With its unique approach to business, Cydcor works with a group of independently-owned corporate licensee sales offices. Cydcor also provides their clients with an access to over 200 offices as well as access to more than 2,700 sales professionals in the North American region.

Based in Westlake Village, California, Cydcor has more than a few cross-departmental teams that coordinate with each other in order to manage and support various sales campaigns across the US and Canadian borders.

The company was founded in 1994. Since then, Cydcor has worked with several new acquisitions and has managed to expand product sales and provided solutions for client-retention campaigns. Some of the company’s top-tier clients include Qwest Communications, AT&T, and ADT security.

For its excellent service, Cydcor earned several accolades and recognitions from its clients as well as the industry. In its 2009 annual survey, the “Black Book of Outsourcing” regarded Cydcor as having the “distinction of being the most respected sales outsourcing company in the world.”

Aside from its distinction as a global technology leader (claiming a market share of about 80% for microprocessors), Intel is also one of the world’s top corporate philanthropists for its numerous cash and in-kind donations as well as programs directed at education to provide a better future for the world’s youth.

The San Francisco Business Times hailed Intel as the third most generous philanthropic corporation. BusinessWeek also praised it, citing the semiconductor giant as one of the Biggest Corporate Givers.

The company views philanthropy as an investment in community, an investment in human development. Anchored on education as its focus area, it has invested over $1 billion in education programs as well as contributed over two million hours in associate volunteerism in over 50 countries. It has developed programs and resource materials that increase education and teaching efficiency.

The Intel Teach Program is among its most remarkable education initiatives. It provides effective training methods and modules for K-12 educators integrating technology with traditional teaching practices. The Program develops interest in problem solving, critical thinking and interpersonal skills to promote better student interaction. It has trained more than 5 million teachers in over 40 countries with a target of increasing this volume to 13 million teachers by 2011. Another initiative, the Intel Learn Program helps youths aged 8 to 26 in developing countries get advance learning skills. To date, this program has already reached more than 662,000 learners in various countries.

Intel wants to promote a deeper appreciation among the youth for the sciences through the Intel Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest pre-college science competition. This is a venue where young scientific minds translate their ideas into reality and come up with scientific inventions that improve society. The ISEF has convened around 1,500 young scientists from more than 50 countries and awarded more than $4 million in scholarships and prizes.

Intel education initiatives are responsive to the needs of the underserved communities where science literacy and access to technology is low. The Intel Computer Clubhouse Network is an after-school learning program that helps the youth from these communities acquire knowledge and skills necessary for professional success. This program creates a community of learners, a creative and safe place where young people, with the guidance of their adult mentors, can enhance learning and creativity with the aid of technology.

Apple is well known for its innovative line of products, including the iMac, MacBook, iPod, iPhone, and the iPad.

It is a multinational company based in California and established by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976. Apple began by creating its first personal computer, the Apple I, which was handmade by Wozniak.

The company was previously called Apple Computer, Inc from its incorporation on January 3, 1977. Later on, the organization changed its name to Apple, Inc in January 2007 to re-establish the company’s image as a creator of an expanded line of products, in addition to its traditional market for personal computers. Apple also has subsidiaries including Braeburn Capital and FileMaker Inc.

Apple has already established a wide customer base for laptops, desktops and other consumer electronics. They are currently dominating in the digital music player industry, grabbing a broad market share from its competitors across the world. The company has already sold around 220 million units of iPods, its popular portable music player. The iPhone, Apple’s mobile communication device, is sold in more than 80 countries.

Its success can be rooted from the company’s focus and investment on aggressive marketing campaigns, unique advertisements, product innovation and aesthetic improvements. Apple was named “the most admired company” in the United States by Fortune Magazine in 2008, and as “the most admired company in the world” in 2009.

Over the years, Lazard Fréres & Co. grew and metamorphosed into a business dealing with banking and foreign exchange. In 1852, they opened an office in Paris and London followed in 1870. It was in 1876 when the company began to focus primarily on financial services.

In the year 2000, the three “houses” of Lazard (Paris, New York, and London) were unified under Lazard LLC. By 2005, the Initial Public Offering (IPO) for the company was completed and Lazard began publicly trading on the New York Stock Exchange in May of that year.

Lazard’s service centers on excellence, integrity, intellectual rigor, and creativity. It follows a client-centered perspective. Employees and executives who constantly train in order to excel in their fields of endeavor deliver its exceptional brand of service. Lazard Asset Management also values its shareholders by assuring them that the company is committed to investing in progressive success.

The company’s service in the financial field is highly regarded. It is responsible for some of the most significant mergers and acquisitions over the last 160 years. As a testament to this, Businessweek recognizes the firm as the Granddaddy of M&A.

Lazard is also recognized in the area of corporate restructuring on a global scale. In fact, the company has had 250 restructurings in a span of 10 years (since 1999).

In the field of asset management, Lazard is committed to extend only the best investment solutions for its clients. Its clients range from financial intermediaries, to institutional clients, to private individuals. The company’s total assets under management as of June 2008 were valued at $134.1 billion. Most of these assets are managed for banks, institutions, mutual fund sponsors, and individual clients.

Nokia is living up to its slogan of connecting people. It is the most widely-used mobile device in the world, occupying a market share of 37%. It has boosted its portfolio of products, expanding into a wide array of devices and services for all major consumer segments – from mobile devices to Internet services that makes music, maps, media, messaging and games accessible. It acquired NAVTEQ to develop a mobile navigation system as well as various telecommunications network and equipment.

Headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, Finland, it has research and development sites, sales and marketing activities all around the world, employing 128,445 employees in 120 countries. Nokia has outstanding profitability, earning revenue of €50.7 billion for 2008. Research and development is a priority thrust at Nokia, worth €6 billion in investment and employing 500 researchers, engineers and scientists in seven countries. A worthwhile investment, because now valued at $35.9 billion, Nokia is the fifth most valuable global brand according to Interbrands/BusinessWeek.

Nokia’s corporate structure has been composed of three business groups since 2008: Devices, Services and Markets. The Corporate Development Office operationally supports these three main units. Other specialized business units include Nokia Siemens Networks and NAVTEQ.

The Devices group, headed by Kai Öistämö, is responsible for developing and managing its popular mobile device portfolio. The Services group, headed by Niklas Savander, is responsible for developing consumer Internet services by making music, maps, media, messaging and games accessible to consumers. The Markets group is responsible for the management of supply chains, various sales and marketing activities and is headed by Anssi Vanjok.

Nokia’s success has been equally sustained by its commitment to corporate social responsibility. By engaging in activities that make positive contributions to society, it has helped improve lives. Nokia supports youth development programs in over 40 countries. It has also collaborated with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to promote environmental awareness. Moreover, it has launched product enhancements to create more environmentally-friendly devices.

Its successes are insurmountable. Named the number one brand in Asia and Europe, it is one of Fortune’s 42nd Most Admired Companies in 2009 and is the world’s 88th largest company in Fortune Global 500.

• Nokia and Quickoffice have released an update to the Quickoffice suite
• Nokia Siemens Helps StarHub Offer Enhanced Broadband Services
• Nokia Brings N86 To U.S

Siemens stemmed from a vision of two individuals striving to make a difference. In its early years, it made historic contributions in the field of technology; the most notable are the construction of the Indo-European telegraph line from London to Calcutta in 1870 and the US-Ireland transatlantic telegraph cable in 1874.

In the modern era, Siemens AG is currently changing the world with 430,000 employees to assist it. Siemens touches lives everywhere with its broadened scope of services – from electricity, electronics, medical equipment, systems and technological services. It has become a global leader in the areas of Power, Automations and Control, Transportation, Information and Communication, Medical Equipment, Water Technologies and Home Appliances.

Since its foundation, Siemens AG has become one of the largest electronics and engineering company in the world, having a presence in 192 countries and operating with innovative strength, strategic portfolio policy, sound financial planning, loyal and competent workforce and a global scope.

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, Siemens AG has several subsidiaries and operates eleven businesses in the United States. In terms of profitability, its reported worldwide sales reached $110.82 billion in 2008. The New York-based Siemens USA employs 70,000 people and contributes 20% of worldwide revenues for Siemens AG.

Siemens has become synonymous with innovation; the company’s adaptability to change allows it to manufacture products that solve the world’s changing needs and problems. By developing an extensive research and development unit, accommodating an estimated 32,500 Siemens researchers worldwide, it has developed innovations to ensure its position in the global market.

Operating on a matrix structure, the company is a conglomerate of three main business sectors: Energy, Industry, and Healthcare, including 15 Divisions – each division headed by a CEO.

The Industry Sector is composed of the Industrial Solutions and Services (I&S), OSRAM, Siemens Building Technologies (SBT), Transportation Systems (TS), and Automation and Drives (A&D), which provides products, services and solutions for customers in the fields of building systems, transportation, and production.

The Energy Sector is comprised of the Power Transmission and Distribution Group (PTD) and PG, or Power Generation Group, offering solutions for the oil and gas industry as well as generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy.

The Medical Solutions Group businesses offer a comprehensive portfolio of medical solutions. This is what comprises the Healthcare Sector.

• Siemens, GE, Cicsa Compete For Mexico Platform Contract
• Siemens Sees U.S. Stimulus Plan Spurring Wind-Energy Growth
• SuccessFactors snags Siemens software deal

Established in 1866, the corporation started out as the Minneapolis Mining Company, an organization founded in 1856 by Congressman Robert Smith. The mills ran in the vicinity of the San Antonio Falls of the Mississippi River. Shortly after its founding, Cadwallader Washburn took over the company and invited his brother, William D. Washburn, to assist him in the company’s development.

The Washburn “B” Mill was then established by the brothers themselves in 1866. After eight years, they created a bigger version, the Washburn “A” Mill. Three years later, in 1877, the company entered into an affiliation with John Crosby to develop the new Washburn-Crosby Company. A year after that, the “A” mill reportedly exploded and killed more than 10 employees. The explosion also caused damage to its neighboring buildings. The Washburn “A” Mill was quickly reconstructed and served its purpose for almost 90 years.

The name General Mills came to be in 1928, when then Washburn-Crosby President James Ford Bell wanted to join his company together with 26 other mills.

A trademark of General Mills, particularly the Betty Crocker products, was the box top coupons that they first popularized. With every coupon, the user received a discount for various house wares in Betty Crocker catalogues.

In the midst of the company’s growing reputation as a global consumers’ food corporation, they became endorsers of TV characters such as The Lone Ranger, Rocky & Bullwinkle, and the Pillsbury Doughboy.

In the 1960’s, the company ventured into the toy industry for the first time, purchasing the Rainbow Crafts Co., which tripled their income. In 1971, General Mills started their line of Monster Cereals, with “Count Chocula” and the “Franken Berry” being their first two to come out in the market.

After numerous investments in the food industry, General Mills bought one of its own rivals back in 2001. Pillsbury was a maker of baking goods before being owned by General Mills. They first sold refrigerated biscuits, cookies, dinner rolls, pizza crust and frozen goods in the market.

General Mills began producing whole grain cereals when they started committing to sell only healthy and nutritional products. The company has supported research efforts and fund programs that provide for the health and fitness of its consumers.

• General Mills buying Larabar maker
• Solar Array Ventures and General Mills expand despite recession
• General Mills riding national food trends

Furthermore, Edison went beyond the field of research and engaged in business so that everyone has access to his innovations. From electric bulbs to electric fans, from heating and cooking devices to the dynamo, aircraft engines, his advocacy in research, invention, as well as entrepreneurship, was the foundation of GE tradition. Edison’s legacy in science and business is still part of GE today. Through the years, GE’s leaders have come up with a varied collection of businesses; a stream of powerful company-wide ideas that encourages growth drives growth and cuts cost; financial strength and controllership that results in takes advantage of opportunities; and good values that help it confidently face any environment.

In the mid 20th century, the GE research lab brought many new technologies to customers. Along the way, GE scientists became the recipient of numerous patents and received two Nobel prizes when Irving Langmuir won it for Chemistry in 1932, and Ivar Giaever won it in 1973, for Physics. Furthermore, the company also received numerous awards. They ranked first in Global Most Admired Companies in 2005 and in America’s Most Admired Companies in 2006. On April 14 2009, the company was selected by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2009.

General Electric emphasizes “Ecomagination” to pursue energy efficient technology, lower-emission engines, water purification technology, and many more, to ensure a better, safer, and cleaner tomorrow. Today, GE is a global infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world’s toughest challenges shaping our world with groundbreaking innovations and carrying a rich tradition of research and imagination for 130 years.

• Cincinnati’s GE Aviation helps with Air France probe
• GE and ORNL Partner on Hybrid Water Heaters, creating 400 jobs.
• General Electric gets Navy overhaul contract for Strother

As the country’s number one supplier of fuel and energy services to heavy industries and utilities, Constellation Energy owns a diversified fleet of 83 generating units, generating approximately 9,000 megawatts of power. Constellation Energy delivers electricity and natural gas through its regulated Maryland utility, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE).

Constellation Energy also owns and operates a subsidiary called Constellation NewEnergy, which is a competitive supplier of electricity, natural gas, and energy-related services for industry and institutions. Constellation NewEnergy provides service to more than 19,000 companies and institutions in 31 states and three Canadian provinces.

Constellation Energy was awarded the “2004 Energy Company of the Year” in the Platts Global Energy Awards. Constellation Energy was also selected by its peers in the energy industry for Most Admired Energy Company of 2004.

Constellation Energy is led by Mayo A. Shattuck III, who acts as the company’s president and CEO. During the economic downturn of 2008, Constellation Energy faced some serious challenges. Still, the company performed well for the first quarter of 2009. According to Mayo Shattuck, “Our core businesses continue to deliver strong results in a challenging economy. As expected, the de-risking activities and strategic realignment that we began in August 2008 drove one-time GAAP losses in the quarter.

“Our strategic realignment is on track,” Mayo Shattuck continued. “The divestitures of the majority of our international commodities operation in the first quarter and of our Houston-based gas trading operation in April 2009 were completed in a difficult financial and commodity market environment. We are ahead of schedule in our de-risking plan and now have approximately $4 billion of net available liquidity.”

• Profile of Constellation Energy on Portfolio.com
• Profile of Mayo Shattuck, CEO and President of Constellation Energy
• Constellation Energy elects Mayo Shattuck as President and CEO

In 1951, Texas Instruments Corp. was founded by John Erik Jonsson, Eugene McDermott, Cecile Howard Green and Patrick Haggerty. Green and McDermott were American geophysicists; Jonsson was a businessman and former mayor of Dallas, while Haggerty was an engineer. The three of them who were Geophysical Service employees, Green, Jonsson and McDermott, bought the company in 1941. Patrick Haggerty came into the picture in 1945 when he served as general manager of the Laboratory and Manufacturing Division.

Before Texas Instruments came about, Geophysical Service Inc. was its subsidiary company. Then in 1939, its company name changed into Coronado Corporation, where Eugene McDermott was president. It was in 1951 that the founders gave birth to a new name, Texas Instruments Corp. In the same year, Eugene McDermott was named chairman of the board, while Erik Jonsson succeeded his position as president. Patrick Haggerty was elected vice president and director, as Cecile Green took over the GSI Unit.

In 1988, Texas Instruments sold Geophysical Service to Halliburton, an oilfield corporation based in the U.S. This was the time GSI became a separate corporation and was no longer connected to TI.

Prior to becoming a semiconductor manufacturer, TI also sold defense electronics to the market in 1942. They focused on this area of business, selling missiles, radar and infrared systems, laser-guide bombs and military computers. As their marketing of such products consolidated, TI sold the defense system to Raytheon, an American defense contractor and industrial corporation.

Early in 1953, Texas Instruments began fabricating and selling semiconductors after having purchased a copyright license to produce them. Two years after, they designed the first all-transistor AM radio, the Regency TR1.

Soon after, TI was able to invent the transistor-transistor logic in 1960s, a hand-held calculator in 1967, and lastly, a speech synthesizer called Speak and Spell in 1976.

In the corporate workplace of Texas Instruments, they have two main departments, the Semiconductors (SC) and the Educational Technology (ET). Leading to about 96% of the company’s income, the semiconductors have many different areas to its products. Examples would be digital analogs, digital signal processors applications, and high-performance analog circuits. The arrival of TI’s graphic calculators in the late 1990s became popular among thousands of students, and it gave credit to their variety of Educational Technology.

• Texas Instruments awards Junkins Scholarships to largest group ever
• TI Unveils PoE Controller
• AT&T, TI team up for wireless balance-sensing