CEO News

This is the latest free magazines and other related publications for CEO and Professionals titled: Discover How to Obtain a Small Business Loan. You can get the magazines sent to your home or download the digital magazines for free… Enjoy your reading.

Small businesses are struggling to obtain money because many government-backed loans have dropped sharply and banks have made it a much more competitive process. A small business loan is sometimes seen to be riskier to a bank and due to the economic times, banks are being careful. Finding a bank to help you with your finance needs can be difficult and it’s important you are prepared. Even with preparation, some loans are in plain limbo. This guide will provide alternative financing options your business can receive and what you need in order to qualify. This guide comes with no obligation price quotes from small business loan companies – all pre-screened and qualified to best fit your business loan needs. Request Free!

This is the latest free magazines and other related publications for CEO and Professionals titled: When was the last time you were excited about your business phone system?…. You can get the magazines sent to your home or download the digital magazines for free… Enjoy your reading.

8×8 Virtual Office is a complete business phone system that delivers outrageously affordable, incredibly advanced business phone service over your Internet connection. With 8×8, you get: Unlimited calling to the US, Canada and 8 international locations Advanced calling features Superior quality and reliability Support you can count on Virtual Office answers the call for your small or mid-sized company to save serious money on business phone service—all while delivering enterprise-class features to your fingertips. Register now to speak to an 8×8 representative to find out how much you could save! Request Free!

This is the latest free magazines and other related publications for CEO and Professionals titled: Increase Sales Productivity by Creating a Connected and Collaborative Sales…. You can get the magazines sent to your home or download the digital magazines for free… Enjoy your reading.

In this webcast, you learn how creating a connected, collaborative sales team can help you: Increase close rates by simplifying team collaboration on complex deals. Accelerate sales cycles by enabling anytime, anywhere access to people and information. Improve sales effectiveness by minimizing information silos. Improve sales efficiency by reducing the time needed to find and share customer and competitive knowledge. Increase revenue growth by retaining high-performing sales people. Request Free!

“Top Brokers Recognized, Achieve Double-Digit Returns in Rollercoaster Market”

BOSTON, July 28 /CEO News Info/ — First Coverage Inc., which provides the fastest-growing alpha capture platform worldwide and is the leader in North American equity trading content, today released its 2010 Mid-Year Top Performer Rankings, which recognize the best equity market institutional sales people and sell-side firms in the world.

Morgan Keegan & Company, one of the nation’s largest regional investment firms offering full-service investment banking, securities brokerage, wealth and asset management, ranked No. 1, outperforming more than 350 firms on the First Coverage platform. Blake Kukar, an Institutional Sales Representative in Morgan Keegan’s Memphis office, earned the top ranking in the individual salesperson category with an average return of 29.72 percent on all U.S. ideas sent to his clients through the First Coverage platform.

“We are delighted to recognize Blake Kukar for his exemplary, positive returns in a market when the S&P 500 was down 7.7 percent during the same period,” said Roland Beaulieu, CEO and President of First Coverage. “Despite an economic environment with myriad obstacles – high unemployment, modest income growth, tight credit and global financial crisis – Blake demonstrates that a solid stock picker can navigate even the most challenging market to make money for his clients. Congratulations to Blake and all our top performers!”

First Coverage rankings are derived from more than 100,000 actionable sell-side trade ideas communicated by thousands of sales people at more than 350 global firms that participated on the system in 2010 and represent a completely objective evaluation of the sell-side.

“We are pleased with this recognition from First Coverage. Morgan Keegan’s Institutional Equity platform is built on a foundation of high quality, in-depth research. The success of our salespeople using this alpha capture system is a reflection of both our research expertise and the experience and capability of our salespeople,” said Bill Jump, Director of Institutional Sales and Trading, Morgan Keegan. “Our Institutional Sales and Research departments work in tandem to achieve a very straightforward objective–to optimize value for our clients.”

First Coverage’s industry leading platform is a web-based solution that simplifies the way that buy-side investment professionals capture, organize and evaluate all types of information coming from their sell-side coverage. The technology allows portfolio managers to easily find and focus on the institutional sales people and information most likely to add value to their investment process.

“I am honored to accept this award and grateful to my research department and teammates at Morgan Keegan, whose support in part made this recognition possible,” said Blake Kukar. “Using the First Coverage platform, I can ensure that my high-conviction trade ideas are presented to the right portfolio managers at the right time – and they’re able to capture, filter and monitor recommendations in real-time, allowing them to objectively measure the value I provide to their investment process.”

2010 Mid-Year First Coverage Top Performer Rankings

Most Consistent Sales Representative Worldwide
Doug Bantum, Capstone Investments

Top Performing Sales Representative – US
1. Blake Kukar Morgan Keegan
2. Allen Seto Jesup & Lamont
3. Ken Tang B. Riley and Company
4. Richard Kneiser Morgan Joseph
5. Tyler Self Vision Research

Top Performing Sales Representative – Canada
1. John Ing Maison Placements
2. Liza Oulton Salman Partners
3. Ash Mehta Garp Research
4. Andrew Wanner TD Securities
5. Nicole Baker CIBC

Top Performing Sales Representative -
International
1. Brad Meikle Renewable Analytics
2. Ed Walsh Altium Securities
3. Brendon Byron Davy Equities
Panmure Gordon and
4. Bill Foley Company
5. Melvyn Brown Altium Securities

Top Performing Fundamental Firm -
US Top Quant Firm
Fusion Analytics
1. Morgan Keegan Securities LLC
2. Caris and Company
3. OTR Global
Merriman Curhan Ford and
4. Company
5. Longbow Research

Top Performing Fundamental Firm -
Canada
1. Thomas Weisel Partners
2. TD Securities
3. RBC Capital Markets
4. Brant Securities
5. Fraser MacKenzie

Top Performing Fundamental Firm -
International
1. Kempen
2. Edison Investments
3. Altium Securities
4. Panmure Gordon and Company
5. Davy Equities

For more information or a complete list of rankings, including top ideas by industry, please visit www.FirstCoverage.com or e-mail: Deborah.Jorge@FirstCoverage.com.

In addition to providing a world-class alpha-capture platform, First Coverage offers filtered mainstream news, blogs, research and other communications based on the individual interests of buy-side users. The First Coverage Market Sentiment Index, a proprietary indicator derived from actionable sell-side trade ideas sent by the sell-side to their buy-side clients over the First Coverage platform, is syndicated in Barron’s weekly and available live on Bloomberg terminals.

In 2009, data flowing through First Coverage more than doubled, following a year when content grew by more than 400 percent. Last fall, the firm announced its strategic alliance with Integrity Research Associates, LLC, an information and solutions provider specializing in the investment research industry.

About First Coverage Inc.

Established in 2006 by the founders of First Call and StreetEvents, First Coverage provides a web-based technology, which was developed in collaboration with both the buy-side and sell-side to help money managers more efficiently generate alpha by eliminating the “noise” that they encounter on a daily basis, allowing them to focus on the people and information that matter most to their holdings. The firm’s clients comprise large money managers, including top ten firms, hedge funds and pension plans, which direct trillions of dollars in assets under management and have access to sentiment analyses of “The Street” and the media as well as the highest-conviction, actionable recommendations submitted to First Coverage by thousands of sell-side participants, who consistently have outperformed the benchmarks. For more information, visit www.FirstCoverage.com.

Source: First Coverage Inc.

CONTACT: Deborah Jorge, First Coverage Inc., +1-617-303-0067,
Deborah.Jorge@FirstCoverage.com

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

White paper will help companies build due diligence programmes to minimise risk from non-compliance with FCPA

SAN FRANCISCO and HONG KONG, July 28 /CEO News Info/ — The Red Flag Group, a leading compliance advisory, due diligence and technology firm, announces today the publication of its latest thought leadership to help companies build best-in-class due diligence programmes and minimise third- party compliance risks.

(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2009/08/06/200908061401.jpg )

Entitled “Best Practices in Conducting FCPA/Anti-Bribery Due Diligence”, the white paper provides step-by-step guidance for companies building a comprehensive third party compliance programme, from gaining commitment from all tiers of an organisation, through to assessing risks, identifying the appropriate type of due diligence, and monitoring. The report also seeks to help companies navigate the different due diligence investigation choices available to them, from reviews of politically-exposed-persons watch-lists, corporate registries, and litigation records, to site visits, interviews, and reviewing the third party’s policies and procedures. Finally, the report includes real life examples, FAQs, charts, and tips to help companies build due diligence programmes that are tailored to their particular risk profiles and business needs, and make use of industry best practices.

“All too often, companies take a reactive approach to conducting due diligence on third parties they do business with. They may see best-in-class competitors conducting due diligence on their distribution channel, and institute their own programme aping that, out of a sense of being left behind,” said James Walton, Customer Advocate at The Red Flag Group and a co- author of the white paper.

“The problem with that approach is that it fails to take into account the fact that each company has its own appetite, attitude, and tolerance for risk. This means that the way in which different companies conduct due diligence to address their unique risks will also be different, even if they are in the same industry,” he said. There are also many other reasons why third party due diligence programmes fail, Mr Walton added. This includes a lack of commitment on the part of stakeholders, lack of a clearly defined purpose, lack of resources, or poor selection of due diligence provider. Companies will need to avoid such common mistakes if they are seeking to build a successful due diligence programme that helps minimise the risk from third parties — whether they be suppliers and service providers, agents, or resellers and distributors, he said.

Mr Walton added that a comprehensive third party due diligence programme that is aligned to a company’s risks and business objectives not only reduces the risk that its distributors or resellers engages in illegal acts such as bribery, but can also expose the company to a range of benefits from strengthening risk management in its sales channel, to increasing margins and providing better pricing control, providing better safety to consumers and end-users, and increasing protection to the corporate brand.

Scott Lane, CEO for The Red Flag Group and also co-author of the report, said: “Not only does The Red Flag Group have extensive experience providing FCPA and anti-bribery due diligence to Fortune 500 companies, but our offices in emerging markets around the world — including China and the Middle East — also mean we have the local knowledge and expertise to provide the type of useful intelligence companies need, in what are considered some of the most challenging places for conducting due diligence. We are well-placed to help companies address a range of due diligence needs, from the provision of update-to-date and accurate due diligence through our due diligence services offerings, to the design, implementation, and maintenance of third-party due diligence programmes through our advisory services.”

One company which chose The Red Flag Group is software company Adobe Systems, who conducts due diligences on third parties and business partners around the world — including the US and key emerging markets — in deciding whether or not to renew business relationships and grant contracts. “We chose The Red Flag Group’s due diligence services because of its clear scope and documented processes, detailed media analysis in local languages, duplicated watch-list searches, as well as their proactive, positive, and professional attitude in providing useful and timely information to help us make crucial business decisions. We are very satisfied,” said Mike Ward, director of compliance at Adobe Systems.

The full white paper can be downloaded at: http://www.redflaggroup.com/

Notes for editors:

About The Red Flag Group

The Red Flag Group is one of the world’s leading independent corporate governance and compliance firms providing thought leadership around compliance to Fortune 1000 companies. Their main goals include helping companies develop and maintain efficient and effective governance and compliance programs in emerging markets, as well as providing professional due diligence services to companies around the world. Their technology solutions are leading edge — providing practical web based solutions to manage compliance risks globally. For more information, go to http://www.redflaggroup.com/

For media enquiries, please contact:

Jenna Kim
Tel: +852-3185-0729
Email: jenna.kim@redflaggroup.com

Source: The Red Flag Group

CONTACT: Jenna Kim, +852-3185-0729, or jenna.kim@redflaggroup.com

Web site: http://www.redflaggroup.com/

WASHINGTON, July 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Cogent Communications Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CCOI), one of the largest Internet service providers in the world, today announced that Dave Schaeffer, Cogent’s chief executive officer, will present at Oppenheimer’s Annual Technology, Media & Telecommunications Conference at 2:00 p.m. ET, August 10th. The conference is being held at the Four Seasons Hotel Boston in Boston, MA.

Investors and other interested parties may access a live audio webcast of the presentation by going to the Investor Relations section of Cogent’s website (http://www.cogentco.com/us/ir_events.php) to access the link to the live audio webcast. A replay of the webcast will be available on Cogent’s IR website for 90 days following the presentation.

About Cogent Communications

Cogent Communications (NASDAQ:CCOI) is a multinational, Tier 1 facilities-based ISP, consistently ranked as one of the top five networks in the world. Cogent specializes in providing businesses with high speed Internet access and point-to-point transport services. Cogent’s facilities-based, all-optical IP network backbone provides IP services in over 145 markets located in North America and Europe.

Since its inception, Cogent has unleashed the benefits of IP technology, building one of the largest and highest capacity IP networks in existence. This network enables Cogent to offer large bandwidth connections at highly competitive prices. Cogent also offers superior customer support by virtue of its end-to-end control of service delivery and network monitoring.

Cogent Communications is headquartered at 1015 31st Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20007. For more information, visit www.cogentco.com. Cogent Communications can be reached in the United States at (202) 295-4200 or via email at info@cogentco.com.

Information in this release may involve expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon information available to Cogent Communications Group, Inc. as of the date of the release, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. The statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences. Some of the factors and risks associated with our business are discussed in Cogent’s registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in its other reports filed from time to time with the SEC.

Source: Cogent Communications Group, Inc.

CONTACT: Public Relations, Travis Wachter, Cogent Communications,
+1-202-295-4217, twachter@cogentco.com, or Investor Relations, Cogent
Communications, +1-202-295-4212, investor.relations@cogentco.com

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

This is the latest free magazines and other related publications for CEO and Professionals titled: Medical Products Asia. You can get the magazines sent to your home or download the digital magazines for free… Enjoy your reading.

Medical Products Asia is the primary source of information about clinical equipment, products, devices, technologies and supplies. With a mix of topics, column and feature article, readers will always discover relevant, timely and useful articles within the wide spectrum of the medical products and equipment market. Insightful, well-researched, and analytical concepts from top industry executives, along with good layout presentation and easy to find information make our media compelling and very useful for reading buyers. Request Free!

Veteran Tampa Bay Area Banker to Head Local Bank

BRADENTON, Fla., July 23 /CEO News Info/ — Community Bank of Manatee today announced that Kathryn “Katie” Pemble has been named President and Chief Operating Officer. In addition to being responsible for all bank operations, she will work with CEO and Chairman, William H. Sedgeman Jr., and the bank’s board in developing the bank’s long-term strategic plans. Pemble, a 23-year banking veteran in the Tampa Bay area, also will become a member of Community Bank’s board of directors.

“We are excited to welcome Katie to our organization,” said Sedgeman. “She is a proven leader whose extensive knowledge and banking experience in Florida will be instrumental in achieving our goal of being the best bank in the Tampa Bay area. Katie joins us at an exciting time as the bank just had a profitable second quarter, and with the support of its shareholders, stands with the highest capitalization in the bank’s 14 year history.”

Prior to joining Community Bank of Manatee, Pemble was with Florida Bank — previously named Bank of St. Petersburg — in Tampa. During her tenure there, she held the positions of chief operating officer, president and chief executive of the bank. Most recently, she held the position of chief credit officer for the bank and holding company, Florida Bank Group, Inc. Before joining Bank of St. Petersburg in 2004, Pemble was Pinellas County president for Bank of America. A native Floridian, Pemble graduated from the University of Florida with a BS in Finance.

Director Trevor Burgess added, “We are honored to have one of the most highly regarded women in Florida banking join our team. Katie’s experience, drive, dedication and knowledge of the Tampa Bay market make her the perfect President for Community Bank.”

“I am thrilled about the opportunity to work with an organization with such strong roots in the community,” Pemble said. “I look forward to helping the bank grow and develop by meeting the financial needs of small businesses, individuals and families.”

Among her numerous civic and community activities, Pemble is a member of the Florida Banker’s Association, Leadership Florida, the American Heart Association Leadership Circle, and the Moffitt Merit Society. She also serves as treasurer and finance committee chairman of Bayfront Health System, Inc. in St. Petersburg.

Community Bank is a local, independent bank serving the Tampa Bay region with five branches in Manatee and Hillsborough counties and $250 million in assets as of June 30, 2010. Community Bank continues to specialize in solutions for individuals by offering the region’s best checking account “Clover Gold,” residential mortgages with local and expedient decision-making, and business solutions including Small Business Administration loans. Community Bank is a preferred lender of the SBA and was recently ranked as the number one local community bank for SBA loans.

ABOUT COMMUNITY BANK OF MANATEE:

Community Bank continues to specialize in solutions for individuals by offering the regions best checking account, “Clover Gold,” residential mortgages including “jumbo mortgages” with local, quick decision-making and business solutions including Small Business Administration loans. Community Bank was recently ranked as the number one local community bank for SBA loans.

Community Bank, is a local, independent bank serving the communities of Florida’s central Gulf Coast with five branches in Manatee and Hillsborough counties:

2025 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, Lakewood
Ranch, FL 941-750-0700
6000 State Road 70, East, Bradenton, FL 941-756-0099
7202 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 941-761-3400
1001 West Cleveland Street, Tampa, FL 813-258-8187
10109 U.S. Highway 301 South, Riverview, FL- 813-672-0999

For more information, visit the bank’s website at: www.CommunityBankNow.com or contact the nearest office.

Source: Community Bank of Manatee

CONTACT: William H. Sedgeman, Jr., Chairman & CEO, +1-941-749-8865

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

This is the latest free magazines and other related publications for CEO and Professionals titled: Discover Alternative Ways to Receive Cash Quick for your Business. You can get the magazines sent to your home or download the digital magazines for free… Enjoy your reading.

Sometimes referred to as merchant cash advances, these loans are similar to pay day cash advances and bring quick cash to a company. However, your business must already accept credit cards as a form of payment. The “Instant Cash for Business” guide provides answers as well as price quotes by phone and/or email from their pre-screened and quality vendors. Request Free!

ATLANTA, July 23 /CEO News Info/ — Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE:AAN) announced today that it has changed the name of its 11 furniture and bedding manufacturing plants from MacTavish Furniture Industries to Woodhaven Furniture Industries. The name change is synonymous with the Woodhaven brand of products the Company manufactures and accompanies a move toward greater green practices within the manufacturing process. A full rebranding effort including a new logo supports the name change.

“Our manufacturing operations have undergone substantial changes over the past few years, namely a movement toward greener practices,” said Aaron’s President and CEO, Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr. “We also recognized our plants are best known for the Woodhaven product brand, so we believe this is the perfect time to rebrand accordingly. Our new logo of a green tree not only represents our commitment to the environment, but it signifies what Aaron’s is all about – strength, stability, growth and community responsibility.”

Aaron’s has implemented a number of actions in its effort to go green at its manufacturing plants, including the recycling of all scrap materials, the use of sustainable wood products in furniture, the use of raw materials containing at least 25 post-consumer content, skylight panels to reduce the use of light fixtures and energy consumption, the use of wood waste for heating, and the implementation of electronic documentation processes to reduce the amount of paper used. With these efforts in place, Aaron’s reduced landfill waste at its Coolidge and Cairo, Georgia locations by approximately eight million pounds and generated a cost savings of nearly $250,000 in 2009.

“We’re at the forefront of the green movement in the furniture manufacturing industry,” said Mike Jarnigan, Aaron’s Vice President, Manufacturing. “Aaron’s is proud to make its furniture, upholstery and bedding right here in the U.S., and it’s important that we do everything in our power to protect the environment in our own backyard. As we like to say at Woodhaven, we’re saving the world, one sofa at a time.”

The Woodhaven Furniture Industries division operates 11 facilities in five states, with a twelfth facility scheduled to open in Phoenix later this year. Most production is shipped to Aaron’s Company-operated and franchised stores. The division manufactured approximately $72 million at cost of furniture and bedding in 2009. The ability to control quality, durability, styling, cost and supply through Company-operated manufacturing facilities is a distinct competitive advantage. In addition to producing high quality upholstered furniture and bedding, Woodhaven is a key employer in the communities where plants are located.

About Aaron’s, Inc.

Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE:AAN), the nation’s leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has more than 1,730 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s has been publicly traded since 1982. For more information, visit www.aarons.com.

Source: Aaron’s, Inc.

CONTACT: MEDIA, Holly Brochmann, Office: +1-404-604-2607,
hbrochmann@hopebeckham.com

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