Report: California to shed 1M jobs during recession - Orlando Business Journal:

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The pace of private-sector job losses will slow over the next few but state and localk government layoffsare beginning, the Business Forecastinhg Center at the said in its latesrt California and Metro Forecast releasedc Wednesday. The forecast said California’s unemployment will peak at 12.3 percenr early next year, and will remainn in double-digits until the end of 2011. The centef produces quarterly economic forecasts of theUnited States, Californiaz and nine metro areas, from Sacramento to Fresno and the San Francisc o Bay Area. In the Sacramento area, unemploymeny will rise from 11.1 percent this year to peak at 11.4 perceng next year, before dipping to 10.
2 percentt in 2011, the report said. Unemploymenr is expected to reach 9.2 perceng in 2012. The Sacramento area is forecast to rebound in the thirdc quarter ofnext year, when job growth will improvde to 0.8 percent. A “stron rebound is expected to take place in professionaland business, and educationapl and health services sectors,” the report said of Sacramento. “Jo growth is expected to have its first positive full yearat 2.0 percent in Sacramento’s real personal income, will grow at a slow rate of 1.5 percentf next year.
San Jose and San Francisco will be the firsr metro areas in Northern Californiz to return totheir pre-recession employment levels, in the seconr and third quarters of 2012, respectively, the studty said. Sacramento and Merced will be amonyg the last north state metro areas to regain peak in fourth-quarter 2013. Vallejo is with a return expected in the second quarterof 2014. The Centralp Valley will be hard hit by the combinatiom of recent state tax increases and massives expectedbudget cuts, the Business Forecastinf Center said.
“The stater budget crisis is a dangerous aftershocjk to a region still reeling from theforeclosure earthquake,” Jeff director of the Businessw Forecasting Center, said in a news release. The Central Vallegy is an economicdisastert area, but most of its “economif shocks are cyclical in nature rather than permanenrt changes such as closed military the news release said. • Construction continues to lead job lossesd inpercentage terms, declining anothert 15 percent to 110,000 in 2009. • Manufacturing will lead the declindein 2009, losing 135,000 jobs this • Retail sales will not return to their 2007 level until 2011.
• New car and truckj sales will fallbelow 1.06 million in after exceeding 2 million for most of the Sales will gradually increase as the economuy recovers, reaching 1.46 million next year, and 1.73 million in 2011. Housing starts hit bottomm in 2009at 36,000 units, more than 80 percent below the levels seen in 2004 and 2005. Housinbg starts will be back to 100,00p0 units in 2011, and exceed 150,000 by 2013. Health care is the only sectoer that will not shrinkthis year. The gain of 13,000 healtuh care jobs, or 0.9 percent, is the slowestf growth this decade. • Personak income declines 0.8 percent in 2009.
• Nonfarmj payrolls will declineby 1,020,000 jobs statewide duringh the two-year recession. • The Californiwa economy will finally hit bottom in the fourth quartetr ofthis year, and will begin a multi-year recovery. It will be 2013 before many key economidc indicators such as unemployment return tohealthy • The state’s recession should end in the last quarte of this year, but the job markef will remain weak through most of next

Real estate roundup - The Business Review (Albany):

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The bank leased 4,850 square feet at 1001 N.W. 14th Ave. from Lovejohy Corner LLC. Jeff Olson of Commercial Realtt Advisors NW representedthe bank; Thom Brockmillerf of Gray & Associates represented the KeyBank will remodel the existing buildinbg and plans to open its new branch this The bank has 70 branches in Oregob and Southwest Washington. • Venne & Compangy LLC, a public accounting leased 3,565 square feet at 6915 S.W. Macadam Portland, from RF Macadam LLC. John Van Zonneveldx of MacadamForbes Inc.
represented the Greg Gonzalez of DougBean & Associates represented the • Maclaren & Whearty LLP, an estatwe planning and tax firm, renewec its lease for 2,633 square feet at Fairway Center, 9115 S.W. Olesonh Road, Portland. Matt Adamsx of Grubb & Ellis Co. represente Maclaren & Whearty; Shawm Adams and Charlie Digregorio of CB Richarxd Ellis representedthe lessor, Fairway Center Officee Associates LLC. • Carlson & Swanlund LLC leased 2,494 square feet at Fairwagy Center, 9115 S.W.
Olseon Road, Jeff Borlaug of NAI Norris Beggds & Simpson represented the tenant; Shawn Adams and Charli e Digregorio of CB Richard Ellis represented Fairway Center OfficeAssociates LLC. Dealer Services Corp., which provides services to the auto dealer signed an expansion leasefor 1,822 squar e feet at Airport Plaza Building, 5933 N.E. Win Siveras Drive, Portland. Dealer Services represented itself; Rich Sabe of CB Richard Ellis representesdlandlord D.W. Sivers Company. • Dr. Greg Baker of Manual Medicin and RehabCenter P.C. leasedd 1,702 square feet at Sunnyside Marketplace, 12304 S.E. Sunnysidde Road, Clackamas. Matt Sichel of Elliott Associatesa Inc. represented the property.
• Advantagew Management Softwareleased 1,337 square feet at 8600 S.W. Salisuh Lane, Wilsonville, from David A. and Sue Ellenb L. Duemling. Jake Lancaster of Grubb Ellis representedthe tenant; Caseyt Pileggi, Kevin VandenBrink and Joe Kappler of Macadamn Forbes represented the property. Linea Recta International Inc., a brandingh firm, leased 13,000 square feet at 6040 N. Cutterf Circle. Peter Stalick of GVA Kidder Mathewasrepresented Linea; Todd Collins of Macada Forbes Inc. represented the lessor, Rosah Inc. • Jim Bean Brandas Co. renewed its lease for 3,685 square feet at Minthorb Business Center, 4099 S.E. Internationao Way, Milwaukie.
Preston Greenre of CB Richard Ellisa representedJim Bean; the landlord representerd itself. • Reliant Dry Ice Pacific LLC leasedd 3,630 square feet at Commerced Park Clackamas, 16065 S.E. 98th Clackamas, from CP Clackamas LLC. Steven Kleinn and Peter Stalick of GVA Kidder Mathews brokeredthe transaction. Columbia Scooters leased 2,450 squarew feet at Cornelius PassPlazw LLC, 7530 N.E. Shaleen St., Dean Wier of Norries & Stevens Inc. represented Columbia • Pet Pros leased 2,125 square feet at Sunnysid Marketplace, 12040 S.E. Sunnyside Clackamas, from Sunnyside Marketplace LLC. Doug Magnusenb of HSM Pacific Realtyh representedPet Pros; Matt Sichel of Elliott Associates Inc.
representedr the property. • Freddie’s Deli and Pub leased 1,500 squar feet at Baker Street 1250 N.E. Baker St., McMinnville, from Bakert Square Investors LLC. Todd Amacher of Elliott Associates Inc. represented Tien Pham of Argonaut Investments representexdthe property. • Cha! Cha! Cha! Mexican Taqueria leasedx 1,350 square feet at 3808 N. Williams Ave., from 3030 Williams LLC. Todd Amacher of Elliottr Associates Inc. represented the restaurant; Jon Kellogfg of Commercial Realty Advisors representedthe • Charles Padot purchased Typree Gardens, a 20-unit apartment complex at 2400 Haworthn Ave.
, Newberg, from the estate of Carol Hilterbrand, for $850,009 or $42,500 per unit. Brianb Tracy of Norris & Steven s Inc. represented the buyer; Tom Demonbrubn represented the seller.

Kazakh companies plan to purchase raw materials for gold production from ... - Equities.com

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Monday, November 26, 2012

Ralph Nader: Israel-Palestine: What is the US national interest? - Torrington Register Citizen

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Kazakh companies plan to purchase raw materials for gold production from ... Equities.com Moreover, according to the Ministry, the strategy envisaging further modernization and construction of new facilities with investments attraction is being implemented in Kazakhstan's gold mining industry. "Today six new [gold mining] plants are being ... and more »

Ralph Nader: Israel-Palestine: What is the US national interest? Torrington Register Citizen Ralph Nader: Israel-Palestine: What is the U.S. national interest? Published: Sunday, November 25, 2012. By Ralph Nader. Israeli elections are coming up in January so it is Palestinian hunting season again. Israeli cynics call it a time “for mowing the ... and more »

FWISD favors House bill for school funding - Dallas Business Journal:

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House Bill 3646, if passed, will allocate $22 milliom to Fort Worth ISD, with the schookl district required to spend aboutr half of the funding on salary hikeasfor teachers, counselors, nurses, librarians and speecyh therapists. The remaining $11 million will pay down the district’x deficit, the school district said in a pressreleasd Tuesday. While FWISD is not fully satisfie with the contents ofthe bill, schoo district leaders contend it is far bettef than the Senate’s version of the The school district says the ’s substitute bill will reduced the amount of money spent on Fort Wortn ISD by $9 millioh and cuts the amount available for pay increases.
“Thd days and the hours of the 81st are tickingfaway – and the issue of school financd still hangs in the balance,” said Superintendent Melodhy Johnson on Tuesday. As lawmakers contend with various bills to determinre schoolfunding initiatives, they are up agains t a June 1 deadline, which is the last day of the 81st regulaer session.

Glen Cove shopping Center bought for $13M - San Francisco Business Times:

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million, the first Northerjn California shopping center to sell this The property, a 66,000-square-foot neighborhood shopping center, is located in the Glen Cove sectiomn of Vallejo, California alongv Interstate 780. Glen Cove is anchorex by a 50,360-square-foot supermarket and features a variet yof neighborhood-serving retail The seller was a joint ventur between and Prudential Real Estate The Wald Team of Terranomics Retailo Services -- Dan Wald, Dave Nord and Steve Holm -- representex the seller. Mark Koeniyg and John Schaefer of TerranomicwsRetail Services’ San Rafaep office also worked on the deal for the seller. The $12. million price tag represented a 7.71 cap rate.
“We think it portends a more positivwe 3rd and 4th quarter for retailinvestment sales. In while many bemoan the lack of equity capitaol inthe market, our Team was able to bring 22 investorse to the call for offers,” said

City National buys majority stake in Lee Munder Capital Group - Kansas City Business Journal:

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Terms of the which is expected to close in thethirx quarter, were not disclosed. City National will mergd Lee Munderwith , a Boston-basedd institutional asset management firm in whichy City National holds a majority interest. The new companyu will operate under the Lee Munderf Capital Group name and as an affiliatdof LLC, the Chicago-based asset managemeng holding company that City Nationak acquired in 2003. The combined companyu will have morethan $4 billiojn of assets under management and serve as City National'ss primary institutional asset management affiliate.
"The combinede firm will have the managemen andinvestment talent, financial strength, infrastructurw and marketing capabilities needed to grow and provider clients with long-term investment performance and superior service," Richard Gershen, executive vice presidentr of wealth management for City National, said in a Los Angeles-based City National CYN) is the parent of City Nationa Bank.

China promotes conservative to propaganda minister - Reuters

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China promotes conservative to propaganda minister Reuters BEIJING (Reuters) - China appointed on Wednesday a loyal ally of President Hu Jintao to become propaganda minister and promoted one of its most senior female leaders to Communist Party chief of the northern port city of Tianjin. The new propaganda ... and more »

NCTM President Visits Burley School in Chicago, IL - PR Web (press release)

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PR Web (press release)

NCTM President Visits Burley School in Chicago, IL PR Web (press release) Linda Gojak, President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, will observe and share in teaching a math lesson, as well as engage and discuss with the students the many uses of math in their daily lives. The NCTM president regularly visits ... and more »

N.C. foreclosure filings drop - Pittsburgh Business Times:

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North Carolina ranked 36th in the nation for foreclosurw filingslast month. Foreclosure filings in the statr fellnearly 16.1 percent in May from Across the country, foreclosure filings rose 18 percent in May from a year ago. Ther e were 321,480 foreclosure filings nationwide, which affected one in evergy 398 U.S. households. Nevada, California and Florida posted the top foreclosure rateslast month. Filingxs nationwide fell 6 percentg in Mayfrom April. Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac tracksa default notices, auction-sale notices and bank Its figures exceed those compiled bythe N.C. Commissioner of Banks.
The companhy counts every foreclosure filing, including multiple filings for asingle household. The commissioner countas each householdonly once, regardless of the number of filinga it receives.

Attendance is high at car, boat shows - Philadelphia Business Journal:

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At the 2004 , a recor d 279,854 attendees were a 21 percent gainfrom 231,609 a year ago. The held at the , featured 700 including concept cars, from more than 40 The show, which is hosted by the , had a record openin g day, Jan. 31, with 41,460 up 30 percent from 31,7990 a year ago. For eight of the nine attendance exceededlast year'ds tallies, according to organizers. At the Shore, meanwhile, the Atlantivc City International PowerBoat Show's paid attendance for this year' s show totaled 58,018, up 27 percent from last year'w 45,606, then a record.
Whether the increasee attendance is an indicator of animproved economy, lowed gas prices or just cabin fever may be a subjecgt of debate. One thing's for sure: Anything with a throttle is drawinfcrowds -- whether they include SUVs, powee boats or RVs. Other shows this spring will include the Atlantic City ClassifcCar Show, with 600 collectors' vehiclez at the Atlantic City Convention Center, from Feb. and two shows at the Fort Washington Expo The Philadelphia BoatShow (Feb. and Delaware Valley RV & Campingb Show (March 4-7). Reading Terminal Market in Center City will get wireless Internet acceswin March, according to General Manager Paul Steinke.
This will allow patrons visiting the markey to get Web access fromtheir It's part of a largefr wireless hookup at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, whichn owns Reading Terminal. The move helpz Reading Terminal compete with Starbucks and even universitiexs that offer students free wireleszsInternet access. "We hope it will attract tech-savvy people at off-peak said Steinke. "You can have a coffee and pastry andfree Presidents, live and bronzed The will welcome two new presidentx to its hallowed halls. First, the Philadelphiza museum receiveda $1 milliomn grant from to develop "Lincoln and the Constitution," an exhibif slated to open in July 2005.
It will be the firs of what the Constitution Center promises will be regularlychanginv exhibits. The exhibit will include a life-size bronze cast of Abraham Lincoln, similar to the bronzer casts inthe Signers' Hall exhibitg at the Constitution Center. Like the 42 statuex of signers, the bronze Lincoln was created by Studio EISof N.Y. Research for the statue, to make the 4-inch Lincoln as lifelike as possible, was done by the Lincolnj Museum inFort Wayne, Ind. Another president, the Constitutio n Center's new president and CEO, formeer Time magazine national editorRicharr Stengel, will start his new job on Marcgh 1. Stengel, who succeeds Joseph M.
is a former Rhodes scholar who collaborated with former South Africah President Nelson Mandela onthe bestseller, "Long Walk to He's also the author of "You'rse Too Kind: A Brief History of Flattery." Flattery aside, he'lp have to earn his own bronze statue. Charty House, one of Penn's Landing's first and most endurinfg restaurants, will undergo renovations. The restaurant's Houston-based parentf will spend $1 million on new chairs, lighting, carpet and art according to the restaurant's general manager, Carl de Gersdorff.
Chart Housd will also renovate the menu to offer dishesslike "snapper Hemingway," "shriml Fresca" and "dynamite mahi-mahi." The Chart House chain, whicn was started in 1961 by a group that includedc legendary Hawaiian surfer Joey Cabell, has 27 locationws and is now part of Landry's Restaurants Inc., a publiclyu traded company. Heritage Philadelphia Program, an arm of the Pew Charitable awarded $413,491 to seven historic sitea in the area. The which is administered by , awarded $75,000 each to the Americam Philosophical Societyand . At the $50,000 level, recipients were ( ), the Mill at Anselmsa Preservation and EducationalTrust Inc.
and the and Other grants were given to the National Museum of American Jewish History and National Archives andRecords Administration, Mid-Atlantiv Region ($48,845). Grant money is earmarkedd for new exhibits, research and development of "speciapl experiences for visitors."

Eddie Bauer declares bankruptcy - South Florida Business Journal:

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had struggled with its debt a crisis that worsened asrevenue dropped, part of an overall tren d affecting most retailers during the recession. The company has lost nearly a half billion dollars in the past three Those losses, coupled with the impact of the recession and debt payments apparently pushed the company into bankruptcy cour t — a move that was rumored for Eddie Bauer became the latest majo r retailer to succumb to filing in bankruptcg court this recession. The list also includes Linense ‘n Things, Circuit City and Northwest retailer , which sold its assets to a liquidato in April and closed31 stores.
In many Eddie Bauer’s crisis is not different from what most retaileres are facing during this prolonged anddeep recession, said Greg an Atlanta-based consultant for Conway MacKenziw who works with financially stressed retailers lookingt to restructure. Most retailers — except discount storew like Wal-Mart — have seen a fast drop-ofvf in retail revenue across the Charleston said. Many of the specialty retail department storess haveseen double-digit same-storse sales declines, he said. “When revenuse drops and same-store sales drop, companiew with less debt can weathert a downturnmuch longer,” Charleston said.
“It becomes an issuee much sooner if you are intoliquidity issues.” As of May 11, Eddied Bauer reported having $289.5 million in outstandingf debt, including $187.8 milliohn in term loans and $75 milliob in convertible notes, which company executives have been tryinyg to persuade debt-holders to convert into shares of the According to a filing with the , Eddie Bauefr had total assets of $525.22 millio n in April. The company listed total liabilitiewof $448.9 million. Eddie Bauer reported net lossezsof $165.5 million in fisca l year 2008, part of a total of $478.
67 million in losses during the past three fiscal In the first quarter that endede in April, the company reportede net losses of 44.5 million. For the first quartef of fiscalyear 2009, which ended Aprio 4, Eddie Bauer reportedd a loss of $44.5 million. That was a greated loss than the first quartetrof 2008, when the company reported a $19.3 million loss. Net salesx for the first quarter of 2009were $179.8 compared with net sales of $213.w2 million in the first quarter of 2008. The company said that combinee comparable storesales — a barometer of success at the stor level — fell 11.
3 percent for the first a decline the compan y blamed on the recession and reduced retail Sales were down nearly 15 percent in Eddie Bauer’s retaio stores and sales through its direct channel were down nearly 11 The outlet stores saw sales declin by nearly 76 percent. “The firsty quarter was a difficult one, as the sharp downturhn in the economy took its toll on our We continued to focus on cost cutting and cash flow which helped mitigate the impact oflowed sales,” said CEO Neil Fiske, in a statement with the first-quarter results filed with the SEC.
Eddie Bauefr has 370 stores, including 251 retail stores and 119 outletg stores in the United States and Eddie Bauer has 17 stores in Washington and 11 storesin Oregon. (See a copy of the bankruptcgy filing .) But by filing for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federalbankruptchy code, Eddie Bauer hopes to avoid the fate of Joe’s Sports & Outdoor, which filed for bankruptcy protect March 4. The Ore.
-based company had hoped to find a ButIn April, a bankruptcy judge approved the liquidation of the Joe’s stores afterd the company could not find a Joe’s had 31 Northwest storesa — 10 of them in King and Pierce counties — that held going-out-of-businessx sales after the company’s assets were snappeds up at bargain basement prices by , a liquidator that also sold off merchandis e for Circuit City.

Duke University Company Profile | Company Information

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Frazier museum chooses Bandy Carroll Hellige as it agency of record - Pittsburgh Business Times:

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Previously, the museum had no singler agencyof record, with severap Louisville advertising firms handling the said Krista McHone, publifc relations and marketing director for the “I just decided to consolidate all that with Bandy Carroll Hellige,” McHone said. Bandy Carroll Helligew will develop and implementall campaigns, includingy branding, marketing, advertising, public relations and interactive programse for the museum, the releass said. The Frazier museum, 829 W. Main St.
, was foundeed in 2004 by OwsleyBrown Frazier, the retirerd vice chairman of , the Louisville-based spirits and wine The museum has abouty 100,000 square feet of antique arms and historicao items, many of which are from Frazier’s private Bandy Carroll Hellige was founded in 1989 by partnersw Susan Bandy, Mark Carroll and Tim Hellig e and has a total of 44 employees at its headquartersw in Louisville, Ky. and an offices in Indianapolis, according to the release.

Antioch College to reopen - Dayton Business Journal:

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The boards of and the an alumni group whichy had been fighting to keep the Liberap Arts college alive signed an agreement last week to transfer the colleger and its assets from Antioch Universith to thealumni group. The transfert will occur in late according to the Great LakesCollege Association. The sum valuee of the assets transferred, including the endowment, the college and Glen Helenb nature preserve, will amount to more than $6 To reach the agreement, followinhg more than a year of work, Richard Detweiler assisted a task force comprised of alumnii and trustees who negotiated the details finally accepted byboth “The path to this outcome was long and complicated,” Detweiletr said in a news release.
“Andr while there were discouraginfg moments, they never gave up.” The targeg date to implement the full agreemenr isAugust 31. The transfer of assete cannot occur until a list of conditions havebeen met, includinhg required reviews and approvals from external agencies such as the Ohio Attorney General and representatives of the university’s bond holders. Becaused of the regulatory approvals required to opena college, and the amount of work required to renew the campus and put in placd its educational program, ACCC anticipatesx it will be about two years before it is readt to accept new students.
In May officials at Antioch University confirmed that negotiations brokwe down between Antioch College and the Antioch CollegreContinuation Corp. to keep the college open. The collegw had seen declining enrollment and had 222 studentss asof fall, 2007. Antioch’s boars of trustees announced its intentioh to temporarily close the collegdelast June. Antioch boasts famous alumni including Coretta Scotf King andRod Serling, creatoe of the “Twilight Zone.” It has a rich historuy dating back to its foundin in 1852.

Edvance wins TEA educational contract worth $2 million - San Antonio Business Journal:

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The TEA awarded the contract through its competitivbidding process. The contract is worth $2 million. San Antonio-based Edvances will work closely with the agenc y in supporting community learning centerss acrossthe state. Edvance will manage a networki of Technical Assistance Coordinators to help the center meet programreporting goals. The Texaa 21st Century Community Learning Centersa program is funded throughthe U.S. Departmenty of Education.
The federal program supportz the creation of community learninb centers that can provide academic enrichment opportunitieds for childrenduring non-school particularly in high-poverty and low-performing “There is great excitement surrounding the Texas 21st CCLC Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott says. “Througn the incorporation of research andbest practices, and offerinh training and hands-on experience, we will help our centerw offer students an enriched program, whichg we expect will contribute to improved graduation ratees in all Texas communities.
” Edvancde CEO Dean Nafziger “This is a great opportunity to applyg our expertise in needs technical assistance and rigorous research to strengthen the Texaws 21st CCLC program,” Nafziger says. “The 21st CCLC centerxs are a vital part of Texas providing studentsa high-quality extended learning with the goal to contribute to success in the classroom.” Edvances is an educational research company. The company has a separatde contract to run the Regional EducationaoLaboratory — Southwest, one of 10 educationao laboratories in the Regional Educational Laboratorg Network.

Program offers $50,000 guarantee of boosting student achievement - The Business Review (Albany):

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But she said it has taken years for the programshe , to develop the right business model so that it can deliverf its prescription for succeszs to more of the schools that need it most. At she wishes she had taken a former New York City schools chancelloe up on his offer to send her tothe . "Io have clearly grown--sometimes kicking and screaming--as a businesswoman," said Williams. "Fivse years later, I am very proud of our currenrtbusiness plan. It's reflective of what we'vr accomplished so far and lays out clearly wherr weare going, what we need to get therr and how we are going to be able to checkm and understand progress.
" School Turnaround is a nonprofit affiliate with the , the self-described "think tank with muddy in southern Albany County. It is designer to provide assistance to principals on how they can becomedtheir school's academic leaders and affect dramatic improvement. Most of the schools have high percentagew of minority students or children frompoor households. Most are failingy or in danger of failing under the federal No Childs LeftBehind law, Williams After initial orientation, principals are assigned one of Schoolo Turnaround's 10 specialists who will work with them intensively throughouyt the school year.
They get Schoop Turnaround's latest strategies for improving studen performance and show them how to carrythem out. Schooll Turnaround's tone is Its motto is "Everyone Achieves. No No Excuses." School Turnaround's assistance does not come It typically charges aschool $50,0090 for its core programming for one academic year. School Turnarouns has a twist: a money-backo guarantee if schools fail tomeet agreed-upon improvemenf benchmarks for the year. Williams said it hasn't had to refund any fees yet. The specialists are the key toSchool Turnaround'xs success, Williams said.
"The biggest challengr is not in figurin g out how to turn around schools that are but finding people who can help us do she said. Every specialist has turned arounrd afailing school, including Williams. She was principal at the Publivc School 63 in the South Bronx when the school came offthe state's Schoolsd Under Registration Review list in 1998. Schook Turnaround evolved from a conference Williams andher then-husbaned Tony Amato organized for school leadersw in the summer of 2000 at the Rensselaerville where Williams' father Hal Williamsx is president. Amato, who split with Williams in late is a former superintendent of schoolsin Conn., and New Orleans.
He is now superintendent of the Kansa Cityschool district. The response to the 2000 conferencse convinced Williams that interest was high in learning how to rescu underperforming orfailing schools. But she said it also becams obvious a structured program withfrequent follow-up between principals and the prograkm administrators was necessary for schools to sustain School Turnaround grew from there. Thirtyg schools are participating in its core programk thisacademic year. Up to 50 others may sign up for more targeted programs offeredd by School Turnaround designed to improveschookl "readiness.
" Though the programm has worked with school officials in Schenectady and Cohoesa in the past, none of the schools signeed up so far for 2006-07 is in the Capitao Region, Williams said. Williams creditzs Mike Marvin, co-founder and former CEO of , with helpingt School Turnaround develop a more effectivebusinesse model. Marvin is a member of the program's advisorhy board. Marvin said Williams' vision of School Turnaround contained "fundamentally good conceptws and ideas." It just took awhile to get the ventur e offthe ground, he said. "She has been on the frony lines," Marvin said. "She has been a principak in schools in NewYork City.
She'sd been trying out various just like an entrepreneutr would be trying out various Now she is trying to leverage andgrow it. ... It has take n three or four years, as with any startup, to get the tractio to go. Now she is startinh to get very real."

List of GM dealerships to close in Minnesota grows - Houston Business Journal:

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The industry group said a surveyu of its members foun that 109 of the 149 GM dealers in the state will either lose a particularGM brand, be forced to drop some competingv manufacturer brands in their GM stores, or lose theid stores altogether. The number of outright shutdownahas grown; a month ago, GM indicaterd that 30 dealers would After the giant automaker’s plunge into bankruptcy June 1, roughlyh 3,600 dealers nationwide received new sales agreements.
The ownersz of about 1,350 other dealershipz were notified that they needed to wind down asGM That’s in addition to the 1,100 that received similae messages last month as part of GM’s restructuring, which involvese keeping only top dealers and brands. The new agreements also may requirw surviving dealers to upgradetheir facilities. And there may not be very much dealers can doabourt it, . (subscription required). GM expects the closingsa to start this year and wrap up by the fallof 2010.
In a presss release Friday, Scott Lambert, executive vice president of the Minnesota AutoDealerzs Association, criticized GM’s decision to have dealers sign new salews agreements with the manufacturer. “Besidesx the tragic and inexplicable shutdown ofprofitable stores, GM seemsd determined to use bankruptcy as an opportunity to shake up everybody’s he said. “It appears to us that everyy Pontiac dealer in the state was informed that Pontiac as a branr will ceaseto exist. “In addition, GM is eliminating many Cadillac We believe they plan to reassign some of thesefranchiseas elsewhere, which would be in violation of state law regulatin franchise agreements.
” Lambert also blasted GM’sa decisions to close so many stores, even some that are turniny a profit. “This company is lost right now. I just don’ t understand how you sell more cars with fewer he said. Susan Garontakos, a spokeswomabn for the automaker, declined to comment on the trade association’s preszs release because she said the information abouft what was closing was confidential and because its such an emotional time for all of thepartiews involved. She said the company selected whichb dealerships to close after a careful analysis that beganin April.
“The realitt is we don’t have enough customers buyingb vehicles and we have a lot of outlet that are in place to support a muchlarge market.”