The GEO Group names Football Stadium

The FAU Foundation, Inc. has received a $6 million gift from The GEO Group (GEO) to name its on-campus football stadium. The $6 million gift will be made through GEO’s charitable foundation, The GEO Group Foundation, and will be paid over 12 years. The largest one-time gift in the history of FAU athletics, it will… Continue reading »

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Nothing Ugly About It, Hi-Land Properties Sitting Pretty at the Top – - Second Year in a Row

West Palm Beach HomeVestors Franchise Wins Numerous Awards Including Franchise of the Year at National Convention   DALLAS (February 05, 2013) – Hi-Land Properties LLC, a West Palm Beach-based franchise of HomeVestors, the number one buyer of houses in the United States, dominated the 2012 Convention Awards in Dallas, taking home the coveted Franchise of… Continue reading »

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Centerline Homes’ Georgian Oaks Model Opening a Huge Success!

Centerline Homes, recently grand opened a brand new, fully-furnished model home at their Georgian Oaks community in Ft. Lauderdale. Priced from $399,900, the Scarlet Oak has met with rave reviews. “Everybody loves this model,” stated Deb Marton, Vice-President of Sales for Centerline Homes. “The color scheme of aqua and lime is fresh, exciting and very… Continue reading »

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Phyllis Green – Business Journal Recognition

Phyllis Green has been named one of South Florida Business Journal’s Influential Business Women of 2012. This program is meant to recognize her strong record of leadership, performance and innovation in her industry, plus meaningful community involvement. Phyllis and the 24 other honorees will be profiled in an upcoming special section of business Journal. This… Continue reading »

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Hovnanian Swings To 2Q Profit On Jump In Home Sales

    By Kristin Jones Hovnanian Enterprises Inc <https://research.scottrade.com/qnr/Stocks/Snapshot?symbol=148814> . (HOV) swung to a fiscal second-quarter profit on broad-based sales growth as the home builder said it believes the industry is in the early stages of a recovery. Shares were up 19% to $2.03 in recent trading as revenue easily topped estimates. The stock is up… Continue reading »

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The GEO Group names Football Stadium Nothing Ugly About It, Hi-Land Properties Sitting Pretty at the Top – - Second Year in a Row Centerline Homes’ Georgian Oaks Model Opening a Huge Success! Phyllis Green – Business Journal Recognition Hovnanian Swings To 2Q Profit On Jump In Home Sales

Feb
19

The GEO Group names Football Stadium

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The FAU Foundation, Inc. has received a $6 million gift from The GEO Group (GEO) to name its on-campus football stadium. The $6 million gift will be made through GEO’s charitable foundation, The GEO Group Foundation, and will be paid over 12 years. The largest one-time gift in the history of FAU athletics, it will be used to support athletic operations, including FAU’s intercollegiate athletic program, the stadium, scholarships and academic priorities.  In recognition of this gift, the football stadium at FAU’s Boca Raton campus will be named GEO Group Stadium.

“We are incredibly grateful for this wonderful gift,” said FAU President Mary Jane Saunders.  “It is so exciting to now have a name for our beautiful stadium, and I couldn’t think of a better way to do that than by way of philanthropy.  This gift is a true representation of The GEO Group’s incredible generosity to FAU and the community it serves. It is especially meaningful because George Zoley, GEO’s chairman, is a two-time FAU alumnus and former chair of our Board of Trustees.”

GEO Group Stadium is the centerpiece of FAU’s Innovation Village, located in the north central area of the Boca Raton campus. Home of the Owl football team, the 29,419-seat open-air stadium – a $70 million project – features 6,000 premium seats, that include 24 suites, 26 loge boxes, 1,000 premier club seats and 4,000 priority club seats, and the latest, state-of-the-art amenities.  The stadium officially opened in October 2011, and is the only college football venue in the country with a view of the ocean.

Headquartered in Boca Raton, The GEO Group is the first fully integrated equity real estate investment trust specializing in the design, financing, development, and operation of correctional, detention, and community reentry facilities around the globe. The GEO Group is the world’s leading provider of diversified correctional, detention, and community reentry services to government agencies worldwide with operations in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The GEO Group’s worldwide operations include the ownership and/or management of 101 facilities totaling 73,000 beds with a growing workforce of approximately 18,000 professionals. Through its charitable foundation, The GEO Group Foundation, the company supports charitable and educational causes nationwide and fosters national and international amateur sports competition.

“We’re delighted with the opportunity to enter into this groundbreaking partnership with Florida Atlantic University. Our company has always been committed to making a positive contribution to the communities in which we serve,” said George C. Zoley, Ph.D., ’72, ’75, chairman and chief executive officer of The GEO Group. “Every year through our charitable foundation, The GEO Group Foundation, we donate approximately $1 million to support local charities and schools and to fund college scholarships for students in the communities we serve across the country. This new partnership between The GEO Group Foundation and the FAU Foundation will allow the University to support its scholarship and academic program priorities and will serve as a catalyst for continued academic and economic growth in South Florida.”

FAU and The GEO Group Foundation also will continue to work together to create solid learning opportunities for students enrolled at the University, specifically in the areas of criminal justice, social work and nursing.

FAU will kick off the 2013 season at the University of Miami on Saturday, Sept. 3 in its first year as a member of Conference USA. The team’s first home game in GEO Group Stadium is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21 against Middle Tennessee State University.

For more information about GEO Group Stadium, visit www.fausports.com. For other naming or sponsorship opportunities, contact Phillip Rich at 561-297-0408 or prich3@fau.edu.

CREDIT: Florida Atlantic University’s Website, http://www.fau.edu/explore/homepage-stories/2013_02geogroup.php

 

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Feb
05

Nothing Ugly About It, Hi-Land Properties Sitting Pretty at the Top – - Second Year in a Row

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West Palm Beach HomeVestors Franchise Wins Numerous Awards Including Franchise of the Year at National Convention

 

DALLAS (February 05, 2013) – Hi-Land Properties LLC, a West Palm Beach-based franchise of HomeVestors, the number one buyer of houses in the United States, dominated the 2012 Convention Awards in Dallas, taking home the coveted Franchise of the Year UG Award for the second consecutive year.  Hi-Land Properties also won the 2012 Rising Star Award in addition to placing in four other categories.

            The Franchise of the Year Award was given to Hi-Land Properties owner and president, Don Cameron. The award recognizes the franchise that has consistently built the best business structure and has performed beyond expectation every year since beginning its franchise. Being located in what many would consider one of the nation’s toughest markets, South Florida, Hi-Land Properties has been able to expand its business by not just buying ugly houses. “Most people know us as the ‘We Buy Ugly Houses’ people but what sets our company apart from others is that we don’t just buy ugly houses.  Instead, we specialize in helping homeowners out of ugly situations” said Cameron.  “Our business has been successful because of our expertise in problems that homeowners face such as liens, back taxes, divorce, inheritance, and a variety of other legal issues.”  

HomeVestors also recognized Hi-Land Properties as the company’s Rising Star, having increased its purchase closings during a four-year period and Most Improved Office in the Southeast. The franchise also placed second in Top Sales Units, Top Sales Volume and Top Closer. “Hi-Land Properties is committed to maintaining the standard of excellence set by HomeVestors,” said Cameron. “To be given Franchise of the Year for the second year in a row, as well as several other awards, is a testament to the hard work and dedication of this franchise as we look forward to 2013.”

Hi-Land, who originally focused only in Palm Beach County, has since expanded and now serves Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie counties.

 

About HomeVestors of America Inc.

Dallas-based HomeVestors of America, Inc. is the largest buyer of houses in the U.S.  HomeVestors trains and supports franchisees that specialize in buying and rehabbing residential properties.  Most commonly known as the “We Buy Ugly Houses” company, HomeVestors strives to make a positive impact in each community.  In 2010, for the fifth consecutive year, HomeVestors was among the prestigious Franchise Business Review’s “Top 50 Franchises,” a distinction awarded to franchisors with the highest level of franchisee satisfaction.  For more information, visit www.HomeVestors.com.

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Jul
30

Centerline Homes’ Georgian Oaks Model Opening a Huge Success!

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Centerline Homes, recently grand opened a brand new, fully-furnished model home at their Georgian Oaks community in Ft. Lauderdale. Priced from $399,900, the Scarlet Oak has met with rave reviews. “Everybody loves this model,” stated Deb Marton, Vice-President of Sales for Centerline Homes. “The color scheme of aqua and lime is fresh, exciting and very Ft. Lauderdale. The hundreds of visitors were also unanimous in their praise for this model showcasing many of the included features at Georgian Oaks.” Other than the pool, designer trim &amp; paint, potential buyers get a very clear vision of the standard features being offered at this community. The Scarlet Oak is one of four unique floor plans being offered. In addition to the furnished Scarlet Oak model, buyers can see finished versions of each of the other three plans during Centerline Homes’ American Dream Street promotion. For additional information call (954)282-6105, or visit CenterlineHomes.com To reach Georgian Oaks, take I-95 to the State Road 84 exit. Proceed east of State Road 84 to SW 15th Avenue. Left (north) on SW 15th Avenue, ½ mile to Georgian Oaks on the left. Source: Centerlinehomes.com

Centerline Homes, recently grand opened a brand new, fully-furnished model home at their Georgian Oaks community in Ft. Lauderdale. Priced from $399,900, the Scarlet Oak has met with rave reviews. “Everybody loves this model,” stated Deb Marton, Vice-President of Sales for Centerline Homes. “The color scheme of aqua and lime is fresh, exciting and very Ft. Lauderdale. The hundreds of visitors were also unanimous in their praise for this model showcasing many of the included features at Georgian Oaks.” Other than the pool, designer trim & paint, potential buyers get a very clear vision of the standard features being offered at this community. The Scarlet Oak is one of four unique floor plans being offered. In addition to the furnished Scarlet Oak model, buyers can see finished versions of each of the other three plans during Centerline Homes’ American Dream Street promotion. For additional information call (954)282-6105, or visit CenterlineHomes.com
To reach Georgian Oaks, take I-95 to the State Road 84 exit. Proceed east of State Road 84 to SW 15th Avenue. Left (north) on SW 15th Avenue, ½ mile to Georgian Oaks on the left.

Source: Centerlinehomes.com

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Jun
29

Phyllis Green – Business Journal Recognition

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Phyllis Green has been named one of South Florida Business Journal’s Influential Business Women of 2012. This program is meant to recognize her strong record of leadership, performance and innovation in her industry, plus meaningful community involvement.

Phyllis Green has been named on of South Florida Business Journal’s Influential Business Women of 2012.

Phyllis and the 24 other honorees will be profiled in an upcoming special section of business Journal. This year’s Influential Business Women section will appear in the July 27th edition. On Thursday, Sept. 13, our 2012 class of Influential Business Women will be recognized at an awards luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale. At the luncheon, Business Journal will honor Phyllis Green and each member of this year’s class.

 

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Jun
06

Hovnanian Swings To 2Q Profit On Jump In Home Sales

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    By Kristin Jones

Hovnanian Enterprises Inc <https://research.scottrade.com/qnr/Stocks/Snapshot?symbol=148814> . (HOV) swung to a fiscal second-quarter profit on broad-based sales growth as the home builder said it believes the industry is in the early stages of a recovery.
Shares were up 19% to $2.03 in recent trading as revenue easily topped estimates. The stock is up 40% so far this year.
The company sold more homes per community in April than any month since 2006, except for a sales promotion in September 2007, Chief Executive Ara K. Hovnanian said.
“The sales improvements we have experienced are fairly wide-based in terms of geography, price points and buyer profiles,” Mr. Hovnanian said.
Like most of its peers, Hovnanian has struggled as a glut of bargain-priced homes has sapped demand for new houses. Hovnanian’s recovery from the recession has also been hobbled by high domestic unemployment and tightened lending standards.
But the company has previously noted that conditions are improving, citing a sustained growth in the number of contracts, and stabilizing prices. In the latest quarter, contracts increased 52% to 1,775 homes. Contract backlog rose 48% to 2,298 homes, with a sales value of $762.8 million, an increase of 49%.
Based on contract growth, Mr. Hovnanian said the home-building industry appears to be entering the early stages of a recovery.
For the quarter ended April 30, Hovnanian, one of the nation’s largest home-building companies, reported a profit of $1.8 million, or two cents a share, compared with a prior-year loss of $72.7 million, or 69 cents a share. The latest quarter included a $27 million gain on debt extinguishment, while the prior-year quarter included a $16.9 million loss on inventory impairment and land option write-offs.
Revenue jumped 34% to $341.7 million.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters most recently expected a 32-cent loss on revenue of $299 million.
Home-building gross margin widened to 14.3% from 9.1%, including interest.

via: Dow Jones News

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May
11

Ways Marketers Are Using the Second Screen

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Consumers are multitasking over multiple screens more than ever. Using a tablet or smartphone while watching TV is more common than not.

The “second screen” (smartphones, tablets, PCs) and how it complements the first screen (TV) have become hot topics over the past year, but the phenomenon isn’t new: Nielsen was reporting on Internet/TV multitasking four years ago, and one of our 10 Trends for 2009 was the idea of Distraction as Entertainment. But today the spike in connected screens and services that link them with the big screen is creating intriguing new possibilities for TV broadcasters and marketers alike.

Ways Marketers Are Using the Second Screen

The second screen can turn TV viewing into a shared experience (“social TV”), enable fans to go deeper into the story world, allow instant follow-up on a call to action, extend a message beyond the limits of 30 seconds—and the list goes on. Perhaps most important to marketers, it means integration in communications will reach a much more mature level thanks to the mobile, seamless and multiscreen interaction in which consumers will be immersed. While the fight for engagement will be more fierce, ROI will improve thanks to more targeted, personalized and therefore meaningful branded experiences.
Here are some numbers:

•The vast majority of American tablet owners (88%) and smartphone owners (86%) surveyed by Nielsen in Q4 2011 said they used their device while watching TV at least once during a 30-day period. This multitasking occurred daily among more than 4 in 10 U.S. tablet and smartphone owners. Nielsen’s four-country study, which included the U.S., U.K, Germany and Italy, found that Americans were significantly more likely to be multitasking. • Among U.S. tablet owners age 13-plus, Nielsen found that a significant percentage followed up online after seeing a TV ad, with 27% looking up related information and 22% looking up related coupons or deals. More than 4 in 10 checked a social networking site during either a TV show or commercial break. • Among respondents to a recent Hollywood Reporter survey of social network users ages 13 to 49, 79% always or sometimes visit Facebook while watching TV, and 83% surf other parts of the Web. • Forrester reports that 63% of Gen Xers and 74% of Millennials use a second-screen device more than half the time they watch TV.

The top 10 Ways Marketers Are Using the Second Screen are: 1. Leveraging the small screen during big live events 2. Incentivizing ad engagement 3. Gamifying TV ads 4. Bridging a campaign’s TV and digital elements 5. Syncing e-commerce with TV content 6. Sponsoring second-screen extras 7. Giving sports fans a game of their own 8. Spurring social chatter with hashtags 9. Enabling real-time interactivity 10. Creating transmedia opportunities

For more info on the top click here

source (wpp-jwtintelligence)

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Dec
01

Live could be in one of the submerge ice ocean in Saturn’s moon Titan

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NASA astrobiologist says there are alien life forms in Titan.

Two new papers based on data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft scrutinize the complex chemical activity on the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan. While non-biological chemistry offers one possible explanation, some scientists believe these chemical signatures bolster the argument for a primitive, exotic form of life or precursor to life on Titan’s surface. According to one theory put forth by astrobiologists, the signatures fulfill two important conditions necessary for a hypothesized “methane-based life.”

At least two astrobiologists at NASA Ames Research Center, confirmed that there are complex bio-chemical processes occurring in Titan’s atmosphere compatible with metabolism of methane-based life forms. Obviously another group of scientists of NASA, quickly jumped to dismiss the existence of alien in the misty moon of Saturn, but a couple of odd features on Titan’s surface, captured by the orbiter, might suggest otherwise.

This lack of acetylene is important because that chemical would likely be the best energy source for a methane-based life on Titan, said Chris McKay, an astrobiologist at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., who proposed a set of conditions necessary for this kind of methane-based life on Titan in 2005.

“We suggested hydrogen consumption because it’s the obvious gas for life to consume on Titan, similar to the way we consume oxygen on Earth,” McKay said. “If these signs do turn out to be a sign of life, it would be doubly exciting because it would represent a second form of life independent from water-based life on Earth.”

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Nov
30

Are You Using QR Codes Yet?

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QR codes have gotten some bad press in the past from skeptics and naysayers. What I tell my clients, and there is plenty of evidence to back this up, is that QR codes up to this point have only scratched the surface of possibilities. Their use grows consistently as smartphones become more and more common. It’s a growing pool of potential sales and a fresh avenue to connect to new and repeat clients. As the findings below illustrate there are more successful ways than others to use QR codes. For example to get more information or to enter a contest people are more apt to scan away than to make a direct purchase. Mobio Technologies Inc. recently did a study based on their own clients and collected data from their own servers. Below are the findings from that study and they are very eye opening. Click to preview the charts.

 

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Nov
18

Singularity – Longevity, Knowledge, Control

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The next step to human evolution.

Since 1859, when Charles Darwin published his book  – On the Origin of the Species – and proposed the scientific theory of evolution, a different view of where humanity originated.

With such a controversial subject, we can’t deny today a survival of the fittest philosophy in our modern life. Society moved from an agricultural system to an industrial in a matter of 200 years. We are dependent on electricity, computers, cellphones and all the gadgets we could list. The speed of information increased astronomically in the last 10 years, and you need to move fast, think fast and through the Internet we are part of a great network that is growing and growing everyday.

The Human DNA

Because of this speed, time becomes our enemy. How many of us would appreciate that extra hour, week or year to accomplish our goals or dreams. We need more time, we need to live longer – that may be possible in the short future.

Many studies in the field of longevity and disease being done today, are being developed together with a new study called Singularity. In short, Singularity is the development of artificial intelligence. But how could that improve our lives?

In a recent article from Computer World, Intel commemorated its 40th anniversary with a statement that human and computer intelligence will merge in 40 years (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9110578/Intel_Human_and_computer_intelligence_will_merge_in_40_years). But let’s face it, there won’t be many people interested in the idea of brain surgery to implant some kind of a chip. Well, that surgery may not be necessary!

Now going from science fiction to science fact, this year the Allen Institute for Brain Science completed the detailed map of the human brain (http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/651858.html). Also if you want to spend some time to research, you can find the studies of an international scientific research a project called The HUMAN GENOME PROJECT (HGP), a study to analyze and change the human DNA for a better, strong and healthy human race. Basically the study will implement a possible protein chip that will change the human DNA and allow the connectivity between the human brain and a futuristic artificial intelligence. Surgery will not be necessary, and the  projection of this is to start to happening in 40 years.
Now Going back to science fiction – we will have this option: With just a shot, a vaccine, or medication and bang‚ you are disease free, capable of living up to 500 years and with the power of being part of a great network in your hands, I mean brain. Many of you may think the pharmaceutical industry will never allow that. Well, think of it as a very expensive vaccine with financial payment like a mortgage payment. You will have 100 years to pay and 400 to live. Still, a great gift!

Another thought on this will be something like the socio economic differences, that we have today. People will have this shot, the individuals who pay for the vaccine will have the genetic advantage and will stand up on top of the others. The class without “the DNA shot”, will not have credit or good job opportunities, their kids won’t be able to attendant schools, travel won’t be allowed, etc… It will be a must have. The worry you will have that your brain is connected to a world network, where your thoughts could be controlled, won’t matter any more. You and your family need to survive.

I would like to have your opinion on this science fact.  And if you want to read more, there is a couple links below on the interesting and (I believe so polemic subject.

Biological cognitive enhancement in humans may cause the Singularity to occur more quickly than it otherwise would.

The Singularity Institute

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