Michelle Cohen co-founded Mitch-Stuart, Inc. in the early 90s to administer the very first miles program for charity in conjunction with American Airlines.  Today, their business offers travel incentive packages for businesses and fundraising solutions that have helped nonprofit organizations raise almost a billion dollars in revenue since 1994. Based in Laguna Niguel, Calif., Mitch-Stuart created the Destinations of Excellenceô no-risk auction travel program in 2005 to create a new source of income for nonprofit fundraising. It garnered a Freddie Award from the hospitality industry in 2005 for their achievements.

Travel has since become recognized as one of the most compelling fundraising incentives and the co-founders have just created a revolutionary new program to further expand opportunities for businesses and to create additional revenue for nonprofit organizations. Michelle and Stuart helped create the travel incentive industry. They were both fundraising consultants for a national charitable organization in the early 90's when they approached American Airlines for a donation.  The team was so successful in selling miles to their donors that American asked them to create and launch the first charitable miles program for the airline.

After 9-11's devastating impact on travel, they worked with hotel chains including Marriott and Fairmont by selling rooms for charitable auctions and donor incentives.  They combined air and hotel to create their Destinations of Excellent packages and went on to extend cruise options, specialty sports trips and virtually any custom travel package requested. Their charitable travel incentive programs extended to businesses to reward employees, vendors and customers and this month they will announce an innovative new business platform that pairs their charitable donation programs with businesses. Power-Up with them at www.mitchstuart.com

The snow gods have been smiling and snowing on Big Sky Resort through the opening of the 2009-10 ski season providing the most acreage available in the Rockies.  The season started with over five feet of natural snow and the most terrain choices for any Rocky Mountain resort for Thanksgiving Day, 20% over its 30 year average. Big Sky opened with a wide variety of skiable terrain from black diamond powder turns to a smooth beginner area base with everything in between, including terrain park features. Rolling into December and after two storms since Thanksgiving, the Lone Peak Tram opened bringing the total number of 1,161acres of terrain and a continuous vertical drop of 3,650 feet. Currently most Colorado and Utah resorts are relying on manmade conditions with limited choices of skiable terrain.

In addition to the Lone Peak Tram opening, Big Sky Resort is operating Challenger Chair, Lone Peak Triple, Swift Current High-Speed Quad, Explorer and the three base area carpets. There are 50 open runs including green beginner slopes, blue-square groomed cruisers and the steep black and double black diamond runs with natural snow. “We’re hearing from people across the country who are making their holiday week vacation plans who are energized with the epic early season turns we’ve been spoiled with,î said sales and marketing director, Meg O’Leary. “We’re in a perfect position with the rest of the season having the opportunity to open so much terrain early and get skier compaction, supporting the new snow through December.”

The upper mountain base is now at 35 inches, snowmaking will continue on Andesite Mountain preparing for a mid-December opening. The new snow has been popular so far with skier counts rising 40% higher than the year before, yet with the eight lifts running, still non-existent lift lines. Follow www.bigskyresort.com for the latest snow and deals, including free night/day packages, even over holiday week. Early season lodging packages are available by calling Big Sky Central Reservations at   1-800-548-4486. Non-stop flights are available daily to Big Sky from Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, San Francisco with limited winter non-stops from Atlanta, Detroit and Las Vegas. Follow the fans at www.facebook.com/bigskyresort for videos, photos from opening day. Located in Southwest Montana 17 miles north of Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky offers the Biggest Skiing in America each winter on 5,512 acres of terrain in cooperation with an interconnect ticket with Moonlight Basin.

The City of Miami known as the “Magic City” is located in Southeast Florida, in Miami-Dade County on the Miami River, between the Florida Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean. Since its incorporation in 1896, the City has grown tremendously, transforming it into one of the world’s renowned centers where people can work, live and play while enjoying a high quality of life.

The City of Miami, known for its diverse culture and ethnicities is the largest municipalityin Miami-Dade County. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 362,470. By the year 2010 the population in the City is projected to rise to 390,191. Miami which is known as the Gateway to Latin America attracts a tremendous amount  of  foreign born people, resulting in a large Latin American population that includes Cubans, Nicaraguans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Puerto Ricans, Argentineans, Ecuadorians, Brazilians, Dominicans, Haitians and Mexicans. According to the 2000 U.S. census, the City has a 60 percent Hispanic population , a 22.3 percent African-American population and a 11.9 percent White/other population.

Recognized worldwide as an international hub, Miami successfully hosted the 4th annual Latin Grammy Awards show, the visit of the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, the celebration of the Free Trade of the Americas Conference , FTAA and the MTV Music Video Awards.

Whether you are a resident, visitor or business owner, the City of Miami welcomes you to the shiny City under the Sun. Centrally located in a bustling urban area that is bursting with new developments, residential homes and eye catching attractions, Miami is truly a world class destination. Rich with  history ,Miami has 13 different neighborhoods that contain  several historical locations and landmarks. Each neighborhood is fully equipped with full service parks,fire and police stations and a Neighborhood Enhancement Team center where residents and business owners can go to obtain answers to their questions and help with City services. The NET team works together with the various departments through the City to coordinate resources and resolve problems. - Report resources: Wikipedia and City of Miami.