CharlotteAreaNews.com Features New “Charlotte On Twitter” Service

CharlotteAreaNews.com Features New "Charlotte On Twitter" Service

For Immediate Release

CHARLOTTE, NC – CharlotteAreaNews.com, the online news aggregator website, has launched a new "Charlotte on Twitter" feature page. The page shows the latest real-time postings (tweets) on Twitter.com that reference "Charlotte" or "Charlotte NC" in some way.

"This is a great way for Charlotte area people to get a feel for what Twitter is all about," said Buck Lawrimore, president of Charlotte Area News. "We use a special web script to monitor and display messages about or from Charlotte. It's very interesting to see the wide variety of messages, which change often."

The special "Charlotte on Twitter" page is located at http://www.charlotteareanews.com/twitter.php .

Twitter is a fast-growing free Internet service that allows people to post brief messages, limited to 140 characters at a time, as well as "follow" each other, or anyone that interests them, by subscribing to their Twitter posts. Increasingly Twitter is being used by large corporations, news organizations, national leaders and others who want to participate in the on-going "conversation" that Twitter enables worldwide.

For example at the recent opening Olympic ceremonies in Beijing, many attendees posted "tweets" about what they were observing, allowing anyone interested to follow the messages in real time.

"Twitter can be a powerful marketing tool if used skillfully," Lawrimore said. "Our parent company, Charlotte marketing firm Lawrimore Inc. (http://www.Lawrimore.com), is constantly exploring cutting-edge ways to use the Internet to promote our brand and our clients' brands online."

CharlotteAreaNews.com, a public service of Lawrimore Inc., displays news feeds from all major Charlotte area news media, as well as sports, weather, webcams, and national news from Google and Yahoo.

Lawrimore Inc. helps business, government and nonprofit organizations increase their sales and profits through a wide variety of creative marketing and strategic consulting services.

WBTV Talks About Pilot TV Show With David Golden of Robot Johnson

CHARLOTTE – David Golden, writer and performer with comedy troupe
Robot Johnson (www.robotjohnson.com), appeared on WBTV News at Noon
recently and gave an interview with John Carter. Golden discussed the
group's current run at the Duke Energy Theatre, during which Robot
Johnson will film a half-hour long pilot for national television. The
interview segment also featured the television debut of two of the
troupe's Youtube videos, "Hemmons Discount Store Fixtures" and "Live at
5."

"We strive to be the best and funniest thing in Charlotte," says
Golden. "We want to make sure that our show is entertaining before you
spend your dollar on it."

Robot Johnson is Charlotte's premier sketch comedy troupe, giving the
Queen City good humor by bad people. Shows are Friday and Saturday
nights at 8:00 and 10:00 pm, running July 11th through August 2nd at
the Duke Energy Theatre, part of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
at Spirit Square. For more information, please visit
www.robotjohnson.com or call 704-640-ROJO (7656).

Whiting-Turner Selected As Construction Manager For The Village At Lake Norman

Whiting-Turner Selected As Construction Manager
For The $516-Million Village At Lake Norman

CORNELIUS, N.C. – The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company has been
selected as construction manager for the $516-million Village At Lake
Norman, a mixed-use development in Cornelius, N.C., north of Charlotte.

"Although Whiting-Turner advised us in the early stages of project
planning, we felt a full review of our options was important before
awarding the construction management responsibility," said Josh Rector,
senior vice president of Cornelius Bromont, LLC, the project developer.
"After considerable due diligence, we feel confident our selection of
Whiting-Turner is the best choice for meeting our needs, and look
forward to working with the company on this substantial project."

Founded in 1909 in Baltimore, Whiting-Turner, with offices across the
U.S. including Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C., is ranked fourth in the
nation by Engineering News Record in domestic general building
construction. The firm is recognized as one of the nation's leading
mixed-use community builders, including such landmark projects as
CityPlace in Florida, Crocker Park in Ohio, and Rockville Town Square
in Maryland.

Whiting-Turner's Charlotte office, managed by Tim Stevens, has served
as the construction manager of such high-visibility projects as:
• Concord Mills, one of the Carolinas' largest shopping malls,
including the simultaneous realignment of Speedway Boulevard around the
project
• The new Dell manufacturing facility in Kernersville, in excess of $50
million, built in six months
• The current renovation of Monroe Mall in Monroe, N.C.

"Whiting-Turner has superior capabilities to build both our mixed-use
Village and several miles of I-77 widening, as well as a new Exit 27
intersection, simultaneously," Rector said. "Our goal is to complete
construction in three years, starting in the fall of 2009, which will
be quite a challenge. But we are making plans and getting approvals so
that work can begin as intended."

The 2.2-million-square-foot Village At Lake Norman will be located on
104 acres south of Westmoreland Road in Cornelius, bounded by U.S. 21
on the east and I-77 on the west. It will include approximately 810,000
square feet of Class A corporate office, 655,000 square feet of
high-quality retail/restaurant space, two hotels totaling 350 rooms,
and 400 luxury residences. Online at http://www.corneliusbromont.com.

Whiting-Turner maintains a 5A-1 Dun & Bradstreet rating and a bonding
capacity of $4 billion. The firm is financially independent and
without debt. Details at http://www.whiting-turner.com.

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Media Contact: Buck Lawrimore, Lawrimore Inc., 704-332-4344,

http://www.lciweb.com

FlowCon Brings Balancing Valves To U.S. & Canada Via New Charlotte NC Headquarters

FlowCon Brings Dynamic Balancing Valves
To U.S. & Canada Via New Charlotte NC Headquarters

For Immediate Release July 14, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – FlowCon International, a leading European
manufacturer-distributor of flow control valves for commercial heating
and air conditioning systems, has launched its line of AB automatic
balancing valves from new headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., serving the
United States and Canada.

The new North American operations, known as FlowCon Americas, LLC, is
led by Howard Rozendal, an experienced veteran of the HVAC (heating,
ventilation, air conditioning) industry. The new headquarters is
located at 10430-K Harris Oaks Blvd. in Charlotte.

"Our automatic balancing valve is unique because it is externally
adjustable," Rozendal said. "Unlike other balancing valves which have a
fixed GPM (gallons per minute) and have to be removed from a shut-down
system if a change is needed, ours can be changed externally to one of
40 different flow rates by simply turning a control valve with a
special key.

"What this means for the building owner or contractor is that when the
needs of building tenants change, the cost and ease of changing the
flow rate is extremely low compared to other flow control products," he
explained.

Other features of the FlowCon adjustable valves include:
• Automatic balancing so the desired flow rate is achieved automatically
• Dynamic balancing, meaning the flow rate is maintained as each valve
compensates for pressure fluctuations in the system
• Field adjustable – flow rate can be changed instantly using a special
secure key
• Reduction of branch or "partner" valves so fewer valves are needed
per system
• Accuracy to plus or minus 2 percent
• Pressure and/or temperature measurement plugs are available for
verifying conditions of the heating/cooling water in the system
• Multiple connections are available for different system configurations

"Initial discussions with several leading U.S. and Canadian
manufacturers and distributors have been very promising," Rozendal
said. "We believe that the unique qualities which made FlowCon the
preferred balancing valves Internationally will soon also make them the
preferred choice in North America.

FlowCon was founded in 1987 with headquarters in Denmark. It also has
offices today in Singapore and Dubai. The company is 100 percent
focused on dynamic flow regulation and pressure independent temperature
control. Details at http://international.flowcon.com. FlowCon Americas
is available at 704-599-4700.

--###--

(Media Contact: Buck Lawrimore, Lawrimore Communications Inc.,
704-332-4344, http://www.lciweb.com/ High-res product photos of the
attached image are available upon request.)

Forum to look at regional business opportunities in defense/security industry

Robert Walker, former acting secretary of the Army, will
discuss business trends and opportunities in the defense industry at
the Charlotte Regional Partnership's July 16 Investors Forum, "Defense
and Security Sector: Implications and Opportunities for the Charlotte
Region." The forum will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Central Piedmont
Community College Harris Conference Center.
 
"As we focus on our core strengths in manufacturing, headquarters/back
office, distribution/logistics and technology operations, the
defense/security sector is emerging as being ever-more critical to our
future economic well-being," said Ronnie Bryant, president and CEO of
the Charlotte Regional Partnership.
 
Bryant said that the global aerospace and defense market is forecast
to increase 12.5 percent by 2012, with the defense segment being the
most lucrative. It accounts for 75 percent of the market by value, and
the Americas share of that is more than 53 percent of the global
market by value. Charlotte-based Goodrich and French-based engine
maker Turbomeca both have regional facilities that supply systems and
services to the defense industry.
 
Following Walker's remarks, there will be a panel discussion on
the competitive challenges and advantages of the defense/security
sector for the Charlotte region.

Lisa Owen, vice president and general manager, of BAE Systems-Tensylon
High Performance Materials, and James Thagard, application
manager-life protection at DSM Dyneema Group, will serve as panelists.
 
Future CRP forums will analyze the healthcare/life sciences and
energy/environment sectors, the two other areas the Partnership is
targeting in its business development efforts.
 
A nonprofit, public/private economic development organization, the
Charlotte Regional Partnership markets the 16-county, two-state
Charlotte region. The CRP creates opportunity for job growth and
investment, connects regional resources and people with businesses
considering Charlotte USA, and supports its regional partners.
Additional information is at www.charlotteusa.com.
  

Robot Johnson to Film National Pilot at July 26th Performance

CHARLOTTE – The Robot Johnson Show (www.robotjohnson.com), Charlotte's
premier sketch comedy troupe, will film its Saturday, July 26th
performances at the Duke Energy Theatre in Spirit Square for a national
pilot. If picked up, the pilot would be the first national television
show ever produced in the Queen City.

"I suppose that it's the hip young thing to downplay success for comic
effect, but in all actuality this is pretty huge," says David Golden,
writer/performer with Robot Johnson. "An opportunity like this is what
we've been working towards for a year with this troupe, and for more
than a decade with this group of people."

The July 26th performances are part of Robot Johnson's "Audience
Favorites" weekend, comprised of audience-selected sketches from
McGlohon Theatre and the troupe's first run at Duke Energy. Both the
8:00 and 10:00 pm performances will be recorded, with the best material
and crowd reactions edited together to form a single half hour-long
pilot. Chuck Bludsworth, local filmmaker, writer, and longtime friend
of Robot Johnson, will be directing the pilot.

Robot Johnson is Charlotte's premier sketch comedy troupe, giving the
Queen City good humor by bad people. Shows are Friday and Saturday
nights at 8:00 and 10:00 pm, running July 11th through August 2nd at
the Duke Energy Theatre, part of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
at Spirit Square. For more information, please visit

www.robotjohnson.com or call 704-640-ROJO (7656).

Duke's Tony Almeida to chair Charlotte Regional Partnership board of directors

CHARLOTTE, NC - Tony Almeida, vice president of business relations and
economic development with Duke Energy Carolinas, will become chair of
the Charlotte Regional Partnership board of directors for the
2008-2009 fiscal year that begins July 1.
 
Other members of the Partnership's leadership team are: Humpy Wheeler,
first vice chair; Landon Wyatt, partner with Childress Klein
Properties, second vice chair and Business Development and Marketing
Advisory Committee chair; Pete Acker, president and CEO of Carolinas
Medical Center-Lincoln, treasurer; Jeff Kane, senior vice president,
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Charlotte Office, Audit Committee
chair; Alan Dexter, partner with Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein,
Planning and Performance Review Committee chair; Robert Van Geons,
executive director of Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission,
Economic Development Advisory Committee chair; Steve Luquire, CEO of
Luquire George Andrews, immediate past chairman..
 
Ronnie Bryant is president and CEO of the nonprofit, public/private
economic development organization that markets the 16-county,
two-state Charlotte region. The CRP leverages regional resources to
create opportunities for long-term growth, job creation and investment
in Charlotte USA. Additional information is at www.charlotteusa.com.

A nonprofit, public / private economic development organization, the
Charlotte Regional Partnership allocates and leverages regional
economic development resources to sustain and enhance the economic
growth, vitality and global competitiveness of the Charlotte region.
 
 

Charlotte’s ClubFurniture.com Provides Furniture For New “The Baby Borrowers” Reality TV Show on NBC

Charlotte's ClubFurniture.com Provides Furniture
For New "The Baby Borrowers" Reality TV Show on NBC

For Immediate Release 06-19-08

CHARLOTTE, NC – Sofas, chairs, coffee tables and other furniture
provided by ClubFurniture.com of Charlotte will "star" in a new reality
TV show premiering this Wednesday, June 25th at 9 p.m. on NBC, called
"The Baby Borrowers."

The highly entertaining show reveals what happens to five teen-age
couples as they take care of someone else's baby, then toddlers,
pre-teens, teen-agers and finally aging seniors. "I had no idea this is
what it took" is a comment heard frequently in various forms from the
struggling teen "parents." Like the hugely popular "American Idol," the
basic format for the program started on TV in the UK, where it drew
large audiences.

NBC describes "The Baby Borrowers" as "a unique social experiment that
takes five teen-age couples on a rollercoaster ride of adult
responsibility, allowing them to experience parenting firsthand.
Desperate to have their own life and family, our lovebirds are thrown
in at the deep end. They're given real houses and real
responsibilities, the most important of which is to look after children
from a range of age groups. . . . In the end, will these couples be
able to cope with the pressures of parenthood or will they break?"

The five couples will "live" in five new homes in a cul de sac in
Eagle, Idaho. Producers of the show contacted Charlotte's
ClubFurniture.com because of their track record providing quality
furniture for other TV shows including NBC's "The Apprentice," Fine
Living TV, TLC TV and other programs.

"This is very exciting for us and we think the show is going to attract
a wide range of audiences because it is so entertaining," said Darrin
King, president of ClubFurniture.com. "People who live in North
Carolina can get special satisfaction in knowing that much of the
furniture was made right here in our state. We're proud of the fact
that most of the manufacturers who work for us are located here in the
furniture capital of the world."

ClubFurniture.com was started by brothers Darrin and Jeff King selling
North Carolina Furniture direct to consumers online. As demand grew,
they've established relationships with leading US furniture
manufacturers, expanded their website and provided home furniture
products to thousands of customers nationwide for more than 10 years.

"We're family owned and take pride in providing very personalized
service for all our customers," Jeff King said. "This leads to a high
level of customer satisfaction, which is extremely important to us."

For more information, visit http://ww.clubfurniture.com or call
1-888-378-8383. The NBC promotion page is

http://www.nbc.com/The_Baby_Borrowers/

###
[Media Contact: Buck Lawrimore, Lawrimore Inc., 704-332-4344,
www.lciweb.com.]

HomeAid Charlotte's Board Members Announced

 HomeAid Charlotte's Board Members Announced
- Under the Tutelage of Home Builders Association of Charlotte New
Non-Profit Aids the Local Homeless Population -
 
Charlotte, N.C. - Operating under the Home Builders Association of
Charlotte, HomeAid Charlotte was recently established as the 19th
chapter of the national organization, HomeAid.  HomeAid Charlotte's
mission is to build or renovate dignified housing for temporary
homeless families and individuals by working with other non-profits in
the community dedicated to helping the homeless. 
 
The Home Builders Association of Charlotte selected the following
individuals to serve as leaders in establishing and governing HomeAid
Charlotte:  President: Elliot Mann, Standard Pacific; Vice President:
Tom Ingram, David Weekly Homes; Treasurer: Mark Baldwin, Home Builders
Association of Charlotte; Secretary: Andrea Berenfeld, Lennar Homes;
Directors: Larry Burton, Newland Communities; Michael Hinshaw, Hinshaw
Properties; Bob Kardos, Toll Brothers, Inc.; Dean Kellum, John Wieland
Homes; Shawn King, Bonsal American, Inc.;  David Parler, Wachovia Bank;
Chris Pinckney, National Gypsum; John Shea, Shea Homes; Steve Windell,
Bank of America; and Libby Currier, Executive Director, HomeAid
Charlotte
 
"We have pledged the initial operating funds to HomeAid Charlotte for
2008 and provide them with office space," said Mark Baldwin, executive
vice president of the association.  "With homelessness escalating in
our community at such an alarming rate, we wanted to be part of the
solution in working with other non-profits who serve the homeless," he
continued.  "That's why we hired Libby Currier to become the executive
director of the program and to work closely with the community and the
newly-formed volunteer board of directors to carry out their mission
and policies."
 
"By partnering with other non-profits helping the homeless, HomeAid
Charlotte allows our association's members an opportunity to do what we
do best – build with an added benefit of giving back to our community,"
said Baldwin.  "For every dollar invested in HomeAid Charlotte, we
estimate this contribution results in an average of $2 to $3 of in-kind
labor and materials."  
 
HomeAid Charlotte's national partners locally include Bank of America,
National Gypsum, Pro-build, as well as Sakrete of North America. The
national builder partners who helped launch HomeAid Charlotte through
their local divisions are: Beazer Homes USA, David Weekley Homes, John
Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, K. Hovnanian® Homes, Lennar
Corporation, Shea Homes, Standard Pacific Homes and Toll Brothers.

In the near future, HomeAid Charlotte will announce its plans for its
first project in the community.  The organization is working closely
with the Homeless Services Network and care providers of the homeless
to become a viable solution to aid our community's homeless population
in need of temporary shelter as they become self-sufficient.
 
Each national HomeAid chapter is a 501(c) (3) charitable, non-profit
organization and is sponsored by a committed, local building industry
organization.  Today, because of the generosity and dedication of many
in the home building industry, HomeAid is one of America's largest
providers of shelter for the temporarily homeless. 
 
Established in 1945, the Home Builders Association of Charlotte's
members include builders, developers, trade contractors, lending
institutions, real estate companies and building-material
manufacturers, suppliers and distributors.  To learn more about HomeAid
Charlotte and the Home Builders Association of Charlotte, visit their
web site at www.hbacharlotte.com.
 

Village at Lake Norman Issues News Update

A new issue of the Village at Lake Norman Email Newsletter is available
online at:

http://www.corneliusbromont.com/news/updatejune3.html

If you would like to receive future issues directly, we encourage you
to sign up at:

http://www.corneliusbromont.com/news.html

Best regards,

Buck Lawrimore