News Release

For small businesses that could be destroyed if hit by a natural disaster, moving into "the cloud" is becoming essential for survival.

With the string of natural disasters devastating many areas of the country over the past few weeks, the need for virtual data storage and technology management has never been more clear.

Ivanka Menken, founder and CEO of the international IT service framework company The Art of Service, said that business continuity --maybe even business survival--is at risk when all technology is in one location.

One of the most vulnerable parts of the business is backup storage. Backup tapes and external hard drives can be destroyed in a disaster.

"Online backup storage in the cloud is considered to be the better option," Menken said. "It gives you access to your data no matter where you are. All you need is a secure internet connection."

According to a study from Price Waterhouse Coopers, 70 percent of small firms that experience a major data loss go out of business within a year. Despite the potentially devastating effects of data loss, too many small businesses don't adequately protect themselves with a disaster recovery plan, Menken said.

The best cloud computing service providers offer a storage system, a file system and all applications necessary for a customer to have backup and disaster recovery.

Menken said that cloud-based disaster recovery is really about file and data storage.

Some people say that storage in the cloud is not safe, but according to Menken, that is somewhat irrelevant as up to 95 percent of any company's data is not sensitive.

"Keep all the non-sensitive and non-super secret information in the cloud, and have a separate backup system for the data that you can't keep in the cloud," Menken said.

An important part of the process in selecting a cloud provider is determining where the company has its data centers. Is that area vulnerable to disaster? What kind of disaster recovery does the provider have in place?

"A number of cloud based backup providers are based in northern Texas, northern Virginia and northern California, regions that are fairly safe from natural disasters like floods and tornados," Menken said.

When businesses are hit by disaster, one of the most important functions that must continue is financial administration, said Menken, including payroll, account receivables and more. Storing legal documents (articles of incorporation, legal agreements, insurance policies, etc.) in the cloud can also be a smart strategy, she said.

About The Art of Service and Ivanka Menken

As a cutting-edge IT service framework company, The Art of Service is leading the way in providing high end, client-focused books, toolkits and online and classroom education programs. It has served more than 800 corporate clients and 500,000 individual clients and students in 87 percent of the world’s countries. Ivanka Menken is the founder and CEO of  The Art of Service, most recently spearheading the company's Cloud Computing Certification Program that is becoming the industry benchmark. For more information, please visit www.theartofservice.net.

FORT WAYNE, IND. – The Homeowner’s Helper, Allen County’s leading business connecting homeowners and qualified contractors for free, continues its explosive growth.

The service, which is free to homeowners, is approaching 50 prescreened, qualified, credible contractors in its database, according to founder Tony Messuri, a Fort Wayne resident. These contractors include plumbers, contractors, deck and fence builders, concrete workers, handymen, painters and more.

In an effort to handle the phenomenal growth of The Homeowner’s Helper, www.thehomeownershelper.com will be launching its newly redesigned site this week.

Connecting with Homeowner's Helper can be done via computer and/or phone. Homeowners simply visit the website and click on the job request link. After filling out the form, professionals will begin to contact you to discuss the project and provide an estimate. If the homeowner does not have access to the Internet, they can call 260-676-2032 and provide the relevant information. The homeowner will receive bids and quotes directly from the contractor and Messuri will periodically check in on the project if the homeowner hires a network contractor .

The service is completely free to the homeowner. Contractors pay a small referral fee for any work secured through The Homeowner’s Helper. The network contractors see this referral-fee structure as a very cost-effective means of securing new business, according to Messuri, because it keeps their overhead costs low and allows them to more competitively bid for jobs. The homeowner directly pays the contractor any fees owed for work performed.

Client homeowners are an important part of the process of maintaining a database of credible contractors. After each job they are asked to fill out a customer satisfaction form, which helps The Homeowner’s Helper maintain a list of only the best-performing contractors.

“Homeowners will have peace of mind in knowing that our contractors will deliver quality work and stand by it,” Messuri said. “We save homeowners the time, effort and guesswork in finding the best contractor.”

More information on this free service is available at www.thehomeownershelper.com or by calling (260) 676-2032.

About The Homeowner’s Helper
The Homeowner’s Helper is a free referral service recently launched to assist homeowners in finding credible and competent contractors to complete various home improvement and maintenance projects in Allen County and surrounding counties. For more information, visit www.thehomeownershelper.com or call (260) 676-2032.

HILLSDALE, MICH.— Lighting is a significant expense when it comes to running a sports facility, and the desire for more energy efficient, or “green” lighting, at outdoor sports venues is following national trends.

The recognition of how much electricity is spent at parks and outdoor athletic venues has inspired Qualite Sports Lighting to offer a variety of complete lighting solutions that reduce electricity consumption and save money.

The desire for more efficient lighting is following national trends. The U.S. Energy Information Administration found that 13.5 percent of all the electricity used in the United States was for lighting and most industries, including sports, are using solutions such as those offered by Qualite to reduce energy consumption and energy bills.

One solution Qualite offers is to help facilities’ lighting systems produce the same amount of light with fewer fixtures and at a lower wattage, saving money through reduced electricity costs.

The newest innovation from Qualite is the Green Star Series™, which utilizes a high-wattage electronic ballast system that generates more lumens per watt. In other words, it generates more light while consuming the same amount of watts as a standard core-on-coil ballast system.

“This allows facilities to have fewer fixtures on the field,” said Qualite President Nick Page. “The new Green Star ballasted fixture can illuminate parks and outdoor athletic fields while saving money, maintenance costs and energy.”

Controlling the amount of light on the field is important to Qualite. Their industry-leading efficient fixtures control the light coming from the fixture so that more light illuminates its intended location. Not only can this lead to a reduction in the number of fixtures that are required, but it also reduces off-site spill and glare.

Qualite even takes the light beam into account when designing efficient and innovative lighting solutions.

“We offer a wide-beam spread for close aiming applications, but recognize that often poles are set back much farther than normal,” Page said. “For this, we offer a very narrow beam that ensures the light reaches its intended area.”

Qualite’s flexibility is another key point in the company’s energy efficient solutions. It offers four different series, four different wattages, and five different beam spreads within each series.

According to Page, this allows Qualite to completely customize a system based on need rather than forcing an option to fit the need.

“Proper design strategy can also lead to a reduction in fixture counts,” Page said.

Even the Qualite fixtures themselves assist in increasing the amount of light that reaches its intended target. The reflectors boast custom engineered peens and steps, as well as a highly reflective specular finish within the reflector.

Another area of savings comes from control and monitoring.

Qualite offers a variety of control systems that allow a person to schedule the lighting from a mobile device or any computer with Internet access. It also features the ability to override the system and turn the lights off in the event games are cancelled or inclement weather threatens.

Monitoring allows maintenance crews to be notified of lamp outages. This can save on maintenance costs. This can save schools, cities and institutions on maintenance. Qualite can be notified of the outage and immediately replace the lamp. This results in the entity only having to purchase a warranty agreement but not have to budget for maintenance of the system.

Qualite is already the industry leader in continuous illumination systems. Qualite provides a Maintenance Diagnostic System with every job, saving maintenance costs and easily performing safety tests. The company’s control cabinet product line has the flexibility to switch on single-field or multi-field complexes. Qualite’s ReQUEST wireless remote control systems can interface with new and existing software to give customers the ability to control and monitor lighting from remote locations via cell phone or computer.

It’s innovative systems, which carry the responsibility of being “green,” that can also save money through energy efficiency.

About Qualite Sports Lighting
Qualite’s client list includes a wide range of parks and outdoor athletic venues. The Hillsdale, Mich.-based company provides lighting for single-field and multi-field sports complexes, parks and recreational areas. Qualite, founded in 1983, is currently installing a lighting system at Florida Atlantic University and recently completed an installation at Kennesaw State University’s women's soccer field near Atlanta. Qualite is a subsidiary of Worth Investment Group. Please visit www.qualite.com for more information.

About Worth Investment Group
Worth Investment Group, LLC is a diversified private holding company focused on acquiring companies in the middle-market with valuations between $4 million and $20 million, partnering with management to build value and hold the companies for the long term. Worth Investment Group is based in Jackson, Mich. For more information about Worth Investment Group, visit www.worth-investments.com.

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – While government works to create viable job creation and economic growth, the rapid deployment of cloud technologies may serve as a driver for economic development.

According to the Software and Information Industry Association, a study conducted in Europe by Federico Etro, a member of the Department of Economics, University of Venice Ca’ Foscari,, found that the rapid dispersal of cloud computing platforms may lead to as many as 400,000 new small and medium sized businesses forming within five years.

Another study, conducted by London’s Centre for Economic and Business Research, looked at the impact the cloud could have on the business environment in five European countries – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The estimated impact by 2015 is the creation of more than 2 million jobs with an economic impact of more than 177 billion Euros (U.S. $241 billion).

“The cloud empowers small and medium-sized businesses by controlling IT costs and offering flexibility in computer infrastructure, software, and services that might otherwise be financially out of reach,” said Ivanka Menken, founder and CEO of The Art of Service, the leading education service provider for IT professionals.

She said cloud computing also allows small businesses to scale as needed, deploy projects more quickly, and reduce the need, and expense, of maintenance.

“The cloud levels the playing field, giving smaller businesses the computing power of their larger counterparts, but at a fraction of the cost,” said Menken. “This allows smaller companies to do what they do best, which is focus on being innovative and serving their customers.”

Just as in Europe, these cost factors can drive a growth in the creation of small and mid-sized businesses in the United States, just as they are doing in Europe. The “business backbone” of the United States is small business, so cloud computing can provide a powerful impetus for strengthening the economy, noted Menken.

Menken said companies seeking to reap the benefits of cloud computing will need trained and educated IT professionals who know how to navigate and successfully deploy cloud platforms. This is the reason The Art of Service developed the Cloud Computing Foundation Program, which has become the leading certification for IT professionals seeking to be successful with managing cloud computing services.

The Art of Service has a comprehensive offering of education solutions geared toward the busy IT professional. AOS instructors are experienced in classroom-style delivery, boardroom-style executive coaching, on-the-job training and online virtual support for remote students.
For more than 30 years leaders in the IT professionals have looked to the AOS team for their expertise in such topics such as:IT Service Management with ITIL ®

• Cloud computing
• Standards for the IT Industry: ISO/IEC 20000 and ISO/IEC 27000
• Help desk pathway
• Customer service for IT Professionals
• HR management
• Career development
• Service Level Management

The Art of Service is one of the most trusted sources for career-driven IT professionals. For more information, please visit www.theartofservice.net.

About The Art of Service
As a cutting-edge IT service framework company, The Art of Service is leading the way in providing high end, client-focused books, toolkits and online and classroom education programs. The company is one of the most trusted sources globally for the career-driven IT professional.

About the Founder
Ivanka Menken is the founder and CEO of The Art of Service. Menken has spearheaded the company's Cloud Computing Certification Scheme that is becoming the industry benchmark. She is a sought-after speaker at global IT events and has addressed the renowned IT Service Management Forum numerous times on IT service and cloud computing. She will be speaking at the Fusion 11 conference in Washington DC Sept. 25-28, on the topic of New Orleans, Haiti, and Brisbane: How to "Disaster Proof" Your Business. More information on her presentation and the conference is available at www.servicemanagementfusion.com.

SAN JOSE, CALIF. -- A highly anticipated new iPad blogger app will be released later this month. DraftCraft™ will change the way that bloggers compose and post their work to most any platform without complex coding issues.

Developed by the Ministry of Application™, a mobile app developer based in Russia, the DraftCraft blogger app works with WordPress, Blogger, LiveJournal, Chinese sina.com.cn or blog.163.com.

This is the first blogger app that is not affected by the HTML-code and the particular properties of a blogging platform, and it has its own simple-text editor.

DraftCraft makes the world the better place for all bloggers because it is:Simple: DraftCraft’s carefully designed user interface keeps the entire writing process as simple as possible, allowing bloggers to concentrate solely on results.

• Streamlined: Writers can post to all blogs from one place, with the application containing details of accounts across WordPress, Blogger and LiveJournal.
• Productivity-Enhanced with the Star System: This feature allows the blogger to manage progress on a variety of posts, meaning he or she can compose the best ideas quickly without worrying about writing style (one-star pieces) before gradually making improvements until reaching publishable results (five-star pieces).
• Advanced: Once the blogger has created content, exercising complete creative control is easily achieved through advanced text editing and text formatting (bold, italics, copy-paste, etc.) and image insertion.
• HTML-Free: If a blogger is worrying about code, then he or she is not worrying about writing – so DraftCraft removes the need to think about HTML. DraftCraft will automatically convert text into the format that is required for publication.

About DraftCraft
DraftCraft will be available on the iTunes AppStore for $3.99 in the category "social networks." It is compatible with the iPad™ and iPad 2.™ It will have an AppStore rating of 4.7. Visit www.draftcraftapp.com and www.facebook.com/draftcraft.

About the Ministry of Application
The Ministry of Application, based in Russia, is a global app development company with 57 employees. Visit www.appsministry.com.

CHICAGO –Eating healthy seems achievable in theory, but the follow through is the challenge. Renowned author and personal diet coach Judy Weitzman, known by her clients as “Diet Coach Judy,” offers a no-nonsense approach to healthy eating habits with the launch of her new, highly anticipated book.

In “How to Eat When Life Gets in the Way,” Weitzman provides practical tips for making sensible choices in all life’s situations, whether it be dining out, traveling or surviving the temptations of the holiday season.

In simple terms, the book provides guidance on what to do and what to do less often. Readers will learn about the basics of nutrition and weight loss, as well as alternatives to unhealthy habits and food choices.

In today’s world of information overload, it can be overwhelming to sift through all the resources available on nutrition and weight loss. Yet this book is not the standard self-help weight loss guide. Weitzman has simplified the weight loss process in a reader-friendly format. Most of the information is organized by bullet points, making it easy for readers to find quick answers.

“I look at my book as a guide/reference book to help people,” she said. “For example, everyone should keep a copy of my book next to their Zagat so they make the best choices when they go to a restaurant.”

Most of all, Weitzman wants to help readers achieve their personal health and wellness goals. As someone who struggled with weight, she has firsthand experience with goal setting and lifestyle changes. The expert lost more than 50 pounds 30 years ago and has successfully kept the weight off.

Her message is simple yet practical and her ideas are easy to implement. She advocates moderation, even allowing chocolate and glass of wine.

“There are so many stories and excuses,” she said. "But the bottom line is that it is just food. We need food for fuel to keep us going. What we don’t need is to eat to excess. In today’s world, the advertisers tell us more is better, but our waistlines don’t agree. It’s time to take control of what you are eating so you can live a healthier, leaner lifestyle.”

For more information about “How to Eat When Life Gets in the Way,” please visit www.dietcoachjudy.com, or contact judy@dietcoachjudy.com.

About Judy Weitzman
Judy Weitzman, known as "Diet Coach Judy," has experience in the weight loss industry that spans more than 30 years. Besides her professional experience, she lost 50 pounds nearly 30 years ago and has maintained her lower weight. Since starting her company, Judy has successfully helped her clients lose weight and keep it off by helping them change their behaviors. Each program is individualized and the daily support she offers helps ensure her clients' success. For more information, visit www.dietcoachjudy.com.

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – Email programs are taking to the cloud, along with other Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms, according to cloud computing pioneer Ivanka Menken.

Menken, founder and CEO of the premier IT education company The Art of Service, said that she is always dumbfounded by startups and small businesses that want to launch an enterprise email system that is costly and requires extensive maintenance.

The biggest benefit of moving to the cloud for small businesses is:

• Cost:  startups and small businesses don't usually have a lot of money, so investments need to be weighed based on the direct impact on sales and revenue.

"Why would you choose a $30,000 in-house solution when you can use Google Apps email for $50 per user per year?," Menken said.

• Location independence: Small business owners usually don't think about business continuity or disaster recovery as they are constantly on the move trying to get clients and revenue. Because of this,  it is important to be accessible at any point in time, even when there is a disaster or during normal business operation while on the road.

"In-house email is lost when something happens with your office - a break in or other disaster," she said.

Currently, Gmail and similar cloud-based email platforms account for about four percent of the enterprise email market – email platforms with more than 5,000 seats, but are growing rapidly, Menken said. Some industry experts estimate cloud-based email will control 20 percent of the market within five years, and half the market by 2020.

“Google’s Gmail is a viable, cloud-based option for many email needs,” said Menken. “Admittedly, it may not be functional for more complicated email needs, such as in banking or finance, but cloud-based email services will continue to grow.”

According to Menken, some industry analysts believe that Gmail is now ready to challenge Microsoft’s Outlook, though Microsoft has recently launched its own cloud-based email solution with Office 365.

“Often, cloud-based enterprise email solutions are more secure and easier to access remotely than traditional programs that are tied to a server, which may be hosted at a business,” Menken explained. “However, financial institutions, for example, which require on-site surveillance of email, may not be well served by cloud platforms. I believe this will lead to a rise in hybrid email services.”

The growth of cloud-based enterprise email platforms highlights the need for further training for IT professionals, she said.

“It is clear that cloud computing is playing an increasingly important role in all aspects of business,” Menken said. “A prudent IT professional will make certain he or she is well trained in cloud computing solutions to prepare for the future of information technology.”

The Art of Service has a comprehensive offering of education solutions geared toward the busy IT professional. AOS instructors are experienced in classroom-style delivery, boardroom-style executive coaching, on-the-job training and online virtual support for remote students.

For more than 30 years leaders in the IT professionals have looked to the AOS team for their expertise in such topics such as:

• IT Service Management with ITIL ®
• Cloud computing
• Standards for the IT Industry: ISO/IEC 20000 and ISO/IEC 27000
• Help desk pathway
• Customer service for IT Professionals
• HR management
• Career development
• Service Level Management

The Art of Service is one of the most trusted sources for career-driven IT professionals. For more information, please visit www.theartofservice.net.

About The Art of Service
As a cutting-edge IT service framework company, The Art of Service is leading the way in providing high end, client-focused books, toolkits and online and classroom education programs. The company is one of the most trusted sources globally for the career-driven IT professional.

About the Founder
Ivanka Menken is the founder and CEO of The Art of Service. Menken has spearheaded the company's Cloud Computing Certification Scheme that is becoming the industry benchmark. She is a sought-after speaker at global IT events and has addressed the renowned IT Service Management Forum numerous times on IT service and cloud computing. She recently spoke at the Fusion 11 conference in Washington D.C. on the topic of New Orleans, Haiti, and Brisbane: How to "Disaster Proof" Your Business.

MBA IQ can measure and increase business acumen

CHICAGO – One of the key components of business success is measurement. How do you stack up? Where are you strong? Where do you need to improve?

A new program, the MBA IQ™, answers those questions, offering participants the opportunity to measure their business acumen while taking a course designed to provide a strong foundation in business principles, including vocabulary, core concepts and fundamental knowledge.

There are many courses and “mini MBA” programs, including those offered by colleges and universities, designed to give a student an overview of business principles. However, the MBA IQ offers one of the few MBA preparation curricula focusing on the major core areas of business that are the foundation of MBA programs.

Where the program truly stands apart is with the one-of-a-kind MBA IQ Score, which makes the MBA IQ program the first to actually calculate one’s level of business knowledge.  Just as a FICO score indicates one’s financial health, the MBA IQ Score is an accurate indicator of one’s business knowledge. The MBA IQ Score is given as an overall score as well as a score in each of the 12 foundational areas of business:

• General Management, Leadership and Strategy
• Operations Management
• Marketing Management
• Quality and Process Management
• Human Resources Management
• Accounting
• Finance
• Information Technology
• Corporate Control, Law, Ethics and Governance
• International Business
• Project Management
• Decision Sciences and Managerial Economics

Upon completion of the course, students receive a MBA IQ Knowledge Transcript, which outlines their scores in each of the core areas, as well as the overall score.

“The MBA IQ Score is the only measurement of its type, giving you a measurement of your overall business knowledge, as well as your knowledge in core areas,” said MBA IQ founder Devi Vallabhaneni, a Harvard MBA. “This provides participants with information about their strengths as well as areas in which they may need some additional development.”

Unlike other programs, the MBA IQ course offers a wide variety of tools to help students master the MBA Lexicon including 12 learning modules, more than 134 reading assignments and 1,000 flashcards, daily lessons, workbooks, assessments and quizzes, along with eight to 12 hours of online instruction.

Additionally, the MBA IQ program is offered to companies, individuals and international students.
“Even those not considering an MBA can benefit from the program,” said Vallabhaneni.

“Our course can help you master the vocabulary and concepts of business, as well as develop strong business acumen through an engaged learning format,” said Vallabhaneni. “If you do choose an MBA program, the MBA IQ will help you have the confidence to compete and succeed in the classroom.”
Many “mini MBA” courses can run hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The MBA IQ program is only $195. For more information, visit www.mbaiq.com.

About MBA IQ
MBA IQ believes that:

• There needs to be a common global “business lexicon”
• Standards matter and having a means to assess business knowledge will enhance overall productivity
• Business education should be accessible and affordable… it’s a right not a privilege

MBA IQ was founded in 2010 by Devi Vallabhaneni and Melissa Hayes, both Harvard Business School MBAs. The duo developed a unique approach to preparing students and prospective students for the rigors of a Masters of Business Administration program by teaching them the MBA Lexicon.

More information is available at www.mbaiq.com.

Recognized for her work on the Aboite Trails

FORT WAYNE, IN.–Fort Wayne Realtor Lynn Reecer is one of 10 finalists out of about 1.1 million Realtors nationally in the REALTOR Magazine Good Neighbor Awards, earning recognition for her extensive efforts in creating the Aboite Trails (now a part of the Fort Wayne Trails network) with co-founder Stephanie Schultz and their devoted team of volunteers and staff.

This year marks the 12th year the Good Neighbor Awards program has recognized Realtors who volunteer to serve the needs of those who are less fortunate. The Realtors® acknowledged by this program over the years have donated their time, money and efforts to help improve the quality of life for others in their communities.

Five winners will be selected from among the 10 finalists and will receive travel expenses to the 2011 REALTORS Conference & Expo in Anaheim, Calif. Winners will also receive national media exposure for their community cause and a $10,000 grant for their charity. In addition, five honorable mentions will receive a $2,500 grant. The winners will be announced in the November/December issue of REALTOR Magazine.

Reecer co-founded and led a nonprofit to design and build a state-of-the-art bicycle and pedestrian trails system in Allen County. Following the tragic death of a close family friend and cyclist in 2001, Reecer co-founded Aboite New Trails (now Fort Wayne Trails), which raised $13 million, built over 20 miles of new trails, successfully influenced the city of Fort Wayne to hire a greenways manager  and partnered with the public sector to make Fort Wayne safer, pedestrian friendly and economically viable. Reecer and her group’s success has inspired similar initiatives throughout the state.

“I  would not have achieved this national recognition for my not-for-profit work without the dedicated and driven volunteers, staff, donors and government personnel who all came together to achieve our dream of a community connected by trails,” Reecer said. “It is a joy for me to see so many people out walking, jogging and bicycling on the trails every day.”

Reecer is co-owner of Reecer Properties, a residential real estate firm in Fort Wayne that serves Allen County and the Lake Wawasee and Syracuse Lake area in Kosciusko county . Founded in June 2010 by Lynn Reecer and her brother-in-law James Reecer, Reecer Properties has achieved more than $10 million in sales thus far this year. Over the past year, Reecer Properties listings have been on the market an average of only 45 days before being sold. For more information, visit www.reecerproperties.com.

Shifting needs create opportunities for trained IT professionals

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – While unemployment hovers at above nine percent in the United States, there are missed opportunities for IT professionals who could be working in the growing cloud computing landscape, according to an international cloud computing expert.

Ivanka Menken, CEO of the premier IT education company The Art of Service, said that this growth represents a huge opportunity for IT professionals who have the education and knowledge to help companies manage their cloud computing strategies.

“The cloud is important for the economy because most small- to medium-sized companies and enterprises use cloud technology for their growth,” Menken said. “This is the sector where most jobs are created in the U.S.”

Merrill Lynch estimates the cloud computing market will reach about $160 billion this year, and a statement from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook says that  overall employment of computer network and database administrators is expected to grow 30 percent by 2018.

Menken said this growth is being fueled by cloud computing, but also said the lack of cloud computing skills may be hurting further economic development.

“There is a real concern that there are not enough information technology professionals who are proficient in managing cloud platforms,” said Menken. “A 2010 study conducted by the software company SolarWinds said that 77 percent of the IT professionals they surveyed felt they lacked proper training on cloud platforms.”

Companies may be reluctant to adapt cloud strategies, particularly complex private cloud platforms, due to the lack of qualified IT professionals. This can result in companies not adapting money-saving cloud platforms, therefore not freeing up capital for further investment and growth.

“Cost is a huge benefit for small companies,” said Menken. “However, scalability and elasticity are just as important. Trained IT professionals will be able to avoid some of the challenges of today’s job market while also making a huge difference in the growth of businesses, growth that may lead to even more hiring.”

The Art of Service has a comprehensive offering of education solutions geared toward the busy IT professional. AOS instructors are experienced in classroom-style delivery, boardroom-style executive coaching, on-the-job training and online virtual support for remote students.

About The Art of Service

As a cutting-edge IT service framework company, The Art of Service is leading the way in providing high end, client-focused books, toolkits and online and classroom education programs. The company is one of the most trusted sources globally for the career-driven IT professional. For more information, visit http://www.theartofservice.net.

About the Founder

Ivanka Menken is the founder and CEO of The Art of Service. Menken has spearheaded the company's Cloud Computing Certification Scheme that is becoming the industry benchmark.

Program focuses on children under six years of age

As China’s influence on the global stage grows, it is more important than ever that children are taught the Chinese language and culture.

A new program will help young children gain knowledge of, and appreciation for, the Chinese culture and language at their most critical stage in development – during their preschool and kindergarten years.

The Sino-European International Preschool & Kindergarten (“SEIPS”), located in Shanghai, is offering a unique summer camp experience that will do just that – expose children to Mandarin and the Chinese culture. It is one of the only educational tours available for preschool and kindergarten-aged children.

This is ideal for Chinese-American parents who wish for their children to know something of their heritage, as well as the parents of other American children who feel exposure to the Chinese culture and language is an important part of their child’s development. It has the added bonus of making for an unforgettable vacation the entire family – including the youngest members –will enjoy and remember.

The SEIPS camps are offered in three two-week sessions. Unlike most travel-based educational summer camps, which start at age six, these summer camps target younger children with sessions for two to three years old, three to four years old, four to five years old, and five to six years old. Programs for younger children are also available.

The 2012 Edutours, which are titled “Little Dragons,” will be held in Shanghai on the following dates:

•        Session 1: Monday, June 25th – Friday, July 6th

•        Session 2: Monday, July 9th – Friday, July 20th

•        Session 3: Monday, July 23rd – Friday, August 3rd

Each week of the two-week sessions will have a different theme, including: At the Chinese wet market, My Chinese Family Tree, Animals of Bamboo Forest, My Global Community, Chinese Arts & Dance and Under the Pacific Ocean.

Employing the best of European and American teaching philosophies, children will be taught Chinese Mandarin through creative play and guided exploration in a range of subjects, including Chinese reading, math, science, 3D art, writing characters, geography, drama, biology, physical education and many other courses.

Cultural programs will include Tai Chi, traditional Chinese sword dance, Fan dance, dragon dance, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese painting, Chinese zodiac, and making lanterns.

A parent must accompany the child to Shanghai and stay for the duration of the camp. However, while children are interacting in a stimulating environment that encourages creativity and learning, parents will enjoy a variety of excursions and visits to some of Shanghai’s historic Chinese sites.

According to Nina Jares Cheung, SEIPS Education Director, the focus is giving younger children a foundation in Chinese culture and an appreciation of international learning.

“We want to set a new trend by introducing international travel, bilingual language instruction, and experiential learning to children aged two to six,” said Cheung.

The US Travel Association highlights the importance of international travel when it stated that its studies found, “A clear majority of students who traveled on an international exchange program felt they had become more trusting, open-minded, flexible, confident, and tolerant as a result of their travel experiences.”

“We believe that healthy foundations for cultural understanding and the learning of languages can be developed at those early ages,” said Cheung.

Each class benefits from a highly qualified team of teachers, directed by a full-time native-English teacher with a degree. This teacher is supported by a native Chinese teacher, ensuring a diverse, bilingual educational opportunity. A 5:1 ratio is maintained for all classes, guaranteeing students receive individualized attention.

Camp fees vary, depending on the length of the school day; half-day and full-day programs are available.  The fees include classroom teaching, daytime meals for the students, and a series of local excursions for both children and parents.  Trips outside of Shanghai can be organized upon request.  Housing and airfare is separate.  More information is available at http://www.seips-china.com, via email at info@seips-china.com, or by calling (21)5045 8668.

About The Sino-European International Preschool & Kindergarten

The Sino-European International Preschool & Kindergarten offers unique preschool and kindergarten summer camp programs designed to expose children aged 2-6 to the culture and language of China. Based in Shanghai, the school offers a variety of programs guided by qualified teachers with a low student to teacher ratio. For more information, visit http://www.seips-china.com, via email at info@seips-china.com, or call (21)50458668.

More Businesses Exploring Cloud Computing Strategies

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – There is an increasing need to manage security in the cloud and IT professionals who support small- and medium-sized businesses need to continue to expand their skillsets to stay relevant.

Because cloud computing strategies can improve capital utilization and reduce IT labor costs, more businesses are moving into the cloud, according to cloud computing pioneer and The Art of Service CEO Ivanka Menken.

The Art of Service, a premier global IT education company, has expanded its cloud computing program to help IT professionals and businesses become knowledgeable about cloud computing and its applications in the business world.

“Companies will be in a position to grow by adapting a solid, well-informed cloud strategy,” Menken said. “IBM estimates that the cloud can cut IT labor costs 50 percent and can improve capital utilization by 75 percent, an assessment with which I agree.”

Menken said this will allow small and medium-sized businesses take advantage of the cloud computing growth. Companies seeking to reap the benefits of cloud computing will require trained and educated IT professionals to navigate and successfully deploy cloud platforms. Due to this need, The Art of Service developed the Cloud Computing Foundation Program, which is the leading certification for IT professionals seeking to become successful cloud computing managers.

Any business seeking to expand responsibly in a tough economic time must control its expenses and the exploding popularity of cloud computing offers such controls.

“One key factor is the cost of storage, as well as recovery of information,” said Menken. “Can your own in-house technology grow and expand affordably, keeping up with the ever-increasing demands of data storage? If not, the cloud is a viable solution.”

Menken encourages businesses considering cloud computing to ask:

• Is the business’ own information technology enough to beat the competition?

• Can IT drive revenues or increase savings to achieve desired profit margins?

• Can a business access new markets through the growth and expansion of existing partnerships?

• Can the company’s information technology be commoditized?

“While those are critical factors, there are many other considerations,” said Menken, adding that security is always a concern with computing platforms, and that a business must determine whether or not its existing hardware can be leveraged for cloud computing, or if a hardware upgrade might be needed.

The Art of Service has a comprehensive offering of education solutions geared toward the busy IT professional. AOS instructors are experienced in classroom-style delivery, boardroom-style executive coaching, on-the-job training and online virtual support for remote students.

About The Art of Service

As a cutting-edge IT service framework company, The Art of Service is leading the way in providing high end, client-focused books, toolkits and online and classroom education programs. The company is one of the most trusted sources globally for the career-driven IT professional. For more information, visit http://www.theartofservice.net.

About the Founder

Ivanka Menken is the founder and CEO of The Art of Service. Menken has spearheaded the company's Cloud Computing Certification Scheme that is becoming the industry benchmark.

SAN JOSE, CALIF.--Managing data is one of the biggest challenges facing businesses in this modern, growing, fast-paced world. IT professionals now have another resource to help them learn how to master service management practices, including those found in the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL®).

The new fourth edition of The Art of Service ITIL® 2011 Foundation eLearning Program shows professionals how to efficiently manage IT systems while saving their organizations time and money. The Art of Service is one of the most trusted sources globally for the career-driven IT professional.

Since the ITIL® 2011 Foundation eLearning Program launched two months ago, nearly 1,000 students have enrolled from dozens of countries.

“The Art of Service approach to IT service management training is inclusive, easy-to-understand and very applicable to the real world,” said The Art of Service founder and CEO Ivanka Menken, a renowned global IT and ITIL® expert.

The ITIL® 2011 Foundation Program covers everything from processes and vocabulary to concepts and strategies. It includes the certification kit, a comprehensive guide for IT service management pros and anyone seeking to take the ITIL® Foundation Certificate in Service Management Exam. First-time learners and seasoned IT professionals can benefit from this eLearning program.

This program is the top best-seller on IT management on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. It is considered the gold standard of ITIL® certification.

The Art of Service has a comprehensive offering of education solutions geared toward the busy IT professional. AOS instructors are experienced in classroom-style delivery, boardroom-style executive coaching, on-the-job training and online virtual support for remote students.

The Art of Service has been educating 16,000 students worldwide in its eLearning portal just this year alone.

The AOS team has nearly 30 years of experience in educating IT professionals, with expertise including:

• IT Service Management with ITIL ®

• Cloud computing

• Standards for the IT Industry: ISO/IEC 20000 and ISO/IEC 27000

• Help desk pathway

• Customer service for IT Professionals

• HR management

• Career development

About The Art of Service

As a cutting-edge IT service framework company, The Art of Service is leading the way in providing high end, client-focused books, toolkits and online and classroom education programs. The company is one of the most trusted sources globally for the career-driven IT professional. For more information, visit http://www.theartofservice.com.

About the Founder

Ivanka Menken is the founder and CEO of The Art of Service. Menken has spearheaded the company's Cloud Computing Certification Scheme that is becoming the industry benchmark.

SAN JOSE, CALIF.-- Two of the top 10 skills that employers in the IT industry are looking for are directly related to cloud computing. The Art of Service’s newly expanded Cloud Computing Complete eLearning Bundle helps IT professionals become certified experts in cloud computing, opening up the possibilities for promotions and new and better jobs.

According to Indeed, a job-finding search engine that analyzed millions of job postings for keywords, the top ten skills employers are looking for are all related to software development, cloud computing platforms, mobile development and social media.

Most of these job skill keywords exploded in popularity in 2010 and continued their fast growth this year. PaaS (Platform as a Service) came in at number nine this year. PaaS is a development platform for which the development tool itself is hosted in the cloud and accessed through a browser. The number six keyword is Puppet, which is a software tool used in cloud computing.

According to Indeed, other top keywords include social media, Hadoop, mobile apps, iOS and HTML5.

The Art of Service Cloud Computing Certification Pathway consists of several levels, starting at the Foundation level. The foundation course, also available on the iPad, includes all the basics required to understand cloud computing services and also the major service management processes. A much more intensive option is the Cloud Computing Certification Complete eLearning Bundle, which includes the certification kits (including e-learning programs and e-books), exam preparation e-learning program and associated exam vouchers for cloud computing. The bundle covers foundation, virtualization, SaaS and web applications, PaaS platform and storage management and managing services in the cloud.

The Art of Service is committed to life-long learning for IT professionals and has a comprehensive offering of education solutions geared toward the busy IT professional. The company is built upon a strong belief that quality IT education should be available to all career driven IT Professionals, irrespective of their current job title, budget and geographical location.

AOS instructors are experienced in classroom-style delivery, boardroom-style executive coaching, on-the-job training and online virtual support for remote students.

The Art of Service has been educating 16,000 students from 150 countries in its eLearning portal just this year alone.

The AOS team has nearly 30 years of experience in educating IT professionals, with expertise including:

• IT Service Management with ITIL ®

• Cloud computing

• Standards for the IT Industry: ISO/IEC 20000 and ISO/IEC 27000

• Help desk pathway

• Customer service for IT Professionals

• HR management

• Career development

About The Art of Service

As a cutting-edge IT service framework company, The Art of Service is leading the way in providing high end, client-focused books, toolkits and online and classroom education programs. The company is one of the most trusted sources globally for the career-driven IT professional. For more information, visit http://www.theartofservice.com.

About the Founder

Ivanka Menken is the founder and CEO of The Art of Service. Menken has spearheaded the company's Cloud Computing Certification Scheme that is becoming the industry benchmark.

CHICAGO—The end of the year is a good time to assess where you are in your career, according to a Chicago-based career expert.

Devi Vallabhaneni, a Harvard MBA and founder of MBA IQ, calls this self-assessment a “career report card.”

“December is a great time to objectively review where you are and where you want to be,” she said. “I recommend that you take some time to evaluate your career health and progress.”

Some dimensions to consider when grading/evaluating yourself, according to Vallabhaneni:

Professional Relationships:

• How many new mentors have you connected with?
• How many new contacts did you establish in companies in the same industry, or in the   industry you want to transition into?
• How many people did you get to know in other departments in your own company?
• How much did you invest in professional organization memberships?
• How many people did you mentor this year?

Knowledge:

• How many hours of continuing education and training did you participate in?
• Did you earn any new certifications?

Leadership and Entrepreneurship:

• What did you do this year that was entrepreneurial?
• How did you demonstrate leadership this past year either on your job or within your community?

Self-Awareness:

• What were your career goals and did you work towards or achieve them?
• What are your strength areas?
• What have you done in 2011 to improve areas outside of your expertise?

The answers to these questions should provide insight into your strengths and weaknesses. Not only that, they can lead to a clear “to-do” list for 2012, said Vallabhaneni. For example, she recommends that professionals spend (or ensure their companies commit to support / subsidize) 3 to 5 percent of their net income on professional development, such as industry memberships and networking events. However, she says the most sustainable way to develop your career is through education, such as:

• Executive education seminars at local colleges / universities
• Executive coaching sessions
• Tactical courses at local colleges

About MBA IQ

MBA IQ was founded in 2010 by Devi Vallabhaneni and Melissa Hayes, both Harvard Business School MBAs. The duo developed a unique approach to preparing students and prospective students for the rigors of a Masters of Business Administration program by teaching them the MBA Lexicon.

More information is available at www.mbaiq.com.