Willow Grove, PA, Aug. 20, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Azzur Group, a leading provider of consulting services andproject resources within the life science industry, announced todayit has earned a spot on the Inc. 500/5000 list for the thirdconsecutive year.

"We are honored to be named as one of America's fastest growingprivate companies again this year," said Azzur Group President MarkO'Donnell. "Earning a spot on the Inc. 500/5000 list is a testamentto the dedicated work ethic of our employees, the emphasis we puton quality, and our customers to whom we are grateful."

Azzur Group moves up to the #1430 spot, a considerable leap fromits position of #3857 in 2013. This jump reflects a booming 298%three-year sales growth - a number bolstered by the company'ssignificant internal progress.

"It's been a busy year for us and we are continuing toevolve in many exciting ways," said O'Donnell. "We now have theability and capacity to take on large-scale projects and providecontinued service from discovery to delivery of thoseprojects."

These enhancements are a result of several strategic moves madeby the company this year. In March Azzur Group acquired Azot, LLC,a leading distributor of robotic solutions, to form AzzurEngineering. In May the company merged with BioSPEQ, Inc., aconsulting firm to the biotech/pharmaceutical, medical device, andfood/cosmetics industries. Earlier this month it announced apartnership with 3Seed Marketing, Design & Interactive, afull-service advertising agency.

"It's very important to us to continue to evolve as anorganization," said Azzur Group CEO Michael Kavinson. "Buildingpartnerships with other businesses within our field helps us tofoster innovation and equates to outsized growthoverall."

In addition to an exciting year of mergers, acquisitions andpartnerships, Azzur Group has also expanded to include offices inMaryland, Texas, California, North Carolina andMassachusetts.

About Azzur Group, LLC

Azzur Group offers consulting services and project resourceswithin the Quality Assurance, Laboratory, Clinical, IT/IM, BusinessProcesses, Manufacturing, Operations and R&D settings. Theirknowledge of current regulatory expectations and internationalstandards, combined with their technology expertise, enables themto understand the challenges and issues faced by pharmaceutical,biotech and medical device companies.

With a depth of expertise in all facets of the system lifecycle, Azzur Group staff is able to assist clients within any phaseto reach their goal of running a lean but efficient operation. Thecompany's experienced staff can help with Requirements Definition,Vendor Selection, Configuration, Implementation, Testing &Validation, Calibration, Certification and Maintenance.

For more information about Azzur Group, LLC,visitwww.azzurgroup.com

Stock in the fast-food chain, which Thompson conceded issometimes seen as little more than "a manufacturing plant," wasdown 0.6 percent at $91 in afternoon trading after reporting a30 percent fall in third-quarter net income to $1.07 billion andtraffic declines in every major region.

Thompson, who has been CEO for just over two years of his25-year career at McDonald's, said the company that now servessome 70 million customers a day worldwide has at various timesduring its history faced questions about whether it is stillrelevant to consumers, who are now craving more fresh,unprocessed food.

"McDonald's is in the business of satisfying customers andthat will never fall out of favor. The question is what do youdo to do that?" Thompson asked Reuters in a telephone interview.

McDonald's has posted a string of disappointing results, dueto uncontrollable factors and internal missteps, since Thompsontook the helm in July 2012.

Wall Street analysts, many of whom underscore McDonald'sdeliberate business style, predict that the company will giveThompson at least a year to move the needle.

To that end, Thompson said McDonald's is simplifying menus,tailoring food to local tastes, offering custom burger andsandwich options, rolling out mobile services such as paymentsand ordering, and opening a social media "dialogue" withcustomers.

Technology has made customized ordering simpler and willgive McDonald's the opportunity to showcase its fresh produceand other ingredients, Thompson said.

Last week, McDonald's launched a U.S. online campaign called"Our food. Your questions." and invited consumers to askanything about its food. It opened the campaign by directlyaddressing food-quality rumors with questions such as: "Is 'pinkslime' in a Chicken McNugget?" "Why doesn't your food rot?" "Arethere worms in your beef?"

Thus far, the response has been mixed.

Survey data from YouGov BrandIndex showed that the campaign,coupled with McDonald's recent Monopoly game promotion, appearedto temporarily lift quality perception and purchaseconsideration in the younger, sought-after Millennialdemographic that favors the likes of Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Nevertheless, McDonald's key demographic of frequentfast-food eaters were largely unmoved by the campaigns, YouGovspokesman Drew Kerr said.

"When you've been around for multiple decades likeMcDonald's has, you can't change on a dime," said Janney CapitalMarkets analyst Mark Kalinowski.

When it comes to changing perception, Thompson acknowledgedthat the company has work to do.

"We've largely been viewed as a manufacturing plant. Theyhaven't seen the food," said Thompson.

McDonald's quarterly results showed sales at restaurantsopen at least 13 months fell a steeper-than-expected 3.3 percentin the United States, where smaller and more nimble fast-foodrivals as well as Chipotle, known for using pricierantibiotic-free meats and organic produce, are taking a bite outof McDonald's market share. Chipotle on Monday reported aneye-popping 19.8 percent gain in third-quarter, same-restaurantsales.

McDonald's Europe sales at established restaurants fell 1.4percent, hurt by economic weakness in regional powerhouseGermany and dragged down by political upheaval in Ukraine andRussia, formerly a fast-growing market for McDonald's.

McDonald's Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa unit saidsame-restaurant sales tumbled 9.9 percent, after this summer'sChina supplier scandal pummeled sales around the region.

Executives said same-restaurant sales in China fell 22.7percent during the latest quarter. They added that it could take six to nine months for the business to normalize in affectedmarkets, including China, Japan and Hong Kong. (Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in Bangalore and Lisa Baertleinin Los Angeles; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Jilian Mincer and TomBrown)

PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2014

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Veterans Center (AVC) is proud to announce that the Northrop Grumman Corporation will serve as the presenting sponsor of the AVC Honors program on Nov. 8 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. This event honors military heroes from conflicts ranging from WWII to Afghanistan, where all demonstrated valor, honor and sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty.

The event will be filmed, making it the only televised multi-generational awards program for our nation's military heroes. The Honors will air the week of Veterans Day on DoD News, which airs on military bases around the world, and the Reelz network that reaches 66 million homes around the country.

"Northrop Grumman is proud to sponsor this special event honoring our heroes and we applaud the American Veterans Center for their leadership," said Sandra Evers-Manly, vice president, global corporate responsibility, Northrop Grumman and president, Northrop Grumman Foundation. Most of all, we thank these brave service members for their courage, dedication and sacrifices."

"The American Veterans Center launched The Honors as an award show to recognize those who deserve it the most and we are once again grateful for Northrop Grumman's strong support for this great event," said James Roberts, President of the AVC, the hosting organization. "It really shows their commitment to our veterans and our military."

For a complete list of the honorees for the 2014 American Veterans Center Honors, please visit http://www.americanveteranscenter.org/events/avchonors/.

A Northrop Grumman representative will help present the Raymond Davis Award to the 65th Infantry Regiment, The Borinqueneers, for their service in the Korean War. This predominantly Puerto Rican unit was highly influential at the port of Hungnam and the Battle of Outpost Harry. Earlier this year, Congress voted to award the unit the Congressional Gold Medal.

Northrop Grumman board member, AVC Advisory Board Chairman and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Richard Myers will also be the evening's Honors Chairman.

About the American Veterans Center:The American Veterans Center (AVC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational foundation dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of our military personnel. The Veterans Day events are held annually in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.americanveteranscenter.org.

SOURCE American Veterans Center

Authorities in Lexington County, South Carolina, took Timothy Ray Jones Jr., 32, into custody after he was transported back from Mississippi, where he had been held since Saturday on unrelated charges.

A coroner ruled the deaths of the children, aged 1 to 8, as homicides based on preliminary autopsy results, but said authorities were still trying to determine how they died.

Arrest warrants allege that Jones "willfully and maliciously killed his five children by violent means at his Lexington home," Lexington County Sheriff Lewis McCarty said.

Jones, who worked for Intel in Columbia, South Carolina, and had a criminal record in Illinois, is due in court on Friday morning for a first appearance, officials said.

He had legal custody of the children after divorcing their mother, who reported them missing on Sept. 3. But detectives believe Jones killed his children about a week earlier after picking them up from school and day care, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department said.

Following Jones' arrest after he was pulled over at a driver's license checkpoint in Mississippi, police said he confessed to the slayings and led them to his children's decomposing bodies off a rural logging road near Camden, Alabama.

Records released by South Carolina's Department of Social Services earlier on Thursday indicated that child protection workers had visited the Jones family at least a dozen times since 2011 in response to reports of abuse and neglect.

Child welfare workers began visiting the family when there were only three children, and continued through their mother's last two pregnancies, as well as after Jones reported his wife had left him "for a younger man."

The visits stopped for a time after the autumn of 2012, when workers said Jones took the children to Mississippi, where he had relatives. The state resumed contact in May after a report that Jones was beating the children, records show. Jones said he had grabbed a child by the back of the shirt and lifted him up because he destroyed his brother's toy.

The children said their father spanked them and made them do pushups for punishment, but they did not appear afraid of him, according to workers, who never removed them from his care.

In notes about their most recent visit on Aug. 7, social workers said Jones seemed overwhelmed. But after investigating a report that he was beating the children and not feeding them enough, workers did not find them to be in immediate danger.

In 2002, Jones was sentenced in McHenry County, Illinois, to prison time for charges including possession of a stolen vehicle, theft, burglary, forgery and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. He was released in 2003.

(Additional reporting by Jonathan Kaminsky; Writing by Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Peter Cooney)

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, May 22, 2014

NEW YORK, May 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, Analysts Review released its analysts' notes regarding Calpine Corp. (NYSE: CPN), The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), CMS Energy Corp. (NYSE: CMS), UNS Energy Corp (NYSE: UNS) and SCANA Corporation (NYSE: SCG). Private wealth members receive these notes ahead of publication. To reserve complementary membership, limited openings are available at: http://www.analystsreview.com/2804-100free.Calpine Corp. Analyst NotesOn May 1, 2014, Calpine Corp. (Calpine) reported its Q1 2014 financial results. Operating revenues increased 58.3% YoY to $2.0 billion. Net loss stood at $17.0 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to $125.0 million, or $0.28 per diluted share in Q1 2013. Adjusted EBITDA was $446.0 million, compared to $286.0 million in Q1 2013. According to the Company, the increase in adjusted EBITDA was attributed to stronger market conditions driven by colder than normal weather, operating some of Company's dual-fuel power plants on fuel oil rather than natural gas, commencement of commercial operations of Russell City and Los Esteros power plants and higher regulatory capacity revenue. For full-year 2014 the Company expects adjusted EBITDA to range between $1.9 billion to $2.0 billion. The full analyst notes on Calpine are available to download free of charge at:http://www.analystsreview.com/2804-CPN-22May2014.pdfThe AES Corporation Analyst NotesOn May 19, 2014, The AES Corporation's (AES) stock decreased 1.55% ending the day $14.00 per share. The Company's stock was trading near its 50-day moving average of $13.96.Over the previous three trading sessions, shares of the Company decreased 1.27%, compared with S&P 500, which also decreased 0.18%, during the same trading period. The full analyst notes on AES are available to download free of charge at:http://www.analystsreview.com/2804-AES-22May2014.pdfCMS Energy Corp. Analyst NotesOn May 19, 2014, CMS Energy Corp. (CMS) reported that the Company and Michigan Governor, Rick Snyder kicked off initiatives to promote growth in downtown area of Michigan, joining more than 18 businesses and three colleges to celebrate the start of the new Anchor Initiative. According to John Russell, President and CEO, Consumers Energy, the Company plans to convert downtown Jackson's former Woolworth Building into a hub for business innovation. The Company informed that it will also encourage employees to live downtown within a short walk of the Company's corporate headquarters and collaborate with other Anchor Initiative members on ways to build a vibrant center. CMS stated that besides its support for the Anchor Initiative, the Company is on target to reach its goal of increasing spending with Michigan-based suppliers by $1.0 billion over five years. Russell commented, "Businesses like ours can enable Michigan's downtowns to thrive, and we think what we are doing in Jackson can be a model across the state." The full analyst notes on CMS are available to download free of charge at:http://www.analystsreview.com/2804-CMS-22May2014.pdfUNS Energy Corp Analyst NotesOn May 16, 2014, UNS Energy Corp (UNS) reported that the Company and Fortis Inc. (Fortis) have agreed to provide customer bill credits totaling $30.0 million over five years, as well as additional capital and enhanced consumer protections as part of a settlement filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). UNS stated that the settlement which was filed on May 16, 2014 was endorsed by both Companies and is subject to the review of the ACC, which could approve, reject, or modify the proposed settlement. The Company informed that the $4.3 billion acquisition which includes the assumption of $1.8 billion in debt was approved by UNS Energy shareholders on March 26, 2014. UNS noted that under the agreement Fortis agreed that TEP and UES would receive bill credits totalling $10.0 million during the first year after the transaction is finalized and $5.0 million annually in second until fifth year. The full analyst notes on UNS are available to download free of charge at:http://www.analystsreview.com/2804-UNS-22May2014.pdfSCANA Corporation Analyst NotesOn May 12, 2014, SCANA Corporation (SCANA) reported that its principal subsidiary South Carolina Electric & Gas Company has placed the CA20 module in the nuclear island of V.C. Summer Unit 2 on May 9, 2014. According to the Company, CA20 module will house fuel handling and storage areas as well as other important plant systems. SCANA informed that with a total load weight of approximately 2.0 million pounds and standing approximately 70 feet tall, CA20 has measures which are equivalent to a five-story building, and is one of the heaviest lifts on the construction site. Kevin Marsh, SCANA Chairman and CEO, said, "We are pleased to announce successful placement of this major module on the Unit 2 basemat at V.C. This is another significant step among many on our path to providing South Carolina with a clean, safe and reliable energy future." The full analyst notes on SCANA are available to download free of charge at:http://www.analystsreview.com/2804-SCG-22May2014.pdfAbout Analysts ReviewWe do things differently. Our goal is to provide the best content to our exclusive membership. We are constantly hiring researchers, writers, editors and analysts to add to our team and become better than yesterday. If being a part of a fast growing community with an edge in today's market sounds interesting to you, then sign-up today and experience the full benefits of membership.EDITOR'S NOTES:1. This is not company news. We are an independent source and our views do not reflect the companies mentioned.2. Information in this release is produced on a best efforts basis by Rohit Tuli, a CFA charterholder. The content is then further fact checked and reviewed by an outsourced research provider. However, we are only human and are prone to make mistakes. If you notice any errors or omissions, please notify us below.3. This information is submitted as a net-positive to companies mentioned, to increase awareness for mentioned companies to our subscriber base and the investing public.4. 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Analysts Review expressly disclaims any fiduciary responsibility or liability for any consequences, financial or otherwise arising from any reliance placed on the information in this document. Analysts Review does not (1) guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness or correct sequencing of the information, or (2) warrant any results from use of the information. The included information is subject to change without notice.CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

SOURCE Analysts Review