/CNW/ — Gordon Brothers Group, a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the retail, consumer products, industrial and real estate sectors announced today that Stewart L. Cohen will join the firm as Chief Operating Officer on May 10, 2010.
Mr. Cohen will be part of the executive and senior management team responsible for transaction origination, structuring and execution across Gordon Brothers Groups global platform.
We are thrilled to have Stewart join our team, said Michael Frieze, Chief Executive Officer, Gordon Brothers Group. His invaluable experience running, structuring and managing transactions as a lender, operator and investor will greatly benefit the firm as we continue to grow. Having an experienced leader like Stewart strengthens our management team at a time of great opportunity for Gordon Brothers Group.
Mr. Cohen most recently served as the executive vice president of special assets at Textron Financial where he was part of a senior team managing several billion dollars of loan wind downs and asset dispositions. Prior to Textron, he served as a senior executive at a global asset disposition firm, focusing on corporate acquisition, asset disposition, special situations financing and consulting activities across all industry sectors. Previously, he was the Chairman of Polaroid responsible for the wind down of the film business. He also founded and managed Paragon Capital and the Ozer Group. Cohen began his transactional career at Gordon Brothers Group in 1989.
Its exciting to rejoin Gordon Brothers Group. The firm is the market leader and gold standard in the asset valuation and disposition segment of financial services — providing creative strategies and solutions to operating companies, lenders and investors, said Mr. Cohen. Its a privilege for me to return to a place and work with such talented professionals at a company that has such an incredible track record of achievement.
Cohen will be based at Gordon Brothers Groups worldwide headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts.
About Gordon Brothers Group
Founded in 1903, Gordon Brothers Group (www.gordonbrothers.com) is a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the retail, consumer products, industrial, and real estate sectors. Gordon Brothers Group maximizes value for both healthy and distressed companies by purchasing or selling all categories of assets, appraising assets, providing debt financing, making private equity investments, and operating businesses for extended periods. Gordon Brothers Group conducts over $50 billion worth of transactions and appraisals annually.
San Francisco, As hundreds of thousands(1) of football fans are making their check lists and preparations to attend the 2010 FIFA World CupTM, Visa, a FIFA Partner and the preferred card of the tournament, has released a Top 10 list of useful payment card tips to ensure everyone traveling to South Africa for the FIFA World CupTM make the most out of their experience. The Visa Visitor Guide: South Africa 2010 offers an array of information on must see heritage sites, museums, and safari parks as well as shopping and dining insights from local experts, and now includes an updated tournament schedule and a list of the 32 qualified teams.
We want to make sure people attending the 2010 FIFA World CupTM have a memorable experience, so for fans traveling to South Africa we created this easy reference travel guide to help answer questions about the area and help them prepare for their trip said Antonio Lucio Chief Marketing Officer of Visa Inc. To ensure any trip is a success, travelers must prepare in advance, especially when it comes to their money. When traveling internationally, it’s important to know what payment cards are accepted, the best way to exchange your money for local currency and what to do in an emergency
Money Tips for Travelers
For a safe and enjoyable time in South Africa, here are 10 payment card and money tips you need to know before you go. Remember, the 2010 FIFA World Cup South AfricaTM proudly accepts only Visa-branded payment cards, along with cash, in all 2010 FIFA World CupTM stadiums, to pay for food and beverages, retail goods, and services.
1. You’ll need a Visa card or cash to pay for items at all FIFA World CupTM venues. To get a Visa credit, debit or prepaid card visit your bank or go to www.visa.com/globalgateway.
2. Remember to notify your issuing bank that you will be traveling and that you will be using your Visa credit or debit card abroad to avoid any issues when transacting.
3. If you lose your card, report it to your issuing bank immediately! Put Visa’s Global Customer Care Assistance toll-free hotline number in your mobile phone, 0-800-990-475.
4. Take advantage of special merchant offers while in South Africa – for details read the Visa Visitor Guide: South Africa 2010. Click here to download or visit www.visa.com/fifavisitortravelguide to view an interactive version.
5. While you’re travelling, set up automatic bill pay for your credit card and make sure you have sufficient funds in your debit account.
6. In case of an emergency, keep records of your account numbers and PINs (personal identification numbers) in a safe and secure place.
7. Contact your issuing bank about travel-related benefits for Visa cardholders.
8. Look for the Visa or PLUS logo on ATMs or a point-of-sale to ensure international payment cards are accepted. To find the nearest ATM visit www.visa.com/atms.
9. Always have a small amount of Rand, plus a Visa payment card on you while traveling throughout South Africa.
10. Carefully review your payment card statements and contact your issuing bank immediately if you see any suspicious or incorrect charges.
Visa Visitor Guide: South Africa 2010
South Africa has something for everyone – adventure, beauty, culture and history. Visa worked with local experts to identify information specific to the culture of South Africa and the communities within each host city. To help football fans traveling to watch their favorite team compete in the 2010 FIFA World CupTM, new information has been added to ensure everyone going to South Africa is well informed and prepared. In addition to the Top 10 payment card tips that fans should keep in mind before, during and after their trip, an updated schedule has been added and a list of all qualified teams which will offer an at-a-glance option for travelers as they make plans around each game.
The Visa Visitor Guide: South Africa 2010 also offers information such as: a football glossary, travel-related benefits for Visa cardholders, transportation information and helpful tips for attractions, shopping, dining and more in each host city. Special merchant offers for Visa cardholders such as discounts at heritage sites, museums, parks and other attractions throughout South Africa are also included – designated by a small blue Visa card throughout the guide.
To download and print a copy of the Visa Visitor Guide, click here.
To view an interactive version of the Visa Visitor Guide, visit www.visa.com/fifavisitortravelguide.
Travel-Related Benefits for Visa Cardholders
Visa gives cardholders the freedom to go global with the convenience of unsurpassed acceptance at millions of locations in more than 200 countries and territories. Before traveling, Visa cardholders should check with the bank that issued their card to understand what benefits are available to them, as card benefits vary worldwide. Examples of travel-related benefits that Visa cardholders may enjoy include:
* Around-the-clock emergency assistance, in case of lost or stolen cards, and other travel emergencieso
* Travel-related insurance and other benefits, like lost luggage reimbursement and emergency translation services
* Special offers at hotels, restaurants and spas
* Benefits that can open doors and even save money at vineyards, golf courses, sporting venues, and performances around the world
* Access to promotional offers from tourism providers, such as hotels, airlines and car rental companies
* Access to unique experiences – from viewing world-renowned sporting events to going behind-the-scenes at favorite performances
(1) http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/insidefifa/news/newsid=1171620….
Editors Note:
To view and download Visa’s travel guides, Visa FIFA-themed images and assets, visit www.visa.com/fifamediakit or www.thenewsmarket.com/visa.
Source: WEBWIRE
ARLINGTON, Virginia – New armored vehicle contracts for BAE Systems in Finland and Norway have taken land sales to Nordic countries above $215 million in the past two months, underpinning the strength of the company’s export portfolio.
The company has won a contract to supply 16 RG32M mine-hardened patrol vehicles to the Finland Defence Force, worth more than 6 million ($8.1 million). In addition, it has also received a $7.2 million amendment to an existing contract to enhance the propulsion and mobility of Norwegian M113 vehicles. These follow on from a contract received last month for the production of 48 Archer 155mm self-propelled artillery gun systems and their associated ammunition handling systems for the Swedish and Norwegian armed forces, worth over $200 million.
These recent wins reflect the strong position emphasis BAE Systems’ land business is putting on exports, both of new products and to support our equipment which is already in service around the world, said Scott Leitch, vice president for business development in
BAE Systems Land & Armaments. We have built strong relationships on key land programs with the armed forces in the Nordic region and we continue to explore opportunities to work with them further, to provide the best products and support activities for the men and women in their armed forces
The RG32M order from Finland, which follows on from a contract for six similar vehicles in November 2006, will be carried out by the Land Systems business in South Africa, with delivery of all the vehicles anticipated to be completed by early 2011. The order is for current standard production vehicles, including a suspension upgrade. The contract also includes an order for the new Series 3 variant, which provides for a higher payload, increased power and higher protection levels. There are currently 200 RG32M vehicles in service with Sweden’s armed forces, several of which are deployed in Afghanistan.
The contract modification for the Norwegian M113 vehicles will provide 25 upgrade kits required to convert the existing M113s to the M113E3 configuration. The upgrade kits include powerpack, suspension, weld, air conditioning and hydraulic manifold. These upgrades will supplement 72 kits which the company provided to Norway between 2007 and 2009, and as before will be supplied by BAE Systems in the USA.
BAE Systems’ suspension upgrades enable the vehicle to use rubber band tracks and provide passengers with a smoother ride. The company will also provide support to the Defence Logistics Organisation in Norway.
The Norwegian armed forces will install the kits and test the completed vehicle upgrades at its facilities in country. BAE Systems’ work is anticipated to begin in early 2010 and be complete by July 2011.
While the company’s Land & Armaments business is adjusting to lower volumes in its traditionally mature markets of the U.S. and the UK, it has a strong export portfolio with which to pursue new business opportunities in a number of other markets, including India, the Middle East and Europe.
BAE Systems’ business footprint is changing to meet the challenges of today’s defense environment but platforms and products accounted for about 40% of sales in 2009. Platforms and products are characterized by leading edge technologies and long term contracts, providing good future visibility and generating Intellectual Property Rights which helps the company capture substantial through life support business.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is a global defense, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).
Source: WEBWIRE
WASHINGTON — As summer approaches, NASA-developed wireless sensor technology is giving recreational boat owners safer and more accurate readings of how much fuel is in their tanks. The NASA-developed magnetic measuring system also has potential use in planes, trains and automobiles.
Senior scientist Stan Woodard of NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., and Bryant Taylor, an ATK Space Division electronics technician at Langley, created a wireless fluid-level measurement system. It eliminates the need for any electrical component or circuit to be in contact with combustible fuel or fuel vapors. The wireless measurement system is simple to use and install. It is already in use by commercial and recreational boaters.
This fundamental technology could be used to design an unlimited number of sensors for a variety of measurements Woodard said. Just think about anything that you would want to measure. Don’t be surprised when you see this technology commercially available in your home or cars
Originally developed by NASA to retrofit aging aircraft with safety equipment, the technology is a spinoff for designing and using sensors without the shortcomings of many commonly-used liquid storage measurement systems.
Traditional marine fuel-gauge float systems can provide inaccurate readings because of a boat’s movement. A vessel’s pitch and roll in open waters can create a seesaw effect on fuel gauges. This new wireless fluid-level measurement system has two stationary pieces of conducting material located in the fuel, connected to an inductor on the outside of the tank.
A unique safety feature of the system allows the sensors to be completely enclosed, so the fuel level can be measured without contact with any electrical components. This eliminates the potential for fires as a result of combustible fuel vapors being ignited by arcing from damaged or exposed electrical wires or panels. This design feature also allows the system to be used with fluids like acids or other harsh chemicals.
Another important aspect of the wireless fuel-level sensor system is the design can be modified to detect water — a major concern for recreational boaters. It also can be modified to detect other non-fuel liquid contaminants in a tank. While this particular system is for a marine application, it easily could be modified for other uses.
NASA approved a partially-exclusive license agreement for wireless sensor technologies between the agency and Caplan Taylor Enterprises LLC, doing business as Tidewater Sensors. Located in Newport News, Va., Tidewater Sensors markets and sells the units internationally.
NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program supports the agency’s technology transfer efforts. The program promotes the acquisition, maturation, infusion of commercial technology and capabilities into NASA’s programs through investments and partnerships with industry, academia, government agencies and national laboratories.
Video of the wireless fluid-level measurement system will air on NASA Television’s Video File beginning at noon EDT. The b-roll also shows how the system is installed in boats and how it operates. For NASA TV downlink, schedule and streaming video information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
For more information about the wireless fluid-level measurement system, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/business/tg-detail-wirelessfluidsens…
For more information about Tidewater Sensors, visit:
http://tidewatersensors.com
For more information about NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/home/index.html
Source: WEBWIRE
SaaS-Based Capabilities from Partners including hybris, Office Depot, Pacejet Logistics and Siemens Enterprise Communications Enhance User Experience for SAP® Business ByDesign™ Solution
WALLDORF, Germany – SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) today announced 11 new partners have developed complementary solutions that further enhance the customer value and user experience of SAP® Business ByDesign™, the comprehensive, fully integrated on-demand solution dedicated to companies in the small and midsize enterprise (SME) market. The complementary solutions provided by such partners allow for additional customer-focused capabilities and expertise for eCommerce, credit card processing, shipping services, telephony and mobility integration, data exchange in the export business and commodity catalogue content. Available for the current version of SAP Business ByDesign, these solutions complement those available for the previous feature pack.
SAP works closely with a variety of partners to create and integrate complementary innovative solutions for SAP Business ByDesign said Doug Merritt, executive vice president, On-Demand Solutions, SAP. We will continue to enrich the solution with partner-developed capabilities, based on customer and market feedback. Delivering complementary solutions like the 11 new ones through our ecosystem allows SAP to leverage the domain specific knowledge of our partners and meet customer requirements even faster
Complementary Solutions Provide Additional Customer Value
The complementary partner offerings increase the versatility of SAP Business ByDesign and supplement the solution’s ability to improve and automate key business processes for midsize companies. The following partners support transactional processes by specific content and/or provide complete processes seamlessly integrated with SAP Business ByDesign.
* Abaco Mobile Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, provides mobile users with a rich mobile composite framework (MCS©) leveraging MS .net for laptop, tablets, PDA and Smartphone. The first scenario developed and deployed is Abaco Mobile Service for SAP Business ByDesign (MS). MS is a mobile composite that exposes the mobile Web-service enabled content for service order management, confirmation management, integrated route planning with external map service, full access to customer contact information and the ability to capture customer signature. Abaco also enables integration with mobile device capabilities like telephony, e-mail or GPS. This application provides mobile users with maximum flexibility as it can operate in occasionally disconnected and connected environments, without the need of middleware component. It automatically updates information once connection is detected to the SAP Business ByDesign system.
* Bundesanzeiger Verlag, headquartered in Cologne, Germany, is a publishing house that offers content for Intrastat reporting to all charter clients in European Union (EU) countries. This includes the Commodity Catalogue for Foreign Trade Statistics, which is available for upload into SAP Business ByDesign.
* Computop, based in Bamberg, Germany, delivers an international payment solution that provides integrated credit card authorization and settlement services for SAP Business ByDesign. Computop Paygate is available both for mail/telephone order and eCommerce order processing. Computop Paygate is certified according to credit card schemes’ standards (PCI DSS) and offers midsize enterprises a secure and worry-free way of accepting credit card payments.
* CUSTOMS Info, headquartered in Eden, Utah, enables clients to increase supply chain velocity and decrease global duty spending. For SAP Business ByDesign, CUSTOMS Info provides a commodity catalog for foreign trade statistics. The package eliminates the need for manual updates and entries, and thus helps ensure up-to-date, consistent data, compliant to legal regulations.
* hybris, a global multi-channel commerce vendor, offers a pre-integrated, enterprise-class eCommerce solution for SAP Business ByDesign. hybris’ on-demand B2B and B2C eCommerce solution for SAP Business ByDesign, called hybris Commerce for SAP Business ByDesign, helps ensure that online sales transactions are automatically synchronized into SAP Business ByDesign. In addition, stock availability information residing in SAP Business ByDesign can be accessed from the hybris solution in real time during the checkout process. hybris also imports data from product catalogues created in SAP Business ByDesign and can be fully integrated with the partner solutions from Paymetric or Computop for integrated credit card payment, providing a holistic solution.
* Office Depot, based in Boca Raton, Florida, with subsidiaries all over the world, delivers an Open Catalogue Interface (OCI), which supports the purchasing process. It enables the use of external catalogues directly from SAP Business ByDesign to easily find general office supplies, computer supplies, business machines and related supplies, office furniture or services, and to get better transparency on prices. The interface allows for data to be used directly from suppliers catalogues, thus ensuring data quality and simplifying processes.
* Pacejet Logistics, Inc., headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, provides on-demand shipping software for growing and midsize businesses. Pacejet extends SAP Business ByDesign with complete Web-based multi-carrier shipping and packing functionality to manage parcel, truck and partial load (LTL) shipments. The solution offers automatic freight rating across multiple carriers/services, item-level tracking, labels and paperwork, export shipping, and shipment tracking and reporting. By automating and enhancing the shipping process, Pacejet reduces costs, improves customer service and builds competitive advantage.
* Paymetric, based in Atlanta, Georgia, delivers an on-demand payment processing service that enables credit card transactions to flow securely from SAP Business ByDesign to a multitude of credit card processing acquirers and banks. Paymetric’s electronic payment integration and tokenization solutions allow companies to streamline the order-to-cash process by integrating credit card acceptance into the standard SAP Business ByDesign workflow for sales orders processing. Paymetric’s solution reduces the cost and scope of achieving compliance against the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
* Schweitzer Fachinformationen, based in Munich, Germany, provides SAP Business ByDesign users with an extensive catalogue of international books, eBooks, journals, newspapers, documents and other sources of all professional information their R&D, legal, human resources, management, sales, marketing and various other departments require. Schweitzer offers a worldwide delivery service, electronic invoicing, state-of-the art reporting and excellent tools for information management.
* SEEBURGER, based in Bretten, Germany, has developed the solution SEEBURGER Automated Exports System (AES) Managed B2B Services for SAP Business ByDesign which enables the electronic export declaration and the data exchange between the exporter and the German customs authorities. This is of particular value, as the electronic usage of the export declaration is mandatory as of July 2009 for shipments to any destination outside the European Community.
* Siemens Enterprise Communications delivers the first seamless unified communications (UC) integration with SAP Business ByDesign. OpenScape for SAP Business ByDesign provides seamless integration of SEN Group’s industry-leading UC. Based on industry standards, OpenScape can unify existing telephony systems (PABX) with SAP Business ByDesign offerings for Communications Enabled Business Processes (CEBP). The solution also broadens calling functions and offers centralized management. Users will benefit from the productivity that comes with click-to-call, presence, one number service, caller ID with supporting contact detail information, unified messaging and voice mails delivered via e-mail. Fax functionality can also be added and linked into the SAP Business ByDesign process flow.
We have chosen SAP Business ByDesign because of its innovative on-demand business model provided by SAP, which supports our growth strategy as trusted advisor said Jürgen Grathwohl, financial controller at Telefunken Semiconductors, SAP Business ByDesign customer since 2009. However, there are still demands for specific services that are required for customers to succeed in today’s market. To accomplish this, we recognize the flexibility of SAP Business ByDesign as a business platform and the continued focus of SAP to create a thriving partner ecosystem around it. These factors allow us to gain further value by consuming supplementary services
An overview on all partner solutions can be found at the SAP® Business ByDesign™ Business Center site, a clearinghouse for information about the on-demand solution. The site fosters collaboration between SAP and its partners and allows easy contact to the respective vendors via direct links.
Next Major Event: SAPPHIRE® NOW Conference
With SAPPHIRE® NOW, SAP marks the next evolution of its SAPPHIRE customer conference and networking events, offering SAP customers, partners and prospects even more opportunities to engage in dialogue with peers, participants and thought leaders around the globe. Being held simultaneously in Orlando, Florida, and Frankfurt, Germany, May 17-19, 2010, this enhanced, real-time event will connect attendees on site with global participants through state-of-the-art broadcast studios and a newly designed online experience that incorporates the latest social media and community functionality. Whether onsite or online, participants can gain insight on how innovative business solutions from SAP are enabling long-term, profitable, business growth. For more information about the Orlando show, visit www.sapandasug.com; for the Frankfurt event, visit www.sap.com/sapphire/emea. Join the conversation via Twitter at @SAPPHIRENOW.
About SAP® Business ByDesign™
SAP Business® ByDesign™ is a fully integrated business management solution that delivers the best of SAP software, on-demand. This solution is designed as best-fit for companies who want the benefits of large-scale business management applications without the costs of supporting the corresponding IT infrastructure. SAP Business ByDesign unifies multiple business operations and enables companies to implement preconfigured business processes in order to solve immediate problems. Accessed via a single user interface, SAP Business ByDesign delivers preconfigured software for business processes and supports managing financials, customer relationships, human resources, projects, procurement and the supply chain. The SAP Business ByDesign solution is delivered on-demand and managed, monitored and maintained by SAP experts in hosted data centers. SAP handles the maintenance and installation of upgrades. SAP Business ByDesign is currently available in six focus countries: Germany, the U.S., France, the United Kingdom, China and India. Additional information is available at www.sap.com/solutions/sme/businessbydesign.
About SAP
SAP is the world’s leading provider of business software(*), offering applications and services that enable companies of all sizes and in more than 25 industries to become best-run businesses. With more than 97,000 customers in over 120 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE, under the symbol SAP For more information, visit www.sap.com
(*) SAP defines business software as comprising enterprise resource planning, business intelligence, and related applications.
Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as anticipate believe estimate expect forecast intend may plan project predict should and will and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP’s future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including SAP’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.
Source: WEBWIRE
May is Mental Health Month. This weekend, Saturday and Sunday May1-2, thousands of people in a dozen states will begin stepping forward in NAMIWalks to raise public awareness about facts concerning mental illness and the need for treatment and recovery.
NAMIWalks will take place elsewhere in the country throughout the month, as well as later in the year.
Sponsored by state and local affiliates of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the walks help raise funds for local programs, including free family education classes and support groups for individuals and families affected by serious mental illnesses.
In Greenville, South Carolina, WYFF-TV (Channel 4) reported today: “When local families can’t get the help they need, many turn to NAMI.” The station will lead its own team in the NAMI Greenville walk—just one of 45 teams from the local community.
Said one local family member: I can’t imagine life without NAMI. I thank God for them. They changed our life
“NAMIWalks are fun events that support serious work,” said NAMI National Executive Director Mike Fitzpatrick. “NAMI’s work is about hope and recovery. The challenge exists throughout the year.”
According to the U.S. Surgeon General “mental health” and “mental illness” exist as “points on a continuum” of concerns. One in four adult Americans experiences mental health problems in any given year, while one in 17 lives with the most severe, chronic conditions.
About NAMI:
NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Founded in 1979, NAMI has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country. More information available: www.nami.org
Source: WEBWIRE
Industry, Government, Education and Non-Profit Leaders Join Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater to Advise on Quality and Safety
NEW YORK, NY – Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater announced today the appointment of six highly-regarded safety and quality experts to Toyota’s independent North American Quality Advisory Panel, completing the Panel’s membership. The distinguished roster of experts, with experience spanning the corporate, government, education and non-profit sectors, join Secretary Slater, who was named in March to lead the new Panel.
Secretary Slater was instrumental in the selection and approval of the newly-appointed Panel members. The full Panel includes:
* Rodney E. Slater, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation;
* Norman Augustine, former chairman and CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation;
* Patricia Goldman, former Vice-Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board;
* Mary Good, Dean of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and former President, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS);
* Roger Martin, Dean, Rotman School of Management;
* Brian O’Neill, former President, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; and
* Sheila Widnall, Professor, MIT and former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force.
This independent group of experts will advise Toyota’s North American affiliates on quality and safety issues, working closely with the company’s leadership team and the newly-formed North American Quality Task Force, led by Chief Quality Officer, Steve St. Angelo. Panel members will have unfettered access to information concerning Toyota’s quality and safety procedures and direct communication with Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda as well as with the newly-formed Special Committee for Global Quality, led by Mr. Toyoda. The Panel will also be able to commission additional outside reviews and will have the resources necessary to pursue its mandate.
“Toyota is in the midst of a significant global effort to strengthen our quality assurance operations and set a new, higher standard for vehicle safety and reliability. We are committed to taking the steps necessary to exceed customer expectations in every way possible,” said Mr. St. Angelo. “Engaging the experience and counsel of independent experts is a critical component of this process. We are honored to have each of these accomplished leaders partner with us to help ensure that we achieve our goals.”
“I’m pleased to be working with a group of such distinguished leaders. Each panel member is widely respected for his or her individual background, expertise and capabilities – in business, transportation, government and safety,” said Secretary Slater. “Taken together, this group has the diversity of experience and depth of knowledge needed to offer sound advice, guidance and counsel to Toyota regarding its safety and quality protocols.”
The Panel’s immediate priority is to develop an in-depth understanding of Toyota’s safety and quality control processes, including the significant steps the company has already taken to further improve its quality assurance capabilities. The Panel has already begun on-site reviews of the company’s key operating facilities, plants and technical centers around the United States. In May, the Panel will travel to Japan, where they will meet with senior company executives, including President Akio Toyoda, and visit the company’s quality, research and development, and technical centers.
As one of its first actions, the Panel will undertake an evaluation of the electronic throttle control system (ETCS-i) installed in Toyota and Lexus vehicles and its findings will be made public. For this evaluation, the group will have full access to the results of extensive testing previously and currently conducted by Toyota as well as the comprehensive, independent study being undertaken for Toyota by Exponent, a leading engineering and scientific consulting firm based in Palo Alto, California. As part of its on-site reviews, the Panel will visit Exponent’s facilities and meet with the firm’s engineers.
Background on Advisory Board Members
Rodney E. Slater is currently a partner in the premier public policy law firm, Patton Boggs LLP in Washington, D.C., with a focus on promoting a more secure, environmentally sound and sustainable global transportation infrastructure.
Secretary Slater served in the cabinet of U.S. President William J. Clinton as Secretary of Transportation from February 1997 until January 2001. During his tenure, Mr. Slater championed and received bipartisan congressional support for the passage of several historic legislative initiatives, including the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), which guaranteed a record $200 billion in surface transportation investment through 2003, and the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21), which provided a record $46 billion to further enhance the safety and security of the U.S. aviation system. As Secretary of Transportation, he also worked with Congress to secure passage of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (or TREAD) Act.
Mr. Slater was recently selected as a fellow of the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative. He is also a fellow with the National Academy of Public Administration and the Clinton Global Initiative as well as a NCAA Silver Anniversary Award recipient. He is a director of Delta Airlines, Verizon, ICx Technologies, Kansas City Southern and Transurban Group. He is a former director of Northwest Airlines and former Chairman of the United Way of America Board of Directors.
Norman R. Augustine is the retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Lockheed Martin Corporation and a former under secretary of the Army. Widely recognized for his leadership in technology, Augustine served for sixteen years on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Mr. Augustine also chaired the Obama Administration’s Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Committee, a 2009 blue-ribbon panel charged with conducting an independent assessment of the country’s planned human space flight activities.
Among Mr. Augustine’s many honors are the National Medal of Technology, the AAAS Philip Hauge Abelson Prize, the NAS Public Welfare Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal, given to him five times. Augustine chaired the NAS panel that conducted the 2005 study, Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future, which recommends ways to strengthen research and education in science and technology.
Augustine served as Chairman of the National Academy of Engineering, President and Chairman of the Association of the United States Army, Chairman of the Aerospace Industries Association, Chairman of the Defense Science Board, and President of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is a current or former member of the Board of Directors of ConocoPhillips, Black and Decker, Procter & Gamble and Lockheed Martin and is a trustee emeritus of Johns Hopkins, and a former member of the board of trustees of Princeton and MIT. He holds twenty-three honorary degrees.
Patricia Goldman is a former Vice Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Ms. Goldman is currently President Emeritus of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, which she co-founded in 1997 and has built into a leading source for advocacy, information, and support for ovarian cancer patients and their families.
Ms. Goldman has had a distinguished career as a senior executive in numerous corporate, government, and non-profit organizations, with significant experience managing diverse issues and constituencies across all transportation sectors. In addition to her many corporate and non-profit leadership positions, Ms. Goldman served from 1979 to 1988 as Member and then Vice Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, where she supervised major accident investigations in all modes of transportation and played an instrumental role in the enactment of safety regulations, such as the mandatory use of child safety seats. From 1988 to 1994, Ms. Goldman was Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications at US Airways, where she served as a member of the airline’s Executive Committee, which coordinated all aspects of daily management.
Dr. Mary L. Good is founding Dean and Donaghey Professor at the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, in Little Rock, AR.
Dr. Good is widely recognized for her distinguished career in academia, industry and government, having served on the National Science Board (NSB) under presidents Carter and Reagan and chairing the NSB from 1988 to 1991. She further served on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology for President George H.W. Bush, and as Under Secretary for Technology in the U.S. Department of Commerce for President Clinton. In addition, Dr. Good spent 25 years teaching and researching at Louisiana State University and the University of New Orleans before becoming a guiding force in research and development for Allied Signal. Dr. Good is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, including the Vannevar Bush Award and the National Science Foundation Distinguished Service medal from the National Science Foundation, the American Chemical Society Priestly Medal, the 6th Annual Heinz Award, and the Philip Hogue Abelson prize from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which also elected her to serve as president.
Roger Martin is the Dean of the Rotman School of Management and a professor of Strategic Management. Mr. Martin also holds the Premier’s Chair in Competitiveness and Productivity and directs the Michael Lee-Chin Family Institute for Corporate Citizenship at the School. Previously, he spent 13 years as a director of Monitor Company, the global strategy consulting firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he served as co-head of the firm for two years.
In 2010, Mr. Martin was named one of the most influential designers in the world by BusinessWeek. In 2009, he was named one of the 50 top management thinkers in the world by The Times (of London) and Forbes.com. Mr. Martin is a regular contributor to leading publications including: BusinessWeek, The Washington Post, Financial Times and Harvard Business Review. He has published three books: The Design of Business (Harvard Business School Press, 2009), The Opposable Mind (Harvard Business School Press, 2007) and The Responsibility Virus (Basic Books, 2002). He also co-wrote The Future of the MBA (Oxford University Press, 2008) and Diaminds (Rotman/UTPress, 2009).
Mr. Martin is Chair of the Ontario Task Force on Competitiveness, Productivity and Economic Progress and serves on the boards of Thomson Reuters Corporation and Research in Motion, among others.
Brian O’Neill is former President of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote, undertake, and evaluate activities, studies, and programs that improve individual and public health, welfare, and safety.
From 1969 to 2005, Mr. O’Neill served at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, helping found the Highway Loss Data Institute in 1972 and leading both organizations as President for more than 20 years. He was directly responsible for the research programs of both organizations and over the years he has been personally involved in research covering virtually all aspects of highway loss reduction, including vehicle and highway design, emergency medical care, the effectiveness of traffic laws, and driver behavior. Mr. O’Neill is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, has authored numerous articles and presentations on automobile and traffic safety, and is the recipient of many of the industry’s highest honors, including the Society of Automotive Engineers’ Arnold Siegel International Transportation Safety Award, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Special Award of Appreciation, the American Public Health Association’s Public Service Award, and the Washington Automotive Press Association’s Golden Gear Award for Outstanding Achievements in Vehicle Safety.
Sheila E. Widnall is Institute Professor and Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From 1993 through 1997, she served as Secretary of the Air Force, where she was instrumental in the development of the organization’s long range vision, “Global Engagement: A Vision for the 21st Century Air Force.” Dr. Widnall was responsible for all the Department’s affairs, including training, research and development, administration and welfare of personnel.
Since returning to MIT in 1997, Dr. Widnall has been active in the MIT Lean Aerospace Initiative with special emphasis on the space and policy focus teams. Her research activities in fluid dynamics have included the following: boundary layer stability, unsteady hydrodynamic loads on fully wetted and supercavitating hydrofoils of finite span, unsteady lifting-surface theory, unsteady air forces on oscillating cylinders in subsonic and supersonic flow, unsteady leading-edge vortex separation from slender delta wings, tip-vortex aerodynamics, helicopter noise, aerodynamics of high-speed ground transportation vehicles, vortex stability, aircraft-wake studies, turbulence and transition.
Dr. Widnall was appointed Abby Rockefeller Mauze Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1986 and Institute Professor in 1998. She served as MIT’s Associate Provost from 1992-1993. In 2003, she served as a member of the Columbia space shuttle accident investigation board. Dr. Widnall is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering and an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
About TMA
Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMA) wholly owned by Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM), is the holding company for Toyota’s U.S. sales and manufacturing companies. Functions include government and regulatory affairs, energy, economic research, philanthropy, corporate advertising and corporate communications. Headquartered in New York, it has offices in Washington, D.C. and Miami, Fla.
Source: WEBWIRE
Investigation Discovery Is a Top Five Favorite Channel
(Silver Spring, Md.) Viewers ranked Discovery Channel number one in having entertaining programming, according to results of the 2010 Beta Research Cable Subscriber Study – Brand Identity of Basic Cable/Broadcast Networks. Also, for the eleventh consecutive year, viewers rank Discovery Channel first in having many original programs and series. The network also tied for first as a high-quality, informative and distinctive network and as a channel viewers would like to see in HDTV.
Investigation Discovery, America’s #1 network for growth among women 25-54 in ad-supported cable (excluding sports), also ranked in the top five as a favorite channel and #1 among female viewers age 18-49. Additionally, Animal Planet and Science Channel tied for #4 as a channel viewers would like to see in HDTV.
These results show that viewers continue to recognize Discovery Channel as the industry leader in delivering the highest quality content said Bill Goodwyn, president, Domestic Distribution and Enterprises, Discovery Communications. The study offers further proof that our commitment to building strong brands like Investigation Discovery resonates with key audiences and helps our affiliates drive value for their HD services
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world’s number one nonfiction media company reaching nearly 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 180 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery, Planet Green and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
Source: WEBWIRE
Frankfurt am Main / Berlin, Wangechi Mutu is Deutsche Bank’s first Artist of the Year. On this occasion, the Deutsche Guggenheim is presenting the first solo exhibition of the artist’s work in Germany. With some 40 paintings, collages, and videos executed between 2003 and 2010, as well as an installation conceived especially for the exhibition hall, My Dirty Little Heaven (April 30 – June 13, 2010) provides insight into her fascinating oeuvre.
Wangechi Mutu, who was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1972 and now lives in New York, is one of the most interesting artists of her generation. Her work is captivating due to the distinctive link between beauty and terror, surreal poetry and social criticism. For My Dirty Little Heaven, she transformed the Deutsche Guggenheim into a suggestive environment which recalls both a protective cocoon and the improvised settlements found on the peripheries of mega cities.
With the Artist of the Year award, Deutsche Bank is opening a new chapter in its commitment to art. On the recommendation of Deutsche Bank’s Global Art Advisory Council, which includes internationally renowned curators Okwui Enwezor, Hou Hanru, Udo Kittelmann, and Nancy Spector, the bank honors a young artist who has already amassed an unmistakable and extraordinary oeuvre, in which works on paper or photography play an important role.
Unlike other awards, the prize is not based on a financial reward, but positioned as an integral part of Deutsche Bank’s art program that has been creating access to art for 30 years. Each Artist of the Year will be featured in a large solo exhibition at the Deutsche Guggenheim in Berlin, which will subsequently be presented at other international locations – this year at the art space WIELS in Brussels. In addition, the bank is acquiring works on paper by the artist for its collection, which in the case of Wangechi Mutu will be on view at the end of 2010 on a complete floor of Deutsche Bank’s modernized company headquarters in Frankfurt.
Accompanying the Wangechi Mutu exhibition at the Deutsche Guggenheim is a comprehensive catalogue with contributions by Okwui Enwezor, Lauri Firstenberg, Courtney J. Martin and Klaus Ottmann. The catalogue, which is in German and English, costs 35 euros. As edition no. 51 to the exhibition, Wangechi Mutui had a 60-piece Corian puzzle made from a digital print of work The Bride who married a Camel’s head. The limited edition of 100 copies + 10 A.P. is exclusively available at the Deutsche Guggenheim SHOP.
http://www.db-artmag.com/ http://www.deutsche-guggenheim.de/
Photo material to the exhibition can be downloaded directly from the Internet at www.photo-files.de/guggenheim.
About Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank is a leading global investment bank with a strong and profitable private clients franchise. A leader in Germany and Europe, the bank is continuously growing in North America, Asia and key emerging markets. With 80,849 employees in 72 countries, Deutsche Bank offers unparalleled financial services throughout the world. The bank competes to be the leading global provider of financial solutions for demanding clients creating exceptional value for its shareholders and people.
http://www.db.com/
Source: WEBWIRE
IRVINE, CA – Rod Burreson, founder and CEO of Pro-X Nutraceuticals, a private label and contract manufacturer for dietary and herbal supplements, has named Dr. Mohammed Khalid as President of the growing company.
Dr. Khalid’s areas of expertise include product development, clinical trials, formulations, quality control, GMP compliance and DSHEA guidelines. He is an active member of AOAC International, and has been involved in the development and formulation of more than 150 nutritional supplement products both as a consultant and as Director of Research and Development and Director of QC/QA at leading pharmaceutical companies.
Dr. Khalid received his doctorate in Organic Chemistry from Loyola University of Chicago and his BS (Honors) in biochemistry at the University of Karachi in Pakistan. During the Postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas and Texas A&M University, Mohammed performed considerable research in the area of natural products.
“Dr. Khalid’s expertise is only part of his proven leadership,” said Burreson. “He has an exceptional ability to always seek a viable solution to any challenge, and he is a great motivator, empowering his staff to perform their best.”
Khalid’s appointment caps the profound company expansion that includes full renovation and modernization of Pro-X Nutraceutical’s facilities. This activity includes the following:
• Working towards a LEED certification. The 26,000 –square-foot building has been renovated with low-VOC paint, and installation of energy efficient lighting, draught landscaping, recycled carpets and water distillation machines.
• Investment in purchase of new equipment such as ELAN 9000 & uHPLC
• Investment in adding in-house testing capabilities for heavy metals, ASSAYS, and microbiological testing.
“The number of new supplement brands continues to grow boundlessly as consumer demand for nutritional and health support has become a powerful force that shows no sign of slowing down,” Burreson said. “Pro-X Nutraceuticals is now perfectly poised to ensure that ultimately, consumers receive superior and reliable quality through our customers.”
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About Pro-x Nutraceuticals
Pro-X Nutraceuticals is a leading full service dietary supplements manufacturing firm that primarily manufactures nutritional tablets, capsules and powders. For more information about their turn-key manufacturing solutions, visit www.proxnutra.com or call 1-800-603-7075.
Source: WEBWIRE