PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Vivint, the largest home automation services company in North America, is celebrating superior customer service during National Customer Service Week Oct. 1-5.

Customer service professionals answer calls, tackle problems, manage teams, and are the frontline responders in making someones day a little easier, said Steve Dixon, Vivints vice president of operations. You can have world-class products and attractive pricing, but if you dont back that up with professional, friendly and effective customer service you wont succeed.

Tina Brewer, of Fredericton, New Brunswick, recalls a personal experience when Vivints customer service representatives offered timely and effective advice.

"I came home from work and attempted to enter my passcode, Brewer said. I received a message that it was an invalid code and attempted to re-enter the code. However, when I started to do so, a loud alarm sounded. I was startled and unsure what to do. The voice of Vivint's support staff came on the speaker and walked me through the necessary steps to stop the alarm.

Brewer was also connected to Vivints technical support team who taught her how to properly use her keyless entry. Vivints support staff was so kind and so helpful. I was completely overwhelmed, Brewer added. They were helpful and supportive. I know that if I were in an unsafe situation, having their support would come as a great comfort.

Vivint has won numerous awards for its customer service. It was honored as the gold winner of Customer Service Department of the Year at the 2012 American Business Awards, a top annual business recognition program. Vivint also earned gold medal honors from Contact Center World. In addition, Vivint received top honors from the Central Station Alarm Association for its exceptional service to customers and community.

At Vivint, outstanding customer service extends beyond the initial sign-up of a customer. Damien Seabrook, of North Charleston, N.C., was surprised at the fast and friendly manner of Vivints installation technicians, who arrived at his home in less than 15 minutes after he verified his account.

I was blown away by the quick response and have never had that happen in my life, Seabrook said. Once the technician verified what package I was getting he got right to work. In 45 minutes I had a new system and he even took the time to show me how to work everything. The great part about it is he even downloaded the app to my phone.

Vivints professionally trained staff offer unsurpassed monitoring and quick response time. When Steven Bennett, of Charleston, Tenn., accidentally set off his alarm system, a Vivint representative called him through the panel in less than 30 seconds. That was the quickest response I've ever had from any alarm service I've used, Bennett said. It would usually take about two to three minutes for a response from my previous service provider sometimes even longer. Vivint gives my family the peace of mind that we are well protected. I'm tickled to death with my new system. Thanks, Vivint."

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Vivint Recognizes Outstanding Customer Service as Key to Success

If you have a hard time stepping away from your computer screen, but want to get a workout, a new website called Wello will help make that possible. Wello offers personal trainers via video chat.

I read about Wello and thought it sounded intriguing -- get an affordable personal trainer without leaving your home, and schedule a session at a time that's convenient for you. Personal trainers at gyms and private studios typically cost a minimum of $75 per hour, plus to get to them can sometimes be a hassle. Initially, I was skeptical about the video aspect of Wello -- can a personal training session be successfully accomplished through video chat? But for about $20 a session, I was eager to find out.

[More from Mashable: Olympic Gold Medalist to Speak at the Social Good Summit]

I had a total of three 25 minute sessions with trainers at different levels of experience (and corresponding prices) -- one with a newer trainer, one with a celebrity yoga instructor and the third with a moderately priced trainer. Wello says some 25 minute sessions will be as low as $5, although the lowest price for a 25 minute session I found was $15. Cofounder Leslie Silverglide said Wello may eventually price trainers based on user reviews rather than that trainer's experience (a smart idea).

[More from Mashable: Dr. Drews Greenroom Startup Lets Celebrities Auction Video Chats]

Trainers can view your private profile -- which you create when you sign-up for the site. This is where you write your height, weight and fitness goals (don't worry, this is for their eyes only). This really helps them customize your workout to align with your workout goals and current fitness level.

The training sessions are largely dependent on your Internet connections. My second session had to be cancelled because of the trainer's poor Internet connection. We re-scheduled for later that day but were only able to get through 10 minutes of yoga until it began cutting in-and-out again. The other sessions went well; although I think cardio workouts are best on video chat because when and if you have to adjust the screen, you're already moving so it doesn't disrupt your workout too much. Despite the connection issues, I was able to get some great at-home workouts that were affordable, convenient and tailored to my specific needs, unlike the workouts I get from DVD's.

This is what it looks like:

Of course, virtual personal trainers cannot touch you to correct your form but I found out that if they're vocal and can give good directions, perfecting your form with the help of a trainer is not any more difficult virtually than it is in real life. The gym equipment is what you may be lacking at home, but that's no problem. When you buy your session, you fill out a form indicating what equipment you have at home (in my case, nothing but a yoga mat). The trainers prepare their workouts according to what you have at home.

After you sign-up for a Wello account by entering your name and credit card information, there is some setup involved to make sure your experience goes smoothly: Make sure your screensaver is set to a time longer than your session. Before scheduling a session, check that you're in the correct timezone since trainers are located across the U.S. You can do this by looking under "account settings."

Originally posted here:
Wello: Affordable, Personal Training Using Video Chat [REVIEW]

EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Oct 2, 2012) - An Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) publication has been singled out for a national marketing award, as one of 160 submissions and earning recognition for EEDC''s work in generating awareness of Alberta''s capital city.

The economic development attraction brochure won in the Economic Developers Association of Canada''s 2012 Marketing Canada Awards program''s single publication category. Created in 1968, the national association of economic developers offers its members professional development, networking and resources.

"EEDC uses various tools to attract people considering relocation and this lure brochure highlights the opportunities in the region and our vibrant quality of life. We have a culturally diverse city and lead the world in innovation, education and medical research," says Jenifer Christenson, executive director of external relations. Included are Edmonton''s many festivals, world-class medical facilities, family-friendly neighbourhoods, strong education system, and arts and culture scene. "The brochure''s concise nature delivers critical information in a format that is direct and engaging," says Christenson. "Including testimonials from newcomers to the city lends a personal connection to the reader."

The brochure''s underlying message is that working, living or visiting Canada''s festival city is a positive experience- bringing to the surface Edmonton''s strong workforce, advanced education and vibrant arts and culture scene, upon which the city is built.

Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) provides leadership in economic development, markets Edmonton as a must-see destination, manages the Shaw Conference Centre and Edmonton Research Park, and acts as a stakeholder in TEC Edmonton, a joint venture with the University of Alberta.For more information, visit http://www.edmonton.com Learn more about Edmonton through the stories of people who''ve experienced it at http://www.edmontonstories.ca

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Edmonton Economic Development Corporation: Edmonton Publication Garners National Marketing Award

CHICAGO, Ill., Oct. 2, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Insurance Noodle, part of Willis North America, a unit of Willis Group Holdings plc (WSH), the global insurance broker, today announced the availability of its immediate personal lines quoting hub. Expanding on the functionality of the company's commercial lines quoting hub, the offering allows insurance agents to login and complete an online application to get real-time quotes for home and auto risks in 38 states. The quoting hub connects member agents to products from highly rated personal lines carriers. Currently, five industry leading insurance carriers offer quotes via the hub, and the platform will feature additional carriers in the next few months.

Insurance Noodle is the distribution vehicle for the Willis Commercial Network North America, which provides products and services to small insurance agents and brokers nationwide.

"The release of Insurance Noodle Personal Lines means Willis Commercial Network (WCN) now offers agents a complete solution for their customers' property and casualty insurance needs whether home or business, personal or commercial," said Ralph Blust, Executive Vice President of Willis Commercial Network. "Our platform connects agents to standard personal lines carriers plus both the admitted and non-admitted commercial lines marketplaces. WCN delivers total access for the small agency from a single resource, saving significant time and effort while expanding their ability to write more business," he added.

The personal lines automated quoting platform has been pilot tested by existing members since July, with nearly 1,000 members adopting the platform within the first month. It is now being offered for widespread distribution to small agencies across the country. While available carriers vary by state, the platform delivers at least two options (on personal lines) for most locations.

Along with carrier access and fast quotes, the Insurance Noodle platform provides agents with an efficient means of accessing their Insurance Noodle book of business. All client records, quotes and policies from all carriers are stored in the member's profile on the Insurance Noodle website. Agents can quickly quote, bind, service, and renew business, all online. More enhancements to the network are in development. Agencies interested in signing up for Insurance Noodle Membership can visit http://www.insurancenoodle.com, call 888-466-8868 or email membership(at)insurancenoodle(dot)com.

About Willis Group Holdings

Willis Group Holdings plc is a leading global insurance broker. Through its subsidiaries, Willis develops and delivers professional insurance, reinsurance, risk management, financial and human resource consulting and actuarial services to corporations, public entities and institutions around the world. Willis has more than 400 offices in nearly 120 countries, with a global team of approximately 17,000 employees serving clients in virtually every part of the world. Additional information on Willis may be found at http://www.willis.com. For more information about Insurance Noodle, visit http://www.insurancenoodle.com or call 888-466-8868.

This article was originally distributed on PRWeb. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/10/prweb9968621.htm

Originally posted here:
Willis' Insurance Noodle Expands Online Quoting Platform for Personal Lines Business: Online Hub Offers Real-Time ...

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Personal (www.personal.com), a web and mobile application for individuals to store and share their most valuable information, today launched the Personal Platform, a collection of developer tools and APIs that enable developers to build web and mobile applications that responsibly and securely collect, store and share highly sensitive user information. This information includes personally identifiable information (pii), as well as thousands of fields of data that are less sensitive. Announced at Masherys Sixth Annual Business of APIs (BAPI) Conference in San Francisco, the DC-based company also revealed that more than 150 developers have already signed up for the API at http://developer.personal.com/.

The Personal Platform includes several privacy and security enhancing features. Now, with just a few lines of code, developers can better protect themselves by using Personal to store and share sensitive information as well as increase their access to better customer data by encouraging users to manage their own information. These features include:

From the BAPI stage in San Francisco, Personals co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Tarik Kurspahic announced that the Personal Platform is already yielding results with several third-party applications ready to launch including:

All apps are better with access to great data. Personal Platform makes it easier, safer and cheaper for developers to follow best practices around privacy and security while building apps that leverage data responsibly, said Shane Green, co-founder and CEO of Personal. Developers can now give users clearer and more granular control over their information, which will help create a more robust and transparent personal data ecosystem that benefits both users and developers.

Today, Personal joined the ranks of companies that are realizing the vision of APIs to fuel competitive edge and growth, said Oren Michels, CEO of Mashery. Consumers in the post-website era can more easily work with businesses that leverage APIs like Personals, so that apps grant wishes for their customers.

About Personal

Personal (www.personal.com) gives individuals a web and mobile vault for securely sharing and storing data, notes and files so they can better manage their lives at home and work. Built on a privacy- and security-by-design platform, Personal helps individuals to properly leverage their data so they can realize the most value from it -- all with the peace of mind that the data in their vault remains legally theirs, they always know who can access it, and it can't be shared without their permission. http://www.twitter.com/personal.

Original post:
Personal Launches ‘Personal Platform’ at Business of APIs Conference, Opening APIs for Developers

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 2, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Health and wellness, leadership, and personal development take center stage at the ninth Pennsylvania Conference for Women sponsored by Independence Blue Cross (IBC) and held today at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia. At the annual women-to-women event, IBC leaders Kimberly Eberbach and Lorina Marshall-Blake will share their knowledge, experience, and insight with conference attendees and the company will host an exhibitor's booth in the Health and Wellness Pavilion.

Kimberly Eberbach, IBC vice president of wellness and community health, kicks off a series of presentations at 11:05 a.m. in the Health and Wellness Pavilion with a discussion about technology's role in our personal and professional lives. Her segment, "Tech Savvy Healthy Living," looks at web-based, texting-based, and telephonic tools, such as IBX Mobile and IBX Healthy Steps, which engage users in healthier living.

Eberbach will also host an important and relevant panel discussion about the physical and emotional aspects of dealing with aging. "Embracing Our Ever-Changing Body" will help attendees manage all aspects of the aging process from weight and nutrition to skincare and attire, while identifying how to make effective health decisions.

Lorina Marshall-Blake, IBC vice president of community affairs and president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, joins other corporate, community, and civic leaders in the Career Pavilion for a Local Leader Meet Up session at 11 a.m. During her 30-minute Meet Up session, Marshall-Blake will answer questions related to career and personal development. Local Leader Meet Ups are designed to give attendees access to leaders with whom they would not typically have an opportunity to talk and exchange ideas.

Throughout the day, IBC will offer giveaways, free body mass index screenings, strength testing, and an exciting chance to win box tickets for a Philadelphia Union game and an iPad4 for conference attendees who visit the IBC booth in the Health and Wellness Pavilion. Guests of the conference are encouraged to stop by the booth to talk about their health insurance needs, and to learn more about how IBC is changing the game. The pavilion opens at 7:30 a.m. and remains open until the conference closes at 5 p.m.

About Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we have 3.1 million members nationwide. For nearly 75 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more about how we're changing the game, visit http://www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Continued here:
Independence Blue Cross Sponsors State's Largest Women's Conference

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tONcQpYt9Xg

02-10-2012 17:17 Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf avoided media questions about the continuing of state control of Newark's public schools. Some have filed a lawsuit saying the decision is wrong. For more New Jersey news, visit NJ Today online at

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Education Commissioner Cerf Avoids Talk of State Control of Newark Schools - Video

BOSTON, Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The growing presence of nonprofit universities in online education has ignited unprecedented competition for students who once could choose predominantly among for-profit programs. For the first time a school's brand and its presumed influence in the job market is a competitive differentiator for applicants, according to new paper from The Parthenon Group's Education Practice.

The bread and butter of for-profit online universities such as American Public, Bridgepoint, Capella and the two giants Phoenix and DeVry is the working adult population. Not surprisingly, the top priority of this demographic is to improve career prospects, and The Parthenon Group found that for the first time students are willing to pay a premium of as much as $5,000 to get a degree from a high-profile, nonprofit institution that might abet this goal.

"Competition for students is escalating rapidly between the for-profit and nonprofit sectors," says Chris Ross, a partner in the firm's Education Practice and author of the paper. "You can say the nonprofits, including well-known public universities, have been the sleeping giants. As they scale up in online education, they are moving aggressively into what's been the sole domain of for-profit educators."

Currently, there are 11 nonprofit universities with online enrollments of over 10,000 students and several have surpassed 20,000. Additionally, brand-name schools such as Arizona State University, Boston University, Purdue and the University of Notre Dame are jumping into the market.

The financial stakes are high for the nonprofits and so are the market opportunities. Apollo, the largest for-profit educational corporation, enrolls more students than the 10 largest nonprofit institutions combined. The overall for-profit educational enrollment is approximately 2.5 million, which is double the share from back in 2001.

Moreover, nonprofits for the most part are broadening, as opposed to cannibalizing, their own enrollment market by pushing into online education. "Not only are most online students working, they are older than the typical college enrollee who is aged 18-to-24 and living as a dependent," says Ross.

To date, nearly all nonprofit players in the online market have been inclusive schools that accept most applicants. Selective universities, which make up the preponderance of the 18 million annual post-secondary college enrollment, represent less than 20 percent of online enrollments though the number is growing rapidly.

"They are able to scale up quickly by partnering with online education-services companies like Embanet, Bisk, Deltak and Pearson that offer a full value chain of services that goes well beyond course development," explains Ross. "These services can include innovative recruiting/marketing techniques, processes and student response times that are quite different from traditional nonprofit strategies and are definite competitive strengths."

Competing for Students Across Brand, Price and OutcomeIn the paper, Are the sleeping giants awake? Nonprofit universities enter online education at scale, Ross says all post-secondary institutions will soon compete across brand, price and outcome in new and different ways. For both for-profit and nonprofit sectors Ross sees top-line growth being fueled by three new market "drivers:"

Scale at the degree/program level. Today's applicants consider program first, but as online programs continue to scale, these students will gravitate toward the largest and best-known programs. Program-specific enrollments are the new metric of success.

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Nonprofit Universities Bring Brand Recognition to Online Education

Ditch the gym. Try something different.

Last year's mega fundraising "Party in Pink" Zumbathon in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer at Ally Pally

What: Zumba is a fitness dance party. Its a fun, high-energy workout with roots in aerobics, salsa, and street dance.

The rundown: Class starts with a warm-up then plunges through a playlist of upbeat latin and pop music with different choreography for each track, working different parts of the body. Although its fast, theres lots of repetition involved, aligned to the verse and chorus of the songs, so you soon conquer the choreography. Your instructor will go through the basics before each track but following their lead is easy and it doesnt matter if you go wrong. Just keep moving, keep sweating, keep smiling and youll pick it up again.

Is it the right fit for you? Zumba really is for anyone. Even men.

The class we tried takes place in a local school hall where there are no mirrors to worry about, and nobody cares if you go wrong. The class is attended by a regular bunch aged from late teens to later life and each works to their own ability. Theres always an easier version of the moves to try if the choreography gets a bit tricky or the arms are confusing but no one gets singled out. Its evident that everyone has fun and theres a social side to classes, with breaks for water and gossip. Our instructor, Kendra, buzzes with energy, makes the class laugh, throws in mosh pit moments and makes everyone feel welcome and included.

Oh, and you burn loads of calories and tone up with all that arm waving, hip wiggling and bouncing about.

Where and when: There are over 1,000 Zumba classes to try across London each week at sports centres and in community venues so you will be able to find a class local to you. Classes cost just 5-6 for a 45-60 minute class and instructors often offer loyalty cards.

We tried and paid for classes with Kendra McMillan at Bounds Green School which cost 5.

Browse the alternative fitness archives for more workout suggestions.

Originally posted here:
Alternative Fitness #20: Zumba

Senior citizen center lists schedule of events

CADILLAC The Cadillac Senior Center has scheduled the following events for today through Tuesday, Oct. 9 at the center. Reservations must be made for lunches no later than the day before by calling 779-9420.

Today 8:15 a.m. Aerobics, LRC- bus and van, 1 p.m. bowling, 1 p.m. craft klatch

Wednesday 9:30 a.m. Wii Wednesday, 10 a.m. aquatics, noon lunch, 12:30 p.m. cards,1 p.m. kitchen band practice

Thursday 10 a.m. advanced tai chi, 11 a.m. Tai chi for Parkinson's, noon lunch, 10 to 2 p.m. music jam, 12:30 p.m. euchre

Friday 8:15 a.m. aerobics, 10 a.m. aquatics, 12:30 p.m. bridge club, 1 p.m. bowling

Monday 10 a.m. aquatics, 10 a.m. beginning tai chi, 12:45 p.m. bingo, noon lunch, 10 am and 12:30 pm ceramics

Tuesday 8:15 aerobics, 10 a.m. low vision,LRC ban and van, 1 p.m. bowling, 1 p.m. craft Klatch

Lake City Senior Center

LAKE CITY The Lake City Senior Center has scheduled the following events:

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Senior Calendar