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EY announces Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2015 Award recipients in the Southwest

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DALLAS, June 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — EY has announced the award recipients of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in the Southwest. This group of leading entrepreneurs was selected by an independent judging panel made up of previous award recipients, leading CEOs and other regional business leaders. The award recipients were recognized at a black-tie gala on June 27 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas.

“These entrepreneurs are inspiring leaders demonstrating the dedication and vision it takes to achieve tremendous success,” said Debra L. von Storch, EY Strategic Growth Markets Partner. “EY is proud to recognize these entrepreneurs and all of their tremendous contributions.”

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Southwest panel of independent judges selected two iconic entrepreneurs for recognition: Doug Parker, Chairman and CEO, American Airlines Group, and Glenn Beck, Founder and CEO, Mercury Radio Arts.

Mr. Parker has worked in the airline business since 1986, when he first joined American. He has long been a proponent of consolidation in the airline industry, and in 2005, he led a merger of America West and US Airways. In 2013 he helped bring together US Airways and American Airlines, and was named CEO of American Airlines Group. American is the largest airline in the world, with a network throughout North America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, and Asia. The company is based in Fort Worth, Texas, and runs hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington DC.

Mr. Beck is not only an American television personality and radio host, but also a successful entrepreneur. Mr. Beck is the leader of an innovative, entrepreneurial spirited media empire. He is the founder and CEO of Mercury Radio Arts, a multimedia production company that produces and delivers content for radio, television, publishing, the stage, and the Internet. His company is home to the successful entities of TheBlaze, the 1791 clothing brand, and Mercury Ink, a publishing imprint through Simon Shuster.

In addition to Mr. Parker and Mr. Beck’s selection, following are the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015 award recipients:

Consumer Products
Andrew Philipp, Jeremy Rincon and Robby Whites, Co-founders,
Clarus Glassboards, LLC, Ft. Worth, Texas

Emerging Consumer
John Reardon, Founder and CEO, Deep Ellum Brewing Co., Dallas, Texas

Emerging Technology
Mark Dubrow, President and CEO, Onyx Payments, Dallas, Texas

Energy
Greg Lanham, CEO, FTS International, Fort Worth, Texas

Family Business
Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO, Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., Dallas, Texas

Financial Services
Scott Everett, President and Founder, Supreme Lending, Dallas, Texas

Health Services
Rick Allen, President and CEO, Paragon Healthcare, Inc., Dallas, Texas

Hospitality
Randy Gier, Chief Eating Officer, Rave Restaurant Group,
The Colony, Texas

Innovation
Amber Venz Box, President and Co-Founder and Baxter Box, CEO and Co-founder, rewardStyle, Dallas, Texas

Real Estate and Construction
Ron Ross, Chairman and CEO, Gary Swan, Vice President and CFO
Daniel Tinker, President and COO and John Davis, Vice President and General Counsel, SRS Distribution Inc., McKinney, Texas

Services
John Watters, Chairman and CEO, iSIGHT Partners, Dallas, Texas

Technology/Telecomm
Chris MacFarland, CEO, Masergy Communications, Inc., Plano, Texas

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Program. Award recipients in several national categories, as well as the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif. The awards are the culminating event of the EY Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. Additionally, venture-backed companies that win an Entrepreneur Of The Year Award regionally are also eligible for the Venture Capital Award of Excellence at the national level.

The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner then moves on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award. Now in its 29th year, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries throughout the world.

Sponsors
Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards is sponsored in the United States by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and SAP America. In the Southwest Region, sponsors include BBVA Compass, Colliers International, Haynes and Boone LLP, Roach Howard Smith Barton, Merrill Corp., bkm Total Office of Texas, D CEO Magazine and SocialStrategy1.

About EY’s Strategic Growth Markets
EY’s Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) practices guide leading high-growth companies. Our multidisciplinary teams of elite professionals provide perspective and advice to help our clients accelerate market leadership. SGM delivers assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services to thousands of companies spanning all industries. EY is the undisputed leader in taking companies public, advising key government agencies on the issues impacting high-growth companies and convening the experts who shape the business climate. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/us/strategicgrowthmarkets, or follow news on Twitter @EY_Growth.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by Ernst Young LLP, an EY member firm serving clients in the US.

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Blowing Rock Taps Beer Town Roots for NC Beer Month, Featuring New Events This …

Posted on July 21, 2015 by

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Blowing Rock has a full schedule of beer-related events and promotions during NC Beer Month in April, all part of the state-wide initiative to highlight the local craft brew industry. New events for 2015 include the Blowing Rock Brewing Bivouac and features at the Blue Ridge Wine Food Festival, plus the Blowing Rock Brew-a-bout Passport.

“Blowing Rock restaurants and businesses are always happy to partner with the state in promoting local products and activities,” says Tracy Brown, Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority director. “And Blowing Rock was a beer-town long before it was highlighted as a promotional effort, way back to places like Antler’s Bar, Mother Fletcher’s, and P.B. Scotts. Good food and drink has always been part of the experience here, and NC Beer Month is a perfect time to celebrate that.”

As a result, folks visiting and staying in Blowing Rock throughout the month of April will have ample opportunities to experience and sample what’s new and best in local beers. All month, diners will find brew-inspired dishes at Storie Street Grille and Canyons, where recipes incorporating NC beers will be featured daily. Special pricing on NC beer pints and flights will be found at Town Tavern, Foggy Rock, Six Pence Pub, and Mellow Mushroom, while Bistro Roca features a “tap takeover” with all NC brews.

On Saturday, April 11, the Blowing Rock Brewery will celebrate Beer Month on its front lawn. The Brewery Bivouac will include live entertainment, complimentary brewery tours and educational seminars. Special beer flights appetizer pairings will be available for purchase. Then during the Wine Food Festival (April 16-19), Foggy Rock and Town Tavern will both host special NC Beer events. Blowing Rock’s newest restaurant, Rustique, is jumping on board with a pairing dinner featuring Blind Squirrel Brewery of Plumtree, NC. Festival goers will also find NC brews at the weekend’s tasting events.

The Brew-a-bout Passport, coordinated by Blowing Rock Brewing Company, is intended to provide extra reward for getting out and enjoying NC Beer Month in Blowing Rock.

During April, spending at any of the 11 participating Passport restaurants will gain stamps that can be redeemed for a freebie at the Blowing Rock Brewing Bivouac and an entry into the Blowing Rock Ale House giveaway. For details on the Blowing Rock Brew-about Passport and all the other special NC Beer Month events and promotions, visit BlowingRock.com/NCBeermonth.

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How The West Was Won, The Transformation of Western North Carolina | WUNC

Posted on July 21, 2015 by

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Duke Energy to hold meetings to discuss power line project to co – FOX Carolina 21

Posted on July 21, 2015 by

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LANDRUM, SC (FOX Carolina) –

Duke Energy will host two public meetings this week about the company’s plan to construct a high voltage electrical transmission line between Asheville and northern Spartanburg County.

Duke officials said property along a 45 mile path would be seized in order to construct a 230kv transmission line from a natural gas-fired power plant in Asheville to a substation in Campobello.

Duke announced in May that plans had been finalized to replace the 376-megawatt Asheville coal power plant with a $750 million, 650-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant with a solar generator and that it would be connected to a $320 million substation to be constructed along I-26 near Highway 11 in the Campobello area.

PREVIOUSLY: Duke Energy to replace WNC coal plant with natural-gas plant, add substation in Upstate
The project is slated for completion in 2019 and Duke says it will provide hundreds of jobs during development.

However, many residents in the path of the proposed transmission line are not happy.

In an e-mail sent to FOX Carolina, one Landrum resident stated the transmission line would “negatively (affect) pristine forests, beautiful mountain views, scenic Highway 11 and millions of dollars of property values.”

Some argue the transmission line could discourage tourism in the area.

“It could have a terrible economic impact on us,” Spartanburg County homeowner Madelon Wallace said. “Our major economic driver in this area is horses, tourism, wineries and agriculture…and we worked very hard over the years to build a strong economy in this area centered around those things.”

MORE: Duke Energy to retire coal plant in Asheville, residents in Foothills concerned

Others have also threatened lawsuits.
Duke officials will address the Spartanburg County communities’ concerns at a meeting Tuesday in Landrum. The meeting will be held at the Landrum Middle School gymnasium from 4 to 7 p.m.

Another public meeting will be held Thursday at the Blue Ridge Community College’s Henderson County campus in Flat Rock. The meeting will take place in the Blue Ridge Center Conference Hall, located in the Technology and Education Development Center, from 4 to 7 p.m.

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The Smartest Way to Take a Vacation – WSJ

Posted on July 21, 2015 by

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ENLARGE

July 20, 2015 11:38 a.m. ET

Should you take a brief vacation, or a weekslong excursion? Go somewhere new, or relax at the family beach house?

Psychologists and researchers have been studying how to create an ideal vacation that boosts our well-being, relieves stress that can impact our health, and helps us recharge for returning to work. Some conclusions: Longer vacations aren’t necessarily better than shorter ones. Engage in activities you haven’t done before, even if you’re at home on a staycation. And end a trip on a high note.

The days before and after a vacation are also important. Anticipating what you will be doing can bring greater emotional rewards than remembering a trip after you return, research shows. And while post-vacation bliss tends to dissipate quickly, there are tips for holding on to it a little longer.

The Ideal Getaway

BEFORE

Anticipation is half the fun. The act of planning a vacation increases the sense of well-being we get from it, studies show. We are actually happier before the trip than after.

Travel to someplace different to get more mental stimulation and excitement than a trip to a regular spot. If you vacation in the same place every year or plan a staycation, seek out new experiences.

DURING

Well-being improves in as little as two days. On a longer vacation, the sense of health and well-being peaks on the eighth day, one study found.

Mental detachment is crucial for a successful vacation. Turn off the phone, or limit email to a certain time each day. Put the camera down occasionally.

Plan a happy ending. We often remember an experience by how it finishes.

AFTER

That vacation afterglow fades quickly. Extend the beneficial effects by avoiding long hours at work and taking time to relax.

“During holidays, health and well-being increase quite rapidly,” often just two days into a vacation, said Jessica de Bloom, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Tampere in Finland. Dr. de Bloom, an organizational psychologist, researches the effects of vacations in part by calling study participants while they are away on trips and questioning them about how they feel and their levels of tension, fatigue and happiness, among other measures.

Her advice: Take shorter, more frequent vacations. “Holidays work more like sleep. You need regular recovery from work in order to stay healthy in the long run,” Dr. de Bloom said.

Vacations make us feel better, and they are important for our health, researchers say. Studies show vacations reduce the risk of heart attacks and depression, relieve stress and can lead to improved work performance and creativity.

In a study of 54 people vacationing for an average of 23 days, Dr. de Bloom and co-researchers found that measures of health and wellness improved during vacation compared with baseline, peaking at the eighth day before gradually declining.

“It could be that eight days is the ideal to fully gain the benefits of a holiday,” said Dr. de Bloom. The study was published in 2013 in the Journal of Happiness Studies.

Laura Beatrix Newmark, of New York, has tried getaways of different durations. Her ideal vacation: nine days. “You really feel like you can get into a different zone and then when you come back you feel like you’re in a different mind-set,” said the 38-year-old entrepreneur and mother of two young children.

Some psychologists recommend drawing out the planning and anticipation of going away. In one study, researchers conducted a series of experiments comparing anticipation to reflection. One of the scenarios included imagining a vacation, said Leaf Van Boven, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado at Boulder and lead author of the study. The researchers found that anticipation led to more intense and satisfying emotions than the act of remembering past experiences. The study was published in 2007 in the journal of Experimental Psychology: General.

“We pre-live experiences—that’s very emotionally arousing,” said Dr. Van Boven. “Once it’s in the past we tend to adopt more of a distant perspective from the experience.”

ENLARGE

Having autonomy while on vacation also increases its benefits, experts say. Try to take control of the course of the day. For example, don’t let the alarm clock tell you when to get up, wake up naturally, said Dr. de Bloom. Take steps so you will be in control of your time, deciding which activities you want to do or not.

Mentally detaching from the working world also is important. Some executives have begun making this company policy, along with requiring employees to use up all their vacation time.

“While you’re on vacation you’re prohibited from contacting anyone in the company for business reasons and they are prohibited from contacting you,” said David Morken, chief executive of Bandwidth, a Raleigh, N.C., technology company with about 500 employees.

Mr. Morken said there was some resistance in the company when he first instituted the policy, but that faded when the benefits became clear. “Everyone gets a chance to recharge, unplug and actually go dark and get off the grid on vacation,” he said.

For some people, not checking email at all can make a vacation more stressful, said Samantha Boardman, a psychiatrist in New York City who writes about positive psychology issues in her blog “Positive Prescription.”

“Designate a time in the morning and maybe a time in the evening to check email,” she said. Turning off the phone helps to share experiences with the people you’re with. And put down the camera occasionally. “You do sometimes miss the moment when you take a picture,” she said.

Dr. Boardman recommends people pursue new experiences and places while on vacation. “Once we’ve already seen somewhere we’re not necessarily absorbing what’s new about it. People who always go to the same place will often sort of start to have memories blur.” Staycations can work as vacations, but make an effort to “experience something familiar in an unfamiliar way,” she said.

Studies show people often reflect on an experience, including a vacation, based largely on how it ends. “Do your best to make things end well. If you’re going to splurge and fly business class, don’t do it on the way there, do it on the way home,” said Dr. Boardman.

ENLARGE

Unfortunately, the positive effects of a vacation don’t last long, normally no more than a week. In one study, nearly 1,000 people in the Netherlands who went on vacation were asked about their happiness before and after a trip. Their responses were compared with those of more than 500 people who continued their everyday life during the same period.

The vacationers reported a higher degree of happiness before their vacation, compared with those who stayed home. But there was no significant difference between the two groups’ happiness post-vacation. Only when vacationers reported a “very relaxed” trip did their increased happiness linger for a few more weeks, said Jeroen Nawijn, a senior lecturer in tourism at NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, who was lead author on the study, published in 2010 in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life.

Experts say easing back into work can help extend the post-vacation bliss. A 2010 study in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, which surveyed 131 teachers in Germany, found avoiding excessive work following vacation and getting leisure time in the evenings prolonged the benefits of the vacation.

Write to Sumathi Reddy at sumathi.reddy@wsj.com

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Southland National Insurance Corporation to Acquire Colorado Bankers Life …

Posted on July 21, 2015 by

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. and GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., July 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Southland National Insurance Corporation (“SNIC”) and Dearborn National Life Insurance Company (“DNL”) announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which SNIC will acquire DNL’s wholly-owned Colorado Bankers Life Insurance Company (“CBL”) subsidiary. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The transaction will combine SNIC’s in-force life insurance portfolio with CBL’s operations and leading presence in individual life, accident and critical illness products to create a platform with an enhanced ability to deliver insurance protection to policyholders and drive growth. SNIC is the life insurance affiliate of Eli Global, a private firm founded in 1991.

“CBL’s talented employees, high-quality products and distribution capabilities will become the cornerstone of our insurance operations,” said Jeremy Ragsdale, Chief Executive Officer of Eli Global’s Insurance Group. “Our team looks forward to working closely with CBL’s employees to meet the needs of policyholders and expand CBL’s reach through existing channels as we grow our insurance operations.”

“In SNIC and Eli Global, we have found a great organization committed to investing in CBL and focused on meeting the needs of our individual policyholders,” said Joe Wieser, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBL. “Following the transaction, CBL will have an enhanced ability to grow and support our longstanding distribution partners by delivering convenient and affordable individual life, annuity, accident and critical illness products.”

Gregory Benesh, Chief Executive Officer of DNL said, “This transaction will enable DNL and CBL to focus on the needs of their separate sets of policyholders. CBL will continue to leverage its unique business model to deliver individual products. For DNL, this transaction will enable us to maintain a sharper focus on our core group life, disability and dental business.”

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2015, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Following the close of the transaction, CBL’s operations will maintain the CBL name and continue to be located in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

About Eli Global
Eli Global is an international information and financial services group headquartered in Durham, North Carolina with 2,600 employees working from more than a dozen locations on three continents. The Eli Global group has over $1 billion in assets across a broad range of products and services including: life insurance and annuities, dental insurance, electronic medical records, practice management systems, certifications, training, market research, advertising, information services, and revenue cycle management.

Eli Global’s formula for success is simple: we build long-term relationships with our people, our partners, and our customers. We have never sold a business and we have a 30-year plan for each business we operate. We have no outside investors and we are 100% owned by our Chairman and founder and our employees. This long-term privately held focus gives us an ability to develop relationships and invest in new markets and businesses over a period of many years.

About Southland National Insurance Corporation
Southland National Insurance Corporation is a stock insurance company within the Eli Global group of companies with 100% of the stock owned by Southland National Holdings, LLC. The company has been engaged in the business of life insurance, annuities and group dental insurance for more than 45 years. Southland is domiciled in North Carolina and is currently licensed in 18 states. For more information about the company, visit southlandnational.com

About Colorado Bankers Life Insurance Company
Colorado Bankers Life Insurance Company,® has been helping working Americans successfully build and manage their insurance needs for more than 40 years. In addition to its individual insurance plans, Colorado Bankers Life provides voluntary, supplemental benefit products through payroll deduction programs with U.S. business owners that yield two advantages: 1) employees receive convenient and affordable financial protection for themselves and their families; 2) employers offer greater insurance choices to their employees without incurring additional cost or obligation to themselves. Colorado Bankers Life is licensed in 49 states (excluding New York), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam.

About Dearborn National Life Insurance Company
Dearborn National Life Insurance Company is the ancillary subsidiary of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company (HCSC). HCSC is the largest non-investor owned health care insurer in the United States and the fourth largest overall. With 45 years of experience, Dearborn National offers a broad selection of Group Benefits insurance products (employer-paid/voluntary) as well as an array of enhanced product services. Dearborn National is licensed in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico. Products and services marketed under the Dearborn National® brand and the star logo are underwritten and/or provided by the following affiliated companies: Dearborn National Life Insurance Company® (Downers Grove, Illinois) which is not licensed in and does not solicit business in New York; in New York, the company is Dearborn National Life Insurance Company® of New York (Pittsford, New York). Product features and availability vary by state and company, and are solely the responsibility of each affiliate. For more information, visit dearbornnational.com.

SOURCE Southland National Insurance Corporation; Dearborn National Life Insurance Company

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Transportation Insight Founder and Chairman Named an Award Recipient for the …

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HICKORY, N.C., June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Globally recognized supply chain innovator, business leader and humanitarian Paul Thompson was named an award recipient for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015 Southeast Program in the Services Category. Thompson accepted the honors at the EOY Awards Gala in Nashville, Tennessee last night for his entrepreneurial achievements as founder or co-founder of eight highly successful North American companies, business strategist for numerous not-for-profit organizations and visionary and top executive for Transportation Insight, the flagship brand in his corporate portfolio. Transportation Insight is a Global Trade Top 10 3PL and a North American leader in value-based Enterprise Logistics.

“I am very humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award,” says Thompson. “As the revolution in entrepreneurship gains momentum across America, we see entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of job creation and innovation in this country. There is no greater reward than making American lives better by creating successful businesses and organizations. I’ve always measured success by the satisfaction of the people involved in my entrepreneurial endeavors – our clients, our associates and our business partners. They – along with my family – continue to be my inspiration.”

In addition to Transportation Insight, Thompson is also the driving force behind multiple acquisitions and the success of CHTL Logistics, a transactional truckload logistics firm; Custom Shipping Solutions, an organization providing transactional less-than-truckload logistics; United Sourcing Alliance, a group purchasing entity; Total Insight, a LEAN consulting firm; and Property Acquisition Company, a real estate development organization.

Thompson’s vision in creating Transportation Insight in 1999 was to provide consultative, value-based solutions to help shippers in a market made increasingly complex by trucking industry deregulation in the 1980s. The company’s co-managed business model has since evolved from simple execution-based transportation management to end-to-end supply chain solutions including predictive, strategic planning – powered by analytics – with emphasis on supply chain engineering, technology, LEAN consulting and Big Data solutions.

“It is because of Paul’s vision that Transportation Insight provides long-term value to our clients, and it is because of his servant’s heart that our company has become a top Enterprise Logistics provider in North America,” says Transportation Insight President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Baltz, a longtime friend and colleague of Thompson. “Under Paul’s leadership, we have assembled an elite organization of like-minded associates who focus on achieving personal and professional excellence while helping to transform our community, our company and our clients for the better.”

Transportation Insight and its clients have received logistics industry recognition for excellence, sustainability and growth. The Enterprise Logistics provider has appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing privately-held companies in the United States every year since 2008 to become part of the elite Inc. Honor Roll. To continue its rapid growth, Transportation Insight launched its Vision 20/20 expansion plan in 2014 to become a $3.5 to $5 billion company by January 1, 2020 through acquisition and organic growth channels.

A highlight of the Vision 20/20 plan is Transportation Insight’s new corporate headquarters which opens this summer with space to accommodate triple its current workforce. With the fully-renovated 1930’s-era Lyerly Mill as its centerpiece, the campus will be a catalyst to urban revitalization efforts in downtown Hickory, North Carolina. The complex includes 70,000 square feet of office space and numerous amenities such as athletic fields, a workout center and a cafeteria employing a chef onsite. The campus fulfills current and future associates’ desires for a career that includes fitness and healthy work-life balance.

Thompson has experienced significant business success, and his strategic work with numerous humanitarian organizations exemplifies his achievements with a higher purpose. Thompson was instrumental in establishing the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship at Appalachian State University, and he devotes significant time and resources to Samaritan’s Feet, Restore Global and many other organizations focused on lifting up those in need.

“Paul has taught me that true generosity is not measured in the size of one’s gift, but in the magnitude of one’s sacrifice and commitment to others,” says Manny Ohonme, President and Co-founder of global humanitarian organization Samaritan’s Feet. “We would not be where we are today without his vision, servant leadership and ability to help us create and execute a strategic roadmap far beyond our wildest dreams.”

Randy Edwards, Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, was Dean of the College of Business during the formative years of the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship. “Paul is the reason we have entrepreneurship at Appalachian,” says Edwards. “He radically accelerated the success of the Center for Entrepreneurship by providing not only significant funding, but also a strategic vision that inspired us to ‘go big or go home.'”

“The key to being a successful entrepreneur is to leverage the power of collaboration – one does not achieve significance going it alone,” says Thompson. “While vision and focus on continuous improvement of the business model and its processes are critical, empowerment of and partnership with people lead companies to greatness.”

“For 29 years, EY has recognized the remarkable efforts of business leaders and the dedication to the communities they serve,” said Brad Duncan, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Southeast Program Principal. “This group of award recipients truly demonstrates the passion, dedication and vision it takes to achieve remarkable success, and we are excited to honor them and share their stories.”

As a regional award recipient for the Services category, Thompson was recognized alongside entrepreneurs in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Thompson will now compete for national EY Entrepreneur Of The Year honors to be presented in November 2015 at the EY Strategic Growth Forum and national awards gala in Palm Desert, California.

About Transportation Insight, LLC

Transportation Insight is a global lead logistics provider with more than $3 billion in supply chain spend under management. For more than 15 years, the 3PL has partnered with hundreds of manufacturers, distributors and retailers to achieve significant cost savings, reduce cycle times and improve customer satisfaction rates by providing customized supply chain solutions. Transportation Insight offers a Co-managed Logistics® form of 3PL, carrier sourcing, freight bill audit and payment services, state-of-the-art transportation management system (TMS) applications and business intelligence. Its logistics services include domestic transportation, supply chain analytics, international transportation, warehouse sourcing, LEAN consulting and supply chain sourcing of indirect materials. For more about Transportation Insight, visit www.transportationinsight.com.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.

Contact: Lisa Santos Farley Email: lfarley@t-insight.com Phone: 828-485-5000

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SOURCE Transportation Insight, LLC

Tagged with: Boone NC

The Future of Land Resources

Posted on July 21, 2015 by

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Funds for land acquisition and trail development are drying up.

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Each horse needs about two acres of land to meet its basic exercise, shelter, and forage needs. In addition, owners and riders need land for their horse-related endeavors. Unfortunately, the amount of land for sustaining our horse population and activities has been declining. This loss will continue unless horse enthusiasts come together to demand consideration of their needs in a changing economy and land market.

The U.S. Forest Service estimates that about 6,000 acres of farmland and open space are lost each day to urban development. This means we lose more than an acre of farmland per minute.

In 2008 the Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) organization determined that 165 equine competition sites in 28 states had gone out of business. Most of us can point to a new subdivision or shopping mall sitting on the site of what was once a community fairground. Sometimes urban sprawl seems inevitable. And it will continue given the economic incentive to seek lowest costs for development.

While many states and localities have implemented purchase-of-agricultural-easement programs, a growing number of the programs struggle for funding. The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) was repealed under the 2014 Farm Bill, ending federal match funding that land conservation programs qualified for when purchasing easements on prime agricultural land. Both federal and state sources of funds for land acquisition as well as trail development and maintenance are drying up. So, as agricultural and rural lands are converted to urban uses, the land that riders need for their pursuits also -disappears.

The ELCR’s Deb Balliet says, “All land is saved locally,” and it is done by individuals who are willing to join with others who share their interest in fighting for both land preservation and access for equestrians. Many groups and programs are focused on conserving agricultural land. But land preservation does not necessarily guarantee access.

The challenge is that most Americans don’t understand the importance of the human-horse relationship. While we horsemen and -women see the value of protecting both agricultural land and -access to it, to others our horses and activities are simply hobbies or even trivial pursuits. Thus, there are four things we must do to ensure enough land is preserved for our horses and activities.

 We must provide horse access in creative ways to the general public that’s unfamiliar with horses so they can understand the social and psychological value of human-horse interactions. We cannot gain others’ support for our initiatives if they do not understand or have the opportunity to experience the ways in which horses enrich our lives. The horse community must implement a coordinated and comprehensive marketing campaign designed to build awareness.
 We must work to build public understanding of the economic impact of all sectors of the equine community. Horse owners consume many goods and services, and our equine activities bring competitor and tourist dollars to communities. This is called an equine economic cluster, and it represents all the businesses associated with the core activity: horses. Very few policymakers and residents are aware of the horse enthusiast dollars that flow through a local and state economy. For example, the 2012 Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show in Boone, North Carolina, generated more than $7.7 million in income for the area over its 22-day period.
 We must be vigilant and engaged with the local government to ensure equine community interests are integrated into land use planning. For most of us, monitoring land use planning meetings is not only boring but also baffling. We must educate ourselves about the fundamentals of land use planning and then be willing to work with others both to protect the land and to gain access to community land for horseback riding through zoning ordinances.
 If we want access to existing and planned trails, then we must be our own advocates and partner with other groups; many voices are more likely to get multiuse trails built than individual voices. Local and state governments have been actively developing trails over the last decade, but riders are often denied access to trails on federal and state lands. Moreover, local trails are rarely designed to allow horses access.

What we do now will determine whether the future will bring sufficient land resources for our horses’ needs and our activities. This is our challenge and our responsibility because it’s about our passion, our businesses, and our pleasure.

Lori Garkovich, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Community and Leadership Development at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington.

Originally published in the April 2015 issue of The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care.

Tagged with: Blowing Rock NC

Family spokesman: Mental issues dogged shooter who killed 5 | The Sun News …

Posted on July 21, 2015 by

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A Kuwait-born man who shot and killed five service members in Tennessee suffered from depression since his early teen years and also fought drug and alcohol abuse, spending time in Jordan last year to help him clean himself up, a family spokesman said Sunday.

The representative, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid unwanted publicity, said relatives of 24-year-old Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez believe those personal struggles are at the heart of last week’s killings at a pair of military sites in Chattanooga.

“They do not know of anything else to explain it,” said the representative, who has been involved with the family since the shootings.

The claim fits a pattern of behavior by Abdulazeez that includes a drunken driving arrest earlier this year and the loss of a job over a failed drug test.

Abdulazeez had spent several months in Jordan last year under a mutual agreement with his parents to help him get away from drugs, alcohol and a group of friends who relatives considered a bad influence, the spokesman said

Counterterrorism investigators continue to interview Abdulazeez’s acquaintances and delve into his visit to Jordan, looking for clues to whom or what might have influenced him and set off the bloodshed.

FBI spokesman Jason Pack declined comment on whether investigators were pursuing mental health records for Abdulazeez. But FBI Special Agent Ed Reinhold told reporters at the most recent news conference about the case that agents were looking into all aspects of his life and had not yet turned up any connections to Islamic terrorist groups.

Abdulazeez opened fire at a military recruiting office and a Navy-Marine operations center a few miles apart on Thursday, killing four Marines. A sailor wounded in the attack died Saturday. There is no explanation for why he targeted the military facilities.

Abdulazeez, who was shot and killed by police after a hail of gunfire, was first treated by a child psychiatrist for depression when he was 12 or 13 years old, said the family representative.

“He was medicated like many children are. Through high school and college he did a better job sometimes than others staying with it,” said the spokesman.

Several years ago, relatives tried to have Abdulazeez admitted to an in-patient program for drug and alcohol abuse but a health insurer refused to approve the expense, said the representative.

The exact timing was unclear, but court records show Abdulazeez’s parents reconciled after his mother sought a divorce in early 2009 over claims that included physical abuse of both her and the children, and sexual abuse of her while the children were in the household.

The representative said that Abdulazeez had owned guns for years, going back to when he was a child shooting at squirrels and targets, and called himself an “Arab redneck” or “Muslim redneck.”

A year after graduating from college with an engineering degree, Abdulazeez lost a job at a nuclear power plant in Ohio in May 2013 because of what a federal official described as a failed drug test.

Recently, Abdulazeez had begun working the night shift at a manufacturing plant and was taking medication to help with problems sleeping in the daytime, the representative said, and he also had a prescription for muscle relaxants because of a back problem.

It’s unknown what substances were in the man’s system at the time of the slayings, but toxicology tests should provide an answer.

After returning from his time overseas, Abdulazeez was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence in the pre-dawn hours on April 20. A police report said he told a Chattanooga officer he also was with friends who had been smoking marijuana. The report said Abdulazeez, who had white powder on his nose when he was stopped, told the officer he also had sniffed powdered caffeine.

The arrest was “important” because Abdulazeez was deeply embarrassed and seemed to sink further into depression following the episode, the representative said. Some close relatives learned of the charge only days before the shooting, the person said.

Bassam Issa, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga, said he knew nothing of Abdulazeez’s problems, despite knowing his father well through the mosque. But, he added, that is not surprising. Drinking alcohol and using drugs is strictly forbidden in the Islamic faith.

“In our culture, if a son or daughter is having those sorts of problems, they keep it a secret because of the shame,” Issa said. “As a parent, you always want to be able to say your child is making you proud, not that they are struggling.”

A former college professor who saw Abdulazeez at their mosque six days before the killings said the young man didn’t seem different after returning from Jordan last year or during their final encounter.

“I just saw the same friendly guy as before,” said Abdul Ofoli, who teaches electrical engineering at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where Abdulazeez graduated in 2012.

Ofoli, who sponsors the university’s Muslim Student Association, said Abdulazeez wasn’t very involved with the group to his knowledge and rarely said much in class but was a good student.

“He was brilliant,” said Ofoli.

Tagged with: North Carolina

NC Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) Endorses PayBack’s …

Posted on July 21, 2015 by

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RALEIGH, N.C., July 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — PayBack, the leader in procure-through-pay financing and enablement and North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, NCICU, announced today that PayBack’s Procure-Through-Pay For A Greater Purpose™ program for Higher Education has been endorsed by NCICU as part of its Collaboration Initiative for its 36 colleges and universities. After working closely with NCICU in the development of the program, PayBack’s Higher Education program is now available to all 36 NCICU campuses. Institutions using PayBack’s programs are projected to achieve savings of more than 10% of annual spend through purchase price and funded early pay discounts, returning up to a million dollars a year to a university.

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“PayBack’s program offers colleges and universities access to competitively negotiated discounts, early pay and special term financing, and more streamlined procurement and payment processes. The result is improved cash flow and substantial savings for participating NCICU institutions,” said NCICU President, Hope Williams.

“We’re excited to join NCICU’s Collaboration Initiative and to offer our innovative procure-through-pay programs to NCICU institutions,” said Bob Wood, Managing Partner of Payback. “Our programs ensure our clients receive the best negotiated purchase prices, receive maximum funded early payment discount sharing, enjoy extended payment terms and experience lower processing and reconciliation costs, with all costs of the program funded from payment discounts suppliers already pay. We are passionate about bridging the ‘last mile’ of procure-through-pay excellence and helping our clients save time and money.”

About NCICU
NCICU is the statewide office for North Carolina’s 36 independent, nonprofit institutions of higher education. Formed in 1969, NCICU develops scholarship support, engages in state and federal policy work, and partners with the state’s other education sectors. NCICU develops research and information, supports staff development, and coordinates collaboration among NCICU institutions. Those institutions generate over $14.2 billion a year for the state’s economy. NCICU institutions employ over 66,000 people and together represent the state’s largest private employer. For more information, visit www.ncicu.org.

About PayBack

PayBack delivers innovative procure-through-pay financing and enablement programs that ensure university buyers receive the best negotiated prices, maximum early payment discount sharing, extended payment terms, and lower software processing and reconciliation costs while creating a powerful sales channel for suppliers that carries lower marketing, selling and transactions costs. PayBack places a premium on the relationship between our buyers and suppliers, offering a unique opportunity to maximize value through the utilization of existing discount contracts and funded early-pay discounts. Finally, PayBack’s data analytics provide educational institutions insight into internal purchasing habits and trends, as well as supply chain analysis to buy smarter with less adverse social and environmental impact. All of this results in achieving the greater purpose of providing resources to the greater benefit of their campus, constituents and community. For more information, visit www.payback123.com.

For more information:

John Payne
Marketing Relationship Management
PayBack
(919) 280-2564
Email

SOURCE PayBack

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