Ryla Hiring for 1,400 New Customer Service Jobs in Atlanta

/PRNewswire/ -- Ryla, an Alorica company, today announced it is hiring to fill at least 1,400 new jobs at its Kennesaw, GA call center facility. The jobs expansion is due to expanded needs of one of its year-round clients as well as for a recurring annual seasonal project. Both full-time long-term and seasonal positions are available. Positions begin as early as November 1, 2010. Ryla is a leading domestic-focused provider of customer contact services for Fortune 500 and government agencies, and does no telemarketing or cold calls.

In addition to the customer service positions, Ryla is also seeking to fill several supervisory positions. The hiring wave is part of a six state expansion underway in Georgia, California, Alabama, Virginia, Colorado and Indiana.

"With unemployment in Georgia at 10% and higher in some markets in which we're expanding, we're excited to be in a position to bring more jobs to help get people back to work," said Mark Wilson, Ryla CEO and Founder.

Interested applicants should apply online at www.ryla.com. Qualified applicants will be contacted for scheduled interviews beginning as early as Monday, October 25.

Positions Available:

Customer Service Representatives

Supervisors and various support staff positions

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Employment Gains Signal Upward Potential, Says The Conference Board

/PRNewswire/ -- The 224 thousand gain in jobs (excluding the 66,000 additional workers on the census) in April is very welcome news. It clearly shows that this economic recovery can no longer be seen as a jobless one. Following three quarters of growing production, companies apparently find they can't squeeze out any more output without adding workers. This underscores yesterday's news that Q1 productivity growth slowed to a healthy 3.6 percent following the staggering rate of above 7 percent on average in the previous three quarters.

These job gains are comparable to what we've seen following other deep recessions, suggesting that U.S. business has become more confident that the recovery is sustainable. Manufacturing jobs are returning to a significant extent, and construction employment turned the corner in the previous two months. The key factor this spring will be continued gains in service-sector employment beyond health and education.

Continued employment gains of this size could put the economy on a solid 3 percent growth track and -- if productivity growth stays up - even boost it to 3.5 or 4 percent.

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Georgia Showcases Bioscience Advances at Industry's Top Global Conference

/PRNewswire/ -- Georgia will continue to accelerate the growth of its bioscience industry at the annual BIO International Convention in Chicago, the largest global event for the biotechnology industry. The event attracts the biggest names in biotech and offers key partnering opportunities as well as insights into major trends.

"This strategic industry for the state continues to experience significant growth in the wake of last year's convention in Georgia," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "The research coming out of our universities combined with Georgia's top-notch business environment has generated increased interest from the industry as a result of their heightened exposure over the last year."

Georgia's groundbreaking research, combined with top-ranked universities and a supportive business climate, have propelled the state's development as the crossroads of global health. More than 300 bioscience companies in fields like pharmaceuticals, biotech, diagnostics and bioenergy call Georgia home, making it the most industry-diverse state in the U.S. Southeast. Institutions like Emory University, Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the world's top public health agency, keep Georgia in the top 10 states for research and development.

Among the most significant developments following the BIO International Convention, which was held in Georgia for the first time in 2009, was the August announcement by Seattle-based Dendreon Corporation that it would locate a $70 million facility in Union City, Georgia. This plant will manufacture Provenge, an aggressive treatment for prostate cancer that won FDA approval last week. The company is in the process of creating several hundred jobs in Georgia.

Other biotechnology companies recently announcing locations, expansions or funding partnerships in Georgia are Sepmag Technology of Spain (in-vitro medical devices), Iverson Genetics of Washington (genetic testing), Qualtex Labs of Texas (blood testing), Cancer Treatment Centers of America (hospital) and a number of bioenergy-focused enterprises.

Numerous biotechnology companies in the state are developing, testing and implementing ground-breaking discoveries. For example, Georgia-based Geovax Labs, which has licensed and is testing one of the world's most promising therapeutic vaccines for HIV/AIDS, received FDA approval in March to begin Phase 1 clinical trials. The vaccine was created by the Emory Vaccine Center, renowned for its discovery of the breakthrough HIV drug Emtriva. Altea Therapeutics, which is developing a proprietary technology enabling drug delivery, including insulin, through transdermal patches, currently has five products in development and several clinical and preclinical studies underway with pharmaceutical companies.

Georgia universities like the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) are fueling this pipeline with new findings in cardiovascular, diabetes and obesity, immunologic and vision science and children's health. Research funding per basic scientist at MCG ranks second in the nation among similar-sized institutions, and MCG was named among The Scientist magazine's top 15 places in the U.S. to work in academia.

Incubators at MCG and the Georgia Institute of Technology have been recognized by national publications as among the nation's top facilities. Last month Forbes magazine named the Advanced Technology Development Center at Georgia Tech to its new list of "10 technology incubators that are changing the world." ATDC, one of around 20 state-funded incubators in Georgia, now has more than 300 companies in its program.

Georgia Tech is also a new member of the American Association of Universities (AAU) and joins Emory University as two of just 63 public and private universities inducted into this elite group based on academic and research credentials.

Joining the Georgia Tech-affiliated Technology Enterprise Park and other bioparks around the state in the future will be a public-private "Crossroads Institute for Global Health" at the former Fort McPherson. This 165-plus acre campus will be able to accommodate companies working in vaccines, infectious diseases, neurosciences and other targeted sciences.

Under Governor Perdue's leadership, Georgia has been a leader in improving life sciences education and workforce development. The Governor's Office of Workforce Development has launched a comprehensive program to create an articulated life sciences career pathway from high school to technical colleges to universities; create training for the existing life sciences industry workforce; eliminate the skills gap using Work Ready Certificates and Work Ready job profiling; and increase high school graduation rates through Certified Work Ready Communities.

Georgia's Innovation Crescent, which organized two years ago to focus on the bio-rich cluster identified by Governor Perdue's workforce study, has just announced its formalization as an economic development entity called the Innovation Crescent Regional Partnership. The Innovation Crescent is a 13-county region from Atlanta to Athens containing numerous bio-focused colleges and universities, as well as industry leaders like Merial, Ciba Vision and Kimberly-Clarke.

The Innovation Crescent is one of five Georgia Work Ready Regions established to bring together bioscience assets and leaders from multiple counties to create regional talent pools. Other regions include Augusta Bioscience, Bioscience Technology Circle of South Georgia, Renewable Energy Front, and the Southwest Georgia Agribusiness Consortium. To date, Georgia has invested in $2.1 million in developing these regions, their workforces and industry networks.

Professionals at Georgia Quick Start, the state's program for customized workforce training, has deep experience in FDA-regulated process and has helped many major pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in Georgia find, assess and train team members. A recent example is the customized, 20,000-training hours program Quick Start developed for 400 workers at the new world laboratory headquarters of Quintiles, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies.

Georgia's Center of Innovation for Life Sciences (http://lifesciences.georgiainnovation.org/), part of a network of six Centers of Innovation aligned with the state's strategic industries, makes it easier for early-stage companies to thrive by connecting entrepreneurs and emerging companies around Georgia to industry experts and university research in order to accelerate innovation and commercialization. To complement its work, the public-private Georgia Bioscience Commercialization Center has launched a Web site, www.georgiabcc.com, that will likewise give entrepreneurs access to mentoring assistance from company CEOs and university faculty.

At last year's BIO conference, Georgia debuted a first-of-its kind searchable database called iResearchGeorgia, a partnership between the state and academia. Managed and funded by the Georgia Research Alliance, the online database connects innovative companies with Georgia's top bioscience experts, intellectual property assets and much more. (www.gra.org)

iResearch is just one focus of the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), whose existence is a testament to the unified commitment of industry, government and academia in Georgia to grow a technology-based economy. The GRA has recruited over 60 eminent, enterprising scientists to the state, developed 28 nationally recognized Centers of Excellence, and helped leverage $2.6 billion in federal and private investment.

Georgia's 2009 No. 1 ranking for entrepreneurial activity by the Kauffman Foundation attests the strong regional entrepreneurial culture. The state continues to develop a compelling environment for such companies to grow and succeed.

The Centers for Innovation program helped sponsor the Venture Atlanta conference last fall, which drew nearly 500 people and attracted more than 100 VCs from top firms around the country to hear investment opportunities from 21 Georgia companies. More than $410 million in venture capital was invested in Georgia in 2008, ranking the state 14th in the country.

Support for biotech entrepreneurs has also increased in the state with the 2009 implementation of a revised Research & Development tax credit that is tied to the federal calculation and can also be used against payroll withholding. Small, innovative companies now have a longer time period and greater opportunity to position themselves for success.

Other financial incentives for the industry are the Advanced Technology Development (ATDC) Seed Capital Fund, which has invested about $4.6 million since 2004 into life science companies in Georgia that have raised nearly $58 million in total capital, and the Georgia Research Alliance Venture Capital Fund, which provides $30 million of seed and early stage capital for companies growing research coming out of Georgia's universities. Bio companies can also benefit from the Quality Jobs Tax Credit, created in 2009, which rewards companies who create jobs paying higher-than-average wages for the community in which they locate, and has a component that can be monetized against employee withholding taxes.

The bioscience industry in Georgia created almost 18,000 jobs in 2007, the most recent year for which data is available. According to other statistics from the "Shaping Infinity" report released by Georgia BIO, the industry was responsible for the creation of more than 62,000 jobs in Georgia, created $16 billion in output and contributed $6.2 billion to the state GDP as well as $517 million in tax revenues for state and local governments. In addition, life sciences research at the state's colleges and universities generated $1.3 billion in output and nearly 15,000 jobs in fiscal year 2006.

"The high-wage jobs created by this industry generate economic growth in Georgia and help drive the innovation so necessary to success in the global marketplace," said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. "Our participation in this conference is a key component to our long-term strategy to raise Georgia's profile in this sector and attract companies and venture capital to the state."

The state is hosting 12 Georgia universities, companies and agencies in its exhibit hall booth this year, including Aderans Research, Altea Therapeutics, Emory University, Georgia Bio, Georgia Innovation Crescent, Georgia Tech, Georgia Quick Start, Georgia Work Ready, GeoVax Labs, Medical College of Georgia, Morehouse School of Medicine and Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

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Senate Extends Vital SBA Programs

/PRNewswire/ -- The United States Senate unanimously agreed to extend the Small Business Administration (SBA) and vital programs that fall under the Small Business Administration Act and the Small Business Investment Act, such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The programs, which have been operating under a temporary extender and were set to expire on April 30, 2010, will continue with a three-month extension through July 31, 2010. The bill now heads to the House for approval. United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship made the following comment on the passage of the extension:

"The extension of these programs that fall under the Small Business Administration, such as the SBIR and STTR, will allow the nation's innovators and entrepreneurs to continue their work as we continue negotiations with the House for a longer, more comprehensive agreement. Over the next three months, I encourage the entrepreneurs, scientists and engineers looking for jobs, or waiting for a chance to explore a promising and innovative idea, to apply for research projects through these programs. SBIR and STTR entrepreneurs start businesses, create jobs and account for 25 percent of our nation's innovators, and we are ready to support them and their businesses."

Small firms employ 41 percent of the nation's high-tech workers and generate 13 to 14 times more patents per employee than large firms. The SBIR program alone has generated more than 84,000 patents and millions of jobs. Eleven federal agencies participate in the SBIR program -- including the Department of Defense and National Science Foundation -- allocating 2.5 percent of their extramural research and development dollars for the program.

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Delta Air Lines Accelerates Employee Pension Funding

/PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today announced the addition of $558 million on an accelerated basis to four pension funds covering most of the airline's U.S.-based employees. With the accelerated contributions, Delta will complete its required contributions to these plans for 2010 approximately seven months ahead of schedule. Delta's pension funding is normally distributed throughout the year, with the majority of contributions added near the end of the year.

"Putting this money into our pension plans earlier means it will start working for employees sooner, by earning returns that add to the plan assets," said Mike Campbell, Delta's executive vice president - Human Resources. "Delta is committed to funding these plans, which provide an important part of the retirement benefit for many of our employees."

By the end of this month, Delta will have contributed $665 million to its traditional pension plans in the first four months of this year, in addition to $100 million that has been contributed to employees' defined contribution 401(k) plans. With another roughly $200 million scheduled to be contributed to 401(k) plans during the balance of the year, Delta is on track to contribute nearly $1 billion towards employees' retirement security in 2010.

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Senate Extends Small Business Loan Changes to Boost Job Creation

/PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today praised the Senate's extension of two important Recovery Act provisions: increased government guarantees and eliminated fees on small business loans. The measure - as well as a tax credit to help reservist employers - passed as part of the American Workers, State and Business Relief Act, the second in a series of bills that are part of the Senate's jobs agenda.

"Not only are the increased government guarantees and eliminated fees on small business loans being extended through the end of the year, but to ensure the programs do not run out of funding prematurely, I have worked hard to fully fund these programs at $620 million," Sen. Landrieu said. "While the provisions have already helped provide $18.2 billion in lending to more than 40,000 small businesses and helped to create more than 500,000 jobs in the last year, there are still many more small businesses that need loans. Funding the programs through the end of the year will help meet that demand and also help create or save hundreds of thousands of jobs. I'd like to thank Senators Baucus and Durbin for working with me to make sure this important provision was fully funded in this jobs bill."

Chair Landrieu, along with Ranking Member Olympia Snowe, included an extension of these provisions as part of S. 2869, The Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act, that was voted out of Committee in early December. To read more about the bill, please click here.

The bill also included a provision that extends through 2010 a tax credit for small businesses that pay the salary differential to reservist employees called up for active duty. This small business tax credit provides incentive for small employers to eliminate any pay gap between civilian and military pay.

"As our soldiers serve far from home, they often take a cut in pay by switching from civilian to military payroll, leaving families to tighten their belts at an already tough time," Sen. Landrieu said. "This is not right. Our brave soldiers should not be penalized for serving America, nor should the small business owners who want to help their employees but are already suffering in these harsh economic times. With the extension of this important tax credit, our soldiers, their families, and the small businesses they work for will be protected from the fiscal burdens that come with active duty."

Senator Landrieu was a co-sponsor of the measure, originally introduced by Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., in November 2009.

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U.K.-based Metal Products Supplier to Open Facility in Liberty County

Company’s Georgia expansion to create more than 200 jobs

Governor Sonny Perdue today announced the expansion of Firth Rixson Limited, a United Kingdom-based provider of highly engineered forged metal products, to Midway in Liberty County. The 200,000-square-foot facility will serve as a closed die forging operation providing components for the aerospace industry. Once fully operational, the company’s Georgia facility will create at least 200 local jobs.

“The aerospace sector is a targeted industry for Georgia,” said Governor Perdue. “With the opening of its new operation in Liberty County, Firth Rixson Limited strengthens our leadership position in the sector and brings welcome news to the county and state as we begin the new year.”

Firth Rixson’s Midway operation will be known as Firth Rixson Forgings LLC, and will represent the company’s largest greenfield investment. The new facility will also become Firth Rixson’s fourth closed die forging facility. The majority of the more than 200 anticipated jobs will be hired from the local workforce, with hiring for human resources positions beginning immediately.

“Firth Rixson Forgings LLC represents the continuation of Firth Rixson’s strategic initiatives and growth plans. Our management and technical development approach consistently results in products that provide satisfaction to our customers, and operational results that satisfy our owners,” said David C. Mortimer, CEO of Firth Rixson. “We will leverage the synergy with our current closed die operations in the United Kingdom to offer our products and service to a broadened market. We are extremely pleased to expand our business in the United States.”

With its new Midway location in close proximity to Savannah, Firth Rixon Forgings will have convenient access to the pipeline of talent at Georgia Tech’s Savannah campus. As one of the nation’s leading engineering schools, Georgia Tech is an active partner to aerospace and other industries, and has a record of being a key factor to the success of companies in Georgia by providing industry expertise and helping them compete in the global marketplace.

“We are very pleased Firth Rixson has selected our environmentally sensitive and well designed Tradeport East Business Center as the location for its new facility,” stated Allen Brown, chairman of the Liberty County Development Authority. “Firth Rixson joins an already robust existing industry base in Liberty County where approximately 70 percent of our current employment is tied to companies headquartered abroad. Companies like Firth Rixson have found Liberty County to be a place where they can grow globally.”

The aerospace industry plays a significant role in Georgia’s economy, and provides more than 80,000 jobs for aircraft manufacturers and aerospace suppliers. Companies in this industry in Georgia can take advantage of the state’s well-trained workforce through the nationally recognized Georgia Quick Start workforce training program.

“As a global leader in manufacturing components for the aerospace industry, Firth Rixson will be in good company among other leaders in this industry that successfully do business in Georgia,” said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “Georgia is pleased to be a part of Firth Rixson’s expanded operations in North America.”

About Firth Rixson Limited
Headquartered in Sheffield, UK, Firth Rixson serves customers worldwide in market sectors such as aerospace, defense, power generation, transportation, petrochemical, medical and general industrial. Firth Rixson owns 11 operating facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. Firth Rixson Limited (www.firthrixson.com) is owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners (www.oakhillcapital.com).

About GDEcD
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.
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NuPhysicia’s Medicine At Work Telemedicine Workplace Clinics Expand into Atlanta

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Medicine At Work from NuPhysicia LLC, the nation’s first telemedicine workplace clinic program, has expanded services into Atlanta. This cost-effective workplace clinic option for employers is now gaining new customers in both Texas and Georgia.

“Atlanta employers are seeking new employee medical options and as such, it emerged as an important market for us”

“Atlanta employers are seeking new employee medical options and as such, it emerged as an important market for us,” said Melody Reid, NuPhysicia’s executive director for Employee Health Services. “We are very excited about our progress. Now having two states – Texas and Georgia – with Medicine At Work serving customers is a great step forward for us.”

Using secure, high-quality two-way video and medical exam tools, Medicine At Work provides a full range of physician services to an employer’s workforce, bringing health care improvements and medical cost controls. Medicine At Work delivers complete workplace clinic care to a wider range of employers than traditional workplace clinics.

“Through new Georgia contracted physicians, Medicine At Work is now bringing health services to Atlanta workplaces using remote video medicine,” added Dr. Michael Davis, senior vice president of NuPhysicia. “Medicine At Work connects these Georgia licensed and board certified doctors to employees for workplace examinations, diagnosis, health risk assessments, general medical care and wellness coaching – bringing benefits to Georgia employers and employees alike.”

Companies offer Medicine At Work to improve the health and productivity of their workforce and help control medical costs. Medicine At Work is a turnkey solution with no start-up or build-out costs, and all medical care, staffing, clinic equipment and furnishings is provided for a fixed monthly cost per employee. There are no co-pay costs or insurance claims to file when seeing a doctor at the Medicine At Work clinic, making it a great benefit for employees.

Medicine At Work is not an insurance product and is not affiliated with any specific insurance carrier. With it, all the values and benefits of an on-site clinic are now available to more employers.

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US Labor Department publishes 2009 Form M-1 for multiple employer welfare arrangements

/PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced the availability of the 2009 Form M-1 annual report for multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs). Plan administrators may use EBSA's online filing system to expedite processing of the form.

MEWAs generally are arrangements that offer medical benefits to the employees of two or more employers or to their beneficiaries. The filing deadline for the 2009 Form M-1 is March 1, 2010. However, administrators can request an automatic 60-day extension to May 3, 2010. The 2009 form is basically identical to the previous year's form.

The online filing system is available on EBSA's Web site at http://www.askebsa.dol.gov/mewa. It allows a filer the flexibility to complete the form in multiple sessions, print a copy for his or her records and submit it at no cost. The Web site includes a user manual, frequently asked questions and a link to submit questions electronically.

Technical assistance for the online filing system is available by calling 202-693-8600. Information about the Form M-1 and how to fill it out is available on the Web site or by calling 202-693-8360. Paper copies of the form are available at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa (click on Forms and Filing) or by calling EBSA toll-free at 866-444-3272. A notice about the 2009 Form M-1 is in today's edition of the Federal Register.

U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.

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QualityTech Launches Major Data Center Expansion in Atlanta

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Quality Technology Services (QualityTech), one of the nation’s largest privately-held providers of data center facilities and managed services, announced yesterday a 130,000 square foot build-out in its Metro data center located near downtown Atlanta. This expansion will be supported by the funds from QualityTech’s recent $150 million partnership with growth equity investor General Atlantic.

“Our partnership with General Atlantic has allowed QualityTech to start the next step in our phased build-out of the Metro Atlanta Data Center facility,” said Mark Waddington, President of QualityTech. “The addition of over 130,000 square feet of raised floor space and supporting infrastructure positions this facility as one of the world’s largest and most technologically-advanced data center facilities.”

Two large raised-floor pods will be added to the facility’s existing raised-floor footprint of 200,000 square feet. This expansion will complete 65% of the planned raised-floor capacity of the massive 990,000 square feet building and provide a total of 330,000 square feet of customer-ready raised floor. As QualityTech continues expanding its data center footprint, it becomes more important to develop innovative solutions in data center design, including the adoption of environmentally sustainable design practices. QualityTech’s design-build team has committed itself to follow philosophies and strategies for LEED certification, as outlined by the US Green Building Council and is planning to obtain LEED certification.

The Metro facility’s expansion will feature next-generation and green systems, including a Facilities Lab to test new energy conservation initiatives. The lab will focus on air and water economization technologies as well as new developments in power distribution and consumption technology. QualityTech will also deploy advanced cooling and delivery methods to the floor that will allow customers to reach even higher levels of power density. This coupled with many other improvements will make this QualityTech’s Greenest Data Center to date.

Over the past several years, QualityTech has steadily expanded its data center footprint to encompass more than two million square feet of data center real estate with 750,000 square feet of raised floor in production. QualityTech offers state-of-the-art data center solutions across the United States in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Silicon Valley, California; and two of the largest facilities in the country located in Georgia including a one million square feet facility in Atlanta. Focused on providing flexible options, QualityTech hosts more than 1,000 customers ranging from a single cabinet to 100,000+ square feet custom suites. QualityTech caters to customized solutions that meet the diverse needs of large enterprise customers and currently has space ready for deployment in sizes up to 20,000 square feet in Atlanta and up to 15,000 square feet in Santa Clara. The company’s full suite of advanced managed service offerings includes network, operating system and storage solutions.

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Community One Associates Wins Management of Spire

Expands Intown Presence with Iconic High Rise Condo Tower

Community One Associates announced that it was awarded the management and front desk concierge services at Spire, one of Atlanta’s signature high rise condominiums located in the heart of Midtown at 860 Peachtree Street. Community One assumed management of the Residential and Master Condominium Associations from Novare Management, a subsidiary of Novare, which developed the 29-story mixed-use tower.

In addition to Spire, the full service management company has expanded dramatically into Atlanta’s intown submarkets by adding other condominium developments which include Ansley Above the Park, MidCity Lofts, Colony Park, Carrington Park, Heritage and others.

“Managing this enormous asset is a trust we take very seriously,” said Steve Weibel, Chief Executive Officer of Community One Associates. “Spire is an iconic property that deserves the highest level of service, care and attention that we can possibly give it. We bring to it a national platform, buying power and best practices of the nation’s leading management company.”

Community One is recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the top five full service management companies, responsible for both residential and commercial property owners associations, high rise condominiums, mixed use/retail developments, active adult and master planned neighborhoods.

It is the Georgia Partner of FirstService Residential (www.firstservice.com), the largest manager of residential communities in North America responsible for over 1 million units in 3,700 communities throughout the United States.

For more information, visit www.communityoneassociates.com or call (404) 308-3188.
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Nation’s First All-digital Production Facility Locates in Georgia

Meddin Studios opens doors, creates jobs in Savannah

Meddin Studios, LLC, is opening in Savannah with a $5.5 million investment in advanced digital media technology. The new studio, which will be the nation’s first fully digital production facility, will create up to 10 new jobs. Its completely digital workflow will stretch from pre-production to post-production, including distribution and asset management. Capitalizing on Georgia’s 2008 Entertainment Industry Investment Act, which offers up to a 30 percent tax credit for qualified productions, Meddin will foster innovation in digital film and video production and distribution.

“Meddin Studios’ decision to open in Savannah demonstrates that Georgia is leading the way in digital technology,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Ken Stewart. “What’s more, it reflects the strength of the growing film and entertainment industry, a result of Georgia’s strategic investments over 37 years.”

One of Meddin Studios’ unique offerings is asset management: the organization, conversion and preservation of content in a digital format. Aging film and tape formats, deteriorating photos and new digital media formats are the types of assets for which Meddin Studios can develop and implement a preservation plan. At its simplest, this means a visual, searchable catalog of media from years past. Film companies especially require more complex preservation plans, as old tape libraries are converted to a more accessible format.

"Meddin Studios is excited to fill an infrastructure void locally, regionally and nationally for the film, television and media industry. Four sound stages, production equipment rentals such as camera, lighting and grip, full post-production capabilities and digital asset management are just a few of the many offerings Meddin Studios is bringing to the area, said Nick Gant, company president, along with Jon Foster, CEO of Meddin.

The new studio is located in Savannah’s historic Meddin Brothers meat-packing facility, built in 1917. The 22,000-square-foot facility is located on 2.5 acres, three miles from downtown Savannah. At full operating capacity the studio will feature four 2,500-square-foot sound stages, two of which can be combined for a total 5,000 square feet of space; a full post-production facility; a fully-equipped 1,600-square-foot Pro Tools audio suite; and 4,000 square feet dedicated to camera and equipment rental.

“We are very impressed and proud that Nick Gant, Jon Foster and their management team made this happen – it’s no small feat! And we are thrilled they chose Savannah as the location. SEDA worked with The Creative Coast Alliance to support Meddin's start-up by introducing them to as many people and resources as we could – from potential clients to potential investors,” said Lynn Pitts, Sr. Vice President of the Savannah Economic Development Authority. “Savannah is eager to embrace and nurture these types of operations, and Meddin Studios will lead the way.”

Tonya Cooper, project manager for GDEcD, also assisted the company with this project.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. For more information, visit www.georgia.org
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NCR Opens New ATM Manufacturing Facility in Columbus, Ga.

(BUSINESS WIRE)--NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) today (October 29) opens its new ATM manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ga., rolling out its first NCR SelfServ™ ATMs and bringing innovative manufacturing back to North America. In less than five months after announcing plans to build a domestic manufacturing facility, NCR was able to open the 350,000 square-foot facility and begin production of ATM machines for its North American customers.

The company celebrated the opening at its Corporate Ridge Business Park plant with key officials and elected representatives from the City of Columbus and the State of Georgia, who participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony, a tour of the manufacturing plant and an opportunity to see the production of some of the first NCR ATM machines being built at the new site.

NCR has filed for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification—the Green Building Rating System that is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability. The company has also reused and recycled materials throughout the building, from the initial demolition, such as cinder blocks and carpet.

“Our decision to bring our North American ATM manufacturing in-house was driven by our belief that as self-service ATM technology becomes more innovative and strategic to financial institutions, the ability to control manufacturing in key markets becomes a core and competitive advantage to our growth strategy,” said Peter Dorsman, senior vice president of Global Operations at NCR. “By in-sourcing the production of our SelfServ ATMs, we will decrease time-to-market, improve our internal collaboration, and lower our current operating costs.”

Approximately 870 jobs will be created at a new Columbus, Ga., site over the next three years. With the help of the state and local government, NCR has already hired and trained nearly 120 employees through Georgia’s Quick Start Program – a customized workforce-training program for businesses across the state. Quick Start has been instrumental in supporting NCR to drive comprehensive employee training plans, create assessment programs and establish a mindset in each employee to strive for continuous improvement efforts.

“Georgia’s strategic strengths in advanced manufacturing will help drive the success of NCR’s new facility in Columbus,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “We have an innovative edge here in Georgia that has enabled companies to thrive, and NCR is a perfect fit as it manufactures its next-generation ATMs and self-serve devices for the North American market.”

The City of Columbus offered a location with a talented workforce, close proximity to major transportation hubs such as Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and many of Georgia’s highly esteemed academic institutions. The new facility is also close to NCR’s innovation center in Duluth, Ga., and the company’s global customer service organization in Peachtree City, Ga.

In addition, NCR’s campus-like ecosystem between its partners, suppliers and Georgia’s academic institutions will help drive and improve cross-functional collaboration, training and innovation -- ensuring that NCR’s manufacturing process is cutting edge.

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Analysis of GDP by Bart van Ark, Chief Economist of The Conference Board

/PRNewswire/ -- The expansion in Q3 GDP (3.5%) shows we have clearly begun to emerge from the trough. But there's still a long way to go, and we still don't know enough about the sustainability of these recovery signals. The comparatively good Q3 news is largely driven by temporary factors like an uptick in consumer spending -- notably through the U.S. government's "cash for clunkers" car sales subsidy program -- as well as an easing in inventory rundowns.

Q4 could bring even faster easing in inventory rundowns that accounts for all GDP growth (we forecast 3.1 percent). Consumer spending will fall flat during the holiday season, and exports will recover more slowly than in Q3. Any modest uptick in investments in equipment and software will most likely be offset by continued declines in commercial real estate.

A less powerful inventory boost with no positive offsetting contributors may well limit GDP growth to 1 percent in early 2010. We forecast growth to improve only moderately, to around 2 percent, by the middle of 2010. The savings rate will remain relatively high at 4.5 to 5 percent of disposable income, dampening improvements in real consumer spending, investment and trade.

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Governor Perdue Lauds Coca-Cola Expansion

Governor Sonny Perdue today praised The Coca-Cola Company for its continued effort to grow its business presence and invest in Georgia, as the Company prepares to open a $100 million-plus expansion to its Atlanta production facilities.

“Coca-Cola is a very important part of Georgia's economy,” Governor Perdue said. “I am thrilled that after more than a century of doing business in Georgia, Coca-Cola continues to see this state as a great place for new investment in facilities and jobs.”

The plant expansion will contain production facilities for the concentrated ingredients used in the new Coca-Cola Freestyle™ fountain dispenser. Coca-Cola Freestyle™ is the brand name for the “fountain of the future” from The Coca-Cola Company that uses microdosing technology to dispense more than 100 sparkling and still beverage brands from a single freestanding unit.
“The future looks bright for Coca-Cola Freestyle,” said Sandy Douglas, President Coca-Cola North America. “And that creates the potential for even more growth in our facilities and capabilities in Atlanta.”

The new facility will preserve jobs in the Atlanta syrup plant and could lead to job growth in the future. The Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Development Authority of Fulton County worked together to aid Coca-Cola in the plant expansion.
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BWAY Holding Company Announces the Completion of Plastic Packaging Acquisition, Plant Rationalizations, and Provides Fiscal 2010 Guidance

/PRNewswire/ -- BWAY Corporation, the principal operating subsidiary of BWAY Holding Company (NYSE:BWY) , a leading North American supplier of general line rigid containers, today reported that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of the assets, and certain liabilities, of Ball Corporation's (NYSE:BLL) plastic packaging plant and business located outside of Atlanta in Newnan, GA. The facility (BWAY's "Atlanta plant") produces injection molded plastic pails and certain other products. The Company paid approximately $32.0 million for the acquisition, and funded the transaction using cash on hand.

Ken Roessler, BWAY's President and Chief Executive Office stated that, "This business is an excellent fit with the Company's core market add-on acquisition strategy. In addition to sales and market share growth, this acquisition provides further product portfolio expansion through the addition of well established screw top pail designs which supports the Company's goal of positioning BWAY as the premier supplier for rigid general line packaging. We expect to realize significant synergies, including potential future plant rationalizations."

The Company announced that it has completed its evaluation of plant rationalizations associated with the August 2009 acquisition of Central Can Company located in Chicago, IL. The Company will close two metal packaging plants located in Chicago, IL and Brampton, ON and move business and certain equipment into the recently acquired Central Can Company facility (BWAY's "Chicago plant"). The Chicago plant consolidation, which will create the second largest plant in the Company's manufacturing network, is expected to be completed during the Company's second fiscal quarter (ending March 31, 2010). Annual synergies from the rationalization, estimated at $6.0 million, are expected to be phased-in during fiscal 2010 beginning in the second fiscal quarter. The Company expects to record restructuring charges associated with this initiative of approximately $3.1 million and accelerated depreciation of $0.8 million during fiscal 2010, and make capital expenditures of approximately $2.5 million to facilitate the consolidation and make productivity improvements.

Commenting on the plant closures, Mr. Roessler stated that, "An important element of our add-on acquisition strategy is the opportunity for significant synergies. The Central Can acquisition clearly met this criterion with expected savings in the areas of purchasing, freight, SG&A, and manufacturing overhead. These plant rationalizations support our ongoing effort to increase the scale of our manufacturing facilities and reduce our fixed cost base."

Also, the Company provided first quarter and full year fiscal 2010 earnings and free cash flow guidance, which includes expectations for the recent acquisitions of Ball Corporation's plastic packaging plant and Central Can Company with announced rationalizations. Specifically, the Company stated the following expectations:

-- The Company's financial expectations assume that end market demand for
fiscal 2010 will have minimal recovery or growth from fiscal 2009. In
addition to sales gains attributable to the recent acquisitions for
fiscal 2010, the Company expects increased sales from share gains
attributable to recently developed plastic products, and continued
cross-selling initiatives between its metal and plastic packaging
segments.
-- First quarter fiscal 2010 (ending December 31, 2009) adjusted net
income of $0.05 - $0.13 per diluted shared. Expected adjustments to
GAAP net income/(loss) per diluted share are restructuring charges and
accelerated depreciation associated with plant rationalizations, and
transaction costs associated with the plastic packaging acquisition
from Ball Corporation totaling $0.11 per diluted share. This compares
to an adjusted net loss per diluted share of $(0.11) for the first
quarter of fiscal 2009, including a $0.02 adjustment to GAAP net loss
per diluted share for restructuring charges. The Company expects
adjusted EBITDA of $22.0 - $25.0 million, excluding $3.6 of
restructuring charges and transaction costs, compared to $15.6 million
for the first quarter last year which excluded $0.7 million of
restructuring charges. The Company's first fiscal quarter has
historically experienced the slowest seasonal demand.
-- Full year fiscal 2010 adjusted net income per diluted share of $1.42 -
$1.60. Expected adjustments to GAAP net income per diluted share are
restructuring charges and accelerated depreciation associated with
plant rationalizations, and transaction costs associated with the
plastic packaging acquisition from Ball Corporation totaling $0.13 per
diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of
$138.0 - $142.0 million, excluding $4.3 of restructuring charges and
transaction costs. The Company stated in a press release on October
12, 2009 that it expects fiscal 2009 adjusted net income per diluted
share to be at the high end of the previously released guidance range
of $1.20 - $1.26, and adjusted EBITDA also at the high end of the
previously announced $122.0 - $124.0 million range.
-- Full year fiscal 2010 free cash flow (net cash provided by operating
activities less capital expenditures) is expected to be in the range
of $55.0 - $60.0 million. On October 12, 2009 the Company disclosed
that it expects fiscal 2009 free cash flow to exceed $50.0 million.
Full year fiscal 2010 capital expenditures, including estimated
expenditures associated with the Chicago plant consolidation discussed
above, are expected to be $23.0 - $25.0 million.

About BWAY Holding Company


BWAY Holding Company is a leading North American supplier of general line rigid containers. The Company operates 20 plants (excluding announced plant closures) throughout the United States and Canada serving industry leading customers on a national basis.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You should not place reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements include information concerning the Company's liquidity and its possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of its business strategies. These statements often include words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "seek," "will," "may" or similar expressions. These statements are based on certain assumptions that management has made in light of its experience in the industry as well as its perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors management believes are appropriate in these circumstances. As you read and consider this document, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could affect the Company's actual financial results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Some important factors include competitive risk from other container manufacturers or self-manufacture by customers, termination of customer contracts, loss or reduction of business from key customers, dependence on key personnel, changes in steel, resin, other raw material and energy costs or availability, product liability or product recall costs, lead pigment and lead paint litigation, increased consolidation in end markets, consolidation of key suppliers, contractions in end markets, increased use of alternative packaging, labor unrest, environmental, health and safety costs, management's inability to evaluate and selectively pursue acquisitions, fluctuation of quarterly operating results, an increase in interest rates, restrictions in debt agreements, fluctuations of the Canadian dollar, and the other factors discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements contained in this document might not prove to be accurate and you should not place undue reliance upon them. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company provides financial measures and terms not calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). Presentation of non-GAAP financial measures such as, but not limited to "EBITDA," "adjusted EBITDA," "EBIT," "adjusted EBIT," "adjusted net income (loss)," "adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share", and "gross margin (excluding depreciation and amortization)" provide investors with an alternative method for assessing the Company's operating results in a manner that enables them to more thoroughly evaluate the Company's performance. These non-GAAP financial measures provide a baseline for assessing the Company's future earnings expectations. BWAY's management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for the same purpose. The non-GAAP financial measures included in this news release are provided to give investors access to the types of measures that the Company uses in analyzing its results.

BWAY's calculation of non-GAAP financial measures is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies, or to financial measures as defined in the Company's debt agreements. These non-GAAP financial measures may be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results. Schedules that reconcile these non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures are included with this news release.

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Delta Air Lines Issues Statement on Northwest Flight 188 Investigation

/PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today (October 26) issued a statement regarding the company's cooperation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the investigation of Northwest Flight 188. Delta and its Northwest operating subsidiary continue to openly and fully cooperate with the NTSB and FAA to complete the investigation. The pilots in command of Northwest Flight 188 remain suspended until the conclusion of the investigations into this incident.

Using laptops or engaging in activity unrelated to the pilots' command of the aircraft during flight is strictly against the airline's flight deck policies and violations of that policy will result in termination.

Delta CEO Richard Anderson said: "Nothing is more important to Delta than safety. We are going to continue to cooperate fully with the NTSB and the FAA in their investigations."

The NTSB earlier today (October 26) issued a public release highlighting the initial findings of its investigation into the incident, including evidence that the pilots involved said they were distracted at cruise altitude between San Diego and Minneapolis-St. Paul. The NTSB's press release stated that the pilots said in interviews that "there was a concentrated period of discussion where they did not monitor the airplane or calls from ATC even though both stated they heard conversation on the radio ... neither pilot noticed messages that were sent by company dispatchers ... both said they lost track of time ... (and) each pilot accessed and used his personal laptop computer while they discussed the airline crew flight scheduling procedure."

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Al Calhoun Rejoins Hodges Ward Elliott as Senior Managing Director, Select Service Division

Hodges Ward Elliott, Inc. (HWE), the nation’s premier hotel brokerage and investment banking firm, today announced that Al Calhoun has rejoined the firm as senior managing director, select service division.

“Our relationship with Al goes back nearly two decades, and it is a delight to welcome him back to our firm after a nine-year sabbatical,” said Mark Elliott, principal of Hodges Ward Elliott. “His experience in the select service segment is unparalleled, and he adds tremendous depth to our 10-person select service team. Combined with our full-service and Europe divisions, we now have the deepest and most experienced hotel transaction team in the industry.”

In his new role, he will be responsible for leading and growing HWE’s select service division, including brokerage, investment and advisory services. He will work closely with Anthony Falor, who will remain managing director of the select service division. HWE has closed more than $2 billion in select service transactions in the past five years. Select service currently represents approximately 30 percent of HWE’s transaction volume.

Calhoun has nearly 30 years experience in the hotel industry. He began his career in hotel development and held corporate positions with both Marriott International, Inc. and Choice Hotels International. He joined HWE in 1991 as a select service hotel specialist and left to form Thompson Calhoun Fair in 2000, which was subsequently acquired by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels in 2005.

An expert in both single asset and portfolio transactions and advisement, Calhoun has personally been involved in more than 500 hotel transactions. In his career, he has represented the vast majority of major hotel ownership groups in their select service hotel transactions.

“Select service transactions, especially those under $10 million, are getting done and financing is available,” Calhoun said. “However, transactions have to be more solidly structured, and pre-existing relationships with lenders are critical. HWE has long-standing relationships with everyone from local and regional banks to institutional lenders, which greatly assists us in completing transactions.

“We expect to see a steady rise in select service transactions over the next 12 to 36 months with portfolios coming to market at a much faster pace than in the past two years,” he noted. “Based on previous cycle experience and the amount of valuation inquiries we are receiving, deal flow is beginning to gain momentum.”

Calhoun is a member of the CCIM Institute and the American Hotel and Lodging Association. He is a graduate of Georgia State University and has published post graduate research.

Hodges Ward Elliott is world renowned for representing hotel asset and real estate investment opportunities spanning all categories and markets. HWE is consistently ranked the leading hotel brokerage and investment firm with greater than 30 percent market share of hotel transactions, according to independent outside sources. Since 1990, HWE has structured the sale of more than 1,500 hotels, totaling over 300,000 rooms and $33 billion of lodging transactions.
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Nomination Guidelines for SBA 2010 Awards

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is seeking nominations for the 2010 Georgia Small Business Person of the Year and Small Business Champion awards.

Each year since 1963, the President of the United States has designated a National Small Business Week. The highlight of Small Business Week activities is the presentation of awards at the state and national levels. The 2010 Small Business Week celebration next year will honor the small business community's many contributions to the American economy and society. National Small Business Week will be observed May 23 – 29, 2010.

“You can be part of this celebration by nominating an outstanding small business owner or small business champion in your community for one of these awards,” said SBA Georgia District Director Terri Denison.

In Georgia, the SBA District Office selects the state’s 2010 Small Business Person of the Year. That individual will attend the national celebration in Washington, DC to compete for the National Small Business Person of the Year award. At this celebration, a national winner is selected from all the winners from across the country. Scott Blackstock, President of Tidal Wave Auto Spa of Thomaston, won the honor in 2009.

Small Business Champions of the Year award categories are for those who promote small business, including volunteering time and services to small business interests and groups. Champions may or may not be small business owners. Award categories include:

Minority Small Business Champion
Veteran Small Business Champion
Financial Services Champion
Home-Based Business Champion
Women in Business Champion
Small Business Exporter of the Year
Jeffrey Butland Award for Family-Owned Small Business of the Year
SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Nomination packages must be received at the Georgia District Office in Atlanta on or before Friday, November 13, 2009. To find nomination guidelines and information for these and other awards visit the SBA Georgia web site: www.sba.gov/ga. Look under “Spotlight.”

Nominations may be mailed to Jim Hightower, Public Affairs, SBA Georgia District Office, 233 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 1900, Atlanta, GA 30303.
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HBCU Alum and Branding Guru Selected to Appear on Tom Joyner Morning Show

LaVon Lewis to Speak on Benefit of Attending an HBCU for Building His Business

Branding guru and Chief Cre8ive Officer of Pencilworx Design Group, LaVon Lewis, will appear on the nationally-syndicated radio program, the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Twenty-nine year old Lewis was invited on the program as part of the show’s tribute to historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). Lewis will speak on how his decision to attend the HBCU, Alabama A&M, has played a role in his success as an entrepreneur today.

“I’m privileged to have been selected by Alabama A&M to represent the university as a distinguished alumnus on the Tom Joyner Morning Show,” said Lewis. “I started my business in my college dorm room at A&M and even landed my first client on that campus. It’s quite an honor that my accomplishments thus far as an entrepreneur can be a source of inspiration and an example of what an HBCU can offer young people.”

Lewis has won over 40 awards for his work in the marketing and graphic design industry. Recently he was named the Atlanta Regional Minority Technology Firm of the Year by the U.S Department of Commerce. He frequently hosts seminars based on tips from his how-to book on small business branding, “Today is a Great Day for a WOW Image.” Over the years Lewis has accumulated a prestigious roster of clients including Focus Brands (Cinnabon, Schlotzkys Deli, etc.) Atlanta mega church Newbirth, gospel musician Marvin Winans Jr., InterContinental Hotel Group, and many more.

The Tom Joyner Morning Show features hosts Tom Joyner, Sybil Wilkes, J. Anthony Brown, Ms. Dupre and Myra J. for four hours of news, comedy, music and more every weekday morning. The program weaves together an upbeat, energetic and laugh-filled show with the celebrity guest appearances (among them: Bill Clinton, Spike Lee, Wesley Snipes, Babyface, Seal and Oprah Winfrey), a radio soap opera (It's Your World) and the frequent call-ins from listeners.
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