- Created on 26 April 2013
Fresh To Order Announces Two New Locations in Atlanta
Atlanta-based eatery, Fresh To Order has announced two new locations in the city. One location has been opened in Concourse B of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the other is slated to open inside downtown's CNN Center.
The CNN Center restaurant is expected to open late summer and will serve as the company’s ninth location.
The airport location is the company’s first Fresh To Order nontraditional restaurant and will feature a quick menu of sandwiches, soups and salads.
The CNN Center location, also home of the CNN world headquarters, Turner Broadcasting System, and the luxury Omni Hotel, has been in the works for seven years.
"These new locations are fresh and exciting territory for us," said Pierre Panos, Fresh To Order founder and CEO. "Our partnership with Concourse International will benefit busy world travelers – and the CNN Center venue exemplifies our focus in driving growth via company-owned operations and franchising.”
Concourse International (CI) also expressed enthusiasm about its partnership with Fresh To Order. The company sought out Fresh To Order as a unique local restaurant that contributed to the city’s top eateries.
"We want ATL travelers to experience Atlanta's best," said Donata Russell Major, CI's CEO. "Which is why the renowned and innovative Fresh To Order is our first partner for this program.”
- Created on 26 April 2013
Southwest to Slash 300 AirTran Jobs in Atlanta
Southwest will reduce its AirTran Airways workforce at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport by nearly 300 jobs as the airline restructures its operation in Atlanta.
Southwest Airlines, which bought AirTran in 2011, began flights out of Atlanta last year and said it will eliminate 300 ground worker positions that will consist of baggage handlers, ticket counter and gate agents.
Southwest said it has openings for the displaced workers in other cities where it operates, only if they are willing to relocate. If they choose not to relocate they will receive severance packages and leave the company.
However, in an effort to place less emphasis on connecting flights in AirTran's operation at Hartsfield-Jackson in November, Southwest's plans to cut jobs in order to stabilize its flight schedule and accommodate fliers who are coming and going from the Atlanta market.
"The Southwest structure is a lot more efficient," said Southwest's chief commercial officer Bob Jordan, who also is president of AirTran.
Southwest's system will focus more on "point-to-point" service instead of connecting flights. The new direction will require fewer employees, which suggests the airline will only need 800 ground workers at Hartsfield-Jackson rather than the 1,100 ground workers at AirTran now.
Southwest said Atlanta will be a "focus city" rather than the connecting hub AirTran has been.
The change, however, is a reflection of a pivotal feature of Southwest's entry into Atlanta – a leading low-cost airline with free checked bags.
Jordan said the reduction of ground staff in Atlanta "is not a backing down of our commitment to Atlanta at all."
- Created on 26 April 2013
Tyler Perry Sued For Allegedly Stealing Temptation Script
Tyler Perry has been known for pushing the limits with his films. Some say he hates Black women, others say he hates Blacks in general, but now someone is saying he just hates writing his own scripts.
According to TMZ, Gary, Indiana screenwriter William James claims the once homeless film producer stole the idea for his recently released film, "Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor" from his 2009 script, "Lovers Kill." But while “the lawsuit is light on details … it just says both films center on a married couple … the wife is tempted by another man, and the affair ruins the marriage,” says TMZ.
It turns out James can’t say whether or not Perry has ever actually seen his screenplay.
“In the suit, he claims he gave a copy to ‘an associate’ of Oprah Winfrey, hoping it would make it to Perry.”
TMZ states that representatives from both Tyler Perry’s team and Lions Gate have no comment regarding the lawsuit at this time.
Read more http://www.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/tyler-perry-sued-stealing-temptations-script/
- Created on 26 April 2013
Sumit Dagar Developing World's First Braille Smartphone
(CNN) -- For all of their advantages, smartphones still fall a little short for some --- specifically, for those living with visual impairment.
While apps like Siri and SayText do offer a good deal of assistance, 2011 TED Fellow Sumit Dagar had an idea for a more effective solution: a smartphone that's specifically designed for people who have trouble seeing.
The phone, which has yet to be officially named, has a screen comprised of a grid of pins, which move up and down to form into Braille shapes and characters whenever an SMS message or email is received. It uses what's called Shape Memory Alloy technology, so as each pin expands, it remembers and contracts back to its original flat shape.
In an interview with the Times of India, Dagar describes the phone as "[the] world's first Braille smartphone ... a companion more than a phone."
Dagar, an interaction design graduate of the National Institute of Design (NID), came up with the idea for the phone three years ago. He's collaborating with IIT Delhi on the prototype, which is being tested at the LV Prasad Eye Institute. The team hopes to release the phone by the end of 2013, for a about $185.
- Created on 26 April 2013
NY MTA’s New Opportunities for Minority, Women-Owned and Disadvantaged Business
During the past 18 months, New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has created and implemented small business development programs which have led to a total of $353 million in contracts awarded to New York State certified Minority, Women-owned and MTA certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. (MWDBEs)
ENR New York (http://newyork.construction.com/) will explore the MTA’s upcoming billions of dollars in business opportunities in its fourth annual MTA MWDBE conference, to be held Thursday, May 9 from 8:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at The McGraw-Hill Companies headquarters, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, in Manhattan.
This event will showcase the MTA’s special programs designed for MWDBEs while enabling attendees to make valuable connections with other small businesses that seek to establish stable, long-term business relationships with the MTA. Panelists representing all aspects of MTA will be on hand to introduce attendees to their upcoming business opportunities. William C. Thompson Jr. , Chair, New York State MWBE Task Force and former New York City Comptroller, will deliver the keynote address.
Sponsors of the event include Platinum sponsor, Skanska and Gold sponsor, TDX. Silver sponsors, Citnalta, EE Cruz, Northeast Remsco, and WDF. Bronze sponsor, International Safety Group. Exhibitors include Armand, Fox Industries Ltd., Fritch Construction, McKissack & McKissack, Railworks, STV, Tully Construction Co., and Tutor Perini Corporation. Supporting sponsors include Associated General Contractors of New York State, New York Building Congress, and Society for Marketing Professional Services New York.
The event’s complete agenda, speaker bios and registration information are available at http://www.construction.com/events/2013/mta.
Read more http://www.blackenterprise.com/small-business/mta-opportunities-for-mwdbes/
