• Diane McKnight, professor of civil, environmental and architectural engineering and a fellow of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado Boulder, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

• Colorado State University announced that Distinguished Professor Jorge Rocca was honored with the 2012 Willis E. Lamb Award for Laser Science and Quantum Optics by Physics of Quantum Electronics.

• Community First Foundation elected Janet Heck Doyle to its board of directors.

• Life Care Physician Services LLC placed Dr. Sing-I Tsai Palat, as an on-site physician at Villa Manor Care Center in Lakewood.

• Catapult PR-IR promoted Jeremy Douglas to account coordinator.

• Allonhill named Nicole Avey to lead its new client service management team.

• The Group Inc. Real Estate, announced that Katlynn Kidd has joined as a broker associate/partner.

• Linhart Public Relations promoted Noelle Robillard to account executive.

• AdvocacyDenver named Stacey Gottlieb office manager and development coordinator.

• Charter School Institute appointed Ethan Hemming as the new executive director.

• Samuel Hill, former U.S. Embraer president and vice chairman and recent Honda Jet senior vice president of sales and marketing, joined the strategic advisory council of Bye Aerospace Inc.

• Gov. John Hickenlooper announced appointments to the board of trustees for Metropolitan State College of Denver including John P. Poggee, Dawn P. Bookhardt, Robert Cohen, Melody Harris and Walter Louis Isenberg. New Western State College of Colorado trustees include George. H. Delaney and Linda A. Morton.

• U.S. Forest Service selected agency veteran Daniel Jiron as the new regional forester for the Rocky Mountain region.

• Stacey Buso was named executive director at Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence in Aurora.

• Robert Mintz joined the tax and corporate groups as a partner at Holland & Hart LLP.

• IHI Environmental added Brooke Davis as senior project manager/environmental assessor in the Wheat Ridge office.

• The Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, in partnership with the Boettcher Foundation, named Colorado State University at Pueblo student Victoria Bonetto and University of Colorado at Denver student Joshua Murphy the Colorado Leadership Alliance Student Leaders of the Year.

• Diana Royce Smith, president and chief executive officer of Royce Arbour Inc. in Boulder, was named State Volunteer of the Year for the Colorado Small Business Development Centers.

• Fuller Western Real Estate announced that Mike Haley and John Becker joined its commercial team.

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People on the move, 2/22

UNION CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Finelite, a leader in high performance commercial building lighting systems, today announced that it has completed a full-building lighting design retrofit at SHI International headquarters in Franklin Township, N.J. One of the largest retrofits in the region, this project showcases cutting edge lighting technology developed by Finelite through its industry research partnerships to reduce energy use and improve the visual environment.

Recognized for its history of product innovation, Finelite was selected to work with full-service architectural firm Cornerstone Architectural Group to design and integrate a custom blend of energy efficient task and ambient lighting for the 440,000 square-foot office space. Finelite collaborated with the building owners and designers from the beginning to optimize energy savings through lighting design. At one-half a Watt per square foot, the lighting solution delivers significant energy and cost savings over the industry standard while improving light quality in the workplace. The sleek, modern new lighting system integrates LED task lighting with pendant fixtures spaced 18 feet apart. As a result, the new system is anticipated to save $500,000 on energy costs over the next 10 years.

“Our goal is to enable architects, designers and building owners to take charge of lighting – the largest source of building energy use – by engaging them early on in the construction and retrofit process,” said Terry Clark, Finelite chairman and founder. “This prioritizes lighting at the design and budget stage and helps them to plan realistically for specific lighting needs. Our work with Cornerstone and SHI International is a solid example of how this can harmoniously achieve massive savings with an overall improvement to light quality.”

Congruent to its approach at SHI International, Finelite has a history of embarking on key public research partnerships that drive the evolution of industry standards while bringing innovations to market. Most notably, a 2007 collaboration with the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program discovered an average 55% energy savings can be achieved simply by combining task lighting systems with complementary low ambient overhead lighting. Finelite’s collaborations with PIER and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) led to best practices and new technologies for K-12 classrooms. Currently, Finelite is collaborating with the CEC to contribute to the state’s Title 24 commercial building lighting codes revisions that will take effect in 2014.

In a forward-looking move, the company recently announced the appointment of lighting controls industry veteran Jerry Mix as Finelite CEO. Bringing an extensive knowledge of lighting controls, Mr. Mix adds strength in leadership to drive energy efficient design for commercial lighting.

“The future of lighting depends on how the system is inherently designed,” said Mr. Mix. “Finelite is driving the standards for these innovations to create solutions that optimize energy efficiency, smoothly integrate with leading controls, and deliver the best light quality on the market. I am looking forward to contributing to these advancements.”

About Cornerstone Architectural Group

Cornerstone Architectural Group is a South Plainfield, N.J.-based full-service architectural firm, specializing in commercial, civic, industrial and interior architecture. For more information about Cornerstone, visit http://www.cornerstoneag.com.

About SHI International

Founded in 1989, SHI International Corp. is a more than $3.5 billion global provider of technology products and services. Driven by the industry's most experienced and stable sales force and backed by software volume licensing experts, hardware procurement specialists, and certified IT services professionals, SHI delivers custom IT solutions to corporate, enterprise, public sector and academic customers. With more than 1,750 employees worldwide, SHI is the largest Minority/Woman Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) in the United States and is ranked 19th among Everything Channel's VAR 500 list of North American IT solution providers. For more information, visit http://www.shicloud.com.

About Finelite

Finelite is in the business of better lighting. Finelite designs and builds innovative, high performance lighting systems for offices, educational and healthcare facilities. Products include ambient LED lighting, LED task lighting, high performance fluorescent general illumination light fixtures, and patented plug-and-play lighting systems. Finelite works with architects to make lighting work better for people and to reduce energy consumption. Finelite works with contractors and building owners to meet their schedules and budgets. By joining forces with the California Energy Commission and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Finelite has received national awards for its lighting research projects. Research findings, design support and education programs are available at no cost to end users, building owners, architects and contractors. http://www.fineliteled.com.

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Finelite Shapes Efficient Lighting Design at SHI International in New Jersey

By Freeman Klopott - Wed Feb 22 21:03:01 GMT 2012

New York (STONY1) Governor Andrew Cuomo said a construction team may be chosen in the next six months to build a $5.2 billion replacement for the Tappan Zee Bridge and that he’s considering turning the old span over the Hudson River into a pedestrian greenway.

The pathway for pedestrians and cyclists would be similar to the Walkway Over the Hudson, a state park built on the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge that has drawn almost 500,000 visitors a year. Tearing down the bridge would cost $150 million, Cuomo said today at a Cabinet meeting in Albany.

In the last decade, New York has spent $88 million on studies and held more than 430 public meetings where it presented 150 proposals to replace the Tappan Zee, he said.

“Ten years worth of talking, and now in a matter of months so much progress has been made,” Cuomo, a 54-year-old Democrat, said. “This is a phenomenally rapid process.”

In December, the state applied for a $2 billion federal loan, and earlier this month it announced that four construction teams, including companies such as Fluor Corp. (FLR), Bechtel Group Inc., Skanska AB (SKAB) and Grupo Dragados SA (DRC), were in the running to win the project. President Barack Obama in October named building a new Tappan Zee as one of 14 U.S. projects to be sped through the federal oversight process.

Job Creation

Final proposals for the project, which would create more than 45,000 jobs, will be submitted in June and the winning group will be announced this summer, Cuomo said today. The state is using the so-called design-build process to speed the construction timeline, he said. Approved by lawmakers in December, the process puts private companies in charge of designing and building the project, rather than having the state develop the plan and then put it out for bid.

The three-mile-long (4.8-kilometer) Tappan Zee, which connects Rockland and Westchester counties as part of the New York State Thruway system, carries 138,000 vehicles a day, 40 percent more than its original design intended, according to the application for the $2 billion Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan.

New York’s project is one of 26 seeking a total of $13 billion in Tifia loans, the U.S. Transportation Department said in a statement e-mailed Feb. 15. The program has about $1.1 billion available, and New York is asking that its $2 billion be spread out over several years.

Mass Transit

The Tappan Zee design plan will immediately allow for a rapid-bus transit line and light rail, Cuomo said. Those commuter systems haven’t been built yet, and doing so could cost about $5.2 billion for the buses and $5 billion for the rail, he said.

“We’re actually building a bridge that’s ahead of the existing system,” Cuomo said. “I think it’s a prudent investment because it’s a smart idea, and if we can’t afford it now, we can down the road.”

The state hired Jeffrey A. Parker & Associates in December to help develop the funding plans for the new bridge. The federal loan would be secured by revenue collected statewide by the Thruway Authority, which totaled $660 million in 2011, including $130 million from the Tappan Zee, the loan application said. Other options include selling bonds-backed by tolls, and pension funds or other private investment, Cuomo said today.

“The main funding stream will be tolls,” he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Freeman Klopott in Albany, New York, at fklopott@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: William Glasgall at wglasgall@bloomberg.net

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Cuomo Says Tappan Zee Replacement Plan Moving at ‘Phenomenally Rapid’ Pace

NAPA -- Designed to bring as many Napa Valley College student services as possible together under one roof, Building 1300 is the final major bond project.

To complete the building, student services offices will be closed to the public during the last week of February.

The office of vice president of Student Services Oscar De Haro will close for moving Feb. 27-29, and reopen March 1.

The college's counseling offices will be closed through Feb. 28 and will reopen on Feb. 29. The counseling service's secretaries will be located in Room 1339A.

The Admissions and Records office will be also closed Feb. 27-28 for moving and will reopen on Feb. 29.

Meanwhile, the Transfer Center and Career Centers will be closed through March 1, and will reopen March 2.

Student Life and ASNVC (student government), and Student Support Services will be closed through Feb. 29, reopening March 1.

An open house will be planned later in the spring.

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Napa college closes Student Services for building remodeling

CMS Builders and Restoration Explains Why Properly Removing Asbestos is Important.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) February 23, 2012

Tina Shiachi, President of CMS Builders and Restoration, has been working in the construction industry for over 12 years and earned a reputation as one of the top general contractors in Los Angeles County. Her business offers new construction of custom homes, additions, remodeling, 3-D designing, and supports going green with a full range of solar and wind power solutions. Tina is also a busy mother of two with another one on the way.

If that weren’t all enough, this powerhouse woman also was recently certified as an Asbestos Abatement Professional.

Reports estimate that some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in homes, industrial sites, schools, and commercial buildings in the United States.

“Many houses constructed before 1978 were built using materials that had asbestos in it,” explains Tina. “Even if the house was built after 1978, there is a danger of being exposed to these fibers. During this time, China was exporting building materials with asbestos which was used for ducting, insulation, and popcorn ceilings. Exposure can happen if any of these materials are damaged or disturbed by demolition or repair activities.”

The fibers are too small to see with the naked eye, yet pose serious health risks to the lungs and organs. That’s why it’s imperative that any asbestos is removed before a home is renovated. Strict requirements are set by the federal, state, and local authorities regarding the proper handling, removal, and discarding of asbestos which makes it essential to hire a qualified asbestos removal professional.

Whether a client needs asbestos removal, construction of a custom home, or an addition, CMS Builders guarantees all their work and will match any competitors’ coupons or offer. They are currently offering a $1,500 discount on all kitchen remodeling projects over $15,000, a $750 discount on all bathroom remodeling projects over $7,500, and a $5,000 discount off all room additions over $50,000.

With an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau, this company prides itself on completing projects on time, on budget, and to their clients’ full satisfaction. To learn more about this CMS Builders and Restoration, please visit their website at http://www.cmsprobuilders.com.

About CMS Builders and Restoration

CMS Builders and Restoration is a full service general contractor that specializes in kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, room additions, general remodeling, custom cabinetry, electrical, plumbing, wrought iron, patio enclosure, and much more. Established in 2010, President Tina Shiachi has been working in the construction industry for over 12 years. CMS Builders and Restoration serve Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange Counties.

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Christina Shiachi
CMS Builders and Restoration
(800) 601-2696
Email Information

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Top Los Angeles Remodeling Contractor CMS Builders and Restoration Announces Acquisition of Asbestos Removal ...

A licensed and experienced contractor can ensure good installation and lasting value for your remodeling project.

By Nazem Agha

After a seemingly interminable fight against the effects of a crippling recession, the U.S. economy is finally beginning to show signs of recovery. But even as consumer confidence begins its slow upward climb, many individuals are still behaving cautiously when it comes to major spending. Over the past few years, many homeowners found ways in which to cut corners and save cash; and while some of their efforts, such as DIY home remodeling, have become full-blown trends, experts caution that there are some undertakings for which it is safer, simpler and ultimately more affordable to bite the bullet and hire a licensed and experienced contractor.

Some small-scale, one-room projects are the ideal proving ground for a DIY contractor in the making: and provided there aren’t too many technical details or supplies involved, homeowners can snag impressive savings sprucing up a room or two on their own. However, as noted in a recent article from the Chicago Tribune, there are plenty of factors – from labor coordination and tradesmen relationships to wholesale discounts, subcontractors, ready tools and supplies – that keep professional contractors in business. Simply put, a remodeling job can easily get out of hand without the organizational and industry expertise of a licensed expert. And not only that, some products (such as many carpet and flooring materials) may require professional installation in order to validate the warranty. Ultimately, the best way to avoid the pitfalls of both DIY errors and overpriced, multi-contractor projects is to find a company that provides both products and services under the same roof – and at Carpet Country Flooring, we do just that in order to keep your remodeling experience simple, affordable, organized and efficient.

Professional expertise and unparalleled value with San Diego’s premier flooring company

Carpet Country Flooring strives to take the hassle out of home improvement by providing customers with the best quality hardwood, laminate, carpet, tile and stone flooring, as well as custom blinds, at the lowest possible prices – and with the convenience of skilled in-house contractors to deliver and install every product we sell. Our San Diego flooring company proudly offers the best Abbey Flooring products and expert installation, cutting out the need for subcontractors and guaranteeing our renowned warranty. If you don’t like the new flooring we install for you, we will change it – no questions asked: so when it comes to custom flooring and blinds, let the experts treat you to a simple, efficient and excellent remodeling experience. To learn more, peruse our product selection or locate our Poway showroom, visit us online at http://www.carpetcountryflooring.com.

Related posts:

Sustainable upgrades and green materials top home improvement trends for the New Year Make energy-saving home improvements this holiday season — and earn tax credits for 2011 Affordable remodels and renovations are homeowners’ best bets for 2012 Customer satisfaction key to Carpet Country’s success

Short URL: http://www.pomeradonews.com/?p=21812

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DIY home remodeling: when to go it alone – and when to hire a licensed contractor

(Sentinel photo by Amy Erickson) Lonnie Bohlke, courthouse maintenance employee, is working on renovations in the former driver's license room at the Plymouth County Courthouse. The raised floor and horseshoe-shaped desk are gone to allow more uses of the new multipurpose room.

The former driver's license room in the lower level of the Plymouth County Courthouse is getting a facelift.

Gone is the raised floor -- reminiscent of the days when the board of supervisors met in that room -- along with the horseshoe shaped desk.

New carpeting will soon replace the orange and brown of years past while updated lights and ceiling tiles will add to the look.

"All the work is being done by the courthouse maintenance employee," said Auditor Stacey Feldman, referring to Lonnie Bohlke.

Material costs for the renovation are expected to be about $10,000, which is in this year's courthouse building repairs and updates line item in the county's general fund, Feldman said.

Remodeling the driver's license room is the next step in the project to help solve the county's space needs problem at the courthouse, she said.

Construction of the courthouse annex building, where the county's driver's license department moved to, was also part of that space needs project.

The remodeled multipurpose room will have new countertops, cupboards, a sink, a microwave and a refrigerator, Feldman said.

"Those (appliances) are currently in the courthouse and will be moved into the multipurpose room," she said.

The room will be available for a variety of uses including an employee break room, a conference room and a meeting room for various county departments.

"It can easily hold 50 people," Feldman said. "We already have tables and chairs that can be used in there."

Prior to and since the driver's license department moved out, zoning commission, board of adjustment and human resource meetings and others have been held in that room.

"We've used it but it's just not as convenient because the room had two levels," Feldman said, of the raised floor that covered half the room.

Jessica Trobaugh, the county's wellness co-coordinator, held a similar view noting that removing the raised floor will make the multipurpose room more user friendly.

"It will just be nice to have everybody on one level," she said. "It will be better equipped for more people to be present and actively participate."

Having a refrigerator, microwave and sink in the room will also be nice when it comes to employee lunch meetings, Trobaugh said.

"Sometimes we have everybody bring an ingredient for a salad or we have a potluck," she said. "Now we'll be able to keep everything in one location and not have to bring it in from other rooms."

The multipurpose room can also be used as a conference room, which will be beneficial because the other conference room on the second floor of the courthouse is very small, Feldman said.

"This will be the largest open meeting space available in the courthouse," she said of the new multipurpose room. "It will be open to whoever needs it."

Feldman said the location of the room in the lower level of the courthouse is a good one because it's easily accessible for the public.

"You come in that north door, go right down the ramp and it's right there," she said.

Jim Henrich, chairman of the county board of supervisors, said he, too, thinks renovations in the former driver's license room will make it more versatile.

"I just think it could be used for a lot of different things and I think it will be used," Henrich said.

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Multipurpose room to help with courthouse space needs

Everlast Composite Siding products will be on display at the New England Home Show from February 10 to 12 and the Nashoba Valley Home Show on 3 & 4 March as well as several other area shows.

(PRWEB) February 23, 2012

Homeowners will have a unique opportunity to view a wide range of Everlast Composite Siding products at the United Home Experts booth at both the New England Home Show in February and the Nashoba Valley Home Show in March. The New England Home Show will be held from February 23 to 26 at the Seaport World Trade Center where doors open at 12pm on Thursday and the cost of admission is $12 for adults. The Nashoba Valley Home Show takes place on March 3 and 4 at the Boxborough Holiday Inn I-495, exit 28 where doors open at 10am.

Everlast Composite Siding has steadily been gaining traction in the Eastern Massachusetts and Boston areas and aims to be a major player in providing siding in Eastern Massachusetts in the future. There are currently three Everlast Composite Siding projects being installed in the Boston area with six siding projects scheduled for installation in Boston suburbs.

The popularity of Everlast Composite siding is hardly surprising. Everlast is immune to the weather and insect damage that wood siding is prone to. It is also impervious to the weather damage and chipping that occurs with fiber cement siding. Cement board siding is also problematic as it contains wood particles which absorb moisture over time and result in cracking, swelling and peeling paint.

View our extensive array and see how the low maintenance qualities of Everlast make it the perfect siding for regions experiencing extreme weather conditions such as Boston and Eastern New England. A large range of siding colors will be on display. Representatives will speak with thousands of show-goers and share information about Everlast as an alternative to vinyl siding and fiber cement siding. "We have a saying around our office: Friends don't let friends buy vinyl!" Come and have a look at our unique products and let us answer all you questions. We have the best siding in Massachusetts."

Come down to the home show nearest you and compare prices, view our large range of products, ask our experts for advice and get great ideas for your next home improvement project. Read more about siding in Massachusetts on our informative siding blog.

About Everlast Composite Siding:

United Home Experts d.b.a. Everlast Composite Siding installs high-quality Everlast Polymeric Cladding, backed by a transferrable Lifetime Performance Warranty, to homeowners in Massachusetts and surrounding areas. Everlast is blessed with both durability and curb appeal that customers find truly satisfying. For more information, please visit: http://everlastsidingnewengland.com

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Peter Martino
United Home Experts
508-881-8555
Email Information

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8 Home Shows in Boston Area Showcase Everlast Composite Siding

Duro-Last Roofing, Inc. is introducing a complete line of roof insulation products under the brand name Duro-Guard.

Saginaw, Michigan (PRWEB) February 23, 2012

Duro-Last Roofing, Inc. is introducing a complete line of roof insulation products under the brand name Duro-Guard, at the International Roofing Expo, being held in Orlando, Florida, February 22-24. The product line includes a variety of private-labeled polyisocyanurate (ISO) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation, as well as DensDeck® roof boards. All new insulation products are available to authorized Duro-Last contractors through normal ordering procedures.

“Duro-Last intends to be a complete roofing systems provider to our customers,” said Steve Ruth, Duro-Last Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We already have industry-leading single-ply membranes, standing seam roofing systems, and metal details. Adding insulation to our product portfolio enhances our ability to effectively address virtually any application in the commercial roofing marketplace.”

With corporate headquarters and a manufacturing facility in Saginaw, Michigan, and other locations in Grants Pass, Oregon; Jackson, Mississippi; and Sigourney, Iowa, Duro-Last Roofing, Inc. is the manufacturer of the “World’s Best Roof”®. Since 1978, Duro-Last has produced a custom-fabricated, single-ply roofing system that is ideal for any flat or low-sloped building. Energy-efficient and extremely durable, the Duro-Last roofing system is also leak-proof, virtually maintenance-free and resistant to chemicals, fire, punctures, and high winds. Duro-Last offers specialized single-ply roof membranes, standing seam panels, and other metal components for single-ply roof installations, and a complete line of roof insulation products. For more information, contact Fred Sitter at 800-248-0280 or visit http://www.duro-last.com.

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Fred Sitter
Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.
(989) 758-1044
Email Information

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Duro-Last® Introduces Duro-Guard™ Insulation Product Line

22-02-2012 13:29 Home Additions - Chicago: Budget Construction believes that a successful home addition or second story project, should not look or feel like a separate addition, but should integrate seamlessly with your home. This increases your home's functionality and value. Home additions can be as simple as a new bed room or as complex as a separate living area. We use quality products and good design, to best match the architecture of the existing house, which enhances the overall curb appeal. At Budget Construction, we build to last! We stay on track, focused on quality, safety and budget. From idea to completion, you can trust Budget Construction to get your project done right!

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