Archive | March, 2012

AlphaStaff Appoints Neal Bibeau As President and Chief Executive Officer

31 Mar

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – March 31, 2012 – AlphaStaff, one of the nation’s leading human resource outsourcing firms serving small and medium-sized businesses, has announced the appointment of Neal Bibeau as the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

Neal Bibeau - CEO AlphaStaffMr. Bibeau has an extensive track record of building organizations that deliver service excellence as recognized by customer and industry groups. Prior to AlphaStaff, Bibeau served as President and Chief Executive Officer of DecisionOne Corporation, where he successfully led the information technology service company through a pivotal restructuring and transformation period that re-established it as the largest independent technology support organization in North America. He is widely credited with revitalizing the company and saving 2,000 jobs while gaining recognition from leading industry analysts and technology organizations for outstanding customer service.

Previously, Bibeau served as an advisor to Cerberus Capital Management across a range of industries, including outsourced business services and technology. He has also served in senior executive roles at leading organizations such as Focus Diagnostics, Rosenbluth International, IMS Health and the Dun & Bradstreet Corporation. While at Rosenbluth, Bibeau pioneered innovative customer service strategies by leveraging the emergence of online technologies along with traditional customer care methods, gaining industry recognition for service excellence.

“As AlphaStaff embarks on a unique, client-focused strategy of solution flexibility and service excellence, Neal’s background makes him uniquely qualified to help take the organization to new heights,” said Jim Madden, Chairman of AlphaStaff. “His outstanding track record of leveraging technology into the client service equation, as well as his ability to build productive, long-term business relationships will be key assets to the organization.”

Bibeau received a B.A. in Economics and Government from Dartmouth College, as well as a M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration of Dartmouth College. 

About AlphaStaff

AlphaStaff delivers a configurable suite of human resource, employee benefit and employee administration solutions designed to support organizations through their evolving business cycles. Through the buying power of more than 1,500 companies, clients gain access to workforce management expertise, practical benchmarking data, HR information systems, insurance, and the ability to realize a more predictable health care expense.  AlphaStaff delivers measured results, ensuring clients achieve their cost management, efficiency gains and profitability objectives. AlphaStaff, which has been in business since 1997, has supported more than 100,000 worksite employees in all 50 states. For more information, visit http://www.alphastaff.com

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How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall? Many of Today’s Leading Artists Cite the Influence of the Marlboro Music Festival

26 Mar

New York, NY, March 26, 2012: Renowned chamber music retreat, Marlboro Music, is credited by many leading musicians as being one of their most important influences as young musicians. A significant number now perform at Carnegie Hall.

Major American orchestras which form such an important part of each Carnegie Hall season all boast Principals and members whose summers at Marlboro shaped their musical perspectives. The Philadelphia and Metropolitan Opera Orchestras each have more than twenty former participants.

With their years at Marlboro in parentheses, musicians performing in recent seasons at Carnegie Hall include: Emanuel Ax (1973), Joshua Bell (1985, 86, 89), Jonathan Biss (1997, 98, 89, and recently), Borromeo String Quartet (Yeesun Kim: 1986, 87), Brentano String Quartet (all four members attended in the 1990s), Yefim Bronfman (1976, 77, 78), Brooklyn Rider (Colin Jacobsen: 1998, 99, 2000), Sasha Cooke (2008), Jeremy Denk (1996, 97, 98, 99 and recently), Emerson String Quartet (three members attended in the 1970s), Richard Goode (1958-68; 1989-present; Co-Artistic Director), Marie-Elisabeth Hecker (2010), Benjamin Hochman (2001, 03, 05), Bella Hristova (2009, 10, 11), Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio (two members attended in the 1960s and 1970s), Hye-Jin Kim (2007, 08, 09), Jennifer Koh (1994, 95, 96 and recently), Jaime Laredo (12 summers between 1961-75), James Levine (1956), Yo-Yo Ma (1972, 73, 75, 76), Anthony McGill (1998, 99, 2000, 07, 10), Miami String Quartet (two members attended), Murray Perahia (1966, 67, 69, 72), Nicholas Phan (2007, 08, 09, 10), Susanna Phillips (2010, 11), András Schiff (1978, 79, 80, and as member of Committee for Artist Direction: 1993, 95, 97), Peter Serkin (17 summers between 1958-1993), St. Lawrence String Quartet (three members attended in the 1980s),Takács Quartet (Geraldine Walther: 1967, 71, 74, 80, 2010), Christian Tetzlaff (1987, 88), Michael Tree (1959 –1980 and recently), Mitsuko Uchida (1974; 1992-present; Co-Artistic Director), Paul Watkins (1992), Amy Yang (2008, 09, 10).

Marlboro Music will hold its 62nd season this summer and continues to shape America’s musical life. For more information, visit www.marlboromusic.org.

Marlboro MusicAbout Marlboro Music

Started in 1951 by musical émigrés from Europe, Marlboro Music is a unique summer community for elite musicians. Over seven weeks each summer, fifty emerging musicians collaborate with musical masters, exploring music with unlimited rehearsal time in the kind of depth not generally possible. With an emphasis on study and exchange of ideas, the school is recognized as an important musical incubator. Located in Marlboro, Vermont, the school’s unique atmosphere and environment has produced three generations of the world’s leading musicians. Visit http://www.marlboromusic.org.

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PHILADELPHIA CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY PARTNERS WITH SLY FOX BREWERY

20 Mar

Philadelphia, PA, March 2012: The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society (PCMS) is pleased to announce a partnership with local Philadelphia business, Sly Fox Brewery, as part of its popular Social Series. PCMS is pleased to showcase local businesses at concerts at the American Philosophical Society with tastings from the area’s finest purveyors of food and drink. The series is popular with both audiences and local businesses.

On Friday, March 23, 2012, the American Philosophical Society will host talented young baritone, John Moore. Following his bravura performance of Mozart and Schubert during last year’s Marlboro tour, Moore will return for a solo recital with pianist Anna Polonsky, performing works by Mozart, Schubert, and Tchaikovsky. After being accepted into the Lindemann Young Artist Program at the Metropolitan Opera, Moore has enjoyed great success in both opera and recitals.

Sly Fox Brewery has made expertly crafted beer since 1995 and named Philadelphia’s “Best Brewery” by Philadelphia Magazine. Its beer will be served to audiences before the concert and during intermission. Brewery representative, Patrick Mullin, will serve tastings of Pikeland Pils and Route 113 IPA – two popular local beers.

WHO: John Moore and Anna Polonsky

WHEN: Friday, March 23, 2012, 8pm.

COST: $23.00

VENUE: American Philosophical Society

SERIES PARTNER: Sly Fox Brewery

PCMS is proud to support Philadelphia businesses through this popular series.

About PCMS
The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society (PCMS) aims to serve and enrich audiences with a compelling variety of chamber music and recital programs performed by exceptional international and Philadelphia-based artists. PCMS also promotes new music and music education, collaborating with regional cultural and educational institutions.

Marlboro Music is Where Yo-Yo Ma Decided to Become a Musician

20 Mar

New York, NY, March 20, 2012: Vermont’s renowned chamber music retreat, Marlboro Music, is where celebrated cellist, Yo-Yo Ma, decided to become a musician. Ma attended the influential retreat when he was a teenager in the summers of 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976.

Yo-Yo Ma’s first contact with Marlboro happened when violinist, Ma Si Hon, and pianist, Tung Kwong Kwong, brought the then six year-old (whose cello was almost twice his size) to where Rudolf Serkin, Alexander Schneider and a group of Marlboro musicians were rehearsing Mozart concertos in New York. During a break in the rehearsal, the young cellist played an unaccompanied Bach Suite that had everyone wide-eyed with amazement.

Yo-Yo Ma and Sandor Vegh

Yo-Yo Ma and Sandor Vegh

Eleven years later, 17 year-old Ma became a participant at Marlboro playing with master musicians such as Isidore Cohen of the Beaux Arts Trio and Felix Galimir of the Galimir Quartet, which won the Grand Prix du Disque for the first recordings of the Ravel Quartet and Berg Lyric Suite with the composers attending the recording sessions.

Fellow Marlboro participant Timothy Eddy, cellist of the acclaimed Orion String Quartet, offers this reflection on a conversation with Ma during the 1970s. “We got to talking in an open and frank sort of way and Yo-Yo out of the blue said “I’ve been thinking a lot about music in my life.” I think it’s valuable to know that here was this already phenomenal, unbelievable cellist saying ‘I’m trying to decide whether to be a cellist, whether to be a cellist full-time, and really put myself into that, and make that my life’. And I was a little taken aback because, of course, I knew I had to make that decision, and I knew that was normal to have to decide this sort of thing. But it just seemed so powerfully right for him to play the cello.”

Later, Yo-Yo Ma wrote, “Marlboro was the place where I decided to become a musician, and more importantly, where I met my future wife. The four summers I spent at Marlboro were great formative years. It was there that I was first exposed to the fellowship of colleagues young and old. And it was there that I began questioning things in music. Living through these summers, experiencing the great chamber music literature for the first time, led me to a commitment to music that I could not have received from one school or teacher.”

About Marlboro Music

Started in 1951 by musical émigrés from Europe, Marlboro Music is a unique summer community for elite musicians. Over seven weeks each summer, fifty emerging musicians collaborate with musical masters, exploring music with unlimited rehearsal time in the kind of depth not generally possible. With an emphasis on study and exchange of ideas, the school is recognized as an important musical incubator. Located in Marlboro, Vermont, the school’s unique atmosphere and environment has produced three generations of the world’s leading musicians. Visit http://www.marlboromusic.org

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Hoffman Design Group Tips Their CAP

19 Mar

Folcroft, PA, March 19, 2012: Corporate interior landscaping firm Hoffman Design Group is proud to partner with Children’s Alopecia Project (CAP) to make their “Spring Spectacular” a success. The 8th annual event will take place on March 24th at the Designers Palace at the VF Outlet Center in Wyomissing, PA. It will feature live music, food and drink, and hundreds of silent auction items with proceeds benefitting the CAP foundation.

CAP is dedicated specifically to children living with the incurable autoimmune hair loss disease, alopecia. Helping make a difference with this cause hits close to home for Hoffman Design Group. Diane Badaracco, Hoffman’s design department manager, is leading the partnership. Diane’s 11 year old daughter has been living with alopecia for 9 years. Diane says, “CAP is very dear to my heart. My daughter has alopecia and continually struggles with self-esteem because of it. Thankfully, CAP has come to our rescue and helps us raise awareness and support for other families fighting this very visual disease. I thank CAP and Hoffman Design Group for helping get the word out.”

For the “Spring Spectacular,” Hoffman Design Group is providing floral centerpieces; lanterns; an archway of vines, curly willow, and silk foliage; tiki torches; and special plant filled troughs, all to reflect a backyard summer party.

For more information on how you can help, please visit the CAP website.

Interior Plantscape Company Hoffman Design GroupAbout Hoffman Design Group

Hoffman Design Group, Inc, is located in Folcroft, PA, and specializes in creating beautiful interiorscapes, corporate floral arrangements and living wall designs in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs, Delaware, and New Jersey. Its designs have won many awards and they take pride in their elegant, environmentally friendly seasonal and holiday decorating, corporate interior plantscapes and urban exterior landscaping. For more information, visit http://www.hoffmandesigngroup.com

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Retirement Communities Implement Innovative Homarc Moving Assistance Program

14 Mar

Jenkintown, PA, March 14, 2012: Leading senior relocation services provider, Homarc, has been contracted by two prominent retirement communities to implement its innovative Moving Assistance Program (MAP). Tel Hai Retirement Community and Kendal-Crosslands will now have access to a proven system to help senior citizens sell their home and move to retirement communities.

Homarc is a unique relocation company focused exclusively on providing senior moving management services including home sale and consulting services for seniors moving to Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). Its Moving Assistance Program is an invaluable guide for seniors relocating to retirement communities.

Tel Hai will offer the Moving Assistance Program to future residents of its Woods Edge community as well as future residents moving to existing cottages and apartments. Tina Cressman has been hired to manage the needs of Tel Hai residents.

At Kendal-Crosslands, all residents who select an available unit will be offered the Moving Assistance Program in conjunction with its latest incentive program: 1 year of deferred entrance fees and $5,000 credit towards moving expenses.

“We’ve had long-standing relationships with both retirement communities,” begins David Reibstein, President of Homarc. “Their decision to contract with us for our unique Moving Assistance Program is evidence of its value in helping seniors to sell their home and move to retirement communities. It’s a proven resource. We invite other retirement communities to examine the benefits offered by this program.”

About Homarc

Homarc believes that simplifying the moving process reduces stress. Homarc offers specialized senior relocation services to help simplify our client’s move to a Retirement Community. With its unique Home Visit, Homarc designs and executes specifically tailored action plans for its clients. With access to trusted real estate agents and service providers, it reduces the stress of senior moving. Homarc maximizes results efficiently, confidently and compassionately. Visit http://www.HomarcAdvisors.com

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Philadelphia Chamber Music Society March Concerts Announced

9 Mar

Philadelphia, PA, March 9, 2012: The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society (PCMS) is pleased to announce its March concerts to be held at the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater, the Independence Seaport Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the American Philosophical Society. The eight concerts include premier artists from around the world, some performing only in Philadelphia. Already, the Johannes Quartet and pianist Marc Andre-Hamelin concerts are sold out.

Together with pianist Julius Drake, Ian Bostridge performed his third concert with PCMS on Wednesday, March 7th in the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center. Bostridge made his debut in 1993 and has performed throughout Europe and the US. He’s one of the leading interpreters of German leider and his program includes Schumann and Brahms.

With a growing reputation in North America, the Jerusalem Quartet has recently appeared in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Washington. The program on Wednesday, March 14th at the Independence Seaport Museum is entirely Shostakovich.

Ben Beilman is a Curtis student quickly gaining attention for “impeccable” playing and “eloquence and flair” (MusicalAmerica.com). Ben Beilman won First Prize in the 2010 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and has participated in the Marlboro Music Festival since age seventeen. His concert with pianist Yekwon Sunwoo on Sunday, March 18th at the Philadelphia Museum of Art will include works by Mozart, Strauss, and Prokofiev.

Born and raised in Iowa, baritone John Moore made his MET debut performing the role of Fiorello in Rossini’s Barbiere di Siviglia. He performs with pianist Anna Polonsky on Wednesday, March 21st at the American Philosophical Society with works by Mozart, Schubert, Mahler, and Tchaikovsky.

Other concerts include the Musicians from Marlboro concert on Friday, March 23rd and the Elias Quartet concert on Tuesday, March 27th – both at the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater.

Tickets are available on the PCMS website, http://www.pcmsconcerts.org

ABOUT PCMS
The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society (PCMS) aims to serve and enrich audiences with a compelling variety of chamber music and recital programs performed by exceptional international and Philadelphia-based artists. PCMS also promotes new music and music education, collaborating with regional cultural and educational institutions. For more information visit http://www.pcmsconcerts.org

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Russel Family Generations Day School Endowment Project Launches in Baltimore

9 Mar

Boston, MA, March 9, 2012: Seven Jewish day schools in Baltimore are poised to benefit from increased long-term financial sustainability, thanks to a collaborative effort among Baltimore’s Russel Family, THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education, and the AVI CHAI Foundation.

Baltimore is one of three communities nationwide, along with Los Angeles and New York, to participate in the first round of “Generations:” a three-year program that seeks to transform the way Jewish day schools fund their budgets by soliciting endowment and legacy gifts. With the power of a $3.1 million dollar grant from AVI CHAI, funding from PEJE, the ASSOCIATED,  and a generous investment from the Russel family, Generations provides training and coaching for schools with a goal of growing the value of their endowment funds to $20–$30K per student over 10 years. Such an achievement will place Jewish day schools in the top 25th percentile of all independent schools. The return on investment for each community is expected to be more than 100 times its investment.

This forecast is welcome news for Rabbi Ephraim Blumenkrantz, Vice President of Development at The Bais Yaakov School, one of the participating schools. “The current system is unsustainable,” he says. “The reality is that many Jewish day schools are facing financial challenges. G-d has us on his good side, but it our communal responsibility to ensure a sustainable future for our children. Building endowment is critical if we are to meet this goal.”

Janine Frier, Chair of the Development Committee at Krieger Schechter Day School, also spoke enthusiastically about the project. “As someone who has been deeply involved with development at Krieger Schechter, I eagerly anticipated the start of the Generations project here in Baltimore. Embarking on an endowment campaign is both exciting and daunting—so having guidance, support and expertise is very reassuring.”

The seven schools will receive coaching, marketing support and training to launch multi-year endowment and legacy giving campaigns.

Along with gaining expertise, participants were grateful to partner with colleagues across the denominational spectrum. “The collaborative nature of the program, and the participation by representatives of every Jewish school in our community, regardless of affiliation, is truly ground-breaking, and a real testimony to the fact that unity is achievable, is empowering, and is uplifting for us all,” said Zipora Schorr, Head of School at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School.

Michael I. Friedman, Senior Vice President, Planned Giving and Endowment at THE ASSOCIATED, honored those who made the program possible. “We could not be coming together as a community around day school endowment development without the direct and generous support of the Russel Family, the AVI CHAI Foundation, and, of course, our partner, PEJE. By having the resources dedicated directly to this effort, Baltimore’s unparalleled day schools will become even stronger and more accessible to all who seek a day school education.”

“Most Jewish day schools lack the expertise and resources to build endowments on their own, said Jill Goldenberg, PEJE’s Strategy Manager for Endowment and Legacy. “The seven schools in Baltimore came to the launch with open hearts and minds, ready to learn the skills that will enable them to include endowment and legacy giving as an essential part of their strategic campaign plans.”

The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore preserves and enhances Jewish life by addressing charitable, educational, religious, humanitarian, health, cultural and social service needs of the Jewish community in Baltimore, in Israel and throughout the world. As the central fundraising organization for the Baltimore Jewish community, THE ASSOCIATED raises and distributes more than $30 million each year through its Annual Campaign, with two-thirds aiding Jews in need locally and the remainder funding programs overseas and in Israel.  For more information, log on to http://www.associated.org.

About The Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education

The Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE) believes that Jewish day schools are essential for fostering an engaged Jewish people for an enduring future. PEJE connects and empowers Jewish day schools and major stakeholders in the Jewish community across the denominational and geographic spectrum and offers unparalleled knowledge and resources to foster financial sustainability and affordability. PEJE is dedicated to impacting the field through bold initiatives to stimulate the core revenue streams of annual campaign, legacy, endowment, and tuition and to broaden the market for day school education.

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Laser Micromachining Leader, Potomac Photonics, Welcomes Sidney Wright

9 Mar

Lanham, MD, March 8, 2012: Leading laser micromachining company, Potomac Photonics, is pleased to welcome Sidney Wright back to the company. Sidney Wright has been appointed Vice President of Sales. He brings extensive and impressive credentials to the position.

Wright previously worked at Potomac from 1996 to 2006 as Director of Business Development. He later became Technical Lead for the Microfabrication Center handling customer samples, setting up laser systems and training technicians for production operations.

“We are thrilled to have Sidney Wright back at Potomac Photonics,” said Mike Adelstein, CEO of Potomac. “He brings the ideal skill set with leading technical and customer experience. Potomac is fast-growing, particularly in digital based micromanufacturing and small hole drilling and Sidney is perfect to help facilitate this growth.”

Wright has over 30 years of experience in laser micromachining covering a wide range of lasers both in the sales/marketing and technical areas working with companies including DOE facilities at Oak Ridge, TN, Coherent, Schwartz Electro-Optics, and L-3 ALST.

Wright holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Tennessee Tech University, a Masters of Science degree in Physics from University of Tennessee, Knoxville and has a patent for marking gem stones with lasers.

About Potomac Photonics

For almost 30 years, Potomac Photonics has been a leader in microfabrication. Potomac’s contract services span prototyping to production, helping clients develop miniature products and bring them to market. Potomac is an authorized distributor for high-tech manufacturing technologies such as 3D printer and laser systems. Using cutting-edge manufacturing technology, Potomac has been recognized by both commercial and government agencies for innovation in areas such as medical device, electronics, aerospace, automotive manufacturing. Potomac’s high-tech facility, located in Lanham, MD, is ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485:2003 certified. Visit the website at http://www.potomac-laser.com

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