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O2 Media’s the Balancing Act on Lifetime with Lisa Radosta

In Media, Professionals on February 24, 2012 at 5:16 pm
O2 Media

O2 Media

The following segment aired on O2 Media’s The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television. Joining the show was veterinarian Lisa Radosta to talk about Novifit, a nutritional supplement for dogs and cats.

O2 Media: We love our pets, and as they grow older with us, just like humans, they start to exhibit signs of old age.  What we don’t always realize is that the undesirable behaviors characteristic of old age in dogs and cats can now be managed and even improved, just like in humans.  Here today to talk about this is Lisa Radosta, Veterinarian and Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist from Florida Veterinary Behavior Service.

I have a dog and a cat.  My cat just turned 10 this month and I’ve read that they can start to show some signs of age, some behavioral changes around that age, so I’ve been really kind of keeping an eye on him.  Is that true?

Lisa: That’s right.  Around that age, 11 in cats, we’re gonna start to see signs of cognitive dysfunction, or CDS.  This is a medical disorder that we see in geriatric dogs and cats that manifests itself by a decrease in cognition, memory, and learning.  Now, about a quarter of the dogs age 11 are going to show at least one sign.  Once they get to be 15 or 16, that number rises to 68%. In cats about age 11, we’re seeing about 35% of those cats showing signs.  As they get older, it is the same thing.  We’re seeing more and more signs in those older cats and dogs.

O2 Media: What kind of behavioral changes should I be looking for?

Lisa: You’re going to want to look for disorientation, changes in your cat’s interactions with you, changes in the sleep/wake cycle, lose of house-training, and changes in activity.  So, for example, some of my patients will get stuck in a corner, will not be able to figure out how to get out, and so they’ll bark and cry.  A lot of my patients keep their owners up.  From 2:00 in the morning till 6:00 in the morning, the animal’s pacing, howling, barking.  Then some lose their house-training.  Animals that were perfectly well house-trained now are eliminating in the home.  It’s very, very stressful for the family.  I mean, look, these are our babies. I want to commit to taking care of her.  But when you’re trying to manage your life, this elderly dog, you’re not sleeping at night, it’s very stressful.

O2 Media: So, if we start to notice these changes with our pets, what do we do?

Lisa: You need to go to your veterinarian because although CDS is not curable, it’s treatable and there are lots of great treatments.  We can use behavior modification, environmental changes, food, medication, and we can use nutraceuticals.  One of our newer nutraceuticals is called Novifit.  Novifit is SAMe.

O2 Media:  What is that?

Lisa: It is a substance that’s in your body and mine and our dogs and cats.  It’s mainly in your brain and your liver.  It’s a very powerful antioxidant and also boosts those happy neurotransmitters. Now, we have to think about this is a nutraceuticals, and not all nutraceuticals are created equal.  These are supplements that are not FDA regulated.  So you want to make sure when you go look at nutraceuticals, you look for quality and make sure that product has a good study behind it.

O2 Media: What have these studies shown when it comes to Novifit?

Lisa: What’s so cool about Novifit – and the reason I can get so excited about it – is because there’s an excellent, really rigorous study behind it.  About 50% of the owners saw their dogs mental impairment decrease by 50%.  That’s a big drop. More energetic dogs, more interactive dogs.  So we’re seeing those signs disappear using this type of supplement.

O2 Media: Now, you mentioned that nutraceuticals are kind of nutritional supplements.  How does Novifit work?  How do you give it to your pet?

Lisa: It’s very simple.  It’s just a once-a-day tablet.  You just give it in a little meatball of food just like you’d give anything else. It’s very, very easy.

About O2 Media

Based in Pompano Beach, Fla., O2 Media is a national television production company and pioneer of the branded entertainment industry. Since its inception O2 Media has engaged, entertained and educated viewers with such reputable shows as Designing Spaces and The Balancing Act, both airing on Lifetime Television. O2 Media has earned hundreds of industry awards for revolutionizing the way brands engage with consumers on television. O2 Media provides unmatched marketing value to its clients while producing quality content for its growing national viewership through Brandutainment®. Household brands and blue chip companies alike, continue to depend on O2 Media for effectively communicating their message to consumers.  For more information, visit O2 Media at http://www.o2mediainc.com.


Tips on Cold Reading a Script

In Music, Professionals on October 21, 2011 at 6:30 am

Aspiring actors know that they must become accomplished in cold reading a script. That means fine tuning the ability to read for a part from a script you have never seen. Cold reading is not as easy as it seems, but it is an essential skill for an actor. Here are some basics to help you shine on your next audition.

In regular theater, actors are giving a long time for memorization and preparation. Theater actors often have a prepared monologue in their repertoire that they recite at auditions. There is a difference in film and commercial auditions, however. In a film audition cold reading is the accepted format. There is usually no monologue portion.

Typically, the industry convention is to give actors their script at least one day before the audition. But this seldom happens. The film industry is so busy and extemporaneous, that actors simply have to adapt to the flow and demands of producers and directors. If you can hone your cold reading skills, you’ll never need to go into an audition worried.

How do you learn to cold read? The best way to learn to cold read is to jump right in. Just grab a script, read a line, memorize it, then immediately recite the line without reading the script. The only way to master cold reading is to practice. With much practice and repetition, you will advance from cold reading a few words at a time to cold reading several lines at once. Once you have practiced some cold reading alone, then find another actor to work with. Practicing the skill of cold reading will someone else will improve both of your skills.

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Inga Freise Stahle | Grateful for the Gift of Being Multilingual

In Media, Professionals, Travel on October 12, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Inga Freise Stahle

Inga Freise Stahle

Inga Freise Stahle hasn’t yet found the need to purchase language CD’s online or over the phone. Growing up with German speaking parents in the French speaking part of Switzerland provided a solid foundation for Inga Freise Stahle to become multilingual at a very young age. In school, Inga Freise Stahle learned a third language, English, which was further perfected via traveling and work.

Later, as an adult, Inga Freise Stahle moved to Stockholm where she became proficient – and then fluent – in a fourth language, Swedish. This was made easier, relates Inga Freise Stahle, by the fact that Swedish is a Germanic language. Moving to Portugal allowed Inga Freise Stahle to master Portuguese as her 5th language. Portuguese is one of the “romance languages,” and is one of the more difficult languages to learn. For Inga Freise Stahle, it came a bit easier since she already spoke another Romance language – French. Inga Freise Stahle explains that “Romance languages” are the 25 different existing languages that derived from common Latin. Common Latin has lasted longer than upper class Roman, because it was the written form of the language – and that’s what has passed down through generations, Inga Freise Stahle explains.

When Inga Freise Stahle was living with her husband in Moscow among “ex-pats” (people from foreign lands, grouped together) she gained exposure to the Russian people and their native tongue. And, although Russian is a notoriously difficult language to master, Inga Freise Stahle was able to learn some basic Russian. Inga Freise Stahle is more than a little humbled by her good fortune to travel, and the opportunity it has brought her to study and learn languages around the world. “The best language school is living in the country,” concludes Inga Freise Stahle.

About Inga Freise Stahle

Inga Freise Stahle speaks five languages, with fluency in French, German, English and Swedish. It’s a talent that has proven to be valuable for Inga Freise Stahle, vocationally speaking. As administrative assistant to the director at Haut-Lac International School, Inga Freise Stahle is often appointed to greet new students and their parents, a responsibility that requires the ability to communicate in a variety of languages.

Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, Inga Freise Stahle has also lived in Sweden, Portugal, and Russia.

Inga Freise Stahle graduated from Goethe-Institut with a diploma in German teaching, which led to service as a German tutor in Switzerland and Moscow. From 2006-2007, Inga Freise Stahle worked as a French assistant at the British International School of Rosinka, Moscow. At Siemens-Elema AB, Inga Freise Stahle assisted with translations from the Swedish language into German, French and English.

As part of her duties at Haut-Lac International School, Inga Freise Stahle organizes all administrative work for the school. This provides Inga Freise Stahle with an opportunity to use all of her known languages in communicating with the international student body. French is Inga Freise Stahle’s first mother language and German is her second. Inga Freise Stahle is also fluent in English and Swedish, and possesses a working knowledge of Portuguese and some Russian.

Prior to her work in the field of education, Inga Freise Stahle enjoyed a career in marketing and public relations. Her work with Phillip Morris SA included market research and trend analysis, as well as solid one-to-one marketing experience. She also managed consumer promotions. With Special Events Mgt., Inga Freise Stahle organized seminars and VIP trips, as well as organizing VIPs at Formula 1 Grand Prix in Europe. For M.I.S., Inga Freise Stahle conducted opinion polls for the Swiss-German-speaking region, once again putting her multilingual skills to use.

Always interested in furthering her education, Inga Freise Stahle is currently studying advanced Excel, PowerPoint and Word. She has trained as a pharmacist, executive secretary and travel agent, in addition to her extensive study of various languages. She received a diploma from the Athena tourism and executive secretarial school in Lausanne, after beginning a career as a travel agent with Havas Voyages, also in Lausanne. In 1989, she received a diploma from the British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce for the Intermediate Business English Examination.

A graduate of Pully High School, Inga Freise Stahle currently lives in Switzerland with her two children, Petter and Emilie. Her hobbies include skiing, swimming, tennis, and travel.

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Joe Zanotti Describe How Cooking is Like Engineering

In Lifestyle, Personal, Professionals on September 20, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Joe Zanotti

Joe Zanotti

Joe Zanotti believes his love of cooking is tied to his work as an engineer. Like engineering, Joe Zanotti says, cooking has a certain number of truths and rules, with equipment, “tools of the trade” used to apply those truths. There is a science to cooking as there is in engineering. And just like engineering, Joe Zanotti says, cooking is an art. Within the rules is an ability to be creative, and therein lies the expression of one’s individuality. While Joe Zanotti finds himself spending great amounts of time managing and guiding projects, he finds the real enjoyment in being able to just focus on the design aspects of projects, creating the final product. Cooking allows Joe Zanotti to influence the design, trying out different methods until he gets his desired end product. And, better yet, cooking is a project that doesn’t take weeks to complete, says Joe Zanotti. “You can see and enjoy you efforts in a few hours.

When he isn’t experimenting with recipes in his own kitchen, Joe Zanotti likes to travel, trying out the area’s favorite foods. For instance, while visiting friends near Chesapeake Bay, Joe Zanotti likes to buy fresh, spicy crabs by the bushel. “Bring them home, cook corn on the cob, have some vinegar slaw…” Joe Zanotti begins. “Sit on the deck and eat crabs and drink beer for hours. Your hands get cut up from the shells, spices all over your face…rather messy but entirely good!”

Another of Joe Zanotti’s favorite foods is sushi. “The most amazing place to eat sushi is at the giant fish market at the Tokyo bay in Japan. This is a very large outdoor market where all the boats dock and bring in their catch of the day. They bring in so many sea creatures that we just do not see in the USAS. Lining the open market are maybe 25 or so small sushi shops. Talk about fresh. It cannot not get any better!”

About Joe Zanotti

For Joe Zanotti, family heritage has always been important. Growing up in Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Joe Zanotti was always aware of his Italian and Slovak heritage enjoying the culture, foods and curtoms. In fact, he spent many weekends and long summer weeks at his grandparents’ house in the nearby mill town of Braeburn.

Joe Zanotti has lived in Pennsylvania most of his life, mostly near Pittsburgh. After graduating from Burrell Senior High School, Joe Zanotti attended the Pennsylvania State University, where he majored in civil engineering. During college, he was an invited member of both the Chi Epsilon Honorary Society and Tau Beta Pi Honorary Society, both national engineering societies for honors students. Joe Zanotti attended graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh, where he studied structural engineering.

An experienced structural engineer with more than 31 years in the field, Joe Zanotti often travels throughout the USA and overseas for work. Joe Zanotti is currently employed by Camp, Dresser, & McKee, Inc., a worldwide engineering firm based in Pittsburgh. Joe Zanotti’s work often stations him in many Asian countries such as Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam and in Middle-East countries such as Israel.  He considers working overseas, such as when he helped rebuild a Catholic church in tsunami-damaged Banda Aceh, Indonesia, an experience that has been life changing.

Prior to Camp, Dresser, & McKee, Joe Zanotti was project design manager for MPS Corporation in Leetsdale. He worked as a structural engineer for Sargent & Lundy Engineers in Chicago, as well as Dravo Engineers in Pittsburgh. His professional associations include the American Society of Civil Engineers, International Concrete Repair Institute, for which he serves on the board of directors, and American Concrete Institute, for which he is a subcommittee member on the national level.

An avid golfer, Joe Zanotti has had the privilege of golfing everywhere from overseas in Asia to many top courses in the USA. Joe Zanotti began golfing at the age of fifteen, at a tiny 9-hole course near his house where greens fees were only $3-$4 a day.  For years, he was part of an annual golf retreat comprised mostly of former Pennsylvania State graduates. Joe Zanotti is an avid cook and would maybe enjoy attending chef school when retired. He is a lover of great wine and while he wouldn’t consider himself a connoisseur, Joe Zanotti keeps 40-50 bottles of wine in his basement at all times.

Born in 1958, Joe Zanotti currently resides in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, where he has lived since 1988. Joe Zanotti is registered as a professional engineer in eleven states, including Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Indiana, and the District of Columbia. He is single, with no children, has a brother, sister, nieces and a nephew and both of his parents are still alive.

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Anatesha Dunn | More Than Words on a Page

In Personal, Professionals on September 16, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Anatesha Dunn

Anatesha Dunn

Anatesha Dunn reviews Joyce Meyer’s Living Beyond Your Feelings

Anatesha Dunn knows that as a Christian woman, God provided emotions for a reason. They protect His children by allowing them to create bonds with family, friends, and community, says Anatesha Dunn – but the Devil always has his nose where it doesn’t belong, and he created anger, lust, and a grocery list full of other negative feelings. Anatesha Dunn suggests Joyce Meyer’s Living Beyond Your Feelings for Christians looking to offset the negative and embrace the positive for a healthy and prosperous life.

In the book, reports Anatesha Dunn, Meyer points out that people tend to speak more openly about the negative. She tasks the reader with focusing more on the uplifting feelings, and sharing those instead of broadcasting just anxiety, anger, or sadness. Anatesha Dunn is quite sure that this simple change has the power to help alter a person’s perception of themselves.

Anatesha Dunn is quick to point out that although Meyer suggests not speaking solely of negative feelings, she also reminds the reader that God is listening no matter what the emotion. The main theme of this inspirational text is empowering men and women to overcome the barriers of bad feelings, acknowledges Anatesha Dunn.

Meyer also insists that God gives choices and free will, and that it’s man who chooses to act on the negative. Anatesha Dunn’s believes this book is a useful tool for those wishing to take control of their own emotions. Choosing to do what is right, says Anatesha Dunn, makes a great difference in how one feels. Living Beyond Your Feelings reminds the reader of this simple fact.

One lesson that Anatesha Dunn hopes that readers take from this book is that emotions may be more of an enemy to an otherwise diligent Christian. They can cause confusion, and possibly, laments Anatesha Dunn, resentment toward the Creator. Human physiology leads mankind to experience virtually limitless mental states. Emotions are always felt. They are always there. There is no escape from feelings.

This book serves as a tool of empowerment for the reader to take control and learn to avoid reacting negatively to unpleasant emotions, says Anatesha Dunn. Joyce Meyer wrote the book due to her own experience with roller coaster emotions, and Anatesha Dunn feels that it is this citing of personal experience that makes the book so powerful. To this book goes Anatesha Dunn’s most ardent recommendation.

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About Anatesha Dunn

Anatesha Dunn believes in Joyce Meyer’s positive, uplifting messages. A fan of Meyer’s book, Battlefield of the Mind, Anatesha Dunn takes spiritual guidance from Meyer’s advice to gain control over one’s own mind and refuse to let negative thoughts intrude. It is an attitude that has served Anatesha Dunn throughout her life.

Anatesha Dunn has worked most recently for Financial Freedom in Longwood, Florida. At Financial Freedom, Anatesha Dunn assisted with taking inquiries from potential clients looking for financial advice. During her time assisting customers with their financial needs, Anatesha Dunn no doubt relied heavily on Meyer’s advice on dealing with different temperaments.

“Learn different personalities and how to live with them,” Anatesha Dunn paraphrases from Meyer’s advice. “Once you know what triggers a certain personality, you can learn how to move through certain situations to get the end results you’re looking for.”

A devout Christian, Anatesha Dunn also follows the wisdom of Bishop T.D. Jakes. Once the subject of a Time Magazine cover story titled, Is This Man the Next Billy Graham?, T.D. Jakes is highly respected among Christians, thanks to his positive, uplifting messages. Anatesha Dunn especially appreciates Jakes’ take on change.

“Jakes accepts the inevitability of change, teaching how to embrace and accept it rather than fear it,” Anatesha Dunn says. “Mixing both sacred and secular insights, he shares a unique mix of practical and pragmatic steps, coupled with the sage wisdom of scripture for which he is noted.”

Anatesha Dunn believes in giving back, having headed up and assisted with fundraisers as well as participating in volunteer work over the years. She is certified in both CPR and First Aid and, in the course of her career, Anatesha Dunn has often been trusted with matters that are confidential and of a sensitive nature.

Anatesha Dunn currently lives on the East Coast, where she is actively involved with her church. She believes in Meyer’s advice to arm yourself with God every day.

“Begin your day with prayer to get your day started,” is the advice Anatesha Dunn takes from Joyce Meyer. “End your day with prayer and reflection of what you did that day.”

Anatesha Dunn believes in following Meyer’s Battlefield of the Mind in positive thinking as well. Using the power of positive thinking, Anatesha Dunn finds specific ways to impact every aspect of her life. Anatesha Dunn has learned to count her blessings, thanks to a couple of great role models.

Anatesha Dunn also believes in balance. Anatesha Dunn tries to approach every day with a cool, calm, level and objective mind.

“Life is an experience of both good and bad,” Anatesha Dunn says, taking from Meyer’s advice. “In order to really enjoy life, try to find the positive in everything.”

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Presentation Solutions Interviews Nancy Alcorn | The Changing Nature of Teen Addiction and Self-Harming

In Home and Family, Professionals on May 10, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Nancy Alcorn

Nancy Alcorn

Presentation Solutions recently spoke with Nancy Alcorn of Mercy Ministries.  Nancy Alcorn began her career working with young women in the Tennessee Department of Corrections.  Mercy Ministries is a non-profit founded by Nancy Alcorn that works with young women helping them find hope and restoration.  Nancy Alcorn is the author of several popular books on these subjects including the “Mercy For” series that deals directly with eating disorders, self-harm, addiction, and sexual abuse.  As well, Nancy Alcorn is a sought-after conference and event speaker.  In this interview, Nancy Alcorn discusses the alarming rise in self-harm among young women.

Presentation Solutions:  First off, welcome to our readership Nancy Alcorn.  It is a pleasure to speak with you today.  We know you are busy with Mercy Ministries and your speaking schedule.

Nancy Alcorn:  I appreciate your time and help in getting the message out there on behalf of young women in need at Mercy.

Presentation Solutions:  On a personal, professional note, you left the Department of Corrections after several years of work with female juveniles. Why?

Nancy Alcorn:  It was because I realized that true-life change in the lives of young women would never come in the form of a government program.  True-life change only happens through the power of Jesus Christ.

Presentation Solutions:  And it’s true that you saw some juvenile delinquents go through government programs, only to enter a corrections facility as an adult?

Nancy Alcorn:  That is true.  Again, true-life change does not come from a program.  True-life change is spiritual in nature.  Jesus Christ, His power, His grace, His unending love and mercy, can transform lives.  We as people, as counselors and teachers are simply a conduit for His power.

Presentation Solutions:  Self-harm.  All studies point to this as a major issue for young women.  Talk to us about the statistics.

Nancy Alcorn:  Last year, the number of young women seeking help from self-harm doubled.

Presentation Solutions:  Unbelievable.  Can you define for our readers what self-harm is?

Nancy Alcorn:  Self-harm is often referred to as self-injuring or cutting.  It is a deliberative and repetitive behavior of harming the body impulsively.  Most of the time, in our experience at Mercy Ministries, the young women are injuring themselves secretively and therefore it can be difficult to detect.

Presentation Solutions:  You have written a book on this specific topic, correct?

Nancy Alcorn:  I have.

Presentation Solutions:  What are some signs and symptoms that parents, family and friends may witness in a young woman who is dealing with this dark issue?

Nancy Alcorn:  Well first off, you said the work dark.  We see it only as “dark” from a spiritual side.  Darkness seeks to destroy the lives of these young women.  At Mercy Ministries we know that the light of Jesus Christ can free anyone, any young woman from any bondage, including cutting.

Presentation Solutions:  And Nancy Alcorn and Mercy Ministries use biblically based counseling and curriculum to help those dealing with self-harm.

Nancy Alcorn:  Yes, we do.  And we do it free of charge to the young women.  Because again, we know that this is spiritual warfare.  Self-harm is not the issue, that something that is driving the girl to self-harm is the issue.  So we know that the power of God’s grace and unconditional love can help these young women overcome addictions and past hurts.

Presentation Solutions:  Outstanding.  So again, Nancy Alcorn, help our readers understand the symptoms and signs of self-harm.

Nancy Alcorn:  Typically the cutting will be in an area that is not exposed.  Sometimes young women respond to certain situations that are unexpected or respond to pressure situations with constant scratching.  Or a young woman may continually pick the same scab, thereby preventing it from healing.

Presentation Solutions:  But Nancy Alcorn, how can family or friends see this kind of hurt, if it is often in private where a young girl is harming herself?

Nancy Alcorn:  You have to be aware and observe.  If you notice a young woman who seems to always have burns or severe bruises on her forearms, or someone who is biting the inside of their mouth with purpose, or appears to have patches of missing or thinning hair; then there is a potential victim of self-harm.  Or it could be abuse. Either way, we have to pay attention and observe.

Presentation Solutions:  Nancy Alcorn, thank you for your time today.  On behalf of our many readers we continue to be thankful for Mercy Ministries.  Presentation Solutions wants to encourage your supporters to pray for Nancy Alcorn and Mercy Ministries.  As well, we encourage our readers to partner with you in any way they can.

Nancy Alcorn:  Thank you so much.  Those prayers are felt.

Nancy Alcorn is the Founder and President of Mercy Ministries.  Working with over 3000 women since 1983, Nancy Alcorn and Mercy Ministries help restore the lives of young women.  Mercy Ministries utilizes nutritionists, licensed Christian counselors and a biblically-based curriculum with the emphasis that true freedom from addiction and life-controlling issues is possible.  All of this is free of charge for the women.  According to Nancy Alcorn, in a recent survey of former Mercy Ministries graduates, 93 percent responded that Mercy Ministries six-month residential counseling program had transformed their lives and restored their hope.

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About Nancy Alcorn

During her five years working for the state of Tennessee, at a correctional facility for juvenile delinquent girls, Nancy Alcorn developed a passion to impact the lives of hurting young women.  Time and time again, Nancy Alcorn watched as the young women she worked with at the juvenile facility passed the age of eighteen and ended up in the women’s prison system because they never got the real help they needed.

During the next three years, as Nancy Alcorn investigated child abuse cases for the state of Tennessee, she saw firsthand why so many of these young women were angry and hurting.  Working with juvenile delinquent girls and investigating alleged cases of child abuse gave Nancy Alcorn the opportunity to interact directly with secular rehabilitation programs and the girls impacted by those programs. It was during this time that Nancy Alcorn realized that these programs were not producing permanent results that exemplified changed lives.

Following her tenure with the state, Nancy Alcorn accepted an appointment as Director of Women for the Nashville Teen Challenge.  Through all of these experiences, Nancy Alcorn began to realize that true transformation would never come as the result of any government system.  Nancy Alcorn understood that only Jesus could bring restoration into the lives of girls who were desperately hurting and searching for something to fill the void they felt in their hearts.

Nancy Alcorn began to sense that God was unfolding a plan prompting her to step out in faith.  God called Nancy Alcorn to help hurting young women find freedom and have their lives transformed.  With her experience to assist her and God to guide her, Nancy Alcorn would prayerfully make a giant step of faith to help hurting young women.

In January of 1983, Nancy Alcorn relocated to Monroe, Louisiana and established Mercy Ministries of America.  Nancy Alcorn was determined that the Mercy Ministries program would bring about true-life change in the lives of young women.  With that in mind, Nancy Alcorn knew there were three guiding principles to which she must always remain faithful.  First, Nancy Alcorn committed that Mercy Ministries would accept girls free of charge.  Second, Nancy Alcorn committed that Mercy Ministries would donate ten percent of all donations to other organizations and ministries.  Third, Nancy Alcorn made the decision that Mercy Ministries would never accept any state or federal funding.  In no way did Nancy Alcorn want any money that might interfere with the freedom to share Christ.

Since 1983, Mercy Ministries, under the leadership of Nancy Alcorn, has seen exponential growth and impact.  Establishing locations in Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri and California, Nancy Alcorn has seen her God-sized dream impact numerous women ages 13 to 28.  Nancy Alcorn has seen Mercy Ministries grow beyond the borders of the United States with home in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada.

Nancy Alcorn and Mercy Ministries help young women seeking freedom from physical and sexual abuse (including sex trafficking), eating disorders, self-harm, drug and alcohol addiction, depression and unplanned pregnancy.  Mercy Ministries, with Nancy Alcorn serving as Founder and President, assists young women through a non-conventional approach to healing that allows them to stop and break destructive cycles of behavior.  Nancy Alcorn continues her commitment to helping young women recognize their self-worth and reach their full potential.

For more information about the services offered by Nancy Alcorn and Mercy Ministries, visit the Mercy website online at http://www.mercyministries.com.

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Mario Romano Brings Pop Warner Football to Colts Neck

In Professionals on February 21, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Mario Romano Colts Neck

Mario Romano Colts Neck

In order to be successful in any field, it is important that an individual has a vision – an end goal – in mind from the start, according to Mario Romano of Colts Neck, New Jersey. Prior to his time in Colts Neck, Mario Romano knew he wanted to graduate college with the knowledge needed to teach others to manage their money. Garnering internships with some of the most successful financial specialists in his field, future Colts Neck resident Mario Romano was able to begin securing his vision. As he would continue to do on his journey to Colts Neck, Mario Romano set goals and never lost sight until he had achieved them. With the foundation of his education and internships, Colts Neck’s Mario Romano soon began serving key roles at various Wall Street institutions. Even decades before he would arrive in Colts Neck, Mario Romano was learning to persevere – a trait that would prove invaluable to his life in later years.

After completing highly competitive internships, Colts Neck’s Mario Romano served Wall Street as the executive of several financial companies. “All along, my goal was to learn the skills needed to confidently teach others how to handle their assets,” says Mario Romano of Colts Neck. Although he didn’t know he would end up in Colts Neck, Mario Romano was preparing himself to reach his goal wherever life would lead him. With his position as CEO of Romano Enterprises, Colts Neck’s Mario Romano learned important leadership skills. After moving to Colts Neck, Mario Romano cofounded Wealth Engineering with Annette Raynor. Through Colts Neck-based Wealth Engineering, Mario Romano brought his ultimate vision of global financial education to fruition.

Outside of his professional life, Colts Neck’s Mario Romano had a vision for improving his community as well. Mario Romano observed that Colts Neck had a need for its own youth football program. Knowing the benefits Pop Warner Football would bring to the youth of Colts Neck, Mario Romano set out to help raise funds to start a program. Mario Romano had the support of Colts Neck High School, and after a few years was able to raise the capital needed for equipment and other startup costs. “The first year for Pop Warner Football in Colts Neck,” Mario Romano explains, “was a great success.” From there, Mario Romano saw the Colts Neck Pop Warner league experience a tremendous amount of growth – growth that continues to this day.

When he moved to Colts Neck, New Jersey, Mario Romano brought a great deal of experience to his respective field. Prior to his time in Colts Neck, Mario Romano got his professional start on Wall Street at Lehman Brothers in 1982. Life on Wall Street was more fast-paced than that in Colts Neck, but Mario Romano continued to serve as executive of many different institutions before moving out of the city. Shifting his focus to a new online-based financial education system, Mario Romano moved to Colts Neck and cofounded Wealth Engineering. Through Wealth Engineering, the InvestView financial education platform will help Mario Romano reach beyond Colts Neck to millions beyond the United States. From Colts Neck, Mario Romano now has the ability to reach anyone in the world with Internet access. Colts Neck’s Mario Romano and Wealth Engineering maintain the ultimate goal of “utilizing the on-line financial education business to empower each individual investor to take control of their financial future.”

About Mario Romano Colts Neck

In 1982 while attending college, Mario Romano of Colts Neck, New Jersey began his career on Wall Street with Lehman Brothers. For over fifteen years, Colts Neck community member Mario Romano held several executive level positions with top name Wall Street institutions.

Early in 2000, Colts Neck local Mario Romano began building an equity hedge fund dedicated to the individual investor. Based in Colts Neck, New Jersey Mario held the CEO position of Romano Enterprises LLC until 2004. During this time, Romano suffered a heartbreaking loss when his youngest sibling was tragically killed in a car accident. Although devastating, Colts Neck resident Mario Romano witnessed a terrible tragedy turn to generosity for a great dream and cause – a youth football program.

Around the same time he founded Mario Enterprises LLC, Mario Romano noticed that his local community of Colts Neck lacked a youth football program. Being told by Colts Neck officials that money was not available for a Pop Warner football program, Mario Romano set out to raise the necessary funds. Mario Romano witnessed a miracle take place for Colts Neck. Over $100,000 was given in the memory of Mario Romano’s younger brother to help fund the Colts Neck Pop Warner football program.

In the first year of the Colts Neck Pop Warner football program that Mario Romano helped establish, fifty-five children signed up for involvement. Over the next four years Mario Romano’s Colts Neck dream exploded with growth adding 350 active students. The local paper proclaimed the success with a headline that read: “Colts Neck Community Maker Mario Romano: Committed to Building Youngsters’ Character Through Pop Warner Football.”

With a successful business and a growing Colts Neck football program, Mario Romano stumbled onto a problem plaguing many financial investors in 2004. Colts Neck-based Mario Romano observed that aspiring investors often lacked the ability or means to conduct effective market research. In January of 2005, Mario Romano co-founded Wealth Engineering and Development to help investors from “Colts Neck to Hot Springs, California” effectively invest by having the right knowledge, no matter the size of market. Mario Romano and partner Annette Raynor worked to secure large contractual agreements with InvestView platform of Global Investor Services Inc. In addition, Mario Romano has secured the InvestView program for millions of investors outside of the United States.

Today, bringing over twenty-five years of experience, Colts Neck resident Mario Romano works to provide accurate information to new and aspiring investors through a complete online-based financial education and analysis tools program. From top-quality webinars to data analysis, Colts Neck local Mario Romano and Wealth Engineering and Development help investors invest effectively and grow their personal wealth. During his many years of experience in New York and Colts Neck, Mario Romano has worked to hone motivational skills that allowed him to grow and manage a group of 100 stockbrokers. He now works to motivate and educate individuals on a global scale.

A graduate of the St. John’s University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and communications, Mario Romano and wife Gina reside in Colts Neck, New Jersey with their three children.

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Mario Romano Says “Show Me – Don’t Just Tell Me”

In Professionals, Uncategorized on December 20, 2010 at 8:17 am
Mario Romano

Mario Romano

Mario Romano and the team at Wealth Engineering believe that their online education and analysis platform is quite simply the best option available to individual investors. Mario Romano, CEO of Wealth Engineering, will tell you directly that “talk is cheap – results are what matter most!”

According to Mario Romano, Wealth Engineering markets the “Investview” product of Global Investor Services Inc., a publicly traded company providing online financial education, analysis tools and live webinar-based training to individual subscribers.

From Mario Romano’s perspective, what sets the Investview product apart is its live trading rooms. These live webinars are held five times per week and Mario Romano says that they demonstrate real trade strategies to students. Mario Romano explains that this is not training that uses examples from the past. Instead, Mario Romano says that students are able to apply the education and trade strategies to real trades and share performance from start to finish. “Most others tell you, while our platform demonstrates everything,” points out Mario Romano.

Mario Romano presents the approach of the platform as simple. Investview combines the three critical elements required:

  1. Education – Mario Romano says that everyone must have the training and knowledge to approach investing in the market intelligently.
  2. Analysis Tools – The tools to assess and evaluate the markets, companies and key financial information are critical, says Mario Romano, and this type of information was once available only to professionals.
  3. Application– The ability to apply the education and the analysis to real trades, notes Mario Romano, is the element of the solution that puts the Investview platform in a class of its own.

Mario Romano lives with the conviction that we are living in an age where we can be the most educated and informed investors in history. Mario Romano points out that information is available to everyone and it allows individuals the opportunity to participate in their own financial outcome. Mario Romano believes the Investview product platform will enable everyone to take control of his or her capital and become a “wealth engineer.”

Mario Romano dedicates his professional life to these objectives and strives to establish Wealth Engineering as a leader in providing financial education to the masses worldwide. For more information, Mario Romano can be reached at 732-889-4308.

Mario Romano began his Wall Street career at Lehman Brothers in 1982. From then until the beginning of the new millennium, Mario Romano held several executive positions with a select group of Wall Street institutions. Mario Romano also served as CEO of Romano Enterprises LLC from May 2000 through December 2004. In 2005, Mario Romano co-founded Wealth Engineering & Development and through their combined efforts, Mario Romano contributed to securing the largest contractual agreements for the InvestView platform of Global Investor Services Inc. Mario Romano has fine-tuned motivational skills that have allowed him to establish, grow and manage a group of over 100 retail stockbrokers. With over twenty-five years of Wall Street experience, Mario Romano believes the time has come for individuals to learn how to manage and grow their wealth. Mario Romano dedicates his professional life to these objectives and strives to solidify Wealth Engineering as a leader in providing financial education to the masses worldwide.

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John Michael Hughes Comments on the Wisdom of Gold as an Investment

In Professionals on November 2, 2010 at 1:26 pm

Throughout history, reports John Michael Hughes, most civilizations have used gold as a standard for currency and exchange. The implementation of a gold standard, notes John Michael Hughes, has been a major factor in establishing international trade. Our current civilization, says John Michael Hughes, also adopted a widespread gold standard.

The gradual global adoption of a gold standard for currency, notes John Michael Hughes, has since been undone in the 21st century. According to John Michael Hughes, as of the year 2000 no currency printed by any nation is directly convertible to gold. As a result, notes John Michael Hughes, many people who are wary of falling currency values are purchasing gold to secure their assets.

People who buy gold, says John Michael Hughes, want protection against the risk of declines in currency value. Another reason investors are buying gold, adds John Michael Hughes, is to hedge against inflation. John Michael Hughes explains that the changing times have made gold a less secure hedge investment. Because the gold standard has been unilaterally dissolved, says John Michael Hughes, purchasing gold does not protect against fluctuations in the value of currency. John Michael Hughes says that this move has merely made gold another trade-able commodity with no fixed value. Like everything else, says John Michael Hughes, gold is now susceptible to the laws of supply and demand.

John Michael Hughes gives a simple example of gold investment failing to hedge against a drop in the value of the US dollar. John Michael Hughes points out that in 1980, one dollar was worth 200 yen. The price of gold in the same year, says John Michael Hughes, was $400. In 2005, continues John Michael Hughes, the dollar had fallen in strength and was trading for 110 yen. John Michael Hughes points out that gold still cost $400 per ounce in 2005 although both the dollar and the gold lost value to the yen over those years.

About John Michael Hughes

Dedicating a professional career to a single purpose is recognized as admirable in today’s economic environment. For John Michael Hughes it was a focus and interest that began as he exited college. Graduating from the University of South Alabama with a Bachelor of Science degree, John Michael Hughes set his vocational target on the insurance industry early on.

From 1992 until 1995, John Michael Hughes served as an Insurance Adjuster for Pilot Catastrophe Services, Inc. In this position he handled commercial and residential property insurance claims for wind, flood, ice, and earthquake losses. As an early training ground his responsibilities and claim ranges allowed him to develop a strategic understanding of the complexities of insurance claims.

Leveraging this experience in claims, John Michael Hughes has invested the last fourteen years of his professional life in executive management with an all lines public insurance adjusting firm. From 1996 until 2000 John Michael Hughes served as the owner and Chief Executive Officer of JMH and Associates. John Michael Hughes gained further Acts Of God claims experience as well as first hand exposure to the complexities of business ownership. The years of experience tied to natural disasters allowed John Michael Hughes to quantify and qualify claims filed quickly. This skill set was sought after and led to yet another opportunity for John Michael Hughes.

Since 2007, John Michael Hughes has devoted his time and energy to Leeco Consulting Company, LLC, again acting as Chief Executive Officer for the company. With claims services focused mainly in Florida, John Michael Hughes has continued to handle both commercial and residential property claims. His services have also been utilized throughout the Caribbean for both wind and flood losses. John Michael Hughes has further refined his focus and now has a concentration in hurricane claims. With this expansion and professional focus has come larger cases and expanded claims responsibilities. John Michael Hughes currently provides claims settlements that exceed five million dollars.

A natural byproduct of extensive claims settlement work also created opportunities within the area of historical property restoration. With activities generally focused in Alabama, John Michael Hughes acted as a Director for AD, LLC from 1998-2009. John Michael Hughes provided property management and development for this firm. Additionally, from 1996 until 2005 John Michael Hughes managed and consulted on a 26-acre island land development in Florida through Perdido Gardens, LLC. As a partner, John Michael Hughes benefited when the partnership was sold to a public NYSE property development company.

 

John Michael Hughes continues to blend his knowledge of claims settlements management and restoration complexities in a deep, diversified professional direction that allows him to step outside of most traditional professional vocational paths. It has also allowed him the opportunity to pursue other passions.

John Michael Hughes is currently working toward a Masters in Theology and aspires to complete this training in the fall 2012. John Michael Hughes has reached a point in his life where he will be able to apply decades of experience to a profession and blend this time commitment with a deeper calling that speaks to a different opportunity for his future.

John Michael Hughes has several professional affiliations, including the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. He continues to participate in industry functions throughout the southeastern United States and is a highly respected veteran within his profession. John Michael Hughes has committed the last eighteen years pursuing a career that combines business, management and involving himself in the lives of people during their most critical times of need.

The need for seasoned claims adjusters has never been greater. The combination of record flooding in areas that traditionally have seen major damage and the increasing seismic activity throughout North America now requires that John Michael Hughes be more mobile. Natural disasters never isolate their occurrences and the demand for claims evaluations can pull many resources together within a very short period of time.

John Michael Hughes also continues his passion for the oceans.  From 1989 until 1992 John Michael Hughes was a PADI open water SCUBA instructor. At that time, he organized, taught and led groups on diving excursions and vacations. He continues to have a passion for scuba diving as well as enjoying golf, fishing, kayaking, water-skiing, snow skiing, racquetball, photography, reading and hanging out with his son.

John Michael Hughes currently resides in Florida and can be reached at johnmichaelhughes.com.

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Andre Moxie Discusses Digital Team Building

In Professionals on October 18, 2010 at 10:54 am

Andre Moxie is an accomplished corporate sales representative with a strong military background. Serving in the Air Force equipped Andre Moxie with a penchant for organization and teamwork that has been a great boon to his professional life. One of the great revolutions in the corporate world, says Andre Moxie, has been the advent of widespread digital communication.

More people than ever, explains Andre Moxie, are telecommuting, working from home, and working while they travel. One benefit of this, says Andre Moxie, is increased individual productivity. Andre Moxie suggests that digital communication may cause fragmentation of the workforce on one level. At the same time, notes Andre Moxie, the digital era makes it possible to communicate and coordinate the actions of people all over the world simultaneously, almost as if they were in a meeting room together.

Andre Moxie is interested in fostering collaborative team productivity that is not mandated by business hours or geographical contingency. Andre Moxie notes that the old fashioned model of assembling a team in a room together to solve problems and pursue innovation is going out of style in our digital society. Corporations will thrive because their employees cooperate to achieve results greater than individual accomplishments, Andre Moxie believes.

Andre Moxie also sees the digital revolution as an excellent opportunity for large organizations to pull together their disparate resources and traveling employees. These days, says Andre Moxie, a team working on a project can do excellent work together without ever meeting in the same room. By way of example, says Andre Moxie, a stateside project manager can exchange data with an overseas web developer, then coordinate the results with a consultant in a wholly different country. The project can then take final form back at the project manager’s desk and be presented triumphantly to the public. As digital communications become more integrated, effective digital team building will only become more common and effective, concludes Andre Moxie.

About Andre Moxie

Andre Moxie entered the world the same year that the Beatles let it be known that they wanted to hold your hand. Born in Ithaca, New York in 1964, Andre Moxie was raised as an independent thinker during a time of great civil unrest. Andre Moxie completed his primary education and then entered the University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware in 1983 where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Following graduation, Andre Moxie relocated to Yuba City, California and entered the Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant.

From 1988 until 1991 Andre Moxie served his country as a Personnel Officer in command of 25 military Personnel and 30 civilian volunteers. Andre Moxie was stationed at Beale Air Force Base in California, 15th Air Force, Strategic Air Command. While stationed at Beale AFB, Andre Moxie enrolled at Golden Gate University in 1988 where he earned a MS degree in Human Resources Management. In 1991 Andre Moxie completed his service commitment and received the United States Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.

Turning the corner and heading toward a professional carrier in the private sector, Andre Moxie was recruited in 1991 by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. The company hired Andre Moxie as a sales representative for the pharmaceutical giant to cover the Orlando, Florida territory. In 1995 Andre Moxie left Pfizer for Merck & Co. and was a representative in the Hollywood, Florida territory in the Florida Region.

In 1996, Andre Moxie was promoted to Headquarters for Merck and Company’s. Initially serving as a Field Communications Coordinator for VASOTEC, Andre Moxie acted as a field communication specialist responsible for all field sales communications for Merck’s cardiovascular products. Again advancing in 1997, Andre Moxie accepted the position of Product Trainer HT/HF Market Integration Team Same Sales Trainer at Merck and Co. In that position Andre Moxie was responsible for training representatives about Merck’s cardiovascular products.

In January 1999, Andre Moxie was appointed as Business Manager for the Miami District for Merck and Company. Continuing through the ranks of management, Andre Moxie found himself serving as Acting Senior Director Field of Implementation Team for Hospital and Specialty in 2005. Andre Moxie was entrusted to support and coordinate among sales management, marketing, and direct reports to achieve brand success for all Hospital and Vertical products. Filling yet another management need Andre Moxie accepted an appointment within Merck and Company in 1996 to the position of Senior Director of Training Planning and Brand. In this position, Andre Moxie collaborated with sales and marketing units within the company to fully develop one year and three year training plans, with emphasis on high-quality, value-added programs and resources that affected appropriate behavioral objectives.

Beginning in 2006 and continuing into 2008 Andre Moxie filled the position of Senior Director of Neurology Sales at Merck and Co. for the Southern United States. Andre Moxie was again advanced late in 2008 to the position of Director of Commercial Operations for the Mid South Joint Venture Sales force, Merck and Co.

From January 2010 to the present Andre Moxie has served as the Director of Commercial Operations for the New South Region, Merck and Co. Andre Moxie currently resides in the Metro Atlanta, Georgia area.