Archive for January, 2010

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John Ilhan – Mobile Mogul

Friday, January 29th, 2010

John Ilhan, also known by his Turkish name Mustafa Ilhan, was the man responsible for the creation of Crazy John’s mobile phone retail chain. Under the age of 40, he was hailed as the richest man in Australia.

He was born on the 23rd day of January 1965 in Yozgat, Turkey. At the age of five, John Ilhan and his family moved to Australia. Growing up, John spent his years in the working-class area of Broadmeadows in the northwestern part of Melbourne.

After spending some time working as a salesman at Ford, John Ilhan found himself employed at Strathfield Car Radio, a phone and electrical retailer. In 1991, he left his sales job in pursuit of his own mobile phone shop in inner-city Brunswick. With a total of 18 stores in Victoria, his business eventually became the biggest Telstra mobile dealership in Australia. John Ilhan continued to expand his business by opening a number of stores in Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide.

The success he attained for his ventures in the mobile industry has earned him great fortune. Having secured a whopping $200 million in his bank account, John Ilhan was ranked first in Business Review Weekly’s List of Young Rich Australians for 2003.

Having amassed such great fortune, John Ilhan initiated the Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation in 2006. The foundation was established to promote research and proper distribution of information to the public regarding the issues and causes of anaphylaxis.

Apart from mobile phones and anaphylaxis, John Ilhan was also a huge football fan. He was a vocal supporter of the Australian Football League’s Richmond Football Club. In order to improve the team’s performance, John Ilhan recruited Kevin Sheedy after he made his offer to buy out Terry Wallace’s contract.

Unfortunately, in October of 2007, John Ilhan’s life was taken away due to a hereditary heart condition, leaving behind his wife Patricia and four children at the age of 42.

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Half of Mentally ill Kids get Treated

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Only half of American youngsters diagnosed with mental illnesses have received professional treatment, a report published Dec. 14, 2009 in Pediatrics declared. The report also offered an insight on the extent of mental disorders among the American youth.

In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2001 and 2004, 13% of 3,042 participants from ages 8 to 15 tested positive for mental illness. Just 55% of this group looked for medical attention in the past year.

Black and Mexican-American respondents were found to be less inclined to seek professional help than their Caucasian counterparts. Conversely, males were more amenable to the idea. Those who belong to low social classes were also likely to seek a mental health professional.

Inevitably, the study was an opportunity to size up the prevalence of mental disorders in America.

“Until now, there has been a dearth of reliable data on the magnitude, course and treatment patterns of mental disorders among U.S. youth,” said researcher Kathleen Ries Merikangas of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

She and her peers monitored six mental disorders, to wit: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, panic disorder, eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia), and conduct disorder. Other disorders, like phobias and schizophrenia, were excluded.

Her team found that 8.6% of mentally ill respondents tested positive for ADHD. Kids with GAD constituted 0.3%; depression, 3.7%; panic disorder, 0.4%; eating disorder, 0.1%; and conduct disorder, 2.1%.

Boys were more likely to have ADHD, but depression among them is less common than in girls. The latter disorder is also more common among minors aged 12 to 15.

On occasion, some respondents exhibited multiple illnesses. Around 1.8% of the respondents reported more than one infirmity, typically a combo of ADHD and conduct disorder.

Respondents underwent painstaking personal evaluations and physical exams before researchers trimmed them down for study in the past year. Caregivers and parents also volunteered additional data about their wards and what, if any, treatments they have received. The National Institute of Mental Health collaborated with the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the study.

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Profiles in Business: Eric Sedler

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Eric Sedler, the managing partner of ASGK Public Strategies, was a business partner of David Axlerod, Barack Obama’s chief campaign strategist for 2008. Eric Sedler, David Axlerod, and John Kupper formed ASK Public Strategies in 2008 (renamed ASGK Public Strategies in 2009 when Larry Grisolano joined the partnership). David Axlerod, on becoming President Obama’s chief advisor, divested himself of ASGK.

As the managing partner of ASGK, Eric Sedler uses his expertise in communication programs to serve clients in major industries including telecommunications, energy, financial services, health care, entertainment and land use. Through ASGK, Eric Sedler has worked with corporations, trade associations, labor unions, and advocacy organizations.

Before co-founding ASK Public Strategies, Eric Sedler managed corporate PR on the regional level for AT&T in their Chicago, Atlanta, and Miami branches. Eric Sedler directed AT&T’s PR in the central and southeastern US. His successful initiatives included securing regulatory approval for AT&T’s acquisition of cable systems in several states. Eric Sedler also managed the launch of local telephone services in several important markets.

Before becoming a public relations manager, Eric Sedler has worked for federal, state, and local officials, managing several successful state and local political campaigns. These officials include Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Eric Sedler has helped develop communications programs that gave extensive coverage to such legislation for telephone area codes, mammogram coverage, and fireworks safety.

In addition to his work with ASKG Public Strategies, Eric Sedler is often a guest speaker on communications and issues management. Eric Sedler has given presentations at the University of Chicago, Loyola University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Eric Sedler has been awarded the Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America and the Silver Trumpet Award from the Publicity Club of Chicago.

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Carlos Slim

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

Carlos Slim Helu, or Carlos Slim, was born on January 28, 1940 in Mexico City, Mexico. Descending from Lebanese-Mexican roots, Carlos Slim is a philanthropist, engineer, and businessman with a primary focus on the burgeoning telecommunications industry. He dominates over the telecommunications industry within Mexico as well as for the greater part of Latin America. He controls Telcel, Telefonos de Mexico, as well as the America Movil companies. Having an estimated net worth of US$35 billion, he currently ranks as the third wealthiest person in the world competing amongst Lawrence Ellison, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.

Carlos Slim completed his engineering studies at the prestigious Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. In 1967, he married Soumaya Domit, who gave him six children. The couple was married for 32 years until Soumaya’s death in 1999.

From 1996 to 1998, Carlos Slim served as the president of the Latin-American Committee of the New York Stock Exchange Administration Council. He was also a president of the Mexican Association of Brokerage Houses and vice president of the Mexican Stock Exchange.

Carlos Slim was also responsible for building Grupo Carso, a large Mexican financial-industrial conglomerate. Twenty eight years after its inception, Carlos Slim became the business’ Honorary Lifetime Chairman. The firm owns a variety of companies including the electronic retail chain CompUSA. In addition, he is also the chairman of the Grupo Financiero Inbursa.

For his active involvement and significant influence in the telecommunications industry, Carlos Slim became the recipient of Mexico’s Chamber of Commerce’s Entrepreneurial Merit Medal of Honor. In addition to this, the Belgian government also awarded him the Leopold II Commander Meda award. In 2003, he was hailed as CEO of the year by Latin Trade magazine and a year later, he received the title CEO of the decade from the same publication.

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Cydcor named one of the best places to work

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

Cydcor, the Westlake Village, California-based sales organization, was mentioned among “Best Places to Work” by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal. This is the second year in a row that Cydcor has achieve this distinctive honor. Cydcor ranked #14 for mid-sized companies.

The Business Journal and Best Companies Group analyzed area companies’ commitment to workplace excellence. The criteria included employee benefits, corporate philanthropy, progressive policies, work-life balance, internal working conditions, local management, workplace camaraderie and support of employees’ personal growth. The selections were conducted through surveys and employee comments.

Cydcor was cited for maintaining a supportive work environment and culture, open communication, quality and commitment of management and benefits. Fore example, Cydcor employees are eligible for benefits in their first month. After their first year, each Cydcor employee receives fifteen days of personal time off. Cydcor has also instituted an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides mental health counseling and referrals, along with wellness and quitting smoking programs. Cydcor encourages open communication with a a suggestion box, open-door policy, employee surveys, and regular organizational newsletters.

“Cydcor is a company that values hard work on our clients’ behalf, but also a company that rewards our employees and contributes to our community,” said Gary Polson, chief executive officer of Cydcor. “We’re proud Cydcor has been recognized as one of the area’s Best Places to Work once again.”

According to Cydcor senior VP Vera Quinn, Cydcor’s culture is guided by a code of valued behaviors. “Our values aren’t just words on paper. They are well thought out actions that represent who we are and what we do for our clients. Cydcor team members are rewarded monthly for exhibiting the Behaviors We Value, encouraging that these values live on in our daily interactions,” Quinn said.

Cydcor is heavily involved in corporate philanthropy in Cydcor’s community. In 2009, the Cydcor community hosted Business Building Blocks, a weekend filled with philanthropic and training activities with the Boys & Girls Club of Venice. The Cydcor community also initiated a toy drive for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Cydcor has also donated groceries and health products to a Manna-sponsored food drive and helped more than 500 Sylmar families who lost their homes to a 2008 fire. Cydcor is also a strong supporter of the Harbor Wetlands Restoration Project.

Source: Cydcor Named Among San Fernando Valley’s 2009 “Best Places to Work” For Second Year (PR Wire)

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“Invisible Bracelet” for Emergency Health Alerts

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

America’s emergency health care system just got an upgrade with a virtual medical ID. Called the Invisible Bracelet (iB), the device would help emergency responders deliver optimum service to patients.

iB lets Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers know the patient’s personal health history at a glance. In case of a crisis, the bracelet would automatically notify the patient’s kin and acquaintances.

Using an HIPAA-compliant web service, iB lets responders in on vital health details crucial to maximum EMS. Among others, the device can temporarily equip EMS providers with read-only information like the patient’s allergies.

Better yet, iB can automatically send a text message to loved ones in case of an emergency. Should an ambulance be required, medics on standby in call centers can notify the patient’s In Case of Emergency (ICE) contacts. With so much as a button push, the medic can likewise notify a hospital in the vicinity.

Renewable yearly for $5, the service gives members a card with a computer-assigned PIN number. It can hold as much as 10 ICE contacts. It may also come as keychain flash drives or implanted microchips.

iBs are designed to set off tangible medical bracelets, like those for diabetics and asthmatics. In some ways, it could be better, insofar as healthy people can wear invisible bracelets.

iB was initiated by invisibleBracelet.org in Oklahoma in April and done in partnership with the American Ambulance Association, the largest network of EMS providers in the US.

Now it is set to take off nationwide, as the American Ambulance Association prepares to train medics in January 2010. Nearly 100,000 people have applied as medics since it launched. In addition, the University of Oklahoma is integrating it into its campus services.

When fully available in early 2010, the iB would be the first national emergency health registry system in the US.

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Shoppers Scramble for Zhu Zhu Pets

Friday, January 15th, 2010

Parents across the US are dashing to buy the mechanical rodent known as the Zhu Zhu, currently the most in-demand Christmas gift for children.

They could be hard to come by though.

Retailers like Toys “R” Us and Walmart have been losing stock of the toys as parents continue to make requests for them. Meanwhile, opportunists at eBay have been selling them for as much as $100 each; the elusive toys otherwise only retail for $8.

In research conducted by the NPD Group, Zhu Zhus now rank among the five fastest-selling toys of 2009, in league with old favorites like G.I. Joe. In this view, Zhu Zhu’s maker, Cepia, could pocket $70 million in profits.

Loosely translated in Chinese as “piglet,” the Zhu Zhu is essentially a squeaking and chirping piece of artificial intelligence covered in faux fur. It is engineered to respond randomly to a touch and can scoot around reflexively.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. Largely made for 4-year old tots, the Zhu Zhu comes with a wide array of accessories, for which parents stand to shell out as much as $50. A single slide costs around $35, while a skateboard retails for nearly $13, the full-fledged “hamster city” selling for $130.

With daughters Natalie and Ashley, Cepia founder Russell Hornsby started conceiving the Zhu Zhu in 2008. At that time, the trio just discovered a 45-million strong demographic for live hamsters; they were willing to gamble on such market to splurge on artificial pets.

Such sales pitches grew to a crescendo this Yuletide, spawning a hysteria unseen since the debuts of Tickle Me Elmo, Pokemon, and Cabbage Patch dolls.

So-called Zhu Zhu parties have even been held. Throughout 2009, there were 300 of these affairs, in which parents could bond over their children, who would in turn bond over Zhu Zhus.

Now Wal-Mart has ordered more of the toys, to be shipped via 747s from China. In addition, the store has started holding Zhu Zhu sales twice a week, just so parents could satiate their children in time for Christmas morning.

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Profiles in Business: The Core Team of Avista Capital Partners Equity Firm

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

With a roster of experienced professionals, Avista Capital Partners specializes in private equity investments that targets growth oriented media, healthcare and energy companies. The company is considered one of the largest private equity firms in the world. Avista Capital Partners is unified by a team of professionals that thrives on an extensive background of collaborative teamwork since their days at DLJ Merchant Banking Partners — one of the world’s largest and most successful investment firms.

The core team of Avista Capital is composed of its co-managing partners, beginning with DLJMB former managing partner Thompson Dean and former chairman of DLJMB Global Energy Partners Steven Webster; David Burgstahler; former chairman of DLJMB Global Healthcare Partners Larry Pickering; OhSang Kwon; David Durkin and Robert Cabes. These individuals, who are responsible for pointing the company to a direction leading to profitability and efficiency, are all experts in the field of private equity.

One of the most important goals of the company is to manage influential minority investments, especially those that are US-based. Avista Capital Partners holds on to a solid paradigm of investing revolving in a Global Partnership Strategy shaped by focus, expertise and good relationship in business. The company believes that this welcomes more than good procurement in the present market. With this strategy, it is no wonder then that Avista has continued to perform strongly as its management continues to work on producing real value that their clients can count on.

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Texting Grows Among Americans

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

More Americans are using their thumbs rather than their mouths to communicate. In figures released Dec. 15, 2009 by the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of text messages sent in 2008 doubled from the previous year. In 2008, Americans sent more than 110 billion text messages. In comparison, only 48 billion messages were sent in 2007.

Interestingly, it appears as though Americans prefer to conserve their voices when contacting persons via cellphone. On average, they only spent 2.3 minutes each on a mobile phone call in 2008.

All in all, more than 270 million mobile phone and texting device users were accounted for in 2008. This number represents a 70% jump from 2003, when there were only around 159 million subscribers.

Merely 2.1 billion text messages were sent that year. That number has since risen more than 52 times in the six years leading to 2008’s record breaker. From two billion, the number of sent text messages rose to 4.7 billion in 2004, 9.8 billion the following year, 18.7 billion in 2006, and finally a quadruple billion in 2007.

Still, the average monthly cellphone bill relatively stayed the same throughout this six-year period. Since 2003, it has remained at approximately $55.

Talk time reached its pinnacle in 2004, even as call plans and mobile phones became increasingly available and affordable for everyday consumers. The average user talked for 3.05 minutes on the cellphone that year.

These numbers are largely based on a survey conducted by the nonprofit group known as the CTIA-Wireless Association. The Census Bureau used the data for their yearly Statistical Abstract, known in American terms as Uncle Sam’s Almanac.

Now on its 129th outing, the Statistical Abstract contains figures and tables about the economy, politics, society and everyday life in the United States. The abstract has been a traditional source of statistical information for many researchers and businesspersons.

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Affinion upgrades online marketing best practices

Monday, January 11th, 2010

Online marketing and consumer loyalty service provider The Affinion Group announced enhanced consumer protection policies, according to an Affinion press release. In cooperation with the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Affinion has analyzed and is in the process of revising their marketing procedures. Committed to consumer service, Affinion is ensuring that its consumers give clear and informed consent for online purchases, accompanied by easy-to-understand billing policies.

The Senate Commerce Committee expressed concerns about the current “free to pay” marketing procedure, which had been reviewed by the Federal Trade Commission. Addressing their concerns, Affinion has enacted new policies to strictly adhere to the regulations put forth by the FTC. These changes include

  • Providing enhanced clear and conspicuous disclosure of all material terms of every offer in multiple locations throughout the offer.
  • Ensuring the consumer is billed only after obtaining the express informed consent of the consumer both to be charged for the offered service and to be charged to the identified account.
  • Requiring that the consumer gives — at a minimum — the last four digits of their account or credit card number for every online transaction involving pre-acquired account information and a free to pay conversion.
  • Clearly indicating in all solicitations that the program is provided by the company.

Affinion is going beyond the requirements of the FTC to ensure customers are protected. These additional measures include:

  • Displaying prominently the 1-800 customer service number which can be used for cancelations on every Affinion enrollment and confirmation page.
  • Adding language to enrollment web pages that makes it even clearer to consumers that they are being invited to enroll in a club or program that is distinct from, and has distinct terms and conditions from, the offerings on our partners’ websites.
  • Including the 1-800 customer service number which can be used for cancellations in each Affinion welcome email.

“Affinion is proud of its long-standing history of employing the best marketing practices in the industry and how our programs provide tremendous value for millions of consumers worldwide,” James Hart, Senior Vice President, Communications and Brand said. “While our marketing has always incorporated clear, prominent and unambiguous terms, we continually reevaluate our offers to make certain consumers are able to make fully informed decisions.”

“Affinion looks forward to continued dialogue with both the committee and our customers to ensure we remain the industry leader in both standards and quality,” Hart said.

Affinion Group is a global leader in providing comprehensive customer engagement and loyalty solutions that enhance or extend the relationship of millions of customers with many of the largest and most respected companies in the world. Affinion is the parent company of Trilegiant, another customer loyalty company. Affinion is currently under the leadership of CEO Nathaniel Lipman.

Source: Affinion Unveils Enhanced Online Marketing Standards (PR Newswire)

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