User talk:Lbrock/Sandbox

Awards
Hey Eustress, I was looking through the awards and ribbons, what is the norm to hand out, are you thinking a cookie or something more substantial?

-L


 * Well, this might be where I get on my soapbox because I study organizational behavior, which teaches that people do what they are reinforced for doing. I'm not saying barnstars should be given out haphazardly (which would devalue some awards), but I think Wikipedians deserve more barnstars, etc. than are currently awarded. Personal user awards (like cookies) are less prestigious than barnstars but are still very considerate. Perhaps think this way: "When I give away an award, I have to write a rationale next to the award—does my rationale fit the prospective award?" Anyway, you really can't go wrong giving out awards, so be bold and have fun! --Eustress (talk) 16:07, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * P.S. You'll notice that you were not automatically advised of a new message for me leaving this comment—you are only advised when talk is conducted on your personal talk page. So if you want to be notified in the future, conduct talk there. Thanks!--Eustress (talk) 16:09, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

ALD article
Okay, I have significantly overhauled the ALD article and posted my edit on your sandbox. I will post the older version here below, which you can delete whenever you want (this is your sandbox); I'm just including for easy reference. Now, I'm not a perfect editor, but there are a few differences you will notice: (1) I defend all facts with an inline citation—except for in the first paragraph, in this case, since the information is elaborated upon in the body (see WP:Lead); (2) I try to avoid using point-of-view (POV) statements like "most advanced, sophisticated electronic devices" and "ALD has been at the forefront". When using sources, try to use reliable sources; and (3) I included an infobox. Even with my edits, this article may be challenged and deleted due to a lack of notability, but I believe with the rankings, history, and independent sources used, it might make it.

So feel free to make any final modifications, and when you're ready, you can go ahead and create the article again and see what happens. I can post the ADL logo after that too, but if I post it before ADL has its own page, the logo will be deleted.

Best --Eustress (talk) 19:17, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

Headquartered in Palm Springs, California, American Leak Detection (ALD) is a world leader in the accurate, non-destructive detection of all types of leaks including hidden water and sewer leaks. ALD operates a franchise network of highly trained Original Leak Specialists on seven continents. Close to four and a half million leaks have been detected since the company was founded in 1974. ALD specialists use state-of-the-art equipment and methodology to locate concealed leaks of all kinds for residential, commercial and municipal customers. From swimming pool cracks to concealed plumbing systems, the smallest leak is located with the most advanced, sophisticated electronic devices - without bashing holes in walls or digging up the deck and yard. American Leak Detection sets the standard for non-invasive leak detection and repair with proprietary methods and state-of-the-art technology.

Environmental Commitment:
Since 1974, ALD has been at the forefront of water conservation and dedicated to water resource protection. American Leak Detection is committed to being a leader in water conservation efforts through water education, water management, and repairing wasteful water leaks. ALD’s objective is to help conserve our most precious resource by offering scalable and non-destructive market solutions for leak detection and to be the world’s leading environmental provider of non-invasive leak detection products and services.

History
Richard “Dick” Rennick founded American Leak Detection in 1974. He pioneered the concept of "leak detection without destruction." (reference: Entrepreneur.com website) Recognized as one of the leading experts in the franchise community, There are now 120 American Leak Detection franchises in the United States, and 16 franchises in 80 countries.

Recent
In early 2006, American Leak Detection partnered with PlainSight Systems, resulting in a new and unrivaled Research and Development department. PlainSight was founded in 1999 by a world-class group of technologists affiliated with Yale University. With offices located throughout the United States, PlainSight has a platform of 40+ patents and filings for new product offerings focused in various vertical markets, including infrastructure services. American Leak Detection is said to be one of the least invasive leak detection methodology in the industry. The PlainSight team has also designed a Lead Generation program that delivers end-user customers through the web to individual franchisee offices.

Business Alliance
In October 2007, American Leak Detection (ALD) and Environmental Biotech International (EBI), a United Kingdom and United States headquartered leader in sewer, grease and odor solutions, announced the first stage of a comprehensive long-term business alliance with the ultimate goal of building a “one-stop-shop” for environmentally friendly products and services related to water management, water conservation and water recycling. ALD and EBI anticipate a variety of updates as their alliance grows, including a plan to work together in building a brand under the logo and concept of “B Environmental.” The B Environmental program focuses on cleanliness, hygiene, and odor control and takes us from reactive to proactive by proposing a multitude of solutions for residential, commercial and municipal markets – from retail in-home products to on-going maintenance solutions for commercial businesses and municipalities.

Awards
American Leak Detection has been ranked #1 in its category, Miscellaneous Maintenance Products & Services Category, by Entrepreneur Magazine for seven years in a row, from 2001 to 2007. In February 2008, The Wall Street Journal ranked American Leak Detection as one of the top 25 High Franchise Performers.

Biographies
Stan Berenbaum is President of American Leak Detection and he is also Vice President of Franchising and Infrastructure Services at parent company PlainSight.

Berenbaum earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, cum laude, from Wayne State University. He was formerly partner in the Antitrust, Trade Regulation and Franchising Department of the Detroit-based Honigman Miller, as well as Vice President and General Counsel of Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc., a billion dollar operator and franchisor of thousands of pizza restaurants throughout the world.

Berenbaum is a member of the California and Michigan state bars and is admitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Ninth Circuit and Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as a variety of state and district courts. He is also an International Franchise Association Certified Franchise Executive.

Patrick DeSouza is the President and CEO of PlainSight and Chairman of American Leak Detection. He has 18 years of operating and advisory leadership experience with both public and private companies in the defense, software/Internet and petrochemical industries. Over the course of his career, DeSouza has been involved in several billion dollars of corporate finance and mergers and acquisition transactions with leading companies such as Cisneros Media Group and AOL. He also has significant experience in licensing and technology transfer with leading companies such as Bristol Myers, Dupont and Kerr-McGee.

DeSouza is a member of the New York and California bars and former law clerk to the Hon. Thomas Gibbs Gee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is a graduate of Columbia College, the Yale Law School where he was both a senior editor of the Yale Law Journal & editor-in-chief of the Yale Journal of International Law and Stanford University where he has a doctorate in international relations writing about foreign investment in the United States.