Stonebridge Companies Completes Technology Conversion

Stonebridge Companies Completes Technology Conversion

Stonebridge Companies, recognized as one of the leading development and hospitality management companies, is pleased to announce the completion of a major technology upgrade that includes both leadership and computer systems.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) May 29, 2009

In an information-driven business world with a need for global connectivity, Stonebridge Companies continues to lead the field in effective leadership and technology.

Nasim Mansurov promoted to Vice President - Information Technology

Nasim Mansurov, with Stonebridge Companies since 2004, has been instrumental in the company-wide conversion to SAP ERP, a trusted IT infrastructure that automates this expanding enterprise's business processes that include financial and human capital administration, payroll and compliance reporting.

Mr. Mansurov has over 12 years of experience in information systems, and he oversees all aspects of the company's technology platform, current and emerging. He is involved in strategic evaluation of new systems that are proposed, and he oversees the technical training and support to all hotels. Prior to joining Stonebridge, Mr. Mansurov spent two years with IBM's Global Services, and three years with the University of Colorado's Information Technology Services. He fluently speaks four languages and he received numerous awards and scholarships as he rose to the top of his profession. He earned his B. S. degree in Management from University of Colorado, Boulder.

"We are delighted to welcome Nasim to our senior management team," said Kevin Mahoney, Chief Operating Officer of Stonebridge Companies. "In his tenure with us he has successfully implemented several systems to improve efficiency at both corporate and hotel levels. Our conversion to an SAP-based ERP system provides Stonebridge Companies with a state of the art technology platform that is already providing dividends with respect to efficiency, accuracy, compliance and reporting for our portfolio of lodging properties and our communication with investors and owners."

Stonebridge goes live with SAP HCM (Human Capital Management) and Payroll modules

After successful completion of the go-live process for the SAP Financials and Controlling modules (FICO), along with OpenText document and invoice management solutions in October of 2007, Stonebridge Companies successfully implemented the second phase of the project with SAP Human Capital Management (HCM) and Payroll modules and went live in January of 2009.
Implementation of SAP HCM and Payroll helped Stonebridge achieve consistency with employee data and minute-to-minute payroll accuracy through tight integration with Kronos Workforce Timekeeper software. In addition, Stonebridge Companies empowered its field managers by providing access to maintain associate data at the hotel level, which dramatically increased operating efficiencies throughout the company and eliminated overlapping and antiquated paper-based approval processes. Data consolidation and flow between SAP modules allows Stonebridge to efficiently operate its business and monitor the health of the company in real time and from almost anywhere.

Stonebridge Companies, through its commitment to leadership and cutting edge technology, continues to progress in the hospitality industry with the promotion of Nasim Mansurov to Vice President of Information Technology and the successful conversion to SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP).

"Now that we have digitized our business operations through the implementation of SAP ERP, we can better serve our stakeholders, our guests, associates and our business partners. Thanks to SAP, we are now able to run payroll for the entire company with 1500+ employees and 38 hotel entities in under three hours with high precision, compared to a full day of traditional payroll processing that caused several days of post-payroll issue resolution. Our integrated systems also provide our front line general managers with live operating performance metrics and mid-month P/L snapshots to proactively manage our hotel operations," states Mansurov.

About Stonebridge Companies
Founded in 1991 by Navin C. Dimond, Stonebridge Companies is a privately owned, innovative hotel management company headquartered near Denver, Colorado, which has developed over 60 hotels and operated more than 75 lodging properties. Currently, Stonebridge Companies operates nearly 40 hotels comprising approximately 6,000 guest rooms in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Virginia and Washington. The diverse portfolio includes select-service, extended stay, mid-scale and full-service hotels in primary and secondary markets. For detailed information, visit www. StonebridgeCompanies. com.

Contact information:
Sheryl Hanebrink, Executive Assistant to Navin Dimond
Stonebridge Companies
9100 East Panorama Drive, Suite 300
Englewood, CO 80112
303-785-3100
Shanebrink (at) sbcos (dot) com

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DFI launches new online course called 'Attracting A Beloved'

DFI launches new online course called 'Attracting A Beloved'

New 11-week online course helps men and women find and sustain the love of their life.

Haiku, HI (PRWEB) August 4, 2008

The Divine Feminine Institute (DFI) announced today a new 11-week online course called Attracting A Beloved specifically designed to help men and women find and sustain the love of their life. "Finding a soul-mate," says Tomas Heartfield, one of the course developers, "is a topic featured in hundreds of popular magazines, best-selling books, and TV talk shows, reflecting a very deep and abiding interest among millions of Americans to find the kind of intimate relationship that will enhance their pleasure while helping both partners live more fulfilling lives." For more information or to receive a free newsletter from Divine Feminine Institute, visit www. divine-feminine. com or call 877-731-7500.

Each online lesson of Attracting A Beloved contains insightful narrative, an inspiring audio recording, interactive exercises, and online journaling -- all designed to help participants:
Conduct a candid appraisal of their physical, emotional and spiritual gifts, as well as shortcomings, that may serve as an inspiration or barrier to attracting their beloved; Make changes that are important for the "care and feeding of the soul", while also preparing the way for greater intimacy and a deeper sense of connection; Discover what they are truly seeking in a partner; Seek and find the kind of person who will take their breathe away. Attracting A Beloved has been developed by Joan and Tomas Heartfield, two highly-regarded couples therapists who serve on DFI's core faculty. "Just as pheromones mysteriously attract us to people with compatible genetics and good breeding potential," says Joan Heartfield, "so do the qualities of our soul attract us to a beloved."

This unique 11-week e-course is only $39.95. To enroll or to receive a free newsletter from Divine Feminine Institute, visit www. divine-feminine. com or call 877-731-7500.

About Divine Feminine Institute:
Teachings offered by DFI integrate a range of traditions, techniques, and healing methods, including transpersonal psychology, yoga, meditation, Tantra, movement, breath-work, massage, and Taoist Qi Gong. In addition to Joan and Tomas, the DFI core faculty also includes Caroline Muir, co-author of Tantra, The Art of Conscious Loving, and Saida Desilets, author of Emergence of the Sensual Woman.

DFI workshops are already offered regularly at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Esalen Institute, and at centers in Oregon, Colorado, California, and Hawaii. Christiane Northrup, M. D., best-selling author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, says, "I had the pleasure of experiencing the work of Joan and Tomas at a recent workshop at Kripalu. Their profound and delightful teachings are, without a doubt, the next step for healing humanity on this planet."

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Smart Age Media: Playing the Role of Santa Claus for Network Marketers

Smart Age Media: Playing the Role of Santa Claus for Network Marketers

In keeping with the Holiday Season, industry leader Smart Age Media delivers a package of new services that will help network marketers get 2005 out to a roaring start...

(PRWEB) November 28, 2004

When shopping for Christmas Gifts, the big challenge is locating a gift that will have value and actually be used by the lucky recipient. And by looking at the "bag of goodies" that St Nick will be delivering to network marketers from Smart Age Media,

There will be little plenty of happy associates in the home based business industry come this Holiday Season.

"This is a great time of year to be involved in the network marketing industry," said Mike Bromell, marketing manager at Smart Age Media, "as this time of year often involves a lot of reflecting back on the past year. And for a lot of folks, the reflection is of a job that barely pays the bills, a boss that is impossible to deal with or a company that has cut back on pay raises and benefits. And with that brings the ol "search for a better opportunity"... a search that will have many talking actively to associates from companies such as USANA Health Sciences, Coastal Vacations & Liberty League International regarding their home based programs."

The newest features that Smart Age Media offers includes:

Company Specific Real-Time Leads Company Specific Auto-Responder System Company Specific Lead Capture Page Training Course (e-Book) by Industry Leader Robb West

"We will have everything officially online and in place by the middle of December" said Bromell. "The best sports franchises continually restock talent each offseason to be able to compete at the highest level. The lead industry is no different and the continual introduction of new services is one reason why our base of growing associates is able to successfully grow their home based programs."

Smart Age Media (www. smartagemedia. com) has become an industry leader in offering Non-Incentivized lead packages to network marketers for the past 3 1/2 years. "My office takes pride in the large number of loyal clients we have developed and service on a regular basis," said Bromell, "and part of the success involves constantly bringing new offerings to the plate that will help our clients increase their revenue. And our latest additions should once again prove why Smart Age Media has become the home for Network Marketers that are serious about consistently reaching sales goals."

All inquiries regarding new offerings from Smart Age Media can answered @ calling 888-659-3878 or emailing Mike Bromell (mbromell@austin. rr. com)

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"Heeling" Dry Cracked Feet -- New Product Soothes and Repairs Skin Around the Heel

"Heeling" Dry Cracked Feet -- New Product Soothes and Repairs Skin Around the Heel

Unsightly cracked heels are painful and embarrassing. In many cases, this common problem is caused by dry skin, the presence of calluses and prolonged pressure on the heel, particularly for people with a job that requires a lot of standing. Thankfully, there's an easy and inexpensive solution. The Heeltastic™ roll-on soothing balm is the newest product for your at-home foot therapy routine from TELEBrands, the makers of the PedEgg and Pampered Toes.

Fairfield, NJ (PRWEB) July 11, 2009

Unsightly cracked heels are painful and embarrassing. In many cases, this common problem is caused by dry skin, the presence of calluses and prolonged pressure on the heel, particularly for people with a job that requires a lot of standing. Thankfully, there's an easy and inexpensive solution. The Heeltastic™ roll-on soothing balm is the newest product for your at-home foot therapy routine from TELEBrands, the makers of the PedEgg and Pampered Toes.

The Heeltastic is specially formulated for chronically dry and cracked skin. The balm penetrates deep into the heel with Neem and Karanja oils imported from India, as well as skin moisturizers and nutrients that promote healthy skin. Gentle enough to use several times a day, feet feel smoother and softer after just days of use.

Available at www. heeltastic. com and exclusively at leading retailers including Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target and CVS the Heeltastic has a suggested retail price of $10.00.

TELEBrands Corp., headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey, was founded in 1983 by entrepreneur A. J. Khubani. Since its inception, the company has brought fun and useful inventions to consumers worldwide and has launched more products through direct response television than any other company in history. TELEBrands products such as the PedEgg, PediPaws, Westinghouse® StickUp Bulb and the GoDuster are sold through television advertising, the Internet and in retail stores in over 100 countries around the world. For more information visit www. telebrands. com.

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Internet Programmer Runs For Open U. S. Senate seat in Vermont

Internet Programmer Runs For Open U. S. Senate seat in Vermont

A 48-year old internet programmer from Warren, Vermont is running for the open U. S. Senate in that state. Steve Moyer ran against the retiring Senator Jeffords in 2000 as an independent. He is now seeking the open seat with a campaign centered on promoting virtuous government and the demise of the Republicans.

(PRWEB) June 17, 2005

A 48-year old internet programmer from Warren, Vermont is running for the open U. S. Senate. Steve Moyer ran against the retiring Senator Jeffords in 2000 as an independent. He is now seeking the open seat with a campaign centered on promoting virtuous government and the demise of the Republicans.

"I am running against the Republican party and for the cause of virtue in society." said Moyer today. "America has lost it's virtue. Our government is like a juvenile delinquent who has been caught lying, cheating and stealing. Our response has been to give him a credit card, a bottle of vodka, and the keys to the family car. This government is drunk on power, irresponsible with money, and dangerous behind the wheel."

Moyer advocates that people divest the U. S. Government. "Sell U. S. bonds!" he said. "It's one thing this power-driven, money-loving government will understand. I'm asking all Americans who own U. S. government debt to divest themselves of it as soon as they can. The principles of ethical investment require that you invest in those organizations which are doing righteous deeds, respecting human rights and making the world a better place. Republicans have failed all of these tests."

Moyer wants an end to the "War on Terror" and for Congress to focus on its primary responsibilities: health care, the economy and a balanced budget.

"Republican rule has led America down the wrong path. Our foreign policy is creating more terrorists. The Republicans want us to believe that the road to paradise is paved with profits, even if those profits come from war and the deaths of thousands of innocent people. They want us to believe that going into debt while we give our jobs to foreigners is the way to paradise. Nothing could be further from the truth."

"Republicans govern through perceptions. We perceived weapons of mass destruction but there were none. We perceived that Islamic fundamentalists are our enemy, but that is false. We perceived that tax cuts would stimulate our economy but instead we have created the greatest debt crisis in history. Republicans want us to consume more oil when we should be consuming less."

"The Republican party has taken us in the wrong direction, the direction of greed, domination and war. They have practiced systematic deception and encouraged the worst attributes of human nature."

"Republicans are the party of the rich, the super-rich and poor fools."

"I am going to preach the Bible to Republicans. The Bible tells us to 'judge by the fruits.' What are the fruits of Republican rule? Greed, fear, hatred, war, debt and increased dependence on money and government. They call this 'freedom' but freedom lies in the opposite direction."

"I'm also asking Americans to reduce their consumption of products made in Japan and China because those two nations have been using the excess from the trade deficit to support this government. Send China and Japan a message: "Stop buying U. S. bonds."

"Money is the huge elephant in the living room. Politicians continually tell us that they will "fight for us" but what they mean is that they will "fight for money." Money is the problem. It is war by its nature. We need a better economic system. We need a peace economy."

"When I tell people "money is evil" they often respond with "No, it is neutral. It's what people do with it that is evil." But this is false. The sun, the moon and the stars are neutral because they belong to nature. Money is entirely a human creation, including all the government laws and regulations about how it works. It is right and necessary to judge all human creations. That's how we improve them."

"Money is an evil system for preserving the status of the few at the expense of the many. It is a system for exploitation, oppression and war. It is evil by its nature because it makes numbers more important than people, quantity more important than quality, power more important than principle. Money is the only game in town. It is the tyrant of our lives."

"The Republicans are the party of power. They practice the love of power rather than the power of love. I shall expose their sham Christianity. In order to defeat the Republicans we need to take out our Bibles. I ask every Christian who supports the Republican party to abandon it now and spare themselves the pain of judgment. If you support Republicans, you are supporting evil. Stop doing evil!"

"I ask every Christian who believes this 'War on Terror' is necessary to sit down, shut up and pray for guidance. If after praying you conclude that we need to make war, I will ask you to sit down and pray some more. War is always wrong. War is the sanction of failure. The Bible says we must confess our sins with our mouth. This Republican government has failed to admit a single sin."

"I know how to end terrorism. We need to take our government back to righteous principles, admit our own evils, and seek consensus with the rest of the world. We need to respect people and treat them the way we want to be treated. Give them the tools of democracy and the means to use them. We need to give everyone in the world clean water, healthy food and the opportunity to improve their lives. We need to stop supporting tyranny and the rule of money. When we stop loving money and start loving people we will find that terrorism magically disappears."

"I support an amendment to the Constitution which will institute an electronic democracy using the internet. It will empower the people to veto any law Congress passes within 30 days. It will allow initiatives and the ability to recall politicians who have lost the favor of the people. The solution to our broken democracy is more democracy. The Swiss already have this power. We need to set an example of how democracy can work for the benefit of all rather than the privilege of the few. We need to learn how to cooperate for consensus."

"I am proposing that the federal government participate in our health care system by providing some amount of health care to every American every year and to increase that amount every year. This is how we end war."

"We can start by providing a medical check-up to everyone who registers to vote. The failure of our government to provide universal health care is the product of the love of money and the hatred of blacks. It is racist and anyone who stands in the way of universal health care will face the following question from me: "Are you prejudiced against blacks?" Sometimes we need to play hard ball. Prejudice is a vice and everyone knows it. Let it go."

"We need to conserve energy. We are the problem and we are the solution. We have driven the nation to war for the sake of oil. We have a wasteful, self-indulgent, self-righteous consciousness which needs to change to a frugal, consensual global consciousness. Ask yourself: "What have I done for others today?" Conservation is a good place to start and there are dozens of suggestions on how you can do this on my web site."

Steve Moyer is the creator of the MetaMind, an open data search engine at http://metamind. us (http://metamind. us). He has created databases of web links to various topics, including peace, energy conservation, liberty, free speech and depleted uranium.

Go to http://stevemoyer. us (http://stevemoyer. us) for more information.

Mirrors: [ http://stevemoyer. org (http://stevemoyer. org) | http://earth-toy. com/stevemoyer (http://earth-toy. com/stevemoyer) | http://peaceroom. net/stevemoyer (http://peaceroom. net/stevemoyer)]

Full name: Steven Kent Moyer

Born: October 5, 1956

Birth location: Sellersville, Pennsylvania

Years living in Vermont: 12

Profession: Internet Programmer

Interests: Politics, Religion, Philosophy, metaphysics, space, nature.

Web site: http://stevemoyer. us (http://stevemoyer. us)
Political party: None

Religion: Undeclared

Phone: 802-583-2163

Address: RR 1, Box 60, Warren VT 05674

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Health Savings Accounts Even More Attractive Thanks to Congress

Health Savings Accounts Even More Attractive Thanks to Congress

By giving final approval to the "Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006", congress has made Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) even more attractive by adding several new incentives. Additional tax breaks and provisions that will make it easier to open an HSA are expected to produce a dramatic increase in the number of people who set up health savings accounts, particularly among consumers purchasing individual and family health insurance plans.

Fort Collins, CO (PRWEB) December 13, 2006

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) received a boost this weekend when the U. S. Congress gave final approval to H. R. 6111, the "Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006". The additional incentives should greatly improve the popularity of HSAs, particularly among individuals and families purchasing their own health insurance, according to leading health insurance broker HSA for America.

"HSA plans are already the best health insurance value for just about anyone who is paying for his or her own health insurance," said HSA for America President Wiley Long. "They lower premiums, provide immediate tax reductions, and make it easier to save for medical expenses during retirement. These changes will result in HSA plans eclipsing co-pay plans as the primary choice among small business owners, independent contractors, and anyone who's self-employed or does not have employer-provided coverage."

Health savings accounts are special tax-favored savings accounts that anyone with a qualified high-deductible health insurance plan can open and fund. Any money put in the account is tax deductible, and can be used tax-free to pay for future medical expenses. If the money is not withdrawn, it continues to grow tax-deferred like an IRA. HSAs first became available in January 2004, and today nearly five million people are covered by an HSA-qualified health insurance plan.

Long said the legislation contains several improvements to the already popular HSA program that will make HSA plans the most popular type of coverage in the near future.

It allows people to fund their HSAs with a one-time transfers from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Because funds withdrawn from an HSA to pay medical expenses are never taxed, an HSA is a much more tax-advantaged investment than an IRA. This provision will enable someone to quickly maximize their contribution, so that they can fully cover the deductible on their high-deductible health insurance plan.

The bill allows individuals with HSA-qualified policies to contribute up to the annual contribution limit ($2,850 for individual coverage and $5,650 for family coverage in 2007), even if their deductible is less than this amount. Until now, policyholders with smaller deductibles were penalized because they were not allowed the same tax benefits as those with larger deductibles.

Allows individuals to make the maximum contribution to the HSA, regardless of when the HSA plan began. Taxpayers who purchase an HSA plan later in the year will still be allowed to make the full HSA contribution, instead of a pro-rated portion as is currently the case. This will enable them to completely cover their deductible with funds from the HSA if they have some large medical bills, and also gives them the same tax benefits as someone who purchased the plan earlier in the year.

"I expect very few people will continue to purchase health insurance plans with co-pays once they understand how easy and inexpensive these plans now are", said Long. "HSA plans can already reduce a family's annual expenses by several thousand dollars.

Long says HSA for America, which markets HSA-qualified plans to individuals and families, is currently expanding in anticipation of a growing surge of interest in health savings accounts in 2007. "We've already had a lot of people calling us about these changes, and have started hosting weekly teleseminars to share this information and answer questions from curious consumers."

The HSA for America teleseminar is offered to registered participants at no charge. For more information about the Health Savings Account Teleseminar and how to sign up, visit: http://www. health--savings--accounts. com/teleseminar. htm (http://www. health--savings--accounts. com/teleseminar. htm)

About HSA for America

HSA for America is the nation's leading independent health insurance firm specializing in individual and family coverage that works with a Health Savings Account. Through our comprehensive website we offer complete information on HSAs and qualifying health insurance plans. We offer instant quotes, online health insurance applications, and access to several banks that can act as an HSA administrator for your account. Visit http://www. health--savings--accounts. com (http://www. health--savings--accounts. com) for complete information.

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Circumcision Not Cost-Effective Says Study

Circumcision Not Cost-Effective Says Study

Circumcision increases health-care costs and decreases wellness. Insurance companies would be better off PAYING parents and doctors to NOT circumcise boys.

(PRWEB) November 20, 2004

Circumcision increases health-care costs and decreases wellness according to a cost-utility analysis by Robert S. Van Howe, MD, MS, FAAP, Department of Pediatrics, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Marquette, Michigan, in the latest edition of Medical Decision Making journal.

“If neonatal circumcision was cost-free, pain-free, and had no immediate complications, it was still more costly than not circumcising,” says Van Howe. “Neonatal circumcision is not good health policy, and support for it as a medical procedure cannot be justified financially or medically.”

Over the past century, some doctors have said circumcision benefits the boy later in life and is therefore justifiable as a prophylactic procedure. According to the findings of this study that isn’t true. Wellness decreases as a result and with that goes an increase in health-care related expenses.

Circumcision costs everyone since both Medicaid and Medicare cover infant circumcision and its complications later in life. Medicaid pays for 28% of all infant circumcisions in the United States. Thirteen states do not cover circumcision in their Medicaid programs.

The analysis is based on published data from multiple observational studies, comparing boys circumcised at birth and those not circumcised, using the Quality of Well-being Scale, a Markov analysis, the standard reference case, and a societal perspective. Neonatal circumcision increased incremental costs by $828.42 per patient and resulted in an incremental 15.30 well-years lost per 1000 males. The only ones to gain from this unnecessary and harmful surgery are the attending physicians and hospitals.

ICGI has created a task force to discuss calling for a nationwide moratorium on the routine circumcision of baby boys based on this article's conclusion, and other bioethical concerns.

No experiment or random control trial has ever proven any of the alleged benefits to routinely circumcising baby boys. Circumcision of girls is considered a human rights violation and is illegal in the United States. Prophylactic tonsillectomy is no longer practiced, but was equally popular as circumcision in the United States medical community.

Dr. Robert Van Howe may be contacted at 906-228-7454. Contact ICGI for his email address.

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