Pittsburgh Dance Council Announcement

FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Contact: Veronica Corpuz, 412-471-6082


THE PITTSBURGH DANCE COUNCIL ANNOUNCES THE
2009/2010 SEASON
Sponsored by First Commonwealth


PITTSBURGH, PA …The Pittsburgh Dance Council’s Executive Director Paul J. Organisak proudly announces the 2009/2010 series featuring an exciting season of Pittsburgh premieres by leading dance companies from around the globe. The season promises to surprise and inspire regional audiences with a diverse range of beauty, physicality and creativity. The 2009/2010 season is generously sponsored by First Commonwealth to support the growth and development of dance in Pittsburgh.

“The companies selected for the Pittsburgh Dance Council’s season reflect the exciting contemporary choreography by established and emerging artists who are creating innovative works of remarkable artistry and virtuosity,” noted Mr. Organisak. “The season will feature works choreographed by legendary Twyla Tharp and Margaret Jenkins, to the meteoric Crystal Pite and Aszure Barton. To witness their respective works is to experience the depth and richness found in the choreographer’s creative process.”

Subscriptions to the Pittsburgh Dance Council range from $72 to $204. Subscriber benefits include: priority seating, flexible exchange privileges and discounts on additional ticket purchases. To order a Pittsburgh Dance Council subscription, please call (412) 456-1390 or (800) 828-9200 or visit pgharts.org to subscribe online. To purchase 10 or more tickets, please call (412) 471-6930.


Kidd Pivot
Lost Action
Saturday, October 3, Byham Theater

Artistic director Crystal Pite creates a series of vignettes—solos, small groupings and large groupings—that explores the points of origination for body movement as well as the body’s capacity to contort and sculpt itself into unusual yet beautiful shapes. “It’s not hard to understand why Nederlands Dans Theater, one of the foremost modern dance companies in the world, has just hired Crystal Pite, of the Vancouver-B.C.-based dance troupe Kidd Pivot as a resident choreographer. Pite’s vocabulary is absolutely distinct…” writes Alice Kaderland of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.


Margaret Jenkins Dance Company & Quandong Modern Dance Company
Other Suns
Saturday, October 24, 2009, Byham Theater

Other Suns is a trilogy of dances created by Margaret Jenkins and her company in a cross-cultural collaboration with the Guangdong Modern Dance Company of Guangzhou, China. With athleticism, technical acuity and nuance, the dancers from both companies create a highly charged landscape that transcends national and cultural borders. The Margaret Jenkins Dance Company (MJDC) has been a part of the cultural fabric of San Francisco for over three decades. At the heart of the organization’s mission is the belief that it is incumbent on the artist to be in conversation through her work—to break the isolation and expand who sees and responds to the arts. mjdc.org


Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
Sue’s Leg
Friday, February 26, 2010, Byham Theater

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet has made a lasting impression by performing a sophisticated repertoire featuring some of the world’s foremost choreographers, earning glowing reviews by critics and audiences alike. For over a decade, the company’s signature style has encompassed a far-reaching aesthetic vision in an honest expression of the art of dance. The performance includes Sue’s Leg, one of Twyla Tharp’s first professionally commissioned pieces. Set to the music of Fats Waller, Sue’s Leg re-jigs tap, Charleston and ballroom dance with a slouchy, scampering and luxurious flavor. aspensantafeballet.com


Complexions
Saturday, April 3, 2010, Byham Theater

Former Alvin Ailey Company virtuosos Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson forged a common appreciation for diversity and multiculturalism through dance, establishing the resulting Complexions in 1994 as a springboard for innovative, envelope-pushing creativity. The New-York company distinguishes itself with stunning choreography and original music within the roots of classical dance, while espousing an all-out physicality and a seductively uninhibited charm. Complexionsdance.org


BJM DANSE Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal
Jack in the Box
Saturday, April 17, 2010, Byham Theater

BJM DANSE Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal work is inspired by the innovative spirit of modern jazz, yet grounded in technique, vocabulary, discipline and aesthetic of classical dance. Blending the disciplines of classical and contemporary dance forms with theater, the circus, visual arts and new music, adds up to an ambitious repertoire that is unique to BJM DANSE. The evening includes Jack in the Box, an exuberant work about growth, etiquette and power of the group as a collective whole by acclaimed choreographer, Aszure Barton. bjmdanse.ca


Vincent Dance Theatre
Broken Chords
Saturday, May 1, 2010, Byham Theater

Broken Chords is a portrait of breaking up and breaking down. Heartbreaking in its honesty, full of dark humor, sublime dancing and playful theatricality, Broken Chords shifts effortlessly between the bleakly comic and the beautifully tragic, charting the director's devastating divorce with rebellious and hysterical results. Vincent Dance Theatre has been making and touring devised dance theatre work since 1994. Artistic Director Charlotte Vincent is considered “one of the UK’s most challengingly theatrical choreographer-directors” (The Observer). vincentdt.com



Subscriptions to the Pittsburgh Dance Council range from $72 to $204. Subscriber benefits include: priority seating, flexible exchange privileges and discounts on additional ticket purchases. To order a Pittsburgh Dance Council subscription, please call (412) 456-1390 or (800) 828-9200 or visit pgharts.org to subscribe online.

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Market Research for Car Dealers and Help for Women Car Shoppers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
April 27, 2009 Media Relations
412.327.2604
info@women-drivers.com


Website Assists Women Going to the Car Dealership
Women-Drivers.com Gains National Exposure

Pittsburgh –

With the recession in full swing, it’s refreshing to hear the media tout a company’s success. So refreshing, in fact, that America’s leading news sources have taken notice of Women-Drivers.com. Women-Drivers.com is a site that connects women and families to certified women-friendly car dealers. Car dealerships are recognized as certified women-friendly by consumers who write reviews on their actual browsing, purchasing and servicing experience. Launched in October 2008, the site is quickly becoming a popular resource for women shoppers, Women-Drivers.com caught the attention of ABC News who recently interviewed CEO, Anne Fleming. The station asked for Anne’s know-how and insights on the latest purchasing strategies. Other interviews were conducted by ABC News.com, NBC’s WPXI, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, KDKA Radio and American Entrepreneur.

What began as one woman’s mission to connect women and families with women-friendly auto dealerships has turned into a national story of how the dealership experience for women can be gratifying. Tracking 19,000 dealerships across the country, the company’s mission is to transform the dealership experience for women. The company does this by empowering them with the tools and the know-how to do business with dealerships that are women-friendly. Other features on the site include tips negotiation, Her & His car reviews, a community forum and reviews on the grooviest auto gadgets.

As a market research company, Women-Drivers.com sells the analytics to the dealership network so that they can improve their level of service to women – who influence 80% of all car purchases.

“Consumers love the site because they can share and rate their experience,” says Anne Fleming “and, dealerships are happy because the higher their ratings, the higher they are featured in our search engine – resulting in more women and referrals coming in their store.”

Contact 412.327.2604 to schedule Anne Fleming for an interview. Learn more at www.women-drivers.com.

Winners 2009 Small Business Administration Champion Awards

Winners 2009 SBA Awards

PENNSYLVANIA AND PITTSBURGH DISTRICT AWARD WINNERS
2009 Small Business Persons of the Year (Team)
Paul De La Torre, Chairman/Owner
Edward De La Torre, President/Owner

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence Small Business Development Center

NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND PITTSBURGH DISTRICT AWARD WINNER
Financial Services Champion
Marilyn Landis, President & CEO
Basic Business Concepts, Inc.
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Sponsor: Mary T. McKinney, Ph.D., Director, Duquesne University Small Business Development Center


NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND PITTSBURGH DISTRICT AWARD WINNERS
Small Business Journalist
Joanne Quinn Smith, President
Dreamweaver Marketing Associates
PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com

Sponsors: The Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners Jill Kummer, NAWBO President, Black Tie Pittsburgh; JoAnn R. Forrester, Empress of Biz, S.I. Business Associates; Jessica Lee, J.D., Entrepreneurial Thursdays, Viveventure, LLC; and, David E. Nelsen, TalkShoe

PITTSBURGH DISTRICT AWARD WINNERS
Woman-Owned Business of the Year
Misty O’Connor, President/Owner
Point Click Learn, Inc.
Erie, PA
Sponsors: Debra L. Steiner, director, Gannon University Small Business Development Center; Jayne H. Huston, director, Seton Hill University E-Magnify; and, Linda L. Stevenson, senior vice president, Women’s Business Development, National City

Women in Business Champion
Linda L. Stevenson, Senior Vice President & SBA Program Manager
National City Bank – Women’s Business Development Program
Erie, PA
Sponsors: Jayne H. Huston, director, Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify; Beth Marcello, vice president & managing supervisor, Women’s Business Development, National City Bank; and, Debra L. Steiner, director, Gannon University Small Business Development Center

Young Entrepreneur
G. Shaun Akers, Funeral Director/Owner
Akers Funeral Chapel

Sponsor: St. Francis University Small Business Development Center

Minority Small Business Champion
Audrey J. Murrell, Ph.D., Director
David Berg Center for Ethics & Leadership
Associate Professor of Business Administration, Psychology & International Affairs
University of Pittsburgh

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence Small Business Development Center

Small Business Exporter
Stuart J. Zarembo, President & CEO
PBM, Inc.
Irwin, PA
Sponsor: Vickie Gyenes, senior market analyst, CGBP, St. Vincent College Small Business Development Center

Jeffrey Buntland Family-Owned Business
Linda Spencer, President, Studio Division
Jessica Spencer, Artistic Director/Vice President, Studio Division
Damon Spencer, President, Stayin’Alive Dancewear Division and Vice President, Studio Divison
The Thomas Studio of Performing Arts, Inc.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sponsors: University of Pittsburgh Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence Small Business Development Center

SCORE Volunteer of the Year
Lewis Levick, Owner/Manager
Toll Gate Auto Parts
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sponsor: Barry Lipson, chair, Pittsburgh SCORE Chapter #7

NAWBO and Pitt Business Center Partner on Disney Leadership Workshop, Pittsburgh

It doesn't take any training to recognize that the world's economy has taken a significant downturn. It does take effective and proven professional development training to guide impacted organizations back to the summit.

NAWBO Greater Pittsburgh is proud to partner with Pitt Business Center for Executive Education to bring the Disney Keys to Excellence program, presented by the world renowned Disney Institute, to the Pittsburgh area on June 3, 2009.

A one-day local workshop, the Disney Keys to Excellence program is a rare and affordable opportunity to learn best business practices from Disney insiders, and discover ways to easily and immediately adapt and apply those best practices to pick up the pace in these slow economic times.

Organizations from across the nation and around the world have learned proven philosophies, adapted critical lessons, and implemented effective processes to reap the rewards of improvements in leadership, management, service, and brand loyalty.

We invite your team to join thousands of professionals and discover the Disney business secrets to . . .

Strengthening loyalty and retaining valuable customers
Expanding their brand and generating greater profits
Building team involvement and ownership
Creating a service culture and motivating employees
Maintaining a competitive edge in a sluggish economy

The Disney Keys to Excellence Program is...


Relevant: Impacts critical drivers of success in a slow economy
Affordable: Priced to serve more people under limited budgets
Actionable: Easy to implement upon return to the office
Inspirational: Generates team excitement and momentum
Short: Takes only one day away from the office
Local: No travel expenses

Professional development doesn't cost—it pays. It pays by creating a framework of focused energy in a vacuum of uncertainty. It pays by helping an organization gain share in a slow economy. It pays because it has been proven to strengthen employee morale and retention, which will be critical to emerge from tough times.

IMPORTANT: Please use NAWBO’s promotional code WBOMEE to receive $50 OFF PER GUEST when registering. Additional group discounts are available.