Friday, August 31, 2012

Local Realtor is finalist for NAR Good Neighbor Award

Realtors® are the backbone of a community, often times supporting
local causes large and small, and volunteering their time to help
improve the communities in which they live. Ten such Realtors® were
recognized today by the National Association of Realtors® as finalists
for REALTOR®Magazine's 2012 Good Neighbor Awards. This year marks the
13th year the Good Neighbor Awards program has recognized Realtors®
who improve the quality of life in their communities through volunteer
work. The Realtors® acknowledged by this program over the years donate
their time, money and passion to creating a positive impact and
addressing critical needs in the community.

In October five winners will be selected from among the 10 finalists
and will receive travel expenses to the 2012 REALTORS® Conference &
Expo in Orlando, Fla., where they will receive their awards. Winners
will also receive national media exposure and a $10,000 grant for
their community cause. The five honorable mentions will receive a
$2,500 grant. The winners will be featured in the November/December
issue of REALTOR® Magazine."Realtors® are an integral part to a
successful community," said NAR President Moe Veissi, broker-owner of
Veissi & Associates Inc., in Miami. "The Good Neighbor Awards reminds
us of that, as well as recognizes NAR members who spend their time and
energy to better the lives of those in need. I am proud to honor these
ten Realtors® and help them grow their efforts so they can help even
more people through their selfless work."

The 10 Realtor® Magazine Good Neighbor Awards finalists are:
Rocco "Rocky" Balsamo, The Rocky Balsamo Real Estate Group/Long &
Foster, Princeton Junction, N.J.
Balsamo is founding board member and volunteer executive director for
Center for FaithJustice, a nonprofit that promotes volunteerism among
teens and young adults. CFJ runs summer day camps and sleep away camps
as well as other year-round workshops for schools and churches. Last
year, more than 900 teens volunteered more than 20,000 hours in local
charities and spent a similar number of hours in education classes.

Charlene M. Brennan, Strano & Associates Real Estate, Fairview
Heights, Ill.
For 17 years, Brennan has been dedicated to helping serve the Rotary
District 6510's Belizean Children's Program. She travels to Belize
once a year with physicians to identify children who will come to the
United States for orthopedic surgery. She photographs patients,
coordinates their travel, and recruits host families to care for them.
While they are in the U.S., she coordinates their medical care,
testing, and physical therapy until they are ready to return home to
their families in Belize.

Georgia L. Butterfield, Legacy Real Estate & Associates, Fremont, Calif.
For 18 years, Butterfield has led the nonprofit Adopt An Angel,
providing holiday gifts for more than 8,000 of the country's most
needy children. She helped provide gifts for 800 children in 2011
alone. The children, who are living in group homes, shelters, foster
care or low-income homes, make wish lists of three gifts. Butterfield
finds people to buy what's on the list and procures donated warehouse
space, and recruits volunteers to shop, wrap, tag and deliver the
gifts during the holiday season.

Michael Ray Campbell, Broker Associate, Coldwell Banker Residential
Brokerage, Tucson, Ariz.
Campbell is president of the nonprofit Hearth Foundation, which
provides transitional housing for low-income families, typically women
with young children. He is credited for reorganizing and stabilizing
the organization, strengthening the board, and creating effective
partnerships with other organizations to provide services to the
residents. Campbell recently won a $720,000 grant, which will allow
the organization to make much-needed renovations to their apartments.

Regina "Ginger" Dowdle, Sunrise Realty & Development, Statesville, N.C.
Dowdle and her husband founded The Shepherd's Watch Ministries, which
offers summer camp to the community, as well as a year-round
residential program for at-risk youths ages 13-18, in foster care, on
their 60-acre farm. The residential program focuses on teens who will
likely age out of foster care without being adopted. The goal is to
teach these youths much needed skills to help prepare them for
independent living. The Dowdles have foster parented more than 20
youths since 2005, adopting two boys with another adoption in process.
Ginger Dowdle is a member of the Charlotte Regional Realtor®
Association and was the winner of the Association's 2011 Humanitarian
Award, where The Shepherd's Watch Ministries received a $2,000
donation and crystal award.

Ortrud "Trudy" Harsh, Associate Broker, Long & Foster, Fairfax, Va.
Harsh founded The Brain Foundation in 2003 to address the growing need
for affordable housing for mentally ill adults who might otherwise be
homeless. The foundation has since purchased six homes that house 24
adults with brain diseases like schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder or
chronic depression. She has formed a successful partnership with
another nonprofit to provide residents with services that allow them
to live independently. Her model has been copied in Florida and she
frequently mentors others who are trying to create similar programs.

Geoffrey W. Lavell, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate-Desert
Properties, Henderson, Nev.
Lavell devotes hundreds of volunteer hours to the Nevada Childhood
Cancer Foundation. A survivor of childhood cancer himself, Lavell is a
15-year volunteer and co-director of Camp Cartwheel, a summer
overnight camp for children with cancer or other catastrophic diseases
and their siblings. He also leads a puppet show program that travels
to schools to educate children about these illnesses and the
importance of welcoming back a child who is re-entering school after
long illness.

Patti M. Miller, Tierra Antigua Realty, Sierra Vista, Ariz.
Miller is founder and president of Real Wishes Foundation. Since 2006,
the organization has granted home repair wishes for the elderly and
disabled as well as other wishes throughout their community. Miller
sprang into action during recent Arizona wildfires and flooding,
collecting $1 million worth of food, clothes, and places to stay for
victims who lost everything. The foundation, which is supported by the
Southeast Arizona Association of REALTORS®, also distributed $130,000
in donations to victims to help pay for losses.

Kathleen Peck, All in One Realty Group Inc., Naples, Fla.
Peck cofounded Lighthouse of Collier, Inc. in 2009. The organization
provides services to help the blind and visually impaired function
more independently and improve their quality of life. Legally blind
herself, Peck raises funds to provide free summer camp for blind
children, counseling and skills training for adults transitioning to
blindness, and support for caregivers.

Sally Rudloff, Kane & Associates, Alameda, Calif.
As volunteer president of the Alameda Boys and Girls Club, Rudloff, is
credited with incredible growth that will allow the club to expand
from serving 1,200 children to 3,000. Rudloff led a $10 million
capital campaign that built a new 25,000 sq. ft. youth center. She
also launched a dental clinic for uninsured children, recruited math
teachers for a new tutoring program, and created partnerships that
provide counseling for 50 families.

REALTOR® Magazine's Good Neighbor Awards is sponsored by Lowe's and
HouseLogic. In addition to the grant awards, each of the Good Neighbor
Award winners will receive a $2,000 Lowe's gift card, and each of the
honorable mentions will receive a $1,000 Lowe's gift card.
Nominees were judged on their personal contribution of time, as well
as financial and material contributions, to benefit their cause. To be
eligible, nominees must be NAR members in good standing.
More information about the Good Neighbor Awards finalists is available
at www.REALTOR.org/gna.
Lowe's (www.lowes.com) has worked with customers to maintain and
improve their homes since 1946. Lowe's is proud to support the Good
Neighbor Awards. Lowe's is a proud supporter of Habitat for Humanity
International, American Red Cross, SkillsUSA/SkillsCanada, and The
Nature Conservancy, in addition to numerous nonprofit organizations
and programs that help communities in North America. In 2011, Lowe's
and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together
contributed more than $30 million to support community and education
projects in North America. Lowe's also encourages volunteerism through
the Lowe's Heroes program, a company-wide employee volunteer
initiative. Lowe's, a proud partner in NAR's REALTOR Benefits®
Program, brings Realtors® exclusive benefits to help build
relationships with their customers, generate referrals and expand
their client base. The benefits program is featured
onwww.LowesRealtorBenefits.com.

HouseLogic, www.houselogic.com, is a free source of information and
tools from the National Association of Realtors® that can help
homeowners make smart and timely decisions about their home. With
content covering home improvement, maintenance, taxes, finance,
insurance, and even ways to get involved in and enrich their
community, HouseLogic can help homeowners increase and protect the
value of their home by helping them make confident decisions.

The National Association of RealtorsÒ, "The Voice for Real Estate," is
America's largest trade association, representing 1 million members
involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate
industries.
###

Swarovski to re-open SouthPark Mall boutique with new design

Swarovski, the leading designer and producer of fashion jewelry and
crystal décor objects, is updating its boutique at SouthPark Mall with
a new retail design concept. The boutique is located at 4400 Sharon
Road in Charlotte, NC and is scheduled to re-open with its new design
during the last week of September. The location will offer Swarovski's
full range of fashion jewelry and watches, as well as home accessories
and décor objects.

The 1,030 square-foot space will boast Swarovski's "Crystal Forest"
retail design concept, which was created in collaboration with Tokujin
Yoshioka, 2007 Design Miami, Designer of the Year award winner. The
concept highlights the infinite possibilities of crystal and creates a
fresh showcase for Swarovski's own branded collections. The new retail
architecture brings the brand to life in a tangible crystal experience.

"Swarovski's updated SouthPark Mall location will create a consumer
experience that embodies our brand values of innovation and
modernity," said John Heidt, Vice President Retail for Swarovski North
America Limited's Consumer Goods Business.

The design highlights Swarovski's crystal-cutting expertise, unique
craftsmanship, creativity and innovation. Key elements of the new
design are:

· A Chrysalis chandelier, which is a beehive-shaped, art
installation composed of crystals
· Stainless steel prism exterior that catches light and
reflections from outside the store
· A crystal column
· Textured walls featuring reflective white prisms envelop the
space to create the illusion of an organic crystal forest
· White lacquer and mirror stainless steel finishes
· A combination of horizontal and vertical showcases featuring
LED lighting from various directions
· Play of light on different materials enhancing the sparkle
of the store
· Floating window boxes that allow for unique, eye-catching
displays of Swarovski's crystal accessories

The Crystal Forest design concept made its global debut in Tokyo's
prestigious Ginza district in March 2008. In November 2009, Swarovski
opened its first Crystal Forest store in the United States on the
Magnificent Mile of Chicago's Michigan Avenue.

Swarovski has more than 240 boutiques in the United States and a
global reach with more than 2,200 retail outlets in 120 countries in
all major fashion capitals around the world. The crystal company
opened its original boutique at SouthPark Mall in July 2003. In
addition to its SouthPark Mall location, Swarovski currently has one
additional location in Charlotte, NC and two other locations in North
Carolina.

About Swarovski
In 1895, Daniel Swarovski, a Bohemian inventor and visionary, moved to
the village of Wattens, Tyrol in Austria, with his newly-invented
machine for cutting and polishing crystal jewelry stones. From this
beginning that revolutionized the fashion world, Swarovski has grown
to be the world's leading producer of precision-cut crystal for
fashion, jewelry and more recently lighting, architecture and
interiors. Today, the company, still family-owned and run by 5th
generation family members, has a global reach with some 26,100
employees, a presence in over 120 countries and a turnover in 2011 of
2.22 billion Euros. Swarovski comprises two major businesses, one
producing and selling loose elements to the industry and the other
creating design-driven finished products. Swarovski crystals have
become an essential ingredient of international design. Since 1965 the
company has also catered to the fine jewelry industry with precision-
cut genuine gemstones and created stones. Showing the creativity that
lies at the heart of the company, Swarovski's own brand lines of
accessories, jewelry and home décor items are sold through more than
2,200 retail outlets worldwide. The Swarovski Crystal Society has
close to 300,000 members across the world, keen collectors of the
celebrated crystal figurines. And in Wattens, Swarovski
Kristallwelten, the multi-media crystal museum, was opened in 1995 as
a celebration of Swarovski's universe of innovation and inspiration.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Mattress Firm Opens New Store in Concord

Mattress Firm, Inc., one of the nation's largest specialty mattress
retailers, has announced the opening of a new location in Concord,
North Carolina. The new 4,000 square foot store is located at 8561
Concord Mills Boulevard, Suite 301C.

"We are thrilled to be opening a new location in Concord and look
forward to offering our customers the same great shopping experience
they have come to expect at our other locations throughout North
Carolina," said Steve Stagner, Mattress Firm's chief executive
officer. "Our goal is to make the experience of shopping for a new
mattress as simple and rewarding a process as possible, and with our
unparalleled selection and knowledgeable staff we will do just that."

Mattress Firm stores feature more than 55 different models of
mattresses from top manufacturers such as Sealy, Serta and Simmons.
Specialty mattress and bedding products incorporating the latest sleep
technology are also on display, including pressure relieving
mattresses from Tempur-Pedic.

The store design is centered around Mattress Firm's "Comfort by Color"
concept, which allows customers to easily move throughout the store to
browse and compare the different styles and brands based on the
comfort level of the mattress: Firm (Yellow), Plush (Orange), Pillow
Top (Red), Contoured (Green) and Personalized (Blue).

The new store is open seven days a week: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.,
Monday – Saturday; 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Sunday. The new store
will also offer the company's Happiness Guarantee, which covers the
lowest price, comfort and excellent service or your money back.
Mattress Firm stands behind their happiness guarantee and is committed
to making sure their customers sleep happy.


About Mattress Firm
Houston-based Mattress Firm (NASDAQ: MFRM) is a high growth specialty
retailer, recognized as one of the nation's largest specialty bedding
companies, offering a broad selection of both traditional and
specialty mattresses, bedding accessories and related products from
leading manufacturers. With more than 800 stores across 26 states,
Mattress Firm has the largest geographic footprint in the United
States among mattress specialty retailers. Mattress Firm offers
customers comfortable store environments, guarantees on price, comfort
and service, and highly-trained sales professionals.
More information at www.mattressfirm.com

Friday, August 17, 2012

Electro Adhesion Products in Charlotte to Distribute New JuStick Display Boards for the Home and Office

Electro Adhesion Products, LLC in Charlotte is now distributing
JuStick display boards to major retailers in the United States. The
innovative bulletin boards feature electro adhesion technology that
holds flat objects including paper, cardboard, photos, plastic and
CD's evenly and firmly across its surface without the use of pins,
tape, glue or magnets. From small desktop boards to blackboards to
large display boards, JuStick's electro adhesion products come in a
variety of sizes and are suitable for the home and office, as well as
educational and retail spaces.

JuStick International (Pty) Ltd developed and patented the electro
adhesion surface, a non-magnetic and non-invasive force that firmly
holds items in place all on their own. These innovative JuStick
products are designed to replace the traditional bulletin boards,
magnet boards and white boards that require pins, magnets, tape, etc.
to be effective.

The JuStick home and office products currently available to retailers
include:

• JuStick Desktop Stand, a versatile table-top desk organizer,
transcription holder, advertising display unit or corporate gift, with
a durable plastic surface perfect for use in small offices, home and
training centers.

• JuStick Lite Blackboard, a multipurpose notice, display and
bulletin board. This black display board comes with durable standard
aluminum frame to mount with ease on walls. Perfect to use in any
office, small business, home, education center, training facility or
call center.

• JuStick 2-in-1 Interactive White Board, a useful teaching,
training and corporate meeting aide. With clear PC overlay for
superior illustrations, display and interaction capabilities, this
board is perfect for use in any corporate, training, educational,
school, home, office, small business or board room.

• JuStick Expo System, a modular, easy to assemble, portable,
mobile, lightweight display system for professionals on the go. It
comes in three or six quick-fold JuStick panels with a durable
carrying bag. A perfect trade show and training display surface.

• JuStick Strip, a great solution for securing and displaying large
drawings and flip chart sheets in boardrooms, meeting rooms and class
rooms. This narrow 8″ high by 48″ long black durable plastic can
be mounted horizontal with ease or on walls with double sided tape.

• JuStick Manager Board, an innovative display solution for
retailers and convenience stores to display their current advertising
flyers and newspaper inserts while utilizing the built in basket
system for customers to pick up their copy while shopping.

• JuStick Lobby Stand is ideal for use in business lobbies,
restaurants, hotels or cafeterias where quick-display is required for
all to see.

"This product is incredible in both its usefulness and simplicity and
has received a lot of fanfare at trade shows both in the U.S. and
internationally," said Lou Amico, president of Eletctro Adhesion
Products. "Through our U.S. distribution center, we are able to make
JuStick products more widely available to retailers."

JuStick products have received several prestigious awards for
innovative product development from the Invention and New Product
Exposition:

• Innovative excellence in the category of Office Supplies and
Stationery

• XEROX Innovation Award

• Overall Grand Prix first runner up for all inventions, in all
categories.

JuStick was also a finalist for the Technology Top 100 award for
excellence in management of innovation.

More information on the JuStick display boards can be found on their
website at www.ElectroAdhesionProducts.com or by calling (800) 651-7818.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Charlotte Business-Career Coach Presents Workshop On "Secrets To Landing The Job You Desire"

"Secrets To Landing The Job You Desire" is the title of a workshop to
be presented by Charlotte business/career coach Deborah Jackson at the
Charlotte City Club, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Wednesday August 29.

"This will be a radical, three-hour, highly engaging and interactive
workshop for anyone in search of a job, preparing to interview for a
job, or seeking to move internally to a different job," explained
Jackson, president of Harobed Inc. "This workshop is designed to
change your mindset, help you become more prepared, to be more in
control of the process, and to increase your odds dramatically for
getting the callback and landing the job."

Seating at the event, at 121 W. Trade St., Suite 3100, is limited to
50 people. Early bird registration before Aug. 23 as well as for City
Club members is $50, and afterwards $75. Register online at: http://wwwharobedinc.eventbrite.com
.

"After 20 years in corporate America, coaching, training, speaking and
facilitating for hundreds of professionals and executives across the
country, I have learned a lot and look forward to sharing key insights
with workshop participants," Jackson said. "I have been an interviewer
and interviewee successfully hiring top candidates and being recruited
by top organizations. I know what they're looking for; I understand
the question behind the question; I know the scoring processes. And
while every industry may be unique, the principles for interviewing
and communicating effectively are largely the same."

Learn more about Jackson and her company at http://www.harobedinc.com.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Charlotte Regional Partnership hires Utah economic developer as VP

Michael Flynn will be joining the Charlotte Regional Partnership on
August 20 as vice president of economic development services. Most
recently he was vice president of proactive recruitment at the
Economic Development Corporation of Utah. Flynn also served as
research manager, director of existing business and vice president of
public development for the organization. Before joining EDCUtah, Flynn
worked in the marketing department at the Newspaper Agency
Corporation, the advertising, production and distribution company
associated with The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News. Flynn has a
bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Utah and an MBA
from Westminster College.