CARY, N.C. — Regional financial services institutions like Bremer Financial Corporation must find ways to keep operations agile and efficient. When Bremer wanted to find a better financial management system, they selected SAS, the leader in business analytics, to more effectively create and analyze financial reports and budgets.
“With six separate databases required to accommodate the changing needs of our organization, we knew our processes needed an upgrade,” said Bob Buck, Chief Financial Officer at Bremer. “SAS® Financial Management provided a single solution for financial management reporting, budgeting, forecasting and consolidation. We found the solution offered the greatest flexibility for a single database of all financial management information.”
Bremer was frustrated by the need to use multiple modules for the budgeting, forecasting and reporting of financial and non-financial data. The processes in place were slow and inefficient. With SAS, Bremer will have a more streamlined and integrated planning and forecasting process, freeing up more time to analyze and improve financial plans across the organization. The added flexibility from SAS Financial Management will help the finance department manage the growing demands of business line profitability reporting and analysis.
“We anticipate increased productivity of our finance professionals with SAS in place. They will be able to focus their attention on higher-level analysis with less time devoted to managing cumbersome mechanics,” explained Ron Hansen, project manager at Bremer. “In addition to better analysis, the new solution will improve morale and retention of our experienced finance professionals, resulting in a more efficient cost structure for our finance division.”
SAS Financial Management improves the accuracy, relevance and timeliness of financial plans, budgets and reports while promoting the alignment and execution of strategy. SAS Financial Management is one component of SAS financial intelligence, a vision for financial performance management that includes solutions for financial management, activity-based management, dashboards and scorecarding, risk management, and advanced analytics such as optimization and forecasting. By combining the hindsight, insight and foresight provided through these powerful solutions, corporate finance departments can build credibility and confidence within other areas of the company.
Bremer Financial Corporation
Bremer Financial Corporation is a privately held, $7.6 billion regional financial services company jointly owned by its employees and the Otto Bremer Foundation. This unique ownership structure is the only one of its kind in the nation. Founded in 1943 by Otto Bremer, the company is headquartered in St. Paul, MN, and provides a comprehensive range of banking, investment, trust and insurance services to more than 100 locations in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. A significant portion of company profits are distributed in the form of charitable grants by the Otto Bremer Foundation to communities served by Bremer. In 2007, more than $30 million in charitable donations were given across the Bremer footprint and employees donated more than 92,900 volunteer hours to their communities. For more information, please visit www.bremer.com.
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
How Today’s Businesswomen Strike a Work-life Balance
(ARA) - Gone are the days when women were expected to stay at home to dote on their children and husbands. Today’s women have broken through the glass ceiling and are finding their way to corner offices around the country.
Juggling life both inside and outside the home can be a challenge — that’s why it’s important to strike the proper balance between work and personal lives. Luckily, there are specific strategies that women can implement to strike a healthier balance.
Find Work that Works
With today’s struggling economy and families requiring dual incomes, finding an employer that offers flexibility is often the key to both a successful career and personal life. And finding employers with this approach may be easier than you think. For example, The HON Company, a leading manufacturer of office furniture, understands the importance of family and instills a culture that enables work-life balance. Beyond creating quality office furniture that creates a comfortable, flexible and “home-like” work setting, HON offers its members perks such as flexible spending accounts to help offset the costs of daycare, local YMCA fitness center allowances and family-oriented activities.
“A member committee plans monthly outings and provides opportunities for members to purchase discounted passes for local family events,” says Tim Heth, vice president of member and community relations for HON. “Additionally, members are allotted one hour of paid volunteer time each week to utilize in any way they wish — from local Habitat for Humanity projects to their children’s PTA. Each benefit helps improve employee morale for both our female and male members.”
“Make sure you go to work with someone that has the same philosophy as you do,” says Tammy Vasilatos, owner of Tammy Vasilatos CPA, LLC, a 100 percent female accounting firm in El Paso, Tex. Vasilatos has created a family-friendly work atmosphere by offering flexible work schedules to her employees. She adds, “Don’t give up what you want, because you don’t need to do that anymore. The women before us had to, but we don’t.”
“I am more understanding of the importance of work-life balance,” says Michelle Horan, president and owner of Salka Office Furniture, a full-service office dealer in Meridian, Conn. “I am very flexible with hours and time off. I believe that taking care of good employees and customers is what leads to success.”
Set Realistic Time Schedules
While work deadlines are a necessary evil that you must complete, will anything bad happen if the dishes don’t get done or the bed isn’t made every day? No - so don’t sweat the small stuff.
Start each week with a realistic “to-do list” for both your work and home life. Check yourself each day to ensure that you are making progress and that your time allowances are in check. By the end of the work week, if you’ve completed enough tasks each day, your weekend can truly be enjoyed. And don’t sweat it if you didn’t get to the household chores. If you need to, you can hire a professional cleaning or landscaping service.
Leave Work at Work
With cell phones, laptops, PDAs and home offices, it has become blurry when the workday begins and ends. Be sure to separate your personal time from professional time by turning off your connections to the working world and turning on your connections with your family and friends.
Learn to Say No
If you’re a parent, you are probably a pro at saying “no” to your kids, so learn how to respectfully say no to projects that don’t fit within your schedule. Whether it’s taking the lead on a project at work, or coaching a soccer team, it’s okay to say no to projects that will bring you more stress than joy. As long as you are honest with your employers, they will most likely understand.
“Don’t be embarrassed or apologetic that you want to have both a career and a family,” adds Vasilatos. “Employers just want good quality work.” Plus, if you are in over your head, you may not be putting in your best work anyway.
While striking a work-life balance in today’s fast-paced world isn’t an easy task, by following these few guidelines, it is possible. “Now is a wonderful time to be a woman in the workforce,” says Vasilatos. “You really can have it all!”
For more information on The HON Company, visit www.HON.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
CARY, NC — Ultimus, developer of one of the most widely-deployed business process management software suites in the world, announced a strategic global partnership with JFE Systems, a Tokyo-based user systems integrator specializing in the manufacturing sector.
This partnership allows JFE to develop margin-rich revenue streams with the Ultimus BPM solution while utilizing their own manufacturing integration expertise and development teams. Ultimus can now more effectively target the Japanese BPM market, which as part of the larger Asia-Pacific region has demonstrated positive growth.
In a recent report, Gartner indicates that the total software revenue in the portal, process, and middleware software market (including business process management suites) in Asia/Pacific and Japan is estimated to have grown to nearly $2.1 billion in 2006. Gartner forecasts the market will grow to $3.4 billion by 2011, with a five-year compound annual growth rate of 10.4%.
“The growing demand in the Japanese marketplace for workflow automation drove our decision to team with the foremost global provider of BPM solutions,” said Syuji Aoki, General Manager, IT Solution Sales, JFE Systems. “Our product and service portfolio and experience with large enterprise deployment provide a natural extension of the Ultimus BPM solution.”
Firmly committed to the world’s second largest economy, Ultimus has many years of experience in Japan. Ultimus boasts a prestigious Japanese customer base, including enterprise customers such as Ajinomoto, Nissan, Sanyo, Bausch & Lomb, Synthes, Volkswagen Group Japan, Mistui Oil, Yamashita, and Optrex.
“As a pioneer in next-generation information technology, JFE Systems offers our Japanese customer base exceptional customer service and rapid application system development,” said Samuel Bateman, Director, International Business Development, Ultimus. “The award-winning Ultimus Adaptive BPM Suite provides a business process backbone with extensive and adaptive capabilities that set JFE apart from their competition.”
The Ultimus Partner Program aims to forge relationships with leading organizations around the globe. The program empowers partners with access to the tools, information, and resources needed to successfully use, sell, deploy, and support the Ultimus Adaptive BPM Suite on mission-critical, high-value business processes.
About JFE Systems, Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange, Second Section/Code No.4832)
JFE Systems, Inc. (name changed from Kawatetsu Information Systems Ltd. on December 1, 2004) was formed as an independent company in 1983 from the former information systems division of Kawasaki Steel Co., Ltd. (the present “JFE Steel Corporation”). In March 2001, it became the first user systems integrator born out of the manufacturing sector to be listed on the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. For more information, please refer to http://www.jfe-systems.com/eng/index.html
Read More: CarolinaNewsWire
SAS is going to high school.
The Cary software company is expanding a pilot programming course taught at Apex High School to nine other high schools this academic year.
Seven of the newly added schools are in North Carolina, including Cary High School and the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, and one each is in Florida and Alabama. The course will be available to high schools across the country beginning in January.
“I do think it is something that can be successful nationwide,” said Julie Oster, director of Apex High’s information technology-oriented curriculum. “It’s a skill that is in high demand … because SAS is used in so many industries. Statistical analysis is now everywhere.”
John Garrison, a senior at Apex High who took the SAS course last year, said it opened his eyes to the power of data. “It really allows for a lot of statistical analysis,” he said. “It’s a great platform for learning.”
The teen said he found the “syntax” of SAS — the basics of the programming language — easy. But it was harder to determine the best ways to process and manipulate data, which is at the heart of the company’s business intelligence and analytics software.
SAS, which has more than 4,000 workers in Cary, views the course as a way of doing good — enriching student curricula — as well as helping itself by spreading the word about the company and training what is potentially a new generation of SAS programmers.
That’s important because demand for SAS programmers exceeds supply. Demand is especially high at pharmaceutical and financial services companies that use SAS software.
The high school program is an extension of the company’s efforts to teach SAS skills at the university level.
That includes helping to develop N.C. State University’s master’s degree program in analytics and a data mining certificate program at Oklahoma State University.
Nor is SAS’s push into high schools unique. More schools are offering information technology curricula, and IT companies are eager to work with them. Cisco Systems courses were taken by 2,939 students at 47 high schools in North Carolina from October 2006 to October 2007, the company said.
“The same courses I’m teaching at high school, you can actually take at a community college or university,” said Geof Duncan, who teaches two Cisco courses — network engineering technology I and II — at Knightdale High School.
The first course teaches students to set up a wired or wireless network in a home or small office. The advanced course teaches skills such as configuring routers. Combined, the two courses are the equivalent of one college course.
Leslie Keller, the Apex teacher who worked with SAS to adapt its adult certification program for the high school level, views the course as useful even for students who don’t pursue a career in IT.
“All programming language is problem-solving and critical thinking, regardless of what the programming language is,” she said. “In addition, SAS offers a broader perspective and appreciation of data and how it can be beneficial and how it can be used.”
SAS’s sophisticated business intelligence and analytics software isn’t easily explained in a few words, but Keller has a pat description: “SAS takes data and turns it into useful information. It analyzes the data, creates reports from the data in many, many different ways.”
For years SAS has been approached by high schools interested in teaching SAS programming. Until now the company didn’t have a course to offer them, said Caroline McCullen, director of SAS education initiatives
Read More:News & Observer
Companies must develop ways to use water - a renewable resource - without harming the planet.
(NewsUSA) - The saying, “Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink” rings true. Although water covers 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, humans make little use of its potential.
Fresh water irrigates fields, washes dishes and prevents dehydration, but it only accounts for 1 percent of the water supply. Moving water provides energy, but only 19 percent of the world’s power comes from hydroelectricity.
Water’s a natural, renewable resource, but humans don’t always use it in eco-friendly ways. People must remove the salt from ocean water before they can drink it, but according to the National Research Council, ocean-desalination plants consume so much energy that they do Earth more harm than good.
Today’s hydroelectric technologies use dams to harness moving water’s energy. Large dams require energy and materials for construction, displace communities and destroy wildlife habitats. In the U.S., 80,000 dams divert and block moving water, changing river habitats into lakes and disrupting wildlife. In 2008, horrified fishermen saw the biggest Chinook salmon run in the Sacramento River collapse, partly due to a diversion dam.
But one Hungarian-based technology company, Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc., is working to improve the ways that humans use water. Its ocean desalination prototype, when completed, will use solar or wind power to produce drinkable water at low monetary and environmental costs.
Power of the Dreams Ventures, Inc. also built a model for a product called RiverPower, which can supply hydroelectric power without dams. RiverPower generators would be submerged at strategic points, using an entire river’s flow to generate electricity. RiverPower would supply energy 24 hours a day, making it more reliable than solar or wind energy.
For more information about RiverPower, visit www.powerofthedream.com. Power of the Dream trades under the symbol PWRV on the OTCBB exchange
(ARA) - By now nearly everyone has heard something about the digital TV transition set to take place on Feb. 17, 2009. That’s the day when all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will cease broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting solely in digital.
That’s less than a year away — so now is the time to start thinking about how the switch will affect you. Will you choose to get a converter box or will you take advantage of this opportunity and step up to the amazing picture of a high definition TV with a built-in digital tuner?
While the change to all-digital TV might sound a little scary to some people, the fact is that digital broadcasting will benefit everyone, bringing improved picture and sound quality, as well as additional channels and interactive video and data services. The best news is that it’s actually very simple to make the switch from analog to digital TV at home. Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to enjoying a high-definition digital experience in your own home.
Getting Started:
If you’re looking to get the best high-definition picture, you’ll need an HDTV set capable of 720p, 1080i or 1080p picture resolution. You’ll also need a high-definition source such as an HD cable box or satellite receiver and be watching a high definition channel that will show 720p or 1080i resolution. To receive 1080p resolution, which is the clearest, most detailed picture available today, you’ll need a Blu-ray Disc player. If you’re a little confused, don’t fret. The salespeople at almost any store that sells HDTV will be glad to help you out.
Making the Right Connection:
It’s important to remember, however, that when you buy an HDTV, one of the most important components may not be included. To get all that high definition picture and sound from your HD cable box or satellite receiver or Blu-ray disc player, you will want to purchase an HDMI cable to connect your high-definition source to the TV.
Widely regarded as the best high-definition connector available, HDMI cables give you the very best sights and sounds, and because they carry both audio and video digital signals they’re also the easiest way to hook up to your HDTV.
Not All Cables are Created Equal:
There are many different choices when it comes to buying HDMI cables, but like you wouldn’t put economy tires on a sports car, you will want to make sure you go with the highest quality cable available to get all the performance from your high definition gear. This doesn’t have to mean buying the most expensive cable, but you will need to find one that can support the large amounts of data coming from sources that have the new HDMI 1.3 format, 1080p, and the new HD audio formats used on Blu-Ray discs. Even if you haven’t converted to Blu-Ray just yet, planning for future technologies is advisable when it comes to purchasing HDMI cables.
Noel Lee of Monster Cable believes it is possible for all Americans to make the perfect digital connection. His company is offering “Monster Advanced for HDMI” speed-rated cables. “We’ve worked to create a speed-rating system for every budget and hookup,” Lee states. “This way, everyone can enjoy maximum high-definition performance, no matter what system they own.”
For more information about HDMI and to learn which speed-rated cable is right for your HDTV, visit Monster’s HDMI learning center at www.monstercable.com/HDMI. For more specific questions, visit www.monstercommunity.com .
(ARA) – If you’re torn between your concern for the environment and your need to make a living, good news is on the horizon. Rising demand for environmentally friendly alternatives for fossil fuels is opening up new career opportunities for professionals in a variety of fields.
Growing environmental concern and limited fossil fuel supplies are driving the growth of domestic and international markets for renewable energy systems, the U.S. Department of Energy reports. Rising demand for cleaner energy directly affects career opportunities in industries related to renewable resources.
“The 2008 economic forecast suggests that one of the newest, fastest growing markets for jobs will be alternative energy,” says Sheryl Decker, director of career services at Brown Mackie College – South Bend, Ind. Decker recently attended a business outlook panel presented by Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. “Growth opportunities appear in companies that are exploring the use of wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower and bioenergy power technologies.”
Millions of professionals already work in alternative energy industries, yet more are needed, including:
* chemists
* engineers
* sales and marketing professionals
* administrators
* managers
* clerical workers
* human resources
* information technology
* business
* finance
* law
“Professionals who are already in the workforce, and students seeking to enter into a green career, can prepare with a number of degree programs and continuing education courses,” Decker says. “Many different types of skills can be applied to these upcoming industries.”
“Alternative energy companies are seeking professionals to fill a wide variety of positions, including mechanical engineer, project manager, programmer analyst, IT sourcing specialist, administrative assistant and marketing director,” she says.
”Business Week” magazine reports that a growing number of professionals are moving to jobs in renewable energy fields to promote their own personal environmental concerns. While some intend to transfer existing skills to a different industry, others are making a mid-life career change simply to become part of the solution for the many environmental issues we face today.
The rising cost of oil is proving to be a catalyst for the further development of alternative energy sources. While substantial growth is happening now, Decker points out that many people don’t yet realize the opportunities it affords.
“People tend to overlook many untapped markets and job opportunities in their local employment arenas,” she says. “Networking can be an effective way to gauge the hiring needs in your area. I encourage everyone to join industry-specific organizations, volunteer in community activities, and become involved with the Chamber of Commerce. By becoming involved in the community and networking, you will see new doors opening with different job opportunities.”
To learn more about career training opportunities in alternative energy, and how to prepare for working in this quickly growing business sector, visit www.brownmackie.edu.
Inexpensive electric vehicles, like the Zap truck, eliminate expensive fuel costs.
(NewsUSA) - What’s the best way to save money on gas? Stop buying gas and use electric cars.
According to a new AAA survey, gas prices are becoming a chief concern for consumers. But for Americans with long commutes, walking and biking between work, home and children’s soccer games might not be a viable option.
Electric cars - the ones that run without gasoline engines - are no longer science fiction.
One electric car maker, Zap, has put affordable electric cars and trucks on the market. Zap vehicles use rechargeable batteries and plug into standard outlets. All you do is plug it in like a cell phone.
These vehicles are even becoming a viable option for dealerships to stimulate sales in a down economy. Zap cars provide a gas-free way to get to work, pick up the kids and run errands. They also make an economical addition to your business or government fleet.
Zap city cars and trucks might cost around $11,000, while electronic scooters sell for as little as $3,000. Along with their low initial cost, electric cars also save drivers money on the roads. You can even qualify for 100 percent financing on these vehicles.
As gas prices climb, more Americans are spending over $60.00 just to fill their vehicles’ fuel tanks. Recharging an electric car costs around 60 cents.
According to the California Air Resources Board, a person driving an electric car for 30 miles each day can save 750 gallons of gas - and around $2,500 - each year.
Electric vehicles have no tailpipe exhaust. They don’t emit greenhouses gases. Even after factoring in the pollution from electric power plants, electric cars still cause 90 percent less pollution than gasoline-powered cars.
State and federal governments understand electric cars’ value. Many offer financial incentives for people purchasing electric cars.
Electric cars can include a solar option that helps save even more. Solar panels can extend your range if parked on a sunny day and can double the life of the battery before it needs replacing. Plus, nothing makes an environmental statement like a solar-charged electric car.
Zap dealerships are being set up across the U.S. To find one or to register to test drive a Zap, call 800-251-4555 or visit www.zapworld.com.
Raleigh, NC – Business Technology Solutions, a Raleigh based business consulting firm, announces today that the firm was named in the Business Leader’s Top 100 North Carolina Small Businesses. The rankings were published in the June issue of Business Leader Magazine.
“We are delighted to be included along with these other great organizations on the list of North Carolina’s Top 100 Small Businesses,” states Lissa Johnsen, President / CEO. “We feel this honor affirms our commitment to providing small and medium sized businesses exceptional services to solve their unique needs in accounting systems, business management, technology management and human resource systems.”
The rankings for the top 100 small companies were decided primarily on company growth and community involvement. Other criteria included staff size and the percentage of work completed within the state of North Carolina.
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
GARNER, N.C. — ASC Signal Corporation, (formerly Andrew Corporation Satellite Communications Group), today announced an agreement with Globecomm Systems, Inc. (GSI) to supply commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) antenna products. As GSI’s strategic partner and supplier, ASC Signal was selected to provide antenna products that support the recent major award to GSI by a global multilateral organization, which offers a potential revenue of $30 million over a three-year period.
ASC Signal’s antenna products allow Globecomm Systems to deliver a range of enhanced services and offer further support to their global customer. ASC’s antenna products will be supplied under a three-year IDIQ (Indefinite-delivery / indefinite-quantity) contract. These products include:
- 3.9 Meter F-1 compliant C-band Trifold® transportable antenna product
- 4.9 Meter Intelsat E-2 Ku-band type approved motorizable antenna
ASC Signal’s 3.9 meter antenna features a wide range of adjustment with the ability to view geostationary satellites, horizon-to-horizon, from any location worldwide. Its unique Trifold® reflector panels are cut from a single piece of precision spun aluminum.
Additionally, the innovative 4.9 meter Intelsat E-2 type approved Ku-band earth station antenna was developed for maximum accuracy and versatility. This low-maintenance antenna features a dual reflector Gregorian system that provides excellent pattern characteristics and high gain. Equipped with a self-aligning main reflector, it is also capable of reception and transmission for quad-band C-band, X-band, Ku-band and Ka-band configurations.
Previously, ASC Signal has supplied antenna products to GSI for the company’s other global projects. ASC Signal was selected by GSI due to its strong reputation and industry leading product line.
Dr. Russell Dearnley - Vice President, Earth Station Antennas and Solutions for ASC Signal, stated, “Being selected by GSI validates our shared goals of sustaining excellent customer service on a worldwide level.” He continued, “We are proud to provide GSI with our products. As we continue our dynamic growth, we are looking forward to building upon our existing synergistic relationship and collaborating with GSI on future projects.”
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
