising.com (part of AOL Advertising.com Group), Amazon, Career Builder, Lijit Networks Inc.,and many more.

He concluded, “If the defamation of character, threats, questions of credibility and mud-slinging toward us continue, then we will have no choice but to report everything and turn in, including all of our evidence and investigative findings to the local, state, federal, national and international government authorities to take appropriate actions. We will file and turn it all over and allow the appropriate government authorities to deal with the people who are harassing and trying to intimidate us, all because they do not understand the meaning of what reporting the news actually means.”

About Diversity News Magazine:
Diversity News Magazine is an independent multi-media outlet own by Minority-Owned Business who works with everyone and it is published by Diversity News Publications. Diversity News Magazine executive editor-in-chief is Esteban Escobar aka Steven Escobar an award winning honored and respected Journalist.

Diversity News Magazine is a consumer news magazine covering news, entertainment, features, awards, sports, events and much more. DiversityNewsMagazine.com, an online & special print consumer news magazine that is visited by more than two million visitors a month, it is another venue for advertisers to showcase their products, brands or services on the classified and display pages.

The purpose of the magazine is to educate and inform the diverse community worldwide. It focuses on local, national and international news, entertainment, features, sports and more importantly, newsworthy items that would be of interest to our diverse cultures. For more information visit Diversity News Magazine at http://www.diversitynewsmagazine.com/

About Diversity News Publications: Founded in 2003 Diversity News Publications, is a news/entertainment multimedia firm specialized in Advertising, Design, Media, Film & Events Production, Marketing, Printing & Public Relations services who combines all sources in one. Diversity News Publications is the publisher of Diversity News Magazine and owns Diversity News TV, Diversity News Radio, Diversity News Productions, Local Celebrity Los Angeles and many more sites. For more information visit http://www.diversitynewspublications.com

About Esteban “Steven” Escobar:
Esteban A. Escobar (born in El Salvador, Central America on September 6th) is an Award Winning American (Journalist, reporter, editor, columnist, writer, producer, director, publicist, radio personality, accounts receivable specialist, humanitarian and philanthropist). Esteban is known as Steven Escobar. He is the Executive Editor-In-Chief of Diversity News Magazine, an online & special print consumer news magazine that is visited by close to two million visitors a month while growing each day. Esteban “Steven” Escobar is also Producer, Director of Diversity News TV, the host of Diversity News Radio, on Air with Steven Escobar and the President of Diversity News Publications, a news/entertainment multimedia firm in Hollywood, CA.

Steven Escobar owns E.E.Enterprises and an affiliate of The Diversity News Family of Companies. Steven Escobar is also the official Hollywood and Los Angeles County Events Examiner for Examiner.com and contributor for Yahoo.com distributed via Yahoo Voices. Steven Escobar also gives back to the community by helping charities, and since 2003 to the present, he has been raising money and awareness for AIDS Walk LA benefiting AIDS Project Los Angeles. Also in 2011 Steven Escobar raised money and awareness for The Life Group LA and volunteered for Exotifit For Humanity and The Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles Steering Committee.

Steven Escobar was nominated for The Shorty Awards 2011 and the People’s Choice Fan Award 2012. In 2012 Steven Escobar receives the Humanitarian Award at the 2012 International Noble Awards. Also on June 2, 2012 Steven Escobar Received the Community and Humanitarian Services Award at Kayamanan ng Bayan for all his contributions to the Filipino American community in Southern California.

On 12-12-12 Steven Escobar received Award for Most Fascinating Person of the Year 2012. Yahoo.com names Steven Escobar the Hot 500 contributors during the month of March 2012 of Yahoo! Contributor Network. Also on 2-22-2013 Steven Escobar is nominated for a 2013 EOTM (Entrepreneurs on the Move) Award for Outstanding Journalist.

Steven Escobar currently resides in Los Angeles County in the City of Hollywood, CA. For more information visit http://www.stevenescobar.blogspot.com or his IMDB at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4164655/

MEDIA CONTACT:
Alex Leon, Director of Marketing & PR
World Wide Vital Marketing & Public Relations Inc.
TELS: (323) 465-3945 or (213) 321-9408

http://worldwidevitalpr.wordpress.com/

worldwidevitalpr@gmail.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: Please post press release or mention event in your magazine, website, radio and television shows and if you would like more information contact Alex Leon via email at worldwidevitalpr@gmail.com

Fox Broadcasting Company Launches New Digital Content Syndication Network

Launch Partners Shazam, Viggle, ConnecTV and NextGuide to Feature

FOX NOW Sync-to-Broadcast Content Within Their Multi-Platform Environments.

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 - Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) today announced that it is launching a new, first-of-its-kind syndication network that will distribute FOX’s custom sync-to-broadcast experiences – currently available exclusively in FOX NOW apps – to other second-screen TV app providers. Powered by content syndication platform Watchwith®, the new network allows partners to take advantage of FOX’s high-quality companion content and ensures that fans can enjoy a premium, cohesive FOX digital content and advertising experience across multiple TV apps and platforms.

Syndication partners at launch include digital leaders Shazam®, the world’s leading media engagement company; Viggle℠, a leading second-screen TV platform that makes TV more rewarding; ConnecTV, the biggest social network designed specifically for TV fans; and NextGuide, the hyper-personalized TV guide app (from Dijit Media) that helps people discover and experience TV shows and movies. Through these partnerships, viewers using Shazam, Viggle, ConnecTV or NextGuide can easily access FOX’s social, behind-the-scenes and interactive content around their favorite FOX shows while synced to the broadcast.


“FOX has some of the most loyal, invested fans on the planet, so we want them to have the richest, most immersive experience possible with our shows and our brand partners – no matter which TV app or platform they use,” said David Wertheimer, President, Digital, Fox Broadcasting. “By syndicating the content we’ve built around our show broadcasts, we’re extending the FOX experience to viewers across all digital platforms and providing our partners with new and valuable opportunities around our content.”

“FOX’s focus on the creation of second-screen content as the shows are being produced is a really important step in the industry, and we’re proud to be one of FOX’s launch partners,” said Doug Garland, Chief Revenue Officer at Shazam. “Given the significant reach of Shazam – 85 million users in the US alone – we’re excited to partner with FOX to engage a wide audience with compelling second-screen content.”

In addition to mobile and tablet second-screen environments, the network is designed to allow FOX to create, manage and syndicate content to the rapidly evolving industry of Smart TVs, Connected TVs and television service providers looking to increase audience engagement. FOX is currently in discussions with such providers and plans to announce additional partners soon.

“FOX is a leader in creating premium sync-to-broadcast experiences,” said Zane Vella, CEO at Watchwith. ”The launch of this syndication network is a true path to scale for FOX, their distribution partners, and advertisers. Watchwith is excited to help power this vision for the innovators at Fox Broadcasting Company.”

About Shazam®:
Shazam® is the world’s leading media engagement company with more than 300 million people in 200 countries and adding another two million new users each week. With the industry’s unlimited fastest tagging in the Free and premium Encore Apps on iOS and Android devices, Shazam is the best way for people to discover, explore, buy and share more music, TV shows and branded content they love.

Shazam makes it easy for people to share their discoveries with their friends on Facebook using the Shazam Friends feature, as well as on Twitter and Google+.  For people who don’t yet have the Shazam application on their smartphone, it is available for FREE on every major platform and can be found on iTunes App Store, Google play, Amazon App Store, AT&T’s AppCenter, Verizon VCast app store, Nokia Store, Windows Phone Marketplace, Blackberry App World and GetJar.

For further information about Shazam Entertainment visit www.shazam.com and @ShazamNews or follow us on Facebook.  For daily music updates follow theShazam Blog and @Shazam.

About Viggle℠:
Launched in January 2012, Viggle is a free second-screen media platform that rewards its members for watching their favorite TV shows. Viggle enhances TV with interactive games like Viggle LIVE and the first ever real-time fantasy sports game, MyGuy. Viggle members get rewarded for their TV time from places like Best Buy, Papa John’s, Fandango, Hulu Plus and Groupon, among others. Viggle also allows like-minded fans of their favorite shows to connect through Viggle Chatter features. Viggle’s audio verification technology recognizes shows on TV and allows members to check into live and DVR’d TV content from more than 170 of the most popular broadcast and cable channels. For more information, visit www.viggle.com, follow us on Twitter @Viggle or like us on Facebook.

About ConnecTV:
ConnecTV is the biggest social network designed specifically for TV fans – a second-screen companion entertainment experience that complements the video programming delivered from cable, satellite, telecom, over-the-air or online service providers. ConnecTV automatically connects television viewers while they watch their favorite programs and synchronizes engaging second-screen content, including the latest news, celebrity information, trivia, polls and play-by-play sports stats – as well as top Tweets and real-time chat with guest chat stars and other Superfans. ConnecTV subscribers can see what TV shows their friends are watching and invite them to a “viewing party” for conversation, games and prizes. ConnecTV also makes it easy to “one touch” share viewers’ favorite TV moments using Facebook, Twitter and email. ConnecTV was founded by pioneering executives at the intersection of media, entertainment and technology: Ian Aaron, Alan Moskowitz and Stacy Jolna.

About Dijit Media:
Dijit Media is a startup transforming the way people discover and experience TV shows and movies. Dijit’s newest product is NextGuide, a hyper-personalized TV listings guide designed specifically for the iPad™. The company’s first app, launched in 2011, was the Dijit Remote – the top-rated iOS remote control app, which also powers the experience for the Griffin Beacon iOS accessory. The company is venture-backed, based in San Francisco and is helmed by a team of serial entrepreneurs including TV technology industry veterans Jeremy Toeman and Adam Burg, as well as Stanford alum Thomas Quinto. More information about the company is available at www.dijit.com and more information about the app is available at www.nextguide.tv.

About Watchwith®:
Watchwith, the leader in related content syndication, unlocks value across the entertainment industry by transforming how people experience film and television. Watchwith gives content owners and app developers a way to realize new value by creating an engaging layer of time- based related content events, one-click commerce, and contextual advertising around film, television programming and commercials. Watchwith also provides business rules-based syndication of the related content experience to smartphones, tablets, connected TVs, game consoles and OTT set-top boxes. Powered by the Related Content Database™, Watchwith enables content owners to create new licensable related content properties that will generate profits across media far into the future. Watchwith is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. For more information visit watchwith.com.

 Source: Fox Broadcasting Company

LADWP Awards $765,000 in Grants to 17 Non-profits for Conservation Outreach to Hard-to-Reach Customers

Selected Non-profits to Receive $45,000 Grants for Energy and Water Conservation Awareness.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) announced today that it has awarded $765,000 in grants to 17 local non-profit organizations to promote energy efficiency and water conservation.

The Los Angeles-based organizations will each receive a $45,000 grant to creatively reach diverse communities, encouraging them to reduce their energy and water use to benefit the environment and help lower their utility bills. The selected grant recipients will target a broad cross-section of residential and commercial customers, and are spread across all City Council districts. They will reach communities through multiple languages including English, Spanish, Armenian, Korean, and Tagalog, among others.

“LADWP has long needed to do a better job reaching non-English speaking and underserved communities and last year, with federal funding provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act we began to do just that.  We were very encouraged by the results, and this year we’ve extended the program with Department funds to build on our success and spur more of our customers to conserve power and water,” said LADWP General Manager Ronald O. Nichols.


“The conservation partnership grants are one part of a comprehensive package of energy efficiency and water conservation programs offered by LADWP and will help meet the Department’s goal of reducing energy consumption among customers by at least 10% by 2020 and further increase water conservation by customers. This year, LADWP has more than doubled its budget for energy efficiency to help more customers save power.

In the first round of the program, 32 federally-funded grants totaling $1.415 million were awarded to LA-based non-profits. These funds supported outreach projects that directly involved over 75,000 residential and business customers.  In addition, about 17,500 customers participated in more intensive workshops or training sessions.  Many of the community-based organizations that received the first-round grants in fiscal year 2011/12 now incorporate energy efficiency and water conservation into their ongoing outreach and education efforts.

This year, the program is expected to achieve similar results and will track and quantify energy and water savings achieved through the outreach.  Projects will be completed within one year.

Following is a list of this year’s grant recipients:

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Non-Profit Community Partnership Grants
2012-13 Grant Recipients:

Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Foundation

The River Project

Pacific Lodge Youth Services

The Children’s Nature Institute

Community Enhancement Services

Pacoima Beautiful

Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church

FAME Assistance Corporation

California Greenworks

Los Angeles Conservation Corps

The University Corp – Cal State Northridge

LA Community Garden Council

LAMP Community

Gang Alternatives Project

SCOPE

Green LA Coalition (Peer Facilitator)

Ballona Institute

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