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Healthcare

IPHi Launches Model HIV/AIDS Care Program in PG County, Maryland

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The Institute for Public Health Innovation Launches Model HIV/AIDS Care Program in Prince George’s County, Maryland

Washington, DC, April 29, 2013 – The Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHi) today announced Total Health Partners, a new initiative in Prince George’s County, Maryland that will use highly trained community health workers to provide personalized assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS to help them link to and remain in HIV medical care. The effort is a partnership with Prince George’s County Health Department, Greater Baden Medical Services, and Heart to Hand, Inc. and an expansion of similar efforts that IPHi coordinates in the District of Columbia and Virginia. IPHi recently received prestigious national grants from the Kaiser Permanente National Community Benefit Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation, AIDS United, and M·A·C AIDS Fund to launch the program, along with funding from Washington AIDS Partnership.

Prince George’s County is home to approximately one-fifth of all people living with HIV in Maryland, second only to Baltimore City. According to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, only 65% of HIV diagnosed persons in the county were linked to care in 2010 and just over one-third (37%) of HIV diagnosed persons were retained in care. Fewer still, 27%, were on antiretroviral therapy, and just 19% achieved viral suppression. These rates are below corresponding rates for Maryland and the nation overall. Research demonstrates that viral suppression is critical not only for the health and quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS, but for preventing further transmission of the disease.

The community health workers will work as members of interdisciplinary care teams at medical and support service sites across the county. As trusted members of the community who can relate to the experiences of those they support, community health workers are in a unique position to help people living with HIV/AIDS overcome barriers to medical care, including stigma, lack of a basic understanding about the disease and available services, and challenges navigating community resources.

Since 2011, IPHi has trained over 100 community health workers, including approximately 40 who have specialized in providing support to people living with HIV/AIDS. IPHi, together with its partner Washington AIDS Partnership and over 15 community-based and medical providers, has created over 25 community health worker positions throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Among those are 13 community health workers involved in Positive Pathways, a nationally recognized HIV care model in DC that enrolled over 500 people living with HIV/AIDS in its first 18 months. Positive Pathways has an intentional focus on the Wards of DC closest to Prince George’s County.

“The area straddling the border between DC and Prince George’s County is one of the most concentrated HIV/AIDS epidemics in the country,” said Michael Rhein, President and CEO of IPHi. “While there are considerable resources available to address the epidemic in DC, community-based systems of care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS are less developed and integrated across the jurisdictional line in Prince George’s County. Total Health Partners will play a critical role in ensuring that county residents have the assistance they need to access life-saving HIV/AIDS medical and support services.”

“This project is a long time coming for our county,” said Dedra Spears-Johnson, Executive Director of a community-based organization called Heart to Hand, Inc. “Too many people living with HIV/AIDS in the county are not effectively linked to medical care. Total Health Partners will make a huge difference.”

About the Institute for Public Health Innovation
The Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHi) provides technical capacity, leverages resources, and facilitates collaboration across sectors to develop, implement, and evaluate effective strategies that improve health and quality of life in the DC, Maryland and Virginia region. IPHi is one of the newest institutes within the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), an organization of 38 members throughout the United States and a growing aspect of the national public health infrastructure. To learn more about IPHi, visit www.institutephi.org.

Contact:
Janelle Suggs
The Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHi)
130, Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
202-407-7096
jsuggs@institutephi.org

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Business

Jabbrag Named to Coloradobiz Magazine’s 2013 “Top 100 Woman-Owned Companies” List

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Denver-based online marketing company Jabbrag is proud to announce it has been featured on Coloradobiz Magazine’s 2013 “Top 100 Woman-Owned Companies” List.

Denver, Colorado, April 26, 2013 – Denver-based online marketing company Jabbrag is proud to announce it has been featured on Coloradobiz Magazine’s 2013 “Top 100 Woman-Owned Companies” List. Jabbrag, which was founded in 2009 by Colorado-native Jenna Reilly Gavin, makes its debut on the list this year, which compiles rankings based on annual revenues.

“I am incredibly proud that Jabbrag has been recognized by Coloradobiz Magazine as one of the Top 100 Woman-Owned Companies in Colorado,” said Jabbrag CEO and founder, Jenna Reilly Gavin. “Being included on this list with some of Colorado’s most successful female entrepreneurs and business women is an honor, and a testament to the hard work my team and I have dedicated to making Jabbrag a success.”

Jabbrag is an online marketing, social media marketing and website development company with a passion for making good things great. Jenna Reilly Gavin founded Jabbrag in 2009, after an acquaintance hired her to build a website. With no experience, she taught herself how to build, design and program websites in order to be able to both care for and support her newborn son. Though that original site went away, business continued coming in, allowing her to expand into social media, pay-per-click advertising and Google AdWords marketing. In less than four years, her efforts grew into what Jabbrag is today: a highly successful and respected company with a dozen employees in downtown Denver.

When Jabbrag began expanding its offerings, Jenna found herself and her company working for many non-profits and charitable foundations. When the recession hit, many of these charities saw grants, funding and donations begin to dry up, leaving them unable to afford Jabbrag’s services. In order to continue to serve these clients, Reilly Gavin started the Compassionate Business program, an arm of Jabbrag that provides online marketing work to charities at no cost. Denver charities served include the Fetal Hope Foundation, Colorado Public Television and the Mercy Center for Healing the Whole Person. In 2012, Jabbrag donated more than $300,000 worth of services.

For More Information
Stephen Gavin, VP Sales, Jabbrag
P. 303.747.4940 | stephen.gavin@jabbrag.com

For more information about Jabbrag, its services or the Compassionate Business program, visit www.jabbrag.com or call 888-514-1080.

Contact:
Amy Larson
CSG | PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
alarson@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Education

Varsity Tutors Partners with Coinbase to Accept Bitcoin for Tutoring Services

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New Currency Allows More Convenience, Fewer Fees for International Students & Their Families

St. Louis, MO, April 25, 2013 – Varsity Tutors, a premier private academic tutoring and test prep provider, today announced that it is now accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment for its in-person and live-online tutoring services. While all clients will be able to pay using Bitcoin, the company anticipates that the greatest demand will be from students located abroad who purchase Skype-tutoring. Previously, international students seeking Varsity Tutors’ services, most often for language tutoring or SAT, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT test prep, could only process payment by credit card or bank transfer which assess foreign transaction fees. The addition of Bitcoin to its payment options will allow those who have adopted the digital currency to avoid traditional currency conversion costs.

“At Varsity Tutors, we’re constantly seeking out ways to better serve our clients, so if digital currency can make it easier for international students to access our tutoring services, it seems only natural to embrace it,” said Chuck Cohn, founder and CEO of Varsity Tutors. “Logistically, the process of integrating Bitcoin into our payment structure was very easy, and any simple change that can improve the client experience is a no-brainer.”

Varsity Tutors is accepting Bitcoin payment through Coinbase. A believer in the currency and technology, Cohn actually began investing in Bitcoin and the payment service last year. “As an entrepreneur, I’m a strong supporter of efficient and innovative technologies, so I’m very interested in the potential of digital currency not only in my business, but in the larger marketplace,” said Cohn.

Varsity Tutors provides in-home academic tutoring and test prep services in 19 major U.S. metro areas, as well as online via Skype. Students are expertly matched with a private tutor who delivers personalized, one-on-one instruction in any subject from STEM to the humanities, as well as preparation for standardized exams at all levels of education from K-12 to graduate school.

For more information about Varsity Tutors and its services, visit www.varsitytutors.com.

About Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors is a premier private academic tutoring and test prep provider designed to help students at all levels of education achieve academic excellence. Varsity Tutors delivers in-home, personalized, one-on-one instruction in any subject from STEM to the humanities and customized preparation for all standardized exams, including ISEE, SSAT, SAT, ACT and graduate exams such as the GRE, LSAT, MCAT and GMAT. Students from elementary to graduate school are expertly matched with an exceptional tutor who is best able to address their unique needs and goals. To ensure satisfaction and safety, only the highest caliber tutors are selected to join Varsity Tutors following a rigorous screening process. Varsity Tutors currently serves 19 major metro areas nationwide and offers a variety of tutoring packages. Students and their families interested in learning more about Varsity Tutors should visit www.varsitytutors.com. 

Contact:
Lindsey (Mikal) Read
CSG PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
937 408 9321
lread@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Business

Empire Rockefeller Vodka and F. Rockefeller and Sons Champagne Now Available Senor Frogs and at Central at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas

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Empire Rockefeller Vodka and F. Rockefeller and Sons Champagne – 2004 are now available for purchase at Senor Frogs restaurant and at Central at Caesar’s Palace both in Las Vegas.

New York, NY, April 24, 2013 — Empire Rockefeller Vodka and F. Rockefeller and Sons Champagne – 2004 are now available for purchase at Senor Frogs restaurant and at Central at Caesar’s Palace both in Las Vegas.

Empire Rockefeller Vodka will be featured as 2 x 1 shots and in specialty drinks at Senor Frogs in Las Vegas, the flagship franchise of the popular Mexican and Caribbean-themed bar and restaurant chain.

Central, the famed bistro crated by chef Michel Richard, will have Empire Rockefeller Vodka as its featured pour and as the featured spirit in their hand-crafted drinks created by their staff mixologists. F. Rockefeller and Sons will also be Central’s featured house champagne.

Empire Rockefeller Vodka, part of the Vintage Rockefeller Wine & Spirits Group, came to market in 2012 and has quickly earned respect for its unique smooth taste. It is the only vodka in the world that is distilled six times in a copper cognac kettle in the Cognac region of France. The winter wheat used for Empire Rockefeller Vodka is done organically in France in the dedication of being as natural as possible. The water used in its production comes from pristine French springs, filtered through Champagne limestone. Empire Rockefeller starts off with what can be described as a very mild sweet start. This taste greets and lingers for a few seconds and gives way to a full-bodied middle followed by an extraordinary smooth, subtle finish.

F. Rockefeller and Sons Champagne is a vintage 2004 champagne that features a delicate stream of bubbles, a golden straw color and honey-mingled aromas with notes of hazelnut and subtle notes of almond paste and vanilla. It has been described as fresh, well-rounded and astonishingly persistent.

Vintage Rockefeller Wine & Spirits produces a portfolio of high quality vodka, champagne, cognac produced in France, and coming soon Red & White Wines. It is currently distributed in the United States in New York, Florida, Nevada and Pennsylvania with more states being rolled out later this year. For more information, go to www.VintageRockefeller.com or like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter at @RockefellerUSA

Contact:
Randy Walker
Vintage Rockefeller Wine & Spirits
New York, NY
917 770 0843
Rwalker@NewChapterMedia.com
http://www.VintageRockefeller.com

Travel

DoubleTree LAX DOS Kerri Franklin Receives Prestigious Award

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Portfolio Hotels & Resorts is celebrating Ms. Kerri Franklin, Director of Sales at the DoubleTree by Hilton LAX – El Segundo, as the recipient of the DoubleTree brand Director of Sales of the Year Award 2012.

El Segundo, CA, April 21, 2013 – Portfolio Hotels & Resorts is celebrating Ms. Kerri Franklin, Director of Sales at the DoubleTree by Hilton LAX – El Segundo, as the recipient of the DoubleTree brand Director of Sales of the Year Award 2012. Each year, the DoubleTree by Hilton brand selects a Director of Sales throughout its portfolio of properties who best represents the Hilton Worldwide Values of Hospitality, Integrity, Leadership, Teamwork, Ownership and Now. Ms. Franklin was chosen from among the 269 DoubleTree properties in North America as the very best of the best.

Ms. Franklin is an 8-year hospitality sales veteran with over 4 years at the DoubleTree LAX. In 2012 under her leadership, the hotel experienced double digit revenue growth, and a 10% RevPAR increase. “Kerri’s leadership helped guide the hotel through a challenging yet very successful year,” says Julie Baylor, DoubleTree LAX General Manager. “She has been a stable, supportive presence for the entire hotel team and a driver of success in revenue and service.”

The DoubleTree by Hilton LAX – El Segundo Hotel is conveniently located just 1.5 miles from Los Angeles International Airport and in the heart of El Segundo’s premier business district. Offering complimentary parking and 24-hour airport shuttle service, the DoubleTree LAX is the ideal choice for business and leisure travelers alike, with easy access to beaches and L.A. area attractions.

About Portfolio Hotels & Resorts:
Headquartered in Westmont, IL, Portfolio Hotels & Resorts is a hospitality management company that specializes in managing unique, boutique-style hotels, destination resorts and significant branded urban hotels in domestic markets across the U.S. For more information, visit www.portfoliohotels.com.

Contact:
Julie A. Baylor, CHA
The DoubleTree by Hilton LAX
1985 East Grand Avenue
El Segundo, CA 90230
(310) 322-0999
jbaylor@doubletreelax.com
http://www.portfoliohotels.com

Business

INCAE Business School Chooses AuraPortal Business Process Management Software to Ensure Quality of Customer Service

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Financial Times names INCAE as one of world’s top ten business schools.

Boca Raton, Florida, April 18, 2013 – AURA (www.auraportal.com), a global provider of Business Process Management (BPM) software, has announced that INCAE Business School, following a vigorous study of different BPM options, has chosen to implement AuraPortal.(*) to improve its operative processes.

The AuraPortal software has recently been distinguished by the independent market analysis firm Ovum in its Decision Matrix 2011 report as the most advanced BPM in the market.

“BPM will be used to ensure quality of service to our customers, especially to the students on the different programs, and to optimize INCAE Business School’s strategic decision-making. We are currently in the early stages, but excellent results and benefits are being projected throughout the entire organization”, says Neil Camacho, Director of the BPM Project at INCAE Business School.

About INCAE Business School
With almost 50 years of experience, INCAE Business School has offered more than 50 full-time MBA programs, over 20 Executive MBA Programs and hundreds of executive programs. Tens of thousands of professionals worldwide have been involved in these programs, predominantly from America. This experience, together with constant research innovation, a first class faculty and the tireless vocation to form new leaders, INCAE has gained the highest international distinctions.

In recent years, INCAE has been consistently rated as one of the best Business Schools in Latin America (América Economía), and has been recognized as one of the top 10 Business Schools in the world (Financial Times).

INCAE has three global accreditations, which allow INCAE graduates to develop their professional career in any part of the world. It was the first Business School in Latin America to receive these three accreditations:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) since 1994. It was the first business school to be accredited outside of North America.

• The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) since 1999. INCAE was one of the first Business Schools to receive this accreditation outside of North America.

• The European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), awarded by EFMD (The European Foundation for Management Development), since 2003.

About Aura (http://www.auraportal.com)
AURA is a global BPM (Business Process Management) software provider delivering a solution that creates, without the need of IT programming, Business Process Workflow Execution Models. AuraPortal is 100% Web-based, and is complementary to existing ERP and CRM systems.

AURA has a presence in 50 countries with more than 500 customers including, among others: Toyota, General Motors, Pemex (Petróleos Mexicanos), Carrefour, ArcelorMittal, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Scotiabank, Danone, Sodexo, Kimberly-Clark, Yamaha, Eletrobras, Royal KPN, Bristol-Myers Squibb, etc., as well as many Government Agencies and Departments in several countries.

AURA Headquarters are located in North America (Florida) and Europe (Holland) whereas the software development facilities are located in Spain and India.

Contact:
Scott Rich
Auraportal
400 Trade Center
Woburn, MA 01801-7472
+1 781-569-5940
scott.rich@auraportal.com
http://www.auraportal.com

Education

New Data Underscores Need for Ecotech Institute’s Business Administration – Sustainability Program

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Ecotech’s Clean Jobs Index Indicates Nearly 60,000 Jobs in March that Require Both Business and Sustainability Knowledge

Denver, Colorado, April 18, 2013 – As more industries develop a commitment to green practices, the number of business-related jobs that require sustainability knowledge are on the rise. According to Ecotech Institute’s Clean Jobs Index, there were 59,803 U.S.-based jobs available in March that met the criteria of green jobs within a business environment. Ecotech Institute, a leader in renewable energy and sustainability education, continues to watch this growing trend and aims to fill the gap for qualified candidates with its two-year Business Administration – Sustainability degree program.

“Sustainability-focused careers span the globe and cross many boundaries from public and private sectors to nonprofits, consulting and more,” says Kyle Crider, director of sustainability for Ecotech Institute. “Organizations of all sizes that are looking to lessen their carbon footprint require someone who deeply understands the intersection between business and sustainability.”

Ecotech’s Business Administration – Sustainability program delivers a business education with a distinct focus on sustainability, which makes it easier for people to learn about, define and find sustainable business careers. Career opportunities include positions in management, sales, financial operations, production and many others. Additionally, the curriculum is ideal for people interested in entrepreneurship within the cleantech industry.

“The employee who has a holistic worldview will find more opportunities and have greater creativity, which can lead to an even greater profit potential,” adds Colin Coyne, Managing Principal, The Coyne Group and LEED 2.0 Accredited Professional. “Sustainable thought – properly taught and executed – represents that kind of holistic perspective.”

Ecotech’s business program provides students with knowledge and skills suitable for employment in a broad range of private and public sector organizations. Coursework includes accounting, financial analysis, human resources, project management, communications, customer service, sustainability, renewable energy and workplace ethics. In two years, graduates with a sustainability degree from Ecotech will have an understanding of the cleantech landscape and how sustainability plays a role in today’s businesses environment.

Ecotech Institute is committed to being a foremost expert on jobs in the cleantech economy. As part of that commitment, its “Clean Jobs Index” breaks down clean jobs by state with links to local jobs. To find available positions, Ecotech uses jobs data from Burning Glass International, whose patented job aggregation technology searches for job listings from more than 17,000 sources.

Ecotech Institute initiated and produces the Clean Jobs Index using several independent organizations. The sustainability factors of the Index data are updated on a quarterly and annual basis (depending on when new data is released) and job data is updated monthly as new jobs are posted.

To learn more about the Clean Jobs Index, go to www.ecotechinstitute.com/cleanjobsindex/; visit Ecotech Institute online to learn more about its Business Administration – Sustainability program.

About Ecotech Institute
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, it offers six highly practical renewable energy degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers. Classes start once per quarter and applications are always accepted. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Entertainment

In Search of the Fun-Forever: Career Strategies that Work by Ellis Chase

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New book offers career advice geared to today’s economic realities

Washington, DC, April 17, 2013 – Bacon Press Books today announced the launch of In Search of the Fun-Forever Job: Career Strategies that Work by Ellis Chase.

Ellis Chase, one of Manhattan’s top career management consultants and executive coaches, brings his 25-plus years of experience and expertise to this reexamination of how to target and find a job that fits.

Who needs another job search book? Anyone looking for work or changing careers who wants to learn how to make smart decisions.

In Search of the Fun-Forever Job: Career Strategies the Work takes a fresh look at an old problem and turns some of the commonly held beliefs about job search and career management inside out. You will find answers to such questions as:

* Is the resume truly the key to a successful search?

* Isn’t it easier to look for a job when you’re employed?

* Won’t I improve my chances if I just put as many letters and resumes out there as possible and hope some of them stick?

* Should I take time off to relax and get my head straight before I start the process?

“No matter what your career objective is, Ellis Chase has developed a process that can work for anyone. In Search of the Fun-Forever Job offers more than a mere set of job search strategies. It outlines a strategic mindset that enables you to be proactive and targeted in your approach to career management,” said Mark Horney, Executive Director, Executive MBA Career Management at Columbia Business School.

Horney went on to say, “Whether you are seeking that first opportunity out of college or moving up through senior levels in your organization or industry, Ellis’s framework rings true. This is an essential resource at any stage of your career development process.”

Ellis Chase’s varied consulting practice is based in Manhattan, but his workshops and presentations often have taken him around the United States and Europe. His corporate clients have included Deloitte Touche, Estee Lauder, Goldman Sachs, The Gartner Group, Purdue Pharma, Swiss Re America, United Nations Development Programmes, Penguin Putnam, Citigroup, WR Wrigley, ING Capital, Group M, Amnesty International, American Civil Liberties Union, Hanger Orthopedics, and Time Warner.

He has been a consultant to Columbia Business School for the past 11-plus years where he develops curricula and delivers workshops for the Business School’s Executive MBA Career Management and Alumni Relations Career Services; he coaches in the Program for Social Intelligence at the business school and advises EMBA students, and is a frequent speaker at other Columbia University colleges and graduate programs. He was an instructor at New York University’s Center for Career, Education, and Life Planning for almost 20 years and was an original Five O’Clock Club counselor, consulting in this national job search advising organization for 21 years.

In Search of the Fun-Forever Job: Career Strategies that Work by Ellis Chase is available in paperback on Amazon for $12.99.

An ebook edition will be available on May 10, 2013.

More information about Ellis Chase at www.ellischase.com

Bacon Press Books, an indie publisher based in Washington, DC, publishes fiction and non-fiction by new and known authors. www.baconpressbooks.com

Contact:
Michele Orwin
Bacon Press Books
3000 Connecticut Ave, #229
Washington, DC 20008
202.491.4322
editor@baconpressbooks.com
http://www.baconpressbooks.com

Business

Award-Winning Company Offers Business Plan Booster

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Tech Geek Ministries, a small business web design, hosting and training company, released the self-study guide Business Plan Booster recently to help entrepreneurs develop a successful roadmap to their businesses.

Noble, OK, April 17, 2013 – Tech Geek Ministries, a small business web design, hosting and training company, released the self-study guide Business Plan Booster recently to help entrepreneurs develop a successful roadmap to their businesses.

Business Plan Booster includes two self-study guides that explain what business owners must do to prepare for writing a business plan and what must be included when writing the plan. The Booster also includes a business plan template and, in the future, may include specific times during which Waters will answer questions regarding business plans.

Waters speaks from experience. She recently won 3rd place in the state-wide Oklahoma Baptist University Enactus Business Plan Competition in Shawnee, OK.

“This is very exciting time for Tech Geeks,” said Waters, who is also a 7th grade Language Arts teacher. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to help merchants build their online presence. But we also know that handing someone a website is not enough. Website owners must be trained in how to develop their businesses and how to use websites. Similarly, a carpenter needs a blueprint as a starting point, and needs to learn how to effectively and properly work with the materials and tools at his disposal.”

Teek Geek Ministries is a web design, hosting and training company based in Noble, Oklahoma. Owners Steve and Michelle Waters, with more than 23 years combined experience in the technology industry, developed a plan to assist Oklahoma small business owners and ministries in creating and maintaining online visibility through websites, social media and training.

For more information on the products and services offered by Tech Geek Ministries, sign up for the free Tech Geek Online Visibility Newsletter.

Contact:
Michelle Waters
Tech Geek Ministries
8600 171st
Noble, OK 73068
(405) 306-8819
contact@techgeekministries.com
http://www.techgeekministries.com

Education

Ecotech Institute Offers its First Free Online Course: “Introduction to Sustainability”

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Ten-Week Course Offers Education on a Wide Variety of Sustainable Topics

Denver, Colorado, April 17, 2013 – Anyone around the world who has an interest in sustainability can now access some of the specialized education offered by Ecotech Institute – online and free. Ecotech Institute, the only college entirely focused on sustainability-related job training, is now accepting registrations for its “Introduction to Sustainability” course. This is Ecotech’s first “massive online open course” (MOOC) through the Canvas Network, a popular way for highly esteemed educational institutions to offer free courses to the public. Kyle Crider, Ecotech Institute’s Program Chair and Manager of Environmental Operations will teach the class, beginning on May 6.

The ten-week course will explore various definitions of sustainability used by governments, businesses and individuals to address environmental, societal and economic problems around the world. In addition, students will learn ways to apply sustainable concepts in their own lives.

The dynamic course will cover a broad spectrum of topics including, but not limited to, understanding environmental impacts (climate change, greenhouse gases, depleting resources), social consequences (impact of decisions on health, poverty, income distribution) and financial opportunities (emerging industries, job creation).

“This exciting course is a hybrid of many topics that all relate to our planet, offering students a deep dive into history, biology, sociology, business and much more,” says Crider. “We are excited to extend our reach to people beyond the campus, offering insight into how much sustainability affects every person on the planet every single day.”

Upon completion of the course, students should also better understand:

* Triple Bottom Line (people, planet, profit, or Three Pillars);

* Thermodynamics;

* Fossil fuels;

* The balance and relationship between air, land, water resources and techniques for protecting and/or enhancing each;

* Human impact on biodiversity and the planet;

* Core concepts of green building rating systems;

* The possibilities of solar and wind power to meet future energy needs, as well as natural gas, nuclear power, and biofuels.

Each weekly topic will include a multimedia introduction/overview, short supplemental reading assignments and optional, more in-depth materials for those who want to enhance their knowledge in specific areas. Students will take multiple-choice quizzes and develop a personal sustainability vision, mission and goals. Students are also encouraged to network and collaborate with each other through discussion forums and Q&A sessions.

Space is limited so sign up today for the Introduction to Sustainability online course.

About Ecotech Institute
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, it offers six highly renewable energy degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers. Classes start once per quarter and applications are always accepted. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, Colo., 80206
303-433-7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com