PostNet Joins DECA to Connect With Next Generation of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs

DENVER, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- To help prepare students for the challenges and opportunities associated with small-business ownership, PostNet, America's first Neighborhood Business Center, has strategically partnered with DECA, the international organization dedicated to preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.

Through the partnership, nearly 400 PostNet franchise locations across the US will have the opportunity to work with DECA's local chapters to develop a curriculum to educate high school and college students about what it takes to succeed in an entrepreneurial endeavor, particularly in franchising. PostNet will sponsor and judge competitive events among students, and PostNet's co-founders will also participate in the Executive Mentorship Program.

"Working with DECA to invest in today's students provides us with a unique opportunity to further our mission of fostering small-business growth in America," said Steve Greenbaum, CEO of PostNet. "We're also providing our franchisees with a tremendous opportunity to work with driven, business-minded individuals to problem-solve, reach new customers, and achieve greater business objectives."  

Greenbaum, along with PostNet co-founder, Brian Spindel, are fully aware of the unique challenges entrepreneurs face when launching and growing a small business – they've lived it for nearly 30 years. Greenbaum and Spindel opened their first pack-and-ship store in 1983 when shipping options in the growing market were sparse, and, by 1992, had helped more than 400 entrepreneurs start their own, independent mail and parcel businesses. In 1991 they began the development of the PostNet business and communication center concept and began franchising PostNet in July of 1993.

Today, PostNet has evolved with technology to meet the changing needs of small-business owners and busy consumers as America's first Neighborhood Business Center. The company attributes its success to constant innovation and working closely with each client to identify their objectives, build upon their ideas, and develop the best solution to meet their needs. This could include anything from designing and printing custom invitations or signage for an important company event, to helping create a brand image for a new or existing business looking to re-invent itself. (PostNet also offers freedom of choice for the customer as a multi-carrier of shipping services including FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service).

"One of the key measurements to our programs success is the ability to connect our teachers and students with businesses and truly provide them with real world knowledge and experiences to achieve college and world readiness," said John Fistolera, assistant executive director of corporate and external affairs with DECA. "PostNet's interest in connecting with the schools in the communities where they do business is in direct alignment with our mission and PostNet's corporate interests."

About PostNet

Founded in 1993, Denver-based PostNet has more than 700 locations worldwide, including several hundred U.S. locations. Each locally owned and operated PostNet Neighborhood Business Center specializes in meeting the design, printing, copying and shipping needs of businesses and busy consumers, with a focus on exceptional, personal customer service. PostNet centers offer full-service digital printing; full- and self-service copying; document binding and finishing; and services like graphic design, computer rental stations, private mailbox rentals and more. They also offer expert packaging services and shipping with UPS, FedEx, DHL and the U.S. Postal Service. To learn more, visit www.postnet.com.

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Research and Markets: Gamification 2012 - 2017: Opportunities and Market Outlook for Next Generation Brand/Product Advertising through Embedded Gaming - CNBC

DUBLIN, Mar 22, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Dublin - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/1e4981e5/gamification_2012) has announced the addition of the "Gamification 2012 - 2017: Opportunities and Market Outlook for Next Generation Brand/Product Advertising through Embedded Gaming" report to their offering.

Embedded gaming or "Gamification" is a next generation advertising approach in which gaming elements are integrated into a non-game environment.

Gamification represents a promising strategy for public and commercial brands to increase customer activity, build loyalty, broaden reach and monetize assets.

Mind Commerce projects Gamification growth to reach $3.6 billion by 2017. It is also estimated that by 2017, 80% of Global 2000 organizations will have gamified applications and/or processes.

The goal of Gamification is to maximum user brand/product engagement through facilitation of entertainment in which the user interacts with the brand in a fun/pleasurable manner. One of the keys to success is to assess user behavioral patterns as a precursor to deploying optimal game mechanics that that align user likes, dislikes, expectations and behaviors. Optimal design is based on research into extrinsic motivators, intrinsic values and facilitation of long term engagement.

This Research Includes: - Gamification business model analysis - In-depth analysis of Gamification solution and dynamics - Analysis of thirty two companies involved in Gamificiation - Case study analysis of brands capitalizing upon Gamification - Analysis of Gamification market trends and market projections 2012 - 2017 - Analysis of potential benefit metrics and non-metrics of Gamification for Brands - Gamification process analysis including game mechanics, design techniques, and features - Guidelines for Brands, Vendors, Service Providers, and Investors to realize optimal success with Gamification - Feasibility assessment of Gamification solutions across various industries (education, enterprise, healthcare, education, entertainment) Keywords: Gamification, Games in Application, Next Generation Advertising, In-game Advertising, Embedded Entertainment, Embedded Gaming, Gaming Brand Loyalty, Gaming Brand Engagement Companies Mentioned: - XBOX LIVE - FOURSQUARE - GOWALLA - GETGLUE - LINKEDIN - SALESFORCE - MINT - CHECKPOINTS - SHOPKICK - HALLMARK - STARBUCKS - NIKE - BUFFALO WILD WINGS - MICROSOFT - AMERICAN AIRLINES For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/1e4981e5/gamification_2012 SOURCE: Research and Markets CONTACT: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager. press@researchandmarkets.com U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): 353-1-481-1716 Sector: Gaming Copyright Business Wire 2012 -0- INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Entertainment

Electronic Games

Communications

Advertising

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Generation Opportunity Says Gas Prices 'Too Damn High' - Hispanic Business

Generation Opportunity today announced a new social media platform, the Facebook page "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High," with over 400,000 fans. The page provides a forum for young Americans hit hard by the rising cost of gasoline coupled with the financial stress caused by the poor economy and lack of economic opportunity, according to a news release.

The gas prices page adds to the 2.4 million young people Generation Opportunity already communicates with through its popular Facebook pages "Being American by GO" and "The Constitution by GO."

"Gas prices are a one-two punch to young people in this poor economy," said Paul T. Conway, president of Generation Opportunity and former chief of staff of the U.S. Department of Labor.

"Rapidly rising gas prices are hitting young people across the country particularly hard, exponentially increasing the cost of most activities they engage in and adding to their costs in finding a job or getting to work," he added.

According to a 2011 poll commissioned by Generation Opportunity, 61 percent of young adults rated energy dependency among the top three national security issues facing the United States, along with national debt and indebtedness to foreign powers.

In the same poll, 70 percent of young adults indicated they would increase the production of domestic energy sources like oil, natural gas and coal.

Also, according to the poll, 77 percent of young Americans indicated they either have or will delay major life decisions as a result of the poor economy, including decisions to start a family, have children, buy a home, and save for retirement.

Generation Opportunity focuses on issues related to increasing economic opportunity and advancing American competitiveness and organizes young people through online voter registration, online training guides and other tactics.

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Next Generation Rail Supply Chain Forum Scheduled to Generate Business Opportunities for California Manufacturers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- California Manufacturing Technology Consulting® (CMTC) and The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (MANEX) announced today a special complimentary one-day forum to connect rail industry OEMs with U.S. suppliers in the manufacturing sector. The “Next Generation Supply Chain Connectivity Forum” will be held on February 8, 2012 at the Woodlake Hotel (formerly the Radisson) in Sacramento, CA. The Northern and Southern California Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers, Manex and CMTC, are joining with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Rail Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce and CALTRANS to reach out and help facilitate connections for manufacturers in the State. The Forum is for manufacturers who are interested in growing their business by considering opportunities in the rail industry supply chain.

The Next Generation Rail Supply Chain Forum allows manufacturers the opportunity for one-on-one discussions with OEMs and to learn more about entering the rail industry supply chain in panel discussions. The forum concludes with a networking reception.

This Forum is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to leverage agency capabilities to ensure the development of a domestic supply base to support intermodal transportation in the United States. The Forum is designed to attract U.S. manufacturers to the supply base for next generation rail equipment being procured in the U.S. The Forum represents an opportunity for manufacturers with capabilities that are potentially relevant to next generation rail to grow and diversify into this market.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded two grants to CALTRANS for a total of $168M (matched by $42M in State funds) for the purchase of 42 passenger cars and 6 locomotives. The new bi-level railcars will incorporate numerous design improvements and innovations, making the States’ rail passenger service more efficient, cost-effective and attractive to passengers. The CALTRANS RFI can be accessed from CMTC’s website.

“In this economy, it is vitally important for manufacturers to diversify their business into new areas to support growth in the State,” stated Jim Watson, President and CEO of CMTC. “Manufacturing plays an important economic role in the State’s economy since California has the largest concentration of manufacturers in the nation,” added Hank Holzapfel, President and CEO of Manex.

CMTC and Manex are private, nonprofit organizations that are part of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and are affiliates under the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

ABOUT CMTC

A private, nonprofit corporation established in 1992, CMTC is the Southern California affiliate of NIST MEP, under the Federal Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, a network of more than 60 centers across the country that provides assistance to small, medium and large manufacturers. CMTC serves Fresno to San Diego/Imperial County. For more information, visit www.cmtc.com.

ABOUT MANEX

Founded in 1995, The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex) provides a broad array of proven advisory and implementation solutions exclusively to manufacturers, distributors and their supply chains, enabling them to increase growth, productivity, quality and profitability. Manex delivers high-impact solutions in four key areas: strategy, people, process and performance. Manex is the Northern California affiliate of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership. For more information, visit www.manexconsulting.com.

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