CEO News

AKRON, Ohio, July 9 /CEO News Info/ — FirstMerit Corporation (NASDAQ:FMER) announces the appointment of N. James Brocklehurst as Executive Vice President, Retail Banking. Brocklehurst joined FirstMerit in July, 2006, as Senior Vice President, Retail Sales Manager, and became interim Executive Vice President of Retail Banking in February 2010.

Brocklehurst is responsible for leading all aspects of Retail Banking for FirstMerit, including development of retail strategy, corporate marketing and real estate management. He reports directly to Paul G. Greig, chairman, president and CEO.

“Jim has distinguished himself in his Retail leadership positions at FirstMerit,” Greig said. “Recently, he has led the successful integration of our new Chicago branches, spearheaded key marketing initiatives and overseen our compliance with new industry regulations. He has a deep understanding of how to achieve the highest levels of customer service and I am confident he will greatly enhance FirstMerit’s ability to meet and exceed customer expectations.”

Brocklehurst has 22 years of retail banking experience. Prior to joining FirstMerit, he was employed by JP Morgan for 16 years, most recently as Senior Vice President, Retail/Market Manager. Jim received his Bachelor’s degree from Ball State University and is a graduate of Stonier Graduate School of Banking. Jim resides in Medina, Ohio.

About FirstMerit

FirstMerit Corporation is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Akron, Ohio, with assets of $12.3 billion as of March 31, 2010 and 183 banking offices and 204 ATMs in Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and the Chicago area. FirstMerit Corporation provides a complete range of banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses through its core operations. Principal wholly-owned subsidiaries include: FirstMerit Bank, N.A., FirstMerit Mortgage Corporation, FirstMerit Title Agency, Ltd., and FirstMerit Community Development Corporation.

FirstMerit Corporation
Analysts: Thomas O’Malley/Investor Relations Officer
Phone: 330.384.7109
Media Contact: Robert Townsend/Media Relations Officer
Phone: 330.384.7075

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070920/CLTU138LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/

http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070920/CLTU138LOGO

PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: FirstMerit Corporation

CONTACT: Analysts: Thomas O’Malley, Investor Relations Officer,
+1-330-384-7109, Media: Robert Townsend, Media Relations Officer,
+1-330-384-7075, both of FirstMerit Corporation

Web Site: http://www.firstmerit.com/

CHICAGO, July 8 /CEO News Info/ — Michael McKiernan, Avison Young Principal and Managing Director of the company’s Chicago office, announced today that two leading commercial real estate brokers have joined Avison Young’s brokerage operation.

Effective immediately, Jason Kleiman becomes a Principal of Avison Young and a member of the office tenant representation group in Chicago. Kleiman was formerly Managing Principal at Lakefront Advisory Services, a corporate real estate advisory practice that focuses on the representation of users of office space.

Bob Budington joins Avison Young as senior director of Chicago’s office tenant representation group. He was most recently a Vice-President with Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler Inc. and formerly with Golub and Company and Jones Lang LaSalle.

Avison Young is Canada’s largest independently-owned commercial real estate services company. The firm opened its first U.S. office in Chicago, IL in 2009, followed by U.S. offices in Washington, DC, Atlanta, GA and Houston, TX over the past half year.

“We are pleased to be able to unite two energetic, experienced brokers who will help Avison Young realize its vision for further growth and success in the Chicago marketplace. Their backgrounds, coupled with their strong work ethic, will provide clients with the highest quality of service,” says McKiernan.

He continues: “Jason’s experience is extensive and his focus on tenant representation is augmented by his background in corporate services. Avison Young now has a presence in the central business district and will continue to grow.”

“Bob brings a diverse background to Avison Young. His analytical experience at Jones Lang LaSalle, his landlord representation role at Golub and Company, and his tenant representation activities at Colliers provide Bob and his clients with a unique perspective on the market. Everyone here at Avison Young and our clients look forward to taking advantage of Bob’s skill sets,” says McKiernan.

Over the past 18 months, Avison Young has grown from 11 to 18 offices and from 300 to 600-plus real estate professionals in Canada and the U.S.

“In order to remain at the forefront of our highly competitive industry, Avison Young recognizes the need to continually add new resources to the company. Jason and Bob are both experienced tenant representatives with excellent reputations in the market and among their clients,” says Earl Webb, Avison Young’s President, U.S. Operations.

“They both have strong relationships with a number of Chicago-area clients with whom they have been working over the years. As we begin to build our Chicago business downtown as well as in the suburbs, we are pleased that Jason and Bob have come on board to begin what will be a rapidly-growing downtown tenant representation practice,” adds Webb.

“I am excited to be joining an organization with such an enviable track record of success, and one that is committed to expanding in all facets of the commercial real estate industry,” notes Kleiman. “I look forward to being an integral part of Avison Young’s growth and success in the U.S. marketplace.”

“I am pleased to be continuing my career at Avison Young and providing innovative real estate solutions to a wide range of clients,” says Budington. “Avison Young’s vision to build its brand across North America and beyond is something I look forward to being a part of.”

Jason Kleiman

Kleiman has more than a decade of direct transactional experience in the Downtown Chicago commercial real estate market. Prior to joining Avison Young, he was Managing Principal and founder of Lakefront Advisory Services, a corporate real estate advisory practice that focuses primarily on the representation of users of office space. Before that, he held senior brokerage roles at both the Trammell Crow Company and CB Richard Ellis.

Through his real estate career, Kleiman has developed an expertise in tenant representation with a focus on office properties. Along with a deep knowledge of the Downtown Chicago office market, Kleiman specializes in the representation of tenants with a multi-market and multi-national presence. He has been successful in the use of best practices to assist corporate clients in the creation of consistent real estate processes across a wide variety of property portfolios. On behalf of his clients, he has successfully negotiated leasing transactions in nearly every major market throughout North America.

Kleiman’s clients have included: IKON Office Solutions, Oce North America, Professional Service Industries, Dykema Gossett, IA Interior Architects, Backstop Solutions Group, PSA-Dewberry, and the French Consulate. Kleiman holds a Bachelor of Science in Business/Marketing from Indiana University and is a member of the Chicago Office Leasing Brokers Association (COLBA).

Bob Budington

Budington has more than 18 years of experience in commercial real estate with a diverse background in financial analysis, management and construction, marketing and leasing, investment and development, and acquisitions and dispositions. He has negotiated leases totaling over $200 million in value, assisted in acquisitions and dispositions of $300 million in assets, and implemented marketing and leasing programs for 3 million square feet (msf) of assets.

Specializing in strategic real estate planning and corporate advisory services, Budington joins Avison Young from Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler Inc., where he focused on tenant representation in Downtown Chicago between 2005-2010. Prior to that, Budington was with Golub & Company where he oversaw the leasing of a 3-msf real estate portfolio. Budington began his career at LaSalle Partners (now Jones Lang LaSalle) as a financial analyst before moving to the leasing and management group in Chicago and New York.

Budington’s clients have included: Boston Options Exchange, Capital First Realty, Carlyle Group, Chicago Children’s Choir Academy, Chicago Municipal Employees Credit Union, Chicago Park District, City of Chicago, Clear Channel, Cypress Communications, International Education of Students, Krasnow Saunders Cornblath, Liston & Lafakis, Macquarie Rail, Mitsui Rail Capital, Northwestern Hospital, Northwestern University, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Premiere Radio, The PrivateBank and Trust Company, Government of Quebec, Romanucci & Blandin, Slalom Consulting, the Spencer Foundation, Two by Four Communication, and Visanow.com.

Budington is a member of the Commercial Office Leasing Brokers Association (COLBA) and Chicago Real Estate Organization (CREO). He is also a member of Metropolitan Family Services and City of Hope, and the founding member and President of the North Shore Lacrosse Club, a not-for-profit youth sports organization in suburban Chicago. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Cornell University.

Founded in 1978, Avison Young is Canada’s largest independently-owned commercial real estate services company and the only national, Canadian-owned, principal-managed real estate brokerage firm in the country. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and ranked among Canada’s leading national commercial real estate organizations, Avison Young is a full-service commercial real estate company comprising more than 600 real estate professionals in 18 offices across Canada and in the U.S. The company provides value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management, financing and mortgage placement services to owners and occupiers of office, retail, industrial and multi-residential properties.

Editors/Reporters: please click on links to view and download head shots

http://www.avisonyoung.com/library/pdf/Media_Releases/JKleiman.jpg

http://www.avisonyoung.com/library/pdf/Media_Releases/Bob_Budington_600.jp g

Editors/Reporters can now follow Avison Young on Twitter:

For industry news, press releases and market reports: www.twitter.com/avisonyoung

For Avison Young listings and deals: www.twitter.com/AYListingsDeals

Source: Avison Young (Canada) Inc.

CONTACT: comment/photos: Sherry Quan, National Director of
Communications & Media Relations: (604) 647-5098, cell: (604) 726-0959;
Michael McKiernan, Principal and Managing Director, Chicago: (847) 881-2236;
Jason Kleiman, Principal: (312) 957-7606; Bob Budington, Senior Director,
Office Tenant Representation Group, Chicago: (312) 957-7607; Earl Webb,
President, U.S. Operations: (847) 881-2237; Mark Rose, Chair and CEO: (416)
673-4028, www.avisonyoung.com

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis., July 1 /CEO News Info/ — Renaissance Learning(TM), Inc. (NASDAQ:RLRN), a leading provider of technology to support personalized practice, differentiated instruction, and progress monitoring in reading, math, and writing for pre-K-12 schools and districts, today announced that Glenn R. James has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer effective July 6, 2010. Mr. James, who was also appointed as a member of the Board of Directors, succeeds Terrance D. Paul, who will assume the position of Chairman of the Board. Judith A. Paul, current Chairman of the Board, will assume the position of Vice-Chairman of the Board.

Mr. James, 51, has over 25 years of business consulting and executive level management experience in the software and information technology industries. Mr. James’ broad background includes 20 years with Deloitte Consulting, 11 of which were as a partner. While at Deloitte, he helped found Deloitte’s K-12 Education consulting practice. Mr. James also spent four years as President of a several hundred million dollar division of Unisys Corporation and most recently served as a principal in Technology Consulting Corporation. Mr. James has a BA degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder and an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

“After conducting an extensive search, we are pleased to have found an individual of Glenn’s caliber,” stated Terrance D. Paul, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “Judi and I, along with the Board of Directors, believe that Glenn has the ideal mix of experience, business acumen, personal integrity, and leadership skills to take the company to the next level.”

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to take on the role of CEO of Renaissance Learning,” commented Glenn R. James. “Terry, Judi and the management team have built a truly great company. Renaissance Learning has outstanding, dedicated employees, is financially strong, and has a great reputation and a great educational mission. My job is to further that mission by working with the management and employee team to put in place the strategies that will greatly accelerate the company’s growth. It is an exciting challenge; one that I welcome.”

Renaissance Learning, Inc.

Renaissance Learning, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of computer-based assessment technology for pre-K-12 schools. Adopted by more than 72,000 schools, Renaissance Learning’s tools provide daily formative assessment and periodic progress-monitoring technology to enhance core curriculum, support differentiated instruction, and personalize practice in reading, writing and math. Renaissance Learning products help educators make the practice component of their existing curriculum more effective by providing tools to personalize practice and easily manage the daily activities for students of all levels. As a result, teachers using Renaissance Learning products accelerate learning, get more satisfaction from teaching, and help students achieve higher test scores on state and national tests. Renaissance Learning has seven U.S. locations and subsidiaries in Canada and the United Kingdom.

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various assumptions which management believes are reasonable. However, these statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results encompassed within the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and later filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. The Company expressly disclaims a duty to provide updates to forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or other occurrences.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001108/RENAISSANCELOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20001108/RENAISSANCELOGO Source: Renaissance Learning, Inc.

CONTACT: Carolyn Rademan of Renaissance Learning, Inc., Toll free ofc., 1-877-988-8048, Fax, +1-715-424-3414, pr@renlearn.com

Web Site: http://www.renlearn.com/

TAMPA, Fla., July 1 /CEO News Info/ — The Tampa Bay Chapter of American Marketing Association (AMA Tampa Bay), has officially announced its Board of Directors. As one of the fastest growing Chapters in the United States for several years in a row, AMA Tampa Bay is the premier resource for marketing information, education, training and relationships. Almost 400 members look to the organization to advance marketing competencies, in both practice and thought leadership. AMA Tampa Bay Board Members have committed to serving for a period of one year and are considered some of the brightest marketing minds in the area.

New roles on the 2010-11 Board include (photos are available):
– Tara Michelle Hustedde, president. She previously served on the Board
as both president elect and vice president of communications.
Hustedde is the president of Pure Public Relations and Marketing,
Inc., in Land O Lakes, Fla.
– Sean Halter, president elect. Previously, he served as the Chapter’s
vice president of sponsorship. Halter is founder and CEO of
Connectivity Marketing & Media in Clearwater, Fla.
– Colleen Chappell, immediate past president. Chappell is the president
and CEO of ChappellRoberts in Tampa, Fla.
– Susan Follick, vice president of communications and branding.
Previously, she served the Chapter as vice president of programming.
– Thryth Hillary-Navarro, secretary. She is the founder and CEO of
Marketing Intelligently, LLC in Tampa, Fla.
– Greg Millman, treasurer. He is a senior marketing manager at Kforce
Professional Staffing in Tampa, Fla.
– Shanna Kurpe, co-chair of the programming committee. She is a
marketing manager at Roger West Creative & Code in Tampa, Fla.
– Jeff Young, co-chair of the programming committee.
– Will Rose, vice president of sponsorship. Rose is the chief marketing
officer of Verosity Marketing in Tampa, Fla.
– Doug Engel now serves as vice president of collegiate relations. He
is the president of Logomotive in St. Petersburg, Fla.
– Jeremy Dixon, vice president of human resources. Dixon is vice
president of A-1 Temps, Inc., in Tampa, Fla.
– Jennie Jordan, vice president of volunteers. She was previously the
Chapter’s director of new membership. She is the Community Development
Manager for the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida.
– Andrea Gorder, director of event logistics.
– Shelly Bramm, vice president of membership. She is the owner of Bramm
Films in Tampa, Fla.
AMA board members who continue in their current roles include:
– Vince Bailey, vice president of research. Bailey is owner of
Aperture Market Research in Safety Harbor, Fla.
– Tracy Clouser, director of public and media relations. Clouser is vice
president of development for Easter Seals Florida in Tampa, Fla.
– Jennifer McCafferty, director of programming development. McCafferty
works with Workflow One in Tampa, Fla.

With close to 400 members, the Tampa Bay Chapter of the AMA is one of the largest professional organizations in the area. The chapter was recently recognized by the international American Marketing Association, for the third year in a row, for leadership and programming excellence. Monthly events, which are open to members and guests, feature local and national industry experts. Membership is available on both an individual and group basis with special options also available for those that are transitioning from student to professional status. For more information about any of the chapter’s events or programs or membership options please visit www.amatampabay.org. You may also follow AMA Tampa Bay on Twitter, Facebook and Linked In.

Enter the following username and password:

Username: ama_media
Password: media
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: AMA Tampa Bay

CONTACT: Tracy Clouser, Director of Public Relations – AMA Tampa Bay,
+1-813-838-0410, pr@amatampabay.org

Web Site: http://www.amatampabay.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Electronic head shots for all new board members are available on our ftp site (information is below). Photos are available on our FTP site: http://files.chappellroberts.com

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