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- Stihl iCademy focuses on customer service
Registered Stihl dealership owners and their employees can take part in free training through Stihl's Stihl iCademy. The training is designed to help dealerships deliver customer service that sets them apart from others. "Stihl's success is dependent on our servicing dealers," said John Keeler, national training manager at Stihl. "Product training and business knowledge plays an integral role in the success of a dealership." Stihl recently recognized the person who took the company's millionth training test. GreenIndustryPros.com
(3/4)     
 | Vanguard Power Code Helps In-field Operators
Vanguard Power Code, a square barcode located on Vanguard single-cylinder and V-twin engines, directs equipment operators to an array of important information for that specific engine model after being scanned with a smart phone’s barcode reader.
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| Industry Buzz |  |  |
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- Gevo reports narrower Q4 2012 loss
Gevo, a maker of biofuels, announced that its fourth-quarter net loss for the period ending in December 2012 was $13.2 million, as compared with a loss of about $14.2 million a year earlier. The company has trimmed R&D and operational expenses. Gevo plans to resume operations at its isobutanol facility in Luverne, Minn., this year after stopping production there last fall. Bloomberg
(3/6), EthanolProducer.com
(3/7)
- Standby generators are becoming mainstream in Md. homes
Standby generators are becoming more of a necessity in Maryland as residents respond to frequent power outages due to winter storms and thunderstorms. Baltimore-based CDS Emergency Power Services, which sells and installs generators, has seen an "unprecedented level" of surge in the demand for generators in the state. "Due to the combined impact of hurricanes Irene and Sandy, along with the 2012 summer thunderstorms, we are seeing demand increase for home standby generators," said CDS Logistics President Roy Cranford. The Baltimore Sun
(3/6)
| Economic Indicators | | |
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- Revised U.S. orders data show best 3 months in 20 years
Revised U.S. figures for January show a 7.2% gain from December in orders for nonmilitary capital goods excluding aircraft. The Commerce Department data also show a 9.8% rise in orders since November, the biggest three-month gain in 20 years. "The fundamentals that drive investment activity are improving rapidly. You really do have all this pent-up demand and catch-up activity," said Diane Swonk, chief economist for Mesirow Financial in Chicago. Bloomberg
(3/6)
- U.S. consumer poll reveals plunging confidence
Despite buoyant stock and housing markets and other signs of upturn, a new reading of U.S. consumer sentiment registered a sharp decline last month from January. The Christian Science Monitor/TIPP poll of consumer optimism came in at 42.2, down from 47.3 the previous month and well below the 50 neutral mark. Among factors dimming the mood are a "persistently weak" job market and continued shrinkage in incomes, said pollster Raghavan Mayur. The Christian Science Monitor
(3/5)
| Inside & Out | | |
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- Do you know how to write a good news release?
A good news release can boost your search engine optimization, drive traffic to your site and potentially result in media coverage. Get yours noticed by using a professional, objective tone and focusing on important events such as product launches or business milestones, Maryalene LaPonsie writes. Look for ways to distribute your releases through online and offline channels, and don't overload your media contacts, she writes. Small Business Computing
(3/5)
| Policy Update | | |
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- House passes interim measure to avert U.S. government shutdown
The House of Representatives passed a bill in a 267-151 vote that would fund U.S. government programs through Sept. 30, to avoid a shutdown March 27. Some attendees of a dinner meeting between President Barack Obama and Senate Republican leaders are more optimistic that Democrats and Republicans can reach an agreement on the budget and debt. Reuters
(3/7), USA Today
(3/6), The Hill
(3/6)
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