Explore a World of Hidden Treasures at the 63rd Annual Pacific Orchid Exposition

(San Francisco, Calif., October 3, 2014) --- The 2015 Pacific Orchid Exposition, happening February 19-22 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, is focusing on "The Thrill of Discovery" for its 63rd annual show, which will feature very special varieties of orchid, little known in the United States.

The show's presenting sponsor, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, has worked with local grower Tom Perlite, the owner of Golden Gate Orchids and operations manager of the Pacific Orchid Exposition, to ship and cultivate a rare orchids, including Cymbidium goeringii and Anoectochilus formosanus, which will be on display throughout the event.

The Pacific Orchid Exposition, which is the largest orchid show in the United States, is hosted by the San Francisco Orchid Society (SFOS), a 501 (c) (3) organization whose mission is to foster the culture and cultivation of orchids and to promote orchid education to its members and the public. The SFOS proudly supports local horticultural conservation efforts, including research and preservation efforts at the Conservatory of Flowers, the U.C. Botanical Garden at Berkeley, and other Orchid conservation groups.

The Pacific Orchid Exposition kicks off with the wildly anticipated Gala Benefit Preview, February 19th from 6:30-10:00pm. The Gala Benefit gives attendees the first chance to view and purchase some of the best orchids in the world before the show opens to the general public. Guests can also enjoy delicious gourmet hors d’oeuvres and wine tastings from some of California’s premier wineries, including winners of the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest competition of American wines in the world. They can bid on fabulous auction items which include gift baskets and certificates, dinners, getaways, wine, original art, and more.

The general show follows February 20-22 and boasts over 150,000 beautiful orchids from across the globe. Throughout the weekend there will be docent tours, orchid potting demonstrations and special lectures. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau will also be on hand offering special entertainment and demonstrations for attendees.

Who:               San Francisco Orchid Society

What:             63rd Annual Pacific Orchid Exposition, "The Thrill of Discovery"  

When:             Gala Benefit Preview: Thursday, February 19, 2015 from 6:30pm – 10:00pm

                        General Show: February 20-22, 2015

                         Fri. 10am-6pm, Sat. 9am-6pm and Sun. 10am-5pm

Where:            Fort Mason Center’s Festival Pavilion, San Francisco, Calif.

Tickets:          Gala Benefit Preview: $43 online; $50 at the door

                        General Show: $14 online/$15 at the door,

                        Seniors(65+): $11 online/$12 at the Door

                        Weekend Pass with Gala: $60

                        Weekend Pass without Gala: $25

Info:               http://orchidsanfrancisco.org/poe.html        

San Jose Harvest Festival Offers One of a Kind Black Friday Finds

Top Rated Craft Show Boasts Shopping, Music, Food and Prizes

(San Jose, Calif., June 13, 2014)--- Don't be fooled by empty "door buster" deals designed to lure you to the Big Box retail stores this Black Friday weekend. For a truly enjoyable shopping experience, visit the San Jose Harvest Festival®, November 28-30 at the San Jose Convention Center, and help support the independent artisan instead.

The San Jose Harvest Festival® is one of the largest indoor arts and craft shows on the West Coast and was recently rated among the top 200 craft shows in the country.  The show offers over 24,000 handmade arts and crafts, including original art, jewelry, photography, clothing, specialty foods, holiday decor, and more.

Many of the artists at the Harvest Festival offer bargains and show specials that can only be obtained at the event. Plus, attendees can meet the artists and can often get their purchases personalized. There will be a grab bag prize drawing each day, and the Grand Prize drawing, happening on Sunday of the show, features a brand new ipad mini.

Throughout the weekend, the Harvest Festival offers upbeat live music, including performances from Tom Rigney and Flambeau, a band that blends American Roots styles into a completely original sound, mixing infectious grooves with deep musicality and spectacular solos. On Saturday afternoon, there will be a special one time performance by the Sweet Adeline's.

Gingerbread on the Go will co-host the KidZone and will feature make-and-take gingerbread cookie projects. Nature of Art for Kids, an eco-friendly company offering non-toxic art supplies for children, will also be participating by offering crafts using "green" and repurposed materials. Plus, parents can stop by the New York Life booth to obtain a free Child ID kit.

The Harvest Festival will welcome back its official non-profit partner, Humane Society Silicon Valley, a charity committed to animal welfare in every facet. Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) will receive half of the proceeds from shopping bag sales and all of the proceeds from the bag and parcel check.

Loaves and Fishes, a San Jose based non-profit organization which serves free, nutritious meals to the working poor, families, homeless and seniors, will be the food donation partner for the show. Anyone who brings a monetary or non-perishable food donation to the show will receive $2 off their admission.

What:             The San Jose Harvest Festival® Original Art and Craft Show

When:             November 28-30, 2014  

Where:            San Jose Convention Center (150 W. San Carlos St, San Jose CA  95113)

Hours:            Friday: 9am – 6pm, Saturday: 10 am – 6pm, Sunday: 10 am – 5pm

Cost:       Adults: $9, Seniors (62+): $7, Youth (13-17): $4, 12 & Under:  Free

              (Re-entry valid all weekend with proof of a hand stamp)

Info:              For tickets and information, please call 800-346-1212 or visit www.harvestfestival.com

Press:            Contact the Larose Group at 650-548-6700 or email Lrosinski@prmagic.com  

ABOUT THE HARVEST FESTIVAL ORIGINAL ART AND CRAFT SHOW®:

The Harvest Festivals began 42 years ago in San Francisco as a destination for artists and craftspeople to sell their handmade products. Today, the event has grown to encompass nine shows in the state of California and Nevada, continuing its tradition of only featuring arts and crafts made in the United States.  Each exhibitor is subject to a rigid jury process to be selected as an artisan, ensuring a rich diversity and high quality of all products sold. The Harvest Festivals are owned and managed by a Western Exhibitors.

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San Mateo Harvest Festival Showcases Unique Holiday Shopping and Exciting Special Features

One of the Top Rated Craft Shows in the Country Opens at the San Mateo Event Center

(San Mateo, Calif., June 3, 2014) --- The San Mateo Harvest Festival is returning to the San Mateo Event Center on November 14-16, bringing with it thousands of handmade arts and crafts, high-energy performers, a hands-on KidZone, delicious foods and much more.   

The San Mateo Harvest Festival® Original Art and Craft Show is one of the largest indoor arts and craft shows on the West Coast, offering over 24,000 American handmade items. Customers can stroll aisle upon aisle of unique gifts like original art, clothing, jewelry, specialty foods, toys, holiday decor and more. Items available range from affordable stocking stuffers to upscale jewelry and fine art.

There are over 250 artisans featured at the San Mateo Harvest Festival, and all of them must go through a rigid jury process to be accepted into the festival. The vetting process ensures that all products are made by hand by each artist and allows for a diverse array of merchandise. 

This year, the Harvest Festival has brought back fan favorites Scotty and Trink, a pair of daredevil comedians who tell jokes while juggling, balancing on unicycles and tossing knives. Also back by popular demand is Tom Rigney and Flambeau, a fiery Cajun/Zydeco band who is known to get everyone out of their seats and stomping their feet.

Brand new this year is a special fruit and vegetable carving demonstration each day by renowned carver Chef Ray Duey. Attendees can watch Chef Ray as he creates extraordinary works of art with produce as his canvas.

The Peninsula Humane Society/SPCA will return as the selected charity of the show and will receive half of the proceeds from all shopping bags sold, as well as all the donations collected from the Parcel Check.  They will also host a special mobile adoption on Saturday and Sunday.

Loaves and Fishes Family Kitchen, a non-profit organization which serves free, nutritious meals to the working poor, families, homeless and seniors, will be the food donation partner for the show. Anyone who brings a monetary or non-perishable food donation to the show will receive $2 off their adult or senior admission.  

The KidZone, a specialized area for kids to participate in hands on crafting activities, will be sponsored by Gingerbread-on-the-Go and Nature of Art for Kids. The crafts will include gingerbread cookie decorating and eco friendly art projects. Plus, New York Life will be on hand to offer free Child ID services.

Attendees will have the chance to win a fabulous ipad mini by registering on site at the San Mateo Harvest Festival. The winner will be announced on Sunday November, 16th. Festival goers can also win grab bag prizes each day by printing out a form online and dropping it off at the show. 

The Harvest Festivals, which take place in nine cities throughout California and Nevada, were recently recognized as one of the top 200 craft shows in the United States by Sunshine Artist Magazine.

What:     The San Mateo Harvest Festival® Original Art and Craft Show

When:    November 14-16, 2014

Where:   San Mateo Event Center (2495 South Delaware Street, San Mateo, CA 94403)

Hours:    Friday and Saturday: 10 am – 6pm, Sunday: 10 am–5pm

Tickets:  Adults: $9, Seniors (62+): $7, Youth (13-17): $4, Kids 12 and Under: Free

    (Re-entry valid all weekend with proof of hand stamp)     

Info:      Call 800-346-1212 or visit www.harvestfestival.com

Press:   Contact the Larose Group at 650-548-6700 or email Liz Rosinski at Lrosinski@prmagic.com   

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Local Entrepreneur Named as One of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting

Doug Sleeter, CEO of the Pleasanton Based Sleeter Group, Recognized Nationally in "Accounting Today's" Top 100 Most Influential People

(Pleasanton, Calif., October 3, 2014)  ---  Accounting expert and local Bay Area resident Doug Sleeter has received national acclaim from major industry players after being named as one of 100 most influential people in accounting by "Accounting Today", an honor which he has consecutively held for the past seven years in a row.

"I am humbled to be acknowledged in this amazing list of thought leaders and experts in the world of accounting and finance," said Sleeter. "For me, accounting has always been about more than just the numbers; it's about the business. I'm always seeking out new software, technology and strategies which will help our members really grow into valued consultants."

As an evangelist for Adobe and Apple in the 1980s, Doug drove success of desktop publishing solutions on the Macintosh. Since then, he has built his own business, the Sleeter Group, into a world leader in consulting services for small businesses and software developers. 

Doug believes that his locale has positively contributed to his success by allowing him to interact with start-up's, executives from Fortune 500 technology companies, and many others who are disrupting the traditional marketplace.

 "The Bay Area celebrates innovation more than any other area I've seen," said Sleeter. "The culture here just encourages individuals and business to take risks and be bold."

Doug, a proud alumni of UC Santa Cruz, was also recently tapped as a judge for the Small Business Influencer Awards, as a keynote speaker for the Intuit QB Connect conference, and also leads all the content and strategy for Solutions14, the Sleeter Group's annual Accounting Solutions Conference which takes place November 9-12 in Las Vegas.

Along with being the publisher of the wildly popular QuickBooks and Beyond blog, Doug has authored numerous books and pens a regular column for CPA Practice Advisor.

To learn more about the Doug and the Sleeter Group, call 888-484-5484 or check out their website at http://www.sleeter.com

About the Sleeter Group:

The Sleeter Group is dedicated to helping accountants and small businesses work together by using the most innovative and tested tools/systems to generate greater efficiencies and higher profits. The company represents an independent view, separate from any particular company or product, and evaluates products and solutions based solely on how they meet the demands of small business owners. In addition, the Sleeter Group runs the Sleeter Group Consultants Network, which is a community comprised of nearly 800 accounting experts who provide consulting services to small and medium sized business owners in accounting software and business process design. For more information on the Sleeter Group, please visit http://www.sleeter.com or follow them on twitter @sleetergroup.
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