The pace of economic growth has slowed significantly since the start of 2011 and the slowdown is expected to continue into the start of 2012, according to a survey of CEOs of small-to-medium-sized businesses. The Vistage CEO Confidence Index was 92.9 in the Q2 2011 survey, substantially below the 105.2 posted in Q1, and erasing all the gains recorded since 93.7 was registered in Q1 2010. Though declines were present in every major survey component, the largest losses were in evaluations of the overall economy. Rather than expecting a renewed economic downturn, the majority of CEOs anticipated a stagnating economy: growth too slow to support robust gains in employment or investment, and resulting in lower revenue and profit levels than previously forecast. Half of all firms put planned investments on hold due to the slowdown in economic growth.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/vistage/51040/
Two-thirds of all CEOs surveyed believe the economy has improved during the past year and half expect further gains during the year ahead. The Vistage CEO Confidence Index was 105.2 in the 1st quarter of 2011, slightly below 106.3 recorded in the prior quarter but well above the 93.7 in last year’s 1st quarter survey. CEO confidence has more than doubled since the recession low of 48.7 two years ago. However, the small decline reflects a renewed uncertainty about the impact of events in Japan and the Middle East on energy costs, consumer spending and inflation. Overall, the majority of CEOs still expect the recovery to continue and their own businesses to continue to grow.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/vistage/45000/
Varsity Brands, the recognized leader in team athletic gear, the driving force in cheerleading and dance, and the most trusted name in celebrating student milestones, today announced Vista Murrieta High School, from Murrieta, Calif. as the winner of its America’s Most Spirited High School Contest. The announcement today coincides with National School Spirit Day, which was recognized by Congress last year.
“Our students feel connected to Vista Murrieta and have an engrained sense of school pride,” said Mick Wager, Principal of Vista Murrieta, “The family atmosphere and sense of community is apparent and genuine.”
High schools across the country were invited to enter the contest, which called for each school to submit a 90-second video, a 500-word essay, two letters of recommendation and several photos demonstrating its school spirit. High schools from 33 states were represented in the contest. Vista Murrieta’s video submission won based on a nationwide vote and included footage from games, pep rallies, and student activities that epitomize a robust school spirit environment that seeks to include all students. Vista Murrieta estimates that 85% of their students are involved in at least one activity, club or sport, and their video was a true testament to the power of school spirit and its effects on high school students.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7636151-varsity-brands-vista-murrieta-award/
Building on a successful campaign that helped hundreds of thousands of Americans learn their risk of developing type 2 diabetes through campaign messaging and an online risk test, the first-of-its-kind initiative to raise national awareness of prediabetes returns with an entertaining new approach. The new campaign, launching today, encourages viewers to take a one-minute prediabetes risk test to know where they stand and discover how they can decrease their risk of developing type 2 diabetes — and it does so with some adorable helpers.
More than one in three American adults has prediabetes — a serious health condition that often leads to type 2 diabetes and other significant health conditions like blindness, heart attack or stroke. According to newly released CDC data, however, nearly 90 percent of the 84 million people with prediabetes don’t know they have it and aren’t aware of the long-term risks to their health. Currently, about 30 million Americans are living with diabetes.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8142351-ad-council-prediabetes/
To motivate parents and their children to spend more time in nature together, the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council today launched a new public service advertisement (PSA) campaign urging families to experience the many wonders of nature close to home together.
The PSAs, created in partnership with The Foundry, Time Inc.’s state-of-the-art creative lab and content studio, focus on family time in nearby forested environments, reminding parents that having a nature experience with their children is not only easy and local, but also fun and full of learning opportunities and benefits. This is the first time that the Ad Council has worked with the creative division of a media company that has iconic roots in publishing on a large-scale production on behalf of one of its PSA campaigns. A range of Time Inc. properties are also donating print and digital advertising space in support of this campaign.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8171051-new-ad-council-u-s-forest-services-discover-the-forest-psa/
In the ten years since magic has reemerged in the world, witches have become feared and hunted. Shea Jameson is haunted by visions of fire. When she unintentionally performs a spell in public, her only hope is Torin, a dangerously sensual man who claims to be her eternal mate. Learn about the book and this author: http://www.reganhastings.com
Whoever coined the phrase, “Politics is just a game” must have known what he or she was talking about because it has turned out to be precisely that in the United States Virgin Islands, where Democratic senator, Wayne A.G. James, and the territory’s Democratic governor, John P. de Jongh, will face-off in a penalty kick-type override segment of the September 20, 2010 Legislative Session in the territory’s capital, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. If James succeeds in getting 10 of his 15 senatorial colleagues—11 of which are Democrats—to agree to the override, the amendment will become law. If he doesn’t, the game is over.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/senatorjames/46169/
Virgin America, the airline that is reinventing domestic travel, announces it will bring its low-fare, award-winning service to Portland International Airport (PDX) as of June 5, 2012, with tickets on sale today for two daily nonstop flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and one daily nonstop flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Known for outstanding guest service, custom-designed cabins with three classes of service, and touch-screen in-flight entertainment at every seat, Virgin America has swept the major reader-based travel awards since the airline launched in 2007. At a time when most U.S. carriers have been cutting capacity, Virgin America is expanding to its 18th destination and bringing much-needed nonstop competition from California’s largest airports to PDX. When entering new markets that offer little low-fare competition, the airline has frequently seen fares drop by up to 30 percent.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/55168-virgin-america-flights-to-from-portland-international-airport-pdx-oregon
Virgin America, the California-based airline that is reinventing domestic travel, announces it will bring its low-fare, upscale service to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) later this year, with tickets on sale today for three daily nonstop flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) starting April 4, 2012, and two daily nonstop flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) starting April 10, 2012. Known for its outstanding guest service, beautifully-designed cabins and unparalleled in-flight entertainment, Virgin America has swept the major travel awards since its launch in August 2007. Most recently, the airline took top honors as “Best U.S. Airline” in both Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards. In honor of its newest city, Virgin America is also launching a system-wide “The City of Brotherly Love: Just Got Lovelier” fare sale, with PHL-LAX fares from $129 and PHL-SFO fares from $149 (restrictions, taxes and fees applying). Tickets are available for purchase now at www.virginamerica.com and at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54209-virgin-america-launches-non-stop-service-from-philadelphia
Virgin America, the new domestic airline that is reinventing travel, today launches its low-fare, upscale service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), with daily nonstop flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). With legacy airlines representing 98 percent of domestic departures at ORD, the airline hopes to inject some healthy competition into the market. Known for friendly service, beautifully designed cabins and high-tech amenities, like touch-screen entertainment at every seat, Virgin America has been winning over consumers and travel awards since its 2007 launch, including “Best Domestic Airline” in both Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for the past three years. Today, Virgin America welcomes its dual inaugural flights with a red carpet welcome on the ORD tarmac followed by a party with a Virgin twist at the airline’s new L3 gate. Local officials and Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson will greet the airline’s first guests, including “Flight for Chicago” Facebook fans who scored the chance to “taste test” the new airline versus the competition with a free one-way flight on a legacy carrier and a return on Virgin America. To mark its entrance into the ORD ring, the airline today launches a knockout combination for Chicago flyers: a Groupon deal, *a Flash Flyaway,**a Fare Sale,***and a triple points offer**** that flyers can actually use – good for travel now through August 31,2011, via the airline’s no-blackout date Elevate frequent flyer program.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/virginamerica/50393/
Virgin America, the California-based airline that is reinventing domestic travel, today announces it will bring its low-fare, upscale service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), with daily nonstop flights from both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) starting May 25, 2011. Known for its beautifully designed cabins and high-tech amenities, Virgin America has been winning over consumers and sweeping the major travel awards since its August 2007 launch – including capturing the “Best Domestic Airline” title in both Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure’s World\'s Best Awards for the past three consecutive years. With legacy airlines representing 98 percent of domestic departures at ORD, Virgin America hopes to inject some healthy competition into the market.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/virginamerica/48650/
Based on its recent analysis of the hosted automatic call distributor (ACD) and hosted agent performance optimization (APO) markets, Frost & Sullivan has recognized Echopass Corporation (Echopass) with the 2011 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Market Share Leadership.
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in capturing the highest market share within its industry. The award recognizes the company's leadership position within the industry in terms of revenues or units, as specified.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/frostsullivan/54712
