The Mortgage Banker’s Association (MBA) announced earlier this week that Jonathan L. Kemper, current President and CEO, will be stepping down on December 31, 2008. According to the same MBA statement, during Kempner’s seven years with the MBA, the association doubled its revenues and operating reserve fund.

“This has been an extremely intellectually stimulating and rewarding period in my professional life,” said Kempner. “Navigating the highs and lows of the real estate cycles, with a first rate leadership and wonderful membership, afforded me a rare opportunity to contribute to one of the most important industries in our society. I am very proud for the extraordinary staff I have helped assemble at MBA, as my colleagues’ dedication, intelligence, and expertise make a true difference in the overall quality of life for many Americans. MBA’s mission, I am convinced, will be enhanced with new leadership, and on a personal level I very much look forward to a new position of leadership myself after nearly eight wonderful years at MBA.”

Kieran P. Quinn, MBA Chairman of the Board of Directors had this to say of Kempner, “Jonathan has been an exceptional leader for MBA. He has led a major transformation in our operations, and put in place a first rate staff that is widely acknowledged to be one of the most effective in the Washington association world. He has poured his heart and soul into MBA with the highest degree of professionalism, integrity, and devotion to our members, and always with a personal warmth and sense of humor. The entire MBA family will miss him.”

Quinn also announced that John A. Courson, former MBA Chairman, will become their COO effective August 1, and will assume the position of President of MBA, effective January 1, 2009.

Quinn said that, “John Courson brings tremendous industry knowledge, business savvy, and political skills to MBA. John has worked tirelessly on behalf of our industry for more than 40 years. He has been an advocate ensuring safe and affordable housing for all Americans and for simplifying the mortgage process. We are lucky to have John join MBA and steer our association to represent the real estate finance industry as we continue to build America’s communities.”

Courson, who currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the California Housing Finance Agency, served as Chairman of MBA in 2003 and as a member of MBA’s Board of Directors, the Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG) and the Commercial Real Estate/Multifamily Finance Board of Governors (COMBOG).]

More : dsnews.com

The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A), in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, has said that the unilateral decision of the Union ministry of human resources development regarding fees to be charged by IIMs does not seem to be a step in the right direction.

The affidavit, filed after the apex court served notices to the six IIMs on April 8, asking them to clarify their stand on the fee-cut issue, puts on record the IIM-A’s willingness to sort out the issue through a process of dialogue.

“We have not gone to the court proactively. The affidavit places our views on record in answer to the notice and not filing it would have limited our options. We are, however, not a party to the PIL,” said a source in the IIM-A.

The affidavit has three components - the Position Paper prepared by the faculty, the resolutions passed by the IIM-A Society and the Board of Governors recently, and the fact that the institute is in a process of dialogue with the ministry.

Dons feel that the affidavit clarifying the institute’s willingness for a dialogue will create an atmosphere that will help the process initiated by chairman NR Narayanamurthy during the board meeting here on April 3.

The affidavit said the fee-reduction order has to be seen not in isolation, but in the larger context of many other decisions by the ministry that threatened the autonomy of the institute.

It has also said that the notification on fee reduction “violates the time-honoured process of the fee being decided by the Board of Governors and that it is not necessary to reduce fees to make management education more affordable to the less well-to-do sections of the society.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta faculty council filed an application before the Supreme Court, praying for an order impleading it as a respondent in the fee-cut case already pending before the apex court.

Education should focus more on morals and ethics and should fight against fundamentalism, St. Joseph’s College principal Friday Ambrose Pinto said on Thursday. Education for the poor too is a vital aspect that should be taken up, he added. As Pinto speaking at ‘with relevance Excellence “, a conference of Catholic College of Karnataka on Thursday.

Speaking on ‘Vision of Christian higher education and its overview, and implications of Christian education, education Friday Pinto said should make people more moral and humanizes them. “While maintaining the highest standards, its demands that we produce a radical change in the person we educate - from selfish concerns to generosity to others.”

Emphasising on education for the poor, Pinto said Friday: “Education should struggle against unjust society, it should cater more to the poor and programmes should be taken up to empower them. Principal of St. Stephen’s in New Delhi, Dr Anil Wilson called for steps to rediscover the real meaning and purpose of education. “Let systemic changes be a reasoned response to needs and not a knee-jerk reaction to the time.”

The objective of the day-long conference was to create a model which is yet local to global, spiritually vibrant, socially relevant, emotionally balanced and leading to human enrichment. Deliberations also included topics like, if excellence in education can be fused with greater accessibility to Christian institutions.

Among the other speakers were Professor Jose and PD Leader of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, Rev. Joe Fernandes, Vice-Provincial, Salesians of Don Bosco, Bangalore and Head and Professor, Department of Christian Studies, University of Madras, Joe De Mannath .

Do you have a knack for figures? Does the rise and fall of the sensitive index excite you? Would you like to have a say in the country’s future? Check out the wide range of options open to a qualified economist. A report by Debojyoti Ghosh and Rupa Ganguly Economics is the art of trying to satisfy infinite needs with limited resources.

-Albert Camus CONSIDERED a rich subject, the study of economics covers a vast field and requires an analytical brain to grasp its nuances. It is a branch of social science that deals with production, distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management. The subject deals with the process of satisfying unlimited human wants with limited resources. Therefore, in essence, economics is about making choices. It’s about guiding men and society to make the right choice, and manage to live within their means.

What it entails Economists study the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Their work mainly has to do with analysing data and practical applications of economic policy in a particular area. Economists use mathematical models to develop programmes, predicting the nature and length of business cycles, the effects of inflation on the economy, or unemployment.

Assessment of economic conditions nationally and internationally to estimate the economic effects of specific changes in legislation or public policy is also a part of their job. The primary task of economists, however, is to predict the probable consequences of a course of action or policy decision. They may work as advisors with different kinds of employers Begin early Economics could be studied in school, as a sixth subject in ICSE and an additional subject in Madhyamik. It could be taken up as a regular subject at the plus two level. However, if you want to major in economics at the graduation level, you just have to pass 10+2 in any stream. To get a postgraduate degree in the subject, you should have a graduate degree in economics.

Options abroad The London School of Economics is known the world over as a premiere institute in the field and runs all sorts of courses. A wide variety of funding options is available for overseas students. The LSE itself gives awards to the tune of 1.4 million pounds. There are a number of awards covering teaching and living expenses. Two of these scholarships are given to undergraduate students on the basis of exceptional performance. The third goes to a student who has completed his degree as an external student. Several other schemes, such as the Overseas Research Students (ORS) awards, the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, the Rotary Foundation Scholarships, UNESCO fellowships, the Department for International Development Shared Scholarship Scheme (DIDSSS) etc. are also available. The Indian friends of LSE offer scholarships to Indian students. Teaching expenses could be covered by awards from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, while the Indian friends support the living costs.

Hyderabad: Mere traditional academic knowledge is not enough, it must be up-to-date theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject, with the skills, the right to employment opportunities emerging issues, “said The Bal V. Mohan, vice-chancellor, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Gunturu.

It was the opening of the workshop on the theme “education and career opportunities for students of trade flows” here Monday.

The workshop was organized by the Society for career Iqra. He said he was wrong to think that like chartered accountancy courses, Company Secretary, costs and works in the accounting was difficult to pass.

Those who, systematic and concerted efforts to succeed, “he added.

M.G. Gopal, secretary governor, briefed the flow of commerce students, and not merely as a leader in finding a job, but rather to providers of job opportunities in exploitation by the company. Banks, financial institutions, insurance companies and investment funds, it offers a multitude of employment opportunities, better suited to students were women, “said Gopal.

Other speakers such as T. Venkatesh, director of the ICFAI Business School, Bangalore, KV Achalpati OR, AVSN Murthy, president, Institute for costs and Works Accountants of India said vocational training in trade flows was the least expensive in comparison to other professional courses.

Previously, Abbas Ali Mohd of Osmania University, welcomed the students.

St. John’s University conferred 2,146 undergraduate degrees at three graduation ceremonies held over the weekend.

The Rev. Donald J. Harrington, president of the university, gave the keynote address at all ceremonies for the 122d commencement exercises.

Addressing the students at the campus in Jamaica, Queens, yesterday, Father Harrington told the students that “the quality of life in society rests upon the quality of education in our grammar and high schools and in our colleges and universities.”

Referring to the rioting in Los Angeles, he said, “Regardless of how we interpret the events of the past month, regardless of where we seek to place the blame, I submit to you that an essential part of any solution must be the renewal of the educational system of our land.” Industry, Health, Banking

At the first ceremony, held in Alumni Hall in the morning, an honorary doctor of commercial science degree was awarded to Michael E. Maher, an alumnus of the university who is chairman of Maher Terminals Inc. in New Jersey, one of the largest independent container terminal operators.

Sister Irene Kraus, president of the Daughters of Charity National Health System in St. Louis, received an honorary doctor of letters degree.

In the ceremony held in the afternoon, also in Alumni Hall, an honorary doctor of commercial science degree was awarded to Richard T. Greene, president of Carver Federal Savings Bank, one of the largest black-owned financial institutions in the nation.

Edward Mercado, director of the Office of Civil Rights for the Department of Health and Human Services, received an honorary doctor of laws degree.

On Saturday, a commencement ceremony was held on the Grymes Hill campus of the university in Staten Island. An honorary doctor of civil law degree was awarded to Josephine L. Gambino, president and senior member of the New York Civil Service Commission. Cornell University

Cornell University’s 124th commencement took place yesterday in a cold rain with temperatures in the 30’s, prompting the university’s president, Frank H. T. Rhodes, to cut short his prepared remarks to the 5,900 graduates. University officials said it was the first time in 17 years that it had rained on commencement.

Each of the graduates of Cornell’s 11 schools and colleges at the ceremony, which was still held outdoors on the campus in Ithaca, N.Y., was given a red rose. Mr. Rhodes used the occasion to remind them to “take time to smell the roses.”

Fashion designer Ralph Lauren lives next door. Billionaire Financier George Soros is down the street.

If Martha Stewart gets prison in West Virginia next week, they are not a characteristic Halfway House. Instead, it is at its aufbrechend of 153 hectares of farm at the centre of Bedford, serves as a transition to society, envy and others.

This is the place where she hopes at the beginning of their return to the USA as a culture and business symbol.

Friends and associates said Stewart detailed “to-do lists for five months, they serve as delivery at home, the second half of their sentence, up to an obstacle to the federal justice system.

She writes for the next edition of Martha Stewart Living Magazine. She bought seeds and filled two greenhouses plants in anticipation of the Outdoor of the season gardening. And it should consider at regular intervals with their probation officer.

While conditions Stewart’s “monitors release” herumlaufen limiting their freedom, even within the whole it seems a lot to be done on the ground is she decided to their new place of residence to live in Westport, Conn. , For more than 30 years.

The dozen buildings in the area of West Chester - in most varnish Stewart’s own shade Bedford Gray - are in various states of construction.

“The enthusiasm of this new beginning - a new house, a new garden - has sustained their spirits,” Margaret Roach, editor in chief of Martha Stewart Living, wrote recently in a letter to readers.

Roach and other top leaders to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia were not available for comment on this story. In a conference call with analysts on Wall Street last Wednesday, Chief Executive Susan Lyne said that despite Stewart’s home detention until August, she plays an active role in the development of new products, strategic planning and production Two new television programs. One of these is a version of the reality program “The Apprentice”, where Stewart expects Donald Trump’s.

“Our capacity to plan no longer clouded,” said Lyne.

She added that Stewart’s return should contribute to positive results for the publicity of Martha Stewart Living, for the first time in over two years.

Advertisers fled amid allegations that insider dealing with Stewart-commerce with their shares in drugmaker ImClone Systems in late 2001, and many have not returned. Your belief, during the past year, less expenses also condemned a syndicated TV program, slowed sales of Martha Stewart Everyday home goods at Kmart stores and led to the closure of a catalogue and ” Internet sales department. Since 2001, about 125 jobs have been created on average Affairs Manhattan.

The urgent need of creating awareness for cyber-laws and more stringent measures against cyber-crime was also discussed within the group, to which the final year students of the AVC College of Engineering to Mayiladuturai recently.

A large number of final year students from various sectors including the United Nations, CSE, IT, mechanical and ice have participated in panel discussions, under the direction of Soft Skills Development Forum of the school was inaugurated as Arun V. Parwate, Principal of the college.

Dr S. Rama Nathan, Director, Department of Management Studies at the university, coordinated, to suspend the procedure, said that a number of themes such as “roadmap to success”, “cyber-laws - the conscience and its implementation implement, “” technological innovations are not for the conduct of war, but for the welfare of mankind, “the fruit of 58 years of ‘freedom’,` composition and the need for ‘ Indian cricket team, “dot evil in society and the role of media in the Indian economy Scenario” were taken for group discussions.

Pupils and students, emphasizes the need for more stringent measures against persons, cyber-crime and pointed out that many of them were not yet known, cyber-laws and awareness should be created.

Regarding technological innovation, students felt that means, to improve the lifestyle of man and should never be used for the destruction of goal.

Of the 58 years of free countries, students believe that the commitment and availability was the need of the hour. Pupils and students at the Yeoman services provided by both the pressure and visual media of the Indian economy scenario. The discussions are completed by the stimulation of a stress management training for players of Indian cricket and to prevent the threat dot evil in society.

Mr. Rama Nathan consult the main points of discussions. Past, R. Raman Jaya, training and internship Officer of the university, welcomed the collection.

The volunteers of the NSS Naina Mohamed College, Aranthangi in Pudukottai district, a special two-day camp was recently vice-president of the College, R. Kabilan. The volunteers are works such as removing waste, close the potholes on the local road, etc. The head of the section of operation to teaching economics, R. Sathru Sangara Velsamy, welcomed informatics and professor, R. Sumathi proposed a vote of thanks.

In the streets of Delhi, a tour bus with human resource professionals to visit India with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) came to a standstill. It was too big and adapt the old city roads.

In moments, coordinator of the tour group had several rounds to two people Rikschas for the delegation on their next rendezvous in a mosque. Given that human resource professionals established in the year, hundreds of old forms of transport, they asked the coordinator, as was Rikschas as many times faster.
He said he had requested on their mobile phones.

The incident was one of several on-HR professionals, as Indian firms and workers are a combination of old and new technologies, among the world’s fastest growing economies.

India is the second country in the world with 1.1 billion inhabitants. Nearly one third of the population lives below the poverty line. The population is fragmented by caste, and marriages are still arranged by young adults’ parents. But

The society of Plastics Engineers honored 15 SPE Senior Members during the 2001 ANTEC by designating them Fellows of the Society. Last month, we profiled eight of the honorees; here are the remaining seven.

Dr. Shau-Tarng Lee, director, Research & Development, Sealed Air Corporation, Saddle Brook, New Jersey, received this honor for his effort to make foam more environmentally sound. Dr. Lee developed carbon dioxide as the sole blowing agent for thick and special application PE foam products. He developed a carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon foaming agent mixture to improve the safety status of hydrocarbon foam extrusion operations, and to reduce hydrocarbon emissions. His development of HCFC-22 to replace CFC-12 for PE foam extrusion and thus reduce ozone depletion allowed Sealed Air to remain a producer of environmentally friendly foams. He introduced volatile ethane as the blowing agent to replace butane and propane for low-density PE foam sheets. Dr. Lee observed shear effects on nucleation for foam-enhanced devolatilization in batch experiments. From this, foam die design technology was greatly improved by the balanced consideration of rheology and foaming. A member of the Society since 1983, Dr. Lee is affilia ted with the Palisades Section and the Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Division of SPE. Costas Gogos and Elliott L. Weinberg sponsored him. He holds seven patents and has several pending, edited Foam Extrusion: Principles and Practices, has contributed nearly 70 technical articles on foam, and has presented seminars both in the U.S. and in Taipei. He received a bachelor of engineering degree in industrial chemistry from National Tsing-Hua University, Taiwan, and a master’s degree in engineering and PhD from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Peter G. Pape, retired associate industry scientist, Dow Coming Corporation, Midland, Michigan, was recognized for using the chemistry of silane coupling agents and the unique properties of silicone polymers to make improvements in plastics materials. Since fiberglass-reinforced plastics are neither very strong nor durable without coupling agents, it has been Mr. Pape’s work to optimize silane technology for each specific application to give improved physical properties, increased environmental resistance, high temperature resistance, and improved electrical properties. In applications to glass-reinforced epoxy printed circuit boards, which affect calculators, cell phones, and computers, his work solved the industry’s concern with interfacial failure in making defect-free components. He introduced new ultrahigh-molecular weight silicone additives to thermoplastics, which improve lubrication, abrasion resistance, surface appearance, and processing. He is responsible for the commercialization of the Sioplas[R] process, which uses the moisturereactivity of silanes to crosslink thermoplastics with water. This allows the use of simple and low-cost extrusion lines, and has led to more versatile formulations of wire and cable, heat-resistant pipe, film, foam and other crosslinked products. A member of the Society since 1983, Mr. Pape is affiliated with the Mid-Michigan Section and the Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division of SPE. Ernest A. Coleman and David Riley were his sponsors. He has presented or published 70 technical papers, book chapters, and encyclopedia articles, and lectured at short courses on adhesion and coupling agents. He holds a BS in chemistry and mathematics from Alma College, an MS in organic chemistry from The Ohio State University, with additional graduate studies at Michigan State University and Saginaw Valley State University.