The Other Side of a Businesswoman

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --IC Places, Inc. (ICPA) At Punch TV, a network recently acquired by IC Places, the senior executives and staff are busily launching the Fall Season. For example, a Punch TV original mini-series: EROS: EMMANUEL AND ME that will air from October 22 October 28, 2012. EROS: EMMANUEL AND MEis a true love story of a man 30 years of age who falls in love with Armentha "Mike" Cruise, a woman 35 years his senior. But separately from the mini-series, Armentha "Mike" Cruise is not an unknown entity.

In April 1988, she founded Aspen Personnel Services, a human resources management and staffing company that was located in Takoma Park, Maryland. Within years of its birth, Aspen was being lauded for the rapidity of its growth and the quality of its services. Indeed, Armentha Cruise, or "Mike" as she is known to her friends, family and business colleagues, had accumulated awards such as: the 1995 BEST in Washington DC Tours presented to Aspen and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing from the Guild of Professional Tour Guides; the 1997 National Supplier of the Year Award from the National Council of Corporations; and the 1996 and 1997 INC. Magazine Award as one of the 500 fastest growing private companies in the country. Ms. Cruise was also chronicled in "Women of Achievement in Maryland's History" a statewide school textbook featuring prominent women, and in 2001 was awarded the "Customer Service Award" by Working Woman Magazine. Aspen also garnered the 2002 Business of the Year Award from the Washington DC Chamber of Commerce. More recent awards include the 2006 and 2007 Lockheed Martin STAR Award and Preferred Supplier two years consecutively; the 2009 Media Recognition and Publication (MBE Magazine June 2009 issue); the 2011 DC Chamber Champion of Women in Business Award; the Vanguard Award for Business Success and Longevity presented by the Maryland DC Minority Supplier Development Council and the 2012 Washington Business Journal "Business Leader Award". Aspen experienced a growth rate in revenues from $39,000 in 1988, to $11 million in 2000 to close to $50 million today. Today, despite experiencing a number of challenges from 2008-2011, Aspen Personnel, now known as the Aspen Group, Inc., has sustained sales of more than $45 million and delivers human resources management and staffing services at sites throughout the United States as well as abroad. With a Bachelor's from Morgan State University, a Master's from American University, and a brilliant mind that developed its business savvy when she began collecting rents for her entrepreneurial mother at the age of nine, Mike Cruise has indeed, established a place for herself in the world of business. But, today, Armentha "Mike" Cruise is in the world of news for a reason outside of her business acumen. Mike, a petite, beautiful woman whose presence can be felt the moment she enters a room, has allowed her love life to become the foci of the Punch TV original mini-series, EROS: EMMANUEL AND ME.

According to Joseph E. Collins, President of IC Places and Founder of Punch TV, and Steve Samblis, CEO and Chairman of the Board of IC Places, a company that acquired Punch TV in July of this year, Mike's (the businesswoman's) story is a perfect one for the EROS series. "There's a cynicism that has developed about love and relationships these days," says Joseph Collins. "With EROS, we wanted to bring viewers hope by offering true stories of true love," says Steve Samblis.

"When Ms. Cruise's story came to our attention, the story of her marriage at the age of 60+ to a young businessman of 30 years of age, we knew that we wanted to do it as a Punch TV original," Joseph Collins continues, "But, for me, the real clincher was the fact that Mike is such an excellent businesswoman. As a result, by allowing Punch TV to probe into this very sensitive area of her life her marriage to Emmanuel - we were also able to integrate some important other economic messages to the public, such as the importance of quantitative skills to what happens during an economic downturn."

When queried regarding "why" she allowed her story to be told. Armentha "Mike" Cruise, President and CEO of the Aspen Group for the last 24 years, offers a simple answer, "Perhaps my story will inspire hope by letting others know that we are never too old to experience true love and that magic really does exist. We must not be afraid to take risks; living in fear especially when we receive a gift. Seize it and simply get rid of the fences that prevent love from entering and living an enchanted life that we sometimes think is impossible to have."

EROS: EMMANUEL AND ME is scheduled to air on Punch Television Network from October 22, 2012 to October 28, 2012 at 8:30 pm PST. Please contact your local carriers for exact dates and times.

IC Places Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, contact:

Rachel Ramos, Vice President, Marketing

See the article here:
The Other Side of a Businesswoman