CENTRAL FLORIDA WRITER COMPETES FOR $10,000 IN STARTUP FUNDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, December 12, 2011

Central Florida Writer Competes for $10,000 in Startup Funds
Ashley Cisneros is THE only Entrepreneur selected from Southeast U.S. FOR NATIONAL COMPETITION

Orlando, FLA. —Lake Nona-based newspreneur Ashley Cisneros is one of 14 national finalists competing for a $10,000 startup business investment prize, the only program Fellow selected from the Southeast and Florida. Four winners will receive the seed money from the New U: News Entrepreneurs Working Through UNITY initiative, a competitive program for journalists of color who want to become entrepreneurs.

“I’m grateful to live in a country where you can make something profitable out of nothing if you work hard and take smart risks,” said Cisneros, 29. “This seed money means opportunity, and will help me hire more writers to meet demand. I want to create jobs.”

A former newspaper reporter, magazine editor, tech writer, marketing manager and PR practitioner, Cisneros helps individuals and companies engage their target audiences. Her company, Ashley Cisneros, Inc., produces communications products for clients around the world. In October, Cisneros was honored as a Fellow at the New U national startup boot camp in Las Vegas, Nev. During the camp, Cisneros was mentored by Rod Colón, master networker, executive coach and weekly co-host of the “Your Career Is Calling” radio show. In addition, she learned from world class presenters Sumaya Kazi, CEO of Sumazi; Harry Lin, executive in residence at Idealab; and Mike Green, co-founder of The America21 Project, among others.

“This was an invaluable opportunity to learn directly from seasoned news entrepreneurs about business plan formation, funding opportunities and gain an insider look at working with angel investors and venture capitalists,” said Cisneros, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from the University of Florida.

A portion of each Fellow’s score will be determined by the number of votes garnered for his or her pitch. Voting is open from Dec. 8, 2011 through midnight on Jan. 3, 2012, and voters may vote as many times as they like. To vote for Cisneros' business pitch, visit http://unityjournalists.org/newu/newu2011/newu11videos/nahj-video-pitches.

About Ashley Cisneros, Inc.
Ashley Cisneros, Inc. helps individuals and companies leverage the selling power of words. The firm achieves this by delivering communication products such as advertorials, articles, speeches, annual reports, sales letters and more. These products save corporations, small businesses and magazines precious time and money while helping engage their target audiences. Ashley Cisneros, Inc. communication products have helped clients achieve key goals such as increasing brand awareness, getting more sales or earned media. For more information, visit www.ashleycisneros.com.

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An Evening of Inspiring Women

It was such an honor to attend the Girls Scouts of Citrus Council’s Women of Distinction Awards this past July 29.

Aretha and I pointing at our names on the list of nominees

The annual program celebrates outstanding contributions that women make to improve the quality of life in the community.

Within three minutes of arriving to the event, I reconnected with my pal, Andrea Wesser, a brilliant engineer and Women of Distinction alumna, and met a wonderful new friend, Aretha Olivarez. This amazing woman balances it all as a mom, Navy veteran, culinary artist and entrepreneur.

After 9/11, Aretha was recalled to service and served our country overseas for two years. While there, she became a sharp shooter and authored several books. Aretha and I were both nominated for the Visionary category of the awards, and sat next to each other throughout the entire event.

I told Aretha about my friend Roxanne Martinez, who beat breast cancer and job loss while pregnant. Supporters from all over the country joined together to raise more than $20,000 for Roxy’s cancer treatment fund – an effort that soon became known as Team Roxy. Now that Roxy is beginning the healing process, she is planning to write a book about her experiences. We spoke about possibly creating a non-profit to help women who are fighting breast cancer while pregnant.

Aretha listened intently to my story and told me about her company Multiplying Talents. Guess what she does? Aretha helps not-profits with everything from incorporation to legal help to marketing! In fact, her company’s name is inspired by the parable of the talents in the New Testament, which encourages us to be good stewards of our God-given gifts. I really believe that God puts people in our lives for a reason.

As if the night couldn’t get any better, we were treated to a powerful keynote from Marlo Thomas, award-winning actress and producer, and National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Marlo spoke about girl power. She told us that for women, there’s safety in numbers. “If you have only one woman at the table, she's a pest. Two women? That's a team. But three? Now that's a coalition,” she declared.

Later, Marlo related how Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor squashed speculation that women can’t get along when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined the Supreme Court. "It's important to be the first, but it's even more important not to be the last," she said.

Marlo also spoke of treasured interactions with her father, comedian Danny Thomas. When critics kept comparing Marlo to her father early in career, he told her, “I raised you to be a thoroughbred. When thoroughbreds run they wear blinders to keep their eyes focused straight ahead with no distractions, no other horses. They hear the crowd but they don’t listen. They just run their own race. That’s what you have to do."

The following night, Marlo shared that her dad sent a white box to her dressing room before she prepared to take the stage. Inside was a pair of horse blinders with a note from her dad, reminding her to run her own race.

Finally, Marlo told us that her father mentioned two types of people in the world: those who stop for a traffic accident, and those who just drive by.

I want to be the type of person who stops by to help, don't you?

Praying for Caylee Marie

When it was announced that a Florida jury had reached a verdict in the infamous Casey Anthony trial in Orlando, it seemed that a nation held its collective breath. Though I was supposed to be working on several articles yesterday, I couldn't help but remain glued to the TV, counting the minutes until the verdict was published.

I moved to Orange County in fall 2007, and lived near Casey's family home in East Orlando. I remember watching the first news report when Caylee was reported missing back in the summer of 2008.

I often saw George Anthony at Wal-Mart on Colonial. He had a truck painted with Caylee's image and a 1-800 number soliciting any help he could get in finding his granddaughter. The Amscot where Casey abandoned her Pontiac was less than a half-mile from my condo. And I remember calling my now fiancee that day in December when Caylee's remains were unearthed.

Yesterday afternoon, the Twitterverse went crazy with people speculating on what the result would be. I watched the television reports showing masses of Orlando residents gathered outside the Orange County Courthouse. When Casey entered the courtroom, all eyes were on her, and her every move scrutinized. The circumstantial evidence was damning, but did the prosecution team prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Casey Marie Anthony murdered her baby?

The answer was no. At 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5 -- just a day after we celebrated the 235th birthday of our nation -- Casey was found not guilty of all of the major charges against her, including first degree murder in Caylee's death.

Sure, I had watched the legal commentary of attorneys saying that all the evidence was circumstantial. No murder weapon was found, and no one truly knows the cause of Caylee's death. Why did it shock me so when the verdict was read?

When terrible things happen, I think it's human nature to want justice. People want someone to blame, someone to pay. People want closure. But what you "know" and what you can prove are two very different things, my attorney friends tell me.

And while Casey Anthony is an unlikable liar, that doesn't automatically make her a murderer. I think she was convicted in the court of public opinion many months ago, but only the results of the court of law really count.

I don't envy the job of the jurors who served in this trial, and they certainly had more access to information about this trial than I had.

I have faith that every one will be judged by God at our appointed time. And, as angry as I am about what happened to Caylee, I am trying very hard not to judge Casey because I believe only God can do that. Do I think Casey Anthony killed her child? I don't know, but I believe she had something to do with it, and knows more than she's sharing.

Caylee Marie's death is a senseless tragedy that we can't fully comprehend, but sadly, it's no different than the disappearances and deaths of so many countless children who didn't make headlines. The circumstances of their cases may not be as sordid as the story surrounding Caylee, but that doesn't make them any less horrific.

Central Florida Volunteers Raise Funds for 30-Year-Old Pregnant Woman Battling Breast Cancer

For more information, contact:

Ashley Cisneros

407-608-8765

ashleycisneros@gmail.com

MEDIA ADVISORY

Central Florida Volunteers Raise Funds for 30-Year-Old Pregnant Woman Battling Breast Cancer

Local “Team Roxy” Is Part of International Grassroots Effort

WHO:

A group of young professional women, known as Team Roxy Orlando

WHAT:

Are hosting a Happy Hour fundraiser to benefit a young mother-to-be who is battling breast cancer

WHEN:

Thursday, March 24, 2011 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant, 125 W. Church Street, Orlando, FL 32801

COST:

$15 in advance, $20 at the door

Admission ticket includes tapas, free drink, networking and access to Happy Hour specials

TICKETS/RSVP:

http://teamroxyorlando.eventbrite.com

About Team Roxy
Team Roxy is an international grassroots volunteer effort made up of friends and supporters of Roxanne Rae Martinez, a 30-year-old Texas mother-to-be who is batting breast cancer. An avid community leader, runner and peewee football coach, Roxy was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer on Nov. 1, 2010. That same day, she also found out that she is pregnant. Only about 1.5 percent of women with breast cancer are pregnant when diagnosed, according to the National Cancer Institute. On Dec. 1, 2010, Roxy had a Modified Radical Mastectomy that completely removed her left breast and lymph nodes under her arm. In January 2011, Roxy began chemotherapy. An industrious person who has never had less than two jobs during her adult life, Roxy was terminated from a recently-acquired job following her diagnosis because she did not qualify for short-term disability or the Family & Medical Leave Act. For the first time in her adult life, Roxy is unemployed. Roxy has retained her health insurance through COBRA because she wants the best possible cancer care; however this makes Roxy ineligible for many cancer assistance programs. Roxy’s treatment, even with health insurance, can run anywhere from $8-14K on top of what's covered by insurance. Team Roxy volunteers are hosting “A Night Out for Roxy” fundraisers in more than 20 cities —including Toronto, Canada and San Juan, Puerto Rico — to help defray the cost of Roxy’s lifesaving treatments. For more info, visit www.team-roxy.com

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Kirkman Medical Center puts patients first

Since opening Kirkman Medical Center last March, Dr. Srinivasan Pillai has provided high-quality health care to both Central Florida residents and visitors. From immunizations to screenings to treating non-life threatening illnesses, Pillai and his staff offer compassionate care in their state-of-the-art facility.

Pillai serves about 40 to 50 patients per week at Kirkman Medical Center, and warmly welcomes walk-in patients and visitors who cannot see their primary physicians.

Kirkman Medical Center is equipped with a lab and X-ray technology, so that patients can conveniently receive multiple services under one roof. Currently, the center is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., but clinic hours are between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Clinic hours may be extended as demand increases.

An Experienced Physician
While Pillai originally considered becoming an engineer, he pursued medical school at his parent’s encouragement. He ranked in top ten of the 400,000 students who competed for medical college admission in his home state.

Pillai trained at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and at Jackson Park Hospital in Chicago. He has hospital, clinic, nursing home and private practice expertise. Pillai worked in an emergency department in Minnesota, and also boasts intensive care unit (ICU) experience. While working in a rural area, Pillai had the opportunity to work closely with billers, and learned coding best practices that have helped him open his practice in Orlando.

Board certified in family medicine, Pillai is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Pillai has special interest in diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, asthma/COPD, preventive cardiology, urgent care and hospital medicine. In addition to serving patients at Kirkman Medical Center, Pillai works part-time at Florida Hospital and Orlando Regional Medical Center.

“Medicine can be truly rewarding,” he says. “I feel mentally satisfied, and good about improving the lives of my patients.”

Compassionate Care
Pillai understands the specific needs of his patients.

“My patients need their doctor to be accessible to them,” he says. “They want to be seen in a reasonable time. Patients who visit my practice can reach me when they need me, and don’t have to worry about overbooking. They can also come in with urgent matters.”

The staff maintains electronic patient records that allow Pillai access at all times.

“I can review patient records securely and remotely online, whether I’m at home or on call,” he says.

Pillai believes that physicians should be empathetic.

“Doctors must do more than offer professional recommendations; we must truly hear the issues in order to customize a treatment plan for each patient,” he says.

Pillai offers extended evening hours to accommodate busy families and working adults. He is planning to offer weekend clinical hours in the near future.

Success Stories

When a patient arrived with swelling, Dr. Pillai was able to diagnosis her in under two minutes.

“I spoke with the patient, reviewed her records and examined the swelling. She had kidney problems, and was consuming too many fluids,” he says. “I restricted the patient’s fluid, and the swelling went away.”

When another patient visited Kirkman Medical Center complaining of a swollen foot, Pillai took an X-ray of the man’s foot and found no broken bones. The problem was due to issues with gout.

“The man saved both time and money by coming to my practice,” Pillai says. “If he would’ve have gone to the emergency room at a hospital, he would have had to wait for hours to be seen. If he would have gone to another practice that did not have X-ray equipment, he would have needed to make an additional trip to have this done.”

When a solider visiting from Iraq during the holidays came to Pillai with a twisted ankle, the doctor agreed to see him even though he arrived right before closing time. Pillai was able to confirm that the man hadn’t broken any bones. The man was treated for a minor sprain, and was sent on his way.

Kirkman Medical Center is currently welcoming new patients, and can answer questions from patients enrolling in Medicare. Visit the medical center at 882 S. Kirkman Road, Suite 108 A, Orlando, FL 32811, or call (407) 298-4045. Find information online at www.kirkmanmedicalcenter.com.

Kirkman Medical Center is presently accepting Medicare HMO patients from Humana, WellCare and Freedom Health. In addition, the center will soon be accepting Medicare HMO patients from Physicians United Plan (PUP) and Universal Health Care in the future.

Women Shaping Orlando breakfast celebrates women leaders

Central Florida business executives, professionals and city leaders convened at the Citrus Club this morning to celebrate women’s leadership. The women’s breakfast, “Lighting the Path – Women Shaping Orlando,” was sponsored by Akerman Senterfit and Grant Thornton.

Attendees enjoyed a continental breakfast and networking segment followed by an hour-long panel presentation. Panel members included Linda Chapin, former Orange County mayor; Sibille Pritchard, president of Hart Communications and senior vice president of Brooksville Development Corporation; and Kathy Ramsberger, president of the Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center. Stephanie Segalini, Of Counsel at Akerman Senterfitt, and Sonya Dixon, Audit Partner of Grant Thornton, served as panel moderators.

The panel members shared lessons learned from their experiences in politics, business and civic activities. They also spoke about the role of women in shaping the Orlando community and the importance of volunteerism. Attendees were able to participate in a question/answer session following the panel presentation. In addition, three audience members won raffle prizes sponsored by the Citrus Club and Neiman Marcus.

Dynamic Leaders
All three panel members traveled frequently as children. Chapin’s family moved often due to her father’s many promotions. Her grandparents lived in Orlando, and Chapin said that she enjoyed visiting Central Florida as a child. When her husband proposed to her, Chapin told him that they had to live in Orlando. Today Chapin lives in the same house her grandparents lived in when she was a child. Chapin served as the first elected mayor of Orange County, Florida, from 1990 to 1998. In addition to leading on numerous boards, Chapin also raised four children.

Pritchard was born and raised in Guyana, and studied in Europe and the Caribbean. Pritchard and her family moved to Florida so that her husband, Peter Pritchard, a leading turtle zoologist, could pursue his Ph. D. at the University of Florida. Pritchard began her career as a journalist, and soon got involved in commercial development. Pritchard serves on boards for the Orlando Ballet, Orlando Museum of Art, and Florida State Medical School, to name a few. Like Chapin, Pritchard is also a mother. She raised three sons.

Ramsberger comes from a Naval family, and learned to make friends quickly as the new girl in school. Her family moved to Central Florida so that her father, an aviator, could lead simulation projects at the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD). Ramsberger served as a film commissioner, senior vice president of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC), and as director of Arts and Entertainment for the City of Orlando. Ramsberger also raised two children.

Words of Wisdom
Chapin described her first year as mayor of Orange County as “wicked.”

“Change is always a challenge,” she said. “And change in politics can be formidable.”

Chapin says that the second year was fabulous, as she got to cut ribbons and celebrate all of the projects she worked so hard for in the previous year.

She spoke about the connection of passion and integrity to success.

“I will never forget the response I got from Kathy, when as a mentor, I asked her where she wanted to be in 10 years,” Chapin said. “She told me, ‘I just want to be sure that I’m a good person.’”

Chapin encouraged women in the audience to stop being so hard on themselves.

“There is no such thing as super woman,” she said. “We all take chances. We all sometimes play things by ear. Don’t wait for the time that you think you’re ready.”

The room erupted in laughter when Chapin shared a personal story. Her mother-in-law was less than enthused about Chapin’s decision to work. When she came to visit, Chapin was eager to impress her. She worked a full day at work, performed her shift at the Little League concession, made a trip to the grocery store, and returned home to cook a great meal. While Chapin was preparing the meal, the phone rang and Chapin’s mother-in-law answered the phone. It was Chapin’s 7-year-old daughter calling to inform her mother that she left her at the grocery store.

“Don’t expect perfection. Be adaptable and flexible,” Chapin said. “Seize opportunities when they come.”

Chapin also made it clear that women should not discount men.

“Men gave me some of the greatest opportunities in my life,” she said. “It’s not about gender.”

Pritchard described the importance of relationships in Florida’s international trade with countries like Japan. They are also important in business and personal life.

“In some Asian countries, they do business by a handshake,” Pritchard said. “And relationships are what you turn to in the end.”

Pritchard encouraged the audience to think outside the box.

“Take a risk. Often it is worth it,” she said. “Never say, 'I would never do that,’” she said.

Ramsberger said that having a performing arts center in Orlando can foster a sense of community, ownership and pride among residents.

“When you gather people, you build community, and you get great ideas when you build community,” she said.

Ramsberger believes in being flexible and taking chances.

“Never underestimate what you can do,” she said. “If you really want it, go after it. Surround yourself with people who want to help you. You can have everything, just not all at once.”

-- By Ashley Cisneros
AshleyCisneros.com