PHOENIX, Oct. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Unemployment continues to be a huge problem in the U.S. despite there being more than 3 million available jobs open and unfilled in America today. To help bridge the gap between education and employment, University of Phoenix is introducing a variety of new tools, services and resources aimed at helping students receive the education and skills required to help fill the roles that companies need most. The movement is anchored by the new Let's get to workSM national advertising and marketing campaign that launched on Sept. 23.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121003/LA85714LOGO)

"University of Phoenix is committed to serving the best interests of its students and giving them the tools and resources to not only graduate in their chosen course of study, but also help prepare them for and link them to jobs after graduation. We are going to do this by bringing the career planning conversation forward, starting with pre-enrollment conversations," said Dr. Bill Pepicello, president of University of Phoenix. "We are hoping to shift the conversation to the natural link between 'a quality education' and 'a fulfilling and challenging career.' We're excited that University of Phoenix is leading the effort."

The Let's get to workcampaign focuses on the link between a quality education and a fulfilling and challenging career. Tony Award-winning actress and singer Phylicia Rashad is the voice of the University in the new advertisements, which will engage consumers through multiple media channels including TV, radio, outdoor, online and social.

"For the new campaign, it became clear that the conversation around higher education needed to change, to focus on a critical issue to students and alumni, and that is jobs," said Arra Yerganian, chief marketing officer for University of Phoenix. "With more than 750,000 alumni and more than 300,000 students, plus nearly 30,000 faculty, the University feels it can leverage its scale to impact this important issue facing America."

The new campaign is just the beginning of how the University is helping to address the jobs problem. New enhancements to the student experience will roll out in the coming months, including programs to address the cost of higher education, as well as a proprietary user experience to help students align their current skills, interests and career aspirations with an appropriate University of Phoenix degree program and then with employers looking to hire the University's students and graduates. University of Phoenix is committed to serving the best interest of its students and is implementing several initiatives including:

To learn more about University of Phoenix's efforts to bridge the education and job gap, visit http://www.phoenix.edu.

About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning can help students pursue personal and career aspirations without putting their lives on hold. As the flagship university of Apollo Group, Inc. (APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit http://www.phoenix.edu.

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University of Phoenix Renews Commitment to Student Success with Focus on Connecting Higher Education and Employment

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07-10-2012 23:11 Five changes mindset and executive mentoring with Caitriona Reed and Michele-Benzamin-Miki

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Five Changes Elite Mindset Mentoring for Business and Personal Success - Video

RELEASE UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL OCTOBER 8, 2012 @ 1800

Olympic gold medal success celebrated with rowers awarded new Audi Q5s by BankLink together with Giltrap Group

Auckland, 8 October 2012: BankLink, principal partner of Rowing New Zealand, together with the Giltrap Group today presented Rowing New Zealands Olympic gold medallists with the keys to new Audi Q5s in recognition of their outstanding achievements at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Single sculler Mah Drysdale, coxless pair Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, and the heavyweight double scull duo including Joseph Sullivan each received the keys to their new cars at a private ceremony hosted at the Giltrap Audi Showroom on Great North Road in Auckland. Sullivans crewmate, Nathan Cohen, who was unable to attend, will be presented with his car at a later date.

Richard Reese, BankLink General Manager of Operations, said; BankLink is a long-time supporter of Rowing New Zealand and we wanted to recognise and celebrate the exceptional success of our Olympic gold medallists.

Watching our rowers compete in London clearly showed once again the effort and dedication of these athletes. We believe it is important to formally recognise and reward their achievements at a personal level and to hopefully provide an incentive for them to continue on to Rio 2016 and replicate their success.

BankLink, together with Giltrap Group, has gifted the gold medal winning rowers the use of the Audis for two years or, as an incentive to stay on in the sport until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, for four years if they continue with rowing.

Sir Colin Giltrap, Executive Chairman of Giltrap Group Holdings Limited, added; The presentation of these Audi Q5s is an acknowledgement of the hard work and hours these rowers put into their sport every week. Our rowers have achieved some of New Zealands greatest sporting successes in recent years and were proud to be able to show our support of these amazing athletes in this way.

CEO of Rowing New Zealand, Simon Peterson, added; BankLink is an incredibly supportive and hands-on principle partner for Rowing New Zealand. Having a sponsor that not just provides funding to our programmes, but that goes the extra mile to support our athletes at a personal level is invaluable.

Our rowers spend a great deal of time on the road each day travelling to training sessions and events and being able to get there in the comfort, safety and style of an Audi Q5 is something that I know will be appreciated by all of our gold medallists.

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Olympic gold medal success celebrated with new Audi Q5s

LONDON, October 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Since her birth in the early 70's Hello Kitty has become a billion dollar a year brand, but it is only in the last year Sanrio's brand has moved into the world of high end fashion, with its Milan based Pynkiss label. Since then the brand's innovative, experiential, multi-channel 'shoppertainment' approach has seen Pynkiss shortlisted for The Field Marketing and Brand Experience Awards 2012 and the stratospheric global growth of the high end Pynkiss label has taken even the brand owners and licensors, Sanrio, by surprise.

Pynkiss, first launched at Milan Fashion Week in 2011, has since opened a raft of stores in the Middle East and Asia fuelled by demand from stockists and franchisees. Pynkiss has ambitious plans to expand its global presence further, with more stores set to open in the US, Europe and Asia. The stores that have already opened have had their shelves stripped bare within hours, and the flagship stores had to restock twice within the first 3 days of trading.

For a business only one year old, Pynkiss has performed exceptionally well against global retail projections. In 2011 the global retail market saw composite retail growth of 5.3% for established brands and Pynkiss has conformed to growth trends achieving a 4.9% increase since September 2011, within its first 12 months of trading.

There has been significant growth in retail sales across African and Middle East regions, with a steady 9.3% increase over the last 2 years, and Pynkiss' presence within the Middle East has contributed to its 4.9% total sales increase. With Pynkiss set to expand across the Asian and Pacific markets, they are looking to contribute to the 4.7% retail sales growth in these regions. A recent study found Africa and the Middle East had generated the highest compound annual growth out of all regions, and Pynkiss has also enjoyed commercial success after beginning its retail operation in the Middle East, with sales in this region exceeding all expectations.

Roberto Lanzi EMEA President of Sanrio says, "A brand that can strike a chord across so many differing cultures in its first year of trading, shows that innovative consumer experiences like 'shoppertainment' are where the global retail sector must head. The consumer wants and expects more than simply browsing and they wish to be engaged with in unique and personal ways. That is just what Pynkiss offers for consumers. Not only do the statistics back this up but a nomination for a 'shopper connection' award within the first year of trading, alongside such well respected brands as Blackberry and LG, is further iteration that this strategy works. This endorsement is beyond our most optimistic predictions for Pynkiss and to say we are delighted is an understatement!"

Founder and CEO, Chady Jriege commented at the launch of Pynkiss' huge Facebook online birthday event. "The impressive annual sales of 2011-12 has led to rapid expansion in the behind the scenes operation to facilitate further growth, with both distribution and production having to drastically intensify output by as much as 50%. The design studio and showroom has a new space at Via Morimondo, in the prestigious Milan fashion district as eager stockists and buyers seek to stock the brand or negotiate store franchise options. Pynkiss is fast becoming the must-have brand for babies, kids, teens and adults alike."

Despite the icy current financial climate Pynkiss has enjoyed a two-fold increase on turn-over for the brand in the last nine months alone, hitting what Mintel describes as 'average annual sales' figures for more well established brands in just two-thirds of the time. So it seems that on the first birthday of Pynkiss the high end brand will have more to celebrate than merely being a year old - and a grown up competitive, commercial Hello Kitty is finally coming of age.

For further global information/images requests please contact Philip Allan at Xpert Communications, London on +44(0)207-978-0580 or phil@xpertcomms.co

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Sanrio's Hello Kitty Pynkiss Label Celebrates a Year of Stratospheric Success in a Fiercely Competitive Global Market

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03-10-2012 20:02 Dave Burgis the founder and director of the National Health and fitness Academy is interviewed about personal training and having a successful personal training business. Dave Burgis is known as an industry expert and gives his opinion on questions asked by the students of the National Health and Fitness Academy.

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Dave Burgis Interviewed about Personal Training success. - Video

PHIL DOYLE/Fairfax NZ

IN THE BLOOD: "My parents have always had their own businesses and together as a family we have another two businesses over and above Spaceworks," says Lizzi Hines.

As a single 28-year old mum, with no assets, and living with her parents, Lizzi Hines took a massive leap of faith when she bought an office design agency in 2006.

Many straight-backed accountants would advise strongly against such a move. Hines' accountant did, and her lawyer. Cash is king when starting or buying a business, right?

Not according to Hines. As a junior designer at Auckland-based Spaceworks she knew "in her gut" she was making the right move to buy the business and had the backing of the company's founder.

More to the point she had the support of her number one advisers - her parents, a lawyer and an accountant. It took a month of selling her business proposition every day at the bank, for them to finally lend her the money.

Hine's parents were overseas on a cruise in Europe during the bank negotiations. "They tell this story of waking up every morning and turning on their phone and hearing beep, beep, beep with all my crazy emails and texts," she laughs.

Fast-forward six years; Spaceworks has not only survived the recession, through diversifying its client base to other industries, but in the past two years has doubled turnover each year.

The company provides services throughout the country, and has also completed projects in Australia and the South Pacific, where it eventually wants to have permanent hubs.

Why did you become an entrepreneur?

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Entrepreneur has designs on success

The Orioles know that C.C. Sabathia is one of the best pitchers in the game, but they have to be going into Sundays American League Division Series opener confident given their success against the Yankees left-hander this season.

Sabathia is winless in three starts with a 6.38 ERA against the Orioles this season, with Baltimore winning those last two starts. Hes allowed at least four runs in each of those outings and hasnt lasted more than 6 1/3 innings in any of those starts.

The Orioles are hitting .312 off Sabathia this season, the highest average of any American League team.

Just with me it's just command, starting with fastball command, Sabathia said Saturday. They have a great lineup, and I've faced these guys a lot, and they know what I am trying to do. It's just up to me to go out and execute pitches, and you know, make sure I keep the ball down and get the ball in where I need to and go out and make pitches.

Granted, Sabathia is 16-4 with a 3.12 ERA in his career against the Orioles, but combine this years success against Sabathia with his recent postseason struggles and the Os can afford to be optimisitc.

Why are they here?" Sabathia said. I mean, it's a good team. Adam Jones has gotten a lot better, obviously. Mark Reynolds has gotten adjusted to the American League and is swinging the bat well. Wieters has gotten better over the years, so they've just gotten a bunch of talented guys that have gotten a lot better and they've made it tough on me. Hopefully [Sunday] night, like I said, I can go out and command the baseball like I want to and make pitches and be successful.

Sabathia pitched to a 6.23 ERA in last years American League Division Series, which the Tigers won in five games. Dating back to the 2010 postseason, Sabathia has a 5.84 ERA.

As far as CC, I don't think you can make too much of last year just because of the way the schedule was, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. We started a game and stopped it, and then he came back on short rest, so I don't really make too much of that.. He's pitched pretty well for the most part.

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Orioles have had success against Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia

MICHIGAN CITY Calling the congregation of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church pioneers, Dion Campbell, director of Worldgate Christian Center, drafted Pastor Anthony Getter and his congregation into becoming advocates to change the future of Michigan City's youth.

"What we are doing was birthed from the heart of God," Campbell said during the introduction of the educational empowerment seminar Sunday. "We want to make sure every person in Michigan City is empowered to understand the educational system."

Campbell's church hosted the first seminar in August, with principals from Michigan City Area Schools taking part. Peggy Thomas, Edgewood Elementary, Mohamed Mroueh, Barker Middle School and Lee Dabagia, Michigan City High School, attended Sunday to explain how parents can help their children excel, how to become involved in their children's education and how to understand the assessment process.

While parent involvement is key, parents also have to be role models, open doors of communication with their children's teachers and create a home culture that values education beyond high school, the principals said.

The goal of talking about the education process is to "empower parents to become educators in their own home," Mroueh said. "The earlier in the educational process that parental involvement begins, the more powerful the effects."

Creating a climate that encourages and expects success is a key element, Thomas told the crowd that filled the New Hope sanctuary for the seminar. When parents set high standards, "children know that is what you expect of them," she said.

Parents should establish a routine at home, know their children's social network and email passwords and know who their friends are. This applies even to high school age students.

"There is no reason they should have a password you don't know," Dabagia said.

"We are blessed to have had the opportunity to host this event on this day," Getter said. "Thank and praise God for this educational seminar."

Campbell said the seminars are offered to churches, with the hope that the church will embrace the message and reach out into the community. Recruiting mentors or tutors, establishing public access computers and helping set the standards for high achievement can make a difference.

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Finding success: Principals ask for parental involvement, higher expectations

Friday, October 5 marks the one year anniversary of the death of Apple CEO Steve Jobs. How did Jobs, whose death was mourned around the world, achieve such remarkable success during his relatively short life? What lessons can we learn from him? Let me share what I witnessed up close.

I had a ringside seat during the ramp-up of the personal computer industry in America -- serving as public relations counsel to CEOs and entrepreneurs who were re-inventing the way we would do business in the modern world. It was a pretty heady experience for a young, non-engineering female, not to mention an amazing learning laboratory.

A key barometer of industry clout was Esther Dyson's PC Forum, where the elite players would convene, preen and be seen.

You could see early on that Steve Jobs was a different kind of cat. He had an aura of cool amid a sea of self-professed tech geeks. He was a marketing impresario, not a programmer. A liberal arts major, not an engineer or MBA. He even dressed differently. (For example he wore a blazer and a bow tie, forerunner of the black turtleneck, at one of the PC Forum events in 1984, the year of Macintosh launch.)

Jobs didn't play nice with the other kids. When the industry moved toward standards and compatibility, Apple stood alone with a proprietary system. When the IBM "clones" (Compaq, Dell, HP, DEC et. al.) dominated the high-volume Enterprise sector, the Mac was beloved by students, graphic designers and creatives -- a much smaller niche.

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Today, Apple reigns as the world's market cap leader and most valuable brand -- with Greenlight Capital's David Einhorn predicting that the stock could eventually reach a valuation in excess of $1 trillion.

Competing in the ultimate center of brains and brilliance, how did Jobs accomplish this feat? Here are some clues:

1. FOCUS!

Instead of letting product lines proliferate or permitting a thousand ideas to bloom, Steve Jobs insisted that Apple focus on just two or three priorities at a time, according to the best-selling biography by Walter Isaacson.

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Be a Success Like Steve Jobs

Under Sandro Rosell, Barcelona has won titles in La Liga, Cope del Rey, Champions League and the Club World Cup.

Luca Bruno/AP

This is the third installment of Inside the SuperClubs: Barcelona. This week's Sports Illustrated features an in-depth look at the club and its global appeal.

BARCELONA, Spain -- You never know who you might meet on the road. Sam Lardner is (among other things) a Dartmouth alum, a descendant of sportswriting legend Ring Lardner, a professional musician, a former FC Barcelona ice hockey player and a one-time board member of the foundation started by Bara soccer deity Johan Cruyff.

A full-time resident of Barcelona since 1997, Lardner is in an ideal spot to observe the bustling political scene at FC Barcelona, which is "owned" by its 180,000 members who vote in elections for the club president every four years. Lardner took his son to London last year for the Arsenal-Barcelona Champions League game, and on the way back, they saw Bara president Sandro Rosell, the man in charge of the storied club with the most successful soccer team of this era.

"Rosell flew back on easyJet," said Lardner, mentioning the European budget-airline equivalent of Southwest Airlines. "I was very impressed by that. Rosell to me is doing a discreet and serious job. I know what's going on in his mind. He's got to clean up a big old mess."

When Rosell was elected as Bara's 39th president in 2010 with more than 60 percent of the vote, the club had a net debt of $558 million, owing in part to bank loans to help pay for transfers. That figure may not be quite as scary as it looks, in part because Bara is such a big revenue generator (as noted in this excellent Swiss Ramble piece), but the debt was still out of whack compared to what it should be.

"When we won the election, the biggest criticism was the financial aspect of the club," said Rosell, leaning forward in a chair in his office at the club. "We had an enormous debt with the banks outside of the financial ratios that Bara needs. It was a priority getting the debt under control and in relation to revenue. We've worked hard to cut costs and increase revenue in order to repay the bank debt -- and without being less competitive, while still winning trophies, we've reduced our debt by 15.5 percent. In one season we went from being 430 million [$558 million] in the red to a 364 million [$472 million] net debt."

In addition to cutting costs, Rosell worked out a deal with the Qatar Foundation, which became Bara's first paid shirt sponsor in a $225 million transaction.

Rosell, 48, has the air of a big-time politician, which is exactly what you have to be as the Bara president. But he also has a connection to the club that goes back to childhood. Rosell's father, Jaume, was club secretary of Bara in the early 1970s, and young Sandro was a diehard fan who became a club social member at age 4.

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Grant Wahl: Inside Barcelona: Rosell's success as president