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USMMA’s Mike Campbell to Fight in WEC Championship in San Diego on January 25th

Mike Campbell, a resident of Franklin, MA and an MMA fighter coached by Tom Hafers, owner of United States Mixed Martial Arts (USMMA) studio in Bellingham, MA and New England Boxing Champion Matt Phinney, is set for a nationally televised WEC (World Extreme Cagefighting) bout at the San Diego Sports Arena on January 25, 2009.

Campbell, at 5’8” and 170 lbs. will put his perfect 6-0 record on the line against his opponent, Danillo Villefort, a 6’1”, 170 lbs. fighter holding an established 8-2 record. The two will meet in the WEC, one of the largest mixed martial arts organizations in the world. Facing talented fighters is nothing new to Campbell however, as his past two fights have been against some of the toughest New England has to offer. Campbell was named “Fighter of the Month” in MassMMA in June after defeating top-ranked welterweight Rich Moskowitz by KO in the first round. He then went on to defeat Tim Pinney. That fight being televised later in a reality MMA TV show called Tapout that featured Campbell and followed him through his training.

“I’m very excited about the match. Both Tom and Matt at USMMA are great coaches who have helped me get where I am today. I’ve trained hard and I’m definitely ready to take on Villefort,” noted Campbell. Campbell’s training for Mixed Martial Arts competition is made up of a compilation of combat skills involving Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Thai boxing, wrestling, kickboxing and judo. These skills, coupled with his conditioning, will be Campbell’s advantage in the cage on January 25th.

Campbell’s match precedes the World Lightweight Championship match between Jamie Varner and undefeated Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone main event and the co-main event rematch of Urijah Faber against Jens Pulver. This show is a step up in class, though the lights and cameras are nothing new to Campbell. “We’ve had the cameras around for the fights before and it wasn’t a issue. My focus is on the task at hand and I have a great team behind me that I know I can count on,” says Campbell.

Mike Campbell and his training camp will arrive in San Diego a few days before the event for final preparations. Weigh-ins are held the day before and Campbell will fight the following night. “This has been one of the toughest training camps I’ve run,” says Hafers. “Mike is in peak condition and his skills are there to match. I am very impressed by his work ethic; he has a very bright future ahead of him.”

With the training camp winding down and the fight date fast approaching, Campbell, Hafers, and Phinney put the finishing touches into training. Like so many great fighters from the past, Campbell appears to wear the mantle of a champion with a confident familiarity. His greatest test now coming before him, Mike Campbell is poised and ready to show the world in explosive fashion, the product of all his hard work.

The WEC event will be televised nationally on VERSUS at 9:30 p.m. EST (Visit the website versus.com/findversus to find the fight.) Tickets may be purchased through the San Diego Sports Arena Box Office or through Ticketmaster at 619-220-8497 or at ticketmaster.com.

For more information about WEC, visit www.wec.tv.

About USMMA

USMMA focuses on elevating the physical and spiritual well being of students through Mixed Martial Arts and Yoga. Classes offered include Strength & Conditioning; Brazilian Jiu Jitsu; Thai Boxing; Cardio Thai Boxing; Wrestling; Cardio and Open Mat; Kids Mixed Martial Arts; Pilates; Power Yoga and Deep Flow Yoga.

USMMA’s state of the art, 4,000 square foot training facility is complete with a 2,000 square foot padded MMA training floor equipped with heavy bags and conditioning equipment, a 1,500 square foot yoga studio, locker rooms, showers and a juice bar. USMMA is located at 316 Hartford Avenue in Bellingham. For more information, call 508-966-5006 or visit their website at www.usmma.org.

Groomathon to benefit MSPCA. DirectBuy of BostonSouth, Rockland, to host pet grooming event on Saturday, Jan. 31

ROCKLAND, MA…

On Saturday, January 31, it will truly be a dog’s day at the DirectBuy of Boston South located near the Rockland/Hingham line and just off Route 228. At that time, the local Zoomin’ Groomin’ van will be at the 10 Commerce Road location to offer grooming services for the pets of DirectBuy members and the general public. All proceeds from the event will go to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“Winter months are kind of a tough time for keeping your pets clean. You don’t want to wash them outside and unless you’ve got a dedicated area in your house for cleaning your pet, it means using one of your tubs or sinks,” said John Massaria, owner of DirectBuy of Boston South. “By hosting this event, we’re providing a service for our pet-owning members and pet owners from the general public and we are raising money for a very worthy cause, the MSPCA.”

The pet grooming event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as the Zoomin’ Groomin vans will be in the parking lot of DirectBuy of Boston South. While there is no charge to have your pets groomed, the recommended donation is $50-$100. One hundred percent of that money will be donated to MSPCA.

“We’re pet groomers by trade, but the reality is we’re pet lovers, too. An event like this not only provides a nice service for fellow pet lovers and gives us a chance to showcase our service, but it also raises awareness to the good work the MSPCA does and you can’t put a price tag on that,” said Jeff Loomis, owner of Zoomin Groomin franchise.

To arrange for the grooming of your pet and to participate in this event, please call Zoomin Groomin Mobile Pet Spa, (781) 792-1888.

DirectBuy franchises offer members the opportunity to enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories by purchasing wholesale, directly from the manufacturer. In addition, DirectBuy boasts a team of designers to help members with their purchases and gives them access to a roster of hand-selected contractors to expedite those projects.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by contacting the showrooms listed above or visiting www.directbuy.com.

About DirectBuy

For more than 37 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy’s savings, service and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

About Zoomin Groomin
Zooming Groomin Mobile Pet Spa, with corporate offices in Norwell, Massachusetts, is a pet grooming service that provides convenient, professional, door-to-door pet grooming, and is owned and operated by a team of professionals with copious experience in sales, marketing, management and pet care.  The company is franchising new locations to groomers and other pet enthusiasts throughout the country.

The Standard Spa Package rivals those of popular human spas, and pampers pets with a luxurious hydrosurge therapeutic bath, fluff drying, hair trimming and styling, ear cleaning, tooth brushing, nail maintenance, playtime and special treats.  The Medicated Spa Package for pets includes aromatherapy and hot oil treatments. For more information, please visit www.ZoominGroomin.com.

DirectBuy of Minneapolis awarded Service Center of the Year honors

Minneapolis, MN – DirectBuy, the leading members-only showroom and home design center that offers merchandise direct from manufacturers and their authorized suppliers, is proud to announce that franchise owners Darryn and Dana Fossand recently were the recipients of the highest honor for service excellence awarded to franchisees – Service Center of the Year.

“Working to constantly improve customer service is something our service staff takes very seriously,” said co-owner Darryn Fossand. “We strive to elevate the shopping experience for our members while continuing to provide them with tremendous selection and savings.”

DirectBuy centers had the opportunity to qualify for the company’s most prestigious service award, Service Center of the Year, by excelling in several key areas during a 12-month qualification period. To earn this award, centers were graded and awarded points in the areas of Merchandise Dollar volume, Purchase Order Volume, Renewal and New Member Purchase Percentages, Customer Service Rating, and individual staff performance recognition.

DirectBuy of Minneapolis received on-stage recognition at the International Sales & Service Conference, a plaque commemorating their achievement, a video production shown at the conference celebrating their honor and recognition in BuyLines – the company’s network wide newsletter.

“It was exciting to watch our staff build meaningful relationships with our members as they helped them complete their projects,” co-owner Dana Fossand continued. “It is truly rewarding to see the hard work and dedication of our service staff pay off with recognition as Service Center of the Year.”

DirectBuy of Minneapolis, conveniently located at 2090 W. 98th Street in Bloomington, is a 12,000 sq. foot showroom that offers consumers a comfortable, welcoming setting and design center where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

“DirectBuy of Minneapolis sets itself apart from traditional retailers by providing consumers with a low-cost, ‘one-stop shopping’ destination where they can furnish, build or renovate their home,” Darryn explained. “Members enjoy personalized service as they navigate through our extensive selection of brand-name, top-of-the-line merchandise.”

DirectBuy of Minneapolis offers area residents thousands of items, including kitchen cabinets, flat-screen televisions and major appliances from more than 700 top manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. 

To assist members with their home renovation projects, DirectBuy employs interior designers and product specialists who are specially trained in one of five areas of merchandise: Home Furnishing, Home Improvement, Flooring, Accessories, and Entertainment/Outdoor.

DirectBuy members also have access to renowned designer Christopher Lowell.  Lowell has designed twelve room settings – created exclusively with products available through DirectBuy – using his Seven Layers of Design.  An innovative approach to home décor, The Seven Layers of Design keeps homeowners on budget and from feeling overwhelmed by their project.

DirectBuy Membership

Consumers who are interested in joining DirectBuy of Minneapolis are encouraged to attend an exclusive Open House event, which is designed to educate families about DirectBuy’s unique business model.  The Open House also helps consumers better understand how DirectBuy members avoid traditional retail markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise. 

To request a “Free Insider’s Guide to Buying Direct” and a Visitor’s Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, call 1-952-835-0790 or visit www.directbuy.com.

About DirectBuy

For more than 37 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy’s savings, service and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

 

Tarlow Breed Hart & Rodgers, P.C. has a long history of success in advising family businesses.

Edward Tarlow

The Boston-based law firm of Tarlow, Breed, Hart, & Rodgers, P.C. (TBHR) has long embraced family businesses as an integral part of its practice. To that end, TBHR has been an active member and supporter of several family business-based organizations, including the Family Firm Institute’s New England Chapter, and also the Family Business Association, Inc., an organization established to recognize excellence in Massachusetts family businesses. 

One of the cornerstones of TBHR’s business is counseling family businesses in the day-to-day running of their organization, and also in the critical and often sensitive area of business succession and estate planning.

Said Edward D. Tarlow, Esq., a Founding Member of TBHR, “Business is all about trends. For the longest time, corporate America was seen as the Goliath, with small family businesses being the perennial Davids. Now, with all the bailouts and difficulties on Wall Street, family businesses have shown resilience that you don’t see in corporate America.” He added, “Mass Truck Body and Trailer, Inc. of Chelsea is one of our family business clients that truly embodies that resilience – in fact, they’ve just recently celebrated their 50th anniversary.  It is family businesses such as Mass Truck that will help lay the groundwork for an economic recovery, and their histories are an important part of their current success.”

When Anthony DiRocco and his partners started Mass Truck in a rented tin garage in Everett, the building had dirt floors and no plumbing. To keep warm, they had a fire burning in a barrel, just like you would see in an old 1930’s movie. In 1964, the company moved to its current location at 60 Arlington Street in Chelsea.

In the 1970s, Mass Truck expanded, opening Trailer Equipment, Inc. in the building next door. When, Anthony DiRocco and his original partners parted ways, DiRocco brought his eldest son, John, into the business. Shortly after John joined the Mass Truck, his brother, Mike, started at Trailer Equipment, and their hard work continued this winning combination.

With the sudden passing of Anthony DiRocco in 1987, John DiRocco faced a similar dilemma as his father had faced years earlier:  continue the family business, take on new partners, or close up shop. Even though the sacrifices would be many, he opted to continue his father’s legacy of providing affordable truck body and trailer repair, and superior customer service with satisfaction guaranteed. It’s a decision John says he’s never regretted.

Today, with its 12 bays and staff of highly trained, certified truck body service technicians, Mass Truck Body & Trailer, Inc. remains a fixture in the truck parts and repair business, taking a backseat to no other repair shop when it comes to price, quality, or workmanship – something of which Anthony DiRocco would be most proud – as well as for his sons’ sacrifice and hard work.

“The story of family businesses, such as the DiRocco’s and Mass Truck Body & Trailer, is one of the reasons our firm has made advising families and family businesses such a large part of our business law practice. There are not only succession issues to be considered, but also estate planning, taxes, and a host of related corporate issues, as well. We provide the kind of counsel in these areas which can help the family and the business transition smoothly to the next generation, whether that means continuing the business, selling it, or even expanding,” said Tarlow.

About Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C.:

Formed in 1991, Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C. is committed to providing high quality, comprehensive legal services to its clients.  Featuring a breadth and depth of experience and perspective usually found only at larger law firms, Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers. P.C. offers sophisticated legal counsel to entrepreneurs, businesses, individuals, families, and institutions.

Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers’ areas of expertise include corporate law and business transactions, litigation and dispute resolution, estate planning, taxation, real estate, municipal law, and hospitality law.

The offices of Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C. are located at 101 Huntington Avenue, Prudential Center, in Boston, MA 02199. For additional information, or to arrange for a consultation, please call 1-617-218-2000, e-mail info@tbhr-law.com, or visit www.tbhr-law.com.

DirectBuy of Long Beach donates to Lydia’s House

Long Beach, CA – DirectBuy, the leading members-only showroom and home design center that offers merchandise direct from manufacturers and their authorized suppliers, is proud to announce that DirectBuy of Long Beach had the distinct privilege of donating unwrapped toys, clothing, gifts and other charitable items to the Lydia’s House Women’s Shelter.

The owners of DirectBuy of Long Beach, accompanied by some of their staff members, visited the women and children of Lydia’s House on December 22, 2008 to present them with the donated gifts. “We set up in front of the Christmas tree in the living room while all of the house residents sat around,” explained John Remar, co-owner of DirectBuy Long Beach. “We started calling off names and the children came running at us. It was such a great experience and very heart warming.” After the children opened their gifts, the DirectBuy staff were given a tour of Lydia’s House and gained further knowledge of the facilit’s operations.

Lydia’s House is a women’s shelter for single mothers and victims of abuse and works to provide transitional housing, goal-oriented support services and access to community resources for more than 275 local women and their children. In partnership with volunteers and donors – such as DirectBuy of Long Beach – Lydia’s House works to end domestic violence by continuing to provide a place of healing and a voice of hope.

Adopting a local shelter for the holidays was a goal of the owners as well as the entire staff, who wanted to give back to a community that has helped them so much over the years. “We felt the need to give back to those that our less fortunate than ourselves considering how the economy is suffering,” said Remar. “We hope that our contributions will make a huge impact on the women and children of Lydia’s House in the coming year.”

DirectBuy of Long Beach reached out to their members to ask for their help in donating gifts and money to Lydia’s House by hosting two full weeks of sharing from December 6 to December 21. Everything from word-of-mouth to email blasts were used to promote the program to staff and members, and the team at DirectBuy also designed and displayed a wish list of gifts and donation box in the showroom lobby to increase the program’s visibility with members.

DirectBuy of Long Beach, which has a 30,000 sq. foot showroom and is conveniently located at 2401 E. Willow Street in Signal Hill, California, offers consumers a comfortable, welcoming setting and design center where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

“DirectBuy of Long Beach sets itself apart from traditional retailers by providing consumers with a low-cost, ‘one-stop shopping’ destination where they can furnish, build or renovate their home,” said co-owner Jock Petersen. “Members enjoy personalized service as they navigate through our extensive selection of brand-name, top-of-the-line merchandise.”

DirectBuy of Long Beach offers area residents thousands of items, including kitchen cabinets, flat-screen televisions and major appliances from more than 700 top manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. 

To assist members with their home renovation projects, DirectBuy employs interior designers and product specialists who are specially trained in one of five areas of merchandise: Home Furnishing, Home Improvement, Flooring, Accessories, and Entertainment/Outdoor.

DirectBuy members also have access to renowned designer Christopher Lowell.  Lowell has designed twelve room settings – created exclusively with products available through DirectBuy – using his Seven Layers of Design.  An innovative approach to home décor, The Seven Layers of Design keeps homeowners on budget and from feeling overwhelmed by their project.

Lydia’s House

Lydia House provides hope and help for the South Bay’s rapidly growing number of homeless single women and mothers with children. Whether they are seeking shelter because of abuse, addiction, or financial problems, women and children find the physical, emotional and spiritual support they need each year in their safe, family-oriented housing and New Life Program. For more information on Lydia’s House, please call (562) 591-1292 or email info@lbrm.org.

DirectBuy Membership

Consumers who are interested in joining DirectBuy of Long Beach are encouraged to attend an exclusive Open House event, which is designed to educate families about DirectBuy’s unique business model.  The Open House also helps consumers better understand how DirectBuy members avoid traditional retail markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise. 

To request a “Free Insider’s Guide to Buying Direct” and a Visitor’s Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, call 562-489-7850 or visit www.directbuy.com.

About DirectBuy

For more than 37 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy’s savings, service and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.