Dr. Dennis Mackman

Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) May 17, 2012

After thirty two years of service to our practice and South Florida’s medical community, our esteemed colleague, Dr. Dennis Mackman is retiring. His presence will be greatly missed and his contributions remain integral to the fabric of our organization. Since joining North Broward Radiologists in December of 1980, Dr. Mackman has witnessed and participated in many significant changes occurring in medical imaging over the years. In recalling his early years in radiology, Dr. Mackman says that ultrasound was rudimentary, CT was young technology – used mainly for brain (not much for body) and MRI was still in the research stage

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a medical degree in 1974, Dr. Mackman did his rotating internship at San Joaquin General Hospital from 1974-75. He began an anesthesia residency at the University of Florida from 1975-76 before deciding to make a change in career path. Dr. Mackman completed his Nuclear Medicine residency at the University of California – San Francisco (where he also served as Chief Resident). Dr. Mackman recalls attending a UCSF lecture where he saw the first MRI the school captured – the image was of the butt of a mouse that was crawling out of the magnet as it scanned.

Dr. Mackman received his certification by the American Board of Radiology for Diagnostic Radiology and received his Nuclear Radiology certification in 1980. The following achievements are merely an abbreviated list of his professional accomplishments:

    Initiated use of Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET-CT) and Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiogram (CTA) into the practice
    Expanded imaging at Broward General Medical Center (BGMC) to outpatient setting
    Served as Director of Radiology for Broward Health for over 20 years
    Guided start up of imaging at Broward Health Weston, assisting with transition to PACS system and implementing 24 hour Radiology coverage for the Trauma Center
    Contributed to Radiation Safety, Credentials & Qualifications and Medical Care Evaluation Committees
    Developed one of the first steering committees to coordinate image services system-wide
    Embraced teleradiology technology and helped to launch SteleRAD

Dr. Mackman is as proud of his personal achievements as his professional success. This year, he will celebrate 43 years of marriage to his wife, Sandy, who was an X-ray technician and is credited with motivating him to pursue a career in radiology. Dr. Mackman and Sandy are parents of two sons. Their eldest son Ryan is a recruiting manager in Chicago and Chad is a Senior Medical Resident at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH.

In retirement, Dr. Mackman plans to spend time visiting his children, fishing, taking in the theater in New York City and traveling. He’s also excited about having more time to study computers, which has been a personal passion of his for years.

From the entire staff at North Broward Radiologists, “We offer our deep gratitude and sincere wishes for many happy and healthy years of retirement.”

About SteleRAD

SteleRAD is a provider of high quality teleradiology services − owned and operated by Board Certified Radiologists. The practice is comprised of radiologists from North Broward Radiologists, a group of physicians serving the medical community since 1969. SteleRAD’s cost effective and highly efficient teleradiology services enable imaging centers, hospitals and physician groups to outsource their radiology needs to highly trained experts. Subspecialties include Pediatric Radiology, Musculoskeletal Radiology, Neuroradiology, Chest/Cardiovascular Radiology and more. Visit SteleRAD.com.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) May 07, 2012

Easter Seals today announced a new partnership with the Comcast Foundation that will expand assistive technology services at Easter Seals affiliates from Boston to Houston. The $ 250,000 Comcast Assistive Technology Grant Fund at Easter Seals will build on successful programs for people with disabilities and special needs by providing assessment, training and support designed to address their long-term technology needs.

The Comcast Foundation’s interest in strengthening communities, fostering diversity and opportunity, and creating a lasting impact aligns with the mission of Easter Seals to offer help and hope to people with disabilities and to the families who love them. The partnership created a competitive grant process that was open to select Easter Seals affiliates, seven of which were chosen to receive support from the Comcast fund.

“As the country’s largest provider of Internet services and a leader in efforts to close the digital divide, Comcast is dedicated to strengthening the path toward equality and full access for people with disabilities,” said Charisse R. Lillie, President of the Comcast Foundation. “We are happy to support Easter Seals on this new initiative.”

The Easter Seals affiliates selected to receive the funds and their plans for the grants are:

    Easter Seals Capital Region, Hartford, CT, will establish a Mobility Development Lab. The lab will use high tech assistive technology to fulfill the dreams of individuals who have mobility- or paralysis- related disability. The technology will seek to restore or strengthen the ability to walk independently using functional electrical stimulation.

    Easter Seals Crossroads Rehabilitation, Indianapolis will design a Pilot Online Learning Community for Assistive Technology (POLLCAT,) which will enable teaching and peer-to-peer interaction for users of assistive technology, regardless of their physical location.

    Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region in suburban Chicago will integrate a new program called Techno Kids – Ready for School. The program is in collaboration with eSpark, Inc. and uses online tools and technology to determine a child’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses. It sets individual goals for the child and prepares the child to gain the necessary skills to enter kindergarten.

    Easter Seals Greater Houston will enhance their BridgingApps program. The program is a bridge for parents, teachers, therapists and caregivers, connecting a child with a disability to available technology. The funding will help improve the program website, expand content to include apps targeted to older children with a particular emphasis on autism, and expand the parent/community group.

    Easter Seals Massachusetts, Boston area will use funds to support the research and preparation needed to provide the most up-to-date information about devices and applications that aid individuals and families living with disabilities. They will host workshops and purchase additional tablet devices that will be available to individuals and families who want to try assistive technology before purchasing it.

    Easter Seals South Florida, Miami will give additional support to their Culinary Arts Vocational Training Jobs Program. They will purchase touch screen net books for the program in order to move technology into the kitchen and enhance students’ culinary skills.

    Easter Seals Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia will offer assistive technology support for vocational training and socialization to the Job Corps summer program. Computers with adaptive technology will expand skills and technologies that students can use in their educational settings or vocational programs, and be integrated into the students’ personal lives.

“We thank the Comcast Foundation for investing in assistive technology solutions for consumers with disabilities living in their communities,” says James E. Williams, Jr., president and chief executive officer, Easter Seals. “This new grant fund makes it possible for Easter Seals to build on our long history of providing expertise and technology support for children and adults with disabilities who want to be more actively involved in school, in the workplace and with their families.”

About Easter Seals

Easter Seals is the leading non-profit provider of services for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities and other special needs. For more than 90 years, we have been offering help, hope, and answers to children and adults living with disabilities, and to the families who love them. Through therapy, training, education and support services, Easter Seals creates life-changing solutions so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in their communities. For more information visit http://www.easterseals.com

About the Comcast Foundation

The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities – promoting community service, expanding digital literacy and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $ 90 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at http://www.comcast.com/neighborhood. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at http://www.comcast.com/community.

Media Contact:

Kristen Barnfield, Easter Seals

P: 312.551.7147

kbarnfield(at)easterseals(dot)com

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) May 12, 2012

CoreXchange, full-service provider of data center http://www.corexchange.com/colocation-services and advanced networking solutions, welcomes new Dallas colocation client, Mirrored Storage, Inc.

Mirrored Storage http://www.mirroredstorage.com/ is the complete solution for business monitored cloud backup and storage needs, featuring unmatched colocation services security, robust version control, and online restore of computer data 24 hours a day, and, by moving to CoreXchange, Mirrored Storage has improved its efficiency on all fronts.

“Previously, I believed that I had sufficient bandwidth, but since moving to CoreXchange I see that my nightly customer backups are completing 2-3 hours sooner per night. Now that I have customers that require connectivity during the day the consistent power and connectivity is a great relief,” John Neibel, President and Founder of Mirrored Storage.

Mirrored Storage is also now able to approach and do work with larger clients that require the certifications that CoreXchange has such as SSAE 16 SOC-1 Type II compliance (which supersedes a SAS70 audit). With unmetered bandwidth and redundant power via UPS and diesel generator backups, Mirrored Storage no longer worries about bandwidth limitations or power outages. They had backup batteries before, but with a limited life.

CoreXchange’s colocation services are delivered by the industry’s most seasoned squad of network engineers and support specialists who continue to design advanced solutions that address the growing demand for outsourced Internet infrastructure and availability services. The team at CoreXchange puts clients’ needs first, ensuring top-notch customer service through the entire purchase process.

“Everyone I have worked with from pre-sale through moving in and afterwards has been great. I have always gotten VIP service,” John Neibel, President and Founder of Mirrored Storage.

About CoreXchange, Inc:

CoreXchange’s comprehensive solutions include colocation, high performance network connectivity, Internet access, Dallas disaster recovery, and a business continuity center. Headquartered in the globally recognized Dallas Infomart and led by a highly experienced team of networking services technologists and executives, CoreXchange provides services at its enterprise-class data centers or customers’ remote locations, via local loop or metro Ethernet. For more information, visit http://www.corexchange.com.

About Mirrored Storage, Inc:

Founded in 2008 Mirrored Storage provides a complete range of managed cloud based backup and storage to small and medium sized businesses. Headquartered in Plano, Texas we provide services to customers and across the country with a concentration on the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. For more information, visit http://www.mirroredstorage.com.

Media Contact: Julia Morgan, media(at)coreXchange(dot)com or 214-442-1117.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) May 10, 2012

Hotel marketers are aware that having a strong web presence is a necessity in the travel market. Many have great websites that tell their hotel’s story, let visitors view photos and multi-media, and book their dream stay. But today, both leisure and business travelers are relying on their mobile devices to access the internet for travel and hotel information. Hotels need more than just a strong web presence; they need a mobile-optimized hotel website.

During this 45 minute webinar, Take Your Hotel Marketing Mobile, on Wednesday, May 23rd at 11am Eastern Time, attendees will hear from expert marketer, John McAuliffe, who will share his insights and the latest research in mobile marketing and consumer behavior. Then, Doug Smith, a successful hotel marketer, will share his knowledge and expertise on what it takes to launch a successful mobile hotel marketing strategy and how he has taken the Z Ocean Hotel South Beach mobile.

Webinar Details

Date: May 23rd, 2012

Time: 11 am Eastern Standard Time

Duration: 45 min + 15 min Q&A

Register Now!

You will learn:

    What is happening in the mobile space
    How travelers are using mobile devices
    Opportunities for you to capitalize on mobile
Don’t miss the opportunity to have your hotel marketing and mobile strategy questions answered by the speakers during the Q&A session.

Meet the Speakers

John McAuliffe, Chief Marketing Officer, VFM Leonardo is a 20+ year marketing veteran with hands on experience in leading market-driven strategies for disruptive technologies. John was the President and COO of a mid-size Canadian advertising agency which he transformed from a provider of production and creative services to a professional services firm focused on delivering integrated communications consistent with its clients’ brands. John is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and has taken post graduate studies in Strategic Marketing Management at University of Toronto and Harvard University.

Doug Smith is the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Z Ocean Hotel South Beach.

Register Now!

About VFM Leonardo

VFM Leonardo is a technology and online media company for the global hospitality industry. We provide e-marketers at hotel brands, management companies and hotel properties with technology, sales conversion tools and a global travel media network that enables them to better visually merchandise their hotels to millions of in-market travel shoppers monthly. Our core products, the VScape® Digital Asset Management System and VBrochure™ Online Merchandising System, leverage the VNetwork™ – the largest media syndication network in the industry. It includes all major search engines, Global Distribution Systems, online travel agencies, travel research and supplier websites, search portals, review, travel editorial, local directories and major social media and video sharing sites. Taking advantage of VBrochure’s mobile and social media platforms, hotels can ensure that their rich visual presentations reach consumers on their mobile devices and through their social graphs. For more information about VFM Leonardo, visit http://www.vfmleonardo.com.

Connect with VFM Leonardo.

@VFMLeonardo

Facebook

Blog

Media Contact:

Julie Ford, VFM Leonardo Inc.

Toll free: 1-877-593-6634

Phone: 416-263-5446

Email: press(at)vfmleonardo(dot)com

# # #

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Teacher Appreciation Week Sweepstakes

Freehold, NJ (PRWEB) May 04, 2012

TeachersNotebook.com is announcing the “Teacher Appreciation Week Sweepstakes” that will run from May 5th to May 11th. One winner per day will win a credit of $ 100 to be used to purchase lesson plans and activities created by teachers.

Sweepstakes winners will be able to choose items from some of their favorite teacher shops or view teaching tip videos from their fellow educators in the Virtual Teaching Expo. The site is free to all educators and homeschoolers and contains paid and FREE items that cover every key topic in education including the Common Core State Standards. Educators can visit the site daily at Teacher Appreciation Week Sweepstakes to enter the sweepstakes every day starting on May 5th, 2012 at 12:00am CT. For the Official Rules, visit TeachersNotebook.com

Debbie Esemplare, Co-Founder of Teachers Notebook, taught Kindergarten for eight years in the New York City School System. She understands the hard work, long hours, and personal sacrifice that educators dedicate themselves to. It is her belief that educators should have a place to go to help one another and share ideas. This belief lead to the creation of Teachers Notebook, a friendly place that makes it easy for educators from around the world to connect, inspire, learn, and teach. “At Teachers Notebook, we value teachers and their daily contributions that go above and beyond a job description. We are grateful for all the hard work, dedication, and the help teachers give their students that very often goes unseen. We appreciate everything they do.” says Debbie.

Teachers Notebook wants educators to be aware that every item available on the site was designed and created by an educator like themselves. These educators have spent countless hours creating, refining and testing these resources in the real-world. This is why 100% of the proceeds for every sale goes directly to the educator who created the item.

Many teachers sacrifice large financial burdens in keeping up with classroom materials as well as educational resources. These resources enhance the curriculum to fit the needs of their students and it is a personal goal for teachers to have their students reach their fullest potential. The importance of having a classroom rich in materials and resources that reach children above and below grade level is critical to meeting that goal.

About Teachers Notebook

TeachersNotebook.com is fast becoming the “go-to” destination for educators to connect with one another to share and learn in a virtual community. The site is a place for teachers to buy, sell and share original teaching resources where teacher shops receive 100% of the proceeds of every sale. Teachers Notebook offers digital downloads, teacher friendly clipart, educational forums, and teaching tip videos. The site is the perfect place for hard working educators from around the world to come together and share teaching resources and ideas.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) May 07, 2012

Branded Business Apps’ new partnership with Create Denver has proven to be very beneficial to both parties. For Create Denver it allows them to use a dynamic, mobile platform to get attendees involved with their events. For Branded Business Apps it has allowed them to showcase what their product can do.

The third annual Create Denver Week will take place May 10-13, 2012 at various locations throughout Denver. There are nearly 20,000 creative workers in Denver, and Create Denver Week showcases this talented and dynamic creative community, recognizing the creative sector for making Denver vibrant and economically vital. Create Denver Week is a project of Arts & Venues Denver’s Create Denver initiative.

The mobile app will provide maps to the events, a QR scanner to use at venues, a way for attendees to share their experiences (on the Fan Wall), and allow people to send their own photos from the event directly through the app back to Create Denver. The mobile app is free to download and is available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. The mission here was to increase the interactivity of all events and have information in the palm of attendee’s hands. Branded Business Apps will be an integral part of the week. Representatives will be at events to help people download the app and teach them how to best use it. They will also be vendors at the Create Denver Expo where creative individuals can learn about how a mobile app could work for their enterprise.

“Both Branded Business Apps and Create Denver are so excited about this partnership! From the beginning we have been able to play off each other really well and come up with creative ways to work together. Launching the mobile app during Create Denver Week is just the beginning, we are looking forward to how this app can transition from event use to everyday use,” said Allison Birr, Marketing and Sales Specialist at Branded Business Apps.

About Branded Business Apps

Branded Business Apps (http://www.brandedbusinessapps.com) is a mobile technology company that connects its customers with their audiences through affordable, customized Android, iPhone® and iPad® mobile apps. “Like” Branded Business Apps on Facebook or “follow” @BrandedBusiness on Twitter.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Restaurant POS system

Sarasota, FL (PRWEB) May 05, 2012

WestShore Processing, a supplier in Florida of industry leading POS hardware, is offering a new tech lover’s tableside dream. All hospitality systems from WestShore Processing will have the ability to take tableside orders and enter them directly into the system.

Business owners can look forward to lower returned orders and complaints about inaccurately placed orders, which will bulk up their bottom line. Orders are entered through the iPad by a server right at the table. The same program that runs on the main and stationary POS hardware will also run on the iPad system so there will be less training and confusion for servers. The efficiency of having orders delivered directly to the kitchen and bar will also be seen in multiple areas of the business:

Expanded customer experience.

Lowered number of order mistakes.

Quicker turnaround time for servers and customers.

No need to hand write orders.

WestShore Processing CEO Paul Dion looks forward to diners experiences, “The ability to have the server take orders at the table will not only impress current customers but will also make for a fun and interesting dining experience for customers that have yet to experience this technology. We are proud to bring this product to our restaurant owners and help eliminate the redundancy and food waste cost that can add up for them. Current users have been excited about the results they are seeing as well as the lessened time and mistakes that happen between the server and kitchen or bar.”

The hospitality software that has integrated into restaurants seamlessly is offering this technology with their free equipment offer. The free equipment program will cover almost every piece of equipment that owners will need; however, the iPads will need to be acquired by the owner. There are several other features that this POS hardware has and have been time tested with this software and are user favorites, such as; the ability to transfer tickets: Servers can transfer tickets to other servers and separating and joining customer’s tickets is very simple.

More information about this program and features of our systems can be found at http://www.poshardware1.com/

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Arxan application hardening solutions secure applications by hardening code and keys against tampering, piracy, reverse-engineering, key discovery and unauthorized use.

Bethesda, MD (PRWEB) May 01, 2012

WHAT: Kevin Morgan, chief technical officer and vice president of engineering, Arxan® Technologies, will participate in the panel discussion, “Protecting the Product: Content Rights and Technology Solutions in Media and Entertainment: Implementation of Technology Strategies,” at Digital Hollywood Spring 2012 taking place in Marina del Rey, Calif.

Digital Hollywood debuted in 1990 and has from its start been among the leading trade conferences in its field with more than 15,000 top executives in the film, television, music, home video, cable, telecommunications and computer industries attending the various events each year.

WHEN: May 2 at 3:50 p.m.

WHERE: Digital Hollywood Spring 2012, The Ritz Carlton Hotel, Marina del Rey, Calif.

Panel Discussion: “Protecting the Product: Content Rights and Technology Solutions in Media and Entertainment: Implementation of Technology Strategies”

Content is what the entertainment and media industry produce, and the viability of the industry’s future rests on its ability to manage its content and control its distribution while at the same time making it available to an ever larger customer base. And that is the job of the digital rights management (DRM) technology industry, to make the film, music and mobile technology delivery systems safe for mass use. In this session, we will explore, from the point of view of the technology companies, the possibilities and potential of DRM in the evolving content landscape. From CDs and DVDs to broadband and wireless delivery, DRM and content protection represents the bottom line of the future of our industries.

As digital distribution of media and entertainment continues to rapidly expand across devices, platforms and services, such as mobile, OTT and IPTV, premium content and critical applications have become increasingly susceptible to nefarious exploits and hacks. These threats hinder innovative business models in today’s connected world as the underlying software that enables access controls, functionality or safeguards intellectual property (IP) is increasingly subject to attack.

Arxan’s content protection solutions shield digital media stakeholders against tampering and reverse-engineering of code and IP in a resilient, renewable and proven manner which does not impact source code, application functioning or the development process. Arxan’s customers span the digital media ecosystem, from leading game developers to digital media application media players to conditional access and DRM providers (including Widevine®, which is now Google). Arxan’s technology embraces a multi-DRM approach and supports the robustness rules of multiple standards (Marlin, Playready, OMA, etc.). Arxan is also a member of the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (UltraViolet®), Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®), Marlin® Partner program and the PC Gaming Alliance®.

ABOUT ARXAN TECHNOLOGIES:

Arxan Technologies Inc. is the leading provider of software security solutions that protect the App Economy. We secure applications in distributed or un-trusted environments against tampering and reverse engineering for unauthorized use, insertion of exploits, piracy, and theft of intellectual property. Our advanced software protection solutions are globally deployed by industry leaders across various industries, such as digital media, gaming, ISVs, financial services and Fortune 500 enterprises, to proactively defend the integrity of their code and business models. We defend, detect, alert and react to attacks through a threat-based, customizable approach. Proven, durable and resilient, Arxan’s offerings support a full range of application protection needs, from commercial software to military grade assurance. Arxan Technologies has offices in Bethesda, MD, San Francisco, CA and West Lafayette, IN. For more information, please visit http://www.arxan.com.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Local SEO Provider 29 Prime

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) May 01, 2012

Local business search engine optimization provider 29 Prime has announced the launch of online services tailored specifically to the needs of small to medium-sized general contractors and handyman services. By offering specialized content to clients in the industry, 29 Prime hopes to expand its user base to an even more diverse range of business owners.

With more consumers than ever making use of the internet and search engines to find local businesses, 29 Prime assists clients seeking prominence on these directories and helps them find a larger audience of potential customers. Business owners who purchase 29 Prime’s basic search results package receive front-page placement on Google, the world’s most popular search engine. The company also creates SEO-tailored profiles on social networking platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube as optional add-ons.

29 Prime’s specialized General Contractor services will include content written just for clients in the industry, including custom keyword phrases, blog posts and media chosen specifically to increase the search engine rankings of business offering residential and commercial handyman services. Contractors can also expect quality client care from representatives who are familiar with the types of services they provide.

The SEO provider plans to expand its custom services to include content for small businesses in a range of other industries, including cleaning services, attorneys, medical professionals and more. Clients in each industry will receive personalized service designed to put their best foot forward online, as well as continued assistance to ensure that they stay ranked on the front page of Google’s local search results.

Business owners who are interested in learning more about 29 Prime’s services can visit the 29 Prime website or call for assistance at (949) 777-6616 for information on their local search results package.

About 29 Prime

29 Prime is a leading innovator in the Search Engine Marketing industry. Fueled by the proprietary Prime Marketing PlatformTM, their service is geared toward optimizing small and medium-sized businesses for the most popular search engines in order to increase visibility and customer traffic. It has grown in record time to become the premier SEO provider in Southern California, and is currently implementing a massive expansion of its sales force.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Snowmass, Colo. (PRWEB) April 29, 2012

Today, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) announced that its Project Get Ready initiative has partnered with New York and Seattle, exceeding its goal to build a network of 20 North American partner cities committed to fostering electric vehicle deployment. It’s an indication that an increasing number of U.S. cities and regions view electric mobility as a critical aspect of their future.

“As more and more electric vehicles are released into the market and hit city streets, America’s major metropolitan areas are ideal test beds to develop best practices for EV infrastructure deployment,” said Ben Holland, manager of Project Get Ready. “The negative press that EVs have recently received neglects to mention the incredible progress that is being made across the country to welcome this technology. The PGR network reaches more than 26.4 million potential EV consumers and has already made great headway in breaking down barriers to getting local businesses, citizens, and municipalities ready to support these cars.”

Project Get Ready, which works with cities and industry leaders to develop and disseminate best practices for EV integration and adoption, has expanded its network of over 25 cities with the recent addition of:

    St. Paul, Minn.: The City of St. Paul’s Project Get Ready efforts are led by Drive Electric Minnesota, which plans to install nearly 30 plug-in charging stations throughout the metro area on ramps, parking lots and on-street locations, many of which will be located in the Energy Innovation Corridor adjacent to the light rail line that will connect St. Paul and Minneapolis.

    New York, N.Y.: In keeping with the city’s transportation and emissions-reduction goals, New York is making strides toward electrifying a portion of its 26,000-vehicle fleet. In addition, the city is launching a pilot to study the performance of electric taxis.

    Seattle, Wash.: Seattle is well positioned to benefit from transitioning to EVs, with hydropower accounting for 66 percent of Washington’s electricity production. To encourage the transition to electric vehicles, the Washington Legislature passed House Bill 1481, to expedite the establishment of cost-effective recharging infrastructure.

    Burlington, Vt.: Vermont’s Project Get Ready efforts are led by the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC). Through a statewide initiative, VEIC is making sure that planning for the electrification of the fleet is successful, and that policies and programs are in place so that mobility choices are available for all income levels and physical ability.

In order to make the roadmap to EV-readiness more clear, Project Get Ready regularly convenes city partners with more than 40 technical advisers—including local utilities, technology providers, automakers and academic institutions. Through regular dialogue, partners share best practices and lessons learned in overcoming the complex and interwoven challenges to creating a welcoming environment for EVs.

“In a state where transportation accounts for nearly half of our greenhouse gas emissions and one-third of our energy consumption, the electrification of motor vehicles is essential to achieving Vermont’s climate change and renewable energy goals,” Deb Markowitz, Vermont Climate Cabinet chair and natural resources secretary, said in a release announcing Vermont’s addition to the network. “Project Get Ready is a wonderful opportunity to work with stakeholders to make this transformation happen in a way that works for Vermonters.”

According to RMI, electric vehicles are critical to reducing U.S. reliance on oil for transportation. A key component of our electricity future, EVs will provide storage for renewable energy that can feed clean electricity back into a modern, more secure electrical grid, and offer a new point of connection and communication between consumers and electricity providers.

Holland will discuss the role of nonprofits in helping cities to assess EV strategies on panel at the World EV Cities and Ecosystems Conference in Los Angeles, hosted by the UCLA Luskin Center and UC Davis UC Davis Institute of Transportation, on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the JW Marriott.

***

About Rocky Mountain Institute

Rocky Mountain Institute is an independent, entrepreneurial, nonprofit think-and-do tank. RMI emphasizes integrative design, advanced technologies, and mindful markets in fulfilling its mission to drive the efficient and restorative use of resources. RMI’s strategic focus is to map and drive the U.S. transition from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables by 2050. Visit http://www.rmi.org for more information.

About Project Get Ready

Project Get Ready, an initiative founded by RMI, aims to accelerate the electric vehicle industry by fostering ecosystems in which the technology can most succeed. To accomplish this goal, Project Get Ready works with cities and industry leaders to develop and disseminate best practices for electric vehicle integration and adoption. By creating a network of over 25 cities and 40 strategic partners, this work seeks to identify challenges and opportunities for the seamless transition to vehicle electrification. Visit http://www.projectgetready.com for more information.

Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.