SHIFT Communications Acquired By ?

Today we announce some major news at SHIFT Communications. The biggest news ever.? Bigger than being named Digital/Social Agency of the Year.? Bigger than the wins at McDonald?s or Salesforce.com or H&R Block.? Bigger than the Social Media Press Release.

Today we announce SHIFT?s acquisition ? by our employees.

We are now SHIFT Communications, Inc., a corporation owned, in part, by its employees, through a newly-developed Employee Stock Option Purchase (ESOP) plan.

I won?t lie to you: my friend and business partner, Jim Joyal, and I have been wined & dined by some of the most experienced and storied execs in the industry in the past year or two.? We came very close to ?making a deal? ? worth millions of dollars to us both ? on at least a couple of occasions.? Each time we got close to selling SHIFT, however, some small voice inside of us said, ?What about the folks who got us here? What?s in it for them??? Each time, we respectfully backed away from the negotiations.

The last time this process occurred ? in fact, while we were on a conference call with a prospective acquirer ? Jim put the call on ?mute,? turned to me and said, ?Ya know, I?d enjoy this a whole lot more if you were the one buying me out.?? Thank you, Jimmy, for turning on the light bulb which lit the way.

The perorations and negotiations that followed were neither frenzied nor difficult.? They were fun.? Jim and I wanted to figure out a way that he could continue in his role as my partner, but ?take some money off the table? while also benefiting our employees.? ALL of our employees, not just the bigwigs.? An ESOP was the obvious answer.? So I got a bank, worked with umpteen lawyers, bankers, accountants and consultants and worked it all out.

Now we?re a new agency.? An employee-owned agency.? Independent in spirit, as always, and now with the added backbone of knowing ? truly knowing ? that our fate is in our own hands.? Can you think of many other agencies ready, willing and able to take such extraordinary steps to invest in its employees?? We?ve always tried to do things differently here at SHIFT, and this is just one more example.

And we don?t intend to stand idle, that?s for sure.? As all of this ESOP stuff has been percolating on the business side, we?ve also been experimenting and forming new partnerships on the services side.? In the months ahead, SHIFT Communications, Inc. intends to demonstrate to its clients, and the industry, that there are new ways of thinking about the role of media in communications strategy.

Now, more so than ever before, I ask you: to stay tuned!

P.S. in case you?re interested in a piece of this freshly-baked pie: we?re hiring at all levels!

Source: http://www.pr-squared.com/index.php/2012/08/shift-communications-acquired-by

embers shannon brown mike rowe shld 2012 sec football schedule medifast sinead oconnor

London 2012 Olympics: London's transport coping well on busiest day of Olympics

Tube and train services were busy but moving, transport officials said.

There was a good service on all London Underground lines as hundreds of thousands of people made their way to events across the capital, on a day when 25 gold medals are up for grabs, including for Team GB heptathlon star Jessica Ennis at the Olympic Park in Stratford.

Transport for London said it was expecting 200,000 people to head to east London to watch Ennis and fellow medal prospects including Mo Farah in the 10,000m and cycling's women's team pursuit.

Thousands more were in central London to watch the Olympic triathlon, where Helen Jenkins was bidding to add to Britain's gold tally, plus beach volleyball at Horse Guards Parade and the equestrian events in Greenwich Park.

London's transport commissioner Peter Hendy said: "Yesterday was the busiest day of the Games so far, as the athletics got under way in the Olympic Stadium.

"We got everyone to their Games events on time and kept London moving and open for business.

"We expect it to be busy again today."

The weather in London held true to the forecast of sunshine and showers, with one heavy early-morning downpour resulting in a slippery road for the triathlon around Hyde Park, resulting in several crashes during the cycle phase.

Tubes were already busy on the Piccadilly Line early this morning and there were reports that it was standing room only on early trains to the capital from places including Brighton, while the Southeastern rail company said queues on its Javelin services to Stratford were moving fast.

Train operators will provide more than two million extra seats this weekend as the Olympics builds up to what is predicted to be one of its busiest phases, the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said.

Additional services will be put on first thing in the morning and into the early hours the next day.

People getting to the Olympic Park yesterday morning were affected by a suspension on the Central line for an hour, caused by a signal failure in the Bethnal Green area, which led to queues of up to 40 minutes for the Javelin, according to traffic information service Inrix.

There were also delays of just under an hour on the Docklands Light Railway between Stratford and Canary Wharf because of a signal failure at Poplar, and some traffic problems on the roads around Earls Court in west London due to a burst water main, the firm said.

The capital's transport operators were given a vote of confidence by commuter group London Travelwatch.

Sharon Grant, the group's chairwoman, said that, while there had been some problems, the disruption caused had been minimal.

"So far our transport operators have excelled themselves, in managing both unprecedented passenger flows, and the expected minor breakdowns on the system," she said.

"London commuters have also responded very well indeed to their advice and deserve some recognition."

Source: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/london-2012-olympics-londons-transport-coping-well-on-busiest-day-of-olympics-8007313.html

madonna super bowl performance superbowl commercials best superbowl commercials madonna half time m.i.a super bowl coin toss madonna super bowl halftime

Mike Swick Doesn?t Know the Meaning of ?Ring Rust?

Two and a half years ago, Mike Swick left the Octagon plagued by medical issues and a shadow of his former self.? But the TUF 1 veteran that entered the cage tonight at UFC on FOX 4 seemed to be every bit the exciting fighter he once was ? and he was more than capable when it came to sealing the deal for the win.

From the outset, the bout between Swick and DaMarques Johnson was a showcase of explosive brutality, with "Quick" cracking Johnson with a right hand that forced the TUF 9 runner-up to consider the wisdom of engaging in any slugfests.? Again and again that right hand landed, but Johnson mixed things up by taking the fight to the ground.? There, he was on top, raining down punishment and attempting submissions while Swick struggled to survive.

Swick, however, was a man determined, and when Round Two began, he caught one of Johnson's kicks, threw him down, and dropped a bomb ? another right hand ? square on Johnson's jaw.? The TUF 9er was out cold at the 1:20 mark of the second round.

With the win, Swick answered a ton of questions in terms of whether or not he could return to form.? He also proved one very important thing: Despite a two-and-a-half year layoff, Mike Swick doesn't know the meaning of the phrase "ring rust".

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/mike-swick-doesn-t-know-meaning-ring-rust-021819520--mma.html

celebration church new york auto show 2012 tulsa easter eggs pineapple upside down cake free ecards flying car

ACS Kansas City Concrete Announces Offering of Versatile ...

ACS Kansas City Concrete is a leading concrete construction firm offering versatile decorative concrete design and construction works like stamped concrete, stain concrete, concrete polishing and exposed aggregate.

Send Feedback to Ben Lager
Request Reprint | Print | About Author | Report Problem | Tweet This

More Details about http://www.KansasCityConcrete.com here.

Olathe, KS ( ideamarketers ) August 3, 2012 - ACS Kansas City Concrete, the leading construction firm from Kansas City has announced their offering of versatile decorative concrete design and construction. The family operated and owned company is a combined endeavor between Mike and Don, who serves extensively across Kansas and Missouri.
"Decorative concrete is a must to beautify your outdoors. If you are looking for the best, there cannot be a better choice than ACS. We are ready with versatile servicing of decorative concrete and our construction endeavors have been acknowledged and rewarded a number of times", the company manager stated. The company is operating with a grand professional experience of nearly 3 decades.
ACS Kansas City Concrete is offering it's customers with a wide range of services with decorative concrete. The advanced stamped concrete decoration is a strong suit for ACS where 3 dimensional patterns are stamped or impressed into the colored concrete through impression tools. "You will love our stamped concrete patios which is a combination of masonry beauty and durability of the concrete", remarked one of the ACS member.
In regard to other services, Kansas City Concrete also offers polished concrete floors, stain concrete works and exposed aggregate as well. The company will help the clients with both basic and decorative concrete polish. According to the manager from the firm, ACS is equipped to cater 3 varied kinds of stained concrete construction; acid stain, integral color and water/acetone based staining.
"The exposed aggregate decoration involves filling concrete with special rocks or aggregates and as it starts to set we apply a special chemical over the slab top which when washed away exposes the underlying beautiful aggregates presenting a brilliant finish", one of the spokespersons informed.
On questions regarding the range of projects handled by ACS, the company manager revealed a large range of possibilities. "Whether it's the decorative concrete driveways or patios, outdoor kitchen or pavement, pool surround or your basement area- we are ready to work on anything with our excellent 3D customized designs, on-site supervision and outstanding craftsmanship", he stressed.
The award winning construction firm has worked for both residential and commercial projects including restaurants, shopping malls, airport, schools, hotels, government buildings etc.
To know more, log on to http://www.kansascityconcrete.com.
###

About the Submitter
The award winning construction firm has worked for both residential and commercial projects including restaurants, shopping malls, airport, schools, hotels, government buildings etc. To know more, log on to http://www.kansascityconcrete.com.

Contact:
Ben Lager
cityconcret@gmail.com
More Details about http://www.KansasCityConcrete.com here.

Related Articles

Keywords: stamped concrete patios, stain concrete, decorative concrete driveways, polished concrete floors

This article has been viewed 5 time(s).

Does this press release infringe on your copyright?

It is a violation of our terms and conditions for writers to submit material which they did not write and claim it as their own. If this article infringes on your copyrights, you MUST either call us at 706-866-2295 or send proof of infringement along with the offending article's title, URL, and writer name to

IdeaMarketers.com
Attn: Marnie Pehrson - Copyright Concern
514 Old Hickory Ln
Ringgold GA 30736 USA
If you email us or use our problem submission form, we CANNOT guarantee we'll receive your notice!

Source: http://www.ideamarketers.com/?articleid=3456842

time magazine person of the year la clippers verizon galaxy nexus verizon galaxy nexus lawrence lessig lawrence lessig time magazine person of the year 2011

Garrett Reid, Son of Philadelphia Eagles Coach, Found Dead

Tragic news today out of the world of professional sports: Garrett Reid, the son of Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid, was found dead in his room at the club's training camp at Lehigh University. He was 29.

Reid's body was found by local police after a 911 call was placed at 7:20 a.m.

Police chief Edward Shupp says "no suspicious activities" have been reported.

The team gathered for practice this morning, without Andy Reid present, and said a prayer prior to assistant coaches leading the squad through a walk-through.

Garrett and younger brother Britt have each battled substance abuse problems over the years. They were arrested on drug charges after two separate traffic accidents in 2007 and Garrett was in jail off and on in 2009.

"This is a tough morning for all of us in the Eagles family," Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. "Garrett grew up with this team and this makes this news even harder for us to process."

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/08/garrett-reid-son-of-philadelphia-eagles-coach-found-dead/

ashley olsen new apple tv sun flare love hewitt new ipad solar flare joseph kony 2012

Amberkatze's Book Blog: 115) Dying Echo by Judy Clemens

The Blurb :

It?s been years since Casey Maldonado visited her hometown, and the only reason she?s returning now is to get her brother Ricky out of jail, where he sits after being arrested for the brutal murder of Alicia McManus, his girlfriend of several months. Casey believes in her brother?s innocence, but proving that to the cops is a different thing altogether, especially since she has her own murder warrant to worry about. Perhaps even more frightening than the law is Casey?s confrontation with her personal demons ? the home she shared with her late husband and son, the resentment of her mother, and even the presence of Eric, who wants to be more than just a friend.

As Casey and her ever-present companion Death investigate Alicia?s murder, it becomes clear she was not who she claimed to be, from her name to her non-existent past. Instead of a solid history, she left only questions when she died. Where did she come from? What secrets did she know? And, most importantly, who were the three people she spoke of when Death carried her away?

Casey must sort the truth from the elaborate fiction of Alicia?s life in order to clear Ricky?s name, but as she reveals the woman?s secrets Casey begins to see just how alike their lives appear. Is Casey destined to an existence as empty and dark as Alicia?s, or can she overcome the tragedy of her past and move forward into a life worth living?

My Thoughts :

The title of this book caught my eye and the blurb had me grabbing for it. I love a good mystery and if it has a paranormal element then I can't resist it! I was expecting something a little cozy but with a darker element to it. Not the same kind of action and humour as the Charley Davidson series but maybe something more along the lines of Victoria Laurie's work. What I got was something much more mystery and less cozy and with a paranormal presence that didn't really jump into action.

Before I continue with my review I think it is wise to point out that, unlike what I thought, this is not the first in a new series. There was no big flashing sign saying this was an already established series and the description didn't make be believe otherwise. So it annoyed me slightly when I realised that there was information I was missing. Some of the gaps were filled in eventually but it was clear that there was more. I had a look on Amazon and saw that Dying Echo is the fourth in the Grim Reaper Mysteries.

Now I hate joining a series in the middle of things but except for a couple of little details I managed, with the help of the authors writing style, to catch up on most what I had missed out on in the first three books. However I had no idea why Casey can see Death and communicate with him and I hadn't had the chance to see Casey and Eric build their history together. I also felt a little confused about how Casey has grown since the death of her family. She thinks about it so much and the plot calls for a lot of memories and confrontations (going back to the house they all lived in) but I had missed the two years it had take to get her there. This hindered my ability to bonding with the main character.

So aside from that? What can I say? Well I can tell you all that when I did go and check on Amazon I downloaded the first book in the series. Only about a quarter of the way through Dying Echo and I was willing to go back and see what happened. Actually I am extremely curious about what happened earlier. There was something about Casey that I made me want to get to know her more and I also want to desperately fill the gaps. I liked this book. It was more than interesting.

The author has a great concept with the Grim Reaper helping Casey. Death is actually pretty funny even if the story seems very somber. The mystery and plot is very well thought out and it wasn't one of those cases where you know who did it before all the characters figure it out. You actually figure it out with them. Oh and despite this being the fourth book and the little things I need to catch up on, this book nearly stands alone.

Although one thing bugged me more than missing the first three books. Casey goes back to the place she has lived all her life. She left because of an event that the whole town must have heard about. However nobody knows who she is! No one recognises her and everyone is surprised that she is the sister of the accused. When she introduces herself there are no 'Oh you are that sister' or 'I remember you from the papers'. It was very weird. Maybe there is a reason for this that I didn't catch but I can't understand why nobody would know her.

Anyway this review has ended up sounded a little mixed and quite negative in a few aspects. However I have to point out that I really did enjoy this. It was good enough for me to get a copy of the first book and I hardly put the book down all day. I liked it. I hope the next book has more Grim Reaper in it and I hope Death shows off some more of his skills and gets upset with more technology. It will be interesting to see what happens next with him and Casey as well as Casey with Eric.

Great read! Worth checking out or at least trying the first in the series! It was actually quite cheap on Kindle.

Source: http://amberkatze.blogspot.com/2012/08/115-dying-echo-by-judy-clemens.html

marchmadness mike d antoni nba trade rumors 2012 ncaa tournament schedule laurent robinson dantoni gillian anderson

THE RACE: Obama and Romney portray rival economies

Seldom are differences between the candidates so stark as on jobs and the economy. President Barack Obama sees a glass half full and rising, Republican rival Mitt Romney describes one that's half-empty and falling.

It's not surprising. Sustained weakness in the economy remains Obama's biggest vulnerability heading into fall's presidential election. Both campaigns know it. And it colors how they spin economic data.

Obama and Romney clashed sharply Friday over new unemployment numbers.

Obama cheered the Labor Department's report that 163,000 jobs were created in July after three months of weak job growth. He portrayed it evidence the economy continues to improve, if unevenly.

"That means that we've now created 4.5 million new jobs over the last 29 months and 1.1 million new jobs so far this year," Obama said, while acknowledging "too many folks out there that are looking for work." He pitched his plan to extend tax breaks for all but the wealthy.

Romney focused on the overall increase in the unemployment rate to 8.3 percent from 8.2 percent in June, calling it "another hammer blow to the struggling middle class families in America," and evidence of Obama's "extraordinary record of failure."

Economists generally welcomed the report as better than expected. And while the increase was barely enough to match working-age population growth, it was seen as another sign the economy wasn't slipping back into recession.

Wall Street liked it, too. Stocks soared.

Part of the disparity between the unemployment rate and monthly job creation figures is because the first comes from a Labor Department survey of households while the second from a survey of businesses. The two numbers don't always move in tandem.

Obama spent the day at the White House. Romney spoke from North Las Vegas during a campaign swing to Nevada.

__

Follow Tom Raum on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tomraum. For more AP political coverage, look for the 2012 Presidential Race in AP Mobile's Big Stories section. Also follow https://twitter.com/APCampaign and AP journalists covering the campaign: https://twitter.com/AP/ap-campaign-2012

With 95 days left until Election Day, here are insights into today's highlights in U.S. politics

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/race-obama-romney-portray-rival-economies-165840364.html

tebow press conference trina andy roddick rob dyrdek oberon donald driver donald driver