Friday, February 5, 2016

Orbital ATK Inc.: A Global Aerospace and Defense Company

Orbital ATK Inc. is one of the leading names in the arena of aerospace and defense technologies. The company is a global venture and is headquartered in Dulles, Virginia. The business was formerly known as Alliant Techsystems, Inc. and was incorporated in May 1990.

The company is engaged in the designing and manufacturing of space, defense and aviation-related systems. It operates as a prime contractor and as a merchant supplier to customers around the globe. Additionally, they also engage in the manufacturing of ammunition, which it supplies to the military. The operations of the company are divided into three segments, namely Flight Systems Group, Defense Systems Group and Space Systems Group.

The offerings of Orbital ATK, Inc. compete against the products and services of Lockheed Martin Corporation, The Boeing Company, Thales Alenia Space, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, among others. The company remains publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (OA).

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Northwest Bancshares: A Savings and Loan Bank Holding Company

Northwest Bancshares is one of the holding companies in the United States that operates a subsidiary that has been around for more than a century. The company, which was incorporated in September 2009 is the parent company of a savings and loan bank, the Northwest Savings Bank. Its corporate office is located in Warren, Pennsylvania.

The operations of the business are divided into two reporting segments, namely Consumer Finance and Community Banking. The Consumer Finance unit is represented by Northwest Consumer Discount Company, which is a subsidiary of Northwest Bank. This affiliate continues to offer a wide range of personal installment loans that are tailored for a range of consumer and real estate products. This subsidiary is based in Pennsylvania and currently has more than 50 offices in operation. The Community Banking segment of the company is represented by the bank, which has more than 180 branch locations across 4 states.

The bank offers a wide range of products and services, which include checking, online banking, online bill payment, ATMs, wealth management, loans, cash management services and several others. The bank is more than 119 years old now and operates as a trusted partner in building dreams, reaching financial independence and in preparing for the future. Northwest Savings Bank has made it their commitment to deliver their services with the customer as their focal point. For years, it has become a part of the success of Americans and in building the American dream.

As of December 2014, the bank has reported their deposits to be more than $5 million. To supplement its pooled deposits, the company has access to the Federal Home Loan Banks for quick borrowings for their lending activities. Northwest Bancshares operates as a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ, using the symbol NWBI.

Friday, January 29, 2016

Children's Hunger Fund: Helping Local Churches Meet the Needs of Their Impoverished Communities

Children's Hunger Fund (CHF), a non-profit Christian organization provides a wide range of effective, efficient and responsive resources including training to local churches in helping them meet the urgent needs of their impoverished communities. The organization extends its valuable assistance to local churches in the United States and in many developing countries abroad. As of 2013, it has given over $1 billion in assistance to children and families in need.

CHF has humble beginnings. Dave Phillips, its founder, worked with just one employee with a small garage as their office from 1992 to 1994. The two-man organization worked with eight local churches, which covered 200 to 300 families.

When the Los Angeles riots happened in 1992, the organization expanded its coverage to include South Central Los Angeles. During the 1994 Northridge earthquake, FEMA requested CHF to participate in the widespread relief efforts and the organization has continued to expand since then. Today, it conducts operations in more than 72 countries including the United States.

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

CitiHope International: Working Toward Putting a Healthy Life Within Reach

Founded as the CitiHope Radio Ministry in 1985, CitiHope International works toward putting a healthy and happy life within reach of everyone. The non-profit organization achieves its mission through programs and projects designed to promote good health, prevent diseases, and provide treatments to several underserved populations worldwide. Its strategies involve focusing its wide range of resources on a few selected areas across the world with the aim of making a world of difference for good.

CitiHope International is known for its commitment to upholding the values of integrity, stewardship, and compassion in all of its dealings from soliciting donations to distributing assistance. Its dedicated men and women exemplify these values through their concrete actions.

As the CitiHope Radio Ministry, the non-profit Christian organization aired its ministry on a daily basis in New York City, a vital connection between the urban ministries in the city and their donors. Even then, it was an active presence in the fight against homelessness, hunger, and neglect through several programs and projects including Boxes of Love for families, Easter Bags for children, and Homeless Comfort Kits for the homeless.

Today, CitiHope International continues its urban ministries albeit on a worldwide scale. It is one of most trusted charitable organizations in the United States, thanks partly to its effective, efficient and responsive programs and projects, many of which have been models for other similar organizations.

CitiHope has several advantages, which pushes its agenda, over other similar organizations including:
  • Advances needs assessment wherein regional team members including medical staff make personal visits to each prospective health institution, such as hospitals, targeted for partnership in medical relief.
  • In-country infrastructure wherein the organization either maintains regional offices or established partnerships with reputable local non-government organizations in countries where it works.
  • Approval from the ministry of health and its instrumentalities including state pharmaceutical committees.
CitiHope is also known for its protocol education, hands-on approach, and post-delivery feedback, among other mechanisms.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Horace Mann Educators Corp: Helping Educators Protect and Prepare for Their Future

Two Springfield, Illinois teachers created Horace Mann Educators Corporation in 1945. From the small venture they created, grew a company that offers affordable auto insurance for teachers. The business has long diversified its offerings to become an insurance holding company.

The company offers affordable insurance policies that help educators protect what they consider as important. They also help these professionals prepare for their future and be successful tomorrow. The company has a partnership with DonorsChoose.org to help provide teachers gain access to classroom funding. Additionally, they also provide financial literacy for educators across the country through their free workshops. They now serve more than 4,100 school districts across the United States.

Horace Mann Educators is now a publicly traded company with more than $10 billion in assets. It continues to market its common shares on the New York Stock Exchange and uses the ticker symbol HMN. The business is listed as a component of the Russell 3000 Index.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.: Offering Property and Casualty Insurance Products

Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. is an insurance holding company that is currently headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The business was incorporated in 1990 and continues to focus in offering property and casualty insurance products. The offerings of the business are marketed to both businesses and individuals across the United States.

Through the company’s approach in strategic acquisition, it expands its operations and at the same time diversifies its offerings. The company started out as a mono-line company and began offering other coverages in 2003. It is involved in marketing, underwriting, distributing and servicing its property and casualty insurance products. There are five business units that operate within the venture, namely Standard Commercial P&C, Workers Compensation, E&S Commercial, Hallmark Select and Personal Lines.

The Standard Commercial P&C unit markets commercial insurance and occupational accident insurance. The Workers Compensation segment focuses on workers compensation for small and medium-sized markets. E&S Commercial services the excess and surplus markets and offers commercial insurance products. The offerings of Hallmark Select include insurance focused on aviation, medical professional liability, satellite launch, and low and middle market commercial umbrella and excess liability. Automobile insurance and complementary personal insurance products are the offerings of the their Personal Line business division. The formation of these divisions is the result of the company’s acquisition of companies like Non-standard Auto Insurer, Specialty E&S MGA & General Aviation MGA, Texas County Mutual Insurance Company and Excess & Umbrella MGU. The largest chunk of the premiums generated by the company is coming from their Hallmark Specialty Underwriters, which comprise 48% of their annual premiums.

Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. is listed as a component of the Russell 3000 Index. The company remains publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Market and continues to trade its common shares using the ticker symbol HALL.

Friday, January 15, 2016

Entellus Medical, Inc.: A Medical Technology Company

Registered as a medical technology company, Entellus Medical, Inc. engages in the development and commercialization of various products that are intended for treatment of patients with chronic sinusitis.

Headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota, Entellus Medical, Inc. creates products that minimally invasive. Their flagship product is the XprESS family of products, these medical products are used by physicians to open narrowed or obstructed sinus drainage pathways. Partnered with balloon sinus dilation, these medical advancements are used to treat patients with symptomatic inflammation of the nasal sinuses. ENT (ear, nose and throat) physicians across the country and in some select international  markets continue to make use of these products. The biggest markets of the business are in the United States and in Canada.

Incorporated in August 2006, Entellus Medical, Inc. continues to publicly trade on the NASDAQ Global Market. Common shares of the business are marketed using the ticker symbol ENTL.