Dr. Lindsay Rosenwald Says Biotechnology’s Future Is as Yet Unimaginable

December 30, 2015 Lindsay Rosenwald 4 Comments

The future of biotechnology is beginning now, says Dr. Lindsay Rosenwald of Investment Partnership.What is biotechnology?

According to Dr. Lindsay Rosenwald, at its core, biotechnology utilizes living organisms or systems to make industrial, medical, and other products. The technology itself, in a much more crude form, has been used for many centuries in agriculture. However, with the advent over the last several decades of new technologies and a greater understanding of the almost limitless number of genes and processes in living organisms, the discoveries and applications of those discoveries are happening at a rapid and accelerating pace. This trend is likely to occur for the next several decades, says Dr. Lindsay Rosenwald.

Medical breakthroughs

Dr. Lindsay Rosenwald notes that through research in biotechnology, and the decades and hundreds of billions of dollars, if not trillions of dollars already, that have been invested, there are dramatic advances in bio engineering, bio imaging, cellular and tissue engineering, molecular biology, applications of the human genome, and more.

Lindsay Rosenwald predicts that as progress continues, and continues to accelerate, there will come a time where all diseases will be treatable and curable. Already, over the last decade or so, diseases such as lymphoma, multiple myeloma, other blood cancers, have gone from routinely fatal to curable and/or chronic, manageable conditions. Dr. Lindsay Rosenwald believes that in 10 years or less, the vast majority of cancers will be in that same category.

Dr. Lindsay Rosenwald believes that we are not too far away from being able to create medicines through biotechnology that allow most chronic diseases to be curable. In fact, Dr. Lindsay Rosenwald believes that through biotechnology, science and industry will collaborate and be able to develop replacement organs so that patients suffering from organ failure, whether the organ is the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, etc., organs will be grown and implanted on a very routine basis. Lindsay Rosenwald believes that even less serious conditions, more cosmetic, such as baldness, wrinkled skin, and probably all other cosmetic conditions will be treatable and curable through biotechnology advances.

Agriculture Breakthroughs

Dr. Lindsay Rosenwald believes that the agricultural uses of biotechnology are ahead of the medical uses. Lindsay Rosenwald believes that we are well on the way to creating a world where there will never be a shortage of food for the planet. Lindsay Rosenwald notes that biotechnology in agriculture dates back thousands of years with the newer uses of genetic selection for higher yielding crops, pest resistant crops, and all other potential attributes that biotechnology can give to agricultural products, that trend is also accelerating.

An investment with intrinsic value

Lindsay Rosenwald is a partner in New York’s Investment Partnership, an investment firm that focuses specifically on medical biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. In his 26 year career, Dr. Lindsay Rosenwald has found that medicine is an excellent sustainable investment with far more benefits than simply producing profits. His belief that wealth should be utilized to improve life for everyone has made Lindsay Rosenwald a major power player in the biotechnology investment market. In 2002, Lindsay Rosenwald was ranked No 1. on the Genetic Engineering News’ list of “100 Molecular Millionaires” for his financial and academic contributions to medical science.

Biotechnology does more than just cure disease and stabilize agricultural growth, points out Lindsay Rosenwald. The Temple University School of Medicine graduate explains that biotechnological research will result in cleaner chemical manufacturing and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent. These contributions, says Dr. Lindsay Rosenwald, will improve health and living conditions for every human being on the planet. Combined with the increased viability of advanced biotechnological pharmaceuticals, the biotechnology market will most certainly lead the way for countless medical discoveries in the coming decades.

Dr. Lindsay Rosenwald has acquired more than 100 licenses for clinical-stage medicines, including at least two that have been indicated in the remission of prostate cancer and certain types of leukemia respectively.

Business

Rehak Creative Services on Product Positioning for Small Businesses

September 18, 2016 Rehak Creative Services Leave a comment

Rehak Creative Services founder Bob Rehak believes that product positioning is the first step to improving sales results for businesses of all sizes. At Rehak Creative Services, the experienced staff works with clients from many different industries. Below, Bob Rehak expounds on how Rehak Creative Services excels in the area of product positioning for small businesses.

Q: What is the most important element of product positioning?

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: Product positioning is about finding a space in the marketplace where the company can best compete.

Q: Where does this task fall within a new ad campaign?

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: This is one of the first steps in developing a new ad campaign. However, it can be time consuming and costly.

Q: Is product positioning a true necessity then?

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: In consumer markets where advertising budgets range into the millions, it’s money well spent.

Q: What about smaller businesses?

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: Smaller companies have limited financial resources, so a market-research based study is often not affordable.

Q: How does Rehak Creative Services make it affordable?

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: Rehak Creative Services uses a shorthand methodology to hone in on the most successful strategy. Working with clients’ sales and marketing organizations, we identify things clients do well that their customers need that competitors can’t match.

Q: What should be the primary goals for the client?

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: Differentiation, honesty, and making sure prospects understand all the value that clients have built into a product or service.

Q: What are the major obstacles of reaching the average consumer?

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: The average consumer is inundated with unwanted advertising. Because of this trend, the natural tendency is to ignore most messages they receive.

Q: How are these pitfalls avoided?

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: Fresh perspectives, good positioning and making a human connection. You don’t have to exaggerate to get attention.

Q: What happens next?

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: It’s important to determine a compelling focus of these communications and formulate a strategy around that.

Q: Are the old ways of doing business out the window?

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: No. Product, promotion, pricing, packaging, and placement are still important. We’re just using new technologies and terms to do those things.

Q: What advice should be top of mind at all times?

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: Without a solid communications strategy, the whole effort is wasted.

Q: Messaging is important too, right?

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: If the company is not saying all the right things, then it makes little to no difference.

Q: Constant interaction with the audience is key.

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: Exactly. A company must be proactive, as opposed to reactive or even passive, about the process of product positioning.

Q: While offering a different product or service into the market.

Bob Rehak, Rehak Creative Services: Yes. Occupying a specific niche for the product, service or brand is of utmost importance.

Rehak Creative Services is an advertising agency headquartered in Houston. Since its inception in 1994, Rehak Creative Services has earned more than 100 industry awards.

Business, General

All State Van Lines Relocation Creates a Family Environment on the Job

December 30, 2015 All State Van Lines Relocation Leave a comment

All-State-Van-Lines-Relocation-CustomerServiceStaff2

All State Van Lines Relocation is a moving brokerage firm based in Margate, Fla., that coordinates residential and corporate moves and relocations nationwide. In the following interview with ZRYLW, All State Van Lines Relocation describes how family is at the heart of their business.

ZRYLW: All State Van Lines Relocation is a family owned business, is it not?

All State Van Lines Relocation: Yes, our company was founded

in 2010. The company has employed family members and tries to keep that kind of family-business atmosphere.

ZRYLW: What do you mean by that?

All State Van Lines Relocation: While having quality employees is a major part of a good company like All State Van Lines Relocation, fostering a climate where employees genuinely like each other helps as well.

ZRYLW: Can you explain that further?

All State Van Lines Relocation: Well, research reveals that family-owned businesses tend to be operated by leaders who take the long view, thinking about long-term success over generations, avoiding short cuts that can compromise a company’s future. Employees notice that kind of leadership, and it gives them confidence to do their jobs with excellence as well.

ZRYLW: What other advantages emerge?

All State Van Lines Relocation: Like other family-owned businesses, All State Van Lines Relocation has a strong commitment to quality, since it’s connected to the family name.

ZRYLW: And family lends a certain kind of personality to the workplace, right?

All State Van Lines Relocation: Yes, it’s known to add more humanity to the work equation where employees are thought of more as extended family than merely workers. All State Van Lines Relocation is no different.

ZRYLW: And does this make things work better?

All State Van Lines Relocation: Well, there can be tension with families, too, but frankly the family environment makes business run more smoothly at All State Van Lines Relocation.

ZRYLW: How is that?

All State Van Lines Relocation: If a friendly atmosphere exists, and employees know the owners actually care about them, they tend to work harder and use strategic methods to get things accomplished in a timely manner because they know it’s good for the company. All State Van Lines Relocation has proven this to be true and our retention rates back it up.

ZRYLW: How else does a family atmosphere benefit your business?

All State Van Lines Relocation: It’s clear to us that All State Van Lines Relocation employees are more committed to the success of the company because they know their welfare matters to the owners. It inspires loyalty.

ZRYLW: How does it affect an ordinary day?

All State Van Lines Relocation: It’s just more fun to work with people you like, isn’t it?

ZRYLW: Are there challenges?

All State Van Lines Relocation: For actual family members who also work together, it can be tough sometimes to know where the work-family boundary is, but that is only for them to work out. The All State Van Lines Relocation family is the kind you can leave at the end of the day feeling confident that the work-family environment is a satisfying, fulfilling place to be.

General, Professional Profiles

Paul Kadri on the Use of Data to Improve Student Achievement

September 4, 2014 Paul Kadri Leave a comment

Paul Kadri, a 16-year public school administrator, has been on the forefront in designing data systems to help schools improve student achievement. In this interview, Paul Kadri shares important information to consider when establishing a new system.

ZRYLW: Thank you for taking time to share your thoughts on improving student achievement.

Paul Kadri: It is my pleasure. This is a critical topic for success in education.

ZRYLW: People have noted that you have a lot of experience in data systems. Tell us more?

Paul Kadri: You can’t have a good system without technology. I have a deep interest in technology, and I enjoy finding ways for technology to help organizations. Turning data into valuable information is critical to success. I’ve been involved in doing this for quite a while.

ZRYLW: When did you develop your expertise in technology?

Paul Kadri: My undergraduate degree is in electrical engineering. I focused mostly on computer science and specifically on artificial intelligence. Back then, we were exploring the limits of computers in replicating what humans do.

ZRYLW: And you carried that interest into your career?

Paul Kadri: I did. My first job was with IBM, and aside from learning a tremendous amount about the technology, they helped me understand the many ways in which technology can help organizations. I have been taking that skill and applying it in all of my jobs, whether in the private or public sectors.

ZRYLW: What made you focus on data and information?

Paul Kadri: It is readily understood that an organization that has valuable information has a much greater chance of success than one that doesn’t. Creating a system that gives employees, at various parts of the organization, information that helps them do their jobs more effectively is the ultimate goal.

ZRYLW: You believe the same holds true in education?

Paul Kadri: Probably more than any other industry. Helping students reach their potential is a very complicated process that can only become easier if good information is available.

ZRYLW: You’ve been quoted as saying that education is data rich and information poor. Is that true? What does that mean?

Paul Kadri: It is absolutely true. When you think about it, we have data on everything in education. We give state tests, local tests, chapter tests, quizzes, standardized tests, etc. What happens to all that data? Many teachers will get this data and be asked to interpret it and apply it in how they deal with their students. The difference that can exist between how one teacher looks at data versus another can be dramatic.

ZRYLW: How does the data system help with that problem?

Paul Kadri: A data system allows these data elements to be organized in a way that makes valuable information both reliable and valid. If set up correctly, a teacher can get information that requires little interpretation but offers valuable insights on how to best impact the students.

ZRYLW: Doesn’t this take the teacher out of the valuable part of data interpretation?

Paul Kadri: That is a common misconception. Interpretation should not take place at the end; it should be done in the beginning. In other words, when you are setting up the way the system will organize the data, you have key stakeholders involved to make sure they agree with what is taking place. After that point, interpretation is done and information is automatically distributed for consistency.

ZRYLW: Once you get this established, do you ever revisit it?

Paul Kadri: Absolutely. On a regular basis you revisit your assumptions and how you organized your data and make sure it is giving you valuable information. You change things if you think they can be improved.

ZRYLW: To conclude, can you describe your ultimate goal when establishing a data system?

Paul Kadri: The best way to do that is by offering an example. If a teacher has an hour of time, I would like them to spend as much of that hour helping their students improve. We know that valuable information helps the teacher, but at what cost when it comes to using part of that hour? A good data system is valuable information to the teacher without taking more than a minute or two of that hour.

Paul Kadri was last superintendent of the Groton public schools in Connecticut. In addition to his expertise in data systems, Paul Kadri is also known for his extensive knowledge of school finance and site-based budgeting. For more information about Paul Kadri, visit his website at aboutpaulkadri.com.

Business, Finance

Dollar Loan Center CEO Chuck Brennan on Helping Las Vegas Charity Rebuild After Fire

December 28, 2013 Chuck Brennan Leave a comment

Chuck Brennan and his company Dollar Loan Center stepped in when the Opportunity Village thrift shop was destroyed in a fire. According to Chuck Brennan, the celebrated Las Vegas, Nev., attraction assists Opportunity Village in its mission of helping people with intellectual disabilities increase their quality of life. Chuck Brennan explains the store’s importance in the

Las Vegas area and how Dollar Loan Center worked to get them back in business.

ZRYLW: What does Opportunity Village do?

Chuck Brennan: Opportunity Village, based in Las Vegas, Nev., manages job training and organizes employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

ZRYLW: How many people does Opportunity Village serve?

Chuck Brennan: Opportunity Village has assisted thousands of people in the Las Vegas area since its inception.

ZRYLW: How well-known is the Opportunity Village thrift shop?

Chuck Brennan: Celebrities like Elvis Presley and Bob Hope used to visit the shops and often donated their personal effects to be sold there.

ZRYLW: How long has this location been in business?

Chuck Brennan: This particular storefront has been part of the Opportunity Village family for 56 years.

ZRYLW: Are the donations through the Dollar Loan Center exclusively for the store?

Chuck Brennan: Yes, all the money donated will be used to rebuild the thrift shop.

ZRYLW: So, what kind of business is the Dollar Loan Center?

Chuck Brennan: Dollar Loan Center provides short-term loans for people in Utah, South Dakota, California and Nevada.

ZRYLW: How did these efforts help employees of the thrift shop?

Chuck Brennan: The thrift shop employs several people, so the store is crucial to them.

ZRYLW: Will they stay employed by the shop?

Chuck Brennan: That’s the main objective. Speeding up the rebuilding efforts will ensure that these hard-working individuals can keep their jobs.

ZRYLW: What other Dollar Loan Center initiatives give back to the community?

Chuck Brennan: Dollar Loan Center donates $100 a day to Opportunity Village for each day that the temperature in Las Vegas reaches 100 degrees.

ZRYLW: But that’s not all, right?

Chuck Brennan: Right. During the rebuilding and remodeling process, Dollar Loan Center will double this amount to $200.

ZRYLW: Of course it gets quite hot in Vegas.

Chuck Brennan: It sure does. The fact that money is going to charity makes the massive heat an easier pill to swallow.

ZRYLW: Where can people find out more information about Opportunity Village?

Chuck Brennan: For details about special events, program and volunteer opportunities, their website is opportunityvillage.org

Professional Profiles

Inspirational Senior Stories from Kelley D. Hamilton of Salem, Oregon: Dolly Parton

October 12, 2017 Kelley D. Hamilton Leave a comment

Kelley D. Hamilton of Salem, Oregon serves as the CEO of Bonaventure Senior Living. In this brief Q&A, Hamilton lauds Dolly Parton as an inspiration for all seniors. According to Kelley D. Hamilton of Salem, Oregon, Ms. Parton is widely recognized for her talents as a singer, songwriter and actress. More importantly, says Kelley D. Hamilton of Salem, Oregon, she has served her countrymen as an activist and charitable fundraiser.

Q: Where was Dolly Parton born?

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: Dolly Parton was born one of 12 children to a rural Appalachian family. Her humble beginnings bolstered her commitment to helping others.

Q: How did Dolly’s career begin?

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: Dolly moved to Nashville soon after graduating from high school.

Q: What was her first major accomplishment?

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: Dolly Parton’s career took off when she began collaborating on duets with Porter Wagoner. She appeared regularly on The Porter Wagoner Show.

Q: She’s had a number of hits…

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: Dolly accumulated a slew of Number One country singles, 25 in total.

Q: What were some of her notable accomplishments?

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: Famous Dolly Parton hits have included “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” and “Coat of Many Colors.” She received the coveted Female Vocalist of the Year award from the Country Music Association twice.

Q: But Dolly Parton didn’t stop there…

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: Not at all! Dolly showed her creative range by accepting movie roles in the 1980s.

Q: Where would audiences have seen her?

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: Her most notable role was in the film, 9 to 5.

Q: What other interests did Dolly pursue?

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: She opened her theme park called Dollywood in 1986, which is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Thousands of families flock to the Smoky Mountains destination each year.

Q: Dolly loves to give back, from what I read…

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: Yes. Dolly has been involved in a number of charitable organizations throughout the years. They serve a wide variety of individuals.

Q: Can you tell me what is Dolly Parton’s favorite cause?

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: Dolly is widely heralded for her work with literacy programs.

Q: What are some examples?

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: In 1995, she formed the Imagination Library. The program sends a book each month to children until they enter kindergarten.

Q: Are there other organizations that Dolly has helped?

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: Yes, actually… Dolly Parton has offered her time and money to many other organizations. Examples include the Save the Music Foundation and the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes.

Q: What other interests does Dolly Parton have?

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: Dolly also holds a special interest in natural wildlife.

Q: Has Dolly Parton been recognized for her efforts?

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: Dollywood received a Partnership Award in 2003 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The park was honored for its work towards the protection of the bald eagle.

Q: What would you say makes Dolly Parton special?

Kelley D. Hamilton, Salem Oregon: Her hard-working attitude and zest for life inspire people of all ages. Seniors should be encouraged to follow their own dreams because of her success.

For Kelley D. Hamilton of Salem, Oregon, senior adults like Dolly Parton prove that life doesn’t end at a certain age. Kelley D. Hamilton of Salem, Oregon, often uses these examples of famous seniors to motivate residents. Kelley D. Hamilton of Salem, Oregon recognizes that staying active after retirement is the key to a long, healthy life.

Health and Beauty

Foods for Fantastic Skin

August 28, 2013 AdminR Leave a comment

Everyone—even men—wants great looking skin without spending a lot of time and money. But before you rush to the cosmetic counter and shell out hundreds of dollars for the latest creams and potions that claim to make your skin look as fresh and smooth as a baby, you may want to start with what you put in your body as opposed to what you put on it.

If you want clear, moisturized skin, add Rutin and vitamin B7 (biotin) to your diet. Whole grains, an excellent source of vitamin B, are basically unprocessed foods. Without enough biotin in your

diet, your skin can become dry and scaly. Try substituting whole wheat bread for white bread. Rutin is found in buckwheat and citrus fruits.

For soft, younger-looking skin, your body needs vitamin E, which is found in nuts, especially almonds. Adding selenium, found in sunflower seeds and Brazil nuts, can enhance the antioxidant properties of vitamin E. For the additional benefit of omega-3 fatty acids, another great nutrient for skin, add walnuts and pistachios.

If you eat green and red vegetables, your skin will glow with health. These vegetables contain vitamin A and beta-carotene for bright, smooth skin. Plus vegetables are good for your whole body, so, like your mother always told you: Eat your vegetables.

Citrus fruits contain vitamin C, which aids in the production of collagen for taut, smooth skin. Consuming extra vitamin C can help tighten the skin and prevent wrinkles. Its antioxidant properties help neutralize free radicals that can prematurely age your face. Vitamin C is often a main ingredient in skin-care products.

Seafood, with its omega-3 fatty acids and zinc, can help produce clear, smooth, glowing skin. Omega-3 can reduce skin inflammation and dryness. Zinc can help fight acne and also assists with new cell production and the sloughing off of dead skin, which gives the skin a nice glow.

Every year, people all over the world spend billions of dollars on skin-care products, but the science behind skin care is relatively simple and less expensive than most of us think. Basically, the things you can do to achieve great skin are the same things you do for overall good health: Eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep.

Entertainment, Music

London Piano Institute: A Condensed History of Wilhelm Kempff

July 31, 2020 London Piano Institute

Pianist and composer Wilhelm Kempff was a German native with a special interest in Beethoven interpretation. Here, London Piano Institute answers questions about this modern musical maestro.

Q: Where was Wilhelm Kempff born?

London Piano Institute: He was born in Jüterbog, Brandenburg, Germany and grew up in Potsdam. He also lived in Berlin and Italy.

Q: Where did he take studies?

London Piano Institute: He would have first learned piano from his father, an organist and the Royal Music Director for St. Nikolai Church. When he was 9, he enrolled at Berlin Hochschule für Musik.

Q: Prior to his formal education, did Wilhelm Kempff have any exposure to piano?

London Piano Institute: His father taught him at an early age, as did his grandfather who was an organist. He also had a brother who was the music director at the University of Erlangen.

Q: Did Wilhelm Kempff study under any notables?

London Piano Institute: While in Berlin, he studied the intricacies of compositions with Robert Kahn. Karl Henrich Barth instructed a young Wilhelm Kempff on piano.

Q: When did Wilhelm Kempff make his first recital?

London Piano Institute: Though he would have played for smaller audiences prior, Wilhelm Kempff played his first major presentation in 1917 when he debuted his interpretations of select Beethoven and Brahms works.

Q: How extensively did Wilhelm Kempff travel for performances?

London Piano Institute: He traveled throughout Europe. He was particularly fond of London. Abroad, Wilhelm Kempff made his first appearance in New York in 1964. He performed nearly a dozen times in Japan.

Q: Why did Wilhelm Kempff retire?

London Piano Institute: He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder that causes shaking of the hands. This undoubtedly made performing quite difficult.

Q: Were there any particular composers that Wilhelm Kempff was fond of?

London Piano Institute: He is particularly noted for his interpretations of Beethoven. However, he also enjoyed playing Chopin, Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, and a handful of other distinguished composers.

Q: Did Wilhelm Kempff strictly perform concert halls or did he leave behind any recordings?

London Piano Institute: Wilhelm Kempff actually recorded for around six decades. Interestingly, he is known for taping the Beethoven piano concert toasts twice—once with Berlin Philharmonic and later with Ferdinand Leitner.

Q: How would one describe Wilhelm Kempff’s technique?

London Piano Institute: All of his works stressed the spontaneity of the music. He was very lyrical and leaned toward moderation.

Q: When was Wilhelm Kempff’s first performance with the Berlin Philharmonic?

London Piano Institute: He first performed with the Berlin Philharmonic as a soloist in 1917, when he was 22 years old.

Q: What was Wilhelm Kempff’s last performance with the Berlin Philharmonic?

London Piano Institute: His last concert with this group was in 1979, when he was 84 years old.

Q: Did Kempff teach during his career?

London Piano Institute: He enjoyed teaching very much. For five years, Wilhelm Kempff directed the Stuttgart College of Music. Before his death, he founded Kempff Kulturstiftung in southern Italy. He taught there periodically until 1982.

Q: As a composer, what sort of works did Wilhelm Kempff leave behind?

London Piano Institute: He composed four operas, a number of songs and ballets, along with orchestra works and violin concertos.

London Piano Institute is a private adult-oriented learning academy located in London, England. More than just an education, London Piano Institute strives to instill an appreciation and understanding of music into each student. London Piano Institute accepts students from beginner to expert and takes great pride in educating correctly the first time.

Business

Entrepreneur Sandra Dyche Spearheads Efforts to Reauthorize the EB-5 Program

May 26, 2020 Sandra Dyche Leave a comment

A strong advocate of foreign investment as a facilitator for American economic development, Sandra Dyche dedicated her professional energies toward the EB-5 program’s reauthorization with support by the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM). Sandra Dyche relates how important the EB-5 program has been to its investors and other beneficiaries.

ZRYLW: How did you support the EB-5 program to get renewed, Sandra Dyche?

Sandra Dyche: USCM passed a resolution issued by CapSpan asking Congress to reauthorize the EB-5 program and eventually to authorize the EB-5 program permanently.

ZRYLW: Can you give a brief summary of the EB-5 program?

Sandra Dyche: The EB-5 program, of course, has been an essential resource for foreign investors seeking a U.S. green card. More importantly, it helps companies to secure financing for daily operations and special projects.

ZRYLW: When was the EB-5 program set to expire?

Sandra Dyche: The EB-5 program had an expiration date of Sept. 30, 2012. Since it authorizes numerous U.S. green cards for foreign investors, the termination of the EB-5 program would have been a devastating blow to the American economy. The proposed legislation would reauthorize the EB-5 program into 2015.

ZRYLW: Was there significant support for the program?

Sandra Dyche: A number of organizations stood in favor of the program’s extension. All projects under the EB-5 program are designed to create 10 or more full-time U.S. jobs per each foreign investor, so there was significant interest in ensuring that these successes could continue.

ZRYLW: Which organizations helped in particular?

Sandra Dyche: CapSpan, as a trusted organization for foreign investors seeking new business opportunities, was an essential partner in presenting this issue to USCM. IIUSA also played a significant role throughout the process.

ZRYLW: What is IIUSA?

Sandra Dyche: IIUSA is a nonprofit industry trade association that acts as an advocate for the EB-5 program and its approved Regional Centers. The association assists with public and government affairs, lending a voice to those who pursue American job creation and economic development.

ZRYLW: How is IIUSA involved with CapSpan?

Sandra Dyche: IIUSA counts CapSpan as one of its valued members. Michael Bailkin, a principal of CapSpan, is also a member of IIUSA’s best practices committee.

Business

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon Discusses the Certification Process for Kosher Supervision of America

June 12, 2016 Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon Leave a comment

According to Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon, Kosher Supervision of America (KSA) is the largest accepted and recognized kosher certification agency in the Western United States. Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon points out that it is a prestigious and honorable distinction granted to only select kosher certification agencies. KSA is proud to be featured on this short list of recognized and reliable organizations.

Q: What’s the current status of the food industry?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: New food labels misrepresent processed foods high in fat and/or sugar as “fresh,” “natural” and “healthy.” In fact, these foods are often high in sugar and fat.

Q: How has this trend occurred?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Because of shortcomings of food label regulation by the government and the food industry.

Q: How do health-conscious consumers avoid this confusion?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Even in this age of misleading food labeling, one regulation in the food industry offers a clear definition: kosher food certification.

Q: How many American companies produce kosher foods?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: There are more than 10,000 kosher-producing companies in the U.S., according to sources.

Q: So there must be quite a number of products available to the American public.

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Very true. More than 135,000 kosher products for 12 million American consumers who purchase kosher food particularly because it’s kosher.

Q: What kind of financial results does kosher certification provide for the food industry?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: The kosher market for the U.S. food industry generates more than $12 billion each year.

Q: Is kosher certification labeling common in supermarkets?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: In various studies, researchers have determined that the term “kosher” is used for more food products than “premium,” “organic” or “natural.”

Q: What about the KSA label?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Stroll down any supermarket aisle and the KSA certification will be visible on a number of American foods that have been certified kosher.

Q: Why do supermarkets prefer certified brands?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Supermarkets favor kosher-certified brands because it gives the product a viable edge that makes it sell more quickly.

Q: Are most of these consumers Jewish?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: The opposite is true. Only 8 percent of these kosher consumers identified themselves as religious Jews.

Q: Why choose kosher foods then?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Most kosher consumers select kosher foods for reasons related to taste, food safety, health, lactose intolerance or vegetarianism.

Q: How do these kosher foods become certified?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: More than 300 kosher certification agencies in the United States diligently monitor the food production so that kosher products are indeed kosher. KSA is chief among them.

Q: What is the overall mission of KSA?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: KSA strives to ensure that each product labeled with a KSA symbol will meet all the standards of Kashrus.

Q: To what does KSA attribute its success?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: KSA is built on a foundation of excellent customer service and positive attitudes.

Q: Who works for KSA?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: KSA is proud to feature a hard-working, dedicated staff of renowned experts, including experienced rabbinical authorities. Many of these staff members possess more than 30 years of experience.

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon is the leading administrator of KSA Kosher.