“Dragon Dojo Martial Arts(R) Named 'Official Small Business of NASCAR(R ... - StreetInsider.com” plus 4 more

Dragon Dojo Martial Arts(R) Named 'Official Small Business of NASCAR(R ... - StreetInsider.com
Dragon Dojo Martial Arts® Named ‘Official Small Business of NASCAR ... - MSN Money
Good morning, Buffalo: A quick look at what's happening today - Buffalo News
HBO's 'The Last Truck' focuses on Ohio auto plant, but is about ... - New York Daily News
Man arrested in connection with truck burglary - Tallahassee Democrat

Dragon Dojo Martial Arts(R) Named 'Official Small Business of NASCAR(R ... - StreetInsider.com

Posted: 05 Sep 2009 06:58 AM PDT

September 5, 2009 10:00 AM EDT

Small Business Owner From Panama City, Florida Wins Promotion To Put Company Logo On Tony Stewart's No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy At Atlanta Motor Speedway

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Office Depot (NYSE: ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, announced today that Dragon Dojo Martial Arts(R) of Panama City, Florida, has been named the fifth annual "Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot."

Dragon Dojo Martial Arts(R) owner Shihan Robert Wiest was introduced by Office Depot during a press event this morning at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Wiest, 44, was joined by Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy Impala SS and team owner of Stewart-Haas Racing; Norris Scott, Managing Director of Partnership Marketing and Business Solutions at NASCAR(R); Brett Frood, Executive Vice President at Stewart-Haas Racing; and Ivan Reed, Senior Manager of Campaigns and Sales Promotions for Office Depot.

Wiest, who opened Dragon Dojo Martial Arts(R) in 2001 and has grown his business from an initial enrollment of two students to more than 150 today, helped Stewart unveil the special edition No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy featuring his company's logo. The logo - an eye-catching red dragon - will make its on-track debut during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series(TM) Pep Boys Auto 500 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Sunday, Sept. 6, 7 p.m. EDT, ESPN).

"Our business is about helping people learn to help themselves and stand strong on their own," said Wiest, who operates Dragon Dojo Martial Arts(R) alongside his wife, Susan Wiest. "Both NASCAR and martial arts require a high level of focus and training, and we are so excited to reach a larger audience and more fans as the 'Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot.'"

Stewart, who has taken on the dual role of a driver/team owner with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009, said he was excited to provide an opportunity for a small business to gain exposure in front of a national audience.

"Building a successful business takes a lot of hard work and dedication, which is something I've learned firsthand over the years," Stewart said. "The Office Depot 'Official Small Business of NASCAR Sweepstakes' is an amazing chance for a small business owner like Shihan Robert Wiest to get his company's name out there, and I'm very proud to have the Dragon Dojo Martial Arts logo on my car this weekend."

About The Winner: Shihan Robert Wiest, owner of Dragon Dojo Martial Arts(R)

Wiest, whose title "Shihan" is a martial arts designation for an expert or senior instructor, said he prides himself on providing a healthy and affordable activity for people in today's challenging economy. His students range from ages 3 to 60, and many are dedicated NASCAR(R) fans.

Wiest received 159 online nominations from friends, family and students after entering the "Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot" sweepstakes at OfficeDepotRacing.com.

"We passed out fliers to everyone at the dojo for nearly a month telling them to go to OfficeDepotRacing.com and vote for us," Wiest said. "They were very excited about the possibility of seeing the Dragon Dojo Martial Arts logo on the back of Tony Stewart's car."

Wiest learned about the sweepstakes after making copies at Office Depot and reading about the promotion on the bottom of his receipt. Wiest estimates that he and his wife visit their local Office Depot store 3-4 times a week to stock up on supplies and makes copies for their business.

Prize Package

As the "Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot," Dragon Dojo Martial Arts(R) (http://www.dragondojo.com/) will receive invaluable exposure on national television, and the company's logo will be featured on the rear panel - also known as the TV panel - of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy during this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series(TM) Pep Boys Auto 500 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

In addition to logo placement on the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy, the "Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot" prize package includes the following:

 -- A $14,000 Small Business Makeover from Office Depot -- VIP race experience at the September 4-6 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series(TM) race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway -- A private coaching session with NASCAR(R) executives, including an insider's look at the business of NASCAR -- $1,400 copy & print services card from Office Depot -- $1,000 worth of business cards and stationery from Office Depot -- One year of Tech Depot(TM) Services Tech Support -- The use of the "Official Small Business of NASCAR(R),Courtesy of Office Depot(R)" logo until June 1, 2010

"The Office Depot 'Official Small Business of NASCAR' promotion really connects with its target audience through Tony Stewart, a hardworking small business owner like so many NASCAR fans," said Norris Scott, Managing Director of Partnership Marketing and Business Solutions at NASCAR. "In demonstrating Office Depot's commitment to NASCAR fans and small business owners, Office Depot continues to improve on one of the most creative and effective national promotions in the sport."

Additionally, because Office Depot is focused on doing everything it can to help small business owners not only survive but thrive in these tough economic times, the "Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot" sweepstakes featured an exciting new component this year that allowed more than just one small business to win big. Every day during the promotional window, one lucky small business owner was awarded a $1,400 Office Depot gift card.

"Office Depot is proud to recognize and reward an outstanding small business owner like Shihan Robert Wiest, especially in today's challenging economic climate," said Chuck Rubin, President of North American Retail for Office Depot. "The Office Depot 'Official Small Business of NASCAR' promotion is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we look forward to helping Robert leverage the fantastic marketing power of NASCAR in his business. We were also so pleased to be able to assist more small business owners this year by giving away a $1,400 gift card every day during the promotion entry period."

About Office Depot

Every day, Office Depot is Taking Care of Business for millions of customers around the globe. For the local corner store as well as Fortune 500 companies, Office Depot provides products and services to its customers through 1,593 worldwide retail stores, a dedicated sales force, top-rated catalogs and a $4.3 billion e-commerce operation. Office Depot has annual sales of approximately $14.5 billion, and employs about 42,000 associates around the world. The Company provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company, and currently sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 47 countries.

Office Depot's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index. Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America's premier sports. NASCAR is the No. 1 spectator sport - holding 17 of the top 20 highest attended sporting events in the U.S., and is the No. 2 rated regular-season sport on television. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages. NASCAR fans are the most brand loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 500 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport.

NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as two international series. Also part of NASCAR is Grand-Am Road Racing, known for its competition on road courses with multiple classes of cars. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100 tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. Based in Daytona Beach (Fla.), NASCAR has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Charlotte (N.C.), Concord (N.C.), Conover (N.C.), Bentonville (Ark.), Mexico City, and Toronto.

 Source: Office Depot

Related Categories

Press Releases

Stocks Mentioned

Sign up for StreetInsider Free!

Receive full access to all new and archived articles, unlimited portfolio tracking, e-mail alerts, custom newswires and RSS feeds - and more!

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Dragon Dojo Martial Arts® Named ‘Official Small Business of NASCAR ... - MSN Money

Posted: 05 Sep 2009 07:27 AM PDT

Office Depot ODP, a leading global provider of office products and services, announced today that Dragon Dojo Martial Arts^®of Panama City, Florida, has been named the fifth annual "Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot."

Dragon Dojo Martial Arts^®owner Shihan Robert Wiest was introduced by Office Depot during a press event this morning at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Wiest, 44, was joined by Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy Impala SS and team owner of Stewart-Haas Racing; Norris Scott, Managing Director of Partnership Marketing and Business Solutions at NASCAR^®; Brett Frood, Executive Vice President at Stewart-Haas Racing; and Ivan Reed, Senior Manager of Campaigns and Sales Promotions for Office Depot.

Wiest, who opened Dragon Dojo Martial Arts^®in 2001 and has grown his business from an initial enrollment of two students to more than 150 today, helped Stewart unveil the special edition No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy featuring his company's logo. The logo – an eye-catching red dragon – will make its on-track debut during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series^™ Pep Boys Auto 500 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Sunday, Sept. 6, 7 p.m. EDT, ESPN).

"Our business is about helping people learn to help themselves and stand strong on their own," said Wiest, who operates Dragon Dojo Martial Arts^®alongside his wife, Susan Wiest. "Both NASCAR and martial arts require a high level of focus and training, and we are so excited to reach a larger audience and more fans as the 'Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot.'"

About The Winner: Shihan Robert Wiest, owner of Dragon Dojo Martial Arts^®

Wiest received 159 online nominations from friends, family and students after entering the "Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot" sweepstakes at OfficeDepotRacing.com.

Prize Package

As the "Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot," Dragon Dojo Martial Arts^® (http://www.dragondojo.com/) will receive invaluable exposure on national television, and the company's logo will be featured on the rear panel – also known as the TV panel – of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy during this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series^™ Pep Boys Auto 500 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

In addition to logo placement on the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy, the "Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot" prize package includes the following:

A $14,000 Small Business Makeover from Office Depot
VIP race experience at the September 4-6 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series^™ race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway
A private coaching session with NASCAR^® executives, including an insider's look at the business of NASCAR
$1,400 copy & print services card from Office Depot
$1,000 worth of business cards and stationery from Office Depot
One year of Tech Depot^™ Services Tech Support
The use of the "Official Small Business of NASCAR^®,Courtesy of Office Depot^®" logo until June 1, 2010

About Office Depot

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America's premier sports. NASCAR is the No. 1 spectator sport – holding 17 of the top 20 highest attended sporting events in the U.S., and is the No. 2 rated regular-season sport on television. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages. NASCAR fans are the most brand loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 500 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport.

For Office Depot, Boca Raton
Edelman for Office Depot Racing
Lisa Schmitz, 312-240-2604
Lisa.Schmitz@Edelman.com

Back to News Home

MSN Money: Search MSN Money; Message Boards; Site Status

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Good morning, Buffalo: A quick look at what's happening today - Buffalo News

Posted: 05 Sep 2009 05:47 AM PDT

A sunny, warm day is on tap, and a cloudless, cool night will cap it off. The high temperature should reach 76 degrees. The skies will remain crystal clear by nightfall, with temperatures dipping into the upper 50s.

• • •

Last chance for outdoor theater. The Hamburg Theatre Under the Stars' presentation of "Picnic," gets under way at 7 p.m. today and Sunday at Memorial Park, Lake and Union streets, Hamburg.

• • •

With lofty expectations, the University at Buffalo Bulls open their season today Sept. 5 at the University of Texas-El Paso. Game time is 9 p.m. UB is a 4.5-point underdog.

• • •

State Sen. Antoine M. Thompson, D-Buffalo, will host the Community Leaders and Stakeholders Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. in McKinley High School, 1500 Elmwood Ave. The free event will also include presentations by guest speakers, including Judges James McCloud, Craig Hannah and Deborah Givens, as well as a representative of the Erie County district attorney's office. For more information, call 854-8705

• • •

Great Big Sea with Kathleen Edwards and Jeremy Fisher wrap up the season for Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor, at the Erie Canal Harbor Wharf. All tickets are $10 per day in advance, or $20 per day at the gate. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• • •

Get your fill of nyuk-nyuks and outrageous slapstick and one-liners courtesy of Larry, Moe and Curly at the annual Stoogefest, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda. Admission for adults is $8 and $5 for children younger than 13.

• • •

The Ontario House Jazz Reunion, a free outdoor music festival that celebrates this legendary jazz joint, will take place in Niagara Falls from noon to 8:30 p.m. Appearing are the Ron Corsaro Septet, Chu Nero Quartet and tenor saxophonist Don Menza. Find your groove at the corner of Main Street and Ontario Avenue, the former location of the late and great Ontario House.

• • •

A clock that was installed this week outside the Bank of Akron branch at Clarence Center and Goodrich roads will be dedicated at noon in honor of those who died in Continental Flight 3407 crash back in February. Tim Pazda of the Clarence Community Association said the small plot of land on which the clock was erected was donated to the town by the Bank of Akron. Funds for the purchase and installation of the clock were raised by those who sponsored red banners on telephone poles along town and county roads in Clarence. Among those scheduled to attend the dedication ceremony are first responders and law enforcement from the area, as well as Clarence Supervisor Scott Bylewski and Bank of Akron president E. Peter Forrestal II.

• • •

The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station will be supporting the Canadian International Air Show in a unique way this year. The base, which is home to the Air Force Reserve 914th Airlift Wing and the New York Air National Guard's 107th Airlift Wing, is hosting the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, whose members are performing at the air show in Toronto this weekend.

"Staging our performance out of Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station allows us to showcase the Raptor to our Canadian allies. Without the support of Niagara Falls ARS this demonstration would not be possible," said Maj. Dave Skalicky, F-22 Demonstration Team pilot and commander.

• • •

Put on your dancing shoes and get your hips swiveling for the Hispanic Music Festival, which continues from noon to 10 p.m. tonight in LaSalle Park. The free Labor Day weekend event features live music, food, amusements and ends with a fireworks display. It is being sponsored by Panorama Hispano and the Raul & Toni Vazquez Foundation.

• • •

Time Travelers of Western New York will rev up its 20th annual Olcott Beach Classic Car Show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Krull Park on East Main Street in Olcott Beach. The event will feature classic cars, as well as late-model vehicles, sport compacts, trucks and motorcycles. In the past, more than 800 vehicles were registered in the show. The free event will also feature automotive vendors, music and prizes. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Buffalo.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

HBO's 'The Last Truck' focuses on Ohio auto plant, but is about ... - New York Daily News

Posted: 05 Sep 2009 05:32 AM PDT

HBO marks Labor Day with a bitter reminder of what has happened with too much of America's labor the last few years.

It's been tossed onto the street and told, "Good luck."

"The Last Truck" focuses on a General Motors plant in Moraine, Ohio, that assembled SUVs until Dec. 23, 2008, when the last truck rolled off the line and everybody went home for good.

Merry Christmas.

Director/producers Steven Bognar and Julie Reichert build their story around the workers who are losing jobs in a field where there's virtually no hope of finding a replacement.

That's a dilemma faced by workers across the spectrum of American life these days. But there's something about building automobiles that feels a little different because in some ways, it's the quintessential American job.

Some workers ask how, if America stops making its own cars, it can claim to be making anything at all.

Taking a step back, the auto biz did go multinational some time ago. But anyone inclined to blame the "greed" of the American worker for the decline of domestic manufacturing will find zero ammunition here.

We can't gauge exactly how well these folks drive a rivet, but it's clear they take pride in their work and want to do it well. They're invested in the job and the bonds they have formed on that job, which makes the closing more acutely painful.

While "The Last Truck" leaves economic analysis to someone else, it provides a few ominous statistics for context. For instance: The 2,400 jobs lost at this plant ripple out to more than 15,000 jobs in the community and related businesses.

One worker notes that on his block alone, six families are GM.

Unsurprisingly, several departing workers describe the closing as simply the last and largest screwup by management.

But this isn't a Michael Moore production, and "The Last Truck" doesn't paint GM as a bad guy. When people are buying fewer SUVs, GM is going to make fewer SUVs, which means it needs fewer production plants.

So the attitude among Bognar and Reichert's subjects runs more to frustration than anger. They're good at what they do, they say. Give 'em the materials and they can make an assembly line turn out a solid truck.

Now, however, they're adrift. "Go back to school" seems to be the most popular option, but for workers in their 40s or 50s, that may simply postpone the real question of where they will find their next job.

In that quest, just like in Moraine last Christmas, there doesn't seem to be a Santa Claus.

dhinckley@nydailynews.com

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Man arrested in connection with truck burglary - Tallahassee Democrat

Posted: 05 Sep 2009 05:11 AM PDT

Officers arrested a man this morning on two counts of auto burglary, said Danny Jeter, a spokesman for the Tallahassee Police Department.

An officer spotted Donald W. Lantier, 43, walking along Dellwood Drive about 5:30 a.m. carrying a vehicle compressor and wearing a backpack.

The officer discovered the compressor and a round saw in the backpack had been stolen from a truck. The officer found the owner and returned the both items.

Lantier was taken to the Leon County Jail.