PROFNET EXPERT ALERTS: Small Business Saturday / Retirement / Obamacare

 

Nov. 21, 2011

EXPERT ALERTS

1. Business: Government and Internal Investigations
2. Business: Growing Agricultural Exports
3. Business: Three Reasons to Shop Local on Small Business Saturday
4. Finance: Authority at Heart of Obamacare Hearing
5. Technology: Keeping Up With Digital Learners
6. Workplace: Mandatory Retirement Policies Not So Mandatory

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

1. Weekly Roundup: SOPA and Journalists, Drone Journalism, Becoming a Reporter's Friend
2. Interesting Expert of the Week, Thanksgiving Edition
3. The Social Lives of Press Releases
4. Grammar Hammer: Does Thanksgiving Effect or Affect You?

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EXPERT ALERTS:

Via Expert Alerts, ProfNet members can alert reporters to experts who are available to discuss timely news topics. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please see the contact info at the end of the alert. You can also find Expert Alerts online on ProfNet Connect at http://bit.ly/pncalerts

**1. BUSINESS: GOVERNMENT AND INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR COMPANIES, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS. Michael Missal, head of the government enforcement practice at the international law firm K&L Gates, is able to discuss the considerations impacting corporations, officers and directors that face government investigations from agencies like the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission and state attorneys general. He can also discuss the circumstances and implications for internal investigations, which have become more frequent in an era of increased whistle-blower activity and enhanced consumer protections: "We are facing an unprecedented era of government enforcement. Investigations are more common, aggressive and coordinated. In addition, companies are expected to self-police more frequently by conducting internal investigations in response to whistle-blower complaints or other indications of possible wrongdoing." Missal draws on his significant experience as a former federal prosecutor with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as conducting many high-profile internal investigations. He has represented a number of Fortune 50 companies in government investigations involving a variety of issues, including accounting and financial statement matters, insider trading, consumer protection laws and corporate governance. He has conducted many high-profile internal investigations, including as the Examiner in the bankruptcy proceeding for subprime lender New Century Financial Corporation, a large government contractor involving the Athens Olympics; lead counsel in the former telecommunications company WorldCom's bankruptcy proceeding; and as lead counsel to CBS' Independent Review Panel investigating the "60 Minutes" segment on President Bush's Texas Air National Guard Service. News Contact: Christopher Dougherty, [email protected] Phone: +1-206-268-2299

**2. BUSINESS: GROWING AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS. Daniel L. Gardner, CEO of Ocean World Lines, can discuss recent remarks made by the Secretary of Agriculture to the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, which states that the USDA completed the analysis of exports for the past fiscal year, which reached a record amount of $137.4 billion of agricultural exports: "As a nation, we can't lose our emphasis on the agricultural sector. There are excellent export-growth opportunities for agricultural products, and in the global marketplace, companies have to offer more than a quality product at a fair price -- they also need to create additional appeal through the tactics they employ when shipping goods internationally. Whether one speaks of the impact on landed costs, time to market, customer service, invoicing or collection of funds, properly designed logistics programs are a must for any successful exporter." Ocean World Lines offers a nationwide seminar series, "The Logistics & Law of Exporting." Gardner is an author, professor and international business executive whose goal is to help U.S. exporters be more competitive overseas. He is available to discuss specific ideas on how the U.S. can increase agricultural exports and drive job creation, starting today. Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/gardner  News Contact: Melissa Bradley, [email protected] Phone: +1-928-208-9300 

**3. BUSINESS: THREE REASONS TO SHOP LOCAL ON SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY. Dr. Joey Faucette, best-selling author of "Work Positive in a Negative World: Redefine Your Reality and Achieve Your Business Dreams" (Entrepreneur Press): "Shoppers will crowd the super centers and malls on the weekend following Thanksgiving. But for those who truly want to create a positive impact with their holiday spending, here are three reasons to shop locally on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26: 1) $68 of every $100 you spend returns to your local community; 2) you receive personal service from the relationships you form with these retailers who, unlike big boxes where you can't find anybody, really want to help you find that just-right gift for your special someone; and 3) discover locally produced or themed products that carry with them an emotional attachment for the recipient." Faucette can expand on how to remain positive in business and in life in today's negative world. News Contact: Jillian McTigue, [email protected] Phone: +1-949-622-5274

**4. FINANCE: AUTHORITY AT HEART OF OBAMACARE HEARING. Rich Phillips, appellate attorney from the Dallas office of Thompson & Knight: "When it weighs the constitutionality of Obamacare, the U.S. Supreme Court has indicated that the justices will focus on the act's mandate that every American have health insurance. While many states mandate auto insurance for drivers, a federal requirement imposing health and safety regulations sets up a key question on the scope of congressional authority. State laws requiring auto insurance apply only to drivers, while the mandate to purchase health insurance, passed under Congress' power to regulate interstate commerce, would apply to everyone. While the court has traditionally interpreted that power broadly, it also has held that the Commerce Clause has limits. We often perceive the federal government as the most powerful regulatory body, but states actually have much broader and more flexible powers." News Contact: Barry Pound, [email protected] Phone: +1-800-559-4534

**5. TECHNOLOGY: KEEPING UP WITH DIGITAL LEARNERS. Scott Ligon, assistant professor at the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), teaches digital-foundation curriculum. He is the author of "Digital Art Revolution": "One of the challenges that many educational institutions must face is how to keep up with the generation of digital learners. Many art schools and fine-art programs, and perhaps other non-tech-focused majors, have realized the need to embrace technology and integrate it into historically traditional curriculum, like that of painting, drawing and sculpture. Despite their 'traditional' skills, incoming students expect to have access to the technology that will enhance their learning experience and prepare them to contribute to a collaborative, team-oriented workplace." Through its Digital Canvas Initiative, CIA is one of the first art schools to adopt the use of tablets to reinvent its first-year curriculum and to train students to become more collaborative, just as they are expected to work once they graduate. In many cases, the pen and paper have been completely eliminated, as students are expected to utilize the tablet that they were issued their freshman year. Ligon can discuss how educational institutions are incorporating tablets into curriculum, particularly in academic areas that one may not think technology could be used. News Contact: Kristen Romito, [email protected]

**6. WORKPLACE: MANDATORY RETIREMENT POLICIES NOT SO MANDATORY. Joe Ahmad, executive employment attorney at Houston's Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C.: "Two recent high-profile executive retirements, both citing the companies' mandatory retirement age policies, raise the question of how mandatory retirement age policies can be legal. The truth is neither IBM CEO Sam Palmisano nor Freddie Mac Chairman John Koskinen had to retire. With relatively few exceptions, most mandatory retirement policies violate the Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967. So why don't more executives dispute them? It is because it's much nicer to not work and get paid than it is to keep working. Companies are known to grant waivers to mandatory retirement policies if the executive wants to keep working and the company feels the same way." News Contact: Mary Flood, [email protected] Phone: +1-800-559-4534

 

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at [email protected]

**1. WEEKLY ROUNDUP: SOPA AND JOURNALISTS, DRONE JOURNALISM, BECOMING A REPORTER'S BEST FRIEND: ProfNet Editor Jason Hahn recaps 10 interesting PR- and media-related stories from this past week: http://bit.ly/sakFZW

**2. INTERESTING EXPERT OF THE WEEK, THANKSGIVING EDITION: ProfNet Director Maria Perez interviews two experts on the origins of New England cooking and traditional Thanksgiving food: http://bit.ly/vxuOxt

**3. THE SOCIAL LIVES OF PRESS RELEASES: PR Newswire's Sarah Skerik analyzes press releases' effectiveness on social media: http://bit.ly/t5w97v

**4. GRAMMAR HAMMER: DOES THANKSGIVING EFFECT OR AFFECT YOU? ProfNet Editor Grace Lavigne explains how to use "effect" vs. "affect" using Thanksgiving-themed examples: http://bit.ly/vEY5Vb

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/PRNewswire/ -- Nov. 21, 2011 /

 

SOURCE ProfNet