With 500 seats, ASFA’s new theater, named for beloved Foundation Board member Dorothy “Dodie” Jemison Day, will offer the arts community a much needed alternative to both smaller and larger facilities. It will also benefit all areas of the school, providing a professional environment in which students will learn the inner-workings, challenges and opportunities of performing on a professional stage.

Built with funds raised by the Alabama School of Fine Arts Foundation, the theater is located at 800 19th Street North in Birmingham’s arts district. Over the past seven years, the Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, headed by Bryding Adams, Executive Director, has raised over $7.8 million for the $8.5 million facility. The complex project took 18 months to complete.

Craig Krawzcyk of Birmingham’s Live Design Group was the architect for the project. Krawzcyk worked closely with Adams, Foundation Board chairman Stanton Ingram, and members of the school faculty to ensure the theater will provide an optimum learning experience for the students. Theater specifics were designed by David Kahn of Acoustic Dimensions, New Rochelle, New York, and Michael Ferguson of Theatre Project Consultants, Norwalk, Connecticut. Included in the building is a 40 x 80 foot sprung stage floor with a mechanical orchestra lift, a 60 foot fly tower for changing scenery, and a Wenger acoustical shell.

The acoustically tuneable listening environment also has a Steinway Concert Grand piano and a complete set of Marley flooring for dance. There are two large audience rest rooms, a Green Room, rest rooms and dressing rooms for performers, and a scene shop for designing sets. The building is equipped with WiFi and a large high definition movie screen. The state of the art sound and light booth is large enough for teaching 15 students at a time. Total square footage for the theater is 19,212 feet.

Constructed by B.L.Harbert International, the theater will help stimulate the economic development and revitalization of the downtown arts district, which has a shortage of performance venues available to local performing artists. Major donors include Alabama Power Foundation, Regions Financial Corporation Foundation, EBSCO, Daniel Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, Hill Crest Foundation, Jemison Investment, Hugh Kaul Foundation, Robert Meyer Foundation, Compass Bank, Vulcan Materials Foundation, AT&T Foundation, Joseph S. Bruno Foundation, The Walls Family, Altec/Styslinger Foundation and many individual donors.

The Alabama School of Fine Arts is one of the top public, tuition-free, arts and science schools in the nation for grades 7-12. It is located at 1800 Reverend Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd. Birmingham, AL 35203. Admission is by audition only. For more information on the ASFA theater or to contact the ASFA Foundation, call 205-252-6617. The school’s website is http://www.asfa.k12.al.us .

News Source: Alabama School of Fine Arts :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

Alabama Graphics, working with Dungan and Nequette Architects, designed and installed giclee canvases and framed paper prints to create unique art filled areas within the 11,700 square foot facility.

“This project was a real win – 100 out of 100 points. Our team really enjoys the challenge of high-end production and tight timelines, and I’m proud of them,” states CEO John Davis.

This is the second time that Alabama Graphics (www.algraphics.com) has received this annual award, which recognizes top construction projects across the state.

About Alabama Graphics:
Alabama Graphics has supported tight-timeline, high-end construction projects in Alabama for over 50 years. They provide color, fine arts, and construction document printing and management services that help architects, engineers and construction teams keep project timelines and costs in check.

Visit www.algraphics.com to learn more.

News Source: Alabama Graphics :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

“Our main focus,” says master office owner Larry Barton, (no not THAT Larry Barton), who has over 30 years experience in franchising, business brokerage, and real estate brokerage, “is to get the huge pool of underutilized executive talent in this country back to creating security for their families, and jobs for Americans.” Small business is widely acknowledged to be the driver of the American economy.

“Our research shows that the underemployment/unemployment rate for senior executives who have been serving in Director, VP, and C-level jobs is far higher than the rate for the general population, due to downsizing, off-shoring, corporate mergers, and forced early retirements. This is especially true for executives over 45, who are finding that it takes as long as three years to find a position comparable to their last one, and the new job lasts, on the average, about 30 months.”

“We know that 86% of these executives would like to own a business of their own, but most are fixed on their current industries, which are often mature, and cost prohibitive,” says Barton. “We specialize in finding fits that utilize an executive’s skill sets, hobbies, interests, geographic location preferences, and investment capabilities. And yes, we have many opportunities that can easily break even, or provide substantial income, in year one, don’t require large brick and mortar investments, and will fit. We estimate that we have as many as 250 probable fits per executive we work with. When you compare that with the average application rate for most executive openings in standard J O B’s, at over a hundred applicants for each available position, you can see why we’re successful.”

Combine that with the fact that many of PBA’s opportunities are in emerging industries, like alternative energy, business coaching, small business financing, and you get lots of interest.

Research also tells us that most executives don’t really have a clue about opportunities that are available, and how they fit their family’s specific needs. Many look at franchise opportunities, but find that there are thousands, and the research necessary to investigate even a small number is daunting. When PBA brings a franchise opportunity, it’s prescreened for that candidate. Most other opportunities that PBA has identified, beyond franchises, aren’t even on the Candidate’s roadmap.

PBA has done extensive research, and built a stable of business opportunities which offer growth, even in this economy. Turnaround and fast growth experts are often placed in “hybrid” opportunities which require experience as a CEO, COO, CFO, CTO or CIO in companies which offer six figure salary and benefit packages, with firm employment contracts, but require the executive to make an investment in the company, in return for an equity interest. If he performs, his return is far out of proportion to his investment, and he participates in the value improvement.

Personal (Business) Advisors, LLC has also developed a range of opportunities in licensing, distribution, marketing, franchising, and resale of proven existing businesses. PBA is set apart from “franchise brokers” and “business brokers,” in that PBA represents the Candidate, not the company being presented to him. Like the buyer’s agent in a real estate transaction, PBA is paid by the acquiring company, not by the candidate. In addition, the range of business types goes far beyond franchises and resale businesses.

The advisor coaches the Candidate through selective exploration of opportunities specifically matched to the candidate, by PBA’s research division, tailored to the resume and the skills and interests of the candidate.

“PBA Advisors act as coaches, and matchmakers,” says Barton. “There is no high pressure closing. We are not salesmen. We only present possible fits to a candidate in three way conference calls with a PBA corporate partner, assigned to present research’s findings. Research refines those matches, based on feedback from the candidate as he does his due diligence, until a perfect fit is found.”

“I love the Personal Business Advisors concept,” says Barton. “It’s designed to be a win-win for the candidate and his or her family, the business we help him join, AND, it’s a win for the economy, since these folks are getting into businesses which provide jobs in relevant, growing industries for their neighbors, and help to rebuild the economy.”

For more information, visit: www.personalbusinessadvisors.com .

News Source: Personal Business Advisors, LLC :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2010 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.