The following individuals joined InStar:

Atlanta:

• Christopher Williams – Branch Manager
• Jason King – Superintendent

Baltimore:

• Joseph Venezia – Branch Manager

Brea, Calif.:

• Javier Sanchez – Superintendent
• Michelle Dahlin – National Account Manager

Denver:

• Charles Marlow – Job Lead

Detroit:

• Emily Rath – Collections Specialist
• Jennifer Mrozek – Collections Specialist
• Roderyck Blake – Business Development
• Daniel Briscoe – Network Administrator

Nashville, Tenn.:

• Janalyn Williams – National Account Manager

Raleigh, N.C.:

• Christine Velandar – Account Manager

Seattle:

• Sarah Norquist – National Account Manager

“As we continue to expand throughout the country and develop each individual office, we have been exceedingly fortunate in the talent we have retained,” said Davis. “These 11 additional team members further enforce InStar’s commitment to being the strongest disaster restoration and reconstruction company in the United States. We look forward their growth with InStar and the continued growth of the company.”

About InStar

With 22 offices and response centers located throughout the United States, InStar Services Group is a leading nationwide provider of disaster recovery services. Specializing in restoration, reconstruction and technical services, InStar provides a single-source solution for businesses and homeowners who have been impacted by any catastrophe, natural or man-made.

MEDIA CONTACT

Erin Sabo
248.258.2333
esabo@identitypr.com

LaVida will kick off the celebration with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony, led by Louise Schilling, Mayor of Troy, followed by food, drinks, live music from the Troy High School Symphony quartet and more. The celebration will feature a series of mini massage samples, with each room of the center designated to a different area of the body, including reflexology, lower back, and leg massages. The newly completed facial room will also be unveiled.

LaVida Massage is a health and wellness-focused franchise, offering guests a wide range of services, ambiance and competitive price points to accommodate their needs and enhance their personal wellness. LaVida provides a gender-neutral and inviting atmosphere, along with convenient online booking capabilities, all contributing to an overall superior massage experience.

The new center, located at 73 East Long Lake in Troy, Mich., opened to the public on Saturday, January 9, 2010.

Founded in 2007, LaVida has locations throughout Michigan, with several more locations slated to open this year. The company has doubled in size in the past year, now occupying successful locations in several states throughout the country, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois and North Carolina.

About LaVida Massage
Founded in 2007, LaVida Massage is a health and wellness massage center, providing massage, facial and cosmetic services that revitalize and reinvigorate clients’ emotional and physical health. As more Americans find value in personal care and therapeutic relief from negative outside influences, LaVida introduces a new franchise to the fast-growing health and wellness industry. With locations nationwide, LaVida is headquartered in Commerce, Mich. For more information, visit www.lavidamassage.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Amanda Ming
248.258.2333
aming@identitypr.com

Troy franchisee, Mark Axler has selected a site for the new location at the northeast corner of Long Lake and Livernois in Troy. The newest LaVida location will offer clients a therapeutic retreat from daily responsibilities while serving up the best in massage therapy at affordable prices. LaVida offers various massage services ranging from Swedish, couples, deep tissue, hot stone, prenatal, chair and corporate massages. The Troy opening is slated for the first quarter of 2010.

For more than 20 years, Mark Axler worked at a metro Detroit IT company, but was recently laid off, finding himself as one of over 17% of metro Detroiters currently unemployed. Axler then became interested in pursuing a new path in the growing health and wellness industry. Axler saw an opportunity in offering clients a soothing environment in which to support and nurture their natural well being and personal health. Further encouraged by the success and vitality of several LaVida locations in Michigan, Axler decided to open his own LaVida.

“I see a great opportunity to start over again and work on something that I can really build from the ground up,” said Axler. “LaVida offers a proven business model, step-by-step guidance on everything from lease negotiations to hiring assitance, a technologically savvy business system, and the opportunity for growth in the constantly evolving health and wellness sector.”

“We are proud to sign Mark on to the LaVida family,” said Hoose. “LaVida has shown that even in the worst of times people are unwilling to forgo health and wellness services. We believe that business model resonates with potential franchisees and that’s why we’ve seen continued growth month after month. LaVida has doubled its franchise base nationwide in the last year and we believe we will do the same next year.”

About LaVida Massage
Founded in 2007, LaVida Massage is a health and wellness massage center, providing massage, facial and cosmetic services that revitalize and reinvigorate clients’ emotional and physical health. As more Americans find value in personal care and therapeutic relief from negative outside influences, LaVida introduces a new franchise to the fast-growing health and wellness industry. With locations nationwide, LaVida is headquartered in Howell, Mich.

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Subscribe to LaVida Massage’s News Feed

MEDIA CONTACT
Amanda Ming
248.258.2333
aming@identitypr.com

Previously located in the Troy Officentre on Big Beaver Road, the Nationwide Insurance offices will now occupy 7,300 square feet of space in Clifton Tower, a 242,151-square-foot, multi-tenant office building that spans seven floors. It is one of eight buildings that form the Baluster Park office campus, which offers more than 1.2 million square feet of premium space fronting I-75 at Long Lake Road in Troy, Mich.

“We are pleased to have Nationwide Insurance as the newest tenant of Baluster Park,” said Shau. “Even in the current economy, this company is still a strong performer that can take advantage of the opportunity to reinvent their work space. We worked closely with the tenant to create an office environment for them that is unique to their needs and reflective of their position in the marketplace. Baluster Park is an ideal location for their business, near all the amenities of Troy with easy access to I-75.”

Click to view and download photos of Baluster Parks’ Clifton Tower

About Emmes Asset Management Company

Founded in 1992, Emmes & Company, LLC is a privately held real estate investment firm that specializes in repositioning underperforming properties to achieve financial and physical well being. Emmes generally invests in and manages four property types: retail, office, industrial and multi-family. To date, Emmes has, on behalf of its affiliated entities, capital partners and investors, acquired over 390 assets, comprising over 35 million square feet at a cost in excess of $1.6 billion, representing an equity investment of approximately $634 million. The company’s current portfolio includes over 86 diverse properties encompassing over 10 million square feet located across 19 states.

About Nationwide Insurance

Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world and is rated A+ by A.M. Best. Nationwide ranks #124 on the Fortune 500 list. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services.

MEDIA CONTACT

Stacy Butts
248.258.2333
sbutts@identitypr.com