Recent research indicates that as many as ONE out of FIVE Americans is interested in Green Burial*.

Green burial uses less energy and creates less waste than conventional burial, commented Joe Sehee, Executive Director of the Green Burial Council (www.greenburialcouncil.org). “Renaissance and Pine Forest are the future of funeral service. We are proud to have them as approved providers and pleased that families in the Triangle now have the option of eco-friendly end-of-life rituals.”

Renaissance and Pine Forest are among the three funeral homes and three cemeteries in North Carolina that are approved by The Green Burial Council to offer these services.  They are the only ones serving the Triangle Area. “Natural Green Burial allows the family to mourn and take an active part in the burial in ways that a traditional burial does not,” said Dyanne Matskevich, General Manager of Pine Forest Memorial Gardens (www.pineforestmemorial.com). “It is a humbling, quiet ‘saying of goodbye’ surrounded by nature in the serenity of the woods, returning a body to the soil from which it came.”

Contacts:

Joe Smolenski, Owner, Renaissance Funeral Home: (919) 866-1866, joe@nhpfh.com

Dyanne Matskevich, Pine Forest Memorial: (919) 556-6776, pfgmemorial@yahoo.com

Joe Sehee, Executive Director, Green Burial Council: (888) 966-3330 ext 101

*Source: The American Association of Retired Persons and The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association

Wilmington, N.C. – Viamark Wilmington announced today that it has continued the expansion of its client services team with the addition of Sarah Conrad, former account executive at Sunrise Broadcasting in Wilmington and Beasley Broadcast Group in Jacksonville, N.C.  Bringing over seven years of advertising, marketing and broadcast experience to the team, Sarah is responsible for advising clients on creative, attention-getting radio and broadcast media.

“We are so pleased to have Sarah on the Viamark Wilmington team,” says company president Bea Raybourne. “Her energy, work ethic, creativity and professionalism – all hallmarks of Viamark service – will help us assist our clients to build their businesses.”

A Military brat, Sarah was born in Washington State and landed in Swansboro, N.C. with her Marine Corps father. She stayed in Eastern North Carolina, attending Coastal Carolina Community College before beginning her radio career with the Beasley Broadcast Group.

Contact:

Gayle Brown

Office 910-763-5222

Cell 910-262-1573

Gayle@Viamark.com

Activities include a welcome reception and Italian wine tasting on Friday; Saturday’s live, hands-on cooking demonstration and luncheon where Chef Adam, along with the Sheraton’s Executive Chef, John Andreola, will prepare ‘Cacciuco’ using fresh North Carolina shrimp and red snapper with lemon pepper taglionlini pasta, Cape Fear River Basin little neck clams, Sunny Slope farm tomatoes and pepperocini. Dessert is an Almond Cake made with brandied figs and espresso zabaglione.

Saturday evening begins with a reception, followed by a three course dining experience accompanied by the perfect Italian wine pairing. Shrimp and Saffron Risotto will start the meal, followed by Flounder Saltimbocca, served with oven dried Sunny Slope Farms tomatoes, fregola pasta, cucumbers, kalamata olives, red peppers, zucchini and tomato burre fondue, ending with a baked Bosc pear with Amoretti custard and house-made Vincotto for dessert.

The Triangle Wine Experience, the flagship charity event that supports the Frankie Lemmon Foundation, will benefit from a silent auction and proceeds from the event.

The All-Inclusive Package for Two is just $397 and includes:

• 2 nights accommodations (one room)
• Friday reception (2 tickets)
• Luncheon & cooking show (2 tickets)
• Wine Tasting (2 tickets)
• Dinner (2 tickets)

Can’t get away 2 nights? The All-Inclusive Package for Two that includes two tickets to all Saturday events and one night accommodations is just $297.

For more information, call or email Tina Purifoy at 800-624-8875, tinap@sheratonatlanticbeach.com or hit this link: http://www.sheratonatlanticbeach.com/packages/seasonal_special.asp

Raleigh, N.C. – Il Palio restaurant, located inside the elegant Siena Hotel – Chapel Hill’s Tuscan inspired four diamond hotel has teamed up with Twongo.com to offer a deal that’s too good to be true, but isn’t!

The clock starts at midnight, where Twongo.com subscribers can purchase $50 gift certificates for $25. Buyers are encouraged to spread the word and share the savings, because the more people who purchase the BIG DEAL, the bigger the savings get. If over 100 people take the offer – EVERYONE gets their $50 gift certificate for $20.

To get started, go to twongo.com, enter your email address and access daily BIG DEALS which can mean savings of up to 70% off regular prices on items from area retailers, restaurants, golf courses, spas, salons and entertainment spots. It’s FREE.

To get a 90-second preview of the site and how it works, go to: http://www.vimeo.com/8869304

Contact:

Rebecca Antonelli

919-740-3008

RA@RebeccaAntonelli.com

Items from Giorgio, Howard Jacobs and First Aid Painting are among the premiere “BIG DEAL” offers available through Twongo.

Raleigh, N.C. – Twongo.com is a unique Triangle, NC based savings website that uses the power of team buying to offer a daily “BIG DEAL” to its members, which can mean savings of up to 70% off regular prices on items from area retailers, restaurants, golf courses, spas, salons and entertainment spots.

On Friday, Jan. 22, 2010 Twongo subscribers can get a $50 gift certificate from newly opened Cary, NC fine dining establishment Giorgio for just $25. Renowned restaurateur and owner Giogios Bakastias teamed up with Twongo because he believes that everyone deserves to get a great deal. “The deals Twongo will offer must be ‘too good to be true’, which is the same standard we hold ourselves to in the food and dining experience we offer our clientele.”

To get a 90-second preview of the site and how it works, go to: http://www.vimeo.com/8869304

Giorgio

Howard Jacobs

First Aid Painting

Contact:
Rebecca Antonelli
Rebecca@Twongo.com
919-740-3008

Raleigh, N.C. – January 11, 2009 — Recession-related sales slow downs and downsizing, coupled with offshore outsourcing, have heightened competition for customer service jobs, while exerting downward pressure on sales professionals’ compensation. These factors are causing many service professionals to consider changing careers, but they’re understandably concerned about wasting their investment in their education and experience.

That concern should be dispelled by “Going Above and Beyond: Reach the Pinnacle of Customer Service by Learning How to Think and Act Like a Concierge” (www.KatharineGiovanni.com), which demonstrates that service professionals can leverage their experience to enter many fields other than traditional sales careers, while reducing or eliminating their vulnerability to offshoring.

Katharine Giovanni, the author, along with Peter Drucker, Harvey Mackay and Michael LeBoeuf was a pioneer in the “customer service” movement. She founded the International Concierge and Lifestyle Management Association (formely ICEA), teaching thousands of groups, individuals, and corporations how to improve client, employee and customer retention and satisfaction by implementing CONCIERGE services, treatment and concierge-like thinking to better serve each of their audiences.

Giovanni’s experience enabled her to identify 20 of the top tips and tactics every service professional can use that will cement their position within their organization, build solid and loyal customer relationships and ensure that in a few short weeks, they will become IRREPLACEABLE!

For example:

Please don’t say “you’re welcome” ever again, say “it was my pleasure” instead. If you only do one thing to change your customer service level, this is it. These four little words will blast your service level to the highest degree!

Never (and I mean never) shorten their first name! Not everyone whose first name is Victoria likes to be called Vickie. Not every Thomas enjoys being called Tom.

You need to go five steps beyond, not just one. When you get a request, go the extra miles! People will notice, trust me. Here’s an example: “When does the seven o’clock movie start?” Rather than roll your eyes and laugh, take it up a notch by answer­ing as follows: “It starts at seven o’clock. However, it gets really crowded right before curtain time, so make sure you get here at least thirty minutes early. If you stand right under that tree over there, you’ll be in good shape because that’s where the line starts, and you should be one of the first ones in the theater.” Always go above and beyond.

Never say “no.” Everything is now your job. The word “no” should be eliminated from your vocabulary. Please do not say: “No, I can’t do that for you.” Instead, try saying this: “I don’t provide those services. However if you give me your telephone number, I would be happy to find someone who can.” Or, “Sir, our hotel is full tonight, but the hotel around the corner has avail­ability.” (Then offer to call your competitor and make a reservation if you want to go above and beyond!) The moral here is that if you have to say no, then always provide the client with another option.

Be warm, friendly and approachable 100% of the time. SMILE!  There are no exceptions to this rule … ever.

As Giovanni describes each tactic, readers will:

* Understand why concierge is a lifestyle, not something you do once a year in a workshop. It’s a way of life that should be practiced seven days a week, 365 days a year. * Understand how providing incredible customer service can increase their revenue. A happy customer will always come back and refer their friends.

While there are many books providing career advice, Giovanni’s gives new – and much broader – meaning to the term “Customer Satisfaction,” demonstrating that a service professional’s knowledge constitutes precious currency in a world dependent on computer technology.

Reader Testimonials:

“This book is an essential training guide for any company trying to take their customer service to the level expected by consumers in the current marketplace.” — John M. Rose, President, Travel Guard Assist

“From the woman who set the standards for the Concierge Industry comes a refreshingly new take on customer service that is all about the “nice” factor. If you are a Concierge you’ll appreciate the insight of industry leaders but every business person looking for an “edge” in the competitive marketplace will find that delivering customer service like a Concierge will change the way clients view your business. If you value excellence, recognize quality and understand your clientele, delivering customer service the Concierge way will take you above and beyond your competition.” — Jackie Farley, Professor of Women’s Studies, The University of Oklahoma, and C. E. O., Wise Women Incorporated

This book is good for anyone in a service oriented job. I’m a physician and found many good ideas to help me serve my patients better. — Dr. Vivienne J. Halpern, MD, Chief, Vascular surgery, Phoenix, AZ

CONTACT:

Katharine Giovanni

919-453-2850

kgiovanni@triangleconcierge.com

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Sheraton Atlantic Beach hosts the first of their new Culinary Series on January 15-17 with Jason Smith, Chef/Proprietor of Raleigh, North Carolina’s 18 Seaboard to encourage off-season seaside adventures.

Out-of-towners and local fine food and wine aficionados alike can experience North Carolina’s most celebrated guest chefs at the 2010 Culinary Series hosted by the Sheraton Atlantic Beach. The first in the series takes place over the weekend of January 15-17, 2010 and features Chef Jason Smith from 18 Seaboard, Raleigh, North Carolina as well as wineries from around the world.

Activities include a welcome reception on Friday; Saturday’s live, hands-on cooking demonstration and luncheon where Jason, along with the Sheraton’s Executive Chef, John Andreola, will serve Perry Lowe Orchard Pear Sangria with fresh vanilla bean and prepare Snead’s Ferry She-Crab soup and pan-seared wahoocake salad with basil balsamic vinaigrette using local seafood.

Saturday evening begins with a wine tasting followed by a dinner experience with wine pairings and crispy oysters with horseradish apple slaw and Texas Pete aioli, corn mill crusted flounder with grilled grits cake, sautéed spinach and green tomato relish, and pecan pie crème brulèe for dessert.

The Triangle Wine Experience, the flagship charity event that supports the Frankie Lemmon Foundation, will benefit from a silent auction and proceeds from the event.

The All-Inclusive Package for Two is just $397 and includes:

·                    2 nights accommodations (one room)

·                    Friday reception (2 tickets)

·                    Luncheon & cooking show (2 tickets)

·                    Wine Tasting (2 tickets)

·                    Dinner (2 tickets)

For more information, call or email Tina Purifoy at 800-624-8875, tinap@sheratonatlanticbeach.com or hit this link: http://www.sheratonatlanticbeach.com/packages/seasonal_special.asp

WHAT:                2009 Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions Series: “Designing Our World”

WHEN:                Tuesday, December 15^th and Wednesday, December 16^th

From 8 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

WHERE:             N.C. State Bio-Tech Center (beside College of Engineering)

WHO:                   This series covers topics of interest for the media, engineers, surveyors, heavy construction and government professionals and provides eight professional development hour credits daily.

The series host, KnowledgeWell [www.KnowledgeWell.org], a public US 501c3 tax exempt not-for-profit organization, was founded in 2005 by a group of MBA graduates inspired to share their business capabilities with the world and to deliver expertise to emerging and under-resourced areas. KnowledgeWell relies on a strong team of companies and individuals who are motivated to transform the barriers faced by under-resourced nations into opportunities for successful business enterprise. Often described as a “Doctors without Borders” concept for business professionals, its goals are to enable nations to become more self-sufficient, increase their visibility in the global marketplace and create awareness of sustainable, environmentally friendly business practices.

SPEAKERS:

Special Guest Speaker:

Eugene A. Conti Jr., Secretary of Transportation

“Transportation Update and Vision”

Keynote Speakers:

Dr Billy Williams, PE Professor NCSU Engineering

“Intelligent Transportation Systems“

David B. Foster, PE

NCDOT’s work on The Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor (SEHSR), a $5.3B high speed rail project

Other speakers include:

David Fagerman PLS

“Technologies that save budgets & lives” and “LiDAR, Engineering & Mapping”

Kirk Rightmyer PE

Knowledge Well Volunteer Project Experience

Kristel Dorion

Knowledge Well Sustainable Enterprise Team Lead “Brown to Green to Gold – Carbon Finance”

Greg Keel PE

Doing Business with the NC DOT “Impact of Stimulus Money on Contractor Qualifications”

Delbert Roddenberry, PE & Rob Allen, PE, PLS

Updates from last year’s “Secondary Roads” series

Registration is $147. Lunch will be served.

Media is welcome.

Please contact Lisa McFarland at 919.336.2505 or lisa.mcfarland@knowledgewell.org for your complimentary pass.

December 15, 2009 – Register at: http://kw2009seriesday1.eventbrite.com

December 16, 2009 – Register at: http://kw2009seriesday2.eventbrite.com

Raleigh, NC – December 1, 2009 – Triangle Concierge, a leading international concierge training and consulting company, will present the latest in their Concierge Webinar™ series on December 10, 2009. The webinar, conducted by Triangle Concierge president and co-founder Katharine C. Giovanni, CCS, will deliver a comprehensive program aimed at teaching attendees how to start a new concierge business

The Concierge Webinar™ is a series of three 120-minute sessions conducted on-line via the internet and/or telephone. Attendees can listen over the phone while they view an online presentation. Registrants are provided a telephone number to call, a secure URL, and access to both the audio and online elements of the presentation. This webinar marks the initiation of telephone conferencing, allowing two-way participation between the facilitator and the attendees.

“The response to the webinar series has been amazing! We look forward to this latest installment in the series to continue providing our clients with a detailed road map on how to start up their business.” says Giovanni, “I’ve been teaching these seminars LIVE since 1998 and am now offering the same seminar via the web, which is very exciting.”

The Concierge Webinar™ series was initiated in January, 2009 by Triangle Concierge president and co-founder Katharine C. Giovanni, CCS in order to provide a wider audience with a convenient way to learn how to start a concierge business. The goal is to provide webinar attendees with a detailed road map of exactly how to start a concierge business of their own, by eliminating much of the guesswork involved. Topics to be covered include how to set fees and how to coordinate logistics behind offered services.

To register for the December 10^th webinar, visit www.triangleconcierge.com and click on the “Training/Workshops” link. Sessions begin at 10am, the cost is $497.

About Triangle Concierge

Triangle Concierge (www.triangleconcierge.com) been called the world’s leading concierge training and consulting company, and that’s no exaggeration. Shortly after opening its doors in the fall of 1998, Triangle Concierge became one of the first companies in the world to offer concierge consulting. Since then, Triangle Concierge has gone on to provide consulting services to individuals and companies in every state in the United States — and 40 countries around the world.

About Katharine Giovanni

The industry expert behind Triangle Concierge, Katharine is an International Concierge Training Expert, Award Winning Author and consultant, Certified Concierge Specialist (CCS) and International Speaker. She can be reached via email at kgiovanni@triangleconcierge.com.

Contact: Katharine C. Giovanni, CCS

Phone: 631-267-4300 ext. 2

Email: kgiovanni@nc.rr.com

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