A Colorado Republican is under fire after holding what was supposed to be a town hall, only to allow four attendees at a time to see him before sneaking out a back door. According to KUSA, hundred of constituents showed up to meet with Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) at a local community center in Aurora, ...
Reported by Raw Story 2 hours ago.
WATCH: Colorado Republican secretly flees town hall to avoid constituents mad about gutting Obamacare
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Democrats Lead Nationwide Day Of Rallies In Defense Of Obamacare
Supporters of the Affordable Care Act gathered to protest the health care law’s repeal in rallies across the country on Sunday.
The demonstrations were in response to an appeal by Democratic leaders in Congress for a day of action against ACA repeal, the defunding of Planned Parenthood and other policies promoted by the incoming Donald Trump administration.
Perhaps the highest-profile gathering was a rally at Macomb County Community College in Warren, Michigan, that drew thousands of people. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and several other members of Congress addressed the large crowd that had waited in long lines in below-freezing weather to attend the event. Many who have received health insurance thanks to the ACA shared their emotional stories as well.When Sanders finally took the stage after his colleagues, the roar of the audience and chants of “Bernie, Bernie Bernie” made it clear that for many in the crowd, the Vermont senator was the main attraction. Sanders’ political action nonprofit, “Our Revolution,” live-streamed the event on YouTube and Facebook.
“This is the wealthiest country in the history of the world,” Sanders said. “It is time we got our national priorities right. The United States today and I hope everybody in America understands it: We are the only major country on Earth not to guarantee health care to all people as a right!”
True to his democratic socialist form, Sanders, who won an upset victory against Hillary Clinton in the Great Lakes State presidential primary, went beyond defending the ACA.
“So our job today is to defend the Affordable Care Act. Our job tomorrow is to create a Medicare-for-all, single-payer system,” he exhorted the crowd.
There were some 70 similar rallies across the country, according to Sanders. Photos on social media show significant crowds in Portland, Maine; Richmond, Virginia; Tampa, Florida; Boston, New York City and many other metropolises.
NYC ACA rally. Couple thousand people according to attending police. Where is everyone???? pic.twitter.com/4NXUy5M2GO
— Katy Keiffer (@kcorrigank) January 15, 2017
Here taking #OurFirstStand with my fellow Tampa citizens fighting for the 1.7M Floridians insured thanks to #ACA #savehealthcare pic.twitter.com/ETEATQCJeJ
— Sofía Aluma (@sofialuma) January 15, 2017
Burlington High School auditorium is PACKED for #OurFirstStand Rally with @RightsVT @OurRevolution @ppnne & many others! #vtpoli pic.twitter.com/P5iptkhgAT
— Dustin Tanner (@dtanner2194) January 15, 2017
The cold can't stop #OurFirstStand in Syracuse, NY. pic.twitter.com/vDFOtfiaqW
— Zachary Olsavicky (@zolsavicky) January 15, 2017
YUGE crowd in Portland, Maine at the #Medicare4All rally today. Crowd is chanting "I have a Dream! Universal healthcare!" #OurFirstStand pic.twitter.com/SXKZe8d7av
— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNurses) January 15, 2017
Huge crowd in #Boston for rally against #ACARepeal, in support of #Obamacare with @SenWarren @EdMarkey @marty_walsh #bospoli #mapoli pic.twitter.com/f47QaRtl9Y
— Joyce Linehan (@ashmont) January 15, 2017
Folks in #RVA are FIRED UP for the #SaveHealthcare rally! pic.twitter.com/XP67VKJDML
— Virginia Democrats (@vademocrats) January 15, 2017
Other grassroots efforts suggest that the prospect of the ACA being repealed is finally mobilizing Democrats and their allies to take unified, concerted action.
The progressive organizations MoveOn.org, the Working Families Party and People’s Action reported that they were holding 500 “resist Trump” meetings on Sunday.
And on Saturday, over 100 people angry about ACA repeal packed Republican Rep. Mike Coffman’s constituent meeting in Aurora, Colorado. It was a scene that resembled past politically effective moments of protest, including the raucous anti-ACA town hall meetings in the summer of 2009.
Coffman only let people speak to him in groups of four at a time, then sneaked out a side entrance earlier than the event officially ended.
*Head over here to learn about protest events scheduled for inauguration day this Friday.*
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 11 hours ago.
The demonstrations were in response to an appeal by Democratic leaders in Congress for a day of action against ACA repeal, the defunding of Planned Parenthood and other policies promoted by the incoming Donald Trump administration.
Perhaps the highest-profile gathering was a rally at Macomb County Community College in Warren, Michigan, that drew thousands of people. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and several other members of Congress addressed the large crowd that had waited in long lines in below-freezing weather to attend the event. Many who have received health insurance thanks to the ACA shared their emotional stories as well.When Sanders finally took the stage after his colleagues, the roar of the audience and chants of “Bernie, Bernie Bernie” made it clear that for many in the crowd, the Vermont senator was the main attraction. Sanders’ political action nonprofit, “Our Revolution,” live-streamed the event on YouTube and Facebook.
“This is the wealthiest country in the history of the world,” Sanders said. “It is time we got our national priorities right. The United States today and I hope everybody in America understands it: We are the only major country on Earth not to guarantee health care to all people as a right!”
True to his democratic socialist form, Sanders, who won an upset victory against Hillary Clinton in the Great Lakes State presidential primary, went beyond defending the ACA.
“So our job today is to defend the Affordable Care Act. Our job tomorrow is to create a Medicare-for-all, single-payer system,” he exhorted the crowd.
There were some 70 similar rallies across the country, according to Sanders. Photos on social media show significant crowds in Portland, Maine; Richmond, Virginia; Tampa, Florida; Boston, New York City and many other metropolises.
NYC ACA rally. Couple thousand people according to attending police. Where is everyone???? pic.twitter.com/4NXUy5M2GO
— Katy Keiffer (@kcorrigank) January 15, 2017
Here taking #OurFirstStand with my fellow Tampa citizens fighting for the 1.7M Floridians insured thanks to #ACA #savehealthcare pic.twitter.com/ETEATQCJeJ
— Sofía Aluma (@sofialuma) January 15, 2017
Burlington High School auditorium is PACKED for #OurFirstStand Rally with @RightsVT @OurRevolution @ppnne & many others! #vtpoli pic.twitter.com/P5iptkhgAT
— Dustin Tanner (@dtanner2194) January 15, 2017
The cold can't stop #OurFirstStand in Syracuse, NY. pic.twitter.com/vDFOtfiaqW
— Zachary Olsavicky (@zolsavicky) January 15, 2017
YUGE crowd in Portland, Maine at the #Medicare4All rally today. Crowd is chanting "I have a Dream! Universal healthcare!" #OurFirstStand pic.twitter.com/SXKZe8d7av
— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNurses) January 15, 2017
Huge crowd in #Boston for rally against #ACARepeal, in support of #Obamacare with @SenWarren @EdMarkey @marty_walsh #bospoli #mapoli pic.twitter.com/f47QaRtl9Y
— Joyce Linehan (@ashmont) January 15, 2017
Folks in #RVA are FIRED UP for the #SaveHealthcare rally! pic.twitter.com/XP67VKJDML
— Virginia Democrats (@vademocrats) January 15, 2017
Other grassroots efforts suggest that the prospect of the ACA being repealed is finally mobilizing Democrats and their allies to take unified, concerted action.
The progressive organizations MoveOn.org, the Working Families Party and People’s Action reported that they were holding 500 “resist Trump” meetings on Sunday.
And on Saturday, over 100 people angry about ACA repeal packed Republican Rep. Mike Coffman’s constituent meeting in Aurora, Colorado. It was a scene that resembled past politically effective moments of protest, including the raucous anti-ACA town hall meetings in the summer of 2009.
Coffman only let people speak to him in groups of four at a time, then sneaked out a side entrance earlier than the event officially ended.
*Head over here to learn about protest events scheduled for inauguration day this Friday.*
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 11 hours ago.
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Iceland’s Tourism Boom Offers Lessons to Arctic Nations
PEOPLE IN ICELAND have lived off fishing for many centuries, and in the past decade aluminum production has carved out almost an equal stake in the economy. But both have recently been outpaced by tourism.
Two million tourists are expected to have poured into the island nation in 2016 – more than four times the country’s population – says Guðrún Þóra Gunnarsdóttir, director of the Icelandic Tourism Research Centre.
That’s the result of dizzying, double-digit growth in annual tourist visits in recent years. In 2013, Iceland welcomed 781,000 visitors who spent in 275 billion Icelandic króna ($2.4 billion) – outpacing for the first time the economic mainstays of fish and aluminum exportation. And the tourism industry expects strong growth to continue: by 2017 the year-on-year increase in tourists is predicted to reach more than 30 percent.
Iceland’s booming tourism industry may be the envy of Arctic nations, but it has had its costs. The country’s rising cost of living, deteriorating infrastructure and lack of government services have left some residents unhappy. While much can be learned from the success of tourism in Iceland, there is also a lot to be gleaned from the challenges it has posed.
*The Crisis and the Fix*
Change in the economy was already afoot after the 2008 recession led to the collapse of Iceland’s three major private banks. Bankruptcy rippled across the island. Along with it all came the collapse of the Icelandic króna.
While the recession rocked the stability of most Western countries, Iceland had a more literal shake-up just two years later. In April 2010, the Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted, showering ash and preventing air travel both in Iceland and some other parts of Europe. Not only was it the largest interruption to flights since World War II, but it also singed Iceland’s appeal as a tourist destination – despite the still-recovering króna making it a cheap place to visit. Tourism was projected to decline by 20 percentfrom earlier predictions for the summer of 2010.
The government and the tourism industry responded by creating a marketing organization, called Inspired by Iceland, to reassure travelers that Iceland was safe. The effort is believed to have helped turn-around a modest decline in tourism visits following the recession.
While other Arctic nations vie for tourists, there are a few factors working in Iceland’s favor. For one, its location: Iceland is conveniently located between Europe and North America, the two continents from which the vast majority of its visitors come.
Iceland’s airlines are capitalizing on this factor, offering stopovers of up to a week in Iceland at no additional cost for travelers en route to either side of the pond. Icelandair, the largest airline and biggest publicly tradable company in the country, even has a promotion to lend out one of its staff members as a local tour guide for a day.
And if Iceland is the final destination, a flight from New York City in March on Wow Air (another Icelandic airline seeing major growth) can come in at under $400 for a round-trip. By comparison, a flight from New York to Iqaluit, Nunavut, at the same time is around $2,300 and to Nuuk, Greenland, about $1,700.
Iceland also has more than its share of items on a northern bucket list. With images of aurora, wildlife, landscapes and lagoons, Iceland has become so good at marketing itself as a tourism product that tourists are now selling it themselves.
This year, Icelandair asked visitors to share their own images and stories of Iceland on social media using the hashtag #MyStopover. So far on Instagram the hashtag has been used 187,500 times, the photographs encouraging other travelers to follow in the same footsteps.
*Playing Catch-Up*
For northern nations, tourism is a hard sell for nearly half the year. While summer remains the more popular season for travel to Iceland, an Inspired by Iceland campaign to sell the idea of winter visits has been successful at balancing the scales.
“In terms of making Iceland a whole year-round destination, that has been successful,” says Gunnarsdóttir. “There’s a huge increase in winter tourism – growth in the winter months is much higher than the summer months.”
However, some of the challenges of winter visits exacerbate the issue of deteriorating infrastructure and broadening travel outside the capital region. One reason for this is that winter visits tends to be shorter than summer, no more than about four days, says Gunnarsdóttir. With the vast majority of tourists flying in through Keflavik International Airport in Reykjavik in the southwest, it’s unlikely that these travelers will venture far with such limited time.
An added challenge of travel outside of the capital is road conditions. It isn’t uncommon for routes to be closed for a day or two, says Gunnarsdóttir, or for road clearance to be granted only every other day. A good portion of Iceland’s road system outside of major centers is gravel – including more than 30km (19 miles) of ring road that circumnavigates the country.
The tourism boom has also raised worries about the lack of infrastructure and government services needed to support the industry. “Due to the economic crisis, there was a lot of cut-down in terms of funding for infrastructure development, like roads, and the healthcare sector related to health centers. There’s less services than there used to be,” says Gunnarsdóttir. “The same applies to if we look at the number of police working around the countryside and in Iceland in general. There’s fewer police working now than before the crisis but the number of tourists have gone up and up.”
As well as basic infrastructure, there’s the services that contribute to tourism growth, which are largely managed by local municipalities that – as many have complained – do not receive an equal share of the funds from tourism. Community pools, for example, are a major draw for tourists and some municipalities have recognized the need to extend hours. But the additional costs for staffing and maintenance aren’t necessarily covered by entrance fees.
The pressure on local governments, Gunnarsdóttir says, has come under discussion this past year in particular. “Tourist attractions like waterfalls, natural wonders within the municipality – you need a toilet, car parks, there’s a demand for information signs and things like that,” she says. “The increased number of people going to places often increases demands on municipal governments that don’t have big budgets.”
*Growing Pains and Potential*
Icelanders are already experiencing some challenges from the boom: The younger generation can no longer afford to live in downtown Reykjavik, as entire buildings are bought up for temporary housing such as AirBnB, says Gunnarsdóttir.
Criticism of tourism within Iceland, Gunnarsdóttir says, has largely been directed at government and industry representatives, as the tourism industry at times seems to grow faster than the country is able to prepare for it.
“People in general, Icelanders, are very positive toward tourists, even in the communities where they have a lot of tourists, they are positive toward tourists,” she says. “But they are less positive toward the way tourism development has happened.”
Iceland is well on its way to paying back a loan of $4.5 billion borrowed from the International Monetary Fund and neighboring countries following the recession. Unemployment is back down to pre-recession levels of just over 3 percent and the GDP has increased every year since 2013. The opportunity for tourism is clear, but so are the growing concerns. At the Arctic Circle assembly in Reykjavik in October, Halldór Benjamín Þorbergsson, a senior vice president with Icelandair Group, spoke to delegates about tourism in Iceland and the importance of cooperation between government, industry and communities.
One takeaway, he says, is that governments should not hesitate to protect certain areas with restricted visitorship and impose fees on tourism – Iceland has no entry fee and the hotel tax is less than a dollar. But if done right, he says, there is certainly potential for growing tourism across the Arctic.
“Responsible Arctic tourism allows visitors both to appreciate and respect Arctic nature and cultures and provide additional income to local communities while allowing them to preserve traditional lifestyles,” says Þorbergsson. “Tourism acts as a catalyst to preserve the way of life of the Indigenous people of the Arctic region and in tourism there’s a premium being paid for authenticity.”
With preservation and sustainability a focus of tourism, it can be the balance between other drivers of the economy, he says. “I believe tourism in the Arctic can offer a creative alternative to the industrial activity that is so often the backdrop of Arctic discussions.”
This article originally appeared on Arctic Deeply. For weekly updates about Arctic geopolitics, economy, and ecology, you can sign up to the Arctic Deeply email list.-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 14 hours ago.
Two million tourists are expected to have poured into the island nation in 2016 – more than four times the country’s population – says Guðrún Þóra Gunnarsdóttir, director of the Icelandic Tourism Research Centre.
That’s the result of dizzying, double-digit growth in annual tourist visits in recent years. In 2013, Iceland welcomed 781,000 visitors who spent in 275 billion Icelandic króna ($2.4 billion) – outpacing for the first time the economic mainstays of fish and aluminum exportation. And the tourism industry expects strong growth to continue: by 2017 the year-on-year increase in tourists is predicted to reach more than 30 percent.
Iceland’s booming tourism industry may be the envy of Arctic nations, but it has had its costs. The country’s rising cost of living, deteriorating infrastructure and lack of government services have left some residents unhappy. While much can be learned from the success of tourism in Iceland, there is also a lot to be gleaned from the challenges it has posed.
*The Crisis and the Fix*
Change in the economy was already afoot after the 2008 recession led to the collapse of Iceland’s three major private banks. Bankruptcy rippled across the island. Along with it all came the collapse of the Icelandic króna.
While the recession rocked the stability of most Western countries, Iceland had a more literal shake-up just two years later. In April 2010, the Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted, showering ash and preventing air travel both in Iceland and some other parts of Europe. Not only was it the largest interruption to flights since World War II, but it also singed Iceland’s appeal as a tourist destination – despite the still-recovering króna making it a cheap place to visit. Tourism was projected to decline by 20 percentfrom earlier predictions for the summer of 2010.
The government and the tourism industry responded by creating a marketing organization, called Inspired by Iceland, to reassure travelers that Iceland was safe. The effort is believed to have helped turn-around a modest decline in tourism visits following the recession.
While other Arctic nations vie for tourists, there are a few factors working in Iceland’s favor. For one, its location: Iceland is conveniently located between Europe and North America, the two continents from which the vast majority of its visitors come.
Iceland’s airlines are capitalizing on this factor, offering stopovers of up to a week in Iceland at no additional cost for travelers en route to either side of the pond. Icelandair, the largest airline and biggest publicly tradable company in the country, even has a promotion to lend out one of its staff members as a local tour guide for a day.
And if Iceland is the final destination, a flight from New York City in March on Wow Air (another Icelandic airline seeing major growth) can come in at under $400 for a round-trip. By comparison, a flight from New York to Iqaluit, Nunavut, at the same time is around $2,300 and to Nuuk, Greenland, about $1,700.
Iceland also has more than its share of items on a northern bucket list. With images of aurora, wildlife, landscapes and lagoons, Iceland has become so good at marketing itself as a tourism product that tourists are now selling it themselves.
This year, Icelandair asked visitors to share their own images and stories of Iceland on social media using the hashtag #MyStopover. So far on Instagram the hashtag has been used 187,500 times, the photographs encouraging other travelers to follow in the same footsteps.
*Playing Catch-Up*
For northern nations, tourism is a hard sell for nearly half the year. While summer remains the more popular season for travel to Iceland, an Inspired by Iceland campaign to sell the idea of winter visits has been successful at balancing the scales.
“In terms of making Iceland a whole year-round destination, that has been successful,” says Gunnarsdóttir. “There’s a huge increase in winter tourism – growth in the winter months is much higher than the summer months.”
However, some of the challenges of winter visits exacerbate the issue of deteriorating infrastructure and broadening travel outside the capital region. One reason for this is that winter visits tends to be shorter than summer, no more than about four days, says Gunnarsdóttir. With the vast majority of tourists flying in through Keflavik International Airport in Reykjavik in the southwest, it’s unlikely that these travelers will venture far with such limited time.
An added challenge of travel outside of the capital is road conditions. It isn’t uncommon for routes to be closed for a day or two, says Gunnarsdóttir, or for road clearance to be granted only every other day. A good portion of Iceland’s road system outside of major centers is gravel – including more than 30km (19 miles) of ring road that circumnavigates the country.
The tourism boom has also raised worries about the lack of infrastructure and government services needed to support the industry. “Due to the economic crisis, there was a lot of cut-down in terms of funding for infrastructure development, like roads, and the healthcare sector related to health centers. There’s less services than there used to be,” says Gunnarsdóttir. “The same applies to if we look at the number of police working around the countryside and in Iceland in general. There’s fewer police working now than before the crisis but the number of tourists have gone up and up.”
As well as basic infrastructure, there’s the services that contribute to tourism growth, which are largely managed by local municipalities that – as many have complained – do not receive an equal share of the funds from tourism. Community pools, for example, are a major draw for tourists and some municipalities have recognized the need to extend hours. But the additional costs for staffing and maintenance aren’t necessarily covered by entrance fees.
The pressure on local governments, Gunnarsdóttir says, has come under discussion this past year in particular. “Tourist attractions like waterfalls, natural wonders within the municipality – you need a toilet, car parks, there’s a demand for information signs and things like that,” she says. “The increased number of people going to places often increases demands on municipal governments that don’t have big budgets.”
*Growing Pains and Potential*
Icelanders are already experiencing some challenges from the boom: The younger generation can no longer afford to live in downtown Reykjavik, as entire buildings are bought up for temporary housing such as AirBnB, says Gunnarsdóttir.
Criticism of tourism within Iceland, Gunnarsdóttir says, has largely been directed at government and industry representatives, as the tourism industry at times seems to grow faster than the country is able to prepare for it.
“People in general, Icelanders, are very positive toward tourists, even in the communities where they have a lot of tourists, they are positive toward tourists,” she says. “But they are less positive toward the way tourism development has happened.”
Iceland is well on its way to paying back a loan of $4.5 billion borrowed from the International Monetary Fund and neighboring countries following the recession. Unemployment is back down to pre-recession levels of just over 3 percent and the GDP has increased every year since 2013. The opportunity for tourism is clear, but so are the growing concerns. At the Arctic Circle assembly in Reykjavik in October, Halldór Benjamín Þorbergsson, a senior vice president with Icelandair Group, spoke to delegates about tourism in Iceland and the importance of cooperation between government, industry and communities.
One takeaway, he says, is that governments should not hesitate to protect certain areas with restricted visitorship and impose fees on tourism – Iceland has no entry fee and the hotel tax is less than a dollar. But if done right, he says, there is certainly potential for growing tourism across the Arctic.
“Responsible Arctic tourism allows visitors both to appreciate and respect Arctic nature and cultures and provide additional income to local communities while allowing them to preserve traditional lifestyles,” says Þorbergsson. “Tourism acts as a catalyst to preserve the way of life of the Indigenous people of the Arctic region and in tourism there’s a premium being paid for authenticity.”
With preservation and sustainability a focus of tourism, it can be the balance between other drivers of the economy, he says. “I believe tourism in the Arctic can offer a creative alternative to the industrial activity that is so often the backdrop of Arctic discussions.”
This article originally appeared on Arctic Deeply. For weekly updates about Arctic geopolitics, economy, and ecology, you can sign up to the Arctic Deeply email list.-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 14 hours ago.
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Lazydays RV Appoints New Executive To Management Team
Srinivas “Kuch” Kuchipudi will oversee supply chain operations for all Lazydays RV dealerships
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) January 16, 2017
Lazydays, The RV Authority and world’s largest RV dealership, has appointed Srinivas “Kuch” Kuchipudi to its senior leadership team as Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain. Kuch will oversee the procurement and management of Lazydays’ vehicles, parts, accessories, retail and internet-related operations and supply chains. He will be based at the company’s flagship location in Tampa, reporting to Chairman & CEO Bill Murnane.
“Kuch’s broad breadth of experience will be a great asset to Lazydays and help us to create best-in-class supply chain and inventory management systems,” said Bill Murnane, Chairman and CEO of Lazydays. “Kuch will be collaborating closely with our general managers to optimize efficiency and ensure we deliver the right products at the right time, empowering us to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”
“This is an exciting time to join Lazydays. I look forward to helping the team serve our customers and using my experiences to help Lazydays continue to grow,” Kuch said.
Kuch is joining Lazydays with over 25 years of experience as a consultant and senior executive at world-class retail, industrial and service companies in developing and implementing growth strategies. Kuch received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
ABOUT LAZYDAYS
Lazydays®, founded in 1976, is the world’s largest RV dealership. Based on 126 acres outside Tampa, FL since 1996, Lazydays also has dealerships located in Tucson, AZ as well as three dealerships located in Loveland, Aurora and Longmont, CO.
Lazydays has the largest selection of RV brands in the nation featuring more than 2,500 new and pre-owned RVs, over 300 service bays and two on-site campgrounds with over 700 RV campsites. Lazydays RV Accessories & More offers more than 40,000 accessories online for your shopping convenience. Shop us online or visit one of our store locations in Florida, Arizona and Colorado. Lazydays also has RV Rental fleets in Colorado and Florida.
Lazydays has built its reputation on providing an outstanding customer experience with exceptional service and product expertise, and as a place to rest and recharge with other RVers. More than a half-million RVers and their families visit Lazydays every year, making it their “home away from home.” Lazydays has been recognized as a “Top 50 RV Dealer” by RV Business and as one of Tampa Bay’s “Top Work Places.” The Lazydays Employee Foundation, supported by payroll contributions from more than 65% of Lazydays’ employees, has contributed more than $1.5 million dollars to make many historic changes for at-risk children in the Tampa Bay and Tucson communities.
For most people, Lazydays isn't just the beginning of their journey; it's very much a part of their ride. To learn more, visit http://www.lazydays.com.
### Reported by PRWeb 13 hours ago.
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) January 16, 2017
Lazydays, The RV Authority and world’s largest RV dealership, has appointed Srinivas “Kuch” Kuchipudi to its senior leadership team as Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain. Kuch will oversee the procurement and management of Lazydays’ vehicles, parts, accessories, retail and internet-related operations and supply chains. He will be based at the company’s flagship location in Tampa, reporting to Chairman & CEO Bill Murnane.
“Kuch’s broad breadth of experience will be a great asset to Lazydays and help us to create best-in-class supply chain and inventory management systems,” said Bill Murnane, Chairman and CEO of Lazydays. “Kuch will be collaborating closely with our general managers to optimize efficiency and ensure we deliver the right products at the right time, empowering us to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”
“This is an exciting time to join Lazydays. I look forward to helping the team serve our customers and using my experiences to help Lazydays continue to grow,” Kuch said.
Kuch is joining Lazydays with over 25 years of experience as a consultant and senior executive at world-class retail, industrial and service companies in developing and implementing growth strategies. Kuch received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
ABOUT LAZYDAYS
Lazydays®, founded in 1976, is the world’s largest RV dealership. Based on 126 acres outside Tampa, FL since 1996, Lazydays also has dealerships located in Tucson, AZ as well as three dealerships located in Loveland, Aurora and Longmont, CO.
Lazydays has the largest selection of RV brands in the nation featuring more than 2,500 new and pre-owned RVs, over 300 service bays and two on-site campgrounds with over 700 RV campsites. Lazydays RV Accessories & More offers more than 40,000 accessories online for your shopping convenience. Shop us online or visit one of our store locations in Florida, Arizona and Colorado. Lazydays also has RV Rental fleets in Colorado and Florida.
Lazydays has built its reputation on providing an outstanding customer experience with exceptional service and product expertise, and as a place to rest and recharge with other RVers. More than a half-million RVers and their families visit Lazydays every year, making it their “home away from home.” Lazydays has been recognized as a “Top 50 RV Dealer” by RV Business and as one of Tampa Bay’s “Top Work Places.” The Lazydays Employee Foundation, supported by payroll contributions from more than 65% of Lazydays’ employees, has contributed more than $1.5 million dollars to make many historic changes for at-risk children in the Tampa Bay and Tucson communities.
For most people, Lazydays isn't just the beginning of their journey; it's very much a part of their ride. To learn more, visit http://www.lazydays.com.
### Reported by PRWeb 13 hours ago.
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Man fatally stabbed in Aurora; suspect in custody
Officers responded at about 12:20 p.m. to the 1600 Block of Eagle Street on a report of a "physical altercation" between two people.
Reported by Denver Post 7 hours ago.
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Naperville Law Firm Welcomes New Attorneys
Roscich & Martel Law Firm, LLC, in DuPage County, announces the hiring of Associate Attorney Adam Wirtz and Attorney John L. Fioti who will serve as of counsel.
Naperville, Illinois (PRWEB) January 16, 2017
Roscich & Martel Law Firm, LLC, located in Naperville, Illinois, is pleased to announce the hiring of Associate Attorney Adam Wirtz, and Attorney John L. Fioti who will serve as of counsel to the firm.
Naperville Attorney Adam Wirtz will concentrate his practice in personal injury, civil litigation, and criminal and traffic law. He also has extensive experience in handling family law, civil litigation, and collections.
Prior to joining Roscich & Martel Law Firm, LLC, Wirtz managed a successful solo practice in Naperville, and also spent over five years working with a well-known general practice law firm in Aurora. Wirtz obtained his B.S. with honors from Northern Illinois University, and went on to earn his J.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During law school, he worked with the University of Illinois’ Civil Litigation Clinic, the Federal Public Defenders organization, and the University of Illinois’ Office of Technology Management. Wirtz is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association, and Kane County Bar Association.
DuPage County Attorney John L. Fioti brings over 25 years of litigation experience to his role as of counsel to Roscich & Martel Law Firm, LLC. Fioti primarily focuses his practice in the areas of criminal law, traffic and DUI law. He earned his B.S. in Finance and Economics from Elmhurst College, and graduated with his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. Fioti holds several special qualifications; he is a Chair Qualified Arbitrator for the Circuit Courts of DuPage County, Cook County, and Kane County.
Fioti is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, where he served on the Association’s General Assembly for three terms. He is also a member of the DuPage County Bar Association, the West Suburban Bar Association, and the Justinian Society of Lawyers. He currently serves as city prosecutor to the City of Oakbrook Terrace, and is the administrative adjudicator for the Village of Carol Stream.
About Roscich & Martel Law Firm, LLC:
Roscich & Martel Law Firm, LLC is located in Naperville, Illinois. The DuPage County family law firm provides high-quality legal counsel in the practice areas of divorce, family law, criminal law, traffic law, and personal injury. The firm also handles matters pertaining to business and corporate law, real estate, and estate planning.
The accomplished Illinois lawyers have been recognized by numerous professional organizations including: Super Lawyers, The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, The National Trial Lawyers Organization, Leading Lawyers, and AVVO. For information or to schedule an initial consultation with a member of our legal team please call 630-355-5222 or visit http://www.randrattys.com. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.
Naperville, Illinois (PRWEB) January 16, 2017
Roscich & Martel Law Firm, LLC, located in Naperville, Illinois, is pleased to announce the hiring of Associate Attorney Adam Wirtz, and Attorney John L. Fioti who will serve as of counsel to the firm.
Naperville Attorney Adam Wirtz will concentrate his practice in personal injury, civil litigation, and criminal and traffic law. He also has extensive experience in handling family law, civil litigation, and collections.
Prior to joining Roscich & Martel Law Firm, LLC, Wirtz managed a successful solo practice in Naperville, and also spent over five years working with a well-known general practice law firm in Aurora. Wirtz obtained his B.S. with honors from Northern Illinois University, and went on to earn his J.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During law school, he worked with the University of Illinois’ Civil Litigation Clinic, the Federal Public Defenders organization, and the University of Illinois’ Office of Technology Management. Wirtz is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association, and Kane County Bar Association.
DuPage County Attorney John L. Fioti brings over 25 years of litigation experience to his role as of counsel to Roscich & Martel Law Firm, LLC. Fioti primarily focuses his practice in the areas of criminal law, traffic and DUI law. He earned his B.S. in Finance and Economics from Elmhurst College, and graduated with his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. Fioti holds several special qualifications; he is a Chair Qualified Arbitrator for the Circuit Courts of DuPage County, Cook County, and Kane County.
Fioti is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, where he served on the Association’s General Assembly for three terms. He is also a member of the DuPage County Bar Association, the West Suburban Bar Association, and the Justinian Society of Lawyers. He currently serves as city prosecutor to the City of Oakbrook Terrace, and is the administrative adjudicator for the Village of Carol Stream.
About Roscich & Martel Law Firm, LLC:
Roscich & Martel Law Firm, LLC is located in Naperville, Illinois. The DuPage County family law firm provides high-quality legal counsel in the practice areas of divorce, family law, criminal law, traffic law, and personal injury. The firm also handles matters pertaining to business and corporate law, real estate, and estate planning.
The accomplished Illinois lawyers have been recognized by numerous professional organizations including: Super Lawyers, The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, The National Trial Lawyers Organization, Leading Lawyers, and AVVO. For information or to schedule an initial consultation with a member of our legal team please call 630-355-5222 or visit http://www.randrattys.com. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.
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‘The Real Thing’ at Aurora Theatre Company
‘The Real Thing’ at Aurora Theatre Company For its first production of a Tom Stoppard play, Aurora Theatre Company tackles the British playwright’s extravagantly clever yet deeply felt play about love, marriage and theater. “The Real Thing” begins with a play-within-a-play; one of its actors, Charlotte (Aurora veteran Carrie Paff), is the wife of its playwright, Henry (Elijiah Alexander), and his show is about alleged adultery. “I’ve decided it was a mistake appearing in Henry’s play,” Charlotte says.
Reported by SFGate 4 hours ago.
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GEM Advertising Executive to Present at Digital Book World Conference
GEM Advertising executive and co-founder Peter Kozodoy will present at this year’s Digital Book World conference.
New Haven, CT (PRWEB) January 17, 2017
The Digital Book World conference or DBW will be held in New York City from January 17–19, 2017, at the New York Hilton Midtown. Peter’s company, GEM Advertising, is an international, award-winning communications and marketing agency. GEM has four offices located in New Haven, CT; Vancouver, BC; Boston, MA; and Chicago, IL.
Peter will be presenting on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, from 4:55 pm–-5:25 pm. His talk, entitled, “Honest to Greatness: What Do Millennials Believe About Marketing in the 21st Century?” is roughly based on his upcoming book by the same name. During his talk, Peter will be touching upon:· Using what millennials believe about marketing in the 21st century to promote reading, authors and books
· Learning how well-known brands outside of publishing use honesty and transparency to win over millennials
· Discovering the power of cause-related marketing, and how it can work for books
· Innovating with a millennial mindset to amplify book media, reviews and social sharing
“With a pending book of my own on the horizon, I’m thrilled to be offering my expertise to the Digital Book World conference. In some form or another, millennials still embrace literary media of all types, which means publishers still have an incredible opportunity to deliver honest value to this critical generation,” expressed Peter Kozodoy, GEM Advertising’s Chief Strategy Officer.
2017 marks the eighth year of Digital Book World and a new direction for the event, now known simply as DBW. DBW represents a cross-section of the content industry, from presidents, CEOs, editors, marketers and publicists of large and small houses, newspapers, magazines and digital-only media firms, to agents, authors, booksellers, librarians and technologists. DBW is a leading source of news, analysis and education on the intersection of book publishing and digital media. It is a fast-growing community of publishing and digital media professionals, as well as the producer of the market-leading live event, DBW.
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About Peter Kozodoy
Peter Kozodoy is an author, speaker, serial entrepreneur, and the Partner/Chief Strategy Officer of GEM Advertising. Peter's articles on business, leadership and entrepreneurship have appeared in Forbes, Inc. and The Huffington Post. His work at GEM has been featured in CNBC; Yahoo!; Bloomberg; Reuters; MarketWatch; International Business Times; the New York, Boston, and Chicago Business Journals and more.
His projects have earned Telly, Pixie, Communicator, Aurora, Davey and W3 awards in domestic and international branding, advertising and production. Peter has spoken for Microsoft, the US Department of Commerce, CEO Clubs of America, Chief Executive Peer Group and other organizations on topics like millennials, global advertising, user experience and more. To learn more about Peter please click here.
MEDIA CONTACT: JANEL NOBLIN, Janel(at)GEM-Advertising.com or 1-844-436-8326 X 709 Reported by PRWeb 21 hours ago.
New Haven, CT (PRWEB) January 17, 2017
The Digital Book World conference or DBW will be held in New York City from January 17–19, 2017, at the New York Hilton Midtown. Peter’s company, GEM Advertising, is an international, award-winning communications and marketing agency. GEM has four offices located in New Haven, CT; Vancouver, BC; Boston, MA; and Chicago, IL.
Peter will be presenting on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, from 4:55 pm–-5:25 pm. His talk, entitled, “Honest to Greatness: What Do Millennials Believe About Marketing in the 21st Century?” is roughly based on his upcoming book by the same name. During his talk, Peter will be touching upon:· Using what millennials believe about marketing in the 21st century to promote reading, authors and books
· Learning how well-known brands outside of publishing use honesty and transparency to win over millennials
· Discovering the power of cause-related marketing, and how it can work for books
· Innovating with a millennial mindset to amplify book media, reviews and social sharing
“With a pending book of my own on the horizon, I’m thrilled to be offering my expertise to the Digital Book World conference. In some form or another, millennials still embrace literary media of all types, which means publishers still have an incredible opportunity to deliver honest value to this critical generation,” expressed Peter Kozodoy, GEM Advertising’s Chief Strategy Officer.
2017 marks the eighth year of Digital Book World and a new direction for the event, now known simply as DBW. DBW represents a cross-section of the content industry, from presidents, CEOs, editors, marketers and publicists of large and small houses, newspapers, magazines and digital-only media firms, to agents, authors, booksellers, librarians and technologists. DBW is a leading source of news, analysis and education on the intersection of book publishing and digital media. It is a fast-growing community of publishing and digital media professionals, as well as the producer of the market-leading live event, DBW.
###
About Peter Kozodoy
Peter Kozodoy is an author, speaker, serial entrepreneur, and the Partner/Chief Strategy Officer of GEM Advertising. Peter's articles on business, leadership and entrepreneurship have appeared in Forbes, Inc. and The Huffington Post. His work at GEM has been featured in CNBC; Yahoo!; Bloomberg; Reuters; MarketWatch; International Business Times; the New York, Boston, and Chicago Business Journals and more.
His projects have earned Telly, Pixie, Communicator, Aurora, Davey and W3 awards in domestic and international branding, advertising and production. Peter has spoken for Microsoft, the US Department of Commerce, CEO Clubs of America, Chief Executive Peer Group and other organizations on topics like millennials, global advertising, user experience and more. To learn more about Peter please click here.
MEDIA CONTACT: JANEL NOBLIN, Janel(at)GEM-Advertising.com or 1-844-436-8326 X 709 Reported by PRWeb 21 hours ago.
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Jobs to fill: Moog advertising for 78 open positions
Moog Inc. is advertising for 78 open positions at its facilities in East Aurora and Niagara Falls. Publicly traded Moog designs and manufactures high-performance controls and control systems for various industries. The Buffalo Employment and Training Center recently took note of the openings and advised stakeholders to notify job seekers. Don Davis, a Moog talent acquisition manager, said the number of open positions isn't unusual for Moog, which has thousands of employees in Western New York.…
Reported by bizjournals 19 hours ago.
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Wettstein Agencies and the Aurora Warms The Night Organization Launch Cooperative Charity Event to Benefit Area Homeless Families
Wettstein Agencies, a full service firm offering insurance services and financial consultations to communities in and around the greater Denver area, is teaming up with the Aurora Warms The Night organization in a charity drive to provide support to underprivileged families in the region
Aurora, CO (PRWEB) January 17, 2017
Wettstein Agencies, a Denver area firm that offers asset protection and financial planning assistance to families and business professionals throughout central Colorado, is joining local nonprofit Aurora Warms The Night to provide services and shelter to regional homeless families.
The Aurora Warms The Night organization is committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty affecting a growing number of families in and around Denver. AWTN works to ensure all financially challenged families and individuals in central Colorado have access to basic services including temporary housing, heat, food, and warm clothing, as well as resources to transition away from homelessness.
“Aurora Warms The Night provides homeless families with hope and a hand up that allows them to retake control of their lives, and we’ve joined them for this event because their efforts help our entire community,” says Mitchell Wettstein, founder and executive director of Wettstein Agencies.
Wettstein and his team have established an online social media and email presence to help gather support for Aurora Warms The Night from business owners, families, and civic leaders in the greater Denver area. Further efforts to publicize the charity event will include a full page story on the organization and its goals in an upcoming issue of “Our Hometown,” a monthly webzine hosted by Wettstein Agencies: http://wettsteinagencies.com/magazines/.
Wettstein Agencies is a new affiliate of an increasingly recognized national charity support movement known as “Agents of Change.” As part of this affiliation, Wettstein and his team have committed to building partnerships with Denver area charitable organizations and sponsoring a new charity event bimonthly.
Wettstein and his team are personally inviting any readers who would like to be part of the charity event supporting Aurora Warms The Night to take action in support of the cause by visiting this page: http://wettsteinagencies.com/causes/lets-lend-helping-hand-local-homeless-families/. For more information on past and future charity drives hosted by the Wettstein Agencies team, readers are invited to bookmark the firm’s Community Causes page: http://wettsteinagencies.com/community/.
About Wettstein Agencies
As a Personal Finance Representative in Aurora, Colorado, agency owner Mitchell Wettstein knows many local families. His knowledge and understanding of the people in his community ensures that clients of Wettstein Agencies are provided with an outstanding level of service. Mitchell and his team look forward to helping families protect the things that are most important - family, home, car and more. Wettstein Agencies also offers clients a preparation strategy for achieving their financial goals. To contact an expert at Wettstein Agencies, visit http://wettsteinagencies.com/ or call (720) 263-6821 in Aurora or (303) 750-5959 in Castle Rock. Reported by PRWeb 19 hours ago.
Aurora, CO (PRWEB) January 17, 2017
Wettstein Agencies, a Denver area firm that offers asset protection and financial planning assistance to families and business professionals throughout central Colorado, is joining local nonprofit Aurora Warms The Night to provide services and shelter to regional homeless families.
The Aurora Warms The Night organization is committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty affecting a growing number of families in and around Denver. AWTN works to ensure all financially challenged families and individuals in central Colorado have access to basic services including temporary housing, heat, food, and warm clothing, as well as resources to transition away from homelessness.
“Aurora Warms The Night provides homeless families with hope and a hand up that allows them to retake control of their lives, and we’ve joined them for this event because their efforts help our entire community,” says Mitchell Wettstein, founder and executive director of Wettstein Agencies.
Wettstein and his team have established an online social media and email presence to help gather support for Aurora Warms The Night from business owners, families, and civic leaders in the greater Denver area. Further efforts to publicize the charity event will include a full page story on the organization and its goals in an upcoming issue of “Our Hometown,” a monthly webzine hosted by Wettstein Agencies: http://wettsteinagencies.com/magazines/.
Wettstein Agencies is a new affiliate of an increasingly recognized national charity support movement known as “Agents of Change.” As part of this affiliation, Wettstein and his team have committed to building partnerships with Denver area charitable organizations and sponsoring a new charity event bimonthly.
Wettstein and his team are personally inviting any readers who would like to be part of the charity event supporting Aurora Warms The Night to take action in support of the cause by visiting this page: http://wettsteinagencies.com/causes/lets-lend-helping-hand-local-homeless-families/. For more information on past and future charity drives hosted by the Wettstein Agencies team, readers are invited to bookmark the firm’s Community Causes page: http://wettsteinagencies.com/community/.
About Wettstein Agencies
As a Personal Finance Representative in Aurora, Colorado, agency owner Mitchell Wettstein knows many local families. His knowledge and understanding of the people in his community ensures that clients of Wettstein Agencies are provided with an outstanding level of service. Mitchell and his team look forward to helping families protect the things that are most important - family, home, car and more. Wettstein Agencies also offers clients a preparation strategy for achieving their financial goals. To contact an expert at Wettstein Agencies, visit http://wettsteinagencies.com/ or call (720) 263-6821 in Aurora or (303) 750-5959 in Castle Rock. Reported by PRWeb 19 hours ago.
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Bolshoi's Youngest Prima Ballerina To Star In 'Sleeping Beauty'
You know the story. The lovely Princess Aurora, cursed by the evil Carabosse, falls into a deep slumber on her 16th birthday. Only true love’s kiss could break the spell.
No matter how many times you’ve read Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault or “Little Briar Rose” by the Brothers Grimm ― or, for that matter, watched the Disney movie ― there is no experience quite like “The Sleeping Beauty,” the ballet. Tchaikovsky’s enchanting 19th century score brings the classic fairy tale to life, as it pulses through the movements of Olga Smirnova, Bolshoi Ballet’s youngest prima ballerina. “I danced as Aurora only once before on the Bolshoi stage,” Smirnova explains in a video interview. “I have to say that for a ballerina, this ballet is a celebration. It’s such a true combination of youth, energy, the beginning of life, it’s no wonder Aurora means the dawn of light. And you can see it in the dancing.”
See Smirnova discuss what the role means to her, and hear from Ekaterina Barykina, who plays The Queen, in the behind-the-scenes interview above.
Bolshoi Ballet in Cinema’s production of “The Sleeping Beauty” will play at theaters across the country on Sunday, Jan. 22. Visit the Bolshoi website for tickets and more information.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 18 hours ago.
No matter how many times you’ve read Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault or “Little Briar Rose” by the Brothers Grimm ― or, for that matter, watched the Disney movie ― there is no experience quite like “The Sleeping Beauty,” the ballet. Tchaikovsky’s enchanting 19th century score brings the classic fairy tale to life, as it pulses through the movements of Olga Smirnova, Bolshoi Ballet’s youngest prima ballerina. “I danced as Aurora only once before on the Bolshoi stage,” Smirnova explains in a video interview. “I have to say that for a ballerina, this ballet is a celebration. It’s such a true combination of youth, energy, the beginning of life, it’s no wonder Aurora means the dawn of light. And you can see it in the dancing.”
See Smirnova discuss what the role means to her, and hear from Ekaterina Barykina, who plays The Queen, in the behind-the-scenes interview above.
Bolshoi Ballet in Cinema’s production of “The Sleeping Beauty” will play at theaters across the country on Sunday, Jan. 22. Visit the Bolshoi website for tickets and more information.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 18 hours ago.
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A key fundraiser for Barack Obama and a Chinese conglomerate are buying Anthony Scaramucci's investment firm
RON Transatlantic, the investment firm led by George Hornig, and HNA Capital, a part of Chinese conglomerate HNA, are taking a majority stake in SkyBridge Capital, the investment firm founded by Trump adviser Anthony Scaramucci.Scaramucci announced earlier Tuesday at the World Economic Forum that he was about to sell the firm, but didn't name the buyer.
Hornig is the former chief operating officer at Credit Suisse Asset Management and PineBridge Investments. He was also a key fundraiser for outgoing US President Barack Obama.
HNA Capital is a part of HNA Group, a Chinese conglomerate with over $90 billion in assets.
SkyBridge is a fund of hedge funds firm, meaning it invests in other hedge funds. It was founded in 2005 by Scaramucci and has about $12 billion in assets under management, catering to rich dentists and doctors who wouldn't otherwise be able to invest in hedge funds.
SkyBridge is known to have lower investment minimums than direct hedge funds.
The sale comes at a tough time for the fund of hedge funds industry, which has been criticized for fees that are often higher than the costs for direct hedge funds. Aurora Investment Management and Carlyle Group's DGAM shut down their operations last year.
The first half of 2016 saw the biggest outflows of assets from the fund of hedge funds industry in seven years, according to the InvestHedge Billion Dollar Club. SkyBridge's assets fell by $1.1 billion over that period, to $11.7 billion, according to the ranking.
President-elect Donald Trump last week named Scaramucci as an assistant to the president. Scaramucci served as an advisor to Trump during his campaign and had said earlier this month that he had received bids for SkyBridge.
Here's the statement:* *
*New York, NY (January 17, 2017) – *SkyBridge Capital (“SkyBridge”), a leading global alternative investment firm, announced today that it has signed a definitive purchase agreement with RON Transatlantic EG (“RON Transatlantic”) and HNA Capital (U.S.) Holding (“HNA Capital U.S.”) for a majority stake in the firm. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
SkyBridge’s investment offerings include commingled funds of hedge funds products, customized separate account portfolios, hedge fund advisory services and a long-only mutual fund. SkyBridge managed or advised approximately $12 billion in assets as of November 30, 2016. SkyBridge has an exceptional retail distribution platform which brings its alternative and other asset management products to the mass affluent investor channel. The firm also hosts the SALT Conference, one of the world’s leading thought leadership and investment forums that convenes global leaders across business, finance and public policy to discuss economic trends, geopolitical events and investment strategies.
SkyBridge will continue to be led by its current senior management team and its full investment team will remain intact. SkyBridge founder, Anthony Scaramucci, will step down from his role as co-managing partner and will no longer be affiliated with SkyBridge or SALT, effective immediately.
The SALT Conference will be spun out as a standalone entity. This year’s SALT Conference, scheduled to be held May 16-19, 2017, in Las Vegas, will continue as planned.
“It has been an honor and privilege to help build SkyBridge and work alongside some of the most talented individuals in the asset management industry who day in and day out demonstrate an unrelenting passion and commitment to helping our clients fulfill their long-term financial goals,” said Anthony Scaramucci. “While I am moving on to a new chapter in my career, I am truly excited about what the future holds for SkyBridge and the opportunities that RON Transatlantic and HNA Capital U.S. will bring to serving the firm’s clients. SkyBridge and SALT are in great hands and will continue to thrive.”
George Hornig, CEO of RON Transatlantic Financial Holdings, and former Chief Operating Officer of Credit Suisse Asset Management and PineBridge Investments, will be joining the board of SkyBridge to work with its senior management on initiatives to grow SkyBridge’s product offerings and distribution platforms. “We are very excited for the opportunity to continue to expand the business that Anthony and his team have created and built,” said Hornig. “Now, together with the world-class resources and networks of HNA and Transatlantic, we feel the “sky” is the limit for how far we can take SkyBridge.”
"SkyBridge is a unique and innovative investment platform with a powerful brand that is well positioned to provide retail investors and their financial advisors with one-stop access to sophisticated alternative investment products," said Guang Yang, CEO of HNA Capital U.S. "Our investment in SkyBridge is an important step in HNA Capital’s strategy to build a global asset management business. We look forward to working with the world-class management team of SkyBridge and our partners at RON Transatlantic to accelerate SkyBridge’s long-term growth and development.”
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017.
*About RON Transatlantic*
RON Transatlantic is a diversified holding company with interests in the financial services, logistics, energy and brewing/beer sectors.
*About HNA Capital U.S.*
HNA Capital U.S. is the New York-based subsidiary of HNA Capital, the financial services unit of HNA Group, a Fortune Global 500 company focused on tourism, logistics and financial services. A full service financial solutions provider, HNA Capital includes a diverse set of global businesses in equipment leasing, insurance, investment banking, securities and credit services. HNA Group is a global company with over $90 billion of assets, $30 billion in annual revenues and an international workforce of nearly 200,000 employees, primarily across North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.hnagroup.com.
*About SkyBridge Capital*
SkyBridge Capital is a global alternative investment firm with approximately $12 billion in assets under management or advisement as of November 30, 2016. Addressing every type of market participant, SkyBridge’s investment offerings include commingled funds of hedge funds products, customized separate account portfolios, hedge fund advisory services and a long-only mutual fund. The firm is headquartered in New York and has offices in Palm Beach Gardens, London and Seoul.
*SEE ALSO: People are worried that Trump will roll back a rule meant to protect Americans' retirement money from Wall Street*
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: Here's the massive gap in average income between the top 1% and the bottom 99% in every state Reported by Business Insider 15 hours ago.
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Aurora community remembers Martin Luther King Jr. far beyond national holiday
For many Aurorans, events and programs held in Martin Luther King Jr.'s name don't end after the Marade crowd disperses on the national holiday.
Reported by Denver Post 9 hours ago.
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Accused Aurora child sex trafficker back in jail after allegedly paying to house juveniles
An Aurora man charged with trafficking underage boys for sex is back in jail and prosecutors say he violated terms of his bond by hanging out with juveniles, and housing two 17-year-olds and a pair of men in a Westminster hotel.
Reported by Denver Post 9 hours ago.
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Driver faces vehicular homicide, DUI charges in Aurora
A driver has been charged with vehicular homicide and DUI in connection with a hit-and-run pedestrian fatality in Aurora.
Reported by Denver Post 7 hours ago.
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McKesson paying $150 million in prescription drug probe, halting sales from Colorado center
Drug distributor McKesson Corp., a supplier to U.S. pharmacies, is paying $150 million and stopping prescription drugs sales from its Aurora distribution center to settle allegations that it avoided reporting suspicious pharmacy orders in Colorado and other states. The $150 million payment by the San Francisco-based company is a record for settling an alleged violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act. Federal authorities say McKesson, a major distributor of drugs and medical devices, didn’t…
Reported by bizjournals 8 hours ago.
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Raytheon completes qualification testing of next-gen GPS Launch and Checkout System
Aurora CO (SPX) Jan 18, 2017Raytheon has reached another milestone in developing the U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System Next-Generation Operational Control System, known as GPS OCX, with the completion of the Factory Qualification Test of the Launch and Checkout System (LCS). GPS OCX will unleash dramatically increased performance and security of the GPS system that benefits millions of people worldwide. Raythe Reported by GPS Daily 1 hour ago.
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How to invest your yearly bonus
Industry experts have warned that bonus season in the Square Mile might not be so bumper this year. In December, research by Emolument.com indicated that just 40 per cent of bankers in mergers and acquisitions found their sweetener satisfactory. And this week, the market leader of PwC’s global financial services HR consulting practice has warned that City bonuses could be down “possibly by 10 per cent in aggregate.” Oh dear.*Read more*: These are the average London banker bonuses in 2016 (they're not happy)
For anyone not planning a trip to a Knightsbridge estate agent, there are plenty of sensible uses for your annual windfall, whatever its size, such as topping up a pension, paying off a mortgage, or saving for a rainy day. Go on, let your imagination run wild.
*Top up your pension*
For higher earners, the most tax-efficient option for investing a lump sum is likely to be in a pension, though this would prevent you from accessing it before you retire.
Like your salary, any bonus you receive will be subject to income tax at the highest rate as well as National Insurance (NI). But if your employer offers a “salary sacrifice” scheme, allowing you to put the money in your workplace pension for example, both of you could avoid paying the NI, and many firms will agree to pass the saving onto their employee.
The benefits of pension tax relief cannot be stated enough. There are question marks over whether this “free money” will be reduced for higher earners in the coming years, so it is wise to take advantage of it while you can.
“The exact contribution amount would depend on earnings, as tax relief offers the greatest benefit at the higher rates of 40 and 45 per cent,” says Wayne Berry, investment manager at Brewin Dolphin. “For example, a £10,000 pension contribution will actually only cost £6,000 for 40 per cent taxpayers, and £5,500 for 45 per cent taxpayers – a sizeable free boost.”
And if your bonus pushes you into the “personal allowance trap”, where your annual income is between £100,000 and £122,000, putting any income over £100,000 into a pension is a no-brainer. This group finds their personal allowance – the first £11,000 of their income which isn’t usually taxed – reducing by £1 for every £2 over £100,000, meaning that their marginal rate is an enormous 60 per cent. “A way of regaining it is to make a pension contribution to bring your net earnings down to £100,000,” says Ross Yiend, partner and chartered financial planner at Plutus Wealth.
*Pay off a mortgage*
If you have a mortgage, paying this down may seem like a more pressing priority than saving for retirement. But deciding whether to use the cash to pay your loan down directly, or to put some in a stocks and shares Isa in the hope of generating higher returns than your mortgage interest, should depend on your appetite for risk and time horizon.
*Read more*: US banks lead bonus charge as EU lenders set to row back on mega payouts
“Now is a good time to pay lump sums off your mortgage because interest rates are so low. More of your money will go on repaying the principal value of the loan, rather than servicing the interest,” says Daren O’Brien, director at Aurora Financial Solutions. “However, any stock market investment has performed pretty well over the last six or seven years,” he adds, so this might prove the better option for mortgage-holders prepared to bear higher risk over a longer period. But with the stock markets being at current high levels, O’Brien says that he would not recommend it to anyone who might want to access the money sooner than that.
Of course, there is nothing stopping you from using part of your bonus to do both.
*Easy access*
Even if you know you want to spend the funds, sheltering them in a tax-free wrapper is still a good strategy. As the end of the current tax year approaches, look to make use of any of the current £15,240 Isa allowance you have remaining, as well as the larger £20,000 provision which is made available to all UK savers from 6 April.
Together, a couple could shield £70,480 from tax this calendar year if they pooled their allowances, and a further £4,080 for each of their children through Junior Isas. Any returns are also tax-free.
However, there are more competitive interest rates to be found outside easy-access cash Isas. Despite an interest rate cut late last year, the Santander 123 current account still pays 1.5 per cent on balances up to £20,000, and would allow you to get at your bonus at any time.
Investing in lower risk investments which avoid market volatility might be a better option, even if you know you’ll want to call on the capital within the next five years, says Michael Pate, partner at Killik & Co.
Pate recommends either corporate bonds, which offer a good premium to bank deposit rates and offer a fixed return upon maturity, or alternatives such as investment trusts which enjoy inflation-linked income through asset-backed mortgages, student accommodation or infrastructure projects, or absolute return funds which will target a capital return. “Here you pay higher fees, but ultimately should have more protection to the downside should markets move adversely,” he says.
However, if you are happy for your money to stay invested for longer, the stock market will offer the highest returns and the best protection from inflation. For those receiving bonuses this year, inflation should be their greatest concern. Prices rose at a faster pace in December (1.6 per cent) than in any of the previous 30 months; the value of any savings will be eroded the longer you keep them in cash. Reported by City A.M. 4 hours ago.
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Mattel CEO who reinvigorated Fisher-Price to step down; be replaced by high-ranking Google exec
Mattel Inc. will have a new chief executive officer in February, replacing the man who engineered a sharp turnaround in some of its key brands, including Fisher-Price. Margo Georiadis has been “president, Americas” at Google Inc. since 2011 and previously served as chief operating officer at Groupon Inc. She replaces Christopher Sinclair, who has been the CEO and chairman since early 2015 and who engineered a turnaround plan that was particularly effective at East Aurora-based Fisher-Price…
Reported by bizjournals 5 hours ago.
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January 25: Ecotech Institute and SolarCity to Host Special Career Event on Campus
On January 25, 2017 from 12:00 - 2:00 P.M., Ecotech Institute will host a special solar energy career event, featuring a representative from SolarCity, America’s leading solar provider. Prospective students and community members are invited to attend the event for a unique chance to get an inside look at the booming solar industry and tour Ecotech’s state-of-the-art training facilities.
Aurora, CO (PRWEB) January 18, 2017
Prospective students and community members are invited to attend Ecotech Institute’s special solar energy career event on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 from 12:00-2:00 P.M. Guests will receive a unique opportunity to tour Ecotech Institute’s state-of-the-art training facilities and learn more about career opportunities in the booming solar industry from a representative of America’s leading solar provider SolarCity. Complimentary lunch and refreshments will be provided.
WHAT: A career event where prospective students and members of the community interested in exploring opportunities in the rapidly growing solar industry will have a chance to tour Ecotech Institute’s cutting edge training facilities, speak with current students and faculty, and get an inside look at the solar industry with a live presentation by foremost expert and Energy Consultant at SolarCity, Rob Muldoon.
WHO: Ecotech Institute, the first and only college in the United States focused solely on energy, and Rob Muldoon, Energy Consultant at SolarCity, America’s #1 residential solar provider.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 25, from 12:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. MST
WHERE: Ecotech Institute, 1400 South Abilene Street, Aurora, CO 80012
R.S.V.P.: The event is free and open to the public. Register online or contact Ecotech Institute’s Director of Enrollment Zhanna Stavina at 720-213-2602 or zhanna.stavina(at)ecotechtraining(dot)com.
About Ecotech Institute and Ecotech Training:
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college in the U.S. solely focused on energy. Through flexible options designed for different levels of experience and to meet diverse career goals, students can pursue education in energy in a way that works for them. There are two paths through which students can receive training: Ecotech Institute and Ecotech Training. Located in Aurora, CO, Ecotech Institute offers six highly practical energy degree programs that prepare students for energy careers. Individuals across the country also have the opportunity to take courses and pursue individual certifications in-person or online through Ecotech Training. Both Ecotech Institute and Ecotech Training are committed to equipping students with the skills and training they need to meet today and tomorrow’s clean energy industry needs. Ecotech Institute and Ecotech Training are divisions of Education Corporation of America and are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576. Reported by PRWeb 53 minutes ago.
Aurora, CO (PRWEB) January 18, 2017
Prospective students and community members are invited to attend Ecotech Institute’s special solar energy career event on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 from 12:00-2:00 P.M. Guests will receive a unique opportunity to tour Ecotech Institute’s state-of-the-art training facilities and learn more about career opportunities in the booming solar industry from a representative of America’s leading solar provider SolarCity. Complimentary lunch and refreshments will be provided.
WHAT: A career event where prospective students and members of the community interested in exploring opportunities in the rapidly growing solar industry will have a chance to tour Ecotech Institute’s cutting edge training facilities, speak with current students and faculty, and get an inside look at the solar industry with a live presentation by foremost expert and Energy Consultant at SolarCity, Rob Muldoon.
WHO: Ecotech Institute, the first and only college in the United States focused solely on energy, and Rob Muldoon, Energy Consultant at SolarCity, America’s #1 residential solar provider.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 25, from 12:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. MST
WHERE: Ecotech Institute, 1400 South Abilene Street, Aurora, CO 80012
R.S.V.P.: The event is free and open to the public. Register online or contact Ecotech Institute’s Director of Enrollment Zhanna Stavina at 720-213-2602 or zhanna.stavina(at)ecotechtraining(dot)com.
About Ecotech Institute and Ecotech Training:
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college in the U.S. solely focused on energy. Through flexible options designed for different levels of experience and to meet diverse career goals, students can pursue education in energy in a way that works for them. There are two paths through which students can receive training: Ecotech Institute and Ecotech Training. Located in Aurora, CO, Ecotech Institute offers six highly practical energy degree programs that prepare students for energy careers. Individuals across the country also have the opportunity to take courses and pursue individual certifications in-person or online through Ecotech Training. Both Ecotech Institute and Ecotech Training are committed to equipping students with the skills and training they need to meet today and tomorrow’s clean energy industry needs. Ecotech Institute and Ecotech Training are divisions of Education Corporation of America and are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576. Reported by PRWeb 53 minutes ago.
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