Smart Lunches, Mompreneur Start-Up, Acquired by Shoebuy Founder

Emily Nagle Green Image by GregPC via Flickr

Press Release:

Smart Lunches

Shoebuy.com Founder and Former CEO Brings Business Model and Channel Innovations Experience to Proven, Growing Start-Up, Names Yankee Group’s Emily Nagle Green as CEO

BOSTON, MA, Jan 26, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — Smart Lunches(TM) — formed by two busy moms to provide healthy, fun lunches for school children — announced today that it has been acquired by Shoebuy.com founder and former CEO Scott Savitz. Savitz’s success with Shoebuy helped establish footwear as a viable and leading category for online commerce. Shoebuy was acquired by IAC in 2006.

Savitz’s first order of business was to name Emily Nagle Green as CEO of Smart Lunches. Green, honored as a Mass High-Tech All-Star in 2011, is the former CEO of Yankee Group, a storied technology research firm that for over 40 years has guided a global clientele through profound connectivity change. She will bring extensive entrepreneurial experience and business acumen to accelerate Smart Lunches’ impressive momentum and growing profitability.

School lunches are estimated to be a $22 billion national market(1), yet one that health authorities and food experts believe is failing many of our nation’s children. Thousands of school programs across the country have been cited for serving food of poor quality, low nutritional value and high in sugars and unhealthy fats. These facts, in combination with the frenetic pace of today’s society — making it difficult for parents to prepare nutritionally balanced lunches every morning — are causing many children to lack the nutrition necessary to stay healthy and be at their best in school. Solving this problem through the online purchase of healthy, appealing and “kid-friendly” lunches is why Smart Lunches was formed.

Through Smart Lunches Meal Services, parents use an easy, secure website ( www.smartlunches.net ) to order meals for their children that are fresh, fun, nutritional, and delivered directly each day to each child’s school. Through Smart Lunches Meal Solutions, schools can outsource their on-site lunch program to Smart Lunches, a decision that reduces expenses and ensures nutritional lunches with higher satisfaction from students and parents alike.

Smart Lunches has quickly become the largest Internet-based meal service of its kind on the East coast; the firm is currently serving 11 schools and day care centers in the Boston area alone, and is beginning expansion into summer sessions and day camps. Schools include The Riverbend School, Good Shepherd School, and Brimmer and May. “We started Smart Lunches with one goal in mind: to create a convenient way for parents and schools to get children nutritionally recommended lunches that they would eat and love,” said Susan Frigoletto, co-founder of Smart Lunches. Adds Cathy Goldman, her co-founder: “We are super excited to be answering such a great need. With Scott’s involvement as owner and Executive Chairman and Emily leading the team, we’re convinced that Smart Lunches will be in the best possible position to handle our rapid growth in improving the daily eating habits of students everywhere.

“I’m delighted to join Smart Lunches as its CEO,” said Emily Green. “Smart Lunches has already proven itself a successful, meaningful business, and helping it grow will be an amazing adventure. I look forward to radically expanding the business as we focus on having an impact on children not just in the Boston area, but nationwide. Ultimately we’ll aim to bring smarter lunches to companies and their employees too, making lunchtime easier and healthier for millions across the United States. Furthermore, with entrepreneurship and innovation being key contributors to a growing economy, I am happy to say that we are now hiring for a number of positions in Boston to join the fun Smart Lunches team.”

Co-founders Frigoletto and Goldman will stay on as advisors of the company. Job inquiries can be sent to jobs@smartlunches.net.”

About Smart Lunches

Smart Lunches is one of the largest providers of healthy, fun meal services for schools. The company’s focus is making life easier for parents while improving the diets of students everywhere. The company gives back a portion of its earnings by returning a percentage to its school partners and contributing to programs for underprivileged children. Smart Lunches is located in Boston, Massachusetts and is a proud member of 12 X 12 (www.twelvebytwelve.org), which brings together leading entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and business service providers committed to support and accelerate the growth of promising start-up businesses in Massachusetts. The 12 X 12 Organizing Committee includes Desh Deshpande (Chairman, Sycamore Networks and A123 Systems), Paul Sagan (CEO, Akamai), Andy Ory (CEO, Acme Packet), Michael Greeley (General Partner, Flybridge Capital) and other leading business leaders in Massachusetts.

About Emily Green

Prior to joining Smart Lunches, Emily Nagle Green was the Chairman of the Board of Yankee Group, a storied technology research firm that for over 40 years has guided a global clientele through profound connectivity change. From 2005 to 2010 she was the firm’s CEO, partnering with investor Alta Communications in its acquisition and leading the transition to exploring the connected future it calls Anywhere.

Previously, she had been the President and CEO of Cambridge Energy Research (CERA), leading its sale in 2004 to IHS. From 1995 to 2003, she served with Forrester Research. Her first contributions there came as the Internet exploded in 1996, when she developed early models for adoption of residential broadband. She later launched and built the company’s European operations. At her departure she was the general manager of Forrester’s North American division. Earlier in her career, she worked in marketing and engineering roles in startups in special effects, fiber-optic communications, and video training services.

Emily earned a B.S.L. cum laude in linguistics from Georgetown University and an M.S.E. in artificial intelligence and computer graphics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Moore School of Engineering. ANYWHERE, her book on the business impact of global connectivity, was published in January 2010 by McGraw-Hill.

She currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, a state economic development agency. She was named a Mass High-Tech All-Star in 2011.

About Scott Savitz

Scott Savitz is the founder and former CEO of Shoebuy.com. Scott is a strong advocate of entrepreneurship and innovation, especially where it aims to raise the bar on the consumer experience. Scott founded Shoebuy in 1999, and served as its CEO for twelve years. Under his guidance, Shoebuy became one of the largest online retailers in the country, with over 1 million products and $3.5 billion in inventory available for sale, serving over 8 million visitors a month and growing on average over 55% a year since launching in January, 2000. Shoebuy was acquired by IAC in 2006 (having tripled revenues between the time of sale and Scott retiring in June, 2011).

Scott currently serves on the boards of Bluestem Brands, SimpleTuition, Two Ten, and MITX, and serves as an Advisor for Olejo Stores and On The Spot Systems, Inc. He also serves on several committees focused on fostering growth and a more robust New England economy including the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and 12 X 12. Scott received a B.A. in English from the University of Colorado and currently resides in Boston, MA. He is a frequent industry speaker and has received numerous awards and accolades including Ernst & Young’s New England Entrepreneur of the Year.

(1) Using data from the U.S. census on national population and school and daycare enrollment, in conjunction with cost data from the U.S.D.A National School Lunch Program

via Smart Lunches(TM), a Successful Business Serving Thousands of Smart Meals for Great Students, Has Been Acquired – MarketWatch.

Click to Download PDF

Smart Lunches - Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

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The Year In Blogging

I was taking a look back today at 2011, and decided to sum up the year in blogging terms, thanks to the folks at WordPress.com who provided me with year-end data.

A sincere shoutout to the more than 20,000 readers who decided to visit the BostonKayakGuy site and see what’s percolating.  That’s a lot of eyeballs and helps immeasurably with spreading the word about my sellers’ listings.

And I’m happy to see that many of you stop here first, when considering a realtor for your home.

I’d also like to extend my appreciation to the many folks looking to buy a home, who first contact me through BostonKayakGuy.  I really do love my job and enjoy meeting the many people I work with in helping them to find the appropriate locale for their next home.

So yes, I do try and always answer my phone, and utilize the latest in technology to assist you in your quest, and I will go all over greater Boston and the north and south shore if need be, to find the perfect fit for you and your family.

I’ve also worked with many clients on second homes in other states and other vacation areas, as well as for investment purposes.

And in the process I’ve been lucky enough to meet and become friends with many who I first had the pleasure of meeting through this blog.

And I know that many of you are readers because you want to stay abreast of the local real estate market and/or you enjoy the likes of Tom Brady and Gisele, as well as Lady Gaga, just as much as I do!

Boston Penthouse of Tom Brady and Gisele For Sale

So a heartfelt thanks to all the readers and supporters of BostonKayakGuy, and a special promise to keep finding relevant content, asking provocative questions, and sharing solutions with you.

2012 promises to be another exciting, complex, and oh so unpredictable year for all of us so...enjoy the ride!

- John Prescott

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Most Expensive MASSACHUSETTS Home Sold in 2011

Been wondering how the real estate market is doing in Massachusetts this year?

Well 5 homes in the Bay State sold for over $10 million in 2011!

Weston tops the list for THE most expensive home sold in the commonwealth in 2011.

With a stunning location, the cozy 14-room brick Colonial at 75 Doublet Hill Rd has six bedrooms, 8.5 baths and 9 fireplaces. The home, purchased in 1996 for $1.7 million,  was initially put on the market in April 2010.

Apr 30, 2010

Listed (New)

$19,995,000

March 2011 closings indicate the property was purchased for $15.76 million.

Uncompromising design,breathtaking scenery, and wondrous nuances entice you into this custom-built architectural masterpiece. Poised on a 7.74. acre parcel on the pinnacle of Doublet Hill commanding awe-inspiring panoramas of the Blue HIlls and unlimited vistas of the Eastern Massachusetts landscape, this 15,000+ square foot residence exudes grace and understated elegance. The meticulously groomed emerald lawns are embellished with gardens,half basketball court, tennis court, pool and pool house.  – MLS

Two of the top homes sold were condos at the Mandrian Oriental on Boylston St.  These closed at $12.2M and $13.2M in June and have magnificent views of the city and river.

For more on the top homes sold in Massachusetts in 2011:

–The most expensive Massachusetts homes sold in 2011 – Boston Business Journal

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Track Where Santa Is Right Now!

                                                                                                                                All Santa’s Helpers —    Are Helpin’ the Big Guy in the Red Suit Tonight…

 

 

 

It’s a big night for Santa!

And it’s already begun around the world!

If you want to keep track of where Santa is right now then click right here:

Track Santa in Google Earth – NORAD Santa

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A Holiday Gift for the Discerning…Encyclopedia of the Exquisite

My wife’s friend Theresa is a magical person.

Cover of Mary Poppins (40th Anniversary Edition)

She’s the sort of gal who has a chocolate closet, enthralls younger children with a bag of Mary Poppins delights, and was known to cleverly dress up her dog long before it became fashionable.

Theresa weaves magic and delight amongst her friends and acquaintances with her penchant for dramatic Halloween costumes (ie vampire prom,) her devotion to her three lovely daughters and very lucky husband, and her attention to the details of life which change the rudimentary to exquisite.

All this while adhering to a Paleo diet, running and training, and bringing much joy and delight to all those lucky enough to be the beneficiaries of her considerable love, wit, and whimsy.

And while my wife and daughter, and even my granddaughter are members of her inner circle, I confess that I, too share in the happiness and euphoria that surround all things Theresa.  I’m crazy about her; she’s just a delight!

And so when my wife stumbled across this charming encyclopedia and started going on about how it was perfect for “our Theresa,” I thought I’d check it out myself to see what all the excitement was about.

Captivating Charmer for the Holidays

“Encyclopedia of the Exquisite,” by Jessica Kerwin Jenkins  is a delicious trove of, “Jenkins’s wittily curated selection which emphasizes the rare and not often considered, with a dash of Julie Andrews’s “favorite things” sensibility. Along the way, tales are told about muses of the marvelous, from Madame de Staël to Yoko Ono. The author concludes with an entry on Ono’s use of the universal expression of optimism: yes.” – New York Times

Chock full of tips from luminaries such as Julia Child and Jacques Pepin, this read is food for the imagination and will provide inordinate hours of fascinating digestion for your most discriminating gift recipient.

Of course if you’re lucky enough to have the gift of friendship of a person such as our Theresa, well then, you are indeed a most fortunate person.  It’s a gift that’s truly priceless.

But if you need to give someone an awesome, unusual gift this holiday, click here http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bosjohpresthe-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0385529694
to order your copy of “Encyclopedia of the Exquisite!”

Encyclopedia of the Exquisite is a lifestyle guide for the Francophile and the Anglomaniac, the gourmet and the style maven, the armchair traveler and the art lover. It’s an homage to the esoteric world of glamour that doesn’t require much spending but makes us feel rich.

Taking a cue from the exotic encyclopedias of the sixteenth century, which brimmed with mysterious artifacts, Jessica Kerwin Jenkins’s Encyclopedia of the Exquisite focuses on the elegant, the rare, the commonplace, and the delightful. A com­pendium of style, it merges whimsy and practicality, traipsing through the fine arts and the worlds of fashion, food, travel, home, garden, and beauty. 

- Amazon.com

FINALLY – CBS ’60 Minutes’ Takes Aim at Wall St Crooks and Cronyism

Last night CBS News ripped one out of the park with an investigative report into the financial crisis that  “crippled the American economy.”

And with a proclamation that will be heard ’round the world, the venerable ‘60 Minutes‘ launched “Prosecuting Wall St ” by finally reporting on what millions of Americans have been questioning for the past 3 years:

“It’s been over 3 years since the financial crisis crippled the American economy, ” Steve Kroft begins his ’60 Minutes report this week.  “Yet there has not been a single prosecution of a high ranking Wall Street executive or major financial firm.”

Why???

Prosecuting Wall Street

December 4, 2011

Two high-ranking financial whistleblowers say they tried to warn their superiors about defective and even fraudulent mortgages. So why haven’t the companies or their executives been prosecuted? Steve Kroft reports.

Prosecuting Wall Street, pt. 1 – 60 Minutes – CBS News

Read Story: Prosecuting Wall Street  Prosecuting Wall Street, Part 1December 4, 2011 4:02 PM~~~
Prosecuting Wall Street, Part 2

PERMALINK

Prosecuting Wall Street, pt. 1 – 60 Minutes – CBS News
- Watch more Entertainment Videos at Vodpod.

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Regis Philbin Leaves “LIVE! with Regis & Kelly” For A Castle In The Clouds

If the allure of raconteur Regis Philbin has been a constant in your life for any period during his close to 1,000,000 million hours on live TV, then Friday’s farewell to the creator of a unique entertainment forum known as ‘host chat,’ was an occasion of laughs, tears, and big-name celebrities.

Philbin, the co-host of “LIVE with Regis and Kelly” created the basis for what is in fact the tremendous popularity of reality TV – watching people on TV talking and/or living their real lives.

But Philbin’s genre, now seen on “The View” as well as “The Talk” is an amazing mesh of honesty, humor, self-deprecation, the everyman viewpoint, and timing.  He is the master of spinning his evenings out, missed social events due to an utter lack of directional expertise, and levity which takes  you on a flight of brightness, joy, and warm, fuzzy feelings churning through your veins.  All a decided plus for his ABC affiliate and a shot in the arm to those of us in need of hearing someone who genuinely likes making people happy.

You always felt good after being in Reege’s presence.  You could relate.  He related to everyone – waste management workers, fashion executives, pompous Trumpsters.  A walk down the streets of New York is filled with the sounds of “Hey Reege, ” as people raise their hands in greeting all over the city.

But maybe it takes a look at his house, to truly understand the changes Regis is going through.  From Upper East Side snobbery to Columbus Circle modernista – Regis Philbin has found his castle in the clouds…

Architectural Digest Visits Joy and Regis Philbin

The Millionaire and Live Host and His Wife in New York

Interior Design by Katherine Stephens
Text by Nancy Collins/Photography by Durston Saylor

Published October 2001

Six years ago, when Regis Philbin suggested to his wife that they abandon their Park Avenue address for a move to Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Joy Philbin immediately saw the benefits—for her husband, that is. “The secret to being happy in New York is being able to walk to work,” she says. Which is exactly what her husband had in mind. For years Philbin’s audience on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee had lived through the trials and tribulations of the host’s daily trek from Manhattan’s Upper East Side to the West Side, where the ABC studios are located. “I was absolutely going nuts,” says Philbin, “taking cabs from Eighty-second and Park to Ninety-second, where I dropped the kids off at school, heading down Fifth Avenue, across Central Park, then up to Sixty-seventh, the most tortured, congested street in America. It was a nightmare. Then one day I saw a brand-new building going up across the street from my office, and my mouth began to water. The problem was luring Joy from the ritzy East Side, where she thought she belonged…”

Read more: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/features/archive/philbin_article_102001#ixzz1e8UPxsWx

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Pimp Your Pumpkins

Did you spend the weekend with a pumpkin or two? Or three?

It’s that time of year when you can let your imagination run wild and show a little pumpkin love.

At my house we decided to concentrate on white and black pumpkins and tacks, with leather and lace thrown in for good measure.

Upholstery tacks and white and black paint unleashed!

We all had fun creating macho pumpkins, cocktail pumpkins, and classically elegant pumpkins!

If you use the fake pumpkins and paint, you can then reuse the pumpkins in the future.

And if you find yourself attending a party or two in October as well as November, the decorated pumpkin makes for a singularly unique hostess gift!

Add leather for a "Macho " Pumpkin

If you’re decorating with pumpkins, take a look at Southern Living‘s spin on pumpkin mania…

5 Easy Way to Decorate Pumpkins: Tack Them < 5 Easy Pumpkin Decorating Ideas – Southern Living

Go beyond the jack-o-lantern this year with creative ways to use pumpkins in your fall decor.

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