Business

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Two West, Inc. is a branding and communications firm providing research-driven, strategic consulting services and agency solutions for high-growth companies and products. While the firm offers experience in select verticals including telecommunications, retail, automotive, human and animal health, and professional services, it has also developed horizontal expertise in brand strategy for companies needing next-level marketing guidance.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Authernative, Inc., the developer of innovative user authentication and identity management technologies, announced today that the European Patent Office has granted the company its patent for a user authentication method.

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Gameshastra, a leading provider of Game Outsource Services, announced today the appointment of Jason Wong as Vice President - Quality Assurance. In this position, Mr. Wong will be responsible for overseeing all of Gameshastra's outsource testing operations, including their offshore testing facility in Hyderabad, India.

TRIPOLI, Libya -- According to Phoenicia Group, the U.S.-Libyan diversified business group, which is a strategic partner to several U.S. and international companies in Libya, business opportunities in the oil services sector is rocketing as E&P majors ratchet up their drilling schedules in Libya's much sought oil fields, with hundreds of wells estimated to be drilled in the next few years.

VENICE, Calif. -- in January 2006, Richard Karno, a Los Angeles-based organic coffee roaster, introduced a single serving packet of organic liquid coffee extract, which he named Java Juice(R). The shelf-stable, portable coffee packets were a great fit for the outdoor and travel industries, so Karno chose the 2006 Winter Outdoor Retailer, the leading outdoor industry event to showcase his invention.

ATLANTA, Ga. -- GeckoSystems, Inc. (OTC PK: GKSY / GKSY.pk) announced today the formation and opening of its new UK office located in greater London, England. The new subsidiary, GeckoSystems UK Ltd., will be responsible for manufacturing, sales, and support in the commercial security and defense marketplaces.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- CADFORCE, the Los Angeles-based global leader in outsourced architectural services, today announced that it has added three new people to its management team. They are Paul Fielding, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer; Jeffrey Matzek, AIA, Vice President of Quality; and Catrina Gregory, Vice President of Client Care.

TRIPOLI, Libya -- Phoenicia Group Libya LLC (www.phoenicia-group.net), the leading U.S.-Libyan diversified business and consultancy group, today announced acquisitions of several Libyan companies in key growth sectors in Libya and spearheading the establishment of Libya's first private equity fund. New acquisitions include Al-Itlala Healthcare Co, a medical services company.

DULUTH, Ga. -- ActionCOACH Cornerstone, a local, independently-owned licensee of ActionCOACH, the world's #1 business coaching franchise, announced today that it will be expanding it's business presence in Georgia through a merger with two other established ActionCOACH Business Coaches. This will significantly impact the Business Coaching Firm's ability to help private business owners and their teams to become more efficient, more productive, better focused, and more profitable through professional, objective mentoring and education.

PETALUMA, Calif. -- World Business Services, Inc., founded in 1994, has contractual agreements with a myriad of vendors who provide one-of-a-kind programs designed to help businesses save money, improve efficiencies, and increase sales. By having several service providers available, World Business Services, Inc. is able to custom tailor a specific program to help any sized company, in any vocation, in the United States.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Action International, the world's #1 business coaching franchise, today announced it is changing its company name to ActionCOACH effective immediately. Among other benefits, the name change will give clients, potential franchisees and the general public an immediate understanding of the services that have propelled the company to the top of the business coaching field.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) awarded U.S. Facilities, Inc. (USF) a five-year contract for facilities management and maintenance services at the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building (TMFJB) in The District of Columbia.

DULUTH, Ga. -- The local, independently-owned office of Action International, the world's #1 business coaching franchise, today announced its corporate name is changing to ActionCOACH, effective immediately. ActionCOACH will continue to aggressively expand its mission to help small- to medium-sized businesses and their owners become more efficient, more productive, better focused, and more profitable through professional, objective mentoring and education.

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Ascentia Biomedical Corporation ("Ascentia") (OTC Pink Sheets: ASCE) today announced that, effective November 28, 2006, it has completed the acquisition of all the outstanding common stock of Fortress Technology Systems, Inc. ("Fortress"), pursuant to a share exchange agreement. Ascentia acquired all of the outstanding shares of Fortress common and preferred stock in exchange for 254,531,004 shares of Ascentia common stock and 8,000,000 shares of Ascentia Series A Preferred Stock.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Scientific research, development, software, and consulting company, Numerica Corporation, has just announced the hiring of the following personnel: Randy Paffenroth, Ph.D. as Computational Scientist V, and Stephanie Chan as Research Scientist I.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- A specialty government and economic development consulting firm is extending its reach further into the Midwest as it announced today the opening of an office in Minneapolis. GSP Consulting, based in Pittsburgh, Pa., has announced it will establish its 10th office in Minneapolis. Led by former legislator and leading bioscience advocate Lynne Osterman, the firm will bring to the marketplace its unique brand of government and economic development consulting.

YUBA CITY, Calif. -- Prime Companies, Inc. (OTC Pink Sheets: PRMC) announces that it has executed an agreement and has consummated the purchase of certain strategic assets from Mount Logic, LLC, including Mount Logic's Manufacturing Patents of ergonomic arms and mounts.

COVINGTON, Ga. -- Robert W. ("Bill") Donohue, retired Senior Vice President - Electric Operations of Consolidated Edison, has been elected to the Board of Directors of Utility Associates, Inc. (www.utility.com). Utility Associates is a venture-funded mobile asset management hardware and software company serving the electric and gas utility, telecom, distribution, and government market segments.

WAYNE, N.J. -- The Ballantine Corporation, a family-owned direct mail marketing company, is proud to announce their 40th anniversary in the direct marketing industry. Ballantine, based in Wayne, N.J., is a full-service direct mail marketing company that provides creative copy and design, print production, mailing services and one-to-one data-driven solutions to their clients.

TRIPOLI, Libya -- Phoenicia Group Libya LLC, the U.S.-Libyan risk management and business services firm, today announced a two year cooperation and partnership agreement with the Libya-based Environment Friend's Association (EFA), a non governmental organization concerned with safeguarding and preserving Libya's environment.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Few companies experience growth like GSP Consulting Corp. The leading government affairs and economic development consulting firm is once again creating buzz across the country as they add to their executive staff, launch strategic partnerships, and expand operations.

DENVER, Colo. -- Fetter Logic, Inc., the premier full service provider of advanced data and information management solutions to the financial services industry announced today that it has entered into an agreement to assume all aspects of sales and operations for Advisors Clearing Network, Inc. (ACN).

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Techlink Northwest, a leading technical staffing firm announced that effective immediately they will be doing business as Protingent Staffing. The name change will include all of the company's branch offices.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Cellular Jewelry, Inc. (www.cellularjewelry.com), a leading provider of cellular technologies and solutions, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has awarded Cellular Jewelry(TM) a U.S. patent (Patent Number 6,954,659). The Cellular Jewelry(TM) work as an alerting device and flashes when a signal is received within 3 feet of a cellular phone.

RESTON, Va. -- Indigo IT, LLC, today announced it has earned certified status in Microsoft(R) Corp.'s Partner Program recognizing Indigo IT's expertise and total impact in the technology marketplace. As a Certified Partner, Indigo IT has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customer needs. Microsoft Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, that give them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.