LAFAYETTE, Calif. – (Mar. 12, 2010) – How has the recession affected baby boomer consumers?  Where is the growth in the boomer and senior market today?  What do businesses need to know to effectively engage boomers using traditional and new media, online communities, partnerships, etc?  Attendees will find the answers to these questions and more at the 7^th Annual What’s Next Boomer Business Summit on Friday, March 19, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.  

What’s Next will explore the most effective go-to-market strategies for businesses selling to boomer and senior customers today.  The Summit is produced by Mary Furlong & Associates, the nation’s premier consultancy for marketing and business development strategies for the 50+ market.

“Nearly 108 million Americans today are age 45 or older, and households headed by someone 40 or older account for 91% of the America’s net worth,” said Dr. Mary Furlong, president and chief executive officer of Mary Furlong & Associates and the producer of What’s Next.  “Anyone attending this conference will leave with a much greater understanding of the trends that are shaping growth in the boomer, senior, and caregiver markets, how to use that information to more effectively engage their customers, and how to generate increased revenue streams for their organizations.”

Every year, What’s Next brings together the country’s leading baby boomer strategists and marketers at an event designed to introduce new research, products and services that truly represent what is next in the boomer market, and this year is no different. The 2010 event will emphasize integrated, social and mobile marketing; innovative distribution channels and will provide a profile of business segments that have moved into the rapidly growing sector of caregiving, an $800 billion market ¹.

Highlights of this year’s Summit include an Ask the Analyst session where top industry analysts will share the latest market research on what’s driving boomer purchasing behavior. Four pre-conference boot camps will be held in the days leading up to What’s Next. These boot camps will cover boomer entrepreneurship, opportunities in the caregiving sector, social media and how to market healthcare products directly to consumers. There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to marketing to boomers, so experts will share their best strategies for segmenting the boomer population and creating the right marketing mix that includes media, distribution channels and Web 3.0 communications tools.

Additionally, attendees will connect with thought leaders, brand managers and entrepreneurs who are shaping the boomer market. During the Age Beat Luncheon, attendees will have the chance to interact with leading analysts, bloggers, authors and age beat reporters. There will also be plenty of time to network with decision makers who get deals done and find out how the changing economy will influence decisions about real estate, lifestyle, and the financial future of baby boomers.

Registration is available online at www.boomersummit.com. From there you may also view the full agenda and find other information on the What’s Next Boomer Business Summit. For assistance you may also send an email to inquiries@boomersummit.com.

Sponsors of What’s Next include AARP, Continuum Crew, i.e. healthcare, Microsoft, Caring.com, Dr.Marion.org, Early Bird Alert, firstSTREET, grandparents.com, Halo Monitoring, Hipcricket, Myine Electronics, Posit Science, Presto, Read How You Want, Retirement Living TV, SeniorCareMarketer.com, Silver Ride, Social.com, Southwest Airlines, Taheima, Verizon, Wellcore, Five-O, Vibrant Nation, Clear Sounds, Boomer Authority and Navigate Boomer Media.

The What’s Next Boomer Business Summit is an official post-conference of the NCOA-ASA National Aging in America Conference taking place March 15-19 in Chicago. For more information, visit http://www.agingconference.org.

About Mary Furlong & Associates

Founded in 2003, Mary Furlong & Associates (MFA) is a proven team of business innovators, comprised of talent from marketing, editorial, business, online content and community. Mary Furlong, Ed.D., the firm’s founder and CEO, has guided the offline and online 40+ market strategies of leading corporations and nonprofit organizations for more than 20 years. Furlong is Dean’s Executive Professor of Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, and previously founded SeniorNet and ThirdAge Media. Her latest book, Turning Silver into Gold: How to Profit in the New Boomer Marketplace, was published in February 2007. More information is available at www.maryfurlong.com.

¹ NCOA, Caring.com

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Liz Barlowe launches Innovate Today, LLC to assist businesses serving elderly and disabled individuals

Clearwater, Fla. (March 11, 2010) – Liz Barlowe, former COO of Aging Wisely, LLC is happy to announce her new venture in the eldercare and disability market, Innovate Today, LLC, which will provide consulting services, training and continuing education for industries involved in providing services to elderly and disabled individuals.

“Over the years, I have developed many skills, systems and processes that I recognized as useful for other businesses serving seniors and disabled individuals,” said Barlowe. “I’ve been approached throughout the years to share my expertise with individuals wanting to start a company or grow an existing one, so it’s very fitting that I would share what I’ve learned with others.”

Innovate Today, LLC will provide continuing education to help service providers meet their necessary requirements, as well as offer start-up and consulting services to newly established elder service businesses. Through training programs and sharing proven business systems and success strategies, Innovate Today, LLC will help businesses grow in a systematic way and avoid the costly mistakes often experienced. Coaching services covering both business and clinical issues will also be available to CEOs and COOs currently serving these markets. 

Barlowe is the Immediate Past Chair of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, Florida Chapter.  She is a frequent requested national speaker for elder issues.

“I am very excited to move forward with this new venture and look forward to improving services to seniors and disabled individuals while enhancing the businesses behind these services,” said Barlowe.

Barlowe will serve full-time as CEO of Innovate Today, LLC. For more information on Innovate Today, LLC, please contact Barlowe at LizBarlowe@InnovateTodayLLC.com or 727-709-9927.

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Haneke Design will develop new website for growing home health company’s needs

Tampa, Fla. (February 16, 2010) - Haneke Design, a leading graphic and interactive communications firm, announced today the addition of EasyLiving, Inc., a Clearwater-based private duty home health provider, to its client roster. The project includes redesigning EasyLiving’s website to generate a stronger web presence that will help to drive interest and opportunities through compelling design and a strategic search engine optimization.

“EasyLiving provides such a vital service to our community, and we admire the passion they have for their work, so we are very proud to be working with them,” said Jody Haneke, president of Haneke Design. “The new website will help attract more clients to EasyLiving’s services because it is going to be more content rich, offer more resources and the addition of social media elements will allow them to connect with prospects on a more personal level.”

The new website will incorporate elements of web 2.0, such as search engine optimization, a blog, video and streaming content, a calendar of events, links to online resources, online bill pay, an inquiry page, and more. The website will also act as a recruiting tool that will allow potential care givers to pre-qualify themselves and then complete the detailed application process online. This will greatly increase the efficiency of the office staff at EasyLiving, allowing them to focus on their true passion, providing home health services.

EasyLiving, Inc. is a fully licensed, private duty home health care company serving individuals and families in Pinellas County. Highly trained, extensively screened, and courteous Personal Care Assistants provide clients with the non-medical support they need to have more active, healthy, and meaningful lives and remain comfortably in their own homes. 

About Haneke Design
Haneke Design is a multidisciplinary design firm focused on delivering graphic and interactive solutions that produce positive business results. They have a “business-first” approach to design that allows for the delivery of visually compelling work that positively affects clients’ bottom line. In addition to traditional graphic design, Haneke Design provides user interface design solutions for all platforms including web applications, websites, kiosks and mobile devices.  For more information, visit www.hanekedesign.com.

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Anand Pallegar takes reins as chair and four new board members are added 

Tampa, Fla. (February 15, 2010) – The Tampa Bay Technology Forum, Central Florida’s largest and most influential technology association, confirmed four new board members and the four officers who will lead the board of directors and steer the organization’s strategic direction in 2010. Anand Pallegar, CEO of atLarge, Inc. has assumed the role of chair; Christopher Paradies, shareholder, Fowler White Boggs, P.A., will serve as vice chair; Kathy Killingsworth, senior vice president of Tribridge, Inc. and Greg McLaughlin, senior director of strategy of Bright House Networks will remain as secretary and treasurer, respectively. 

The four new members joining the board of directors include: David Ciccarello, Southeast market leader at Insight Enterprises, Inc.; Maling Ebrahimpour, Ph.D., dean and professor of management, College of Business at University of South Florida St. Petersburg; Paul Hays, partner, LarsonAllen and Dan Rodriguez, founder and CEO of Veredus Corporation. 

“It’s an incredible honor to lead this organization into its 10 year anniversary as the largest non-profit technology association dedicated to fostering the high-tech and entrepreneurial community,” said Pallegar. “Our board this year represents a group of seasoned leaders whom collectively serve as a catalyst for the inspiration and leadership that is transforming our region into a world-class center for technology entrepreneurship, business innovation and educational excellence.” 

Pallegar succeeds Debra Curtiss, vice president and general manager of Peak 10. 

Ciccarello has been with Insight, a Fortune 500 provider of brand-name information technology hardware, software and services for 10 years. He has won president and chairman awards as a sales leader. Prior to becoming market leader, he worked as a strategic account executive and managed a global banking client. Ciccarello began his career in the industry at Comp USA where he was responsible for corporate sales in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. 

Dr. Ebrahimpour has a Ph.D. in management science and operations management. His experiences extend to both manufacturing and service organizations. Dr. Ebrahimpour has taught in and served as a consultant to various companies around the world. Prior to joining USF St. Petersburg, Dr. Ebrahimpour was dean of Gabelli School of Business at Roger Williams University and worked for 18 years at the University of Rhode Island.

Hays runs the manufacturing and distribution group in the Tampa office of LarsonAllen. He is a certified public accountant in the state of New York and Florida with more than 11 years of experience in public accounting, auditing, taxation and business consulting. He has significant experience serving venture capital-backed technology companies, manufacturing and distribution companies as well as franchisors and franchisees. In addition to TBTF, Hays serves as the president of the board of directors of Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful. 

Rodriguez founded Veredus, an information technology staffing company, in 2000. He oversees sales and operations for the company, which has offices throughout the Southeast. The company has been recognized as one of the fastest growing staffing firms in the U.S. Prior to founding Veredus, Rodriguez spent 10 years as an executive at a national staffing firm. He is very active in the community and supports several charitable organizations, including the TBTF Foundation.

About Tampa Bay Technology Forum

Founded in 2000, the Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF) is a professional association whose members work together to make the Bay area a place where technology and innovation thrive. TBTF’s member organizations represent thousands of technology entrepreneurs, business and community leaders, investors, government representatives, researchers and educators. For more information, visit www.tbtf.org.

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We love Vertical IT Solutions for many reasons, but one of them is sentimental:  they were Michelle’s very first client when she ventured out as an entrepreneur in 2005.  They were on fire back then as a 2 year old startup.  Now, however, they’re in a new location, have almost four times the number of employees they did back then, and are Central Florida’s leading provider of outsourced information technology services.  Teaming up with the talented folks at Schifino Lee in Tampa, Andrew Cohen and his team have just unveiled their new brand and web site. The rebranding, which includes not only new messaging, collateral and the web site, was created to better reflect Vertical IT’s deeply held commitment to quality, integrity, and their obsession with providing the best customer experience imaginable.

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