Jennifer Ford – Nursing Student to graduate from St Petersburg College

Jennifer Ford – Nursing Student to graduate from St Petersburg College

Jennifer Ford, a Florida resident, has found herself in the news recently as she was interviewed because of her experience as a Juror for the Casey Anthony trial. There is much emotion that was definitely created by the press. Fox News, and in particular Geraldo Rivera, who you may remember committed the largest scam news in the history of the industry when you supposedly uncovered the Al Capone vault, stated that they would never have never have gone for the death penalty if Casey Anthony was black and that the case was merely political. Unfortunately, the truth is reversed.  Although the facts seem to point to Casey Anthony, there is no video tape or pictures of her killing her daughter.

What troubles me the most, is that Casey Anthony was never convicted of at least child abuse and child neglect. Remember, Casey Anthony never reported the disappearance of her child. It was her parents that reported it to police. In other words, if they said nothing, there never would have been even a trial. It is like the child never existed.

One of the Jurors was Jennifer Ford, a Nursing Student, who also went with the other Jurors and found Casey Anthony not guilty of Child Abuse and Child Neglect. The Jury deliberated extremely fast; as if they just wanted to get it over with and go home. Jennifer Ford is planning on going into Nursing; the helping profession. Nurses, as well as Teachers are expected and required to report suspected victims of child abuse and child neglect. Casey Anthony probably would not have served much time for abuse and neglect. It is more of the principal though. What type of Society have we become? People are asking me from other parts in the country, who are these people down here.

I would caution any medical practice, hospital, or any type of care giving facility when considering in hiring Jennifer Ford. She turned her head away this time. Would she do it again? A patient who sees this blog and another event should happen; would as a result be exposing the hospital, nursing home, or medical office to a lawsuit. The juror probably will not be a nurse and probably will figure out that she may have the opportunity in a book deal. She did not look distraught from the article. As a resident of Florida, I have become very tired of the recurrent stories in the past 10 years. From the 9/11 high-jackers that lived here and everyone turned their heads; the Adam Walsh and Jessica Lunsford murders; Deborah Lafave; Scott Rothstein; Bernie Madof; Terry Jones the Ocala priest; Allen Stanford; COPS is like a local show; Child Predator shows are done here; the Hanging Chads; corruption by Florida politicians; Mortgage Fraud; Medicare Fraud; the Priests that were sentenced for stealing funds from Church of Saint Vincent Ferrer; Christopher Wilder the serial killer who was eventually killed by the brave New Hampshire State Police;  and the list goes on.

I feel that children’s rights have been strongly impeded and the work that great people like John Walsh, Marc Klaas, and the Lunsford has also taken a couple of steps back. With such a profile case, what are the people of other countries thinking about us?

http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/casey-anthony-juror-no-3-speaks-out-07-07-2011

Elissa Montanti – A Glimmer of Light Showing in this Era of Darkness

Elissa Montanti – A Glimmer of Light Showing in this Era of Darkness

We are in special times of American History. The Space Program is being dismantled; substance abuse is on the rise; crimes against children is on the rise; programming on television is more in making television characters who are criminals as heroes (i.e. COPS, Prison programs, etc.); America is in a series of wars that have no real purpose; local government are falling apart financially; and countless of other occurrences. 

Today, Judge Belvin Perry was part of a trial that found Casey Anthony not guilty for child abuse and child neglect. This ruling will become a Precedent that a parent is no longer responsible for reporting a child for 30 days. Child Rights have gone back to the pre Civil War period. In essence, Children are no more than property. 

In all of this darkness, there is a woman who is living in New York by the name of Elissa Montanti. Elissa Montanti who is a friend of my Facebook page has created an organization Global Medical Response Fund (GMRF) which its main purpose is to aid young children who have become victims of war. Her website is http://www.gmrfchildren.org.  Children who are injured by land mines, gunfire, or other events of the casualty of war are helped by her organization. She and her organization have been featured twice on 60 Minutes. Elissa has enlisted a number of surgeons to help the children, many of them from Iraq and Afghanistan. There is an extraordinary group of people that are supporting her.  They are Our Troops. They identify the children that need the help and they send them to her for medical treatment. As all of you may know, I have showed my support for our troops in the support of Fisher House which houses families of our troops while their family member is receiving treatment in a VA Hospital (see http://www.forourtroopscollage.com/). I created a collage titled For Our Troops collage to show them the support. There are some people who shown their displeasure in Elissa’s organization saying that GMRF is aiding the enemy. Anyone who does not show support for GMRF is not Patriotic. Obviously, the help from our brave troops identify the children for Elissa’s organization to help. This story shows how ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.  I personally would like to meet Ms. Montanti and plan a future event for your organization. Perhaps the event should encompass both Fisher House and GMRF as it seems to be poetic. In a World that has so much darkness, there are glimmers of light that appear. In this case it is blinding light. Thank you to Elissa for your contribution to humankind.

For Our Troops website to Support Our Troops

Global Medical Response Fund

CASEY ANTHONY CASE – AN EXAMPLE OF THE PLIGHT OF AMERICA’S CHILDERN

CASEY ANTHONY CASE – AN EXAMPLE OF THE PLIGHT OF AMERICA’S CHILDERN

The Casey Anthony legal case is the most recent example of The Plight of America’s Children. Children are the most abused minority in this country. Our political leaders do not care because children are not able to vote. In most recent years, I created a piece entitled WHAT OF JUSTICE? collage which focused on three families who lost their children in the most brutal of acts. The three families were the Walsh’s from Hollywood, Florida, the Lunsford family also in Florida and the Klaas family out of Petaluma, California. I submitted the piece to all three families to show my support for them. The purpose of the piece was to remind each and every one of each citizen that we cannot forget. Also, we should tighten and enforce our laws on people who inflict pain as well as kill our children. The piece was submitted to the United States Senate and of course it was denied. Not much as really changed in our laws as well as how we punish those who hurt the children of America’s families.

All we need to do is again is blink, and here we are all over again. An innocent girl in the Orlando area by the name of Caylee Anthony has been murdered.  The question is, is Casey Anthony going to be found of MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE AND SENTENCED TO DEATH. Child abuse is in on the rise as well as the ultimate abuse, DEATH.

Homeless Children is on the rise by some 20%.  It is reported recently on 60 Minutes in my own backyard of Seminole County, but yet our politicians keep on saying it is getting better. What is America going to do about this? The children of our country represent our future. If we do not protect them, our future looks bleak and America is finished as a country which has always be said to be blessed.

NBC News Interview

The Breakfast Club International

The Breakfast Club International –

The Networking Groups of All Networking Groups

There are many networking and mastermind groups in our community. What is unique about this group are its founders to start with. Steven Wain, local insurance professional and Marc Gagnon, local banker and artist, worked together some 12 years ago on the Davie Chamber of Commerce Membership Committee. They spearheaded the first chamber sponsored networking groups in the area there. The Davie Chamber of Commerce benefitted in a 300% increase in membership at the time. The networking groups grew to five groups, although the Chamber feared to hold the group meetings outside of the building which was their down fall which began the weakening of the chamber. The networking groups spread to Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce through Marc Gagnon, while Steven Wain began them at the Weston Business Chamber.  Ft Lauderdale was the next to entertain these groups.  The Breakfast Club is a combination of both mastermind and business strategic group aimed at gaining more exposure to its members, as well as affecting the bottom line. The Breakfast has only been in existence for 2 months since the end of April and the first group is already maxed out with others in the wing to begin a second group. The group intends to have after hour socials which will combine the 3 groups and will combine its efforts to give aid to the surrounding area for charitable endeavors.

Gagnon believes that this group could extend to New Hampshire and Massachusetts which is where his long time friend has given Gagnon resources to support his artwork. The resources given are some 12 employees that Gagnon has known for the past 25 years. He is also looking to extend the Breakfast Club to Charleston SC which his art supporter also has an array of support there. Charlie Fischer, Certified Financial Planner, Scott Abolafia, CPA, and Ruben Holschauer of PIP Printing are the other visionaries of the organization.

Pictured in this blog is Dr. David Schwartz, Chiropractor , gave a talk of Chiropractic Medicine to the group. The meetings are held every other Tuesday morning at 8AM at the Dunkin Donuts south of 595 on Davie Road Extension in Davie, Florida. The conference room seats 26. Some of the other members include Sabrina Fajardo, known graphic design artist, Jacques Weisel, motivational speaker, coach and writer, Jim Rohr, mortgage broker throughout the last decade, Mike Gainsburg, promotional products designer and distributor, Adam Zipper, energy savings solution consultant, Saul Medina, pest control specialist, Gail Fisher, Attorney, Danny Saunders, P & C Insurance, and others. The purpose of the group is to assemble the best professionals in one room. The group will work on various mastermind challenges such as marketing, branding, social media, customer retention, goal setting, as well as pass business around the table. The group has already began reporting commerce. The main direction of the group is to each other.
Breakfast Club International site created by Michael Resnik

THE WORTH OF A PHOTOGRAPHER/ARTIST IS MEASURED IN EXPOSURE

THE WORTH OF A PHOTOGRAPHER/ARTIST IS MEASURED IN EXPOSURE

I have learned in the beginning that the worth of a photographer and artist is measured in the exposure that they receive. This exposure can be measured in work they have done that has been published for example. Published may be work used for brochures, DVD or CD covers, newspaper advertisements, magazine advertisements, POP displays, and corporate websites. The biggest compliment and type of exposure is to be featured in the news. It may be interviewed on the radio, written about in newspapers and magazines, or interviewed on local or national television news stations, or cable news. Obviously, to be interviewed for the news, the photographer or artist must have subject matter that is involves current events. Some of my most notable art pieces covered in the news have been of the fire fighters of 9/11, support for the troops, breast cancer, healthcare, civil rights, human trafficking and the protection of children.

Recently, I was on a conference call with my agents which included Brian Shires out of Chicago, Michael Resnik out of NYC, Teresa Sullivan out of Nashua, NH, Tom O’Shaughnessy out of Burlington, MA,  Angela Sabatini out of Atlanta, and Brian Nickerson out of San Francisco. They all stressed in the need of continuous press and exposure for my work. Some of my work involves particular social impact issues, and some involve specific times of the year such as Thanksgiving and 4^th of July. All of us have data on all of the consumer magazines in the country and we are putting together a media business plan. One can never be satisfied with the amount of exposure that they have.  There are various attachments of some of the exposure I have received during the years. There are also links to television interviews as well as a website that includes many of my exposure in the past.

NBC News interview
Cable News interview
Media links
Media with reference to the troops

AMY VITALE – THE ONE AND ONLY MODEL I WORK WITH OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA

AMY VITALE – THE ONE AND ONLY MODEL I WORK WITH OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA

I have been living in South Florida for the past 13 years. You would think that because of the migration of people to South Florida that I would have the opportunity in working with a variety of models in South Florida. The truth of the matter is that I only work with one dependable model who is Amy Vitale. I fly models in from New England, New York, Colorado, Georgia, Charleston SC, and Arizona. Models in South Florida seem to be lazy, undependable, and unprofessional. It is not surprising that Florida as a whole has a poor population in terms of economic demographics. I will be working again with Rachelle Ochs who is a model out of Phoenix Arizona on a number of projects. I originally discovered her out of Kingman Arizona on my journey to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Amy Vitale works for various wrestling promotions, not as a wrestler though; but as part of the dramatic act in the matches. She has been in commercials, films, and has been the primary model of Marc Gagnon which the works are marketed by Marc Gagnon Inc. Marc Gagnon Inc., supported by a technology company out of New England and San Francisco, is the marketing machinery out of New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, and New England. Amy Vitale has been in such pieces as For Our Troops collage, Breast Cancer collage, Healthcare collage, Eve, Grande Design of a New Nation (Betsy Ross collage), The Secret Garden, Defending Wildlife collage are among some of the acclaimed art pieces. The For Our Troops collage campaign can be viewed through the two links listed on this blog.  She has appeared in Playboy Magazine as well as Wrestling Magazines. These tearsheets can be viewed on the Gagnon site of Amy Vitale. I have created a website about Amy Vitale because she has become a well known commodity in the talent world. I have begun marketing her to NYC and LA based talent and model management companies.

Additionally, Amy’s likeness has been featured in a comic book series titled Red Angel.   Red Angel is now available through Famous Faces & Comics, Action Games & Comics, Acme Superstore, and Tate's Comics and Games! 

What the Flux Comics presents Red Angel, a new full color, steampunk, sci-fi comic by author Erin Pyne and artist Russ Leach. Actress/Model/Pro Wrestling Entertainer Amy Vitale inspires Victoria Angel, the captain of the steam airship Red Angel. The Red Angel crew is tasked with defending New Britain from ARC rebels after the Machine Wars of the late19th century. Capturing an ARC ship after a battle, Victoria and her crew discover there may be more to the insurgent Machine attacks then revealed by Global Transmospheric, the leading company in military technology and defense. A link is also on this blog regarding the comic book series. Below pictured is Amy Vitale at a Comic Book convention, the Red Angel Promo, a Wrestling promo shot, the DVD NBC cover of the Fisher House event, and a sample shot from a Amy Vitale shoot. Obviously, I would love to find more people like Amy Vitale in South Florida. How many pearls though do you find in Oysters?

Amy Vitale Supermodel
What the Flux Comics
For Our Troops collage site

Toast to Our Troops site

It’s About Location, Location, Location

It’s About Location, Location, Location

I have seen many model portfolios that were put together in probably one session. These people actually believe that stardom is in their midst. There are modeling agencies that lure models into their offices where in reality they are actually photography mills rather than representing models for actual advertising campaigns or have actual clients (i.e. corporations, advertising agencies, production companies, etc.). In other words, they make their money by having someone part of their staff take pictures essentially around the block from their office in one afternoon for the model’s portfolio and composite card for a sheer $800. Obviously, the more time and effort you put into, will determine what you will gain out of the experience. Minimum time will produce minimum results. This is a constant behavior in South Florida. This transcends to other areas as well. I have been approached by people to get involved in some 70 multi level marketing opportunities which is a get rich quick type scheme.

It is common sense that before working with a photographer, just like any type of engagement of business activity, that certain things should be verified. The photographer’s portfolio should be reviewed for example. Does the photographer have any tear sheets (published work) or his/her work been featured in the news? Has the photographer ever worked with models part of large model management companies? Obviously, the photographer should have in his possession composite cards, agency books, and head sheets proving this.

An On-Location shoot should be well thought out in bringing together the model, the environment of which the shoot will be done as well as the clothes. Obviously, a swimwear shoot, the place may be a beach, a pool, streams and waterfalls in the mountains, for certain type of swimwear such as the jungle type look, a tropical rainforest may be a good idea. I have seen too many shoots that were thrown together and looked too ordinary. A model is looked at either as serious or serious depending on the time and effort spent on their calling card (composite card) or portfolio. From my experiences in New England as compared to Florida, I met far more models that became successful in New England than in Florida. From models like Susan Gallagher, Nancy Donahoe, Lisa Hale, Sheila Benson, Donna Mills, Heather Black,  Martha Longley, Nancy Travis, Martha Gehman, Rhonda Niles, Pamela Gidley, Tracy Pollan, Isabella, Linda Joyce, Mia Sara, Paige Hall, Andi Waugh, Debra Gilbert, Adriana, Julie Shay, Lori Jeanne, Tom Bergeron (Broadcasting and now on Dancing with the Stars) are all people out of the surrounding New England area that I have met from 1982-1997.  This is a short list off the top of my head. The only one I have met from Florida that has been successful is Nikki Taylor and she became successful because of Jean Renard, a photographer out of Boston. There are a couple of other Florida models that have strong potential such as Amy Vitale and Isobella Jade; and that is it. It is more than just having the look. It requires thought, effort, intelligence, and hard work to become successful in whatever one does.

On Location Image site