EAST GRANBY, Conn., July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The Retirement Advisor Council made public and freely available a template Request for Proposal (RFP) questionnaire for use by 401(k) and 403(b) plan sponsors looking to select an Advisor. The document covers all the elements of service typically available from Professional Retirement Plan Advisors, including investment services, participant services, provider services, fiduciary support, and compliance support. This customizable document includes 65 questions on five pages. You can obtain the template RFP questionnaire in Microsoft Word document form on the Web site of the Council at http://www.retirementadvisor.us. The template is provided for use without copyright restrictions.

To supplement the template RFP questionnaire, the Council developed an Advisor search protocol for use by plan sponsors also posted on the Web site of the Council.The protocol outlines a suggested process for plan sponsors seeking to select a professional retirement plan advisor, or to perform due diligence on a current advisor.

"The advisor RFP questionnaire will assist plan sponsors in complying with recent legislative regulations centered on fee / service benchmarking; it also provides a turnkey solution saving both time and resources for the plan sponsor relative to production of the questionnaire. The fact that the questionnaire stems from the experience and business models of a highly successful and nationally recognized group of advisors enables a sponsor to avoid the "guess work" in regards to what should be asked or measured in the benchmarking of an investment/fiduciary advisor." says Council member Gregg Andonian, AIF, Principal, Baystate Fiduciary Advisors, Inc.

The Retirement Advisor Council developed the protocol and the accompanying advisor search RFP template over a twelve-month period between July 2011 and July 2012 with input and feedback from the Plan Sponsor Council of America and Asset International, Inc., publisher of PlanSponsor Magazine and PlanAdviser Magazine. The document is the result of months of hard work by a dedicated Cabinet of advisors, advisory firms, service providers, and investment managers collaborating to enhance plan and participant outcomes. The Cabinet was headed by Steve Davis, Regional Vice President at The Hartford. The Council intends to periodically review the protocol and the advisor search RFP template to keep both documents current.

About the Retirement Advisor Council

The Council advocates for successful qualified plan and participant retirement outcomes through the collaborative efforts of experienced, qualified retirement plan advisors, investment firms and asset managers, and defined contribution plan service providers. The Council accomplishes this mission by its focus on:

Learn more about the Council at http://www.retirementadvisor.us

For more information and/or interview requests:Eric Henon (860) 653-1705 ehenon@eachenterprise.com

Read more from the original source:
Request For Proposal Template For Retirement Plan Advisor Search Freely Available

Its been a rough couple of weeks for Hollywood good guys, who now number three fewer as a result of the recent deaths of 71-year-old Nora Ephron, 86-year-old Andy Griffith, and -- earlier today -- 95-year-old Ernest Borgnine. While the death of a 95-year-old isnt shocking to anyone, the death of this particular one is certainly saddening to me because of who he was and what he represented, in terms of both the history of American cinema and my own life.

Ermes Effron Borgnino was one of the greatest character actors to ever grace the big or small screen. The son of Italian immigrants, he was literally a walking contradiction. He was a giant of a man, with a face only a mother could love -- big eyes, big nose, and big gap-toothed smile, all attached to a hulking body -- but, as anyone who ever crossed paths with him at any point in his life attests, he also possessed the gentlest of souls. (To get a great sense of what a lovely guy he was and how much he liked people, check out the 1997 documentary Ernest Borgnine on the Bus.) Once he decided to try acting, for lack of a better idea, at the age of 28, it was this very dichotomy that enabled him to vibrantly bring to life, for multiple generations, as wide an array of characters as anyone in his profession.

He played mean-spirited tough guys in From Here to Eternity (1953), Johnny Guitar (1954), Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), and The Wild Bunch (1969), and a sensitive bachelor who struggles to find love in Marty (1955), for which he won a best actor Oscar. He played a stern but lovable skipper on the comedic TV series McHale's Navy (1963-1966), and also semi-retired superhero on the animated TV series SpongeBob SquarePants (2008-2011). He played a general in The Dirty Dozen (1967), a cabbie in Escape from New York (1981), and a feisty survivor in the disaster films The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972). In short, he could play just about anything.

I first learned about Borgnine, who happened to be a fellow Connecticut native, when I was almost 15 years old and my father brought home a VHS of Marty, the movie that had won the best picture Oscar back when he was 15 years old, and which he remembered enjoying. My younger siblings and I, like most kids, had no interest whatsoever in an old black-and-white movie -- with so much dialogue and so little action it couldn't possibly be good, we reasoned -- but, on that particular night, my father pleaded so hard with us to watch it with him that we didn't have the heart to say no. I'm very grateful that he did, because even though I didn't love the film (I was far too young to fully appreciate it), I also didn't dislike it, and it opened my mind to the possibility that classic movies might not be so bad, after all. In fact, it was just a short time later that I came across a list of the 100 greatest movies of all-time and decided to try to make my way through the selections just for the heck of it, a project that quickly evolved into an irrepressible love affair with film history that set me on the course of doing the very thing that I do for a living -- and, yes, still for pleasure -- today.

You can therefore imagine how cool it was for me that I got to speak with Ernest Borgnine -- or "Ernie," as he insisted that I call him -- on a number of memorable occasions in recent years.

When I was still in high school, I started interviewing as many key players from film history as I could convince to speak with me for what I intended -- and still intend -- to be a book about old movies for young people. My stated objective was to help to keep those movies, and interest in them, alive and well for generations to come, which is something that a considerable number of stars were willing to help me to try to do. One of the first people who I managed to contact, and who was kind enough to agree to speak with me, was Borgnine. Another actor had given me his home telephone number and told me that he was sure that he wouldn't mind speaking with me, so I called him up one afternoon after school, and he couldn't have been more gregarious. He listened to my spiel, and then told me that he would be very happy to be interviewed by me if I called him a few days later, on Saturday morning, at 8 a.m.

Thrilled by this big "get," I spent hours and hours preparing for the interview -- watching and re-watching his films, reading other interviews he had given, and writing out provocative questions -- and eventually came to feel fairly confident that it would all turn out well. On the appointed day, at 8 a.m., I called Borgnine again. When he answered the phone, sounding disoriented and bewildered, I just assumed that he had forgotten that I would be calling him, so I said, "Hi, Mr. Borgnine, it's Scott Feinberg. How are you?" After a bit of a pause and then some stuttering, he replied, "My boy, do you know what time it is?" My heart sank. I realized that, in my excitement about the interview, I had somehow just assumed that Borgnine was in New York, not Los Angeles, and was therefore operating on Eastern Standard Time just like me. It was now clear to me that he wasn't. I was mortified, quickly tried to explain the mistake, and then hung up. He was very nice about it all, but when 8 a.m. PST finally came around three hours later, I just didn't have the nerve to call him back.

Flash-forward a number of years to September 26, 2008, my first day on the job as a blogger about the film industry, generally, and the awards season, specifically, for the Los Angeles Times. I was very excited about this new opportunity, but also very nervous about proving that I deserved it and, most importantly, deserved to retain it. Fortunately, my first day on the job provided me with a perfect opportunity to do just that: film great Paul Newman passed away unexpectedly, and I quickly set to work figuring out which old movie stars I had in my Rolodex who had some sort of a connection to Newman. Within an hour, I had reached out to -- and gotten some great quotes for a post from -- the actress Patricia Neal, who won an Oscar for her performance opposite Newman in Hud (1963), the actor Cliff Robertson, who studied with Newman at the Actors Studio (and eventually won an Oscar of his own), the actor Mickey Rooney, one of the legendary elders of the industry who knew and admired Newman, and, yes, Ernest Borgnine, who worked with Newman in When Time Ran Out (1980).

When I called Borgnine that day, I didn't mention that I was the same guy who had once awakened him at 5 a.m. (I was too embarassed), but just told him that I was a reporter who hoped that he might have a memory or thought to share, and he was very happy to oblige. Because he was so friendly and helpful, I took the liberty of contacting him for quotes on several other occasions over the years between then and now, during which my own career has taken me from the Los Angeles Times back to my personal website and now to The Hollywood Reporter, and he was always lovely.

The most memorable of those exchanges came when Joe Mantell, the great character actor who earned a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for his memorable performance as Marty's best friend Angie opposite Borgnine in Marty, passed away in 2010 at the age of 94. Mantell's family, whom I had gotten to know a little while trying to schedule an interview with Mantell, shared the sad news with me before virtually anyone else, and asked me to help get the word out to the press. I did so, and also decided to call up Borgnine. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I felt that, in this case, it would be no worse, and would perhaps be better, if he learned it from me rather than reading about it in the newspaper -- assuming a newspaper would even cover it.

See the rest here:
Ernest Borgnine (1917-2012): A Personal Remembrance and An Unforgettable Interview

APPLETON, Wis. - Miller Electric Mfg. Co. introduces new digital controls and new headgear for its Arc Armor Digital Elite(TM), Digital Performance(TM) and Digital Pro-Hobby(TM) Series auto-darkening welding helmets. The all-new digital controls make it easier for the welder to adjust shade, delay and sensitivity - even when wearing gloves - compared to previous digital and analog designs. The Digital Performance and Digital Pro-Hobby product lines replace previous product designs that only featured analog controls.

The new headgear is designed to increase comfort, is substantially easier to adjust to personal preferences than previous models and has been tested to withstand the rigors of daily use. The headgear conforms to the user's head and offers more flexibility with six points of adjustment. The integrated comfort cushion mounted on the back of the headgear further ensures a secure and sturdy fit.

"The updates to our full Arc Armor line of digital auto-darkening welding helmets makes settings and adjustments much more intuitive, with easy manipulation and clear markings on the control panel," said Eric Sommers, product manager, Miller. "The updated headgear is more flexible, more durable and the welder is more comfortable for longer periods of time. Whether welding all day for work or on the weekends in your home garage, the new upgrades ensure maximum comfort, productivity and performance."

The updates also include the introduction of two new female-inspired graphic designs: Fury(TM) and Illusion(TM). These are the industry's first large-window professional-grade helmets with graphics for women.

"Personal identity is very important to welders," said Sommers. "While we see women wearing our current graphic designs, we've heard many requests to create designs with more of a feminine appeal. These two new designs are our first steps in that direction."

The full line of Arc Armor digital helmets comes with a new three-year warranty that matches the longest warranty in the industry for a welding helmet.

"Welders can take comfort in knowing the helmets will provide long lasting performance in addition to enhanced functionality and comfort," said Sommers.

Product links MillerWelds.com Product Page New Digital Elite Series Video Overview New Headgear Video Overview

Additional product information The Arc Armor line of digital auto-darkening welding helmets offers something for welders of all skill levels and applications:

Digital Elite Series: These helmets feature four operating modes: weld, cut, grind and x-mode. X-mode eliminates sunlight interference and low-amperage lens opening caused by obstructed views. The helmet features a nine-square-inch viewing area and four independent arc sensors for maximum viewing and dependable lens response. An auto-on/auto-off feature triggers the lens immediately upon arc strikes, ensuring protection and saving batteries when not in use. Digital Elite Series helmets offer variable shades #8-13 for welding (including in x-mode), #5-8 for cutting, and light state #3.5 for grinding. TIG rating: 5 amps.

See the rest here:
Welding Helmets offer digital controls, ergonomic headgear.

SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Ruckus Wireless today announced that Atlantic Aviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie Infrastructure Company,has selected and deployed its Smart Wi-Fi products and technology at the company's 65 fixed base operations (FBOs) at general aviation airports across the United States. Based in Plano, Texas, Atlantic Aviation operates the largest network of FBOs in the country.

The new Wi-Fi infrastructure was built to provide high-capacity, high-performance Wi-Fi to users of its FBOs, including pilots, private aircraft users and visitors.

Atlantic Aviation provides a variety of aviation services to its FBO locations such as concierge services for private aircraft owners and pilots, as well as luggage handling, fueling, and food service. Because its clients are primarily business executives and high-worth individuals, Atlantic Aviation required reliable, high-performance Wi-Fi for guest access as well as to streamline the efficiency of its operations.

"Our clientele is demanding and expects both quality and speed when it comes to pretty much everything. Wi-Fi is no different," said Joel Collins, project management office manager for Atlantic Aviation. "Wi-Fi access is an essential part of using our operations especially since private aircraft owners and their guests carry multiple wireless-only devices when they're at one of our locations.

"We'd had nothing but problems with Wi-Fi for years, and it had become the number one complaint we were receiving," continued Collins. "The challenge was how to implement consistently high-quality Wi-Fi across all of our locations and also provide coverage outdoors on the actual runways without placing too many demands on IT staff at our headquarters."

Atlantic Aviation Gets Its Wings with Smart Wi-Fi

The company's previous Wi-Fi infrastructure was mediocre at best, according to Collins. "The technology was inconsistent from location to location, which caused performance issues at nearly all of the sites and made it difficult to manage."

After a rigorous RFP process, Collins' team chose Blueprint RF to install and manage the network. Blueprint RF's proposal was for an upgrade to a higher performance, high-capacity network powered by Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi technology and products. Blueprint RF handled the deployment and now manages Atlantic Aviation's Wi-Fi infrastructure.

"Given the compelling price/performance and range of coverage Ruckus delivers, there's wasn't a lot of debate," said Ron Peterson, Blueprint RF CEO. "Because of the ever-changing nature of the environment at every FBO site, Ruckus' adaptive antenna technology was the best to address Atlantic Aviation's needs. The performance is very impressive."

Built with its patented adaptive antenna array, the Ruckus ZoneFlex system is designed to overcome the physical and technical challenges of delivering high-capacity, high-performance access to indoor and outdoor areas which are prone to interference or which pose physical barriers to signal penetration for seamless connections. By focusing and directing Wi-Fi signals over the best signal path, the ZoneFlex system is the only one on the market that automatically avoids interference to ensure consistent performance and high throughput.

The rest is here:
Atlantic Aviation Upgrades to Higher Performance Wi-Fi at General Aviation Airports Across the United States

KANSAS CITY, MO--(Marketwire -07/09/12)- Think Kansas City's just famous for being a legendary jazz town?

Not anymore, thanks to the explosive power-pop of The Strive, a KC based band that brings intense and infectious mix of power guitars and propulsive grooves.

They named their band after the spirited, forward thinking aesthetic they brought to their 2010 debut EP Anything Goes and their new follow-up EP Design The Road, which drops July 10 and produced in Austin, Texas by Matt Noveskey, bassist for the rock band Blue October.

For a group that's only been around since the winter of 2010 -- and debuted its current lineup of Nick Stacy, Luke Davis, Greg Dowd, Michael Zenk and charismatic frontman Brendan Stevens in March 2011 -- The Strive has made spectacular inroads on the indie scene.

Besides their formal releases, the home recorded "Caught Inside" quickly rose to the top of the charts on purevolume.com's Top Unsigned Bands playlist. In addition to developing a passionate following via performances at KC hotspots like the Beaumont Club and Uptown Theatre, The Strive have performed on bills with Hawthorne Heights, Ivoryline, All Time Low and Yellowcard; played shows in Milwaukee, Dallas, Austin and the Springboard South Festival in Houston; and were featured at the Red, White & Boom concert, at KC's Starlight Theatre, that included performances by Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw. The band will be performing July 9 at The Vans Warped Tour on the Ernie Ball Stage at The Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre in Kansas City.

With heartfelt, personal lyrics by Stevens and music by Davis and Stacy, the songs on Design the Road reveal writers that are deep thinkers and artists whose powerhouse performances are genuine and original but have an irresistible commercial appeal. In addition to Stevens' soaring, emotional vocals, the two things that immediately hit listeners who are new to The Strive experience are Davis' blistering electric guitar fire and Stacy's deep and versatile drum grooves, which are propulsive to the point of wild hypnosis.

http://www.wearethestrive.com

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2031670

The rest is here:
KC Based Power Pop/Rockers The Strive Design the Road for Breakthrough Success on Their New Four Track EP Produced by ...

FARNBOROUGH, England, July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (RTN) has won an award valued at $4.7 million from the U.S. Army for Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) of the Personal Electronics Computer and Display System in support of the Air Soldier System. The Air Soldier System is the next generation of the Air Warrior System, a U.S. Army rotary-wing air crew ensemble featuring wearable electronics that enhance life support and tactical capabilities.

Under the contract, Raytheon will design, develop and qualify three of the six components in the suite of Integrated Personal Electronics for the next generation of the Air Soldier System. These components include the Soldier Computer Module, the main processing and storage unit for the system; the Personal Display Module, the user interface for the system and display for dismounted activities; and the Mission Display Module, a mounted display for mission and navigation information. Raytheon has more than 10 years of experience supporting the Air Soldier customer through the PM Air Warrior Electronic Data Manager, GPS Message Router and Interactive Situational Awareness System product lines.

"Among other developments, the Air Soldier System will be lighter, last longer and provide more integrated controls," stated John Harris, president of Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company. "This translates to enhanced situational awareness that better supports the mission."

About RaytheonRaytheon Company, with 2011 sales of $25 billion and 71,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 90 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at http://www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter at @raytheon.

Media ContactKeith Strubhar +1 571.250.3388

rtscpr@raytheon.com

Read the rest here:
Raytheon wins US Army Air Soldier System contract

By Maxwell Fisher - July 9, 2012 | Tickers: ALU, T, S, VZ | 0 Comments

Maxwell is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.

AT&T (NYSE: T)will soonextendthe availability of its dual-personality software for mobile devices that has, until now, been exclusive to Android users. This extension will now include Macs, PCs, and mobile devices. Essentially, the system isexpandingtoApple'siOS, and I believe this will have positive effects on AT&T stock.

The expansion should eventually allow AT&T's Toggle to provide "a walled-off and encrypted work environment" for users of these devices. This is still under development, but new enhancements in Toggle could turn the service into a broader platform for remote work. Therefore, this may become a particularly good investment in the long term.

The main point of Toggle is to allow users to adopt its BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy. These policies often occur in work places where people prefer to bring their own devices to work. This can pose a problem though. If the device is being used in personal settings and work settings, there is a chance that sensitive work-related information could be compromised by the apps being used in one's personal life. In other words, there is less security for sensitive information.

Toggle addresses the security issue by allowing users todividetheir device into a personal mode and a work mode. In the personal mode, users can download and use whatever apps they would like to use. In work mode, however, the user can only access apps and content approved by an enterprise. This makes it a far safer device to use in a work context, and it has made this an attractive option for businesses. The user can switch between the two modes when necessary, thereby protecting both the company and the user. Security is one issue that faces workers who would like to take their own devices to work, and the other main issue is the complexity of the situation. With Toggle, AT&T is able to address both issues sufficiently, marking the company as an innovator in this domain.

Toggle's most recent improvementsallowusers to go to a site and download the approved applications in work mode. This is a far more streamlined and convenient system than the previous one. The new version is a significant step for the company, and has the ability to open up several new pathways for development for AT&T.

Although this is a significant step, it is important to remember that AT&T is not the only company offering a service like this, so there is a significant amount of competition in the market. That being said, AT&T is consistently proving to be a leader in this domain.

Verizon (NYSE: VZ), in contrast, has taken a different approach to AT&T's BYOD movement. It recentlylaunched its data-sharing package, which would facilitate the use of multiple phones by one user on the same plan. Consumers can now buy a single data package that can then be split between up to ten devices. Splitting by device provides physical compartamentalization rather than software-based firewalling with AT&T's Toggle. Fees will be based on how much data each device uses. In addition, customers will have to pay a flat rate for each specific device on the contract. It is difficult to tell whether or not this is a good deal though. It is unlikely to be an overwhelming success for at least another few months as people figure out the advantages and disadvantages. The stock should similarly remain fairly neutral until device-usage growth materializes on Verizon's network for work/personal uses.

When it comes to a tech stock, what we want to see is a range of new ideas and innovations, and AT&T's Toggle software is an example of exactly this. If you are specifically looking for a tech stock to add to your portfolio, this is one that will maintain strength. If you already have an interest in AT&T, hang on to it, at least for now. In my opinion, the company is clearly on a successful path, and I see no indication that it will leave that path anytime soon.

Original post:
Toggle Improvements Open Up Doors For AT&T

(PRWEB) July 09, 2012

Mindvalley, the worldwide leader in personal growth and development online publications, has shared details of its The Art of Astral Projection course that is available from theartofastralprojection.com, with 6 free taster sessions available. The publisher is a key mover in the personal development world and its wide selection of products includes the Chakra7 program by Carol Tuttle, the Silva Method, Quantum Jumping by Burt Goldman and others.

Conscious astral projection, also known as out of body experience, is a fascinating phenomenon that traces its roots back to ancient Hindu rituals and medieval traditions. It can be induced through meditation and hypnosis, allowing practitioners to achieve a state of heightened intuition, peacefulness, mental strength and spiritual clarity.

The Mindvalley astral projection program has been devised by Steve G. Jones, M.Ed., a clinical hypnotherapist and expert in astral projection. Jones own journey in astral projection began when he was seventeen years old. Since then, he has become a renowned astral projection and hypnosis trainer with thousands of students across the world. He has authored over 22 books on hypnotherapy and is the President of the American Alliance of Hypnotists.

Jones explained in further detail about astral projection and is perceived benefits. Astral projection is underpinned by the theory that a person can leave the physical body and experience something beyond the physical realm; something transcendent that can be helpful in the physical world. Many students have reported using my astral projection techniques to gain a better understanding of themselves and the people in their lives, experience hyper realistic dreams, channel more positive energy into their careers and relationships and feel more creative and mindful in their careers and personal lives. It is a breathtaking, eye opening and life-changing adventure.

Mindvalley is one of the worlds fastest growing online publishing companies. Through a unique blend of conscious marketing, technology and an experimental work culture, the Mindvalley team spreads enlightened ideas across the internet and beyond. Astral Projection is a popular product for the publisher.

Read the original:
Mindvalley Shows How to Astral Project Consciously with Hypnotherapist Steve G. Jones and Offers Free Beginners Guide

LA CROSSE, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Real Estate School Online (RESO), an industry-leading provider of web-based real estate licensing and continuing education courses, today announced the launch of its new website, http://www.realestateschoolonline.com.

The new website serves as an interactive social hub for real estate agents and brokers, allowing them to network, share information and discuss industry-related news and topics through social networks, blogs, newsletters and other online communication tools.

The new RESO website is a great resource and development tool for all real estate professionals, said Jeremy Gesicki, product manager at RESO. In addition to providing online licensing and continuing education courses, the new website is a virtual meeting place for new and experienced agents, and people considering a career in real estate.

A main feature on RESOs new website is the forum-like blog, Trending in Real Estate. The blog includes personal success stories and industry tips from real estate professionals around the country. A bi-monthly online newsletter is available through the new website and features commentary from the industrys top experts.

The real estate industry faces real challenges as it recovers from the recession, said Gesicki. The online communication tools we have available today are critical resources in a collaborative effort to get the industry back on its feet.

The RESO site is mobile-friendly and accessible on cell phones and tablets.

About Real Estate School Online

Real Estate School Online, part of Kaplan Universitys School of Professional and Continuing Education (PACE), is a real estate education provider that partners with the top real estate schools in the country to provide convenient and affordable state-approved online licensing and continuing education courses for agents and brokers. For more information, visit http://www.realestateschoolonline.com.

PACE helps professionals obtain in-demand certifications, licensing and designations that enable them to advance and succeed in their careers. Through live and online instruction, PACE clients can get advanced designations, accountancy training, business and professional development, and real estate, information technology, health care, and fire and EMS certification training. For more information about PACE, visit http://kaplanprofessional.com.

More here:
Real Estate School Online Debuts New Interactive Website

SCRANTON, PA--(Marketwire -07/09/12)- Penn Foster, Inc., a global leader in online education, today announced the appointment of its new President and Chief Operating Officer, Joseph Gagnon. In this new role, Gagnon is driving an increased focus on student achievement and outcomes by building an integrated new-age learning experience. This new approach is designed to prepare students with relevant knowledge and skills, support them when challenges arise and commit to helping them achieve their goals with next generation technology and personalized service. Gagnon's announcement follows Penn Foster's recent appointment of Frank Britt as its new CEO, Raymond McNulty as Chief Learning Officer and an office expansion in Boston, bolstering the school's presence in the rapidly growing online learning sector.

"Joe brings Penn Foster unparalleled leadership skills and a deep knowledge of the consumer psyche, which is invaluable as we refocus our school on the changing needs of our students and what it takes for them to be successful in today's workforce," said Frank Britt, CEO of Penn Foster. "The depth and scope of the student-focused initiatives and technologies that Joe has already introduced to Penn Foster are providing us with a market leading ability to execute and a roadmap for how Penn Foster partners with its students for long-term success."

Gagnon's entire career has been focused on growing and driving consumer and business demand for products and services. Joe will draw from his consumer retail experience, and focus on how that model can drive student success at Penn Foster.

Most recently, Gagnon came from e-Dialog, a wholly owned subsidiary of GSI Commerce Inc., an eBay Inc. company and the largest B2C email marketing company, where he was President and ran global operations. Prior to e-Dialog, Joseph was CEO of Exit 41 where he focused the company on successfully delivering SaaS-based consumer-facing online, social and mobile ordering solutions for the restaurant industry. Joe was previously vice president, global leader of IBM's Business Consulting Retail Industry leading overall strategy, direction and business operations. He joined IBM when it acquired strategic consulting firm Mainspring, where Joe served as SVP Consulting.

"Education is undergoing many dynamic changes as an industry and I'm thrilled to be part of Penn Foster's leadership team," said Joe Gagnon, President and COO of Penn Foster. "Our goal is to partner with our students from the very beginning to help them achieve success; we will act like a retailer, in a sense, and provide educational programs that fit within their time and budget constraints. We work with our students to understand their needs and motivations and then arm them with the right tools, processes and academic support to see them through their education and onto employment. I look forward to continuing Penn Foster's mission of increasing the ability of every person who so desires to access the knowledge and skills they need in order to fulfill their goals in life."

About Penn Foster Penn Foster is a global leader in online education, providing high school diplomas, career-focused degree and vocational programs in the fields of allied health, business, technology, education, and select trades through the Penn Foster College and Penn Foster Career School.

Follow this link:
Penn Foster Names Joseph Gagnon President and Chief Operating Officer