Royal Oak, MI – July 11, 2012

Summertime naturally conjures thoughts of fireworks, picnics and ice cream.  And now is the perfect time to treat your employees to an ice cream party with Cold Stone Creamery’s catering – complete with their homemade ice cream and frozen stones!

Cold Stone catering is a great staff appreciation or team building opportunity, and it’s easy to do.   They bring all they need to make your event special and give you a unique way to say thank you to your hard working employees.  Just ask some of their recent clients – Michigan Mutual, Donar, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Campbell Ewald, and Sterling Bank.

Available for parties too, Cold Stone has recently catered weddings at the Royal Oak Music Theater, St. Johns in Plymouth and the Westin in Southfield.  This ice cream experience adds fun to all kinds of events – baby and wedding showers, graduation parties and birthdays!

Everyone enjoys visiting a Cold Stone Creamery location, and making their own creation of ice cream and fruit or candy mix ins.  This opportunity is now portable – they can come to your office or party with a complete set up that replicates the experience you get in their stores.

For more information, give Leslie Kusek a call at Cold Stone, Royal Oak 248.722.4178.

McGraw Wentworth survey shows cost of providing health care growing at 6%, yet many employers hold costs flat.

Results highlight employers’ plans for Reform, reveals that Michigan employers are adopting wellness and cost control measures in record numbers.

Troy, Michigan, May 21, 2012:  McGraw Wentworth,Michigan’s largest employee group benefit brokerage/consulting firm, today released the results of its 2012 Southeast Michigan Mid-Market Group Benefits Survey. The annual survey benchmarks health benefits and cost trends for the current year – including key decisions pertaining to health reform – among 436 Southeast Michigan-based organizations with 100-10,000 employees.

“Southeast Michigan employers are managing cost trend, keeping annual plan increases at or below national benchmarks,” says Rebecca McLaughlan, managing director, McGraw Wentworth.  “In terms of improving the health of their workforce, employers anticipate having a greater role in coming years.  To that end, more employers are implementing high-deductible health plans and full-fledged wellness plans to help manage their group benefits costs and to actively engage employees in making informed health decisions.”

 Highlights of the survey results show that:

• Michiganemployer health care costs are rising at an average of 6% after plan changes, down from 8% in 2011 and comparable to the national trend of 5.7%.  Notably, 25% of survey participants had no increase at all.
• HMO plan designs are changing to reflect greater member cost sharing through coinsurance and deductibles.  There is also growing interest in outcomes-based wellness plans, offering enhanced benefits for achievement of a health goal.
• More employers – 33% of 2012 participants compared to 27% in 2011 – are offering a CDHP plan.  Employee enrollment remains steady at 10%.  A typical CDHP combines a high deductible plan with lower monthly contributions; employees assume greater financial and health care purchasing responsibility.
• Employers are committed to wellness as a cost control strategy.  Only 16% of participants indicated they have no wellness initiatives, down from 24% in 2011.
• Concerns surrounding specialty drug costs are driving an increase in the use of four-tier and five-tier copay plans.  In 2012, 31% of plans included a fourth copay tier, compared to only 19% in 2011.

 Including new questions pertaining to health reform, the survey shows:

• 85% ofMichiganemployers are likely to “play” – continue to offer health care coverage to full time employees in 2014 – rather than “pay” the penalties entailed in discontinuing coverage.  This is similar to the national projection of 90%.
• With the expansion of medical coverage to adult children to age 26, 74% of employers also extended dental and vision coverage to these dependents.
• The impact of Health Care Reform is still unclear to many employers.  35% of employers don’t know if at least one plan will pass the benefits and affordability test.  53% of employers don’t know if they will reduce employer funding for dependent coverage (affordability test is based on single coverage).
• 13% of employers anticipate that at least one plan will be subject to the “Cadillac Tax” in 2018. 53% of employers are unsure or haven’t conducted a preliminary analysis.

“With the Supreme Court’s ruling on PPACA (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) pending,Michigan employers must prepare to make complex talent and cost management choices in the coming months.  This survey provides HR and financial professionals an objective, statistically valid analysis with which to evaluate cost sharing strategies for 2013 and beyond,” says Julie Truskowski, account director with McGraw Wentworth and survey leader.

The McGraw Wentworth Mid-Market Group Benefits Survey is the largest of its kind with 536 mid-sized employers participating including 436 southeast Michigan organizations.  Results for municipalities and school districts are released separately.  Almost 87% of respondents are returning year-over-year participants. Respondents represent diverse industries with 27% considered auto suppliers and 30% having some unionized employees. The survey has a 4.1% margin of error.

Sponsored by McGraw Wentworth, survey results are shared with participants in May and June. For information, contact Ryan Bowers at (248) 822-6231 or visit McGraw Wentworth on the web.

Glits and Glam: Videoburst captures Hour’s Best Dressed Celebration

Videoburst was hired by Hour Magazine to cover their first-annual Best Dressed Celebration on November 16.
Elegant winners joined stylish models, dressed by Nieman Marcus, on the runway at Art Van Furniture in Royal Oak. Video coverage included models in beautiful clothes,
tantalizing appetizers and desserts supplied by the area’s leading chefs and guests having a great time. The fast-paced video, set to driving music, captures the excitement of this unique event and will be featured on a number of Hour’s social media platforms.
See the video here:  Hour Detroit Magazine Best Dressed

Videoburst is an innovator in the emerging field of “social video”: video content that drives
internet marketing strategies, engages audiences and builds communities of customers.
Distributed on websites, video sharing sites and social media platforms, “social video”
entertains, educates and promotes with “How To” videos, testimonials, live event promos,
webisodes and viral campaigns. These strategic bursts of moving images and sound
(“videobursts”), are customized to propel marketing strategies by creating buzz, driving traffic
and increasing search rankings

Ultimate Software Receives Predictive HR Analytics Award.

Ultimate Software’s Director of Business Intelligence Chris McLatcher selected as a
SuperNova Award Winner by Constellation Research for his work with Predictive Analytics

Weston, FL., November 1, 2011: Ultimate Software (Nasdaq: ULTI), a leading provider of unified human capital management SaaS solutions for global businesses, announced today that Constellation Research has named Chris McLatcher, director of business intelligence at Ultimate Software, a 2011 SuperNova Award winner in the advanced analytics category. The Constellation SuperNova Awards acknowledge individuals who have successfully applied emerging and disruptive technologies for their organizations.

Working collaboratively with an Ultimate customer on a predictive analytics project,
McLatcher and his team built a business intelligence model to help HR executives collect and analyze actionable information on potential talent retention issues. As a result of the project, McLatcher and his team developed a predictive analytics tool that HR leaders can use to monitor and address retention risks proactively.

With years of experience in business intelligence and analytics, McLatcher is passionate about helping Ultimate Software customers use metrics to inform more powerful decision making. “I am honored to have been selected for this distinguished award, especially because it acknowledges innovation—an area where Ultimate Software has always strived to remain a leader,” said McLatcher. “We’re continuously exploring new ways to leverage the massive data resources already captured by UltiPro, our unified HCM SaaS solution.”

“Ultimate Software works closely with our customers in every facet of development, and they
communicate with us about issues affecting their business such as talent retention. HR professionals can be more than business partners in their companies—they can be business leaders, driving strategy that can impact their company’s bottom line, optimizing talent, increasing levels of engagement, and helping the business achieve its goals,” said Adam Rogers, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Ultimate Software. “In order to effect change in their organizations, HR executives must have insight into people-related trends that can impact business outcomes. This is what our work on predictive analytics is all about.”

“Innovation is the life blood of businesses. We are pleased to acknowledge those pioneers
whose passion inspires us all to look innovation in the eyes, embrace it, and become innovators,” said Paul Papadimitriou, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Constellation Research, Inc.

About the Constellation SuperNova Awards

Most award programs recognize the technology suppliers for their advancements in the market. Few, if any, programs have recognized individuals and teams for their courage in battling the odds to effect change in their organization. The Constellation SuperNova Awards celebrate the explorers, the pioneers, and the unsung heroes who successfully put new technologies to work. More importantly, these leaders have created disruptions in their market.

About Constellation Research, Inc.

Constellation Research is a leading research analyst and advisory firm guiding organizations and their leaders through the hype and buzz of the latest disruptive technologies. Constellation takes a holistic approach touching board members, and marketing, technology, operations, human resource, and finance executives. The firm’s analysts deliver pragmatic, creative, and disruptive research focused on business value, profitability, and market differentiation. Research analysts bring real world experience, independence, and objectivity to clients. Most analysts bring over two decades of hands-on experience in working with senior leaders in enterprise organizations. Constellation serves the needs of buyers and end users who seek insight, guidance, and advice in dealing with a dizzying array of disruptive business models and technologies. The firm provides the bridge between legacy optimization and future innovation. Constellation also advises sellers from both the buyer’s point of view and how to deliver value to their customers. Constellation builds partnerships with its clients. The client and their organization’s success is Constellation’s only mission.

About Ultimate Software

Ultimate is a leading provider of unified human capital management (HCM) Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions for global businesses. Ultimate’s award-winning UltiPro® solutions deliver the functionality businesses need to manage the complete employment life cycle from recruitment to retirement. Based in Weston, FL, Ultimate employs more than 1,200 professionals who are focused on developing the highest quality solutions and services. In 2010, Ultimate was named an Optimas Award winner by Workforce Management magazine. In 2009, Ultimate was awarded first place in the People’s Choice Stevie® competition for Favorite New SaaS Product and was ranked the #1 best medium-sized company to work for in America by the Great Place to Work® Institute for the second consecutive year. In 2010, Ultimate’s security practices were recertified for ISO/IEC 27001, and Ultimate was the first HR SaaS vendor to be ISO/IEC 27001 certified in 2008. Ultimate has approximately 2,200 customers representing diverse industries, including such organizations as Adobe Systems Incorporated, The Container Store, Culligan International, Elizabeth Arden, Major League Baseball, The New York Yankees Baseball Team, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House. More information on Ultimate’s products and services can be found at www.ultimatesoftware.com.

UltiPro is a registered trademark of The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. All other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

Follow Ultimate Software on Twitter: www.twitter.com/UltimateHCM
Follow Ultimate Software on LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/UltimateHCM

Troy, MI-based firm secures prestigious award. 

TROY, Mich. September 6, 2011—Staff members from Credential Check Corporation have been selected to receive the Crain’s Cool Places to Work award.  This marks the third year that Credential Check has been selected as a top employer in the state of Michigan.  Credential Check is proud to offer their employees extensive benefits including time off to volunteer, telecommuting program, 401k matching and excellent health coverage.

Credential Check was the only firm there that specializes in background checks. Credential Check is committed to providing background checks with a high level of service to its growing client list. This requires a dedicated staff of trained employees on hand to meet clients’ needs and special requests. According to Cynthia Pariseau, Manager of Administrative Services, “Credential Check Corporation is excited and proud to have been selected as a Cool Place to Work,” by Crain’s Detroit Business and the American Society of Employers. Michael Pachuta, President, stated “Our employees are the greatest asset at Credential Check, we are proud of what they have accomplished and we are committed to helping them grow personally and professionally.”

About Credential Check Corporation

Credential Check Corporation is an industry-leading background check firm headquartered in Troy, MI. Credential Check focuses on background checks, drug testing and automating hiring processes.

Michael Pachuta

Credential Check Corporation

Troy, MI

(888) 689-2000

First Url: background checks

Second Url: background screening