Below are experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact them via the contact information at the end of the listing. To receive updates by email, drop us a note at profnet@profnet.com with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition.

If you are in need of additional experts, you can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network. You can filter your request by institution type and geographic location to get the most targeted responses. The best part? It’s free! Just fill out the query form to get started.

If you have any questions or need assistance with any aspect of ProfNet, please drop us a note at profnet@profnet.com.

EXPERT ALERTS:

Design Considerations for Eldercare Housing
James T. Moyer, AIA, LEED AP
Principal
SAS Architects & Planners
“Depending on a building's age and configuration, we frequently encounter design challenges such as: creating public spaces in the right configuration; maximizing space; overcoming a long, double-loaded corridor; and creating a functional, safe and secure progression of space.” Moyer is principal of SAS Architects & Planners, a full-service firm that has designed more than 120 eldercare projects nationwide. He is available to talk about design considerations involved with the current trend of converting existing eldercare housing into spaces that provide specialized support and care -- for example, transforming independent or assisted living into memory support or dementia care. He is based in the Chicago suburbs.
Website: www.sasarch.com
Media Contact: Cindy Martin, cindy@clmcomm.com

Valentine Engagement? Consider a Prenup
Mary Jo McCurley
Family Law Attorney
McCurley Orsinger McCurley Nelson & Downing, L.L.P. in Dallas
“Valentine’s Day may be a popular date for couples to get engaged, but the newly betrothed would be wise to take a deep breath and consider whether they should sign a premarital agreement before tying the knot. Particularly if one or both people have significant assets or liabilities, spelling out what is separate property and what is community property can minimize conflict should the couple ever split. Nobody wants to believe they could get divorced, but the sad truth is that divorce happens, even when the couple starts out with the best of intentions. Having a sound premarital agreement can remove a significant source of conflict.”
News Contact: Rhonda Reddick, rhonda@androvett.com

Six Love Styles to Help You Communicate How You Feel
Dr. Kate Dunleavy
Professor
La Salle University
“As Valentine’s Day is a holiday focused on love, it is a good idea to recognize that we don’t all express in the same way.” Dunleavy studies communication in relationships, and says there are six love styles we use to communicate how we feel: 1) Eros: a physical love. The personal is mostly interested in physicality of a relationship, often more so than other aspects. Very critical of physical appearance. 2) Ludus: game-playing love. The person must always be in control of the love, whereas love often takes control over a person. Likes the chase, and often becomes disinterested when the chase is over. 3) Storge: peaceful love from friendship. The love is arrived at slowly, so slowly the people have difficulty determining where the change occurred. The sexual aspect comes much later and is never the focus of the relationship. 4) Pragma: practicality. Sees relationships for the potential for a more effective life. Much more logical than emotional. Their relationships rarely end because they were so practical in finding a mate that is best suited for their lifestyle. Example: Bill and Hilary Clinton. 5) Mania: extreme emotions associated with the relationship. This person gives self over to love to such an extent that it can lead to anxiousness and fear the love will go away. Experiences jealousy very easily and can shift emotions about the relationship quickly. 6) Agape: selfless and completely compassionate love. Doesn’t expect or need reciprocity. More of a philosophical love (like the love a parent has for a child -- unconditional).
Media Contact: Jon Caroulis, caroulis@lasalle.edu

Healthy Eating in 2013
John Bornoty
Founder and Owner
The Big Salad
“Everyone knows that eating healthy, nutritious and low-calorie salads, soups and sandwiches can help the weight disappear. I can help people understand the kinds of foods that will help them quickly take the pounds off without starving themselves. For example, your choice of salad dressing and toppings can make a big difference in the amount of calories you're consuming.”
The Big Salad is a healthy-eating, fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in custom-made salads, healthy soups and sumptuous sandwiches.
Media Contact: Sue Voyles, sue@logos-communications.com

Diet Betters Beware: Red Flags for Pound-Shedding Profit-Seekers
David Roddenberry
Co-founder
HealthyWage
“With multiple highly credible studies underscoring the effectiveness of employing financial incentives to motivate weight loss, including those cited in the Archives of Internal Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association, the marketplace has followed suit with various companies now offering the opportunity to ‘diet for dollars.’ But, how can health-seekers discern if a website offering to pay for lost pounds is legit? Heed my list of red flags that can indicate a weight-loss company offering monetary rewards may not be on the up-and-up.”
Media Contact: Merilee Kern, merilee@kerncommunications.com

Ten Commandments of Cellphone Use
Paul Holstein
Founder
CableOrganizer.com
"Proper cellphone etiquette protocols are often forgotten -- and, unfortunately, many conduct themselves inappropriately when using a mobile phone in public. With this in mind, I've devised 10 commandments of proper and courteous cellphone use. For example, stash your cell when dining out. When people spend money on a dinner out, the last thing they want is to become a captive audience to a third-party cell phone conversation. If you’re eating in public, especially in the company of others, stash the cell phone (and turn off the ringer) until the meal is over. Everyone, including you, will enjoy themselves even more.”
Media Contact: Merilee Kern, merilee@kerncommunications.com

Give Your Kitchen a Spring Makeover
Libby Langdon
Founder
Libby Interiors, Inc.
“The kitchen truly is the heart of the home, so why not create one where you’ll love to spend time -- without over-spending? For example, use two smaller under-the-counter refrigerators, instead of one large model, which can visually overwhelm a small kitchen. Also, consider an 18”-wide dishwasher and microwave, as opposed to the standard 24” models. Don’t reuse old appliances! You may think you’re saving money, but an old appliance will totally stick out in your new design and mean higher electricity bills.” Langdon is the host and lead designer on the FOX makeover show “Design Invasion,” and has made appearances on other popular TV shows, including “BetterTV,” NBC's “Open House NYC,” “The Early Show,” “The View,” and on “The Rachael Ray Show” as Ray’s go-to interior design guru. She is available for in-person interviews in the New York metro area, or via phone, email or video conference. She can share tips for getting the most bang out of your buck when renovating a kitchen, as well as “insider secrets” on how to add color to brighten up a dimly lit kitchen and how to choose the best refrigerator for your kitchen’s design. Whether it’s a total renovation or a simple spring makeover, she can tell readers when to splurge and save when designing any kitchen. To view some of her recent TV design makeovers, visit: www.libbylangdon.com/lxtv.shtml
Media Contact: Lauren Macon, lmacon@thehalogroup.com

Protecting Hockey Players' Feet/Ankles
Frank McClelland
Respond, Inc.
“Until the last few years, hockey players had few effective options available to protect themselves from season- or even career-ending foot and ankle injuries.” McClelland can talk about new options for protecting the feet and ankles of hockey players -- including college players, adult amateurs and pros -- from flying pucks and flailing sticks. Working with the product development center at Lake Superior State University, McClelland invented Skate Fenders, a patented safety product that protects the feet and ankles of hockey players. It is currently being used by 22 NHL teams, several college teams and a growing number of amateur players. An amateur hockey player himself, McClelland is based in Gaylord, Mich.
Website: www.skatefenders.com
Media Contact: Cindy Martin, cindy@clmcomm.com

The Role of Mediation in Parenting Plans and Asset Allocation
Arianna Jeret
Divorce Mediator and Certified Divorce Coach
"Mediation provides a forum in which you can step back from the fight and participate in productive conversations towards the most emotionally and financially secure future possible. A mediator’s goal is to help couples simplify confusing issues, work creatively through road blocks, and plan for a non-adversarial new chapter in their lives."
Jeret has 15 years of experience developing, evaluating and guiding social service programs. She has facilitated several complex committees and co-authored an article on identity formation in teens that became the backbone of one of the country’s most successful private philanthropic ventures. Since focusing on private practice in family law mediation in 2010, Jeret has been featured on online radio programs and was also sought out to custom-design and teach a specialized lecture, “Expanding Social Work Practice Options: Basics of Mediation,” for the Orange County Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers at the University of Southern California School of Social Work. She is a member of the Southern California Mediation Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, as well an associate member of the South Bay Chapter of the American Bar Association.
Website: http://www.ajmediation.com
Media Contact: Lisa Layne, lisalayne@lettucepr.com

Proposed Legislation to Help Sandy Victims Needs Doesn’t Protect Property Owner Rights
Scott Mager
Attorney
Storm Help Team
“In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, residents and businesses are feeling the pain and injustice of delayed payment or outright rejection of property claims. Legislation needs to be enacted immediately that promotes the full and quicker payment of property damage claims. New York legislators are beginning to respond. For example, Bill A-2287 purports to provide a Homeowner’s Bill of Rights that explains important information about insurance policies, exclusions and the processes relating to a property damage claim. Another bill, A-1092, seeks to create specific standards for investigating and paying claims. With great respect for these legislative efforts, while both bills forge admirable first steps designed to protect citizens, they do not go nearly far enough to ensure that residents and businesses whom have faithfully paid their insurance premiums for years will receive full compensation in a timely manner.” Mager is a nationally recognized attorney who has been on the ground in the devastated New York tri-state area, speaking to large community groups and organizations about the steps they can take to obtain rightful reimbursement for their property losses. He is working with a multi-disciplinary organization called Storm Help Team to help make that happen. Mager has seen all sides of insurance claims, having served as the top lawyer at one of the largest insurance companies in the world and honored as their National Litigator of the Year, and having devoted time to helping thousands of property owners expedite their insurance claims after numerous hurricanes in the past decade.
Residents in the New York metropolitan area and throughout New Jersey, including the devastated shore areas, can contact Storm Help Team at call (855) 58-STORM to secure an extensive amount of insurance-related resources, obtain review of their claims, and receive critical information on how to process their claims to maximize the chances for getting the most money quickly.
Website: http://www.stormhelpteam.org
Media Contact: Tyra Haag, tyra@marybethwest.com

Single Parents Can Keep Children Involved in Dating Process
Kerri Zane
Relationship/dating and lifestyle expert
"Online dating sites can seem overwhelming and rather scary. It is understandable, therefore, that single individuals are weary of taking the plunge. One of the greatest perks to online dating is that sons and daughters can be involved in helping their single parent find a match." Zane, an Emmy Award-winning executive producer, is a healthy-living expert, single mom advisor, author, and international public speaker for highly motivated affluent single parents who want to make their relationships and the quality of their life experience matter more. Zane is the originator of the unique and powerful counseling process, The 5 Finger Philosophy, a life-altering and empowering process for all single parents to ultimately and once and for all have a happily ever after "REALationship." Zane has an M.A. in spiritual psychology from the University of Santa Monica and a B.A. in sociology from UCLA. She has served as a TV and film instructor at UCLA Extension School, is a working member of N.A.T.A.S., the Directors Guild of America, and is an ACE-certified personal trainer and weight management consultant. She is a single parent of two daughters and resides in Long Beach, Calif.
Website: http://www.kerrizane.com
Media Contact: Lisa Layne, lisalayne@lettucepr.com

Below are experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact them via the contact information at the end of the listing.

If you are in need of additional experts, you can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network. You can filter your request by institution type and geographic location to get the most targeted responses. The best part? It’s free! Just fill out the query form to get started.

If you have any questions or need assistance with any aspect of ProfNet, please drop us a note at profnet@profnet.com.

Proposed Legislation to Help Sandy Victims Needs Doesn’t Protect Property Owner Rights
Scott Mager
Attorney
Storm Help Team
“In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, residents and businesses are feeling the pain and injustice of delayed payment or outright rejection of property claims. Legislation needs to be enacted immediately that promotes the full and quicker payment of property damage claims. New York legislators are beginning to respond. For example, Bill A-2287 purports to provide a Homeowner’s Bill of Rights that explains important information about insurance policies, exclusions and the processes relating to a property damage claim. Another bill, A-1092, seeks to create specific standards for investigating and paying claims. With great respect for these legislative efforts, while both bills forge admirable first steps designed to protect citizens, they do not go nearly far enough to ensure that residents and businesses whom have faithfully paid their insurance premiums for years will receive full compensation in a timely manner.” Mager is a nationally recognized attorney who has been on the ground in the devastated New York tri-state area, speaking to large community groups and organizations about the steps they can take to obtain rightful reimbursement for their property losses. He is working with a multi-disciplinary organization called Storm Help Team to help make that happen. Mager has seen all sides of insurance claims, having served as the top lawyer at one of the largest insurance companies in the world and honored as their National Litigator of the Year, and having devoted time to helping thousands of property owners expedite their insurance claims after numerous hurricanes in the past decade. Residents in the New York metropolitan area and throughout New Jersey, including the devastated shore areas, can contact Storm Help Team at call (855) 58-STORM to secure an extensive amount of insurance-related resources, obtain review of their claims, and receive critical information on how to process their claims to maximize the chances for getting the most money quickly.
Website: http://www.stormhelpteam.org
Media Contact: Tyra Haag, tyra@marybethwest.com

New Immigration Laws, H-1B Visas and Impact on U.S. Jobs
Ron Hira
Associate Professor of Public Policy
Rochester Institute of Technology
Critics of the H-1B visa program say companies exaggerate the size of the gap and that they aren't required to justify the need to hire from outside the country. "What's breathtaking about this bill is that it doesn't propose to close any of the loopholes," says Hira, who has testified before Congress about H-1B visas. "There's no labor market test. An employer does not have to try to hire an American worker first and doesn't have to demonstrate that there's a shortage of Americans who can do the job." Hira specializes in policy issues on technological innovation, offshoring, high-skill immigration, and the American engineering workforce. He is also a research associate with the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. He is co-author of the book, “Outsourcing America” (AMACOM 2005; 2nd edition 2008), which was a finalist for best business book in the PMA’s Benjamin Franklin Awards. He is an expert on offshoring, testifying before the U.S. Congress twice on its implications, and is frequently quoted and interviewed in many major media outlets, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, National Journal, NPR, CNN, CNBC, NBC Nightly News, Fox Business News, Time, and Newsweek.
Media Contact: Vienna McGrain, vnccom@rit.edu

Employers Should Tell Cupid to Leave His Arrows at Home
Kim Seten
Partner
Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP
Employers should always be concerned about “appropriate” behavior in the workplace, and Valentine’s Day is a great reminder of that. Says Seten: “While it may seem nice to give your subordinates cards and candy as a token of appreciation on Valentine's Day, some workers may misconstrue even innocent gestures, potentially causing accusations of inappropriate behavior. And when there actually is love in the workplace, it can cause a potential minefield of liability for employers, as well as awkwardness for other employees. Employers would be wise to have very clear policies regarding office relationships.” Seten, partner with Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP, a national labor and employment law firm, can speak about "love contracts," lawsuit possibilities for consensual office romances (sexual harassment, retaliation claims), what actions actually constitute sexual harassment, and how far is "too far" with inappropriate love-related jokes at work.
Media Contact: Wendy Angel, wangel@constangy.com

Impact of Secretary of Energy Steven Chu’s Resignation on the DOE
Matthew Stepp
Senior Energy Policy Analyst
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
“Secretary Chu presided over the largest expansion and re-organization of America’s energy innovation ecosystem in 40 years. While there is still significant work to be done, no one can deny that the Department of Energy is better equipped today to develop and commercialize breakthrough clean energy technologies than four years ago. Without a doubt, Secretary Chu should be applauded for continuing and strengthening the long American legacy of leadership in developing world-leading technologies that now include shale gas, advanced solar, wind energy, and next-generation batteries.” Based in Washington, D.C., Stepp is author of the report “Shifting Gears: Transcending Conventional Economic Doctrines to Develop Better Electric Vehicle Batteries” (tinyurl.com/ceyck97) and writes a blog for Forbes (blogs.forbes.com/matthewstepp/). He is available to discuss the resignation of Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, his impact on the DOE, and where the agency goes from here.
ProfNet Profile: www.profnetconnect.com/matthewstepp
Website: www.itif.org
Media Contact: William Dube, wdube@itif.org

The Role of Mediation in Parenting Plans and Asset Allocation
Arianna Jeret
Divorce Mediator and Certified Divorce Coach
"Mediation provides a forum in which you can step back from the fight and participate in productive conversations towards the most emotionally and financially secure future possible. A mediator’s goal is to help couples simplify confusing issues, work creatively through road blocks, and plan for a non-adversarial new chapter in their lives." Jeret has 15 years of experience developing, evaluating and guiding social service programs. She has facilitated several complex committees and co-authored an article on identity formation in teens that became the backbone of one of the country’s most successful private philanthropic ventures. Since focusing on private practice in family law mediation in 2010, Jeret has been featured on online radio programs and was also sought out to custom-design and teach a specialized lecture, “Expanding Social Work Practice Options: Basics of Mediation,” for the Orange County Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers at the University of Southern California School of Social Work. She is a member of the Southern California Mediation Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, as well an associate member of the South Bay Chapter of the American Bar Association.
Website: http://www.ajmediation.com
Media Contact: Lisa Layne, lisalayne@lettucepr.com

Producing an engaging and successful blog means coming up with new ideas while staying energized, but how do you find inspiration, and generate creative and fresh ideas, time and time again?

Susan Getgood, vice president of influencer marketing for BlogHer, shared her strategies and tips during a recent #ConnectChat, our series of Twitter chats that focus on issues relevant to communications and media professionals.

Getgood has been involved in online marketing since the early ‘90s, and watched the Web evolve from the first browsers to the interactive communities we participate in today. In 2010, she joined BlogHer, where she connects social media influencers with the brands they love through mutually beneficial business and advertising opportunities.

Getgood writes about social media and marketing strategy on her professional marketing blog, Marketing Roadmaps. Her first book, Professional Blogging For Dummies, was published in July 2010, and she speaks regularly at social media conferences like BlogHer, Mom 2.0 and New Comm Forum. She is a co-founder of ethics initiative Blog With Integrity and appeared on the “Today” show in April 2010 to talk about respect and responsibility in the blogosphere.

Following are highlights from the chat:

Can you tell us a little about what you do at BlogHer?

Basically, I bring brands and bloggers together in mutually beneficial ways. My job is to develop sponsored programs that are authentic and engaging for our bloggers and meet the brand’s marketing goals.

We send quite a few queries from bloggers looking to work with brands. What are the benefits for the brands?

The blogger = their customer. It is word-of-mouth marketing at its finest. Bloggers also filter at the front end -- they don't work with brands they don't love and authentically want to engage with. I can't think of anything more powerful than a brand connecting with a customer over something they mutually care about.

What are some of the benefits of blogging, both as an individual and as a brand?

The benefits of blogging depend on what you want to get out of it. For some, the main benefits are community and self expression. For others, establishing a brand or expert reputation are the benefits.

What are some ways to establish an expert reputation?

Write on the topic with authority. Attend conferences and ask smart questions; try to get speaking gigs. And network, network, network.

What are some of the things to consider before starting a blog?

Begin with the end in mind: What do you want to achieve with your blog? Don’t be afraid if your goals evolve, but do not let the possibility prevent from setting down goals. Otherwise, you will never get going.

A main consideration is whether and how you want to monetize your blog. Ads? Affiliate programs? Sponsored opportunities? Or is your monetization strategy more about expert reputation, speaking engagements, consulting, maybe getting a book deal?

What are some important steps to take before creating a blog?

• Define your objective/goals.
• Find your niche.
• Have an editorial mission, a blog “charter” that lays out the roadmap.
• Start design and development.

Make sure you are writing blog you want to write! Make sure your blog meets your objectives and the needs of your audience, whether 1 million or 1. If you do the hard work upfront, it makes it easier to evaluate opportunities down the road.

Is it better to write on a broad topic or narrow your niche?

The niche is really key. Where/how are you unique? Who are the competitors, friendly or otherwise? Do a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats).

How often should the blog be updated?

I wouldn't try to post every day any more. A few times a week suffices, in my opinion. I like a model of one long and two short posts per week, with the long post being more feature-like and the two short posts being news or trend-related. Long-form posts are the ones where you strut your stuff. Short-form posts are more about paying attention to what's happening in the world and making commentary.

I saw you speak a couple of years ago at the annual ASJA conference. One of your suggestions was to set up an editorial calendar. I must say, that has helped me immensely with my own blogging. What are some of the other ways bloggers can find inspiration if they’re having trouble coming up with ideas?

• Have an editorial calendar to give structure to your content -- what types of content and how often.
• Do a roundup of favorite posts.
• Re-read comments and see if there is something there you can build on.
• Check out what’s going on in your field. Read the paper, books, magazines.
• Interview someone.
• Reach out to a fellow blogger and ask if they’ll do a guest post.
• Watch the news, and even TV shows. Some of my most popular posts are ones where I talk about what marketers can learn from “Firefly.” Writing about TV is good. People love TV. See my post yesterday about Super Bowl ads. Relevance? Check. Pop culture? Check. A little controversial? Check. The recipe for a good post.
• Keep a notebook of ideas. Use social bookmarking sites to tag posts.
• Really stuck? Go surfing. Stumble around. Read random stuff from Facebook. If your blog is about your hobby, do it instead of writing about it.
• Predict and don’t be afraid to be wrong.

What are some ways to promote your blog so people read it? I could be writing the best blog ever, but if no one sees it…

Building off and linking to the work of others is great way to establish your blog in a community. If you can, get your work noticed by and commented on by someone influential in your niche that introduces you to new readers. Use your social graph, respectfully and sparingly.

Syndication, where your posts are featured on other higher-trafficked sites, is a great way to get your name out too. Just be cautious about doing too much for free. In my experience, you rarely get paid by someone for whom you worked for free. I am not arguing that you should never volunteer or do pro bono, but if you would like to work for money for someone, think long and hard about helping out for free. It rarely pays out.

Are these strategies different if you’re blogging for work or about, say, a hobby?

Whether you are blogging for work or a hobby, the same general rules apply. Objectives are the secret sauce to success. The more professional you treat your blog (indeed, your whole social media presence), the better off you will be.

Can blog analytics help bloggers come up with ideas?

Analytics are a great source for ideas. You can revisit popular topics, and when you are stuck, do a roundup of popular posts.

This has been really helpful. Any closing thoughts?

For me, it always comes back to objectives and audience, and making sure you have something unique to share. If you are a blogger, you want to be the unique blog on topic X, not the 50th (5000th) blog about something broad. In other words, don't be a jack of all trades and master of none. Find your special sauce -- because those are the blogs we want to read, right? We want to read blogs that have a delicious and unique spin on a topic we care about.

We're almost out of time. Before we go, tell us a little about your book.

A lot of the advice from this chat comes directly from the book, available at libraries everywhere: Professional Blogging For Dummies.

Whether you're a reporter, blogger, author or other content creator, ProfNet can help you with your search for expert sources. You can send a free ProfNet query to tens of thousands of experts and PR agents at once. Ready to get started? Fill out the query form at bit.ly/findexperts or email us at profnet@profnet.com for assistance.

Is it just me, or were this year’s Super Bowl ads a bit underwhelming? (And don’t we seem to say that every year?)

Sure, there were some entertaining ones, and I might have even shed a tear during one or two of them, but all in all, it was kind of a yawn.

Still, there were a few that stood out. Here are my favorite ads from Super Bowl XLVII:

Taco Bell – We Are Young.

I hope I’m having as much “fun.” when I reach their age. Bonus points for the Spanish lyrics. Sing it with me: “Esta noche, nosotros somos jovenes…”

Budweiser – The Clydesdales: Brotherhood.

What would the Super Bowl be without a Clydesdale commercial? This beautiful ad didn’t disappoint. Admit it, you shed a tear during this one, too.

Volkswagen – Get in. Get Happy.

I can't explain why I like this one as much as I do. It just makes me smile. In reality, having someone at the office tell you to "turn the frown the other way around" would drive us all a little nuts, but it isn’t it nice to imagine that everything really can be solved with just a smile?

Audi – Prom.

I’m not a teenage boy, but I’ve been around enough to know this commercial likely taps into the fantasies of many a young lad.

M&M’s – Love Ballad.

M&M’s can always be counted on for a chuckle. After all, who doesn’t like an anthropomorphic piece of chocolate candy singing Meatloaf’s “I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”?

Time Warner Cable – The Walking Dead.

Two words: Daryl. Dixon.  

Is your favorite ad on this list?

Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely news topics. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact their media representative at the end of the listing.

If you are in need of additional sources, you can also submit a ProfNet query and have qualified sources come to you. It's easy and free. Give it a try!

To receive these updates by email, send a note to profnet@profnet.com with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition.

EXPERT ALERTS:

mHealth on the Horizon
Daniel B. Vorhaus
Attorney
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson in Charlotte, N.C.
“For years, and with increasing frequency, health care and information technology companies have touted the potential of mobile medical and health applications and technologies to improve the quality and delivery of health care through the use of technology. While the future of mobile health, or ‘mHealth,’ is undoubtedly filled with promise, the legal and regulatory landscape in which mHealth technologies reside is only now beginning to take shape. As mHealth developers, funders and even users consider investing in the field, they should keep in mind the emergent and fluid nature of the mHealth regulatory landscape. Under emerging FDA mHealth oversight, the key question is which mobile medical technologies constitute ‘medical devices’ that the FDA will focus on for regulatory action.”
Vorhaus is engaged in the practice and development of the emerging field of law surrounding personalized medicine technologies.
Media Contact: Alex Zsoldos, azsoldos@wrayward.com

Payor/Provider Relationships
Dan Walsh
Life sciences and healthcare industry expert
PA Consulting Group
Dan Walsh, life sciences and healthcare expert, says that creating better provider/payor relationships is the direction that healthcare is headed: “The Affordable Care Act (ACA) puts pressure on the payors to focus more and more on both cost and outcomes for their subscribers. Communication between the medical practice and the insurer is critical. If there are ambiguities or irregularities, or worse, consistent debate about coding, the workload on both sides will increase. Focusing on the best description of the treatment, rather than simply finding a code that will be reimbursed, will create a more straightforward and cooperative process.”
Media Contact: Carrie Gray, carrie.gray@paconsulting.com

Athletes Doping and the Effect on Sponsorships
Steve Baskin
CEO and Founding Partner
YAVAY, Inc.
“It is hard to believe no one inside the walls of major sponsors of, for example, Lance Armstrong, didn't have some knowledge of what was going on. In the end, these sponsors received the value they were looking for. Of course, now there's a negative impact. I would love to see an evaluation of the dollar impact these sponsorships yielded versus business lost because of doping or other negative issues years after the fact.” Baskin is a sponsorship veteran who has more than 25 years of executive marketing experience, previously as vice president and head of sponsorships at ING U.S. Financial Services, and now CEO and a founding partner of YAVAY, Inc., which, at its simplest, is a dating site for brands seeking sponsorship opportunities and properties (including athletes) seeking sponsorship. Baskin also is a competitive athlete himself. He is available to discuss how an athlete's admitted or suspected doping may play out in terms of their sponsors.
Media Contact: Drew Plant, drew@plantcommunications.com

Producing an engaging and successful blog means coming up with new ideas while staying energized, but how do you find inspiration, and generate creative and fresh ideas, time and time again?

Join us for our next Twitter chat, Tuesday, Feb. 5, as BlogHer’s Susan Getgood shares her strategies and tips for generating ideas and avoiding blog burnout.

Getgood has been involved in online marketing since the early ‘90s, and watched the Web evolve from the first browsers to the interactive communities we participate in today. In 2010, she joined BlogHer, where she currently serves as vice president of influencer marketing. In this role, she connects social media influencers with the brands they love through mutually beneficial business and advertising opportunities.

Getgood writes about social media and marketing strategy on her professional marketing blog, Marketing Roadmaps. Her first book, Professional Blogging For Dummies, was published in July 2010, and she speaks regularly at social media conferences like BlogHer, Mom 2.0 and New Comm Forum. She is a co-founder of ethics initiative Blog With Integrity and appeared on the “Today” show in April 2010 to talk about respect and responsibility in the blogosphere.

To participate in the chat with Getgood, just join us on Twitter on Feb. 5 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., and follow the #ConnectChat hashtag to view all updates from @sgetgood, @ProfNet and the rest of the chat participants. We'll start off the chat with a few questions to get the conversation going, but feel free to jump in with your own questions at any point.

If you do not have a Twitter account or won’t be able to make it to the chat, you can find a recap on ProfNet Connect the following day. To view past #ConnectChat recaps, click here.

I'll admit it: One of the main reasons I got into the communications field was because I stink at math. Correction: I don't just stink at it, I hate it -- with every fiber of my being.

So when I read Laura Laing's blog post in the ASJA newsletter, I breathed a sigh of relief. If she's writing about this, then I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I heard Laing speak at the ASJA conference last year. I like the way she breaks math down in ways we can all relate -- even those of us (ahem) who are arithmophobes.

Laing has a new book, "Math for Writers," coming out this spring. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually looking forward to reading it. There, I said it: I'm looking forward to reading a book about math.

In the meantime, you can read Laing's post here: Writers Do Need Math (Don't Panic).

Ok, 'fess up: Do you loathe math as much as I do? And if not, what other subjects make the hair on the back of your neck stand up?

The Interesting Expert of the Week column spotlights experts from within the ProfNet Connect community that we think readers and reporters will find interesting and timely. With more than 60,000 profiles, ProfNet Connect offers journalists a vast database of experts and influencers on virtually every topic imaginable. In addition, reporters can also submit a ProfNet query to request experts on a specific topic. Whatever topic you’re writing about, ProfNet can help you find the sources you need – at no charge. Why not give it a try?

At first, beekeeping and public relations don’t seem to have much in common. But, really, aren’t they both about building buzz? (Sorry, but I had to go there…)

For this week’s expert spotlight, we turned to Robin Samora, president of Let’s Make You Shine, a business and PR strategy firm. She is also the founder of the Let’s Make You Shine Fund, which empowers young women to further their education.

Aside from that, Samora also is a beekeeper, and we talked to her about her hobby – and what beekeeping has taught her about the business world:

What made you become a beekeeper?

 My dad was a huge collector of National Geographic magazines, and he was always interested in the “secret society of bees.” He thought it would be good for my active mind if I communed more with nature, slowed down a bit, and learned about beekeeping. I took a course at the Topsfield Fair, America’s oldest agricultural fair, and learned the basics. Then I found a mentor who happened to raise honeybees on my property 45 years earlier. He was 90, and we became fast friends.

What do bees and business have in common?

As a beekeeper, the bottom line is success of the hive. Honeybees are goal-oriented, with an understanding that no job is too small in achieving success. Every bee -- queen, worker and drone – plays their part. One could anthropomorphize (attributing human behavior to a bee, for example) loyalty as a virtue. The good of the hive comes first.

Business and corporations could do well looking at the hive as a business model: they do no harm; they leave everything they touch better than it was; and they create useful products everyone can use in a responsible manner.

Also, bees never give up. They thrive on good conditions, and rebuild when times are tough. Everyone's all in, or they're removed. The queen is the leader, but if she's not doing her job, she's ousted -- in fact, the other bees mysteriously create a new one, with drama kept within the hive.

And just like a business, when leadership is strong and expectations are met, there's sweet success – and it’s much more enjoyable when it’s shared.

How is a hive like the boardroom?

You never know what goes on behind closed doors! Seriously, they too may be “dancing in the dark,” but when everyone comes out, they know what they have to do to make it all happen.

We’ve heard a lot about disappearing bees. What’s your take?

Officially, they call it honeybee collapse disorder. There’s talk about mites infecting the hives, the changing environment, and inadequate food (forage) for the bees. There are some that also believe their disappearance is cyclical. It’s important that we honor our environment, and keep it as pesticide-free as possible. Honeybees have an important role in our agriculture as pollinators. The honey is a sweet addition.

What are you working on now?

Among other things, re-branding projects, book publicity campaigns, a national risk-free promotional offer for a salary coach, editorial calendars for clients, pitches for television, media-kit reviews and writing a book.

Whether you're a reporter, blogger, author or other content creator, ProfNet can help you with your search for expert sources. You can send a query to tens of thousands of experts and PR agents, search the more than 60,000 profiles on ProfNet Connect, or get timely experts and story ideas by email -- all for free! Need help getting started? Email us at profnet@profnet.com.

The No. 1 misconception among authors is a cliché: “If you write it they will come.”

That is the premise of an interesting and informative article on The Freelance Strategist. 

According to the article, 30 percent of all books sell less than 100 copies. That’s a lot of disappointed authors.

So while many of us dream about appearing on the New York Times Best Seller list, the truth is that our chances of gaining literary fame are “abysmal.”

To illustrate the uphill battle authors face, The Freelance Strategist provides a neat infographic about the U.S. publishing industry. You can read it here:

The Uphill Battle of Writing Books

Yes, the figures are disheartening, but don’t let that dissuade you from writing your first (or next) book. While it’s true that 30 percent of all books sell less than 100 copies, that also means 70 percent of books sell more.

Instead of giving up on your writing dream, check out these tips from Sandra Beckwith on “How to Get Your Book the Buzz it Deserves.” Beckwith works as a book marketing coach, teaches an e-course on book publicity and promotion, and publishes the free Build Book Buzz e-zine for authors. She shares some helpful tips on when to start working on book promotion, how to build a platform, using social media, and much more.

Good luck!

Whether you're a reporter, blogger, author or other content creator, ProfNet can help you with your search for expert sources. You can send a query to tens of thousands of experts and PR agents, search the more than 60,000 profiles on ProfNet Connect, or get timely experts and story ideas by email -- all for free! Need help getting started? Email us at profnet@profnet.com.

* Image via NYTimes Best Sellers List