Building on the success of its popular Topics 4 the Times webinars, Plante & Moran, PLLC has expanded its spring schedule to focus on key industries and business topics that will benefit companies as the economic recovery takes hold.

Medical Specialties Distributors, LLC (MSD) and Definitive Homecare Solutions, Ltd. (DHS), the developers of CPR+ home infusion and specialty pharmacy software, today announced a 5-year alliance. Under the agreement, Definitive Homecare will collaborate with MSD to develop automation solutions, fully integrated within CPR+, across the entire supply chain for home infusion providers. These features will be fully available in CPR+.

The Columbus Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) is accepting nominations for the 2010 Distinguished Communicator Award. The Distinguished Communicator is selected based on contribution to and leadership in the communication profession in the greater Columbus area, career achievement, as well as community involvement.

The O’Neill Group was awarded the prestigious title of “Outstanding Business of the Year” at the 30th Annual Rosie Awards held by the Wadsworth Ohio Chamber of Commerce on February 24, 2010.

The independent insurance agency, whose offices are located on the Historic Square in Downtown Wadsworth, offers personal, commercial and life and health insurance packages from top-rated companies. The agency prides itself on being a proactive services company with a strong focus on supplying clients with customized protection plans as well as superior products and services.

New Columbus, Ohio location part of strategic plan to better serve client demands.

Peritus, primarily a public relations and public affairs firm and one of the largest agencies in the region, is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in Columbus, Ohio as part of a strategic plan to expand services across the Midwest. Opening its doors yesterday, the office is located at 35 North 4th Street, 3rd Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215. Peritus is headquartered in Louisville, Ky. and has offices in Lexington, Ky.; Nashville, Tenn. and Indianapolis, Ind.

On March 10, 2010, MoreSteam.com, the leader in online Lean Six Sigma training and support technology, will host an unprecedented live Webcast to discuss the need for a rigorous, third-party global certification standard for Lean Six Sigma. The candid, one-hour conversation will center on the new certification standards published in 2010 by the Center for Operational Excellence (COE) at The Ohio State University.

Ghost Model, a talent service company focused on providing talent and end-users of talent with booking, casting, and other services, has announced the addition of two new partners to meet the demands of Ghost Model’s rapid growth. Ghost Model and it’s founder and CEO, Aundrea “the Ghost Model” Jackson, welcomes Natasha Burton as co-owner and Vice President of Business Affairs and Tiphani Abney as co-owner and Vice President of Talent as well as thought-leaders intending to innovate and bring new life to Ghost Model.

M3 Records Ohio and Pro Flow Radio have officially launched their School is Cool campaign at YouCanGetItInSchool.com. The execs at M3 are addressing a problem needing immediate and sincere attention. “The dangerous ailment infecting our Nation today is our youth's apathy regarding school," says Nujam (CEO of Millennium Music Mission Records).

The Knowledge Group/The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series, the leading producer of regulatory focused webcasts, has announced today that Jamie Mayer, Senior Manager of Grant Thornton and former FASB Practice Fellow will speak at the Knowledge Congress’ webcast entitled: “What you Need to Know About the New Standard on Variable Interest Entities”. This event is scheduled for March 24, 2010 at 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET. (For further details, please visit: http://www.knowledgecongress.org/event_2010_Variable.html)

Event Synopsis:

Socius, a leading Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, announced today the creation of a new Microsoft Dynamics Partner Group focused on delivering world class Advanced Distribution solutions built on solutions from Microsoft Dynamics and TVH Consulting. Advanced Distribution Partners is a group of six elite Microsoft Partners who span the U.S. and specialize in providing clients with ultra sophisticated Distribution solutions. In addition to Socius, this group includes the following organizations: Collins Computing, InterDyn AKA, InterDyn BMI, Merit Solutions, Inc. and I.B.I.S., Inc.

Cincinnati’s outdoor lighting professionals, NiteLites, to showcase the latest in LEDs and low voltage outdoor lighting system technology at the Cincinnati Home and Garden Show, March 6th- 7th and March 10th -14th. Cincinnati’s largest and longest running show of its kind, offers a wide range of the best in the home and garden business. Landscapers, outdoor illumination designers, retailers, contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and service companies all come together to showcase their opportunities.

Cincinnati’s outdoor lighting professionals, NiteLites, to showcase the latest in LEDs and low voltage outdoor lighting system technology at the Cincinnati Home and Garden Show, March 6th- 7th and March 10th -14th. Cincinnati’s largest and longest running show of its kind, offers a wide range of the best in the home and garden business. Landscapers, outdoor illumination designers, retailers, contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and service companies all come together to showcase their opportunities.

Ralph J. DiLeone, managing partner at The DiLeone Law Group, P.C. (www.dileone.com), has been appointed to the board of directors of Junior Achievement (JA) of eastern North Carolina, a worldwide organization dedicated to educating students on entrepreneurship, the modern workplace and financial management. As a high school student, DiLeone participated in four separate JA companies which included serving as a disc jockey for WGCL 98.5, a rock-n-roll radio station which sponsored his JA company during his senior year.

In the course of this year’s publication, Bethesda Medical of Greater Cincinnati extended an opportunity for two selections to be included in the Grand Opening of the Mary Jo Cropper Family Center. Coincidentally prior to release, the back cover of Norma Jean’s Sun – a true story memoir also written by Courtney, “Passing” was included into this arrangement. The image captures the transparency of life, which was an emotional reaction to his Fathers death. “Road King” as well is hanging proudly to display the excitement and abstract interest in an afternoon Harley Davidson motorcycle ride.

On Thursday, December 17th, SBS Group donated presents, gift cards, and toys to mothers and children seeking refuge from domestic violence. SBS Group, a leading technology consulting firm, provides mid-market accounting & business solutions to companies along the East Coast. The company contributed twenty children and twenty adult gift baskets to the inhabitants of the New Brunswick shelter.

Baby Boomers don’t take aging lightly, so the opening of a new bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) practice by anti-aging expert Dr. Julie Kissel is just the ticket for Cincinnati’s over-30 crowd. Dr. Kissel is a member of BodyLogicMD, the nation’s largest network of highly trained physicians specializing in bioidentical hormones. She leads the network’s third Ohio-based bioidentical hormone practice to meet the growing demand of both women and men seeking to overcome age-related health challenges brought on by hormonal imbalance.

SparkBase (sparkbase.com), the industry leader in private-label stored value processing, announces that Electronic Merchant Systems, the premier Cleveland, OH based Independent Sales Organization (ISO), has selected SparkBase as the network to power their Altus Premier product.

The Knowledge Group/The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series, the leading producer of regulatory focused webcasts, has announced today that Miriam Krol, Vice President, Long-Term Care, American Council of Life Insurers will speak at the Knowledge Congress’ upcoming webcast entitled: “Sweeping Changes to Insurance Industry: The Interstate Insurance Compact & Its Impact”. This 2-hour event is scheduled for January 21, 2010, Thursday, at 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT.

Socius is providing clients and users of Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics SL and Sage MAS 90, 200, and 500 ERP software with training opportunities to prepare them for a smooth Year End closing process.

But developers at an Ohio-based company say they have the solution, especially for those in the area of construction and safety.

“It’s called the Remote Controlled Traffic Light,” said spokesman Mike Miller. “This new, breakthrough traffic light provides businesses, cities, organizations, and work crews with instant savings on their payroll, is safer, has LED lights, is solar powered, self contained, and everything fits all in one small box.”

TheSantaVideo.com gives families the opportunity to share excitement and joy in providing their children with video proof of Santa Claus in their very own home. The website offers a gallery of previously created videos as well as a Free Demo for prospective users.

Bob Scott’s Insights, a publication of the Progressive Media Group, is pleased to announce that Socius has been chosen as a 2009 VAR Star, a group of 100 organizations that are being honored for their accomplishments mid-marketing financial software.

“This award is made to honor organizations for factors such as quality performance and leadership in their arena. It is made without regard to the volume of annual sales made by these businesses, although their ability to achieve notable growth is considered,” says executive editor Bob Scott.

North American plastics processors continue to face significant challenges as they attempt to recover from the recession, according to the most recent industry benchmarking study conducted by Plante & Moran, PLLC, the 12th largest CPA and business consulting firm in the United States.

The report examines the characteristics of successful companies and provides improvement opportunities plastics processors should consider.

SBS Group, New Jersey’s leading technology solutions provider, is proud to be named a 2009 Technology Pacesetter by Accounting Today Magazine for the sixth consecutive year. The magazine gives this award each year to 100 organizations that market financial software applications in the mid-market. Pacesetters are selected based upon recognition by peers and business partners as leaders in the field, and on their proven record as innovators and how they portray themselves to the public.

Champion Windows, Siding and Patio Rooms recently received the “Excellence in Customer Service” (EICS) award from the Better Business Bureau of the Pikes Peak Region Foundation, Inc. This is one of the reasons why 2009 has been one of Champion’s best years ever.

Program helps businesses improve customer service process -

Ohio University doctorate student Louis “Trace” Hacquard has written his first book titled "Deadlines and Commitments." The book takes a behind the scenes look at the direction of rock music.

Hacquard, an English teacher at Logan High School in Logan, Ohio, traveled across America for a summer in search of the next great bands that will impact the future of rock music. Hacquard attended concerts, camped at festivals, interviewed roadies and fans, and searched through museums to find the answer to his ultimate question: is rock and roll dead?

An employers two biggest concerns when it comes to their employees is their safety in the workplace, and their work performance. The use of drugs can jeopardize both, and end up costing the business a lot of money, especially if an employee gets injured on the job. Workers who use drugs raise a company's insurance costs, steal equipment and scare away clients. Companies lose $82 billion in productivity each year because of substance abuse, the U.S. government estimates. They also estimated that 71 percent of illegal drug users are employed, most working for small businesses.

Camp Mary Orton in Columbus, Ohio, has helped thousands of teams experience change and growth through adventure activities.

It’s been so successful that organizations ranging from schools to corporate executives have utilized camp activities to build teams and increase their overall level of operations.

The team-building activities, including ground initiatives, a high ropes course, and adventure elements are custom-designed to meet the needs of any group.

Celerant Technology, a leader in the retail software industry, has experienced significant growth within the past year, as it has expanded into new geographic areas across the United States. In addition to its main corporate office based in New York, Celerant Technology has satellite offices in Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma. Over the past year, Celerant Technology has expanded even further with a new office in Ohio, as a result of the SportzPak acquisition, and most recently, a new satellite office in the state of Washington.

Over two hundred professionals from companies in and around Ohio gathered at The Conference Center at NorthPointe in Lewis Center, Ohio on October 13, 2009 for Aspire 2009, Socius’ annual conference.