GE will employ 355 people in its Aurora, CO PrimeStar Solar plant

Summary Update: 

• GE picks Aurora, Colorado for the site of its PrimeStar Solar production plant.  It beat a New York location which was its closest competition. 
• It will employ 355 people.
• GE will spend $300 million to retrofit an existing Aurora warehouse into a state-of-the-art manufacturing production plant.
• The plant will produce enough solar panels to power 800,00 homes a year.
• Ten states were in the running for the proposed plant.
• This is a big boost to the solar industry in Colorado.
• The technology  was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden and PrimeStar, an Arvada-based company GE bought in April.
• Work will begin in January.
• Colorado has a talented workforce which was one of the deciding factors over other states.
• http://www.primestarsolar.com/

The Denver Post reports: 

"With a PrimeStar fabrication plant here, you see a really strong cluster of solar companies emerging in Colorado," said Christine Shapard, executive director of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association.

"GE wouldn't have picked Colorado if we hadn't had the workforce and the talent that they need. That differentiates Colorado from many other states."   

Read more: Aurora lands PrimeStar Solar plant, which will employ 355 people - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_19110118#ixzz1bkn4S1TN

Alison Gopnik: What do babies think? -- Can adults learn a lesson?

That's a great question. A study shows that a child's brain tends to focus on the BIG Picture but they have trouble focusing on the details; whereas an adult will focus on the details and not focus on the BIG Picture.  In some ways, babies thinking is as "brilliant as the most brilliant scientist".

Developmental scientist have gathered new information over the last 20 years that supports this surprising conclusion, according to Alison Gopnik at the TED conference.
So, we may be asking the wrong question. The right question is "What do babies think?"
See the video.

SHHRP Harvest Opportunity Fair

SHHRP HARVEST OPPORTUNITY FAIR

Hosted by CU Denver

DATE: October 18, 2011

TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

PLACE: Turnhalle, Tivoli Center, Auraria Campus

Accessible by light rail or bus; self-paid parking nearby.

At Society of Hispanic Human Resources Professionals (SHHRP) we serve all of the diverse components of metro Denver’s job- and education- seeker populations.

We help people find the jobs and education they need.

Among our exhibitors will be:

Safeway, Lowe’s City, of Denver

Enterprise Rental,Wells Fargo, Denver Public Schools

Strategic Programs, U.S. Navy,HSS Security Services

City of CO Springs, UCD PAR2A Center, Heritage College

Regis University, Premier Solutions Int., Wells Fargo Bank

FirstBank, REI, Prudential Insurance

Express Employment, Sprint, FedEx

Heritage College, First Transit, U.S. Army

CollegeAmerica, Comcast Cable, CNA Insurance

fieldwork DENVER, Social Climb,World Financial Group

Telemundo Denver, Colorado Department of Labor, Ashford University

Adams County School District 50, University of Colorado Denver

Art Institute of Colorado, Jefferson Center for Mental Health

The event is free to all job seekers.

This Opportunity Fair is for everyone!

Arrow Electronics Moves its Global Headquarters to Colorado

According to Arrow Electronics' website, the existing Englewood, Colorado site will become the company's global headquarters, effective Nov. 15, 2011.  This could mean a big boost for the Colorado job market.   See the press release listed below:

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Oct 11, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:ARW) today announced that its Colorado operations will become the company's global headquarters, effective Nov. 15, 2011.

Arrow Electronics, with 2010 revenues of $18.7 billion, is currently headquartered in Melville, N.Y., and has had a significant presence in Englewood, Colo., since 2000.
"With our Colorado operations serving as Arrow Electronics' global headquarters, our commitment to our employees, customers and suppliers remains the foundation of our strategy to create value for our shareholders," said Michael J. Long, chairman, president and chief executive officer for Arrow Electronics. "As we embark on the next phase of the company's history, we look forward to Colorado being the headquarters for the 52 countries that we serve."

"This is one of those moments when focus and discipline pays off," said Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. "We haven't been shy about working to retain, grow and recruit new businesses in Colorado. Today, we are proud to welcome Arrow Electronics' global headquarters to Colorado. We look forward to doing all we can to help the company continue to prosper."

The Englewood facility has served as the global base for the company's Enterprise Computing Solutions, Americas components and global services businesses.
"Our New York operations will continue to play a key role in the company," said Mr. Long. "Our global reach and local touch serve as a differentiator with our more than 115,000 customers and 1,200 suppliers around the world. We are looking forward to continuing our tradition of excellence from our new headquarters in Colorado."

About Arrow Electronics
Arrow Electronics (www.arrow.com) is a global provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions. Arrow serves as a supply channel partner for over 1,200 suppliers and 115,000 original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network of more than 340 locations in 52 countries.

***   *** ***   *** ***  *** ***

A related story from 9News reports that suppliers of Arrow Electronics are also urged to relocate to Colorado.

"Colorado's Office of Economic Development and International Trade and will begin actively recruiting Arrow Electronics' supply chain partners to also locate to Colorado or at least start doing business in the state. The company partners with more than 1,200 suppliers and 115,000 original equipment manufacturers around the world."
 http://www.9news.com/news/article/224043/75/Arrow-Electronics-relocates-headquarters-to-Colorado

A Moment of Silence for Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

Here is a statement from Apple's website. Remembering Steve Jobs:

"Steve Jobs, 1955-2011."
"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

"If you would like to share your thoughts, memories, condolences please email rememberingsteve@apple.com"

Source:
http://www.apple.com/stevejobs/
Photo - Apple, Inc.
Related post:  Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Speech -- 2005
http://thejobwatch.blogspot.com/2011/09/steve-jobs-stanford-commencement-speech.html

Would adding a blog to your website help drive traffic to your site?

I am sorry, when I say, "driving traffic" to your website, I don't mean highway traffic, I mean increasing readers. I found that writing helpful tips and Do-it-Yourself articles for websites has improved readership.

+ Today's marketing requires repeat customers, therefore there is a need to have readers return to your website often in search of helpful information. This can lead to increased sales.

+ Social Networking depends on spreading the news, and using Twitter or Email to post links back to your website would be a good thing.

So why are so many websites devoid of blogs? I don't know...but I think they are rooted in the days of print media that was not interactive. In the pre-social media days, the website was an expanded version of a printed brochure. It did not engage user action other than to CALL NOW. There were no wiki or blogs attached to the website, unless it was a large corporation like Amazon, which provided product reviews from both the manufacturer and its readers.

Today, it is possible to create a website, using WordPress, that contains both static pages, blog posts, and reader's comments.
Here is an example of a blog I developed and added to a client's website. It's a home and office organization service.
BEFORE:
http://www.ibcorganize-office-home.com/ (This is the front page).
AFTER:
http://www.ibcorganize-office-home.com/category/blog/ (This is from the inner pages. )
Note: the BEFORE page displayed one idea. The AFTER: displayed many ideas because its a blog.

When a reader uses a Search Engine like Google, Bing, or Yahoo, they have a greater chance of landing on the client's website from any page.

A website is not a book, with a beginning, middle and end. Each page must contain enough information to engage the reader or they will "bounce" off the website, never to return.

It's a thought to remember to increase readership by adding a blog.


If you need help adding content to your website, I available for hire.

Your comments are welcomed : gerald-a-curtis@hotmail.com