Farnborough - 9th April, 2025 - Several clients of Coach Anu Khanna have been honoured at the prestigious BizX Awards, recognising excellence in business leadership, innovation, and growth across the UK. These awards celebrate business owners who have shown vision, resilience, and a commitment to advancing their organisations, with a key factor in their success being Anu’s strategic guidance and high-performance coaching.
Anu's clients span a variety of sectors, from tech startups to established manufacturers and service providers. Through her coaching, these businesses have overcome common challenges related to money, time, and team, achieving remarkable success and growth.
“Winning at the BizX Awards is a testament to my clients' hard work and vision,” said Anu. “I’m incredibly proud to see their achievements recognised on such a prestigious platform.”
Clients Win Big at BizX Awards
At the 2025 BizX Awards, Anu Khanna ActionCoach clients were nominated in several categories, ultimately winning three major awards in addition there were also seven finalists:
Best Community Impact – Buddy Bag Foundation
CEO of the Year – Lance Hill for Eight Group
Most Innovative Business – ACT (Aluminium Casthouse Technologies)
This year’s victories showcase the tangible impact of Anu's coaching and mentorship, which focuses on developing leadership skills, optimising operations, and driving sustainable growth.
"The BizX Awards celebrate more than just business achievement," Anu explained. "They recognise the power of leadership, the ability to innovate, and the strategic decisions that drive long-term success. It’s about creating a lasting impact in the business world, and my clients’ awards are a testament to their hard work and dedication."
Earlier this year, Anu was honoured with the 'Best Client Results' Award for 2025, recognising her exceptional client feedback and dedication to delivering outstanding results.
A Legacy of Transformative Coaching
Anu is an Associate Certified Coach with two MBAs, a Diploma in International Trade, and an Honorary Baccalaureate in Commerce. With over two decades of experience in leadership, sales, marketing, and finance, Anu has helped businesses scale to new heights. As a recognised coach within the global ActionCOACH network, she has made a profound impact on senior executives, developing leadership skills and strategies for sustainable success.
Anu’s career includes leadership roles at global brands like General Motors and IKEA, where she led initiatives that drove exponential revenue growth, cost optimisations, and the development of high-performing teams. Since becoming a business coach, Anu has empowered numerous business leaders through personalised coaching, leadership development, and strategic planning.
"My clients' success at the BizX Awards is a reflection of the growth strategies they’ve implemented with my support," Anu added. "It’s an honour to be part of their journey and help them unlock their full potential."
About the BizX Awards
The BizX Awards are an annual event that celebrates the best in UK business. Recognising achievement in various categories such as innovation, leadership, customer service, and growth, the BizX Awards provide businesses with the opportunity to showcase their excellence and gain industry recognition. The BizX Awards are considered one of the most prestigious honours in the business world.
JuliaHair to thank new and old customers for their unwavering support over the past seven years, this anniversary celebration is their way of saying thank you and giving back to the customers who have helped them thrive.
During JuliaHair's 7th-anniversary store celebration, there are a variety of super discounts, trendy new products, buy one get one free wig events and exquisite gifts. Come and find out more.
3. Only order on 2024.5.10, you get a free straightening comb or free nightgown.
4. Purchase 9+ on 2024.5.11 - 2024.5.12, you get a free straightening comb or free nightgown.
5. Buy one get one wig free, the second one is .
Join the celebration. Don't miss out on the chance to celebrate with JuliaHair. Visit JuliaHair.com during the anniversary week to take advantage of the special promotions, giveaways, and activities.
Summer is here, you may feel that the wig you bought before is too thick and airtight, and you want to get a new one. However, due to the fact that there were no large-scale activities in the first half of the year, now I have good news for you. JuliaHair, a wig brand from China, will start its membership day on June 16.
It not only has flash sale wigs but also buys one get one free wig. Wigs are all 100% human hair, available in densities and styles. Popular products include colorful wigs, lace front wigs, human hair with braiding and a series of surprise wigs waiting for you to experience.
1. 2023.6.16-6.20
Shop Now, Get 50% OFF Code: Mem15
2. Clearance Sale:
Girls can buy a 14-inch Medium Brown Wear & Go Hair Wigs at JuliaHair for just .30.
3. Limited Time Sale
There are different types of limited-time sale wigs every day, such as the most popular Honey Blonde Water Wave 13x4 Lace Front Human Hair Wigs, it only costs 0.08, and then restores to 0.89, it is recommended to visit the store.
Julia Hair offers the following payment platforms: Afterpay, Sezzle, Klarna, Zip, and Credit Card.
About logistics and after-sales
Logistics: Free home delivery, wigs usually arrive within 2-5 days.
Return and exchange: After receiving the product and inspecting the product, if you are not satisfied, you can directly exchange or refund the product. Log in to your account---click My Orders---click "Return/Exchange" under the order Refund will be issued within 24 hours. Refunds are usually available within 2-3 business days of receipt. (Different banks may have different policies.)
After Sales: If the customer does not receive the refund within 3-5 business days, please contact the credit card company and bank immediately, they may take some time to process the refund. If the customer still has not received the refund, please contact the customer service staff, they are 24 hours online.
As we all know, the annual Black Friday is coming! Do you want to experience the new high-quality wigs with high value? Are you still looking for a more affordable wig? Then you can’t miss Julia Hair’s 2022 Black Friday sale. Julia Hair’s Black Friday sale is one of the biggest discounts of the year. In this article, you’ll find details of Julia Hair’s Black Friday sale, as well as several high-quality and hot wigs, so read on!
11.26-11.28
Up To 58% Off Code: Black28
Shop 9+,Get Extra: Off Code: Black58
11.25-11.29
Up To 30% Off For Black Friday Code: Black30
Shop 9+, Get Extra: Off Code: Black60
Shop 9+, Get Extra: 0 Off Code: Black100
Julia Hair is loved by consumers worldwide for its all-natural roots, smooth and soft textures, and vibrant, vivid colors. The following are some of Julia’s hot-selling high-quality wigs:
Hair Texture: Body Wave, Kinky Straight, Water Wave, Jerry Curry
Hair Color: Brownish Red
Hair Density: 150%
Hair Lengths: 14, 16,18, 20, 22, 24 inches
Do you want to get a new hair color so everyone can see a different you? Then you can’t miss this reddish brown wig. Reddish brown is a warm shade that has character without being conspicuous, giving a warm and gentle feeling. Reddish brown can accentuate your femininity even more. This color is particularly fair and suits all skin tones, giving a particularly classy look. This product is available in Body Wave, Kinky Straight, Water Wave, and Jerry Curry, so there is always one you like.
The Body Wave is a timeless hairstyle and wearing this wig can make you sexy and gentle. This hairstyle has an overall dark brown color with the front of the hair being picked out and dyed blonde. This design makes the hair very streamlined, sleek, and with lots of volumes.
Hair Lengths: 14, 16,18, 20, 22, 24, and 26 inches
This one is more beginner friendly because it doesn’t require a lot of skill to wear and is very easy to put on. You can just take it off at night before going to bed. Secondly, it does not require the use of glue, which can better protect your hairline and skin. What’s more, it makes people look very young.
Flag Day is an American flag celebration held on the anniversary of the official adoption of the national flag on June 14th every year. To celebrate this event, JuliaHair will hold a flag day sale from June 8th to June 14th, 2022.
The information about the event is as follows:
Sale: Orders $ 209+, Get Extra $ 40 Off, Code: Flag40
Sale: Orders $ 329+, Get Extra $ 60 Off, Code: Flag60
Sale: Weekend Party, Below $ 100 wigs
Are you ready to buy happily? Get the best and favorite hair at wholesale price to get a natural shape and unique aesthetic feeling. Seize the opportunity to save money!
Here, we will discuss some of JuliaHair’s best-selling products, such as HD lace wigs, human hair weave, lace front wigs, and u part wigs.
JuliaHair HD lace wig means that the wig is made of hidden and unrecognizable front HD lace. Hd lace is famous for its ability to melt easily, creating a flawless shape. They offer HD lace wigs in various lengths, colors, and textures.
Contrary to popular belief, HD lace is thinner than Swiss lace. This allows the wig wearer to wear a lace wig whose hairline and scalp are unrecognizable.
The most popular hair types are made of Brazilian hair, Malaysian hair, Indian hair, and Peruvian hair. Each type of human hair has different special textures and patterns, including straight hair, loose hair, natural hair, and curly hair. Human hair wigs made from human hair, such as headband wigs, bangs wigs, U-shaped wigs, and lace wigs, are not only good in quality but also natural in appearance, which is very suitable for wig lovers.
Hair bundles come in a variety of sizes, but the most common size is 4×4. They are used as hair clips and fixed on your natural hair to make you look natural and breathable. Closed hair bundles are mainly used for straight hair because they are easier to carry and style.
We usually need at least 2-3 bundles to style our hair, and because of its length and need, it also depends on the style. A hair bundle with a seal gives you a look and enhances your style. With proper hair care, we can wash them with warm water and remove the net from them and use proper conditioner. Just like our natural hair, it can make the hair live longer and stay with you longer.
Press Release-Spring 2022: Earl “Dusty” Trimmer, the combat veteran and author of four books, has released his new website for his current book, Unbreakable Hearts II. Dusty Trimmer says that he wants America to be sure the Vietnam generation and their achievements do not fade away from the memories of today’s Americans. The Vietnam War generation has been fading away because of scores of premature deaths. Dusty Trimmer wants America to be sure, “We Are Not Dead Yet.” The fourth book by “Dusty,” NEW BOOK RELEASE-Spring 2022, the latest in this series, belongs in the homes of every Vietnam veteran, family member, or loved one.
Unbreakable Hearts II provides something long overdue, and that is an everlasting legacy. It is well-deserved and well earned by these great American heroes. The heroics of these amazing warriors have been exceptionally captured in this well-researched 706-page book. The book is a heartwarming and highly passionate account or an expose of what really happened in the war and is still happening to the survivors on both sides that fought there. According to Earl “Dusty” Trimmer, the author of UNBREAKABLE HEARTS II, the book will take the readers’ breath away from the very first pages. It is engrossing and absolutely gripping, right from the first chapter featuring a female Viet Cong heroine called “Apache” to the final chapter dedicated to American soldiers and Marines. They risked their lives trying to save babies and not kill them.
The book is available at most of the major booksellers now. Autographed copies can also be ordered directly from the author. The book is also available in three forms - Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Engram, and other major booksellers. Unbreakable Hearts II was recently named the Book of the Month February 2022 by Anita Finley’s BOOMER TIMES & SENIOR LIFE Magazine for February. “My admiration for Dusty Trimmer has soared into the universe of those who make a difference as dedicated writers and those with an indelible purpose. Once you read this book, you will never forget it,” says Anita Finley, Editor BOOMER TIMES.
Trimmer also dedicates a special chapter to the profound accomplishments of former President Donald Trump for America’s veterans who were denied their rightful healthcare benefits by the Veterans Administration for decades until Mr. Trump stepped up. UNBREAKABLE HEARTS II is available on all bookseller websites like Amazon and website: www.veteransstrikebackgroup.com
Purchases and donations of any amount will go towards the PROUD LEGACY of Vietnam Vet Families.
Earl “Dusty” Trimmer, author/advocate
For more information, visit: www.veteransstrikebackgroup.com
This promotion will be held from May 6, 2022, to May 8, 2022. In addition, they will also provide jewelry gift boxes as fifth-anniversary gifts. Julia combines style, fashion, and quality with women's hair, so whenever you have Julia's virgin hair, you will have a good understanding of the boldness of fashion and life, because they believe in "bringing beauty to the world". They always prefer women as their main customers and use special designs to carry warmth, love, and elegance. The use of this name represents the brand's pursuit of perfection and clarity. Choose Julia's hair to make you beautiful forever.
Julia's 5th Anniversary Sale Let's take a look at all our offers:
All wigs can enjoy a 50% discount+an additional 16% discount (code: JULIA).
Exclusive discount JULIA also enjoys multiple benefits.
Place an order to get a necklace gift worth, and double the points;
Newly registered customers will get 500 points;
Participate in a new product spike. Check immediately!
All kinds of clearance products are waiting for you.
With the best quality and best service, the product series have received stable evaluation and feedback from customers. Julia is the most famous brand among modern women. Customized service keeps it in the leading position in the market. Their main products include Julia headband wig, Julia ombre wig, Julia hair bundles, Julia u part wig, glueless HD lace wigs, Julia curly wig, Julia frontal wig, and Julia human wigs.
Meanwhile, in order to provide more products for customers to choose from, Julia Hair is committed to exploring new styles and colors of wigs. Julia Hair has its own hair factory, which can manufacture new wig kinks, such as a v part wig with body wave, deep wave, a wide range of brown wigs, and a new series of front stitching-in.
Julia Hair Anniversary will be officially opened on May 6th, and Admiral JuliaHair.com will offer more discounts, gifts, and wig series. Come and join us.
Julia hair store provides the best tax season sales opportunities with vogue headband wigs. Meanwhile, these wigs are very cheap and affordable for women.
Julia’s hair tax season sells incredible and cheap human hair wigs. This is the best time for you to buy a headband wig. Julia Hair chooses different wigs, all of which are suitable for wearing in spring. Julia’s Hair Shop offers the best tax refund season activities. Wigs made by fashionable people are very cheap. Come to the shop and choose the wigs that suit you! Julia Hair Store sells everything like lace front wigs, headband wigs, lace part wigs, Vpart wigs, HD lace wigs in any style and color. You can use our coupon code to purchase at a discounted price through Afterpay, klarna, PayPal, and ZIP.
Julia’s hair tax rebate season sale details
Sales Time: Mar2th – Mar16th Off Orders 9+, Code: Tax45 Off Orders 9+, Code: Tax30 Off Orders 9+, Code: Tax15
This wonderful headband can prevent your hair, wig, and scarf from slipping off. It can be adjusted by hook-and-loop (scratch) fasteners to achieve a perfect and safe fit. Put it under your wig to provide a stable base to prevent the wig from falling on your head. This is a necessary wig fitting! This headband wig is very soft and comfortable to wear on the head. Wear it on or behind your ears, depending on your specific wig structure. One size is the best. Only stain cleaning.
Lace Part Wig in front makes you look perfect, and there is a perfect hairline in front. Besides, the baby’s hair looks natural. The secret is to pull them out. You can use a lace front to create all the different styles you want. Although not as versatile as all lace wigs, it is also very effective. Even beginners can master it correctly through the correct instructions and videos on YouTube. This not only saves time but also allows you to cut.
Body wave wigs are always in fashion, fashion and all faces are always in fashion. The first choice for beginners to wear wigs can be the window and entry point for you to learn about wigs. The style of weave hair can depict power and feminine charm. Leisure, elegance, or fresh flirting, our wonderful women’s style is effortless. Women’s style is feminine, light, and comfortable.
Surprise: All products also enjoy the installment payment system: Buy Now pay Later With Afterpay. In addition, we have a new installment payment system: pay now or pay with Paypal for 4 equal payments of your order. You can pay each order in 4 installments free of charge on juliahair.com.
World Estimating Services is a Dallas, Texas-based construction estimating company. This company has been providing accurate and practical estimating and takeoff services to its clients for decades. Over the years this estimating company has earned a renowned status among contractors, engineers, project owners, and other construction-related clients. As once stated by one of its clients “our construction company has been acquiring lumber takeoff services from World Estimating Services for quite some time. Their services have always proved to be highly helpful and thus we trust in W. E. S. for our construction help.” – Mark Temseal, owner of 96 Lumber Company.
Now as the construction season is coming around the corner World Estimating Services is looking to facilitate construction companies and other related customers. The plan is to help their customers in carrying out the construction work with ease along with a game-changer 30% off on all quotes for estimation. This discount is offered in every estimating service at World Estimating Services such as sitework estimating services and electrical estimating services. World Estimating has already lowered the inhouse estimation expense of around 1200 contractors in North America.
“Our decision to provide this discount is to facilitate the construction season with its smooth and pacing work. We value in benefiting construction all around the United States of America.” As stated by Nathaniel James while talking to us “We understand that during the construction season everything is going in a pacing manner. Contractors are busy beyond what they can manage with more and more new construction projects. We are making sure that they won’t have to delay their work just because they do not have estimates.”
World Estimating Services has valued accuracy with the utmost care ever since it has been offering its construction estimating services or any other service like quantity takeoff services. With its offer to provide estimating and takeoff services with the 40 percent estimator cost, the company intends to make its services even more rewarding than before. While a former client giving his testimonial stated that “We have been W. E. S.’s client for years and have availed electrical estimating services and mechanical estimating services. Our experience with the installation of the electrical and mechanical systems through the services provided by W. E. S. is highly advantageous. We hope to continue working with the construction estimating services.” – Henry Footing, MEP Contractor.
While talking further with Nathaniel James we learn that they offer their customers facilities more than just their sitework estimating services, construction takeoff services, or any other services. He told us about the first experience customers have as they approach our website. As a reputed construction estimating company the facilities provided at World Estimating Services include:
Accuracy is our number one concern. We make sure that the highest level of accuracy is ensured in our services
Material rates we include in our estimating services are recorded as updated and zip-code based
Chat and email support is available while we also facilitate calls by expert estimators
Our services are apt for budget feasibility, bidding, and estimating profit margin
Material quantity is presented along with detailed specifications while labor with their working hours
About the Firm
World Estimating Services is a reputed estimating company with a huge team of estimators and a vast pool of customers. With their team of expert estimators, they offer these estimating and takeoff services for their customers:
Earl “Dusty” Trimmer, the combat Vietnam War veteran and author of three books, has released his new website for his next book, Unbreakable Hearts II. Dusty Trimmer says that he wants America to be sure the Vietnam War generation and their achievements do not fade away from the memories of today’s Americans.
The fourth book, Unbreakable Hearts II is ready for purchase on the website. Buyers can click on the URL and navigate to the ‘About the Book’ section. From here, they will be directed to Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Those looking for autographed copies can purchase the book directly from Earl “Dusty” Trimmer.
“Dusty” Trimmer says the intent behind writing these books that contain interesting details and anecdotes is to keep the memories of the Vietnam War fresh in the minds of today’s generation.
The Vietnam War generation has been fading away because of scores of premature deaths. Dusty Trimmer wants America to be sure, “We Are Not Dead Yet.” The fourth book by “Dusty,” the latest in this series, belongs in the homes of every Vietnam War veteran, family member, or loved one.
Unbreakable Hearts II provides something long overdue, and that is an everlasting legacy. It is well-deserved and well earned by these great American heroes. The heroics of these amazing heroes have been exceptionally well captured in this well-researched 706-page book. The book is a heartwarming and highly passionate account or, instead, an expose of what really happened in the war and is still happening to the survivors on both sides that fought there.
According to Earl “Dusty” Trimmer, the author of UNBREAKABLE HEARTS II, the book will take the readers’ breath away from the very first pages. It is engrossing and absolutely gripping, right from the first chapter featuring a female Viet Cong heroine called “Apache” to the final chapter dedicated to American soldiers and Marines. They risked their lives trying to save babies and not kill them.
“Dusty” has been stressing that America’s Fake Media and left-wing historians have been attempting to paint American war veterans as villains in the Vietnam War. The book is available at most of the major booksellers now. Autographed copies can also be ordered directly from the author. The book is also available in three forms – Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Engram, and other major booksellers.
Earl “Dusty” Trimmer served with a highly decorated unit of the US Army’s 25th Infantry Division in the bloody years of 1968-69. He began writing his books to share the horror-filled experiences of his warrior buddies in his first book, “Condemned Property?” launched in December 2013. Many Vietnam vets urged him to continue writing. Despite two Ischemic Strokes and one Cerebral Vascular Stroke, leaving permanent impairments, he launched “Payback Time” in 2015 and most recently “Unbreakable Hearts.” All three chastised the VA for its shameful treatment of America’s Vietnam War veterans. Most important, “Unbreakable Hearts” leaves a badly needed and much deserved… LEGACY THAT VIETNAM VETS AND FAMILY MEMBERS CAN BE PROUD OF FOR AS LONG AS THEY LIVE.”
Bruce Hemming, the famous wilderness survival instructor, and a military veteran, has created this fictional account that creates an end of the world scenario caused by an Electro-Magnetic Pulse Bomb (EMP). Taking out the entire electrical grid, and pushes people into chaos wherein survival of the fittest is the only way to carry on.
“This survival epic is just what people have been waiting for as it traces the efforts of the three different groups trying to survive the collapse of America,” says the author. “The story is about three small groups of people trying to stay sane and survive in a world controlled by chaos. The remarkable feat of simply staying alive and free will grab your attention as they struggle desperately to survive in this unknown future.”
Just like the pandemic that the world is facing and battling right now, the EMP is a living fiction that could become a fact. The author traces and explores numerous situations that are not far from real life. In many ways, Grid Down Reality Bites is a survival blueprint peppered with an exciting storyline that keeps the readers gripped to the unraveling mysteries.
As people survive and move from one challenging adventure to another, the author builds up the suspense smartly and genuinely, making it tough for the readers to put the novel down.
According to the author, the story is a must-read for all those who potentially face an uncertain future. Grid Down Reality Bites offers several survival tips that can prove to be lifesavers for people. They will know how to recognize dangers and avoid them. In certain survival situations, these tips can mean the difference between surviving and not making it.
The author has his finger on every situation emerging from an end of the world scenario. He recommends the equipment people should have, and the skills they must learn to emerge victorious from such dangerous and challenging situations.
Grid Down Reality Bites has been attracting loads of wonderful reviews on Amazon. Here are a few of them:
“I’ve read a lot of the survivalist genre fiction and most of it is just awful. This was surprising; it is very well written and informative. Not the usual survivalist fare.” - Joe Bratcher.
“This is a brilliantly clever book and the way it’s written feels so real. Totally brilliant and well worth a read- highly recommend.” - Mrs. J. Sandland
“Fab book really enjoyed it. 3 main groups all trying their best to get through an event they never thought would happen.” - ShazzaG
Bruce Hemming, a noted wilderness survival instructor, and retired military veteran, has personally trained special forces and many others in the fine art of survival. Bruce has created 8 DVDs on wilderness survival that offers highly valuable tips and tricks learned over a lifetime in the wilderness. His techniques have been used successfully in all 50 States.
Moving home to another country is considered to be one of the most stressful tasks as it requires lots of money and hard work. But you can decrease your stress level by taking help of a reliable and affordable immigration partner who ensures that your immigration process is a smooth one.
There are several immigration consultants in Dubai, among them RCIC immigration services Dubai provides quick and dependable immigration service to various countries. As you know, there are many fraud consultants out there, but you will be surprised to see that there are hardly any RCIC complaints available in the RCIC review section.
Based in Clover Bay Tower, Business Bay, RCIC immigration services, Dubai is one of the most professional organizations that provide premium quality and unbiased services to customers from different countries. They have an excellent team of highly qualified professionals who ensure making the immigration process as stress-free as possible. You can get in touch with them through email or phone calls. They are top-voted immigration consultants who got extensive positive RCIC reviews on their website and other social media sites. If you check their site thoroughly, you will get relaxed and happy as they got hardly any RCIC complaints.
Vision of RCIC Immigration Consultants
RCIC immigration services Dubai aims to provide transparent, fair, and ethical immigration services in order to make your journey smooth and hassle-free. If you check the RCIC review section, you will notice that clients from various countries rated their service as best and high-standard. They hardly have any RCCI complaints on their RCIC complain section as they strictly follow international immigration regulations.
What Makes RCIC Immigration Consultants Better from Others?
They are a renowned immigration consultant that offers premium quality service at affordable prices. Continue reading to know why they are best.
Transparency– They offer accurate and trustworthy immigration services, ensuring a higher level of transparency, openness, and fair handling. RCIC immigration services reviews reflect their reliability and transparency.
Integrity– If you are looking for RCIC complaints, then you will not get disappointed because they have only positive RCIC reviews and ratings on their site. The company serves a professional, impartial, and high-standard immigration service, ensuring a reliable and seamless journey.
Commitment–Their professional team strives to deliver excellent immigration services as their key priority is customer satisfaction. You can go through RCIC immigration services reviews to make sure you are choosing the best consultant for your journey.
For Which Countries They Provide Immigration Services?
Here is the list of countries for which they provide immigration services.
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
USA
UK
Germany
Denmark
Because of their vast knowledge and experience in immigration, they have been praised by numerous clients in their RCIC reviews. Customer satisfaction is their top priority; that’s why they always respond to every RCIC complain, if any and resolve it as soon as possible.
Services Offered
They help to apply for different kinds of visas including–
Visit visa
Student visa
Immigration visa
Second citizenship visa
Work Permit
Why is RCIC Immigration Services Dubai Best?
The consultants of RCIC immigration are extremely professional and cooperative. They never provide any false information, nor they give any fake assurances of visa approval. Their transparency of work is the reason why they got lots of positive RCIC reviews on their site. You can contact their experts if you face any problems while applying for a visa. Their customer support team handles every RCIC complain carefully and efficiently.
If you have availed of their services, you can write an RCIC review so that others can also understand the benefits of their services.
So you have set up your business and earning quite a good sum every day. Everything is going on just as your expected but you realise that your sales are going down day by day. You keep on thinking that your product quality hasn't changed, your price hasn't changed, then why are people going away from your business? What happened suddenly in every person's mind that they are not choosing your brand anymore. So to look into this, you think to google about yourself on google, and voila! You find loads of negative and potential fake reviews are being posted on various sites every day for the last few days. Pictures and some confidential matter about your company are being spread out there which people are taking into the wrong sense. Now you start to understand why people are going away.
The main point is, what should you do at this very moment? You can't just sit tight and watch your company die. You must take action, but it's simply not possible to search your name and go to every page on the internet and delete it. That's where we, Remove Your Information, comes to the rescue. We are a company that helps businesses, organizations, groups, celebrities to remove unwanted negative information about them online. We know it will be a very difficult job, possibly an impossible job for an individual to find and delete every possible negative thing about them online. And therefore, we provide our services which include:-
remove negative links (from any page)
Remove news articles from Google
Remove negative content from Google
Remove information from Google
to anyone who needs a cleanup and wants to improve his reputation online.
Why do you need to remove negative links from the internet?
Some legend said that "Rome wasn't built in one day. But it was destroyed in one". What this line means is that it takes years or maybe decades to build a good reputation in the community, whereas it only takes a single wrong deed to ruin your years of hard work. A single piece of negative thing has the power to negate decades of work. And this is something that is hard to swallow but is possible to everyone out there who has established itself as a brand amongst the people. You need to stay awake; you need to stay alert and guard your business/you like a lion saving his cub. After all, it's about you and your reputation.
So, let's take a step ahead and know how Remove Your Information helps people deleting negative things about them online and why you need it in the first place:-
Online review matters
Whenever we go to a new place, be it a restaurant, bar, school, office, etc., we always go online and search for it. We do that because we want to get a first impression about what are we going to face in the future. And that's where negative links kick in and destroy your chances. Giving people a very bad image on the very first second when they have not even chosen you is a 100% bad sign. These things will not only affect your sales but also hinder your growth since you are not generating anything because of these bad links. We at Remove Your Information will help you remove negative links and remove personal information about your business/you online. Be it anywhere on the internet; we will find the darkest of corners and remove these reviews for you.
Unwanted pictures matters
A picture says a thousand words, and we all know what a single picture can do to your reputation. And therefore, we at Remove Your Information will help you remove any image/GIF that is posted online about you or your business and is potentially harming your reputation.
Internet helps spread word like wildfire
Internet is everywhere. You can find internet in every mobile, every office, every house, and in fact in every potential electronic device. And a thing that has the capacity to reach this many people can give you a tough time if it goes against you. Google, the biggest search engine online, is like the gateway to anything. You can search for anything to everything, and you will find it. And therefore we focus to remove negative content from Google because it is the gateway to hell if it has something against you. Almost 95%+ people use it around the globe and just think about exposing yourself to this much large crowd.
We provide our services to customers around the globe. We are not only the best in the business but also price the most reasonable price that you can find online. Our goal to remove information from Google is aimed at businesses or people who are constantly getting harassed online. It's time you should take a step ahead and remove everything that comes into your way of success.
Woolpert has hired airport operations specialist John Tye as an aviation geospatial project manager. Tye has more than 27 years of aviation technology and management experience and will work out of the firm’s unmanned aircraft systems hub in Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
Tye previously served as a quality assurance and configuration manager for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Laboratory. He was certified by the International Society of Configuration Management and led teams to plan and execute ISO 9001 and 17025 quality management systems. His expert configuration management guidance supported more than 15,000 deployed systems at more than 400 airports.
Tye said he was drawn to Woolpert by its core values, which tout employees as the firm’s No. 1 asset, as well as its industry leadership in unmanned technologies, research and development.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to help bridge the gap between government and industry and to continue the successful implementation of UAS technology into the National Airspace System,” Tye said. “I also believe that having architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) services under one roof is especially beneficial in aviation, where a cost-effective approach is needed for the continuity and consistency of operations.”
Woolpert Senior Associate and Practice Leader Eric Risner said Tye’s vast government aviation experience has prepared him well for this new role, which will engage him in aviation research technologies for contracts with the Federal Aviation Administration.
“As unmanned technologies become increasingly prevalent in commercial industries and the airport environment, we strive to establish best management practices that encourage collaboration and support the FAA’s mission to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system,” Risner said. “John’s experience at general aviation and commercial airports and his work with DHS brings a lot of value to our team. We are excited to have him on board.”
About Woolpert Woolpert is committed to a vision to become the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, and one of the best companies in the world. It’s a vision we’ve been fine-tuning for decades. It guides our decisions and investments, provides our clients with optimal solutions and offers our employees unrivaled opportunities. Woolpert is recognized as a Great Place to Work by its employees and is America’s fastest-growing AEG firm. With more than a century of experience, over 1,000 employees and 40 offices, Woolpert supports public, private, federal, and U.S. military clients nationally and around the globe. For more information, visit woolpert.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Emerging from South Florida, hypergrowth blank t-shirt company AllDayShirts.com has exhibited a clear dedication to addressing important social justice and civil rights issues that reign over our society during a pressing moment in time.
Rallying around Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as the day of his celebration approaches, AllDayShirts.com began production of a commemorative and inspiring t-shirt displaying one of the many moving quotes that came from Dr. King during his lifetime.
Currently, AllDayShirts.com is giving away thousands of these t-shirts with orders for free, along with donating 100% of the proceeds generated going directly to the King Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and teaching nonviolence.
The King Center was founded in 1968 shortly after the assassination of MLK Jr. by Coretta Scott King, the wife of Dr. King. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the education, research, and training of the nonviolence that Dr. King preached so passionately about during his lifetime. It works at both a domestic and international level and is currently headed by Dr. King’s youngest child, Bernice King.
The King Center is located on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia as a part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site where Dr. King’s birth home and church can also be found here
This philanthropic act comes at a crucial time in American society with the powerful and inspiring emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. The Black Lives Matter movement opposes police brutality and social injustice that people of color currently face in American society, just as Dr. King did years ago.
Company co-founder Brian Roberts said, “We recognize that there are critical civil rights issues that people of color are facing right now in this country. Not only do we recognize them, but we are doing our part to actively create change and help combat these problems."
The quote displayed on the t-shirt is from the legendary account "Letter From a Birmingham Jail," one of the most pivotal pieces of text ever written in American history. The text empowered the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
“It’s amazing how a quote that is nearly 60 years old can have so much relevance to the critical issues we face today in society,” said co-founder Scott Roberts. “He’s truly an inspiring man that shouldn’t just be honored for one day, but throughout the year. He’s a source of strength that people can find motivation from for whatever they are working towards.”
T-shirts have been used countless times in history as a form of expression and a way to spread ideas. The Black Lives Movement specifically has used the t-shirt as a tool of expression and as a method to share their inspiring messages. This, of course, posed an interesting question to answer for AllDayShirts.com, a business that sells millions of different types of blank t-shirts.
What t-shirt should the inspiring design and message be printed on?
Co-founder brothers Scott and Brian Roberts made the choice of going with their best selling Gildan G500 heavyweight 100% cotton t-shirt. Brian had this to remark about their decision: “We wanted to give some character to a t-shirt that is really a staple of our business. What better way to do that than by honoring the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a man of outstanding character.”
For background on the business, AllDayShirts.com is a second-generation, USA owned and operated wholesaler of blank t-shirts and apparel. What started as an experiment with no expectations of success during a financially debilitating global pandemic, All Day Shirts has blossomed into a thriving business. Currently, the website averages around 1.2 million users per month, a number that continues to grow rapidly.
The website provides a place where shoppers can get access to wholesale priced blank t-shirts, hoodies, headwear and more. Thousands of blank, decoration-ready products are for sale on the domain. Customers purchase the blank products to use as a “blank canvas” to then personally apply their own custom designs. Typically, customers apply their designs on these blank clothing products in various ways with the most common being heat press, sublimation, direct to garment, and screen printing.
“Clothing is just such an awesome tool of expression that so many people cherish. We just wanted to provide the blank canvas for communities to pour all of their great ideas and designs onto,” says co-founder Scott Roberts.
The key to the success of AllDayShirts.com is the brothers’ full, complete ownership of all inventory, distribution, and fulfillment of products. The business made the necessary capital investments to have their own warehouses and distribution centers in order to carry out the fulfillment/distribution process themselves. This competitive advantage has allowed the site to rapidly capture large market share.
Now with over 220,000 active customers and over 250 employees, the principles that AllDayShirts.com are built upon have laid the foundation for continued success.
As the new industry leader, AllDayShirts.com is positioned to continue to grow and be an active participant in the blank apparel industry for social change.
RAI Jets, LLC, a part 135 operator headquartered at Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport (KAZO) that offers jet charter service as well as aircraft management, has announced an expansion in staff and looks to add assets in 2021.
“Although the pandemic initially stalled our business and raises our operating costs, it has inadvertently opened new inroads for us also,” said Becky Bakeman, president of RAI Jets. “We have been able to service businesses, even those with in-house aviation departments, who expanded their use of jet charter for business to include not only the typical top tier employees but the next tier employees as well. Businesses came to us for the scheduling convenience of jet charter but found the safety of our limited capacity and upgraded COVID-19 safety protocols to be a bonus!”
Bakeman also said that personal travelers who had been curious about jet charter took the plunge and booked with RAI Jets, spurred on by safety concerns from the pandemic. In response, RAI has added another pilot to their roster of nine, as well as another maintenance technician.
RAI Jets is also considering additional jet acquisitions to their fleet in 2021 and scouting locations for a potential third hangar. The company currently maintains their original 10,000 square foot hangar at Kirsch Municipal Airport in Sturgis, Michigan (KIRS) and their current 24,000 square feet of hangar space (with 6,000 square feet of office space) at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek (KAZO).
“We are grateful that our service has been found important to our prospective customers in these hard times,” said Bakeman, “but like most Americans, we are looking forward to a brighter 2021.”
About RAI Jets RAI Jets LLC is a Kalamazoo, MI-based aviation specialist featuring aircraft management, jet charter and aircraft maintenance services. The family-owned company officially opened in 2009, preceded by more than two decades of generational experience in aviation. For individuals and businesses, the Part 135 operator offers customized, jet charter for business or leisure, as well as turnkey management and aircraft maintenance for jet owners. RAI Jets operates its own fleet of aircraft for charter and offers jet owners (personal and corporate) with the option to offset operating costs by adding their aircraft to RAI Jet’s FAA approved Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate. RAI Jets also offers aircraft acquisition service and hangar space. For more information visit FlyRAI.com or call (800) 247-2834.
WorthPoint Corporation is on track to launch the most comprehensive database of Japanese marks in the antiques and collectibles industry in first quarter 2021. The company is expanding its current archive of Japanese content with the help of Dave Pike, an internationally recognized Japanese ceramics artist and master teacher.
Based in Nara, Japan, since 1994, Pike is a master instructor of Kintsugi and a sought-after lecturer on the topic in Japan and abroad. He first started working with WorthPoint as a writer in 2010. Since 2019 he has been focused on organizing WorthPoint’s Japanese-related content and is currently building the site’s taxonomy for Japanese marks related to ceramics, swords, scrolls and other collectibles.
“When it comes to calligraphy, marks, and other symbols used in Japanese antiques, no two guidebooks are the same in their presentation of this complex material,” said Pike. “WorthPoint’s mission is to untie the knots and make research of these topics easier and fun.”
The company is categorizing thousands of new Japanese identifiers for its M.A.P.S. (Marks, Autographs, Patterns, and Symbols) database while developing specialized content for WorthPoint’s growing Dictionary pages. Pike is also helping to clarify the differences in prices realized for Japanese collectibles in the U.S. versus European-based sales.
There are more than 150,000 marks currently featured on WorthPoint.com. In recent weeks WorthPoint has added 4,100 maker’s marks related to Japanese ceramics, including over 200 Kyushu region marks and more than 1,600 marks related to Kutani ware. Modern and contemporary marks such as Hizen ceramics are also included. WorthPoint also added 3,500 marks related to Japanese tea bowls and swords, available in the Ceramics and Militaria & Weapons categories of WorthPoint.com. The company has an estimated 3,000 marks for Japanese scrolls and swords in the queue for Q1 2021.
WorthPoint started growing its team of Japanese art experts earlier this year with the hiring of recent Georgia Tech graduate Rebecca Seippel, who majored in intercultural studies with a concentration in Japanese. Seippel has studied the Japanese language for 10 years and has researched Japanese art for three. The additional expertise and data are helping WorthPoint build what will be the industry’s most comprehensive repository of Japanese ceramics data and identification tools. When all planned additions are complete, WorthPoint.com will feature images and articles that offer descriptions, translations, dates, names, and other details related to Japanese ceramics and various Japanese collecting categories.
About WorthPoint WorthPoint Corporation manages the largest online resource for researching, valuing, and preserving antiques, art, and collectibles. The company’s suite of offerings on WorthPoint.com includes a price guide, a resource gallery for identifying more than 150,000 maker’s marks, autographs, patterns, and symbols (M.A.P.S.), and a digital library with over 1,000 books on collectible topics. Through data aggregated from online marketplaces including eBay and leading auction houses, WorthPoint empowers the antiques and collectibles industry by providing a steady stream of new data each month, building on more than 560 million archived prices and nearly 1.3 billion images to improve pricing transparency for sellers and buyers. Based in Atlanta, WorthPoint has subscribers on six continents.
CIBR Warriors has officially launched nationwide to help businesses across the country protect their programs and safeguard their systems through hiring specialized cybersecurity and IT networking professionals. The experienced team at CIBR Warriors works directly with businesses of all sizes and industries to assess their cybersecurity profile and services, and recruit a perfect candidate for its security and connectivity needs. With an estimated 3.5 million cybersecurity jobs expected to go unfilled this year, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, CIBR Warriors is helping to fill this gap by identifying skilled new team members to arm businesses to take on today’s challenges in cybersecurity and network administration.
Since the onset of COVID-19, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced a 300 percent increase in reported cybercrimes – pointing to the urgent need for cybersecurity professionals in nearly every business and industry. Without such protections, cybercrimes can ravage businesses storing customer information, financial data, proprietary products and other sensitive information.
Industry leaders throughout the U.S. have relied on team members from CIBR Warriors to build their organizations across the country and further their careers for over 30 years. With a combined total of 90 years of IT staffing experience, the CIBR Warriors team brings a breadth of knowledge, deep industry ties and a track record of success filling difficult, specialized positions. In addition to permanent, full-time employee staffing, the CIBR Warriors team can also assist with contract solutions and contract-to-hire solutions in the cybersecurity and network administrations fields.
“With businesses relying on technology for their communications, security, data storage and daily operations, especially in 2021, they need professionals who can keep networks and servers running smoothly and maintaining top-notch data security,” said Scott Garfield, executive vice president of CIBR Warriors. “After spending a quarter of century specifically in the staffing industry, I am more convinced than ever of the positive impact the right hire can make in the success of a company, especially in this field.”
CIBR Warriors, the new cybersecurity and IT networking staff augmentation service’s name, stands for the Cyber Institute for Battle Readiness – a nod to the ever-changing landscape of IT and the combined defensive and offensive mindset needed to fight cybercrimes. In addition to providing traditional staffing services for highly specialized roles, CIBR Warriors also boosts a unique advantage through its partnership with national IT training leader MyComputerCareer. Committed to doing the job thoroughly and well, CIBR Warriors will provide ongoing training opportunities to ensure candidates remain current with changing technologies and are able to perform above industry standards for added levels of security.
“The IT sector is booming, and CIBR allows us to fill in the security job gaps in companies across the country for better protection, higher quality work and a true partnership,” said Tony Galati, CEO of CIBR Warriors. Galati is also the founder of MyComputerCareer, one of the most successful IT career colleges in the US. “We are excited to work with businesses across the U.S. to fill open positions, saving valuable company time and money while connecting them with their ideal team member.”
CIBR Warriors is actively working with companies and placing strategic hires starting this month. For more information for those seeking assistance securing a job in IT or prospective business partners with immediate or long-term roles to fill, visit cibrwarriors.com.
About CIBR Warriors: CIBR Warriors is a leading cybersecurity and networking staffing company providing workforce solutions for businesses nationwide. The team at CIBR Warriors connects its vast network of highly skilled cybersecurity and networking professionals with a business’s specific hiring needs – creating an ideal working relationship and saving companies valuable time and money. For more information, visit cibrwarriors.com.
The Feldman Law Firm, a Phoenix law firm, has announced that the firm will once again be offering a ,000 scholarship for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (autism/ASD). The scholarship will be applied toward payment of tuition at a college or at a trade school selected by the winner. Whether you are currently enrolled in school, or if you are currently on an academic break, but anticipate continuing your education in the near future, you may apply for the scholarship.
The aim of the scholarship is to provide an added incentive to those diagnosed with ASD who might otherwise cease their formal educational activities. Tuition assistance, the firm anticipates, will provide this incentive, and thereby help those who apply to move forward with and reach their educational goals.
Anyone with questions about the application, including eligibility, or who would like to learn more about the firm’s scholarship program, should visit our website, which contains the online application, and further information about the process, submission dates, our privacy policy, etc. The deadline for applications is February 18, 2022. The name of the winner will be announced not later than March 4, 2022.
Questions concerning the application and related matters may be directed, by email if possible, to the firm as follows:
Feldman Law Firm 1 E. Washington St., Suite 2240 Phoenix, AZ 85004 602-540-7887 michael@afphoenixcriminalattorney.com
Southwest Lift & Equipment Inc., an exclusive distributor of heavy duty vehicle lift leader Stertil-Koni, today announced that to fully address growing customer demand for its lifting systems and attendant service capabilities, it has opened a new, dedicated sales, service, and warehouse facility in Queen Creek, Arizona.
The new facility in the Grand Canyon State complements Southwest Lift & Equipment’s long-standing headquarters location in San Bernardino, California.
Headed by its President, CEO and recognized vehicle lift expert, Dean McDonald, Southwest Lift & Equipment has established a well-earned reputation for providing exceptional customer support in all aspects of vehicle lift selection, installation and service.
Explained McDonald, “We are proud to offer our customers – which include public transit agencies, municipalities, pupil transportation providers, private trucking fleets, utilities and others – with the broadest range of high performance, durable and safe heavy duty vehicle lifting systems available anywhere.”
The new Arizona location will offer customers the entire portfolio of Stertil-Koni’s industry-leading products including the telescopic piston DIAMONDLIFT, scissor-style ECOLIFT, full vertical rise platform SKYLIFT, award-winning Mobile Column Lifts, and an innovative line of shop equipment engineered for safety, performance, and productivity.
At the core of Southwest Lift & Equipment’s growth has been its unwavering focus on customer support and service. Explained McDonald, “To serve new and existing customers in Southern California and Arizona, we are extremely proud to have on staff five ALI Certified Lift Inspectors – each of whom has successfully completed the rigorous training and practical experience required to achieve this acclaimed level of lift expertise as certified by the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI).” Also commenting today was Southwest Lift & Equipment Sales/Service Manager Adison Cayo. “This is a major upgrade. Our service team has grown, and we have exciting plans in place to continue this forward direction for the company.”
Concluded Stertil-Koni President, Dr. Jean DellAmore, “Southwest Lift & Equipment has long been a top performer in the Stertil-Koni distributor network. Under Dean’s leadership, the team shares our commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism coupled with a customer-centric philosophy. We congratulate them on their new Arizona location and look forward to their continued success and partnership.”
About Stertil-Koni Stertil-Koni – proud to be a Buy America company -- is the market leader in heavy duty vehicle lifts, notably bus lifts and truck lifts, and proudly serves municipalities, state agencies, school bus fleets, major corporations, the U.S. Military and more. Stertil-Koni is distinguished by its extensive distributor network across the U.S. and Canada – delivering world-class engineering combined with dedicated local expertise. The breadth of Stertil-Koni’s products meets all ranges of lifting needs and includes Mobile Column Lifts, 2-post, 4-post, inground piston lifts, platform lifts, and its axle-engaging, inground, scissor lift configuration, ECOLIFT. The company’s innovative, inground telescopic piston DIAMONDLIFT is available with an optional Continuous Recess system, ideal for low clearance vehicles. Stertil-Koni USA is headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland with production facilities in Europe, The Netherlands, and in Streator, IL.
Flybits, the leading digital experience platform for financial services, today announces the launch of Experience Studio 2.0. This major update empowers financial institutions to deliver beautifully designed, pre-built, and packaged experiences in real-time, and significantly improve customer engagement at scale. In an era where mobile visits now outweigh branch visits beyond 80:1, it is a critical time for banks to get the digital experience right.
“The complexity and time required to launch and scale personalized, relevant, and privacy-preserved digital experiences have been an ongoing challenge for banks, and we witnessed how much these stakes were raised last year,” says Jordanne Pavao, VP of Product at Flybits. “It’s not enough to simply have the tools and infrastructure to achieve faster time to market, but what is critically important is the way these experiences are created and the context in which the consumer is engaged.”
Experience Studio 2.0 is specifically designed to address and overcome these challenges. Customers can now leverage a vast library of pre-built experiences that were developed using strategies required to deliver a best-in-breed personalized experience, from predictive financial insights and proactive nudges to passive financial education and dynamic policy planning. Digital and data teams can now accelerate the design, delivery, and measurement of experiences that drive customer acquisition, adoption, and retention beyond what’s possible through traditional PFM and bespoke App development practices.
Flybits’ Experience Studio 2.0 offers the following benefits to digital and data teams at financial institutions:
Over 200 digital experiences to choose from across every line of business, including credit cards, primary banking, mortgage lending, personal lending, wealth, SMB, financial wellness, lifecycle marketing, loyalty, and much more
Turnkey experience templates that decrease time to market by making it easy to design and deliver digital experiences
An updated predictive and analytics view that tracks experience performance, with an in-depth look at how target audiences are engaging with active experiences
New export capabilities, enabling users to import their performance data into any business intelligence tool of their choosing
In addition to the launch of Experience Studio 2.0, Flybits is excited to release a number of new products and enhancements to be announced in the upcoming months.
Part of the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast vacation rental and real estate landscape since 1967, Meyer Vacation Rentals was recently named among the World’s Top 50 Vacation Rental Property Management Companies for 2021.
This ranking by Rentals United of the top short-term rental property managers in the world is compiled and published annually and highlights property managers that are “boldly redefining the industry across the world,” according to Rentals United.
The property management companies recognized were required to provide full-service property management services or exclusive marketing services to vacation rental property owners.
Meyer Vacation Rentals, which manages and markets more than 1,000 vacation rental properties in Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan and Orange Beach, Ala., and Perdido Key, Fla., was one of hundreds of nominated companies reviewed for the recognition by the Rentals United team last year.
“As part of the World’s Top 50 Vacation Rental Property Management Companies list, Meyer Vacation Rentals holds a prestigious place with 1,000+ properties,” said Vanessa de Souza Lage, channel manager Rentals United founder and CMO. “Being part of this list gives Meyer global recognition for leadership and commitment to growth within the industry.”
Meyer Vacation Rentals President Michelle Hodges praised the Meyer team for earning this recognition.
“For decades, our Meyer team has focused on being the pacesetter in the industry by exceeding customer expectations. During that time, it has been exciting to see the growth of the industry and the increased demand for vacation rental accommodations,” Hodges said. “There has never been a more exciting time to be a part of the hospitality industry, and the recognition as one of the world’s top 50 vacation rental management companies is a direct reflection of our team’s commitment to service and our shared belief that when a Gulf Coast vacation is involved, Meyer Makes It Happen.”
Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, Rentals United provides a cloud-based management solution used by vacation rental managers throughout the world for marketing, distribution and operation management.
ABOUT MEYER VACATION RENTALS As the property manager for 1,000+ individually owned vacation condos and homes along the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast, Meyer Vacation Rentals is driven by an unwavering commitment to providing a full range of superior services and support to vacation rental property owners and guests. Meyer Vacation Rentals welcomes more than 30,000 check-ins per year and has been helping vacationers stay, play and create lifelong memories in Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan and Orange Beach, Alabama, and Perdido Key, Florida, since 1967. Learn more at MeyerRE.com.
SwiftLink Worldwide is excited to announce the launch of two new services designed to provide customers with dependable mail solutions. Since 2008, Swift has been the go-to choice for travelers in need of expedited passports and visas. This year, due to the stagnate state of travel, the company decided to diversify by adding in a full suite of new services including two new mail solutions.
In the city of Chicago, physical mailboxes are in demand, particularly in business saturated locations. SwiftLink’s office is located in one of the busiest districts in Chicago, River North, and experiences a high volume of foot traffic on a daily basis. The company saw an opportunity to meet the needs of its current and future customers by installing 141 physical mailboxes in the space adjacent to their main office.
By renting a physical mailbox from SwiftLink, customers have an alternative to the traditional P.O. Box. They also have their mail delivered to a prime Chicago location and get to use a real, credible address. The mailboxes are available for both professional and personal use and are completely secure.
“Our physical mailbox service starts at just .00 a month. We wanted to make it incredibly affordable for all types of customers. As part of the service, we include management of all envelopes, packages, and deliveries,” said Rob Lee, co-owner of SwiftLink Worldwide.
Customers that rent a mailbox from SwiftLink on a monthly basis also get access to other services offered such as scanning, printing, faxing, shipping, travel services, and more.
The other new mail solution launched by SwiftLink in the summer of 2020 was virtual mail. While working with a multitude of travelers, Swift often heard their customers say they wished they had access to their mail from anywhere in the world. This way, they would have one less thing to worry about during their trips.
When asked about the new virtual mail service, Rob said, “we always listen to what our customers are saying. The fact that they wanted access to mail while traveling the globe was something we hadn’t considered, but then we realized how valuable this type of service could be, and not just for travelers.”
Upon the launch of their virtual mail service, Swift had many customers sign up. The customers ranged from executives, to road warriors, to owners of home based-business owners. As a customer’s mail comes in to SwiftLink, it is scanned. The customer gets an alert whenever mail is received and can then view their mail from their computer, tablet, or mobile device from any place in the world.
“Living between Shanghai and Chicago has its challenges, but managing my mail is no longer one of them. With Swift’s virtual mail service, I get my important mail scanned to me, and the unimportant mail shredded,” said Toni Aducci, a SwiftLink customer.
SwiftLink’s virtual mail service starts at just .99 per month and customers can sign up online.
About SwiftLink Worldwide
For over 10 years, Swift Passport & Visa Services has been recognized as a global leader in their industry. However, one thing has always set the company apart; their mission to meet the diverse needs of their clients while keeping our team small, adaptable, and customer-centric. While the company’s roots are in travel, it has continued to evolve and onboard new solutions to solve customers’ ever-changing challenges. This mission to serve and provide reliable solutions naturally led to the expansion of our company and the creation of SwiftLink Worldwide. To learn more about the company, please visit: http://www.swiftlinkworldwide.com
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) announced today that Freightliner Trucks has renewed its Gold Level Partnership to help the nonprofit organization elevate the issue of gender diversity in transportation and logistics.
Since 2012, Freightliner Trucks has supported WIT. As part of WIT’s mission to recognize the accomplishments of women in the industry, Freightliner Trucks has continued to sponsor the annual Influential Woman in Trucking Award. In addition, Kary Schaefer, general manager of Product Strategy and Market Development for Daimler Trucks North America, serves on the WIT board of directors.
“Freightliner Trucks is proud to be part of WIT”, said Schaefer. “The mission and goals of WIT closely align with those of DTNA and this partnership gives us an opportunity to share resources to promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion in our industry.”
“We are grateful to partner with a key industry leader like Freightliner,” said Ellen Voie, WIT president and CEO. “Their advocacy accelerates our efforts for more diversity and inclusion in the workplace.”
Since 2007, WIT has been committed to encouraging women to consider careers in the trucking industry, addressing obstacles that might keep them from succeeding, and celebrating the success of its members. The first virtual Accelerate! Conference and Exhibition, unveiling its Driver Ambassador Trailer, and providing driver members with free health support programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, are just a few examples of recent initiatives that are helping the organization achieve its mission.
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About Women In Trucking Association, Inc. Women In Trucking, Inc. is a nonprofit association established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 17 percent of its members are men who support the mission. Women In Trucking is supported by its members and the generosity of Gold Level Partners: Amazon, Arrow Truck Sales, BMO Transportation Finance, Daimler Trucks North America, Expediter Services, FedEx Freight, Great Dane, J.B. Hunt Transport, Michelin North America, PACCAR, Penske Transportation Solutions, Ryder System, Walmart, and Waste Management. Follow WIT on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. For more information, visit http://www.womenintrucking.org or call 888-464-9482.
About Freightliner Trucks Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets Class 5-8 trucks and is a Daimler company, the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.
Options Medical Weight Loss is excited to announce the opening of their 5th location in Illinois located at 3212 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 on Saturday, January 2, 2020 at 8:00am.
The top-rated weight loss clinic will offer customized weight loss programs, FDA approved appetite suppressants, HCG injections, one on one counseling, lipotropic fat burners, B12 injections, and the Options Diet System.
Options Medical Weight Loss is a one-of-a-kind, boutique weight loss clinic that combines the benefits of medical prescriptions and nutrition while patients are managed by their team of professionals. Every patient can choose from their 19 different programs which they customize to each individuals’ goals that vary in duration and cost with respect to each individuals’ goals, medical history, and any social obstacles they may face. “We are excited to bring our successful system to help anyone in Lakeview area that may need it,” said William Barton, President/Co-Founder of Options Medical Weight Loss. “One of the components that’s missing in this industry is the aid of medications and program customization. We feel we deliver both with perfection.”
In 2014, the weight loss clinic opened in the South Loop of Chicago, since then they have expanded in the Chicago area with locations in Glenview, Naperville, Orland Park and now their 5th location in Lakeview. The company also opened in Arizona in 2018, and Ohio in 2019 with plans to expand even more in 2021.
Options Medical Weight Loss attributes their aggressive growth plan to the overall results of their patients, the positive feedback, and the need for a weight loss center that has options for everyone.
“Obesity is on the rise, up to 40% nationwide and our mission is to stop this epidemic one city at a time,” said William Barton.
Unlike other programs, Lakeview residents would now have more weight loss options because there are very few weight loss centers like Options Medical Weight Loss that can address all weight loss needs and manage patient’s medical history at the same time.
Options Medical Weight Loss™ Center is the premier medical weight loss facility offering services in Chicago, South Loop, Glenview, Naperville, Orland Park, Park Ridge, Gahanna, Dublin, the Valley, Chandler/Gilbert, and St. Petersburg. We believe that the true way to not only reach your weight loss goals, but to keep weight off, is by making the proper lifestyle changes with nutrition. We also understand that an individual’s weight loss journey is not always an easy process, which is why we offer FDA approved appetite suppressants including Phentermine as well as other prescriptions used for weight loss, weekly one-on-one weight loss counseling, Lipotropic fat burners, B12 injections, HCG injections, Options Diet System™, Options meals and snacks, Options supplements and more to help assist you during your customized weight loss program. We have over 19 different individually tailored weight loss programs to choose from, aiming to meet your specific lifestyle, habits, and goals. When you visit one of our clinics, you will find that we truly have “OPTIONS for every BODY™”.
The Universal Life Church Ministries, just before Christmas, earned a significant legal victory in its ongoing battle against the state of Tennessee.
In his most recent order in the case (No. 2:19-cv-00049), Chief Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Northeast Division granted that the lawsuit may continue against the Tennessee State Attorney General Herbert Slatery III and the Clerks and District Attorneys for Rutherford, Williamson, Putnam, and Hamilton Counties.
In June of 2019, the ULCM and a collection of its ministers sued several officials across the state of Tennessee after they began to enforce a law passed by the Tennessee State Legislature that explicitly barred ministers who were ordained online from solemnizing valid religious wedding ceremonies within the State. Almost immediately after filing the suit, the ULCM was able to secure from Judge Crenshaw a restraining order blocking the new law from taking effect.
In a letter sent to its Tennessee-area ministers this week, the ULCM stressed that despite the efforts made by the State to “gum up the works” in the prolonged case they “…remained committed to defending [the] Constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms,” of their ministers in Tennessee and elsewhere.
The Universal Life Church Ministries is a religious organization based in Seattle that has ordained more than 20 million ministers. It is perhaps most famous for its provision of ordinations, and various other religious services, over the internet. The ULCM was founded on the principle that “we are all children of the same universe” and encourages that its ministers abide by only two tenets: “1. Do only that which is right.” And “2. Every individual is free to practice their religion in the manner of their choosing, as mandated by the First Amendment, so long as that expression does not impinge upon the rights or freedoms of others and is in accordance with the government’s laws.”
The Universal Life Church Ministries and its ministers are represented in this case by Davis Wright Tremaine LLP.
Taxspeaker and Sherwood Investments, LLC are closing out 2020 on a bright note, thanks to a visionary investment in solar power installation. As of November 27, 2020, new 100% solar power has been activated in the 25,000 square foot Jeffersonville Tech Center, located at 4403 Hamburg Pike in Jeffersonville.
One of Jeffersonville and the Jeffersonville Commons Area’s largest office buildings, anything that happens here is locally owned by Jeffersonville residents; a glowing step into the future for the whole community. In fact, Jeffersonville’s very own solar experts Star Solar Specialists are responsible for making this solar installation possible.
Ryan Jennings, Taxspeaker’s Vice President and Sherwood Investments’ President, champions the installation as it culminates in a long-anticipated dream: energy independence. The Tech Center’s shift to solar power feels like an exciting next step coupled with the electric vehicle charging station, as Jeffersonville continues to lean into using clean, revitalized energy. This now brings Jeffersonville full-throttle to the forefront of midwestern green energy — all of which has been achieved by pooling forces from local companies.
The installation leverages Indiana’s net metering system, generating 100% of the colossal building’s electricity needs, selling any excess energy production back into the Duke Energy electric grid. Not a single ounce of energy is lost. Taxspeaker, one of Jeffersonville’s hidden technology companies, is the Tech Center’s primary occupant. The business operates four video production studios for webinars and video recording, training facilities, and fulfillment centers for income tax experts.
Jennings notes Taxspeaker is passionate about investing in the future of training for the internet, with the company likewise operating a number of virtual currency mining rigs inside the building. The Tech Center utilizes an incredible 1 GB fiber optic line to annually provide television-quality video webinars, reaching over 25,000 independent U.S. tax professionals.
Now that Taxspeaker’s resources are gaining access to resilient, renewable energy, the installation frees up resources to research state-of-the-art technological applications. It’s a tremendous opportunity for Taxspeaker to continue to trailblaze innovation in the educational consulting field. “This step forward in energy technology parallels our technological advancements in webcast training,” asserts Jennings.
This is just the beginning as Taxspeaker fearlessly adapts to meet today’s dynamic digital revolution. Taxspeaker’s triumphs are good for Jeffersonville, as this cutting-edge technological training company uplifts its community in its race towards the future.
West Cancer Center & Research Institute is home to more than 100 oncology/hematology specialists with 1000+ publications in numerous esteemed medical journals. This level of commitment to further understand and educate other cancer specialists across the world is why West is considered a premier, adult cancer center.
Participating in clinical research and having publications accepted is a very arduous process, but West providers like Dr. Michael Martin are dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of cancer. His recent publication entitled “Novel Therapies for Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma” in the November 2020 issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, addressed the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults. This paper was of great interest to fellow oncologists both nationally and internationally.
Authors recognized for valuable publications have increased acceptance rates in future journal issues. West Cancer Center is honored to have Dr. Martin and other providers in this select group for the betterment of cancer care everywhere.
About Michael G. Martin, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine at Duke University Medical Center
Fellowship: Medical Oncology at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
About West Cancer Center & Research Institute: West Cancer Center & Research Institute is the region’s comprehensive leader in adult cancer care and research. With a focus on clinical research and the latest treatments,West Cancer Center patients receive the most effective, individualized care possible.
With over 100oncology providers and 7 clinical campuses across the Mid South , our mission is to provide innovative, superior adult cancer care with a singular focus on physician-driven decisions to do what is best for patients, this community, and the future of cancer care. For more information, please visit westcancercenter.org or call 901.683.0055
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Encore Green Environmental announced a new industry-changing perspective on how to price the cleaning and treatment of by-product/produced water for surface application, based on their successful completion of Phases 1 – 3 in their Total Ecological Solution paradigm. This paradigm fulfills corporate ESG goals and land stewardship initiatives.
The first three phases, which were 1) regulatory/permitting approval, 2) successful treatment of the by-product/produced water, and 3) effective, safe ground application of the water, has now led to 4) industry-changing price structure: performance-based-pricing.
PBP, or Performance-Based-Pricing, has two components. As Encore Green Environmental uses their patent-pending Conservation By-Design™ method to re-purpose energy industry by-product/produced water for agriculture and conservation, they commit to not charge for the water treatment unless they perform – defined as cleaning the water to regulatory requirements and soil health needs.
The energy company, in turns, commits to internally calculating their total costs of water disposal, which includes the often overlooked costs of trucking, piping, personnel, as well as the cost of new water. Each of these costs is replaced by EGE’s Conservation By-Design™ method.
“This makes the conversation to be comparing apples to apples” says Darlene Nash, CEO of Encore Green Environmental. “This new paradigm allows not only the energy industry to identify their true water disposal costs, but also the treatment industry to have a transparent pathway for implementation.”
Encore Green Environmental is able to take over water disposal tasks on producing wells, as well as to offer water disposal as an operating expense per barrel on new wells, instead of a capital expense to install infrastructure. Not only will this be more economically feasible, it leads to a path of environmental sustainability.
“We’ve been overrun with bait and switch schemes in this water cleaning space. We’re actually an agriculture company, that has found new sources of water for ag. Our goal is always to lead with the needs of the land, which is the essence of the ESG goals that corporate America has identified,” says John Robitaille, President of Encore Green Environmental, Wyoming.
Encore Green Environmental remains technology agnostic, casting the best water treatment system for each project. Recently in Wyoming, EGE completed the first-ever, fully permitted surface application of cleaned produced water. The beneficiaries of this project was a path to regenerative agriculture and better air quality stewardship.
Sherman Residential is proud to announce its acquisition of Avenues at Creekside Apartments, a 2013-constructed Class A multifamily community located in New Braunfels, Texas.
Avenues at Creekside is in the rapidly growing submarket between San Antonio and Austin. Major corporations, such as PNC Bank and Continental Automotive, are expanding to New Braunfels and planning to add over 1,000 jobs. With additional access to both downtown San Antonio and Austin’s top employers as well as inclusion in Texas Education Agency’s top-ranked Comal Independent School District, residents benefit from a prime location.
The 32-building property boasts 395 units and a curated combination of privacy features and community benefits, including:
Large apartment homes offering up to four bedrooms, multi-level floor plans, and elevator access
Privacy conveniences such as direct entry, attached garages or assigned carports, personal patios/balconies, and complimentary virtual fitness memberships
Comprehensive community amenities, such as a 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center, newly renovated clubhouse with business center, splash park and playground, and fenced-in pet park
On November 12, 2020, Sherman Residential purchased and assumed the management of the property. Scott Gould, Sherman’s Senior Vice President, states:
Sherman Residential is proud to announce the acquisition of the Avenues at Creekside Apartments located in New Braunfels, Texas. This acquisition continues our long-term commitment to the Austin/San Antonio apartment markets where we expect to expand our portfolio in the coming years.
With a dedicated team, they look forward to creating a true sense of community for its current and future residents.
Sherman properties benefit from a national support team with decades of experience. The company has been family-owned for three generations, since 1922, and is headquartered in north suburban Chicago. It manages a successful portfolio of multifamily properties across the country. To learn more about its current holdings and investment opportunities, visit shermanresidential.com.
To see the difference Sherman is bringing to Avenues at Creekside, schedule an in-person or live virtual tour of the property or learn more at avenuescreekside.com.
Amid a worldwide pandemic, love conquers all as couples flock to Las Vegas to tie the knot. Chapel of the Flowers gives couples another reason to travel to the “Wedding Capital of the World” this winter by giving away a Dream Honeymoon Package to one lucky couple who gets married at their wedding venue.
Top-ranked Chapel of the Flowers has partnered with destination wedding and honeymoon travel agency, Ever After, to award one lucky couple with a Honeymoon Package. This package includes a 3-night stay at a 5-star all-inclusive resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico, or Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Couples interested in entering this contest must get married or renew their vows at Chapel of the Flowers between Nov. 1, 2020 and Jan. 31, 2021, and fill out the entry form at bit.ly/dreamhoneycontest. The contest entry form must be submitted by Jan. 31, 2021 at 8 p.m. (PST).
This honeymoon package is valued at approximately ,000. The winner will be randomly selected and contacted no later than Feb. 5, 2021 followed by a Facebook announcement. The winning couple can enjoy their honeymoon or romantic trip any time between Mar. 1, 2021 and Dec. 17, 2021. Go to http://www.littlechapel.com/wedding-blog/honeymoon-giveaway for more contest details.
“This year has been so difficult for so many couples planning their wedding,” said Donne Kerestic, CEO at Chapel of the Flowers. “We wanted to reward someone that chose to get married at Chapel of the Flowers during the last months of our 60th anniversary with a honeymoon to look forward to next year.”
Visit Chapel of the Flowers Diamond Anniversary specials and contests to see exclusive offers that commemorate their 60th anniversary.
About Chapel of the Flowers
Chapel of the Flowers, located on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, is celebrating its 60th anniversary the entire year of 2020. Performing over a quarter of a million weddings and vow renewals since 1960, the chapel has become one of the most popular wedding chapels in Las Vegas.
Chapel of the Flowers is the largest full-service chapel in Las Vegas with professional wedding planners and a team of wedding photographers, florists, and ministers to ensure every aspect of the wedding day is personal, easy, and stress-free. The stunning and immaculate property expands over an acre with five onsite wedding venues. From micro weddings of 10 guests to large ceremonies with 80 guests, the chapel has a location to fit any wedding style.
Known for their exceptional wedding planning services, Chapel of the Flowers has earned numerous awards on TripAdvisor, The Knot, and Review Journal’s Best of Las Vegas. The iconic chapel has also been featured on popular TLC shows, “Say Yes to the Dress” and “90 Day Fiancé”, as well as music videos for Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts.
During the pandemic, Chapel of the Flowers has been promoting love and safety by implementing the “Safe and Clean Program” as their pledge to do its part to combat the virus by performing wedding ceremonies safely. This program includes a robust cleaning routine using EPA/ FDA certified products and safety equipment. More information on the company's COVID Safe and Clean Program for weddings and employees is available on Chapel of the Flowers website.
Chapel of the Flowers is honored to be one of the preferred venues in Las Vegas, the wedding capital of the world.
Georgia Bulldogs Sports Marketing, on behalf of the University of Georgia Athletic Association, Inc. (UGAA), today announced an extended relationship with The Libman Company, a family-owned business that has been making quality cleaning tools since 1896.
The multi-year extension marks a continued relationship between the Bulldogs and Libman, who will continue to be the “Exclusive On Court Mop” used by the Georgia Bulldogs. The brand also will have a significant presence at Stegeman Coliseum during the basketball season.
“We’re thrilled to be aligning our brand with the Georgia Bulldogs, one of the most respected athletics programs in the country,” said The Libman Company President Andrew Libman. “We take pride in the quality of our products, and we know college athletics is a smart avenue for amplifying Libman’s visibility.”
The Bulldogs’ relationship with Libman was secured by Georgia Bulldogs Sports Marketing, the locally based JMG team, which is dedicated to Georgia.
“We’re excited to continue our relationship with Libman and fans will continue to see Libman prominently displayed during the basketball season,” said Alan Thomas, Associate Athletic Director – External Operations for the Georgia Bulldogs. “Libman is the industry leader who joins a list of prestigious companies in aligning with the Bulldogs. We are proud to have them as a partner”.
The Libman Company, the leading brand of cleaning tools, manufactures products from brooms and mops to more specialized tools for kitchen and bathroom cleaning and industrial uses. Libman has partnered with a number of NBA franchises, NCAA institutions and NCAA conferences. For more information about the Libman Company, please visit http://www.libman.com.
Wilson Legal Group P.C., Attorneys and Counselors at Law, announces a new rising legal star and scholar – Mrs. Leigh Caudle Whitaker. Mrs. Whitaker has five years of litigation experience both in intellectual property and family law. Her practice is focused primarily on divorce, child custody, property division, trademarks, intellectual property litigation and general business matters. Mrs. Whitaker’s education and wide-ranging experience provide her with a unique ability to counsel and advocate for her clients. She has worked as a law clerk for a civil and family law litigation firm in Houston, and as an associate attorney for a personal injury firm in Dallas. Mrs. Whitaker is known for her attention to detail and her focus on the best interests of her clients.
Mrs. Whitaker was selected by Super Lawyers as a Rising Stars Honoree for 2021. This peer designation is awarded only to a select number of accomplished attorneys in each state. The Rising Stars selection process takes into account peer recognition, professional achievement in legal practice, and other cogent factors.
Mrs. Whitaker lives in Dallas and earned her undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Arlington and her law degree at South Texas College of Law. She is licensed in the State of Texas, and in the Federal District Courts of Texas – Northern District, Eastern District, Western District and Southern District.
Wilson Legal Group P.C. provides legal representation for corporations and individuals. Our attorneys are located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex; however, the firm provides services throughout the United States as well as overseas.
The Anthem Off-Road Viper is the newest addition to the Anthem family. This wheel has an incredibly aggressive design that looks ready to take on even the worst of conditions off-road. The Viper is a full-face styled wheel which gives it the bold look that it bolsters.
The designer, Jon Chartier, says that his inspiration came from many places. One being car wheels of all things, he liked the look of car wheels with really small windows and wanted to be able to put that into an off-road wheel. He said he wanted to try something new and different, most wheel companies right now are creating multi-spoke wheels and he wanted to go in a different direction and shake things up with the full face design. Once the design came to fruition he decided it was too heavy and took out bits and pieces to lighten it up. Once he saw the final product he thought it looked like an airplane turbine which is where the Viper name came from because of the Viper Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft.
Some of the most notable design features of the Viper include “Anthem Off-Road” engraved into the outer ring of the wheel. This is something that isn’t incredibly common in the truck wheel market and Anthem has executed it very well. Around the outlet lip of the wheel there are pockets that actually make the wheel pair really well with just about any tire design. Finally, if you look closely at the spokes of this wheel, you’ll notice that they’re actually designed to direct air inwards towards the brakes to help with cooling.
If you didn’t know, Anthem custom drills their wheels to fit just about any bolt pattern meaning no matter what you drive, Anthem Off-Road will be able to accommodate your bolt pattern so you can run a set of Vipers on your vehicle. This is something that is pretty uncommon in the world of aftermarket wheels and it’s why Anthem Off-Road is loved by so many outdoor enthusiasts.
In a market that is so flooded with large spokes and massive windows, it’s refreshing to see that Anthem Off-Road has taken a step back and created a more closed-off wheel that still maintains that same aggressive styling that the off-road market demands. The Anthem Off-Road Viper is among one of the most versatile and aggressive designs to be released all year.
Over the past decade, new emerging technologies have revolutionized numerous industries, products, and services. Many come to mind, but none of these advancements seem to apply to the solid waste business. After all, how complex can picking up waste be? There have been many new technologies available to waste collection companies to increase productivity, lower cost, and provide better services for their customers.
All Team Waste construction and demolition collection vehicles are equipped with tablets that provide drivers with their daily route sheets routed in sequence through sophisticated routing software. Through these tablets, our Team can make adjustments in real time by re-routing either a single route or the entire fleet without having to make a single call to a driver. This allows for safer driving practices, and allows us to make adjustments to meet customer needs. Drivers also use their tablets to communicate route progress and report site issues to our office staff. This allows for better estimate collection service completion, and solve site issues that could cause a delay to collection service completion faster.
Residential and front-end fleet utilizes a service verification software with onboarding computer that captures real time route collection services. In addition, trucks are equipped with up to six cameras giving our back office a birds-eye view of all daily collection routes. When initially delivered, waste containers are geo-located to their exact site or home location. Then when serviced, a time stamp is confirmation of service is created along with actual video footage of the service being completed. This helps verify service completion for customers, resolve site issues or incidents, improve driver training, and provide a higher quality of service to our customers.
Lastly, the front-end fleet is equipped with onboard scales that weigh each container emptied on route. This enables precise customer weight audits. These audits can give insights into whether a customer is currently being over serviced or potentially under serviced. The vast majority of time, customers have been over serviced by previous haulers without even knowing. This has led to hundreds, and sometimes thousands of dollars for businesses. With customer weight audits, Team Waste can help right size a business’s waste collection needs in order to save them money over the long term.
About Team Waste Team Waste believes technology plays a vital role in providing the best service at the fairest price to our customers. With the Mid-Souths newest and most technologically advanced fleet, we believe we are your best choice when it comes to waste collection needs. Give us a call today so you can see how technology in waste can help you save money and provide better waste collection service.
Astro Pak has long been known for its “people-first” corporate culture and on September 14th, it announced the appointment of Jennifer Kaushek as its first VP of People & Culture. Reporting directly to Astro Pak President Ken Carroll, Mrs. Kaushek has been given the mandate to build upon and expand the company’s commitment to putting the growth of its employees first.
Mrs. Kaushek joins the company after serving as a key member of the leadership team at Irvine-based Stretto where she was responsible for the oversight of all HR and administrative services. She helped manage the company’s rapid growth from 100 employees to 360 within that period. Prior to that role, she spent 20 years at Hyundai Motor America. In her career at Hyundai, she served in nearly every level of HR, including senior management. Her experience included employee relations, compensation and benefits, talent acquisition and talent development and management.
Mrs. Kaushek notes that her experience at two such dissimilar business climates have given her a unique ability to serve the needs of the company’s employees. Astro Pak’s culture empowers employees to remain with the company for decades even as the company continues to experience extensive and ongoing growth. She points out, “Not only do I know what career development and longevity mean, but I also know where the potential challenges are when a company continues to expand.”
“I was drawn to Astro Pak by its people-first culture as part of its overall company values,” Mrs. Kaushek continues, “the leadership team made it clear that they really value their people and there are already great processes and people in place. I look forward to collaborating and engaging with our employees, teams and departments across our organization to support Astro Pak’s continued growth and our programs to recruit, retain and nurture our talent.”
Stratodesk, leader in delivering VDI, Cloud, and IoT endpoint solutions, today announced the official support for the Windows Virtual Desktop Linux Client on Stratodesk NoTouch software. As enterprises around the world look to migrate their Windows instances to the Cloud, IT leaders rely on Stratodesk NoTouch to streamline Windows Virtual Desktop endpoint deployments. Stratodesk enables secure remote access to Microsoft Azure to end users anywhere in the world, right at a time when the world needs these solutions most.
"What we’ve been able to achieve by working together with Microsoft is to deliver an all-in-one option for consuming Windows 10 in the Cloud,” says Stratodesk Global Solutions Engineer, Rich Severson. “Not only can workers access and connect to the Cloud anywhere in the world, they are able to do so securely, remotely, directly out of the box, and IT teams are able to provide the best, most seamless service to their remote teams.”
“Windows Virtual Desktop can be accessed across devices and locations around the world with Stratodesk,” said Kam VedBrat, General Manager, Windows Virtual Desktop, Microsoft Corp. “With remote work now the reality for many organizations, the integration with Stratodesk helps maintain employee productivity while providing the flexibility and ease-of-use that is the Microsoft standard.”
Now that support for Microsoft Windows 7 has ended, enterprises are looking for alternative ways to ensure ongoing productivity in their deployments. Stratodesk provides an answer, thanks to its ability to convert hardware – x86 or ARM – into a Windows Virtual Desktop endpoint. Together, the integrated solutions also offer an incredible value proposition to enterprises by enabling remote work. In addition to connecting remote workers around the world to Azure-hosted Windows 10 instances without needing Windows on the endpoint, Stratodesk enables a host of added benefits to imbue IT leaders with the essentials they need to make remote work more effective than ever. These benefits include support for top VPNs, as well as add-ons like Cloud Xtension and NoTouch Go – the USB-based, bootable NoTouch endpoint.
Founded in 2010, Stratodesk is redefining end user computing by delivering an all-in-one solution for VDI, DaaS and IoT markets. Stratodesk’s cutting edge Linux-based OS and management suite, NoTouch, is the hardware-agnostic solution that enables companies to cost-effectively manage their entire secure digital perimeter. Stratodesk solution works seamlessly across x86 and ARM/Raspberry Pi based hardware products to provide a unified platform for all your endpoints. It increases endpoint security, simplifies user experience, and allows customers to maximize the benefits of their existing desktop hardware through PC conversion. Today with nearly one million licenses deployed across multiple industries including healthcare, finance, retail, and education. Stratodesk is the fastest growing EUC company with offices located across the United States, Europe, and Russia.
Happiest Minds Technologies Limited, a ‘Born Digital . Born Agile’, digital transformation and IT solutions company and Io-Tahoe have entered a strategic partnership to provide their esteemed clients with effective Data Discovery and Adaptive Governance solutions. These capabilities will help improve data security and also mature digital resilience within companies and minimize their data risk exposure. Happiest Minds, as a Reseller Partner of Io-Tahoe, is committed to enhance data protection programs and improve business performance for its customers.
Priya Kanduri, CTO, Vice President, Cyber Security, Happiest Minds Technologies said, "We have strong offerings and credentials in data compliance, including GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA and other similar guidelines within the sensitive data protection space and this partnership with Io-Tahoe will strengthen it further by adding the capabilities of Data Governance, Sensitive Data Discovery across platforms and Hybrid Cloud Environments with AI-driven Data Cataloging features."
Leveraging Io-Tahoe's SmartData platform powered by AI/ML technologies, Happiest Minds' 'Data Compliance as a Service' solution will be able to accelerate your organization's data privacy & compliance lifecycle by implementing data discovery, data quality management and facilitate deep analytics & governance. Some of the key solution features include:
Automated Data Discovery – across heterogeneous data sources/platforms
Auto-Generated Smart Data Catalog – removing all manual effort
Automated Data Flows & Data Lineage
Data Quality Assessments
Regulatory Compliance & Policy Mapping
Automated & Continuous Data Governance
Ajay Vohora, Chief Executive Officer, Io-Tahoe, "Happiest Minds is at the forefront of helping the world’s smartest enterprises to strengthen their digital resilience. Together with Happiest Minds we will addresses the challenges organizations face as they attempt to unleash the power of data and capitalize on new digital market opportunities while also ensuring their data assets are protected and compliant with regulatory policies and security controls. This partnership is another endorsement of our data automation technology and our business, and an even bigger opportunity for our joint customers. Together, we combine the three pillars needed for success - outstanding technology, the right skills, and the business smarts to deliver excellent results.”
About Happiest Minds Technologies: Happiest Minds Technologies Limited, a Mindful IT Company, enables digital transformation for enterprises and technology providers by delivering seamless customer experiences, business efficiency and actionable insights. We do this by leveraging a spectrum of disruptive technologies such as: artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud, digital process automation, internet of things, robotics/drones, security, virtual/augmented reality, etc. Positioned as ‘Born Digital . Born Agile’, our capabilities span digital solutions, infrastructure, product engineering and security. We deliver these services across industry sectors such as automotive, BFSI, consumer packaged goods, e-commerce, edutech, engineering R&D, hi-tech, manufacturing, retail and travel/transportation/hospitality.
A Great Place to Work-Certified™ company, Happiest Minds is headquartered in Bangalore, India with operations in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia and Middle East.
Media Contact: media@happiestminds.com
About Io-Tahoe Io-Tahoe is the leader in Enterprise Data Automation software, harnessing the power of our patented data automation technologies to help organizations empower employees to achieve more. Companies around the world, rely on Io-Tahoe data automation technology to guide action and drive change that results in millions of dollars saved.
With origins in both industry and the open-source community, Io-Tahoe has always been devoted to simplifying data, sharing knowledge, and pursuing truths. Founded in 2017, Io-Tahoe brings together data engineering, science, and analytics on an open, unified platform so data teams can collaborate and innovate faster.
Venture-backed and headquartered in New York (with offices on three continents) and a growing ecosystem of global partners, including Google, IBM Red Hat, AWS, SalesForce, Microsoft, Service Now and others, Io-Tahoe is on a mission to help data teams solve the world's toughest problems. For more information, visit https://www.iotahoe.com/
giftya, the personalized, digital smart gift card platform, now enables gift recipients to link their giftya e-gifts to their Visa® credit card, in addition to debit cards, for seamless redemption at any of giftya’s 5000+ national and local partner merchants.
This linkage establishes giftya as the industry’s first truly “Smart Gift Card” enabling the recipient to either link to a credit or debit card; use as e-gift code; or convert the value into a Visa Gift Card.
Additionally, giftya is the only platform in the industry that enables recipients to switch their gift for redemption with a different merchant than originally issued.
For small to mid-sized merchants who cannot afford to undertake a proprietary gift card offering, this provides them with the ability to offer a Visa gift option without the need for any additional system processing infrastructure, implementation, training or cost. For larger, national merchants, this provides another option to drive revenue to their existing gift offerings.
“giftya provides consumers with even more convenience and secure redemption options,” said giftya founder and CEO, Jason Wolfe. “Additionally, it enables consumers to convert their giftyas to pay for more essential needs if they desire.”
Ease of use -- Personalized -- Secure Using the giftya mobile app or website, purchasers can personalize their giftya by uploading a photo, video and/or wrapper and record a message before securely texting their e-gift to loved ones and friends. Unlike physical gift cards, giftya’s proprietary platform has no risk of loss or theft. Recipients are notified of their gift within seconds. Once recipients decide how they would like to redeem their giftya, the connected account is automatically credited the gift amount until the giftya is used in full. Additionally, for those that are environmentally conscious, using giftya at scale can cut thousands of tons of plastic gift cards from ending up in landfills, lessening the world’s carbon footprint and the effect of physical gift cards on the climate.
ABOUT GIFTYA Giftya, a Telos Gifting, LLC company, is reinventing gift giving with a meaningful no loss, no waste e-gift. Giftya enables you to text a personalized gift for any national or local merchant in the U.S. within seconds. Visit https://www.giftya.com for more information.
zpizza is scoring impressive results from its latest round of promotions, with the help of an Enterprise Intelligence solution from Hypersonix.
“There were significant gains in traffic and sales,” said Brandi Babb, VP Operations of zpizza, which operates and franchises a chain of gourmet-casual restaurants under its zpizza banner in Arizona, California and Oregon. “We ended up with the impact we had hoped for, and more.”
Late last year, zpizza had deployed an advanced AI solution from Hypersonix to improve analytics and decision support across its store network. The challenging operating environment of the pandemic motivated a fresh look at how its promotions were structured.
Said Ms. Babb, “Hypersonix has helped us drive real change. We have been able to test and evaluate promotion designs and model their impact before rolling them out throughout the system.”
The two promotions were designed and deployed based upon Hypersonix Promo Intelligence analyses. Highlight of the results included:
Average Store traffic increased by 9% chain-wide
Store promotion sales for the two deals jumped by 2.7X and 8X
Top 9 stores saw extremely strong uptakes with traffic increases ranging from 32 to 107% during promotion, with one store seeing a 132% increase
Notably, half of the top-performing stores had been categorized as “hard to influence” because other recent promotions had not been effective there, said Ms. Babb. “Hypersonix Promotion Intelligence helped us identify promotions that lifted traffic in those locations.”
After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the company to close its dining rooms last Spring, insights from the Hypersonix platform were crucial for making the right adjustments to the company’s promotional approach, said Ms. Babb.
Tried-and-true zpizza promotions like “Free Slice Day” which focused on its vigorous dine-in lunch trade, were suddenly less relevant with many customers working from home instead of nearby offices. The company pivoted to deals like 50% off any large pizza, and family bundles, which appealed more to at-home dinner occasions.
“We actually pulled our marketing plan last March, and in full honesty, we were adjusting it week by week for the first few months based on what we were seeing in the data,” she said.
Founded in 1986 in Laguna Beach, California, zpizza is an artisan-inspired pizza chain that appeals to traditional pizza lovers, health-conscious consumers, and gourmet palates. It offers hand-tossed pizzas and a complete menu of engaging appetizers, salads, and sandwiches, inspired by California and a healthy way of life.
“zpizza is a nimble company that quickly recognized the strategic benefits that can be realized from a smart Enterprise Intelligence system,” said Rama Rao, Hypersonix co-founder and Head of Product and Data. “It is very rewarding to observe how our solution has helped the company to optimize promotional offers and react faster to changing market conditions.”
Hypersonix offers a unified, AI-powered Intelligent Enterprise Platform for e-commerce, grocery, restaurant, hospitality, and other consumer-focused industries. The solution leverages the latest innovations in augmented analytics, data science, machine learning, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to turn data into actionable intelligence in real-time, allowing decision-makers to make better, faster, and more confident daily decisions.
“Overall, these promotions were a very strong validation of actionable recommendations from Hypersonix intelligence, and we plan to continue implementing more like these,” Ms. Babb added, “I am incredibly happy to see the direct impact of the data supporting our strategic goals.”
About Hypersonix, Inc.
Hypersonix offers restaurants a unified, AI-Powered Intelligent Enterprise Platform enabling profitable revenue growth. Built with the latest innovations in augmented analytics, data science, ML and NLP, it incorporates a full array of descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, & prescriptive intelligence. Hypersonix customers enjoy a holistic understanding of what's happening in their business, why it's happening, and what they should do about it.
Intelligence Apps offered by Hypersonix include the latest AI-enabled innovations and best practices for merchandising, marketing, store operations, and supply chain management. It works with all existing applications eliminating silos and offers unparalleled ease-of-use for technical and non-technical decision-makers. The platform offers a simple, fast ‘"Google-like’" experience supported by ‘"Jarvix,’" a virtual assistant.
Designed for Retail, Restaurant, Hospitality, e-Commerce, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), and Brand Manufacturers. Hypersonix helps clients drive profitable growth, save money and improve customer engagement. Founded in 2018 by former executives from SAP, PayPal and IBM, the company has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, TechCrunch, along with other outlets. It is based in San Jose, with offices in Sacramento, California and Bangalore, India.
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has recognized Memorial Healthcare System with its Performance Excellence Award. The Hollywood, FL-based provider was certified at level 9 (out of a maximum 10) in the 2020 Digital Health Most Wired program, a ranking that places it above 97% of the more than 30,000 organizations that participated in the annual survey.
Memorial was the only organization in Broward County certified at level 9 or higher and has been rated among the most wired healthcare systems in America for more than a decade.
The CHIME program assesses how effectively organizations apply core and advanced technologies into their clinical and business programs to improve health and care in their communities. Level nine and ten organizations are described in CHIME’s report as often being leaders in healthcare technology that actively push the industry forward.
“We’ve had a longstanding commitment to implementing technology that benefits patients and families, so we’re pleased to again be considered among the most wired in the healthcare industry,” said Memorial Healthcare System CIO Jeffrey Sturman. “Especially this year, with the coronavirus pandemic, it’s more important than ever to lead in the digital space while so much is changing about how we deliver healthcare.”
Organizations at all stages of development, from early to industry leading, were surveyed by CHIME, an executive organization dedicated to serving senior healthcare IT leaders. Participants were judged on the adoption, integration, and impact of technologies in eight areas: infrastructure, security, business/disaster recovery, administrative/supply chain, analytics/data management, interoperability/population health, patient engagement, and clinical quality/safety. (View Memorial’s scorecard here).
“The Digital Health Most Wired program underscores why healthcare organizations keep pushing themselves to be digital leaders and shows what amazing feats they can achieve,” said CHIME President and CEO Russell P. Branzell. “This certification recognizes exemplary performance in 2020.”
CHIME believes its assessment enables organizations to benchmark their efforts against a defined, worldwide, industry standard in order to determine where to invest financial and human capital.
Memorial Healthcare System (http://www.mhs.net) is one of the largest public healthcare systems in the U.S. and a national leader in quality care and patient satisfaction. It is highly regarded for a patient and family-centered approach at facilities that include Memorial Regional Hospital, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Memorial Regional Hospital South, Memorial Hospital West, Memorial Hospital Miramar, Memorial Hospital Pembroke, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Health Specialty Center in Wellington, and Memorial Manor nursing home.
Among its many awards and recognition are Modern Healthcare magazine’s “Best Place to Work in Healthcare,” Florida Trend’s “Florida’s Best Companies to Work For,” and Becker’s Hospital Review’s “150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare.” In a recent report (“Humanizing Brand Experience”), the Denver-based consulting firm Monigle named Memorial the top health system brand in America, based on consumer surveys.
John Falcone, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Falcone Capital Holdings, LLC has been named a 2020 honoree of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Most Admired CEOs.
This prestigious annual award recognizes Atlanta based CEOs who have demonstrated exceptional leadership through innovation, stellar financial results, a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, while also making significant contributions to the Metro Atlanta community.
Despite facing the headwinds associated with Covid-19, Social Unrest in core cities, and a “new normal” in the workplace, John Falcone propelled the Falcone Brand of Companies’ to record revenue and growth, which amounted to increased employee headcounts, and the boosting of their salaries and bonuses. Additionally, via their non-profit organization, The Falcone Foundation, Inc., Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was able to be donated to nursing homes and businesses throughout the Region and across the entire United States.
When asked to comment on this year’s honor, John Falcone stated, “As someone who does not forget their humble beginnings, I will continue to lead our companies’ by example to the best of my ability while always putting our clients, employees, vendors and communities first.”
About Falcone Capital Holdings, LLC: Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Falcone Capital Holdings, LLC is a global leader in International and Domestic transportation and logistics. Operating across six continents through our wholly owned subsidiaries and partner offices, the Falcone Brand of companies are synonymous with premium and cutting-edge services across all modes of international and domestic transportation. The Falcone Companies are licensed, bonded and insured through all federal and state agencies including the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is a certified and validated member of the Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism (C-TPAT).
Plant-Grow Inc., a company that provides the latest plant growth technology and equipment for the agricultural industry, announces a risk-free program for new customers to try our innovative solution to improve soil fertility and increase NPK conversion uptake for plants.
Farmers are at a crossroads and face many challenges including low domestic demand, storm recovery, international tariffs, stored supply and competition. Plant-Grow expects to help American farmers level the playing field with its patented products.
The trial program enables farmers to be confident that the Plant-Grow's beneficial microbes actually improve yield and profit. A new customer pays 50% at the delivery of Plant-Grow product, and if the farmer does not see a positive return on investment, then Plant-Grow will refund the initial payment. Should the grower have a positive ROI, the remaining 50% will be due upon harvest.
Plant-Grow is confident of its products’ efficacy - recently, the program was trialed with the participation of 20 farmers elevating yields by an average of 20 percent. Plant-Grow microbial technology has garnered excellent results with row crops such as rice, corn, cotton, soy, and wheat plus a variety of other plants including almonds, peaches, walnuts, pistachios, grapes, sugarcane, tomatoes, chili peppers, carrots, onions, cherries, and berries.
Being a bio-innovation company, Plant-Grow has developed a platform specially designed for agriculture along with environmental water treatment solutions. Over the years, Plant-Grow has dedicated their time and energy to restoring soil health and solving the water crisis globally. “When there are healthy soil and sufficient supply of water, we can expect that there will be sustainability in the food supply. We have dedicated our best effort to come up with our first product that can effectively enhance the growth of the roots.
Through our microbial solutions, a healthy plant can be produced. Our microbial solutions are not only for the current agriculture environment but will also impact the next generation,” expresses June Gitau, Managing Director of Plant-Grow Kenya. The microbial solutions are patented and patent-pending through the IP boutique firm The Patent Law Office, PC.
The use of Plant-Grow products contributes to healthy soils that contain microbes necessary for preventing disease, reducing plant stress, and restoring nutrients. The microbes help plants absorb nutrients more efficiently, reducing run-offs into our streams and lakes. Thus, it's a win-win for the earth and for farmers.
The recent Vacation Survey conducted by leading travel agency franchise Dream Vacations revealed that there is an incredible pent up demand for travel, as a result of COVID-19, with nearly 95 percent of those surveyed planning on taking a vacation in 2020 or 2021. Approximately 1,500 people participated in the survey which took place in July and August 2020.
Key findings of people surveyed include:
95% want to take a vacation in 2020 or 2021
60% feel confident with the enhanced health and safety protocols proposed by the cruise lines
70% know and trust the value a travel agent provides
78% realize that travel agents provide additional exclusive perks in addition to the promotions offered by cruise lines and resorts
50% will go on a cruise for their next vacation, 18% will stay at a resort, and the remaining 32 percent have other plans
37% hope to go to the Caribbean; 21% plan on staying in the U.S.; and 15% are going to Europe for their next vacation, while the remaining 27% selected different destinations.
“As a travel agency, we conducted this survey to gain a better understanding of how COVID-19 has impacted consumers plans to take vacations going forward,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations. “Now more than ever before people are recognizing the value and expertise that working with a travel agent affords and our agents are prepared to best serve clients when the surge of travel resumes.”
Dream Vacations travel agents serve as advocates for their clients and educate them on what the new vacation experience entails as it relates to health and safety protocols, documents needed and more. They provide their professional expertise and personalized service to match the best vacation that will meet their client’s budgets yet exceed their expectations. In addition to selling cruise, all-inclusive resorts and tour vacations, Dream Vacations agents also have access to thousands of private villas around the world through a partnership with Villas of Distinction®.
About Dream Vacations Travel agents with the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise Dream Vacations have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. A member of the International Franchise Association, Dream Vacations is part of World Travel Holdings and has received franchise partner of the year, a top-ranking status, by all the major cruise lines as well as national recognition for its support of military veterans. For more information about Dream Vacations, visit http://www.DreamVacations.com and follow on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/OfficialDreamVacations.
50% of major credit cards have pivoted their rewards strategy to accelerate point earning for food delivery purchases since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new whitepaper by PaymentsSource and iSeatz. The whitepaper - Banking Rewards & Dining: A Changing Landscape - details both sea changes in consumer spending and the resultant strategic shifts brands such as Mastercard, Citi, Capital One, and US Bank are making to leverage these new behaviors.
“Travel earning and redemption has always been the gold standard of rewards products, however coronavirus has made it clear that a travel-only portfolio cannot sustain a card’s presence at the top-of-wallet during a pandemic,” said iSeatz CEO Kenneth Purcell. While usage of rewards points for travel has been gradually recovering, usage of loyalty-integrated food delivery has soared more than 100%. “Consumers are looking for ways to use their points that are convenient, safe, and provide everyday value.”
Food delivery in the US is a B industry 70% of Americans order takeout or food delivery 10% use a food delivery app more than once per week
The food delivery industry is expected to grow more than 20% in 2020, driven largely by lockdowns and concerns about the safety of in-person dining. Although Americans are returning to restaurants, usage of food delivery apps, and increased order frequency, is expected to remain post-pandemic. 60% of Americans now say they order takeout at least once per week, and orders of loyalty-integrated food delivery still remain nearly 35% above average despite more than 80% of restaurants being open for dine-in.
Additionally, the report dives into the trends driving dining-related rewards over the past five years, which kicked off with Capital One’s launch of the Savor card, specifically targeting high-spending foodies. Since then, major issuers have been in an arms race to deliver the most food-related bang for the cardholder buck. Chase partnered with Tock, and just last week announced enhancements to their partnership. Amex acquired reservation platform Resy in 2019. And since March other cards have, at a bare minimum, increased the earn acceleration for food purchases.
iSeatz launched point redemption for food delivery in early October, based on the belief that cardholders are craving new ways to use points that don’t require travel, and that simply amping up point-earn for dining-related spend won’t be enough for brands to maintain deep connections with their customers. iSeatz has powered point earning food delivery solutions for both IHG and Wyndham Hotels since spring 2019. The redemption solution will be the first of its kind and is now available for loyalty programs of any size, offering access to food at more than 150,000 restaurants, purchasable with loyalty currency. This will be the first of several new integrations aimed at brands who are looking for ways to engage their highest value loyalty members with non-travel offerings.
PubWise has announced its commitment to protecting the privacy of internet users in coordination with the recent changes in US and EU internet privacy guidelines. Going beyond mere compliance, PubWise has partnered with industry leaders and policymakers to demonstrate their allegiance to resolving privacy concerns within the programmatic advertising industry.
The International Advertising Bureau has recently released it's Gold Standard 2.0, which increases cross-industry transparency while standardizing the use of consumers' data. PubWise is listed as an approved vendor for the IAB, who leads the charge in protecting web visitors' privacy with their well-known Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) model, which is now in the v2 stage. The vetting process for IAB's Approved Vendor List ensures that publishers have access to credible solutions.
PubWise is also offering a Consent Management Platform to complement its Managed Wrapper solution. According to CTO Stephen Johnston, "Our CMP solution is not a revenue generator for PubWise, but we felt it was important to protect the interest of our clients." CMP tools are a great step towards being GDPR compliant.
Earlier this year PubWise received a Pacesetter Award from Atlanta Business Chronicle. PubWise was listed as #18 of the Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Atlanta. Also in 2020, Technology Association of Georgia recognized PubWise as its Top 40 Most Innovative Companies in Georgia.
ABOUT PUBWISE
Established in 2016 in the "Silicon Valley of the South," PubWise is a revolutionary, SaaS-based Prebid.js management service for web publishers that are virtually guaranteed to increase advertising revenue.
PubWise is the only Prebid.js management service offering Smart Path Optimization Technology (SPOT™), which uses AI to deliver an optimized ad configuration matched to user segments, with tailored demand inclusion that improves net revenue while improving latency. PubWise provides a turnkey platform to deploy, manage, monitor, and optimize Prebid.js. PubWise is committed to protecting publisher value and data with clear auction dynamics, no-arbitrage and transparent fees. US and EU revenue and traffic reporting is done with ease with PubWise Analytics.
Long before Covid-19, survivors of domestic violence knew all too well what it was like to endure days of social distancing, to suffer years of isolation, and to yearn desperately for a cure for their lives. They longed for someone to see them, to hear them, to help them. Being Brave 2020 calls for an end to the pandemic of domestic violence by listening to survivors and then giving them the comprehensive support they need to changes their lives.
“Preliminary research shows that domestic violence has worsened during Covid-19, but we will not know the full effect for years,” says Reverend Susan Kramer-Mills, executive director of the Town Clock Community Development Corporation. TCCDC is one of only 40 facilities in the US providing permanent, affordable housing with supportive services to survivors of domestic violence.
“What I do know is that we empower survivors of domestic violence to transform their lives when we provide them a safe place to live, allow them time to heal, and give them the skills they need to succeed,” points out Kramer-Mills. Being Brave 2020 raises awareness for this housing-first solution.
Being Brave 2020 will be an online event (Thursday, October 22, 2020, at 7:30 p.m.) celebrating the inspiring stories of Town Clock CDC residents and other survivors. Entertainer Sheryl Lee Ralph will be honored with the Being Brave Award for empowering women through her philanthropy. New Jersey heroes to be honored for helping survivors through their community service will be: Leslie Maxie, OLY, Maxie Media Group, (Outstanding Advocate Award); Det. Danny Gallardo, New Brunswick Police Department, (Outstanding Provider Award), and Debbie Maddock, Sophie's Bistro, (Outstanding Volunteer Award). Honoree bios. The event will highlight, #HearMeSeeMe a unique art program that is helping residents find their voices. #TheManStand will feature the stories of men who stand up to domestic violence.
Returning as Being Brave’s Presenting Sponsor is Cadillac. The Gold Sponsor is Sandra Soriano, Vice President, Town Clock CDC Board of Directors. The Champion Sponsor: Bentley Dock. Full sponsor list.
“We are honored to partner again with Town Clock CDC on Being Brave, especially in the midst of a global pandemic as we purpose to never stop arriving. Unprecedented times and difficult circumstances are not new to us and the community of domestic violence survivors. During times like this, we must continue to demonstrate flexibility, agility and resilience as we’re on a journey to redefining the boundaries and limits of mobility through groundbreaking innovation,” said Alexis Kerr, head of Multicultural Marketing at Cadillac.
Hosting again this year will be Lisa Guerrero, Inside Edition’s award-winning, internationally acclaimed chief investigative journalist. Featured advocates and entertainers include: Dr. Arabia Mollette, Covid-19 physician, health expert and survivor; Melonie Daniels, international singer and performer; Dr. Melanie R. Hill, Gospel Soul violinist; Ahmed "JKing" Wallace, performer, and Lauren Weinstein, award-winning artist & cartoonist. Full lineup and bios. Initial press release.
Domestic Violence
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. It can include physical and sexual violence, psychological abuse and financial control. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence finds that 57% of homeless women cite Domestic Violence as cause of their homelessness, and 33% of women have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime. The Childhood Domestic Violence Association cites that children of domestic violence are six times more likely to commit suicide, 50% more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, 74% more likely to commit a violent crime and three times more likely to repeat the cycle of abuse in adulthood.
Town Clock CDC – 1 of 40 in US
Town Clock Community Development Corporation is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization http://www.TownClockCDC.org. Town Clock CDC’s facility (Dina's Dwellings) opened in April 2016 after the sanctuary of the 200-year-old First Reformed Church of New Brunswick was transformed into 10 long-term affordable housing units with supportive services for survivors. In October 2020, Town Clock CDC expanded its facility by transforming the church’s sexton house into a home for a mother and up to five children. This housing model is one of only 40 establishments of its kind in the entire United States, and remains the largest, permanent housing program for survivors of domestic violence and their children in New Jersey. In 2019, Town Clock CDC launched the Being Brave Event & Award.
Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials Inc., the leading global manufacturer and recycler of high-performance thermoplastic shapes, and engineering solutions provider, is pleased to announce that they’ve taken another positive step forward in achieving their long-term vision in North America, of 100% renewable energy procurement. Most recently, the company’s three Pennsylvania sites located in Reading, Scranton and Delmont, are the first of their locations in North America to make an investment in Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). As a result, all Pennsylvania locations can now proudly say that 100% of the electricity that they use in manufacturing is from renewable sources, reducing the emissions associated with the generation of that electricity to zero.
Bruce Seidel, North American Director of Manufacturing at Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, says that “This accomplishment is a fantastic stepping stone for us, as we continue to realize our vision of fully operating through clean energy in North America. Our commitment to our KAITEKI values is what drives us to continue to focus our efforts on energy reduction projects, and this monumental achievement at our Pennsylvania locations is a great testament to all of the hard work that our team has invested into making this a huge success.”
In addition to this announcement, the company is also celebrating another significant milestone. Effective September 1, 2020, five of their North American sites in Reading, Scranton, Delmont, Wytheville, and Fort Wayne, have attained the Responsible Care® RC14001:2015® Certification, which also includes ISO 14001:2015 Certification. Responsible Care® 14001 is the chemical industry's global initiative, practiced in 52 countries, under which chemical companies work together to continuously improve their health, safety, environmental, and security performance. It combines the elements of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) Responsible Care initiative, with those of ISO 14001, the internationally recognized environmental management system standard.
Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials is the first of several Mitsubishi Chemical America (MCA) companies to be certified. Heidi Freeman, MCA Regional Manager for Product Stewardship and KAITEKI, stated that “This has certainly given all of us a boost of confidence, as multiple other group companies look ahead towards achieving their certification within the next few months.”
About KAITEKI
KAITEKI refers to “the sustainable well-being of people, society and our planet Earth.” It is an original concept of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group that proposes a way forward in the sustainable development of society and the planet, in addition to serving as a guide for solving environmental and social issues.
James Kohler, Corporate Quality Engineer and North American KAITEKI Coordinator at Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, says that “Our contributions to KAITEKI take shape in many different forms. I am proud of our North American teams for coming together, to realize KAITEKI through our shift towards 100% Renewable Energy Procurement in Pennsylvania, and through our RC14001:2015® and ISO 14001:2015 Certifications. This is only the beginning, and I am very excited to see what we can keep accomplishing and improving in the near, and far future.”
Overall, the company is pleased to see that their long-term visions for success are now coming to fruition, as they continue to focus their attention on vital energy reduction programs, and embodying the strategic pillars that come with their Responsible Care® RC14001:2015® Certification. Looking ahead, as the team continues to make investments in sustainable projects, one thing is for certain – the spirit of KAITEKI is alive and well at Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials.
About Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials
With more than 80 years of experience, 30 branch offices in 20 countries, and a team of technical service experts, engineers, and application development managers, Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials** is the Global, vertically integrated leader for researching, developing, recycling, and manufacturing high-performance materials. Our products make the world a safer place by providing solutions across all industries- food processing and packaging, aerospace and defense, semiconductor, oil and gas, medical and life sciences, renewable energy, construction and heavy equipment, and electronics.
Registered trademarks of Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials include: Acetron®, CleanStat®, Duratron®, Ertalyte®, Ertalene®, Ertalon®, Fluorosint®, Ketron®, Nylatron®, Proteus®, Sanalite®, Semitron®, Techtron®, KyronMAX® and TIVAR®.
**Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, formerly Quadrant EPP, was officially named on April 1st, 2019.
Outrider, the pioneer in autonomous yard operations for logistics hubs, today announced that it has been named a 2020 “Cool Vendor in Supply Chain Execution Technologies” by the world’s leading research and advisory firm, Gartner Inc. According to Gartner, “When considering vendors for this research, we looked for those with solutions that could help supply chain execution organizations target digital investment in the areas that can improve productivity in difficult economic times and do so with tangible returns on investment.”
Distribution yard operations are necessary for transitioning goods between the road and the warehouse. Today’s yards are run much like they have been for decades with repetitive, manual tasks performed in hazardous working conditions. Disruptions caused by COVID-19 have highlighted the need for automated distribution yard technology to improve supply chain resiliency.
“The pandemic highlighted that we must deploy more dependable, predictable, and sustainable ways to move goods around the globe,” said Andrew Smith, Founder and CEO of Outrider. “In our opinion, the Cool Vendor recognition is a testament to Outrider’s impact on the industry to increase the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of yard operations while contributing to overall supply chain resilience.”
According to the report, “Supply chain execution organizations are notoriously vulnerable to business disruptions and economic slowdowns. While supply chain execution and logistics organizations are on the front line and critical to fulfilling customer demand, they are highly dependent on the effective performance of both human and physical assets. Under normal circumstances, logistics organizations are perceived as high-functioning, ‘well-oiled machines.’ However, supply chain execution is highly susceptible to disruptions, and at the same time, it is also often the first to feel extreme pressure to concentrate on increasing productivity to address cost reduction ambitions.”
Outrider is first-to-market with a three-part, integrated system, which includes management software, autonomous vehicles, and site infrastructure. The system enables customers to move trailers to and from loading docks and parking spots, hitch and unhitch trailers, robotically connect and disconnect trailer brake lines, track inventory of trailer locations, and centrally monitor and control all functions.
Outrider is exclusively focused on yard automation to move trailers full of freight efficiently and safely through distribution yards. Since its launch from stealth mode in early 2020, the Outrider team has grown to more than 110 employees, which includes a world-class engineering team.
Outrider’s engineering team leads collectively have more than 100 years of hands-on experience in ground-vehicle automation and robotic material-handling development. Tech talent has roots at firms and institutions like Tesla, iRobot, Lockheed Martin, Amazon, Aptiv, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Carnegie-Mellon, Duke University, Northwestern University, and Purdue University.
The full Gartner 2020 "Cool Vendors in Supply Chain Execution Technologies" report by Dwight Klappich, Bart De Muynck, Carly West, Simon Tunstall, September 30, 2020, is available to Gartner subscribers here.
Gartner Disclaimer: Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
About Outrider™ Outrider, the pioneer in autonomous yard operations for logistics hubs, helps large enterprises improve safety and increase efficiency. The only company exclusively focused on automating all aspects of yard operations, Outrider eliminates manual tasks that are hazardous and repetitive. Outrider’s mission is to drive the rapid adoption of sustainable freight transportation by deploying zero-emission systems. Outrider is a private company backed by NEA, 8VC, and other top-tier investors. For more information, visit http://www.outrider.ai
Two leaders in financial education have teamed to provide an array of helpful resources for U.S. home buyers and homeowners. Money Management International (MMI) and YourHome1Source (YH1S.com) are collaborating to provide practical guidance across important financial topics such as Creating a Home Budget, Repaying Credit Card Debt, Understanding Credit Scores, Preparing to Buy a Home, Recovering from a Natural Disaster, Avoiding Home Foreclosure, and more.
"This is our company mission in action. This is why we developed YH1S.com - to be a one-stop trusted resource for home buyers and homeowners on important home-related financial matters. This moment in time is so rewarding for our team. Money Management has been committed to financial counseling since 1958, and their helpful guidance has benefitted millions of families over the years. It's an honor and privilege to work closely with MMI on educational content, especially knowing our combined efforts will lead to improved, tangible solutions for more people facing real-life financial challenges. Combining our resources to reach and help more Americans is extremely rewarding, and bolsters our commitment at work each day," says Sean Stockell, Publisher of YourHome1Source.
“MMI is pleased to help YH1S.com support prospective and current homeowners in achieving their goals,” said Jim Triggs, President and CEO of MMI. “As one of the nation’s largest nonprofit credit and housing advisors, we strive to make life affordable for everyone through innovative solutions and partnerships. Collaboration with YH1S.com is a natural fit, benefiting people as they seek their own path to achieving The American Dream. Our certified experts stand ready 24/7 to help individuals and families overcome the barriers they face and increase their confidence to lead financially healthy lives.”
"Our company always brings solutions for success to families and entrepreneurs. Our partnership with YourHome1Source is an extension of that philosophy," says Kathy Ireland, Chair, CEO and Chief Designer of kathy ireland® Worldwide (kiWW®). "Knowledge is key to empowerment, especially now, as so many individuals, families and businesses are facing difficult choices brought on by the pandemic, YourHome1Source is now able to offer everyone the education and tools needed to make informed decisions."
ABOUT kathy ireland® WORLDWIDE (kiWW®): https://www.kathyireland.com/ kiWW® is listed at #26 in the world by License Global Magazine. Kathy Ireland is one of the most influential businesswomen in the world today and according to Fairchild Publications, Kathy is one of the 50 most influential people in fashion. Furniture Today also names Kathy one of the most influential leaders in the furniture industry. Kathy has graced the cover of Forbes Magazine twice (2012, 2016) and was featured on the cover of SUCCESS magazine in August 2019. kiWW® is the recipient of many awards including several Good Housekeeping Seals.
ABOUT MMI: https://www.moneymanagement.org/ Money Management International (MMI) is changing the way financial challenges are solved. MMI helps create, restore, and maintain a life of financial wellness through empowered choices. For over 60 years, our clients have achieved financial confidence through nonprofit programs that educate, motivate, and liberate. MMI inspires action by delivering expert professional guidance and timely solutions aligned with our clients' goals. Experiencing a financial challenge? Find your solution 24/7 at 866.864.8995 and?MoneyManagement.org.
ABOUT YOURHOME1SOURCE® https://www.yourhome1source.com/ YourHome1Source® (YH1S.com), America’s Resource on Homeownership® is a leading online resource for home buyers and homeowners covering many home-related topics including home buying, building, remodeling, furnishing & décor, home loans, insurance, home inspections, home security, smart-home technology and more. Visitors find tips, emerging product announcements, savings opportunities and home project solutions, and can view hundreds of home product videos on Your Home TV. Other resources include home plan and resource books, home valuation tool, home budget worksheet, mortgage calculator, photo galleries, checklists on home loans, buying, selling, building and access to free credit reports, credit scores and ways to protect personal identity and financial information.
Award-winning blog GiangisKitchen.com, which features simple, delicious, elegant and nutritious recipes that can be created by anyone in just 30-45 minutes, has announced that it will be launching a private membership group.
The private membership group will offer members exclusive content each day of the week:
On Monday, the blog’s founder Giangi Townsend will share some very special tips and tricks for kitchen gourmets of all experience levels — from those who are brand new, to those of who have been cooking for many years.
On Tuesday, members can send in any question(s) that they would like Giangi to answer about cooking, menus, kitchen tools, shopping, and anything else.
On Wednesday, Giangi will answer all of the submitted questions in a live Q&A session.
On Thursday, Giangi will release the following week’s menu.
On Friday, Giangi will take an item from the following week’s menu and provide a live step-by-step cooking lesson.
In addition, members will be able to purchase GiangisKitchen.com cooking classes at 60 percent off the regular price.
The activities in the private membership group will be streamed live on Facebook. However, members who do not have a Facebook account can access all of the recorded material directly on the GiangisKitchen.com website in a special members-only section.
Membership in the private membership group costs .99 per month. However, to celebrate the launch, members who sign-up during the initial launch period will only pay .00 per month for the first year.
“We have received so many requests over the years for a members-only section, and finally we are thrilled to announce that it will soon be available,” commented Giangi, who was named Best Food and Lifestyle Blogger — Southwest USA by CV Magazine, and who recently launched the ebook Back to Basics: Cooking 101 – A Beginner’s Guide to Cooking.
More information on the new GiangisKitchen.com benefit-filled private membership group will be published on the website's blog in the near future.
For all other information on GiangisKitchen.com, including advertising, marketing and media inquiries, email giangi(at)giangiskitchen(dot)com or visit http://www.giangiskitchen.com. Facebook users are invited to follow Giangi’s Kitchen at: https://www.facebook.com/giangiskitchen
About GiangisKitchen.com
GiangisKitchen.com is a popular and award-winning blog that features simple, delicious, elegant and nutritious recipes, geared to everyone: working moms, dads, grandparents, empty nesters, teenagers, and anyone else with a desire to prepare a great evening meal for their family in just 30-45 minutes. Access GiangisKitchen.com is free, and no sign-up is required. The website also features money-saving offers and coupons, and is optimized for all screens including tablets and smartphones. Visitors can also subscribe to get a weekly recipe round-up delivered to their inbox.
The biggest change for 1099 Pro’s Tax Year 2020 1099 software is the introduction of Form 1099-NEC Nonemployee Compensation. Per the IRS, filing entities are to issue 1099-NEC: 1) to someone who is not your employee and you paid at least 0, 2) if you made certain payments to an attorney, or 3) if you backup withheld federal income tax. Prior to this year, nonemployee compensation (NEC), was reportable on Form 1099-MISC Miscellaneous Income, Box 7, and had a separate reporting deadline when compared to other boxes on the 1099-MISC form. Moving forward, form 1099-NEC has a January 31st recipient mailing and IRS filing deadline. 1099 Pro encourages all filers to familiarize themselves with 1099-NEC now, and ensure that their accounting system is setup to accurately reflect NEC amounts versus other amounts still reportable on 1099-MISC.
Looking further ahead, the IRS has also indicated that the 1099-NEC is not expected to participate in the Combined Federal State Filing (CF/SF) Program. This exclusion from the CF/SF Program is a serious downside with the transition to the 1099-NEC form. Filing entities will most likely have to create state specific accounts and report 1099-NEC information to each individual state that they operate in – as opposed to the IRS forwarding this information to the states after receiving it. 1099 Pro’s Enterprise software supports the creation of such state direct files, which often deviate from the IRS’s standard format.
Additional 2020 changes include:
Form 1042-S: Revised Chapter 3 Status Codes and backup withholding rate.
Form 1098: Extended Box 5 Mortgage Insurance Premiums (MIP) reporting.
Form 1098-F: New Box 8 code. The IRS also does not have any finalized reporting requirement, or deadline, for filing the 1098-F as of yet.
Form 1099-MISC: Removed nonemployee compensation (NEC) and section 409A income reporting. Retitled Boxes 7, 9, 10, and 14. Renumbered Box 15a to Box 12 and Boxes 16, 17, 18 to 15, 16, 17, respectively. Eliminated Boxes 15a and 15b. Revised IRS paper and electronic filing deadlines.
Form 1099-PATR: Retitled Boxes 5–11 and new Boxes 12 and 13.
Form 1099-R: Renumbered after Box 11. Changes to distributions for qualified birth and adoption.
Form 5498: New Box 14b code. RMD age increased from 70½ to 72.
Form W-2: Employee TIN truncation (SSN masking) on employee copies. Increased social security wage base.
Both 1099 Pro’s 1099 software and W-2 software feature a complete suite of features that are un-matched in the industry. Extensive user resources are available for every step of the filing season.
SAMPLE IMPORT FILES Sample import files in Excel templates are provided for all form types. These files include dummy records, that illustrate how to format data, and header records, that auto-map data to the correct fields. Import Wizards automatically apply business rule validations to imported data—thus ensuring the highest likelihood of IRS/SSA data acceptance.
EXTENSIVE REPORT OPTIONS All 1099 software and W-2 software products offer extensive report options. Some examples are: Control Totals reports for all box amounts, Error & Warning reports, Form Counts by Filer reports, and Unfiled Forms Summary reports (which list records by filing status and are invaluable to ensure that records are not overlooked during the filing season). Corporate Suite software features enhanced reports including Federal & State Balancing, State Quarterly and others.
PRINT OPTIONS Print recipient tax forms directly to blank paper, preprinted forms or generate PDF digital copies. 1099 pro supports all standard IRS layouts and offers multiple custom or combined layouts. Customers can also outsource print, mail and electronic filing (eFiling) to 1099 Pro’s competitively priced SOC I TYPE II Service Bureau.
ELECTRONIC FILING & REPORTING OPTIONS 1099 Pro’s 2020 1099 software creates electronic files for direct submission to the IRS Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE) System and additionally and supports state direct filing. Additionally, 1099 Pro’s 2020 W-2 software creates electronic files for direct submission to the SSA Business Services Online (BSO) site. Electronic filing via the Service Bureau is available for all software products at competitive rates. Corrections and reprints are also fully supported for all products.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT Extensive resources are available to quickly onboard new users of 1099 software and W-2 software. Video tutorials demystify importing, printing, eFiling creation, Service Bureau eFiling and other tasks.
The 1099 Pro WIKI hosts sample import files for 1099-NEC, 1099-MISC and all other form types plus software installs, updates and more. LiveChat Support provides real-time solutions for all software products and services. Live phone support is available to registered and demo users with extended January hours.
ABOUT 1099 PRO, INC. Since 1989, 1099 Pro, Inc. has produced industry-leading tax reporting software for 1099 informational returns, W-2, 1042-S, ACA 1095, and FATCA 8966 forms. 1099 Pro software imports data from Excel or text files and processes printing, electronic filing, and corrections. 1099 Pro’s hosting and data processing facilities are SOC I Type II certified. 1099 Pro, Inc. also supports the Common Reporting Standard for AEOI reporting via CRS Pro software.
Sundyne, a global leader in the design and manufacture of mission critical pumps and compressors, today announced that Neil Langdown has been promoted to a new strategic role of Commercial Excellence Leader. Neil will also continue to serve Sundyne customers in his current role as Vice President for Asia.
Neil Langdown has worked at Sundyne since 2018, where he has focused on oil & gas and petrochemical markets. In his newly appointed roles, Langdown will focus on creating value by leveraging IOT condition-based monitoring to develop new business models and service offerings. Neil will also work to improve efficiency & profitability by digitizing business processes and enhancing the customer experience through seamless platform integration.
Prior to Sundyne, Neil held leadership positions in related industries, as Managing Director for Bedford Pumps for the water industry and Sales & Marketing Director at Siemens for power generation. In additional to his OEM experience, Neil also has extensive service & support experience as Aftermarket Director for Wartsila and General Manager of Hayward Taylor’s Service Division, concentrating on pumps & motors for Subsea and Nuclear markets.
“Neil’s 20-plus years of experience and his innovative strategic focus will be essential in driving commercial excellence around the globe, and also accelerating Sundyne’s success throughout Asia,” said Sundyne’s CEO Mark Sefcik. “We’re building a world class management team, and executives like Neil bring a wealth of experience that will help Sundyne’s customers address their business needs.”
Neil earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Loughborough University, and did his graduate work in business at Edinburgh Business School’s Heriot-Watt University. Neil Langdown will continue to be based from the UK, and can be reached at: Neil.langdown@sundyne.com.
About Sundyne: Headquartered in Arvada, Colorado with operations and presence in Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia, Japan and China, Sundyne is a leading manufacturer of precision-engineered highly reliable, safe, and efficient centrifugal pumps and compressors for use in hydrocarbon processing, chemical processing, power generation, industrial, and high-pressure water applications. Sundyne is the world leader in delivering low-flow, high-head integrally geared centrifugal pumps and compressors as well as a leader in the supply of safe and leakage-free sealless magnetic drive centrifugal pumps and diaphragm compressors. Sundyne pumps and compressors designs are compliant with the industry’s most stringent API, ANSI/ASME, and ISO standards. To learn more about the Sundyne family of precision-engineered pumps and compressors, please visit http://www.sundyne.com.
Contact: Mike Dean 303-521-5713 mike.dean@sundyne.com
HealthyChildren.org, the official American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) website for parents, celebrates Halloween by giving away ten 0 Visa gift cards in the site's Spooktacular Sweepstakes event.
Registered users of HealthyChildren.org may enter once each day during the event which runs October 22 through October 31, 2020. Winners will be drawn daily and announced on Facebook as they are confirmed. View the full contest rules.
About HealthyChildren.org The only parenting website backed by 67,000 AAP member pediatricians, HealthyChildren.org offers trustworthy, up-to-the-minute health advice and guidance for parents and caregivers, along with interactive tools and personalized content. Registered users enjoy a customized home page featuring articles appropriate for their children by age, as well as a free monthly e-newsletter.
The site also offers a Find a Pediatrician service, an Ask the Pediatrician tool, a KidsDoc Symptom Checker, and more than 5,000 articles in English and Spanish.
FieldAware, the leader in made-for-mobile, cloud-based field service hub solutions, today announced the release of, "Benchmarking the New Normal From Year Zero". This state-of-the-industry end-user survey report examines insights from over 200 service organizations. The new findings shed light on how the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing field service providers to focus on growing their business instead of merely surviving.
Published in partnership with Field Service News, the only business journal globally dedicated to the field service industry, the 21-page report shows that over the next 12–18 months, almost three-quarters (73 percent) of field service providers are focusing on business growth. Yet, 78 percent of respondents are under pressure to reduce service costs or improve service levels due to the pandemic's impact on their customers.
In fact, today, due to investments field service companies have made into their business's technology, the majority (73 percent) can access asset data remotely, and (66 percent) can now offer some form of advanced, preemptive outcome-based service offerings.
"Our industry is led by passionate and creative professionals who work in partnership with their customers to use innovation and technology to address their evolving needs," said Steve Mason, COO of FieldAware. "It is now clear the most singular effect the pandemic has had on our industry has been to accelerate widespread creative service thinking and facilitate the rapid adoption of innovative technologies to resolve what would otherwise be insurmountable challenges."
"We are truly on the cusp of a new era of field service as our industry has been accelerating the development of new innovative offerings built upon cloud services, advanced analytics, and mobile applications," he added. "What COVID-19 did was put a strong catalyst in place to focus our efforts on rapid adoption."
The report is the first of two based on comprehensive quantitative primary research derived from over 200 field service management professionals. It examines the financial impact of the lockdown, the changing dynamics of customer relations in a post-pandemic world, the continued focus on customer excellence, the shift to outcome-based services, the emergence of hybrid remote/on-site service delivery models, the introduction of a new era of connected field service, and more.
The study did find many field service providers (57 percent) have faced challenges and experienced issues with customers being unable to pay because of restricted cash flow and continued cost reduction pressures. Nonetheless, it also revealed that field service providers continue to work in partnership (78 percent) with their customers. This finding is fundamental to the formulation of new innovative service offerings and their successful adoption by customers, which is a sign of optimism that the post-pandemic recovery period will go well.
"For months, our industry has wondered what the future will look like, and now we know -- a move to preemptive outcome-based service offerings, hybrid remote/on-site services, and a renewed focus on empowering field resources to quickly resolve issues and mitigate service disruptions," said Mason. "The good news is that field service providers can leverage best-of-breed innovation from multiple sources within the FieldAware service hub to meet market demands, placing them in a strong position for growth over the next 12-18 months of recovery."
About FieldAware:
FieldAware is a cutting-edge, cloud-based, mobile field service management hub, empowering companies to transform their field service with automated processes and streamlined operations. FieldAware is advancing field service with comprehensive solutions including optimized scheduling, dynamic and intelligent forms capture, robust reporting and analytics, AR, and IoT. FieldAware’s flexible platform streamlines technician enablement and digitizes business processes while automating the collection and dissemination of field and back office information. Combining our award-winning, easy to use/easy to adopt software with the industry’s best implementation and support services, FieldAware provides rapid ROI, accelerating improvements in productivity, safety, compliance, customer satisfaction, reduced environmental impact and revenue growth. Visit http://www.FieldAware.com.
Trucks Only is a used vehicle dealership group with locations in Mesa and Apache Junction, Arizona. The dealership group is currently running a financing special on all used vehicles in its inventory. Any person who finances a used vehicle with Trucks Only will have no monthly payments for 90 days. This special offer is only available for a limited time, so potential customers are encouraged to act fast.
Trucks Only is also buying used trucks. Unlike many dealerships, however, Trucks Only will buy lifted trucks. Parties looking to sell their trucks can get a free, no-commitment quote by entering basic information such as year, make and model. Some specifics are also required, like mileage and drivetrain. At an in-person appraisal, a Trucks Only expert technician will perform a thorough inspection and revise the online estimate, if necessary. After that, the truck’s owner can choose to accept or decline the offer. Sellers can potentially leave with a check for the agreed upon amount on the same day. To learn more, individuals can visit the Trucks Only Sell Us Your Truck page.
To get more information on anything listed above, interested parties can visit the Trucks Only homepage or call the corresponding dealership location. The Mesa phone number is 480-844-7071. The Apache Junction phone number is 480-584-8454. Trucks Only Mesa is located on 550 S. Country Club Drive, Mesa; Trucks Only Apache Junction is located on 837 W. Apache Trail, Apache Junction.
Duradek Authorized Professional Installer, Energy Savings Construction, announced today Duradek Vinyl Decking, a single product solution for long-lasting waterproof deck protection. The Duradek system provides the ideal solution for residential and light commercial outdoor living spaces, including decks, flat roof decks, and balconies.
“Duradek completely seals the deck substructure, so water never reaches the building envelope and completely protects everything below. That is why Energy Savings Construction recommends Duradek vinyl deck membranes that are designed for strength, durability, and slip resistance.”
Features and benefits of Duradek include:
Membranes provide long-lasting, low-maintenance waterproof protection.
Includes attractive pedestrian deck surface in one single product solution.
Built-in UV resistance and mold & mildew inhibitors.
About Energy Savings Construction: After being in the construction industry for 31 years, Virgil McKenzie (Owner) realized that energy efficiency is the best home improvement anyone can facilitate for their home. Energy Savings Construction has been specializing in building performance for over 10 years and has helped homeowners save money and improve the value of their home.
System Improvements Inc. is pleased to share the 7 Secrets of Successful Root Cause Analysis, to spread the news about its effective, thorough, and credible root cause analysis training through TapRooT®, and to extend an invitation to the 2021 Global TapRooT® Summit in Knoxville, Tennessee, June 14-18.
In the 7 Most Important Secrets of Successful Root Cause Analysis, the first tip shared is a key foundation for reliable root cause analysis:
1. Your root cause analysis is only as good as the information you collect. Many root cause systems operate as a “standalone” module. Information goes in and an answer comes out, without helping investigators collect accurate information. Some root cause tools actually develop a hypothesis first, then assimilate information to verify or disprove the hypothesis. Extensive research has proven that once an investigator becomes invested in a particular hypothesis, her/his brain automatically looks for “facts” to confirm the hypothesis and disregards “facts” that are counter to the hypothesis, resulting in the investigator finding what she/he wants to find.
2. Your knowledge (or lack of it) can get in the way of a good root cause analysis.
3. Understand what happened before why it happened. Beginning by asking “Why” is jumping to conclusions. This often leads the investigator to presume, rather than seeking to understand.
4. Interviews are not about asking questions.
5. All human performance problems cannot be solved with discipline, training, and procedures.
6. Many people cannot see effective corrective actions even if they can find the root causes.
7. All investigations do not need to be created equal (but some investigation steps cannot be skipped).
Learn more about the 7 Secrets and thorough and credible root cause analysis in the article.
Please contact System Improvements Inc. at 865.539.2139 to discuss the role of TapRooT® Training in your organization.
About System Improvements Inc. – TapRooT®
Founded in 1988, TapRooT® solves hurdles every investigator faces. TapRooT® root cause analysis takes an investigator beyond his or her knowledge to think outside the box. Backed with extensive research in human performance, incident investigation, and root cause analysis, TapRooT® is a global leader in improved investigation effectiveness and productivity, stopping finger-pointing and blame, improving equipment reliability, and fixing operating problems.
Financial Executives International (FEI), the association of choice for CFOs and other senior-level finance executives, will hold its 39th Annual Corporate Financial Reporting Insights (CFRI) Conference. For the first time, the event will be hosted virtually on November 2,4,9,11,16 and 18. As with prior years, FEI continues to host an exclusive speaker roster, providing CFRI attendees with invaluable access to business-critical information regarding financial reporting trends, strategies, and tools. Attendees can earn up to 24.5 CPE credits after registering here: https://www.financialexecutives.org/Events/Conferences/Corporate-Financial-Reporting-Insights-Virtual-Con/Info/Register.aspx.
Sessions will be conducted by financial leaders from major organizations such as American Express, Crowe, Deloitte, EY, Facebook, Google. IBM, Johnson & Johnson, KPMG, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Merck, Microsoft, PayPal, Pfizer, PepsiCo, and PWC. These presenters will be joined by key representatives from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).
Conference Chair Aaron Anderson, Treasurer for PayPal Holdings, Inc. and member of FEI’s Committee on Corporate Reporting, said, “We are operating in unprecedented times of economic, societal, and personal disruption. To effectively lead our organizations and people through these challenges, we must come together as a profession and share experiences, gather insights, and ultimately take action. To this end, no conference can match CFRI in terms of caliber of speakers and relevancy of topics. We are confident that professionals who attend the conference will walk away empowered and equipped with strategies to succeed personally and professionally.”
Mark Zandi, Chief Economist of Moody’s Analytics and Alex Gorsky, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Johnson & Johnson will deliver impactful insights through keynote and interviews on November 9 and 16 respectively.
“This year, CFRI will focus on training financial leaders on how to not only manage but embrace the post-pandemic business environment. With engaging keynotes exploring the pandemic’s impact moving into 2021, from the state of the profession to leadership perspectives, including the presidential election and what might unfold in the U.S. and global economies. Corporate Financial Reporting Insights rounds out an agenda with first-rate experts across various fields of relevance ranging from regulators to tech scientists, and may be the single-most important conference for financial professionals this year,” said Andrej Suskavcevic, CAE, president and CEO of FEI and FERF.
The CFRI conference is made possible through the support of the Financial Education & Research Foundation, and the event sponsors, including Diamond Sponsor Microsoft; Platinum Sponsors Deloitte, EY, Kaplan, KPMG, OneStream, PWC, and Workiva.
Agenda and Registration Details Visit the CFRI website for the complete agenda, speaker biographies and registration details regarding both in-person and livestream attendance. Additionally, join the Twitter conversation at #FEICFRI2020.
About FEI Financial Executives International (FEI) is the leading advocate for the views of corporate financial management. Its more than 10,000 members hold policy-making positions as chief financial officers, treasurers and controllers at companies from every major industry. FEI enhances member professional development through peer networking, career management services, conferences, research and publications. Members participate in the activities of more than 65 Chapters in the U.S. FEI is located in Morristown, NJ. Visit http://www.financialexecutives.org for more information.
New York October 16, 2020 - Ideanomics (NASDAQ: IDEX) announced its Mobile Energy Global (MEG) division’s sales activities for the month of September and Q3 2020. For the period starting September 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020, MEG delivered a total of 423 units. For 3Q 2020, the period starting July 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020, MEG delivered a total of 626 units. The company also invoiced an additional 440 units in Q3, which are pending expected delivery.
Total Units Delivered – Q3 2020
“We are very pleased that our MEG business experienced sequential growth, month over month, throughout Q3, and the 440 units pending delivery gets Q4 off to a strong start. This growth, fueled by a combination of previously announced deals and new deal origination, along with improvements in our operational efficiency, helps us achieve our goals for 2020 and sets the stage for growth at scale going into 2021,” said Alf Poor, CEO of Ideanomics.
About Ideanomics
Ideanomics is a global company that facilitates the adoption of commercial electric vehicles and supports next-generation financial services and fintech products. Our electric vehicle division, Mobile Energy Global (MEG) provides group purchasing discounts on commercial electric vehicles, EV batteries and electricity, as well as financing and charging solutions; we refer to this business model as sales to financing to charging (S2F2C). Ideanomics Capital provides fintech services that include intelligent and innovative solutions powered by AI and blockchain. Together, MEG and Ideanomics Capital provide our global customers and partners with more efficient solutions for a greener economy.
The company is headquartered in New York, NY, with offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Qingdao, and operations in the U.S., China, Ukraine, and Malaysia.
This press release contains certain statements that may include "forward looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and include statements regarding our intention to transition our business model to become a next-generation financial technology company, our business strategy and planned product offerings, our intention to phase out our oil trading and consumer electronics businesses, and potential future financial results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties, such as risks related to: our ability to continue as a going concern; our ability to raise additional financing to meet our business requirements; the transformation of our business model; fluctuations in our operating results; strain to our personnel management, financial systems and other resources as we grow our business; our ability to attract and retain key employees and senior management; competitive pressure; our international operations; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and similar disclosures in subsequent reports filed with the SEC, which are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risk factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.
The fight against cancer is a fulltime job. Even during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the fight must continue. City Electric Supply is proud announce the launch of a campaign that was created to help win that battle. Throughout the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, CES will be collecting donations for the American Cancer Society (ACS). CES will match the total number donated at the end of the month, up to ,000. Employees and customers at the over 500 U.S. branches across North America are encouraged to participate. American Cancer Society Executive Director Keenan Delaney says there’s never been a greater need than right now, as they’re experiencing a significant decline in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The American Cancer Society relies on the financial gifts from individuals, community organizations and corporate partners to help fuel our mission to attack cancer from every angle. If current trends continue, we may have to cut funding for cancer research by 50 percent,” said Delaney. “We’re extremely grateful to City Electric Supply and their employees and customers for contributing money to help ensure cancer doesn’t get the advantage during these challenging times.”
For the American Cancer Society, the end of breast cancer begins with research. COVID-19 has disrupted that research. ACS’s research program has played a role in many of the prevention, screening, treatment advances that help save lives from breast cancer today. Making a donation means funding the future, which gives ACS the ability to continue providing guidance for those who want to learn about breast cancer through their screening guidelines as well as information about breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.
“These funds will fuel groundbreaking research, support education and prevention efforts, provide free cancer-related information 24/7 and offer critical services for people with cancer who need them,” said Delaney. “Cancer hasn’t stopped, so neither have we.”
Getting regular screenings, according to ACS, is the best way to detect breast cancer early, which could be lifesaving. During these challenging times, it’s extremely important that regular breast cancer screening is continued, but they’ve declined in 2020.
The ACS estimates that more than seven million women delayed or declined mammograms during the first half of 2020, which translates to 36,000 potential delayed breast cancer diagnoses. This is why during these unprecedented times, it is extremely important to not forget our fight with cancer and help the American Cancer Society continue their efforts in preventing, finding, treating and surviving breast cancer
"The news of breast cancer diagnosis can instantly happen to anyone," said CES Cares Social Impact Manager Karen Gray. "Since 2016, we've successfully donated almost 0K to the American Cancer Society to help the brave people taking on this battle."
The City Electric Supply donation will be made to the American Cancer Society through the company’s social impact division, CES Cares. CES Cares serves as the company’s umbrella for all of the philanthropical, charitable and volunteer efforts in which the company and its employees participate. Link to make a donation: https://donate.cityelectricsupplymarketing.com/
Tips from American Cancer Society:
Postmenopausal women who walk at least 7 hours a week lower their risk of breast cancer by 14%.
Postmenopausal women who lose 10 or more pounds and keep it off for at least 5 years might reduce their risk for breast cancer.
Women who smoke may be at an increased risk for breast cancer.
ACS recommends all women with average risk should begin having yearly mammograms by age 45
About American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society funds scientists and medical professionals who study cancer across the United States. We provide millions of dollars to multiple grants each year. The American Cancer Society’s mission is to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer. We’re the only cancer organization offering services and support for every aspect of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
About City Electric Supply (CES) is a family-owned electrical wholesale distributor headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The company was founded in 1951 by Tom Mackie in the United Kingdom and expanded to the United States in 1983. Today, CES employs more than 3,000 people in over 500 branches across the U.S.
CES is dedicated to providing personalized service and support for customers in the residential, commercial, and industrial marketplace. While CES is a large company, it prides itself in keeping its founding principle of empowering people to make local business decisions by providing customers tailored services for all their electric supply needs.
Partnership Leaders, the exclusive membership organization for executives from the best Partnerships, Business Development, and Ecosystem teams in the technology industry, focused on elevating the role of the partnership leader to the c-suite, announced the next stage in its growth with the launch of an annual membership program and added ecosystem veteran Jay McBain, Principal Analyst at Forrester as it’s first outside advisor. Founded in December 2018, the new membership model offers exclusive content and programming to support the education and networking needs of the SaaS Partnership community.
Today there are over 175,000 SaaS companies, whose longevity and success will depend on the interoperability of their platforms with complementary technologies, supporting the growth of vibrant service partner ecosystems, and fostering business development opportunities to meet growing customer expectations and demand. Partnerships play a key role in forging these connections. However, the partnership function is still relatively nascent in its development as a discipline. There are more than 100,000 leaders of Partnership organizations in the US tech industry, yet there are less than 500 C-level Partnerships (Channel, Alliance, BD or Ecosystem) executives at these companies. In addition, 76% of CEOs believe that ecosystems will be integral to their business model moving forward.
The partnership leader role has not yet risen to the ranks of required C-suite positions, with clearly defined responsibilities and a well-recognized career roadmap. Partnership Leaders seeks to address these challenges. “The lack of C-level partnership execs exemplifies a tremendous opportunity for the partnership community.” Says Jay McBain, Principal Analyst at Forrester. “Partnership Leaders provides a unique space and the peer-support needed for leaders to take action and elevate their role to the level of recognition it deserves.”
The Partnership Leaders community includes leaders from rapidly growing teams from technology companies around the world. Membership is available to all partnership leaders, regardless of function, and includes executives and team leaders in partnerships, business development, partner marketing, partner operations, and product leaders supporting partnership initiatives. The community is focused on empowering one another in their respective roles, knowledge sharing, and paving the way to success together through real-time conversations in the Partnership Leaders online community. Invite-only channels are set up for thoughtful conversations unique to select interest groups such as Women-in-Partnerships and executive roles. Topics of discussion range from best practices for overcoming common obstacles in launching partner programs to handling change management when scaling partner organizations.
Partnership Leaders paid members receive exclusive benefits such as: ? Access to the Partnership Leaders online community where members can ask and answer questions and address challenges together real-time across threaded topics. ? Regular virtual roundtables and networking events focused on key topics like “How to collaborate with other departments to accomplish partnership goals.” ? Networking opportunities including curated Member Matchmaking to facilitate members connecting to teach, learn, and identify business development opportunities together. ? Opportunities for members to showcase their expertise through Partnership Leaders’ Spotlight Series of content and The Partnered Podcast.
Ecosystems represent the next key competitive advantage for companies in the technology world and the official launch of Partnership Leaders is a key step in getting Partnerships a seat on the executive leadership team.
About Partnership Leaders: Partnership Leaders is on a mission to elevate partnerships in modern technology companies. We’re a community of executives and leaders from the best Partnerships, Business Development and Ecosystem teams in tech. Founded by SaaS industry veterans Chris Samila, Asher Mathew, and Tai Rattigan, Partnership Leaders is a peer-led members community. For more information visit https://www.partnershipleaders.com/
The founder and executive director of the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), Armond Cohen, will explore practical solutions to fight climate change in virtual public lecture from Dickinson College. The talk, “Hedgehogs and Foxes: Toward Climate Pragmatism,” will take place via livestream on Monday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. EDT. A link to view the lecture will be available at https://www.dickinson.edu/cohen.
Cohen’s lecture is part of The Sam Rose ’58 and Julie Walters Prize at Dickinson College for Global Environmental Activism, which was presented to Cohen earlier this year. The 0,000 prize is given annually to an individual or organization that makes a defining difference and advances responsible action on behalf of the planet, its resources and people.
Cohen, widely recognized for his thought leadership on climate, draws his lecture’s title from the philosopher Isaiah Berlin, who cited a fable about two kinds of thinkers: “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.” Cohen will explain how “hedgehog” thinkers embrace single solutions to problems, while “foxes” see complexity, contingency and risk. Cohen will argue that climate pragmatism embraces multiple strategies and technologies, and a variety of market and policy approaches, to find what works.
Since its founding in 1996, CATF has been a leading force in reducing air pollution and climate pollutants from the nation’s power plants, industries and vehicles. Drawing on his roots as an environmental lawyer, Cohen has led CATF in campaigns to limit emissions from coal power plants and diesel engines. CATF has also led efforts to spur interest in “firm” renewable energy, like superhot deep geothermal energy and next-generation nuclear energy. In addition, CATF’s work led to the first-ever federal “price on carbon,” which provides a tax credit for capturing and storing carbon dioxide underground.
Cohen joins a distinguished group of prior recipients of the Rose-Walters Prize, including the Natural Resources Defense Council; Our Children’s Trust, the advocacy organization representing 21 young plaintiffs in the landmark federal climate change lawsuit Juliana v. United States; Brett Jenks, CEO of conservation nonprofit Rare; environmental activist, author and journalist Bill McKibben; Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Kolbert; award-winning actor and environmental activist Mark Ruffalo; Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives and former EPA administrator Lisa Jackson; and award-winning nature photographer James Balog.
About Dickinson College Dickinson is a highly selective private liberal-arts college of 2,300 students and a national leader and innovator in sustainability education. Students are challenged through classroom studies, living laboratories, service learning, student-faculty research and study abroad to build the knowledge and skills that are needed to create a sustainable world. Opportunities for hands-on learning include working with community groups to protect local watersheds and air quality, learning about solar energy, growing food on the college’s USDA-certified organic farm and producing biogas from food waste. Sustainable practices and values are underscored by a commitment to climate neutrality, green building practices, socially responsible investment and diverse community engagement. Dickinson’s achievements and leadership have earned the highest recognitions from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, Sierra Magazine, the Sustainable Endowments Institute, The Princeton Review and Second Nature. https://www.dickinson.edu.
About Clean Air Task Force Clean Air Task Force is a nonprofit environmental organization of scientists, engineers, MBAs, policy experts, lawyers and communications professionals in offices across the U.S. We work to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid global development and deployment of emerging and proven low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies through research and analysis, legal advocacy, promoting thought leadership and partnership with the private sector. For more information, please visit https://www.catf.us.
Voting members of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) recently elected five new leaders to the second largest professional medical specialty society for dermatology in North America. Their terms begin tomorrow during the 2020 virtual Annual Membership Meeting when President Marc Brown, MD, discusses highlights from this unusual year and passes the virtual gavel to 2020-21 ASDS President Mathew Avram, MD, JD.
The 2020-21 officers are:
Mathew Avram, MD, JD, President
Sue Ellen Cox, MD, President-Elect
Vince Bertucci, MD, FRCPC, Vice President
Kavita Mariwalla, MD, Secretary
Dee Anna Glaser, MD, Treasurer
Marc Brown, MD, Immediate Past President
Rhoda Narins, MD, Historian / Parliamentarian
Vice President: Vince Bertucci, MD, FRCPC Dr. Bertucci will ascend to President-Elect in 2021-22 and President in 2022-23. “Member education is arguably the most important of ASDS benefits. I am keen to put into place enhanced educational offerings with courses that draw on global speakers and experiences, modern and user-friendly online educational materials, expanded mentorship opportunities and more. While dermatologic surgery faces many challenges, I remain very optimistic about our future. I strongly believe that there is no better way for our organization to guarantee its success than through engagement of early-career dermatologists. Further development of programs directed to this group will ensure that both the next generation of dermatologic surgeons and the ASDS will flourish.”
Board Member: Anna A. Bar, MD “I am a passionate advocate for advancing the national reputation of our organization and its members. The long term security of our specialty must be our top priority. I support continued emphasis on marketing dermatologic surgeons’ skills so that the public will seek out an ASDS member as THE expert in all skin procedures. We need to continue educating the public, media and regulators that board certified dermatologists are the gold standard to diagnose and treat skin problems and perform aesthetic procedures.”
Board Member: Nazanin Saedi, MD “Even prior to COVID-19, nationwide changes in health care administration were increasingly discussed. Rather than avoid this change, we need to be active participants of the conversation, helping to ensure we can continue to provide the highest level of care and services for our patients. These conversations are all the more relevant, as the current pandemic has dramatically altered the landscape of dermatologic services now, and probably will have a lasting effect for the future.”
Board Member: Divya Srivastava, MD “As more non-physicians and non-core physicians advertise themselves as dermatologists, we must ensure that our patients are safe from laser injury, filler complications and delayed diagnoses of skin cancer. We must continue to be vigilant at the state and federal level to support the physician as the leader in team-based medicine and oppose independent practice of medicine by non-physicians.”
Nominating Committee: Terrence Allan Cronin, Jr., MD “There really isn’t any other society like ASDS that looks out for our specialty and provides the leading educational experience in dermatologic surgery for our members. The leadership of our organization is on record when it comes to the education of the public, our members and policy-makers. In order for this to continue, it is imperative that we elect leaders that are aware of the many threats that face our specialty but are also grounded in the rich history of the dermatologists who came before us.”
2020-22 Resident Representative: Elizabeth H. Cusick, MD The Resident Representative to the ASDS and ASDSA Boards of Directors holds a two-year term providing input and guidance to the Society and Association in their efforts to expand outreach and services to dermatology residents. Dr. Cusick is a Chief Resident in dermatology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, New York. She received her undergraduate degree at Brooklyn College and attended medical school at SUNY Stony Brook. Her interests include medical and integrative dermatology.
About the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) is the largest specialty organization exclusively representing dermatologic surgeons who have unique training and experience to treat the health, function and beauty of skin throughout every stage of life. ASDS members are recognized as leaders in the field of cosmetic and medically necessary skin surgery. They also are pioneers in the field; many are involved in the clinical studies that bring popular treatments to revitalize skin and fill and diminish wrinkles to the forefront. Their work has helped create and enhance many of the devices that remove blemishes, hair and fat, and tighten skin. Dermatologic surgeons also are experts in skin cancer prevention, detection and treatment. As the incidence of skin cancer rises, dermatologic surgeons are committed to taking steps to minimize the life-threatening effects of this disease. For more information, visit http://asds.net.
We are proud to announce that Lydia Adams, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Austin-based outsourcing provider Personiv has been named the winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the Mentor or Coach of the Year category in the field of Marketing, Public Relations and Social Media for the Stevie Women in Business Awards, chosen among more than 1,500 candidates for such an honor across the globe.
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business recognize women executives, entrepreneurs, employees and the companies they run – worldwide. The Stevie Awards have been hailed as the world’s premier business awards with their Women in Business winners chosen in more than 100 categories in Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels. This year’s winners were determined by the average scores of more than 180 business professionals internationally, working on seven juries.
“It is a great honor to be named as a Mentor of the Year for the 2020 Women in Business Stevie Awards. As someone who has benefitted from mentorship from other women throughout my career, I understand the impact of strong leadership, and I am truly and deeply humbled by this designation,” Adams said. “I owe this award to my incredible team members – both past and present – who have given me the opportunity to embrace my role as a mentor, while I thank my own personal mentors who have taught me so much about what it means to be a successful leader.”
Lydia Adams is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Personiv – an outsourcing and offshoring company – where she oversees the internal and external marketing and communications initiatives of the organization, which employs nearly 2,500 employees at five sites in three countries. Adams works tirelessly to center the experiences of the human beings who work at Personiv – and those that are helped by the solutions it offers.
Among Adams' accomplishments being recognized by the Gold Stevie® award are the results of her spearheading of Personiv's rebrand and website launch – a 260 percent year-over-year increase in site visitors – and a 388 percent year-over-year increase in lead generation in the wake of a reinvigoration of the company's marketing content strategy. Most recently, Adams led the initiative to start the podcast, CFO Weekly, which also won a 2020 Gold Stevie award in it’s first year for Best Business Podcast.
“The people we employ at Personiv are the best, and we invest heavily in their success with a focus on engagement, training and especially mentorship,” David Lesniak, CEO of Personiv said. “It is wonderful to see our own marketing executive leader, Lydia Adams, recognized on the global stage for living our core value of strong, positive and effectual leadership that enriches the lives of our team members and in turn, provides quality services to our customers.”
Maggie Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards, said, “In a year like no other in our lifetimes, we’ve produced a cohort of amazing, Stevie-winning women, organizations, and achievements like no other. At all times our winners show themselves to be fearless and indomitable, but their leadership and example are especially valued this year. We congratulate all of our Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie winners."
The Stevie Awards will stage its third annual Women|Future Conference virtually on November 12-13. Details and registration are available at http://www.WomenFutureConference.com.
About Lydia Adams As VP of Marketing & Communications at Personiv, Lydia Adams is responsible for all marketing and communications strategy and implementation for the organization, from branding and messaging to advertising and lead generation. She has more than 15 years of marketing and communications experience in a variety of industries including business services, engineering and higher education. Adams holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Texas A&M University and a Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Texas State University.
About Personiv For more than three decades, Personiv has been the partner businesses trust to develop and implement customized outsourcing solutions for everything from customer experience and back office to finance and accounting and digital. Austin, Texas-based Personiv provides flexible, scalable people-powered solutions that deliver high-impact, high-quality results at half the cost. For more information, visit http://www.personiv.com.
About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.
If you’ve been to a popular theme park, you’ve seen one of Garner Holt’s creations. The impressive technique of magically bringing fantasy characters to life is what makes us all feel like we’ve escaped reality and can fully embrace the fun of being part of the story.
Imagine that same magic applied to learning about science, technology, engineering, art, and math. This is precisely what Garner Holt Education through Imagination has done. Where other STEM or STEAM programs may be successful with separate subject focal points, the unique aspect of animatronics not only seamlessly blends science, technology, engineering, art, and math but represents over 50 distinct and promising careers.
Combining animatronics with the concept of a makerspace, Garner Holt Education through Imagination has designed and implemented the ideal STEAM learning environment for schools, appropriately named, AniMakerspace. These custom designed AniMakerspaces bring a level of fun and entertainment to learning complex scientific concepts and are a step up from the traditional makerspace.
AniMakerspaces are like a miniaturized version of Garner Holt Productions, and by learning from their experts, Education through Imagination is able to use that knowledge to design very powerful and effective learning experiences.
The AniMakerspace gives students the opportunity to practice different models of design thinking through hands-on experiences that enliven the continuously evolving relationship between science, engineering, robotics, manufacturing, and automation.
The most rewarding thing for any educator is to see kids enjoy learning and AniMakerspaces are what gets kids excited to come to school. The best thing about AniMakerspaces is that no matter what career students go into, they are learning the valuable 21st century skills of creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.
Help us get one in every school in America and make learning magical.
Adopting Data Standards (ADS), a non-profit private investments industry coalition, recently marked its one-year anniversary electing its first board of directors.
Appointments to the ADS board of directors include Marianne Stenberg of Swedish pension fund AP2, Paulo Nunes of IHS Markit, Daniel Gregor of Allianz Capital Partners, and Rich Carson of Cambridge Associates.
A purpose-driven organization, ADS also marked its anniversary by holding its first annual meeting of members. ADS is bringing together asset owners, fund managers, and other industry providers to define much needed digital data standards for the benefit of all participants in the markets for private capital.
As an independent organization, ADS’ goal is not to develop another reporting template, but instead to develop a data standard (or a “data dictionary”) to support the many templates and best practices already used in the industry.
Speaking on behalf of ADS, director Marianne Stenberg of Swedish pension fund AP2 explained, “It takes an enormous amount of time and money for investors like AP2 to scrub and normalize the data they are receiving from their private fund managers; but if institutions work together, with ADS, we can solve this.”
Director Paulo Nunes of IHS Market added, “There is significant potential for scale and automation with ADS because a common reporting language is the key to unlocking data efficiency for everyone. IHS is teaming up to benefit all market participants.”
Finally, board member Rich Carson of Cambridge Associates added, “Cambridge Associates supports ADS because we think - working together - we have a shot at making investing in private markets better for investors, fund managers, and service providers. We want to work with like-minded industry leaders to try and make that happen.”
Find out how to join one of the most forward-thinking organizations in private capital at http://www.adsinitiative.org.
FIG, Storytellers for the Information Age, is pleased to share its inclusion onto LinkedIn's 2020 Top Startups List, which ranks the 50 U.S. companies that have stood out this year, attracting investment, employees and attention.
LinkedIn editors and data scientists parsed hundreds of millions of actions generated by LinkedIn’s 171+ million members in the U.S., looking across four pillars: employee growth; jobseeker interest; member engagement with the company and its employees; and how well these startups pulled talent from their flagship LinkedIn Top Companies list.
FIG is thriving against all odds in the pandemic, producing outstanding work this year for clients like Waze, Kabbage, Zillow, CNN and Benjamin Moore whilst continuing to invest in innovation and systems to transform how the agency produces incredible work.
"This list means such a lot to us because it’s based on actions within the LinkedIn community, said Judith Carr-Rodriguez, Partner & CEO, FIG. We are thrilled to be in such good company as breakthrough brands like Masterclass, Brooklinen and Robinhood. We can prove that stories scale brands, so when we help companies cross the chasm from niche to mainstream, we have a personal playbook for success."
To learn more about the FIG agency and the work they do, please visit FIGAgency.com.
About FIG
FIG was born in 2013 from a desire to create a smarter, more nimble alternative to the traditional agency model. We believe that stories are the best way to convey information and persuade people so we have built our thoroughly modern agency to deliver on this. We are Storytellers for the Information Age, on a mission to raise the bar in our industry by improving the quality and effectiveness of the stories told. Our clients include Zillow, Benjamin Moore, CNN, and Diageo. We are proud to have been named as one of Inc Magazine’s Best Places to Work in the US, honored in the AdAge Agency A List 2018, 2019 and 2020, as well as being included on Inc 5000, the definitive list of the fastest growing privately held companies in America. For more information, visit http://www.figagency.com.
Readers' Favorite has become the fastest growing book review and award contest site on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.
In addition to reviewing for some of the biggest names in the literary industry, as well as the first-time independent author, they host a respected award contest which receives thousands of entries from all over the world. Because of their large submission numbers, they are able to break down their contest into 150+ genres, where each genre is judged separately, ensuring authors only compete against books in their specific genre for a fairer and more accurate competition.
Their contest attracts submissions from independent authors, small publishers, and publishing giants such as Random House, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, with contestants that range from the first-time, self-published author to New York Times bestsellers like J.A. Jance, James Rollins, and #1 best-selling author Daniel Silva, as well as celebrity authors like Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty), Henry Winkler (Happy Days), and Eriq La Salle (E.R., Logan).
Over the years, Readers' Favorite has caught the eye of industry leaders who have graciously offered to support their contest by providing services free of charge. Readers' Favorite contestants have a chance for the opportunity to have their book made into a movie or TV show, to be published by a multi award-winning publisher, to be represented by a renowned publicist, and to be represented by a respected literary agency. In addition, all authors are automatically entered to win one of more than 250 prizes worth a combined total of ,000 just by entering the Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest.
Please visit the 2020 Award Contest Winners page to view all of this year's award-winning books. Each award winner features reviews and detailed information about the author, including contact information. Most authors offer free copies of their book to schools, libraries and charities.
Haute Residence is pleased to welcome Sebastian Acosta to the exclusive Haute Residence Network as its representative in the real estate market of the Brickell Key and Brickell areas of Miami, FL.
Sebastian Acosta is a highly respected real estate agent, speaker, and book author. He has mastered this business thanks to hard work, strong ethics, and full dedication to his profession. He has consistently been a top producing agent in every company he has been with since he started in this business. Sebastian has helped buy and sell over 350 properties since 2013. Book author of "Make Millions with Foreclosures and Short Sales" (2008) and recent best selling new business book on Amazon (2018-2020) "The Million Dollar Listing Social Media."
Designed as a partnership-driven luxury real estate portal, Haute Residence connects its affluent readers with top real estate professionals, while offering the latest in real estate news, showcasing the world’s most extraordinary residences on the market and sharing expert advice from its knowledgeable and experienced real estate partners.
The invitation-only luxury real estate network, which partners with just one agent in every market, unites a distinguished collective of leading real estate agents and brokers and highlights the most extravagant properties in leading markets around the globe for affluent buyers, sellers, and real estate enthusiasts.
HauteResidence.com has grown to be the number one news source for million-dollar listings, high-end residential developments, celebrity real estate, and more.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the foremost gathering of international leaders in the multi-trillion-dollar global wellness economy, today announced that Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work® and renowned workplace culture expert, will keynote at its conference November 8–11, 2020, at The Breakers Palm Beach, Florida. The theme of the 2020 GWS is “Resetting the World with Wellness,” and Bush will be one of the experts exploring how innovative and more democratic wellness concepts could transform human life post-COVID-19.
Bush’s presentation, which will include new research conducted during the pandemic with hundreds of the world’s leading CEOs, is entitled, “A Great Place to Work For All,” and is based on his organization’s inclusive leadership model and book by the same name. Bush will outline the importance of wellness and inclusivity in creating positive workplaces and quantify the ROI that these businesses achieve, such as typically outperforming peers in the stock market.
“The pandemic has created a major shift in work culture—forcing many businesses to become more flexible when it comes to remote workers, for example. At the same time, there’s been an acceptance of the fact that racial inequality permeates every aspect of our lives. These two monumental moments have created new challenges and opportunities for business leaders across the globe,” said Susie Ellis, GWS chair and CEO.
Great Place to Work is a global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures, operating in over 60 countries, providing the benchmarks, framework and expertise needed to create, sustain and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. The company is responsible for popular workplace lists, including “Best Workplaces for Women,” “Best Workplaces for Millennials,” and “Best Companies to Work For.”
Bush’s popular workplace culture book "A Great Place to Work For All" has garnered kudos and recommendations from CEOs of some of the world’s leading companies, including Intuit, Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente, PwC and Marriott International. Said Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff: “The most successful companies have a higher purpose and are built on a foundation of trust, growth, innovation, equality, and making the world a better place for all. "A Great Place to Work For All" shares the essential values that every organization should follow to thrive in the future.”
More about Bush: Michael C. Bush is a global chief executive with over 25 years of experience leading small and mid-sized organizations through transformational growth. Driven by a love of business and an unwavering commitment to fair and equitable treatment, in 2015, Michael acquired ownership and currently serves as the global CEO of Great Place to Work. Bush set a new mission for the company: to build a better world by helping every organization become a Great Place to Work For All™ by the year 2030.
Bush is also a sought-after speaker and regular contributor to Fortune and has been featured in numerous publications, including Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Inc., ThriveGlobal, Huffington Post, CNBC and TED.
Capacity at the 2020 Summit is limited; delegates are urged to register ASAP. To learn more about the Summit or to register, click here.
About the Global Wellness Summit: The Global Wellness Summit is an invitation-only international gathering that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the .5 trillion global wellness economy. Held in a different location each year, Summits have taken place in the US, Switzerland, Turkey, Bali, India, Morocco, Mexico, Austria, Italy and Singapore. The 14th annual Summit will take place at The Breakers Palm Beach, FL, from November 8–11, 2020. The 2021 GWS will be held in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 15–18.
ProAct Safety, a recognized pioneer of safety excellence strategies, announced its founder and CEO, Terry L. Mathis, lead the live networking event discussion around BBS and HOP, answering many attendee questions. The live event held on August 26th was recorded and is now available on demand at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_9FY3_Hm8o.
Mathis’ session, “BBS vs. HOP: Either, Neither…or Both?,” details the similarities and differences between the two programs and helps attendees determine which will work best for their specific culture.
“Having Terry as our special guest to discuss BBS-vs-HOP brought a fresh and practical perspective from an exceptionally talented and gifted orator. The feedback we have had from attendees has been incredibly positive and I am looking forward to having Terry share more of his wisdom, insight and experience in this very popular and often misunderstood subject,” said Sonni Gopal, RedRisks.com.
ABOUT TERRY L. MATHIS Mathis, ProAct Safety's founder and CEO, is known for dynamic presentations, work and writing in the fields of behavioral and cultural safety, leadership, and operational performance. He is a regular speaker at ASSE and NSC, as well as company and industry conferences. He has been a frequent contributor to industry magazines for more than 15 years and is coauthor of five books, including bestsellers STEPS to Safety Culture Excellence (WILEY, 2013) and Forecasting Tomorrow: The Future of Safety Excellence (SCE Press, 2015). Terry has been listed four consecutive times as one of ‘The 50 People Who Most Influenced EHS’ by EHS Today. Learn more about him at http://www.TerryLMathis.com.
ABOUT PROACT SAFETY ProAct Safety is a global safety excellence consultancy. The company has completed more than 2,000 successful safety strategy, leadership, culture and behavior-based safety projects in nearly every major industry worldwide. Learn more at http://www.ProActSafety.com.
ABOUT REDRISKS.COM Founded mid-2019 by Sonni Gopal, Redrisks.com has rapidly grown as a digital platform for risk and safety professionals. Offering a plethora of technical resources and live events with world class leaders, Redrisks.Com is highly respected and well recognized within the risk and safety community. Learn more at https://www.redrisks.com.
Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine, a world-renowned financial magazine, has launched mobile apps that make the magazine’s valuable content accessible to the public at no cost.
The magazine covers global topics on business, finance, banking, technology, trading, insurance, investing, and leadership. The magazine has evolved from the growing need to have a more balanced view of informative and independent news within the financial community.
The experienced contributors of the magazines provide in-depth information that grants valuable insights into the latest happenings in the relevant fields. Leading players and key figures of the industry can gain this critical information from within the finance sector for free via the newly launched apps. Launching these apps is a part of Global Banking & Finance Review’s consistent efforts to make quality financial information accessible, palatable, and easily available to the public.
The Finance magazine provides ground-breaking coverage across various topics from across the world. The magazine is divided into Asian, African, American & European sections, offering articles, news, and analysis written by experts within various industries. Information like this, although extremely important and valuable, is not easy to access even in the Age of the Internet. That is the gap GBAF is seeking to address with its new apps.
With these apps, Global Banking & Finance Review has made it easier for the common man to access information that can radically change the way they manage their financial lives. To make the experience even better, the apps carry no ads. Of late, people have started going to great lengths to avoid being bombarded with ads while making use of free content. The Global Banking and Finance Review apps offer an ad-free experience while giving access to all the issues of the Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine. Smartphone users can now view all these magazines and use them to form better financial decisions.
RAI Jets, LLC, a part 135 operator headquartered at Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport (KAZO), hosted a General Aviation Advancing America meeting at their aircraft hangar for the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) on Sept. 14. The meeting was one in a series of events being held at various locations across the country to promote and advance the awareness of airports as runways for economic development, job recovery, and emergency response.
“We were glad to interact with educators, members of the business community, and local government to call attention to the importance of general aviation to the area, and also, how the pandemic has even brought opportunities for growth within certain market segments,” said RAI Jets President Becky Bakeman.
With masks, hand sanitizer and safe social distancing protocol in place, Ryan Waguespack, NATA Senior Vice President, facilitated the town hall meeting held in an informal Q&A style. The small, but impressive group of about twenty attendees included representatives from Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Western Michigan University, and K-RESA (Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency), members of the Kalamazoo Airport Board, representatives from corporate aviation departments, and staffers from the office of Congressman Fred Upton of Michigan’s sixth district.
One topic of discussion was the impending reduction of flights out of KAZO by American Airlines which is expected to begin Oct. 7. Meanwhile. RAI Jets has seen the pace slowly pick up and has found that in many cases, companies are using general aviation more frequently.
Some of the company representatives at the meeting said their corporate jets, once reserved only for the highest tier employees, were now being used by employees that typically flew the commercial airlines. Management felt it was a safer option for all their employees.
The pandemic has also brought people to jet charter who were not using it before, like companies without in-house aviation departments. As airlines continue to cancel and condense their flight schedules, these companies have appreciated the convenience of scheduling on-demand flights through jet charter and the peace of mind that they are flying aboard a COVID-19 safe flight. Likewise, RAI Jets is seeing more wealthy, first-time leisure travelers try jet charter. These people could always afford the service, but they were not compelled to use it until the pandemic.
About RAI Jets RAI Jets LLC is a Kalamazoo, MI-based aviation specialist featuring aircraft management, jet charter and aircraft maintenance services. The family-owned company officially opened in 2009, preceded by more than two decades of generational experience in aviation. For individuals and businesses, the Part 135 operator offers customized, jet charter for business or leisure, as well as turnkey management and aircraft maintenance for jet owners. RAI Jets operates its own fleet of aircraft for charter and offers jet owners (personal and corporate) with the option to offset operating costs by adding their aircraft to RAI Jet’s FAA approved Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate. RAI Jets also offers aircraft acquisition service and hangar space. For more information visit FlyRAI.com or call (800) 247-2834.
Virdition, a social networking company for the entertainment industry, announces the first annual ‘Students in Motion USA’ national online creative arts competition. Talented student performers from across the U.S. are invited to enter and compete remotely from home. The national bracket-style competition, Students in Motion (SIM) is open to all performers ages 5 to 18 to compete online for a grand prize ,000 scholarship and cash prizes while helping parents and teachers at the same time.
In addition to a grand prize scholarship starting at ,000, 73 starting cash prize winners will be named. The term “starting cash prizes” means that the competition’s cash prizes will grow as the competition grows. The SIM main competition is free to enter and audience voters can vote to support their favorite student talent at no cost.
The Students in Motion USA competition is a unique online talent competition open to talented young people in the performing arts including:
Musicians
Singers
Artists/painters
Poetry/spoken word
Drama
Dance
Virdition’s student talent competition is designed to help performing arts schools and teachers earn money for classroom supplies by offering opportunities to become affiliate partners of the competition and share their competition link with student audiences on social media. Similarly, it helps parents of student contestants earn money in the form of tips and possibly earn ad commissions along the way for school supplies and clothing. Most important, it gives students opportunities to compete for a scholarship and cash prizes.
Virdition provides students with essential tools for success from the start. Upon successfully registering, every contestant receives a free limited portfolio on the Virdition platform. The portfolio is attached to their voting page for audiences, entertainment industry professionals, and people in their social media networks to view.
“As a contestant, your portfolio is your chance to tell your story and showcase your talent,” says Virdition founder and CEO Will Quinones.
“The ‘Students in Motion’ competition invites industry professionals from major entertainment companies whose jobs are to find tomorrow’s stars, to look view our contestants in action. With that in mind, a portfolio acts as each student’s talent resume in the entertainment field, to which you will add your biography (BIO), audio, video, and images for review,” Quinones says.
How the Students in Motion competition works:
SIM will not have formal judges for this competition. Votes will be tallied from each student’s social media account supporters. Entry costs are free for the main state and wildcard competition, while individual category fees are each.
Qualifying Round – 50 state winners This SIM competition is entirely online voter-based. In order for a contestant to move on from the qualifying round to the bracket round, they are required to earn the highest number of online votes among all contestants in their state. Qualifying states must have three or more active contestants.
Wildcard Winners
Fourteen Wildcards will be included in the bracket round of 64 contestants, so contestants who don’t win their state still have a chance to advance as a wildcard.
Bracket Round of 64
Once a contestant wins their state by votes or wildcard, he or she will then advance to the bracket round to compete head to head against other state winners. To advance to the next bracket round, contestants must beat their opponents by having the highest number of votes at the end of the round. By winning a bracket round, contestants not only win the bracket round’s posted cash prize but they also advance to the next level of competition. Votes renew back to zero in each round so contestants that advance from round to round will start on a level playing field.
Best-In Category Competitions
During the entry process, contestants may also compete in one or more of 10 “Best-In” category competitions for a starting cash prize of 0 and a trophy. These Best-In awards categories will run parallel to the main competition and will end when the main bracket competitions end. Even contestants who are eliminated in any round of the main competition can continue to share and compete in their Best-In category or categories to the end of the competition and remain eligible to win cash prizes in each category entered.
Best-In category competition fees are .00 per category. Entries are closed for these categories after completing registration to the main bracket competition. The Best-In categories include:
Musicians
Singers
Art/Painting
Poems/Spoken Words
Drama
Dance
Kids 5 to 7
Kids 8 to 11
Teens 12 to 15
Teens 16 to 18
As September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Virdition chose to launch a SIM fundraiser to benefit St Jude Children’s ® Research Hospital in conjunction with the official launch of the “Students in Motion” Competition.
Since founder Danny Thomas opened St. Jude in 1960, the facility's ongoing mission has been to advance cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. No child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay. SIM is committed to reaching its fundraising goal of ,000. To learn more about the fundraiser and to make a contribution, visit the Students in Motion Creative Arts Competition’s St. Jude fundraising website.
For more information about the competition and tp register, visit the “Students in Motion” website. To learn more about other talent competitions, visit the Virdition platform, email willq(at)virdition(dot)com or call 813.477.2177.
About Virdition
Founded in 2009 by Will Quinones, Virdition is a virtual auditioning and competition networking site for the entertainment industry. Quinones developed Virdition (virtual audition) to give talented individuals everywhere unique online functionality to showcase their talents, build their portfolios, find opportunities to present their talents, compete with others and achieve success.
Developed for performers and agents, the Virdition online platform fills a void for talented musicians, performs, actors and models to gain visibility among agents and agencies looking for fresh, new talent without the demand for costly and time-consuming travel to audition locations. To learn more about how Virdition’s contest entry and audition platform works, view the “Understanding our Competition Bracket” video.
C-Sweet, a rapidly growing organization with a mission to foster and renew executive level relationships for women across sectors in business and industry in partnership with the Wall Street Technology Association (WSTA®), announce a new Webinar – “How We Can Make a Difference” – set for Thursday, October 1, at 11:30 AM PDT.
With highly-charged racial events happening this summer and COVID-19 “work from home” guidelines, face-to-face meaningful conversations with management and staff on resolving issues of race and philanthropy are more difficult than ever. How can we, as individuals and corporations of all sizes, make a difference when the issues feel so large? This event explores possible solutions.
C-Sweet has assembled two non-profits, Thrive Scholars (formerly SCS Noonan Scholars) and Zonta International, as well as a representative from the Zenith Insurance company, for a panel discussion discussing their work and how corporations and individuals can make a difference.
“With all the issues polarizing the country, we wondered how we as individuals, or as companies, can make a difference,” said Dianne Gubin, President of Amplify Professional Services Inc, an executive search and IT consulting firm, and Co-CEO of C-Sweet. “We invited Thrive and Zonta, two non-profits focused on solutions, to discuss the scope of their work and how to get companies and individuals involved.“
“We found that many well-known corporations are teaming with non-profits to help make the world a better place,” said Beth Hilbing, Sr. Program Manager and Principal IT Business Partner at Boeing, as well as Co-CEO of C-Sweet. "We want to explore this type of partnership and, by doing so, hopefully show others how to do this right if they’re not sure of what direction to take.”
This program is the third in a three part series C-Sweet produced in response to the national outcry over racial injustice. The first program discussed Racial Relations in the Workplace, the second explored Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) in business, and this session examines how we as individuals and companies can make a difference.
C-Sweet corporate sponsors for this program include Key Information Systems (a Converge Company), Interpublic Group (IPG) and Google.
Panelists include: Martha Sanchez, Executive Director, Thrive Scholars Christi Matthews, Regional Director, Zonta International Eden Feder, EVP Human Resources, Zenith Insurance Company Lois Ungar, Chief Financial Officer, SBL Ventures
Registration and Featured Non-Profits To register for this free online event, go to https://www.csweet.org/Events and sign up.
Thrive Scholars helps high-achieving under-represented students graduate from top colleges and achieve career potential. https://www.thrivescholars.org
Zonta International stands for women’s rights. Zonta is an advocate for equality, education and an end to child marriage and gender-based violence. http://www.Zonta.org
About the Wall Street Technology Association (WSTA) The WSTA facilitates educational and networking events where members meet and exchange ideas and best practices that assist them in effectively capitalizing on technology advances in areas such as Cybersecurity, Analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Data Management, Cloud, Blockchain, Digital, Architecture, etc. and dealing with financial industry business challenges. Founded in 1967, the WSTA is a not-for-profit association with a long history of evolving to meet the needs of its members.
The WSTA hosts virtual and in person seminars, roundtables, panel discussions, and social events. These events offer many opportunities to learn about leading technologies, as well as network and share information with industry colleagues. The WSTA’s educational Digital News provides additional content and information about the WSTA and industry-related activities. The website is a dynamic resource providing access to additional resources including webinars, white papers, videos, and information about other industry events. For more information, please visit http://www.wsta.org.
About C-Sweet C-Sweet creates opportunities for women across sectors for business development, brand acceleration, partnerships and expanded career paths through curated receptions and digital engagement. This includes female CEO, CFO, COO, CIO / CTO, CMO, President, Vice President and Director level attendees, as well as Founders across industries. Executives in finance include Venture Capital, Private Equity, Institutional Investment, Investment Banking, Family Offices, Hedge Funds, and more for women across sectors for business development, brand acceleration, partnerships and expanded career paths through curated receptions and digital engagement.
C-Sweet™ fosters executive level relationships for business development, collaboration and expanded career paths. The group focuses on creating expanded professional networks of female colleagues in leadership positions to foster innovation. The group creates new opportunities for trusted and confidential exchange and business / career development as members connect with others to freely brainstorm and discuss challenges facing individual projects and your business.
C-Sweet women support Women on their way to the top and extend a hand to those that follow through the creation of learning and networking opportunities that lead to professional growth and personal development.
The organization offers exclusive educational networking events, panels and keynotes regularly. To sign up for the mailing list and attend future events, send email to: CSweetExecs@gmail.com . To join C-sweet, or become a sponsor, go to http://www.csweet.org.
Application euShare is the first application dedicated to sharing the health for at risk populations and their family members. At risk populations have a greater risk of communicable diseases like coronavirus and common cold, due to multiple factors. The application is a platform for employees and consumers to rate their experience with a business based on how well that business or service is protecting its employees and consumers from the spread of communicable diseases.
The application is in its first stages of development, and many valuable updates are underway. Soon users will have access to custom SikScores, and SiKIndexes to help at risk travelers, and their family members plan trips and vacations. The Sikscore helps determine how well a specific business is doing to protect employees and consumers. A SikIndex includes the SikScore and other data in a specific region. These are used to help individuals determine which lodging, shopping, and dining facilities are practicing infection control measures. Travel and route planning services are projected to be available as early as this fall.
Application euShare is dedicated to sharing the health for all people in a concise platform that is accessible for all populations. euShare is currently available for download on the Google Play Store, and we are working to provide Apple iOS users with an option soon.
Skyline Products produces the industry’s most advanced and reliable ITS-Grade® dynamic message sign (DMS) systems that are Designed to be Bold, Engineered to Last. A new case study reveals how the City of Breckenridge manages traffic during the busy ski season – relying upon a traffic management system that combines Skyline dynamic message signs with the Klover Smart Parking application to influence driver behavior.
The resort town, which attracts millions of visitors annually, determined that the primary source of winter congestion was created by visitors who, upon entering Breckenridge, were unable to find immediate parking. Unfamiliar with the town or not knowing which lots were full, visitors would circle the town’s two main roads in search of available parking spots.
To resolve this traffic congestion, the City of Breckenridge implemented an intelligent wayfinding system to direct visitors to available parking as they entered the town. Using Skyline dynamic message signs and the Klover Smart Parking Application, city traffic engineers, and parking lot attendees can:
View the status of all lots from one convenient dashboard,
Orchestrate parking notifications across dynamic message signs, social media, or mobile applications,
Remotely update lot status with just one click.
“The Breckenridge implementation of this joint Skyline/Klover solution demonstrates how smaller agencies now have access to affordable, scalable transportation infrastructure,” shared Skyline Products CEO Chip Stadjuhar. “Thanks to Klover’s innovative cloud-based platform, agencies no longer need large IT teams or huge budgets to implement intelligent traffic solutions. Our offering is affordable, easily implemented, and easy to use.”
Read Skyline’s case study about the Breckenridge/Klover implementation here. Agencies can see a live Klover demo – allowing them to see first-hand just how easy Klover integrates with their existing ITS devices and third-party applications. Request a Klover demo.
About Skyline Products Skyline Products helps transportation professionals solve their most complex traffic flow, parking, and safety problems through custom, engineered-to-order, intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Since 1970, Skyline has invested heavily in research and development to create the industry’s most advanced and reliable ITS-Grade® dynamic message sign systems and software solutions that are Designed to be Bold, Engineered to Last. Much of the ITS industry has adopted and currently specifies innovations that were originally developed by Skyline. Our team of industry experts is ready to design a solution customized to the needs of the project, and our collaborative approach ensures customers purchase the right solution – not just a standard solution. Learn more at SkylineProducts.com.
About Klover Located in Greenwood Village, CO, Klover provides a subscription-based intelligent transportation system for businesses and transportation departments that doesn’t require a large investment in software or infrastructure. The Klover Smart Transportation Platform includes point solutions for cloud-based device management, smart work zones, smart parking, travel times, incident management, and move-over awareness. Learn more at https://klover.io.
Vinotemp®, the leading wine storage solutions and appliance provider, today announced the addition of two microwave ovens to its appliance line, Brama by Vinotemp. Both the over-the-range option along with the built-in or counter-top option offer modern design aesthetic, navigable interfaces and a variety of cooking options including a smart, Sensor Cook function.
“The ability to offer a full suite of kitchen appliances coupled with the continued growth of the microwave cookware segment drove our decision to add microwave ovens to our line of Brama appliances,” states India Hynes, CEO of Vinotemp. “And by offering both an over-the-range microwave and a built-in or counter-top microwave, we’re providing options when it comes to adding versatility and convenience to the kitchen.”
The Brama Over the Range Microwave (1.6 cubic feet, 1000 watt) features surface (task) lighting along with a two-speed exhaust fan, while the Brama Built-In Microwave (2.2 cubic feet, 1200 watt) includes a memory function that saves the desired power level and time for up to three items that are most often heated/cooked. Both options offer:
Sensor Cook Function
When this smart function is selected, sensors inside the microwave work to detect humidity released by items being cooked, and the data is used to automatically adjust the optimal cooking time.
Multi-stage Cooking
For the best results when using a microwave to cook, different power levels at different lengths of time may be necessary. The Multi-stage Cooking functionality allows the microwave to automatically change from one stage to another.
Ten Power Levels
From softening butter and thawing meats to baking cakes, cooking pasta, scrambling eggs, sautéing onions, boiling water, making candy and cooking meats, a variety of power levels work to efficiently heat and/or cook almost anything.
To learn more about Vinotemp’s newest Brama offerings, and other appliances and wine storage solutions, visit vinotemp.com.
About Vinotemp® Since 1985 close attention to market demand and non-standard ideas have made Vinotemp® the leading provider of diversified wine storage solutions utilized worldwide residentially and by renowned resorts, restaurants, hotels, and the yachting industry. In 2019 Vinotemp expanded its product offering to include residential kitchen appliances. Find more information about Vinotemp by calling 800-777-VINO (8466) or visiting vinotemp.com. Find Vinotemp on Facebook.com/Vinotemp, Instagram @Vinotemp, and Twitter @Vinotemp.
Today Avenu Insights & Analytics (Avenu) launched its new Clearview Justice Portal (CJP). CJP is an applications integration platform offering a comprehensive suite of public-facing applications that enables Courts to provide a modern experience for its constituents, while also acting as a single point of “contactless” interaction with the Court. CJP will provide jurors with an enhanced jury experience allowing easy, streamlined and socially distanced interactions with the court system – features that are now more important than ever due to COVID-19 precautions.
“We’re thrilled to launch this state-of-the-art digital solution for streamlining the court system,” said Paul Colangelo, CEO of Avenu. “Avenu has decades of experience using digital technology to transform everyday procedures in government. Clearview Justice Portal makes court processes easier and more effective, in everything from managing jury attendance to storing and sharing court documents and information. It also provides citizens with a simplified and improved jury duty experience that is “contactless” and promotes social distancing.”
CJP features a flexible and extensible plug-in-based architecture that allows courts to implement and deploy CJP functionalities as needed. Additionally, CJP can integrate with non-Avenu supplied justice applications, enabling workflow improvements for any existing court system.
“Jury service is a vital civic responsibility and the cornerstone of the American judicial system,” said Keith Ellery, Avenu’s Justice Solutions Business Unit Owner. “But jury service today is difficult, time-consuming and labor-intensive. With CJP, we’re able to use digital and automation technology to make jury service simpler and more convenient than ever before. We think that’s a win-win for the courts and the broader public.”
About Avenu
As a leading provider in state and local government solutions, Avenu has partnered with over 3,000 state and local governments to boost revenue, optimize operations, and reduce costs. Avenu provides revenue enhancement and administrative solutions that uncover new sources of untapped revenue and deliver software that streamlines day-to-day operations. State and local governments partner with Avenu to increase revenue without raising taxes, streamline internal operations, and improve services by enhancing connectivity for constituents. Avenu is a portfolio company of Mill Point Capital. To learn more, visit http://www.avenuinsights.com.
About Mill Point Capital
Mill Point Capital is a private equity firm targeting control investments in lower-middle market businesses, with a focus on industrial and business services companies in North America. Mill Point’s experienced team of investors and Executive Partners seek to enhance the value of portfolio companies by executing transformative strategic initiatives and operational improvements. Mill Point is based in New York, NY. For more information, please visit http://www.millpoint.com.
These initial boarding schools are all nationally accredited for their academics and are non-profit boarding schools. The boarding schools who are partnering with allkindsoftherapy.com are primarily focused on being a boarding community with few, if any, day students. Adding traditional boarding schools to All Kinds of Therapy furthers the mission of providing the facts in an easy to understand way for parents investigating the continuum of care for teens and young adults in treatment. “Google reported in 2019 that 7% of daily searches are healthcare-related and families who are searching for niche information about teen treatment and young adult treatment are staying for 2 minutes to find the facts on allkindsoftherapy.com,” said Jenney Wilder, M.S.Ed., owner of the website.
According to the Association of Boarding Schools, there are 198 traditional boarding schools in the United States. There is a subset of boarding schools that entertain the application of a student who successfully completed a treatment program. This cohort of schools has smaller student populations, intentional ways of creating a community for their whole school, and sometimes have an expert clinician or specific diagnosis that transition or integrate into their community. These specialized boarding schools utilize strong Advisor/Advisee relationships, small classes, and various other types of academic and emotional supports to assist all their students’ continued success and growth. “Listing our facts on allkindsoftherapy.com’s new section for specialized boarding schools allows us to connect with a valued demographic among our prospective students and families,” said Matthew Woodhall, Head of Woodhall School in Connecticut. He went on to explain, "Students who have made demonstrable progress in a therapeutic milieu, possess a keener self-awareness and freshly developed coping skills, which in turn provide a solid foundation for them to build upon their personal, academic, and co-curricular success in our school community.”
“Every stage of the recovery process is crucial for a student, including the transition from a therapeutic environment into a mainstream school. Small boarding schools offer subtle but critical structures to ensure student success, and parsing out these characteristics cannot always be found in most online directories or school-based websites,” said Holly McGlennon Treat, M.Ed., Director of Boarding School Advising at The Bertram Group in Westport, CT. Allkindsoftherapy.com provides easy to understand information that will help families compare all levels of treatment to transition programming for teens and young adults. The therapeutic process is not a straight line. Whether a parent is searching online for the the right clinician, intervention, family coach, therapeutic consultant, psychologist, takes time and trust to go through the process.
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About All Kinds of Therapy Launched in 2015, allkindsoftherapy.com is a web-based platform that focuses on interventions, assessment, and varying types of treatment to transition programming for ages 30 and under. All the advertisers on the website must answer revealing facts about their treatment model, clinicians' training, licensing, etc, and offer a level of transparency, unlike any other online treatment, boarding school, or professional directory. The web platform allows the visitor to compare side-by-side, residential options, boarding schools. The professionals listed in the ‘Expert section’ are parent coaches, tele-therapy, tele-assessment, therapeutic consultants who reveal details about their practice. The monthly blog allows parents to learn the questions to ask when hiring professionals or enrolling their child and gather a greater understanding of a dynamic Family Choice Behavioral Healthcare industry.
The clinical excellence department within Professional Physical Therapy has developed a training and certification program to better cater to both our therapist’s and patients’ needs in providing world-class care. With the rise in virtual and telehealth physical therapy services, the program stands to identify exceptional individuals who are most experienced and best suited for providing virtual care.
The certification criteria was created to ensure as little difference as possible between an in-clinic evaluation and a video visit. Therapists who have completed at least 15 prior telehealth sessions, have greater than one year of clinical experience, and have been recommended by operations and the clinical excellence team, are invited to the training sessions to begin the certification process.
Individuals who pass a comprehensive written exam are then required to participate in a mock-telehealth appointment with an education team member. After successful completion of all aspects of the program they are identified as a Professional Physical Therapy Certified Telehealth Therapist.
Todd Herzberger PT, MSPT, CDNS, Chief Operating Officer at Professional Physical Therapy states, "We are proud to offer our patients and clinicians a best in class method to limit disruption of care during very trying times. Our robust telehealth certification process ensures that the exceptional care delivered in our brick and mortar locations continues via the leverage of technology as a treatment method. Our clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction scores prove that telehealth is a viable option for our patients that are not able to make it to the clinic."
"Our certified telehealth provider program exemplifies Professional Physical Therapy’s commitment to clinical excellence. We are very proud to offer our patients video visit options with providers that have undergone a rigorous certification process to ensure exceptional care delivery if they are not able to attend one of our state of the art physical facilities. This has helped us maintain our nationally recognized outcomes with our patients who elect to utilize telehealth as their preferred method to access Physical and Hand therapy care," states Director of Clinical Outcomes at Professional Physical Therapy, Owen Lennon PT, DPT, OCS.
Professional Physical Therapy currently operates widely across five of the Northeast states. For more information and a list of all Professional Physical Therapy locations and services, please visit http://www.professionalpt.com.
About Professional Physical Therapy Professional Physical Therapy, headquartered in Melville, New York, is a leading provider of outpatient physical and hand therapy and rehabilitation services throughout the New York Metropolitan area, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Professional’s patient-centric treatment philosophy is focused on providing exceptional, compassionate care to the entire person, and not just their injury. Their licensed Physical Therapists design customized treatment plans, using the most innovative therapeutics, to help patients achieve and exceed their goals. Service offerings include telehealth, in-home physical therapy, and outpatient physical, hand, and occupational therapy in over 180 clinics throughout the Northeast.
ZorroSign, Inc., a global leader in blockchain-based digital signatures and digital transaction management, today announced a new strategic partnership with DocuXplorer, a leading Document Management Solution. DocuXplorer’s native integration with ZorroSign will allow a seamless process from document management through to encrypted electronic signing of documents. DocuXplorer customers will be able to quickly send, sign, and file contracts.
ZorroSign and DocuXplorer regularly seek out new alliances to further expand product offerings for customers. As a result of this partnership, users can now execute documents, then store, access, and share those documents with complete security and compliance with industry regulations including SEC, Sarbanes Oxley, FINRA, GDPR and HIPAA. Businesses that go paperless can reduce their processing errors by an average of 90 percent (BP Trends) and achieve 70 to 80 percent efficiency improvements when implementing electronic signature solutions (Forbes).
“We are thrilled to partner with ZorroSign to offer their leading-edge digital signature services to our growing client base,” stated Mr. Wyman, spokesperson for DocuXplorer. “Partnerships like this demonstrate our efforts to regularly deliver new value-add services to our customers.”
DocuXplorer provides a complete document management solution for document handling and storage. The software provides users with an extremely effective, yet easy-to-use, method of quickly finding, sharing and accessing all types of documents, both scanned-in paper and electronic. DocuXplorer uses a familiar File Explorer-style interface, making it a simple yet robust, low-cost solution that requires little training and virtually no technology expertise.
“People use ZorroSign because they know that it is safe, it is secure, it is authentic and most importantly, they know that the person that they are transacting with is the real person. We can prove it,” said Shamsh Hadi, ZorroSign’s chief executive officer. ZorroSign is the first Blockchain Tokenization based eSignature, digital signature and Digital Transaction Management (DTM) Platform that offers digital document tamper and fraud detection technology.
About DocuXplorer Since 1997, DocuXplorer has provided thousands of its users with an end-to-end document management and archiving solution, including award-winning document management software, consulting services, taxonomy training, a cloud-based solution and secure online backup of its clients’ data. It was named one of the top solution providers by OCR World magazine for its advanced optical character recognition and one of the Top 20 providers of document management software by Capterra. For more information and to try DocuXplorer, please visit http://www.docuxplorer.com.
Save a Tree – Plant a Tree Through its #PaperlessLife initiative, every time ZorroSign customers save a tree by not printing paper, ZorroSign plants a tree on their behalf. Saving the planet is a core part of ZorroSign, as using this technology saves trees, water and our carbon footprint. For more information about our Paperless Life initiative visit: http://www.zorrosign.com/paperless-life.
About ZorroSign ZorroSign, Inc. is a leader in digital signature technology and the global provider of ZorroSign DTM—a secure platform delivering digital signature and digital transaction management. ZorroSign’s patent-pending 4n6 (“forensics”) technology offers post-execution fraud detection, verification and authentication of legally binding electronic signatures, digital signatures and documents using proprietary blockchain tokenization. ZorroSign DTM streamlines end-to-end digital transactions with bank-grade protection and security certificates that never expire—allowing governments, corporations, and individuals to eSign documents, request signatures on documents and forms, build workflows, automate approval processes, and more leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence. For more information, visit http://www.zorrosign.com.
Trademarks ZorroSign, ZorroFill, ZorroSign (patent-pending) 4n6 Token, and JustZSign, are registered trademarks of ZorroSign, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All other trademarked names or terms used in this document are the property of their respective owners.
C&K Holdings is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with Northstar Transport Services. Northstar joins the established power team of SEI Acquisition, LLC, C&K Trucking LLC, AV Logistics LLC, and Skyline Express to create an even larger network of trucks, drivers, and resources for customers seeking superior drayage transportation and management.
Northstar is led by Al Iannelli, the company’s president and CEO and an industry leader in the intermodal trucking business. Iannelli is a consummate leader who has dedicated a lifetime of service to the transportation industry and most recently served as president of Polaris Intermodal.
“We are proud to partner with a company with an excellent reputation that is led by such an experienced, well-regarded name in the industry as Mr. Iannelli,” said Peter Pace, vice president of sales at AV Logistics, LLC and C&K Trucking, LLC. “This new partnership will help us expand our network and increase our capacity to serve clients. We are looking forward to seeing what more we can achieve together.”
“This partnership will allow us to increase capacity and offer fully-integrated services to all steamship lines, freight forwarders, customs brokers, 3PLs, and beneficial cargo owners," said Iannelli. “The increased capacity is a value-add for our customers too.”
The partnership was effective as of August 2020.
About C&K Trucking, LLC C&K Trucking is one of the largest intermodal trucking companies specializing in the drayage of containers and trailers between ports, railroads, and shippers in a safe and efficient manner. C&K has 900 owner operators completing over 600,000 moves annually. Founded in 1974, the company has more than four decades of experience. They hold to a unique business model of controlling all terminals as company operations, creating greater accountability, consistent processes and tighter controls. Visit C&K Trucking at cktrucking.com.
About Northstar Services, LTD Northstar Services, LTD is an asset-based carrier which offers trucking and drayage. The company offers fully integrated services to all steamship lines, freight forwarders, customs brokers, 3PLs, and beneficial cargo owners. For more information about Northstar Services, call 856-423-0700.
Little Steps Pediatric Therapy has opened a second location in Glenview, Illinois and launched a new sister company in Florida to expand educational programs and reach new patients in need of therapeutic services. The new space in Glenview also allows for social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
After the pandemic prompted many schools to switch to virtual learning earlier this year, the Little Steps team decided to develop programming to help parents and supplement remote education. The pediatric therapy provider already offered a preschool readiness program to promote early learning and skills like social interaction, fine and gross motor skills, pre-writing, pre-language and more. As of this fall, Little Steps also assists children with skills like reading, handwriting and speech via enrichment pods for Pre-K through 5th-grade students.
The pods deliver supplemental instruction in core areas and are limited to eight participants each to allow for proper distancing. Each pod meets for 2.5 hours per session and is led by a team of Little Steps therapists. Please visit the enrichment pods section of the therapy provider’s website for more information.
The new Glenview site – located at 1850 Johns Dr. – allows Little Steps to deliver that socially distanced programming to assist children with e-learning, explained Jaime Passaglia, founder of Little Steps.
“It’s been tough for parents trying to help their kids with remote learning,” Passaglia said. “We felt there was a need to bridge the gap with our enrichment pods. Our team has worked some of their e-learning instructions into the programming as well.”
Passaglia also launched a sister company, Little Steps Florida LLC, in Florida in August after team member Erica Vitaliano moved there. Vitaliano is a pediatric speech therapist and has served as the director of speech therapy services and Early Intervention therapy services for Little Steps. She now offers Early Intervention services and teletherapy in Florida. Passaglia plans to secure office space for the new company soon.
In addition to the two new locations, Little Steps already had sites in Chicago, Highland Park, Wilmette and Glenview to serve children throughout the Chicago metro area. The company focuses on delivering compassionate and comprehensive care – including pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapy – to children of all ages. For more information, please call 847-707-6744 or email info@littlestepspt.com.
About Little Steps
Little Steps Pediatric Therapy is a privately-owned company composed of pediatric professionals focused on delivering physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and behavior therapy to children of all ages in the Chicago area. Our team is determined to provide comprehensive and educational care to change the lives of children one step at a time. To learn more, visit littlestepspt.com.
HRMP, a leading provider of administrative service support and reinsurance to group insurance carriers, is proud to announce that it will be an exhibitor at the Self-Insurance Institute of America's 40th Annual National Conference and Expo to be held as a virtual event October 12-15, 2020.
Founded in 1990, HRMP offers third-party administrative and reinsurance support to underwriters, insurance carriers, and reinsurers in partnership with A.M. Best “A” rated carriers and reinsurers.
The Self-Insurance Institute of America, Inc. (SIIA), works to protect and promote the business interests of companies involved in the self-insurance and alternative risk transfer industry. SIIA members include self-insured entities, third-party administrators, captive managers, excess/stop-loss/reinsurance insurers, and other service providers. The organization provides its members with informational and educational resources as well as networking opportunities and legislative/regulatory representation.
HRMP President Jim Mange commented, “HRMP is proud to support the Self-Insurance Institute of America at its upcoming conference. We have been an exhibitor at SIIA events for many years, and we are excited to participate as the association launches its first virtual national conference. HRMP sincerely appreciates the important benefits SIIA provides for its members.”
About HRMP, LLC Founded in 1990, HRMP, LLC, is a distinctive third-party administrator positioned to offer creative solutions to underwriters, insurance carriers, and reinsurers. Our unique solutions include back office or run-out administration, auditing services, life conversions, and more. HRMP, LLC, is a member of the Aran Insurance Services Group. For more information, visit https://www.hrmp.com/.
Transtector Systems, an Infinite Electronics brand and an industry-leading provider of end-to-end power and signal integrity solutions, has launched a comprehensive line of Ethernet cable assemblies, complementing the company’s full range of highly reliable, versatile data surge protection and NEMA-rated enclosures, and providing customers with a single source for total Ethernet surge protection solutions.
This new product line includes Cat5e and Cat6a cables in a broad range of configurations, with different flexibility and shielding options, as well as engineering to all key industry standards. Cable lengths range from 1 foot to 250 feet, providing solutions for long background cable runs or short in-panel jumpers.
Key configurations are in-stock for same-day shipping, part of Transtector’s company-wide commitment to meeting the urgent requirements of its customers.
“Ethernet is ubiquitous, and in all types of industries and applications,” said Dustin Guttadaauro, Product Line Manager for Transtector. “Our well-established surge protection devices and NEMA enclosures are deployed in Ethernet applications worldwide. Now Transtector provides the cables you need to complete the installation with just one trusted supplier.”
Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) applications require reliable components to ensure network integrity. From surge protection to cabling, Transtector builds all of its products to industry-leading standards.
Transtector’s Ethernet cable options include:
Cat5e and Cat6a, all with TIA-1096 standard RJ45 connectors
Double-shielded or foil-shielded
Indoor/outdoor-rated
Industrial jacket for oil, UV, chemical, water resistance (based on configuration)
Low-smoke, zero-halogen jacket available
Range of PoE length ratings
Burn rating options to meet specific code requirements
In addition to use with PoE devices, these new cables are ideal for all types of data/Ethernet applications, including PLC/PC controls, WLAN amplifiers, transportation and antenna systems, industrial installations, premise wiring and more.
Transtector’s Ethernet cables are in-stock today for same-day shipping. The company’s customer support team is available 24/7 to help customers configure a complete Ethernet surge protection solution, including cables, significantly streamlining the purchasing, delivery and deployment processes.
Transtector Systems leads the industry with a comprehensive product portfolio and specialized expertise in consulting, design and manufacturing of AC, DC, data and signal surge protection, communications power cabinets, EMP protection and power quality engineering services. Transtector provides valuable end-to-end power and signal integrity solutions for markets that include telecommunications, medical imaging, transportation, energy, security, and the military.
About Infinite Electronics:
Based in Irvine, Calif., Infinite Electronics offers a broad range of components, assemblies and wired/wireless connectivity solutions, serving the aerospace/defense, industrial, government, consumer electronics, instrumentation, medical and telecommunications markets. Infinite’s brands include Pasternack, Fairview Microwave, L-com, MilesTek, Aiconics, KP Performance Antennas, PolyPhaser, Transtector, RadioWaves, ShowMeCables, INC Installs and Integra Optics. Infinite Electronics serves a global engineering customer base with deep technical expertise and support, with one of the broadest inventories of products available for immediate shipment.
Philaflex™, the Ultimate in Flexibility for Electrical Cables by Philatron. As one of the top manufacturing experts of extra flexible electrical cables, Philatron continues to be the industry and military leader in flexible cables.
As advancements in high tech equipment continues to grow there is a need for more flexible cables for applications of airport 400 hertz ground support, automation, building - construction installation, crane service, diesel locomotive, electrical vehicle charging, extension cords, military, mining, pendant/traveling, power supply cords, portable power, robotics, stage lighting, ship-to-shore power, switchboard, and tray cable.
For flexible cables used for today's high-tech equipment and cable installations - especially with installations of large size cable of THHN 4/0 AWG or larger - flexibility means everything! The new groundbreaking Philaflex™ material is engineered to provide a superior solution. This material allows the electric cable conductor's insulation and cable jacketing to be more flexible than any other standard flexible cable available today. Philaflex™ also solves cold weather conditions that cause cables to become ridged.
Phil Ramos, Jr., CEO and Owner of Philatron, stated, "This new Philaflex™ material is lighter with more flexibility, but also provides higher voltage cables.”
Most Philaflex cables are UL/CSA listed and RoHS compliant with a temperature rating of +105°C to -40°C. Philatron provides USA made quality cables that can be trusted.
About Philatron Wire and Cable A leader in technology, creativity and innovation, Philatron Wire and Cable is a major wire and cable provider in the USA, manufacturing a full range of wire and cable products. As an industry leader in manufacturing, design, development, technology, and marketing, with over 40 years of service Philatron values core competencies offering copper drawing, roping, cabling, extrusion, injection molding, coiling and assembly. Markets served: Aerospace, Auto/Heavy Duty Trucking, Electrical, Entertainment, Medical, Military, Mining, OEM, Oil & Gas, Transportation, and Utility/Power. Certified ISO/IATF 16949 (Quality Program) & SDVOSB (Veteran Owned Business)
Visit us at: philatron.com For additional information contact: Tammy Ashton Vice President – Sales and Marketing tashton(at)philatron(dot)com - 562.802.2570 / 800.967.9147
The Mexican entertainment chain Alboa, part of the Cinemex Group, has recently acquired 85 Christie® 1DLP® laser projectors for its 13 entertainment centers dotted around the country. The integrator T&T Cinema oversaw the roll out.
Alboa Entertainment Halls embrace a mix of bowling, pool tables, sports bar, food, mixology, stages for live shows and spaces for events for 50 to 1000 people. It has 13 centers all over Mexico with a total of 175 bowling alleys, and another seven new centers are scheduled to open in the next few months.
Alboa has always acknowledged the major role that AV plays in its centers as the best option for ensuring unique experiences for its customers. The chain was already using Christie lamp-based projectors but decided to make the move to laser projection technology in order to give its audiences a whole new level of image quality, as well as to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
“Besides the fact that laser projection guarantees improved image quality, with up to 20,000 hours of virtually maintenance-free operation it means a considerable cut in running costs, and no expenditure in replacing lamps and filters,” explained Fernando Poblador, Alboa’s Infrastructure Manager.
Poblador also underscored the greater potential of laser projection when compared with other display technologies like LED. He pointed out that “laser projection gives you the flexibility to ensure high quality images whatever the available space.”
Likewise, Alboa’s head of infrastructures highlighted his confidence in Christie as its supplier of choice: “Here at Alboa we are always looking to forge alliances with the leading companies in their sector, and Christie, the world’s preeminent projection brand, has always offered us the perfect solution for each of our projects.”
Alboa has installed various models from the Christie GS series, ranging from 5600 to 13,000 lumens and with resolutions from HD to WUXGA, with the Christie DWU630-GS model being the standard in most of its entertainment centers. The GS Series has built-in Christie BoldColor technology for the most life-like images and natural color reproduction possible with laser ?illumination
On average, every Alboa center uses five projectors to screen sports, music and entertainment as well as in the bowling area, projecting onto a single screen with a gain of 1.8.
Fernando Poblador is particularly pleased with Christie’s service response: “For Alboa, the post-sales service is perhaps the most important factor in any business arrangement. We have always been able to rely on the full support and back-up of Christie Mexico, thanks to which we have built up a very good rapport and a long-term relationship.”
For Clayton Brito, Sales Director of Latin America, Enterprise, Christie, this operation is a further link in the long-standing relationship between Christie and the Cinemex Group: “We couldn’t be happier with the trust Alboa and the Cinemex Group have placed and continue to place in us. Alboa’s entertainment centers all over Mexico have a reputation for offering their customers an unbeatable entertainment experience. We are delighted with the fantastic way that they have been putting our projectors to use in order to enrich their centers with powerful visuals.”
Nicholson Law Firm, PLLC is pleased to announce its newly launched website and brand since completing a successful ownership transition. As the firm’s practice areas include personal injury, traffic accidents, civil litigation, and church and nonprofit law, the website features a robust resources library for users to access detailed information about specific concerns – from boat accidents and social security disability, to property disputes and church formation and incorporation.
The website’s streamlined and intuitive navigation allows visitors to quickly locate data about relevant case results, news stories about state laws impacting practice areas, frequently asked questions, and links to local, regional, and national resources. An interactive chat feature offers users the opportunity to connect with a live agent, 24/7, at no cost or obligation.
“Our mission at Nicholson Law Firm is to deliver experienced and compassionate legal support, so it was extremely important to our team to provide a wealth of information on our new website, to aid in research related to personal injury and our other practice areas,” Neil B. Nicholson, Esq., Managing Attorney, Nicholson Law Firm. “We consider this an opportunity to empower our fellow community members with knowledge that can assist them today, or in the future.”
The website leverages the latest functionality and programming features, providing an improved, user-friendly experience. Both the website and brand were designed and developed by Just Flow Events & Marketing (justflownh.com) of Manchester.
ABOUT NICHOLSON LAW FIRM, PLLC Nicholson Law Firm, PLLC is dedicated to delivering experienced legal services at a fair price. With a focus on compassion and collaboration, the team works to provide satisfactory outcomes to clients in its four major practice areas: personal injury, traffic accidents, civil litigation, and church and nonprofit law. Headquartered in Concord, New Hampshire, Nicholson Law Firm has additional offices in Keene, Manchester, and Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The firm is also licensed to provide services to clients in Massachusetts and Vermont. For information about Nicholson Law Firm, visit https://nicholson-lawfirm.com.
Zuper, provider of a leading intelligent workforce and customer management platform, today announced it has raised .1 million in seed funding, led by Prime Venture Partners and participation from Gunderson Dettemer and Gemba Capital. The company also announced the appointment of former Microsoft product leader Anand Subbaraj as Chief Executive Officer.
Since its founding in 2016, Zuper’s workforce management SaaS platform has empowered more than 500 service businesses and thousands of users globally in the residential and commercial cleaning, HVAC, electrical, Internet Service Provider, plumbing, and landscaping industries to modernize their operations and provide an on-demand booking experience for customers. To date, Zuper has facilitated more than 2 million work orders worldwide across the U.S., EMEA and APAC.
The global Home Services Market is expected to grow 19% from 2019-2026 and reach USD .13 trillion by 2026 according to Verified Market Research. Today, many service companies fail to provide a consistent and informed experience to customers across all communication channels. They lack effective solutions to track employees, their locations and work progress and there is near zero visibility on the field-workforce. Customer behavior and expectations are changing rapidly, and companies need to evolve with on-demand service models that personalize the experience and provide customers with real-time alerts for ETA and possible service delays.
“Zuper was founded to enable service businesses to embrace our digital future, provide their customers with a frictionless, on-demand experience, and improve the productivity and efficiency of their workforce,” said Anand Subbaraj, CEO of Zuper. “The founding team formulated its hypothesis based on personal customer service experiences and started reaching out to companies in different parts of the world to understand common pain points and validate market demand. It quickly became apparent that there was a huge unmet need for a comprehensive workforce management platform focused on providing customers with the best possible experience from booking appointments to interacting with company employees. At Zuper, we are tackling this problem at scale and see a significant runway for growth, especially in our current COVID-economy.”
With the new capital, Zuper will continue to invest in platform innovations, as well as sales and marketing to fuel aggressive growth and expansion in North America and other key geographies. It will also invest in talent to support this growth and is hiring across all functions in the U.S. and India.
"SMBs are experiencing two powerful trends - they now manage an increasingly distributed workforce while their customers expect an on-demand service experience,” said Shripati Acharya, Managing Partner, Prime Venture Partners. “Zuper’s mobile-first, intelligent workforce management solution provides SMBs with complete visibility to what work is being scheduled, as well as the location, employee and status for every job. At the same time, their end customers are able to request, pay and track the order through a few taps on their mobile. The pandemic has further accelerated this trend and with it the demand for Zuper’s solution. We are delighted to be a part of Zuper’s mission to transform the service delivery and management for SMBs."
Zuper’s intelligent workforce management platform helps service organizations manage, modernize and transform the field and remote workforce. By leveraging the power of AI and Machine Learning, Zuper helps organizations improve productivity and utilization of the workforce by automating repetitive tasks that impact efficiency. The Zuper Platform includes a white-labeled mobile and web application for a modern consumer experience, back-office application to manage, govern and operationalize the workforces, native mobile applications in iOS and Android for workforce collaboration and service 360 to grow business with data.
The end-to-end platform offers features such as:
Smart scheduling and dispatching
Work order management
COVID-19 Compliance
Intelligent location services
Quotations and invoicing
Inventory and contract management.
Zuper was founded in August 2016 with offices in Seattle, U.S & Chennai by Raghav Gurumani, Karthik Rao and Vijay Narasiman. Anand Subbaraj, joined Zuper as CEO in 2020 having spent more than 13 years in Microsoft as a Head of Product in Azure Data. The enterprises and midsized businesses using Zuper across thousands of employees have benefited from significant operational advantages including a 50% increase in workforce utilization, 35% reduction in service turnaround time, 45% increase in customer adoption and profitability, and 30% reduction in costs.
The company has also launched COVID-19 Compliance Pack for businesses to manage operations post lockdown. The solution helps businesses across different industries ensure their workforce stays compliant and up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 protocols and guidelines.
With this investment, Prime Venture Partners has invested in nine startups in the SaaS sector including MyGate, Quizizz, and HackerEarth. The early stage fund, led by serial entrepreneurs Amit Somani, Shripati Acharya, Sanjay Swamy and Amit Somani focuses on startups that not only need capital but also require mentoring to transform them into disruptive companies. The fund has a portfolio of more than 25 companies spread across sectors such as Fintech, SaaS, Healthcare, Consumer, B2B etc. The fund recently announced the addition of Dr. Ashish Gupta as Partner Emeritus to further strengthen its investment team.
About Zuper Zuper enables organizations with field service teams to collaborate seamlessly and provide the best possible customer experience through its intelligent workforce and customer management platform. By leveraging the power of AI and Machine Learning, Zuper allows service businesses such as residential & commercial cleaning, HVAC, electrical, Internet Service Providers, plumbing, and landscaping to efficiently manage their operations and workforces from anywhere and dispatch the right person with the right information at the right time. The company also helps organizations maintain COVID-19 compliance and create a safe environment for employees, customers, and the community through its ZuperCCPack. Founded in 2016, Zuper Inc. is headquartered in Seattle and has offices in India and the Middle East. For more information visit https://zuper.co/.
A brief published earlier this summer by ExcelinEd provides recommendations to education policy leaders for the delivery of special education services during the COVID-19 school closures.
Professor Elizabeth Kozleski of the Stanford University reviewed Special Education and Distance Learning: Supporting Students Through the Pandemic. She concludes that it offers only minimal support for policymakers in funding the research and development work that lies ahead as remove education continues for students with disabilities.
The brief notes Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ statement that the core features of implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Act must remain in place and that no waivers for the delivery of special education services are allowable. It also notes that families and advocates are deeply worried about learning progress and loss of learning because of the national pandemic. In response, the brief provides four sets of what it labels “best practices” for school and district leadership.
Professor Kozleski explains that these recommendations come up short, in part because they assume that current knowledge among school professionals is sufficient to make the desired special education and technological leaps. In fact, the necessary knowledge and capacity are barely emerging. Further, the recommendations do little to address the unequal distribution of resources in schools, which include access to well-prepared teachers and related services personnel qualified to teach students with disabilities, particularly using distance learning approaches.
Given these concerns, coupled with the lack of research anchoring its recommendations, the brief offers little to policymakers or practitioners currently struggling to make distance learning work during the pandemic.
NEPC Reviews (http://thinktankreview.org) provide the public, policymakers, and the press with timely, academically sound reviews of selected publications. NEPC Reviews are made possible in part by support provided by the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice: http://www.greatlakescenter.org
The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), a university research center housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: https://nepc.colorado.edu
WaterField Designs, a local San Francisco manufacturer of laptop sleeves, bags and cases for digital gear, introduces the Jersey Pocket Tool Case—an upscale pouch for a cycling tool kit, cash, card, key, and phone. Available in two sizes for small or large smartphones, this intuitively-designed, ballistic nylon and full-grain leather case is so comfortable that after a few miles, it virtually disappears. The Tool Case is designed to fit even a slim European jersey pocket and remains within easy, single-handed reach via a convenient finger loop.
“The comfort secret of the Jersey Pocket Tool Case is the large surface area and how well it fits into my jersey pocket. After a few miles, I forget it’s there,” said company owner Gary Waterfield. “Ballistic nylon is durable and water-resistant, so with that side against my body, everything inside stays dry. The special sauce is the zippered pocket on the distressed leather front that lets me quickly access my key, cash, and glasses cleaning cloth. And, unlike saddlebags, this case switches easily from one bike to another.”
The main compartment of the Jersey Pocket Tool Case fits all the all the Velominati cycling collective Rule #31* essentials. (*Spare tubes, multi-tools and repair kits should be stored in jersey pockets.) Phones have become almost vital on bike rides for checking Strava or for emergencies, so the new case includes a dedicated, scratch-free smartphone compartment. A quick-access front pocket stows a house or car key, multi-tool, credit card and ID.
Main compartment includes a soft-lined smartphone pocket and additional pockets to stow a mini pump, spare tube, CO2 cartridge, patches, multi-tool, and tire levers.
Zippered front pocket stows cash, cards, ID, and a glasses cleaning cloth.
Sturdy ballistic nylon helps block sweat and keep contents dry.
Full-grain leather panel, in a choice of four colors, adds a touch of luxury.
Gold interior liner brightens interior for increased visibility.
Case slides easily out of a jersey pocket or work bag using a clever top finger loop.
Smooth-gliding waterproof zippers grant easy access.
Two sizes fit small or large iPhones.
Each size fits narrow European jersey pockets.
The Jersey Pocket Tool Case maintains a barely-there feel while carrying everything a cyclist needs to provide assurance while out on a ride. The stunning leather design befits even the most decked-out cycling set up.
Availability & Pricing Jersey-Pocket Tool Bag Price: . Colors and materials: Full-grain, distressed leather—black, red, grizzly, blue. Black ballistic nylon. Lightly-padded, no scratch phone liner. Waterproof zippers. Gold rip-stop nylon interior. Two sizes: Pro—7 x 1 x 3.75 inches; 3 oz. Pro Max—7.5 x 1 x 4inches; 3.1 oz.
Available now from WaterField Designs’ online store at sfbags.com.
About WaterField Designs WaterField Designs is an innovative San Francisco designer and manufacturer of bags and cases for tech-savvy consumers who want to stylishly and responsibly transport their technology. WaterField manufactures custom-fitted, high-quality cases and bags for a full-range of laptop computers, smartphones, tablets, gaming devices and other digital gear. All products are manufactured to exacting standards entirely in San Francisco. Company founder, Gary Waterfield is an avid livelong cyclist who regularly participates in cycling events and has toured the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. More information at "Our Story”.
GoCardless, a leading fintech for recurring payments, today announced the launch of GoCardless for Salesforce Billing on Salesforce AppExchange, the world’s leading enterprise cloud marketplace. It provides Salesforce customers with direct access to the GoCardless global bank debit network to help them take control of their domestic and international recurring payments.
The fully integrated application enables businesses to bring sales, billing and payments processes together within the Salesforce platform to have a 360° view of their customers across the whole lifecycle. Fully automated payment collection via bank debit means businesses have better visibility of their payments flow, helping them manage and reconcile their payments all from within Salesforce Billing.
MeilleursAgents, a French property service that brings together buyers, sellers and estate agents to facilitate the process of selling homes, has been reaping the benefits of using GoCardless and Salesforce together. “The integration of GoCardless with Salesforce was very quick and easy to set up. We’ve reduced the amount of time spent managing payments by seven days a month and have decreased our volume of customer churn,” said Antoine Gaudin, Deputy CFO, MeilleursAgents.
“We are delighted to launch GoCardless for Salesforce Billing on AppExchange. By using a pull-based payment method like GoCardless, companies can automatically collect payments directly from their customers’ bank accounts. This helps businesses to drive down total costs, reduce failure rates and decrease churn, as well as improving cash flow,” said Hiroki Takeuchi, CEO, GoCardless.
About Salesforce AppExchange Salesforce AppExchange, the world’s leading enterprise cloud marketplace, empowers companies to sell, service, market and engage in entirely new ways. With more than 6,000 solutions, 8 million customer installs and 90,000 peer reviews, it is the most comprehensive source of cloud, mobile, social, IoT, analytics and artificial intelligence technologies for businesses.
Salesforce, AppExchange and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc.
About GoCardless GoCardless is a global leader in recurring payments. The GoCardless global payments network and technology platform takes the pain out of getting paid for more than 55,000 businesses worldwide, from multinational corporations to small businesses. Each year GoCardless processes USbn of payments across more than 30 countries. GoCardless is headquartered in the UK, with additional offices in Australia, France, Germany, and the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.gocardless.com and follow us on Twitter @GoCardless.
TextUs, the only business-class texting platform built for the staffing industry, and Textkernel, a specialist in machine intelligence for matching people and jobs, announced today that they will be joining forces to help staffing firms automate candidate sourcing and outreach.
Together, TextUs and Textkernel will allow you to identify candidates who are a potential match for an open position and then reach out to those candidates automatically via text messaging, all seamlessly from your Bullhorn ATS. Instead of manually locating quality talent and reaching out to them one by one, this partnership allows you to skip the tedious work so you can focus on the important stuff: building relationships, connecting people with their dream job, and scaling faster.
Textkernel’s highly advanced semantic search, sourcing and matching technology, is the only solution that allows staffing professionals to create a match based on either a job description or resume with just one single click, identifying and shortlisting your top candidates, from your Bullhorn database or external sources. No more manual sorting through legions of mismatches and poor fits to get to the top candidates who have what it takes. The seamless Textkernel and TextUs integration enables recruiters to leverage Textkernel’s proprietary semantic search and match technology to source from their Bullhorn database and then contact those qualified candidates through TextUs. You’ll engage passive candidates more easily, connect with hard-to-reach talent, and increase your speed-to-market.
“You’ll essentially be able to generate tear sheets of qualified candidates while you sleep,” said Erich Hugunin, Chief Revenue Officer of TextUs. “And the beauty of this partnership is that, through your ATS or CRM, TextUs can reach out to those candidates automatically so you’ll have meetings booked by the time you wake up.”
"We're excited to announce our partnership with TextUs. It allows staffing professionals not only find and shortlist and reach out to the best candidates within seconds. This enables recruiters to really scale their efforts in an efficient, yet engaging manner," said Chris Conrad, Director of Sales North America at Textkernel.
About Textkernel Textkernel works with over 1,000 HR and staffing organizations and HR software vendors worldwide to bring the latest in artificial intelligence technology to our customers’ fingertips. We work with companies across multiple industries delivering multilingual parsing, semantic search and match, and labor market intelligence solutions.
As industry pioneers we leverage over 19 years of experience to translate state-of-the-art AI thinking into technology solutions that work for you.
About TextUs TextUs is the leading business-class text messaging™ software designed to dramatically improve how businesses communicate with their leads, candidates, and customers. TextUs currently serves sales, staffing and recruiting, SaaS, higher education, HR, healthcare, property management, financial services, and nonprofits. With a 98% read rate and up to 40% response rates, TextUs delivers business-class text messaging combined with integrated cloud voice features to connect businesses with their customers in real-time.
American Security Products, known worldwide as the provider of security safes and security solutions to the consumer and commercial marketplace, introduces its latest innovation, the revolutionary BFX Gun Safe.
The BFX Gun Safe provides the best in class groundbreaking features for high security burglary and fire protection of guns and valuables. The Active 4x defense system and unparalleled DryLight™ fire protection puts BFX in a category that is unmatched in the industry.
American Security’s tough BFX Gun Safe contains the industry’s only corrosive resistant plated bolt work, which drives the longest solid steel locking bolts deep into the body of the safe protecting against severe pry attacks.
Demand for improved security for guns and valuables has become a major concern for both consumers and retail / wholesale distributors. American Security meets the ongoing demands of these markets with the BFX gun safe technology that outperforms all other manufacturers in the industry.
“We’re confident that BFX will answer the demands for the ultimate security for guns and other high value items,” commented Bob Sallee. “With features like the invincible Active 4x defense system and the revolutionary DryLight™ fire protection material, the BFX gun safe essentially has no rivals,” he added.
Gun shops, full line safe retailers and wholesale distributors can purchase from the BFX Gun Safe directly from American Security starting September 15, 2020. Consumers and individuals interested in purchasing a BFX can find them available in gun shops, full line safe retailers, and locksmiths in mid to late October, 2020.
About American Security Products American Security Products is a global leader of security safes and security solutions, protecting the assets of clients throughout the world, and offers an extensive array of security safes and consulting services, delivered with the highest degree of quality, integrity and responsiveness. American Security got its start in late 1940, housed in a small building in Paramount, California, where founder, Glenn Hall set up shop with little more than a welder, a lathe, and a desire to build strong, reliable safes.
The EWF Conference is an exclusive opportunity to interact with more than 500 thought leaders GLOBALLY in Information Security, Risk Management, and Privacy. Join us for a three-day event, including a Leadership Track, to equip you with the skills you need for advancement. Attendees will learn from the most accomplished and influential women in our field. Gaining exposure to new ideas and approaches, developing best practices, and building trusted relationships with the best and brightest is an excellent and abundant investment return. The deadline to register for the EWF Virtual Conference is October 7, 2020. To register, view the agenda, learn more about the conference and our speakers, please visit our Conference page here. Save 0 by using discount code: EWFVIRTUAL20.
"In this unique year, the EWF is excited to show our resilience and our community's resilience with a completely virtual conference," said Lynn Terwoerds, Executive Director, EWF. "As always, we have a great lineup of speakers, networking events, and a platform that supports a compelling conference experience."
Scholarship recipients will receive a full conference pass to the 2020 EWF Virtual Conference giving them access to the 3-day programming, including pre/post sessions, Rising Leaders Forum Workshop for millennials, an on-demand library of recorded content, and the conference platform and app.
"The EWF believes in diversity and inclusion in our membership, program offerings, and events," said Mary Wei, Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement. "We have established scholarships to the EWF Annual Conference as part of our commitment to breaking down barriers for underrepresented women in our industry."
The deadline to submit for the EWF Conference Scholarships is September 30, 2020! To apply, see eligibility, and to learn more about the EWF Conference Scholarships, please visit https://www.ewf-usa.com/page/EWFConferenceScholarships.
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About the Executive Women's Forum on Information Security, Risk Management & Privacy: Founded in 2002, the Executive Women's Forum on Information Security, Risk Management & Privacy (EWF) is the largest member organization dedicated to engaging, advancing, and developing women leaders in Cybersecurity, IT Risk Management, Governance Risk & Compliance, and Privacy. The EWF serves emerging leaders and the most prominent and influential women in our field by facilitating programs and events throughout the year, including an Annual Conference, regional meetings, leadership development, and mentorship programs and interaction with global thought leaders through an online community. For more information, visit http://www.ewf-usa.com.
“True” in stem cell science and stem cell medicine has a peculiar meaning. When applied to tissue stem cells, it reflects what has not been knowable instead of what is known. Since the earliest history of tissue stem cell science and medicine, no means existed to count tissue stem cells that maintain and regenerate the organs and tissues of children and adults. The need for an effective counting method has limited progress in stem cell research and medicine for decades.
The tissue stem cells that maintain organs and tissues are called “true” stem cells to distinguish them from other more numerous precursor cells in the body that also have important roles in building mature tissues and organs. However, other precursor cells – also known as committed progenitor cells – which are in fact produced by true stem cells, differ from true stem cells in a crucial respect. They have short lives before they turn into mature cells that eventually die. Only true stem cells have lifetimes for as long as the human lifespan. For the same reason, true stem cells are sometimes called “immortal” stem cells.
Because of the difference in lifetime, progenitor cells do not work for stem cell therapy and gene therapy. To be successful, stem cell therapies require true stem cells; and gene therapies must target true stem cells with their curative genetic engineering. Asymmetrex director, James L. Sherley, M.D., Ph.D., says, “So, it is no surprise that now being able to count and determine the dosage of true stem cells routinely, in all areas of stem cell science and medicine, has got to end up making a big difference for patients. With Asymmetrex’s advance, stem cell-blind research and stem cell-blind medicine are no longer acceptable practices.”
The company’s recent report, published in OBM Transplantation, describes the first-ever quantification of several different therapeutic tissue stem cell types. True blood stem cells obtained from both bone marrow and cord blood, which are approved for stem cell therapies, were counted for the first time. These stem cells are also in active use by many companies and centers to improve transplantation therapies and to develop gene therapies. Several different types of stem cells in use for clinical trial investigations were counted. The report also shows how the ability to count true stem cells is a new powerful tool for drug evaluations that can accelerate progress in the development of new pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical medicines.
Beyond presenting the first technology for counting true stem cells, the new report describes Asymmetrex’s discovery of true stem cell counting algorithms. The newly discovered mathematical formulas allow rapid, inexpensive determination of stem cell number and dose. The new algorithms open the path to future automation of true stem cell counting. The new counting technology is free for evaluation on the company’s website.
Asymmetrex, LLC is a Massachusetts life sciences company with a focus on developing technologies to advance stem cell medicine. The company’s U.S. and U.K. patent portfolio contains biotechnologies that solve the two main technical problems – production and quantification – that have stood in the way of effective use of human adult tissue stem cells for regenerative medicine and drug development. Asymmetrex markets the first technology for determination of the dose and quality of tissue stem cell preparations (the “AlphaSTEM Test™”) for use in stem cell transplantation therapies and pre-clinical drug evaluations. Asymmetrex is a member company of the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute BioFabUSA (ARMI) and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio).
Keith Woods, CEO of KB Woods Public Relations, has been invited to join Phoenix Business Journal Leadership Trust, an exclusive community for influential business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs in Greater Phoenix.
Keith was chosen for membership by the Phoenix Business Journal Leadership Trust Selection Committee due to his experience, leadership and influence in the local business landscape and beyond. As the head of KB Woods, Keith has most recently received wide acclaim as producer of Phoenix Business Journal’s series of virtual award shows, including 40 Under 40, and Outstanding Women in Business. Recently Keith received a Certificate of Digital Marketing from Cornell University.
“Phoenix’s thriving business community is powered by leaders like Keith Woods,” said Ray Schey, publisher of the Phoenix Business Journal. “We’re honored to be creating a space where the region’s business influencers come together to increase their impact on the community, build their businesses and connect with and strengthen one another.”
As an invited member, Keith will contribute articles to the Phoenix Business Journal website and participate alongside fellow members in Expert Panels. He will connect and collaborate with a vetted network of local leaders in a members-only directory and a private forum on the group’s mobile app. Keith will also benefit from leadership and business coaching, an Executive Profile on the Phoenix Business Journal website, select partner discounts and services and ongoing support from the community’s concierge team.
Keith Woods said, "I've been very proud of my allegiance with the Phoenix Business Journal over the past several years with my PR agency KB Woods. Now I'll have more opportunities to engage with readers across the Business Journals 47 markets in the United States, along with many other CEO's and executive managers, with columns and expert panel discussions."
The Phoenix Business Journal Leadership Trust team is honored to welcome Keith to the community and looks forward to helping him elevate his personal brand, strengthen his circle of trusted advisors and position him to further impact the Phoenix business community and beyond.
About KB Woods Public Relations: Phoenix PR, digital marketing, and video marketing firm KB Woods was founded by Keith Woods in 2010 as the solution for start-up, growth, and large businesses that wanted to outsource their media and PR departments to a third-party expert. Discover more at online at kbwoods.com.
About Business Journals Leadership Trust: Phoenix Business Journal Leadership Trust is a part of Business Journals Leadership Trust — a collective of invitation-only networks of influential business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs in your community. Membership is based on an application and selection committee review. Benefits include private online forums, the ability to publish insights on bizjournals.com, business and executive coaching and a dedicated concierge team. To learn more and find out if you qualify, visit trust.bizjournals.com.
Adweek, the leading resource for the brand marketing and advertising community, today announced the addition of new members to the Brandweek Steering Committee, a select group of senior marketing leaders who will continue to advise and guide Adweek on its mission to help marketers learn and grow.
New members include:
Bozoma Saint John, CMO, Netflix
Cynthia Chen, President, Consumer Health, North America, Reckitt Benckiser
Deborah Yeh, CMO, Sephora
Fernando Machado, Global CMO, Restaurant Brands International
Greg Welch, Senior Partner & Practice Leader, Spencer Stuart
Jeanine Liburd, Chief Social Impact and Communications Officer, BET
William White, CMO, Walmart
They join existing Steering Committee members:
Antonio Lucio, Global CMO, Facebook
Denise Karkos, CMO, SiriusXM
Heidi Browning Pearson, CMO, NHL
John Dillon, Chief Brand Officer, Denny’s
Julian Duncan, CMO and SVP of Social Responsibility & Impact, NFL Jacksonville Jaguars
Kellyn Smith Kenny, former Global CMO, Hilton
Lynne Biggar, CMCO, Visa
Musa Tariq, former Global Head of Marketing, Airbnb Experiences
Rick Gomez, Chief Marketing, Digital and Strategy Officer, Target
Vineet Mehra, Global Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Customer Officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance
“The Brandweek Steering Committee brings the most dynamic and innovative leaders from the brand community together to help us to better serve marketing professionals,” said Jeffrey Litvack, CEO of Adweek. “The impact this committee has already had on the industry, since its formation in early 2019, is beyond noteworthy… it’s momentous.”
The Brandweek Steering Committee has been instrumental in shaping Adweek’s tentpole event, Brandweek, especially its 2020 incarnation. Fully reimagined for a virtual world, this year’s Brandweek includes several new features that grew out of discussions with the Brandweek Steering Committee, including intimate Masterclasses, Taste of Brandweek social sampling events and Brandweek Lift, a program where minority-owned businesses can attend Brandweek free of charge and connect with senior business leaders.
Another suggestion, discussed in their first meeting of the Brandweek Steering Committee, led to the formation of the Adweek DEI Council, a group of leaders who have helped Adweek keep diverse voices and concerns front and center, as well as the expanded focus on talent development and equipping the industry for the future.
About Adweek Adweek is the leading source of news and insight serving the brand marketing ecosystem. First published in 1979, Adweek's award-winning coverage reaches an engaged audience of more than 6 million professionals across platforms including print, digital, events, podcasts, newsletters, social media and mobile apps. As a touchstone of the advertising and marketing community, Adweek is an unparalleled resource for leaders across multiple industries who rely on its content to help them do their job better.
The Mission Continues, a national nonprofit that empowers military veterans to continue their service in their communities, has received five investments totaling nearly .5 Million from new and long-time partners The Boeing Company, NFL-Bob Woodruff Foundation, Corporation For National and Community Service, The New York State Health Foundation and the National Philanthropic Trust, as recommended by the Schultz Family Foundation.
These investments will empower The Mission Continues’ efforts to fuel ongoing veteran-led service efforts within under-resourced communities, combat food insecurity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and improve veterans’ mental health by creating social connection and volunteer opportunities.
This summer, the veterans nonprofit launched Operation Nourish, an initiative that prioritizes veterans’ mental health by mobilizing them in support of combating hunger. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of household food insecurity have more than doubled and one in six Americans report not having enough food to eat. The Mission Continues’ veterans are coming together to host food drives, run mobile food pantries, deliver meals to the elderly, make improvements to local community centers providing food and more.
“During this pandemic, our veterans are doing what they do best - showing up for the communities they’ve worked with for years,” said Mary Beth Bruggeman, Marine Corps veteran and president of The Mission Continues, “We’re incredibly grateful for these generous investments from our partners which will ensure that this work is able to continue and scale effectively. Through efforts like Operation Nourish, veterans will strengthen social connections while helping to support community members who have been hardest hit by this pandemic.”
The Boeing Company has invested Million in support of Operation Nourish as part of the company’s commitment to partnering with organizations that improve access for and address inequities in communities of color. Through Operation Nourish and other community initiatives, veterans with The Mission Continues mobilize to grow, collect and distribute food in underserved communities.
The organization's Service Platoon Leaders are being supported by a partnership between the NFL-Bob Woodruff Foundation through a "Healthy Lifestyles and Creating Community" grant. These veterans lead groups of community volunteers through service projects that provide direct support to vulnerable communities impacted by COVID-19.
The nonprofit's leadership programs, which engage veterans in virtual and in-person curriculum oriented towards personal and professional growth, connection with other veterans and creating community impact, have also received support from the National Philanthropic Trust as recommended by the Schultz Family Foundation, a long-time partner of The Mission Continues.
As part of an initiative known as Mission: Vet Check, the New York State Health Foundation has awarded a grant to The Mission Continues’ New York-based Service Platoons to engage in veteran-to-veteran buddy checks throughout the state. Throughout the pandemic, veterans are reporting higher levels of social isolation, depression and anxiety. The buddy-check model is one way to ensure veterans are connected to the resources and services they may need.
The Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for volunteering and service, has contingently awarded the organization a Day of Service grant. The Mission Continues is actively seeking match partners to realize this award. The nonprofit will utilize this grant in the execution of their 2021 MLK Jr National Day Of Service, when thousands of veterans from across the nation will come together in service and in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.
These investments highlight each organization’s deep commitment to veterans’ empowerment and will have a positive impact on hundreds of veteran participants pursuing community-based leadership and personal development in 50+ cities nationwide.
For more information about The Mission Continues' leadership development programs for veterans, their response to COVID-19 and local service projects across the country, visit http://www.missioncontinues.org.
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The Mission Continues is a national veterans organization dedicated to the empowerment of veterans as community-based leaders. We invest in veterans and under-resourced communities, developing new skill sets and equipping a growing veteran volunteer movement with the tools to drive positive change. Our programs in 50+ cities nationwide deploy veteran volunteers alongside nonprofit partners and community leaders to combat food insecurity and strengthen communities. To learn more, visit http://www.missioncontinues.org.
In early March, the COVID-19 pandemic swept into the Tri-State region, closing doors to businesses, restaurants, and schools while hospitals were overwhelmed with sick patients. On March 27th, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo suspended all “Non-Essential” construction in New York State; however telecommunications & data centers were included on the State’s essential infrastructure list.
Several Local #3 IBEW contractors worked around the clock keeping the region connected 7 days a week the past 5 months, including Hugh O’Kane Electric Co. They had over 100 electricians working in New York City during the peak of the pandemic, responding to telecommunications emergencies and continuing network infrastructure and wireless buildouts. As entire industries began working remotely, schools shifted to online learning, and telehealth up ticked, the telecommunications networks that New York relies on became more essential than ever.
Hugh O’Kane Electric Company was a telecommunications first responder to the ‘93 World Trade Center Bombing, the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks, and Superstorm Sandy. “As the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly spread across the Tri-State area, we knew our telecom crews would be relied upon to maintain and build the complex telecommunications networks that keep New York City connected. The same brave men and women that worked around the clock following terrorist attacks and natural disasters are the same brave Hugh O’Kane Electric employees that continue to work through this pandemic,” says Executive Vice President John O’Kane.
While Hugh O’Kane Electric has always invested in best-in-class safety equipment for their personnel, they worked with an external safety consultant to immediately put a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place, staggering working crew’s start times and sanitizing trucks and equipment daily. “We worked tirelessly to keep our employees safe, but it was still their choice if they felt comfortable working through the pandemic. Thanks to our employees, Hugh O’Kane Electric was able to continue servicing our nearly dozen telecommunications customers in the Tri-State area 7 days a week these last 5 months.”
The Hugh O’Kane Electric Company is comprised of a traditional fiber optic infrastructure division and a mobile wireless division. With over 30 years of experience in wireline fiber construction and maintenance, HOK’s telecom infrastructure division employs over 85 technicians who place, splice, and test fiber optic cable for wireless and enterprise networks throughout the Metro Area. With approximately 25 technicians, HOK’s wireless division services wireless, 5G, and small cell construction for several Mobile Telecom Franchises and directly to multiple Mobile Network Operators. Working together, the telecom infrastructure division and the wireless division are a true turn-key solution for the current and future needs of the industry.
The demand for wireless and 5G deployment has only been amplified by COVID-19. “Connectivity is more critical than ever and at Hugh O’Kane Electric we are proud to be a part of the near and long-term network solutions” say John O’Kane. “As our Company did during 9/11 and other major events over the past 30 years, we have worked alongside our customers during this pandemic and will continue to safely service their needs this year and for years to come.” To learn more about Hugh O’Kane Electric, visit http://www.hokane.com/.
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About Hugh O’Kane Electric Hugh O’Kane Electric Company, Inc. (HOK) has been a leading provider of electrical construction and maintenance services to businesses in the Greater New York metropolitan area since 1946. HOK is licensed to provide Electrical services throughout New York City and Long Island. The company has installed power, lighting, fire alarm, security, data systems, specialty infrastructure systems, and specialty network systems for a wide range of industries and institutions.
The HOK Telecommunications division provides leading-edge design, construction, installation and maintenance of state-of-the-art telecom networks for wireline, fiber optic, and wireless networks. With its staff of electricians and technicians available for immediate response, HOK specializes in high-quality, fast track jobs. The company’s reputation is built upon attention to detail while meeting clients’ time frames and budgets. For more information, please visit http://www.hokane.com.
Diamante Blockchain, a global fintech company creating a dedicated financial ecosystem for the diamond and luxury good space, will be featured on ‘Advancements with Ted Danson’, to be televised Sunday, September 13th at 2:30 pm ET via CNBC. The program will also be distributed to Voice of America Television, which reaches more than 200 cities in 140 countries across the globe. In the exclusive feature, CEO Dinesh Patel and the Diamante team provide insight into the Company’s unique vision, mission and approach, and why distributed ledger technology (DLT, or blockchain) is so important for the diamond and luxury goods sectors.
“The impact of blockchain in the diamond industry goes beyond just modernizing the supply chain,” explains Chirag Jetani, Diamante’s Chief Operating Officer. “Our goal is to convey that the full embrace of DLT can revolutionize the diamond industry and that this revolution is happening now. We are honoured to be featured on Advancements, and hope the program broadens awareness of the power of DLT and its ability to help the industry.”
About Diamante Blockchain
Diamante Blockchain is a fintech company leveraging blockchain technology to create a dedicated ecosystem for the diamond and luxury goods sector. The Diamante ecosystem consists of (i) Diamante’s proprietary blockchain (DiamanteNet), (ii) industry stakeholders (the Diamante Consortium) and (iii) Diamante’s ecosystem payments network (PayCircle). Learn more at diamanteblockchain.com.
Murrieta Genomics, the launch pad for genomic sequencing startups, is pleased to announce that one of its incubator companies, SimplSeq, has been selected to present at the virtual First Look SoCal Innovation Showcase 2020 being held September 15 and 16 from 9 am to 3 pm (Pacific Daylight Time) both days.
“It is an honor to be chosen as one of the 30 most innovative early stage companies in Southern California,” stated John Powers, President of Murrieta Genomics and SimplSeq’s CEO. “I am excited to share with the audience how SimplSeq is about to transform the genomic sequencing industry.”
The First Look SoCal Innovation Showcase is an annual event that celebrates the best early-stage teams commercializing tech and life science breakthroughs from the top research institutions in Southern California. Startups will have an unparalleled opportunity to connect with top-tier investors and successful serial entrepreneurs. The day’s program will feature a lineup of quick-pitch presentations, each followed by investor-led Q&A, and panel discussions with key investors and industry leaders.
“While most of the recent groundbreaking developments in genomics have been around sequencing technology and data analytics, we believe that a real opportunity exists in the front end,” said Mr. Powers. “Thousands of labs are processing millions of samples every year that can benefit from our patent pending technology. Our process will enable them to produce more comprehensive results in less time, with fewer opportunities for errors. For the first time, labs can retain the original DNA material for future testing. It’s really a game-changer.”
The keynote speaker for the Life Science track is Dr. Agay Nirula, Vice President of Immunology at Lilly Research Laboratories. Prior to joining Lilly, Dr. Nirula held leadership positions at Amgen and Biogen Idec and was involved in several research programs and regulatory filings spanning diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and vasculitis.
Investors participating in the Investor Panel in the afternoon session include Kairos Ventures, Alexandria Venture Investments, Westlake Village BioPartners, Amgen Ventures, Rivervest and Caltech.
About Murrieta Genomics Murrieta Genomics provides access to next generation sequencing technology for researchers in the health, veterinary, agriculture, forensics and direct to consumer industries. The company is a true business incubator, offering mentorship and guidance from both the scientific and business perspective to aspiring genomic-related entrepreneurs. The founders of Murrieta Genomics have extensive background in business, finance, science and technology. They are supplemented with a prestigious advisory board from both business and science. The company provides Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) services, hands-on consulting, review, appraisal, and guidance. In addition, it provides help with company value propositions and potential seed funding support to qualified incubator graduates. For more information visit http://www.murrietagenomics.com.
Murrieta Genomics is part of the Murrieta Innovation Center, a building owned by the city of Murrieta and dedicated to supporting life science companies. The Innovation Center has medical device, therapeutic, software, clinical research and of course genomic companies that are working hard to advance new ideas and innovations that can impact the world in a positive way. The Center is also a resource for all types of local startup companies, offering services and workshops from a local SBDC, several veteran organizations, a SCORE branch and more.
Murrieta Genomics has an established collaborative Memorandum of Understanding with the University of California, Riverside and recently became a tenant of the University’s Life, a 3,000-square-foot space in the Multidisciplinary Research Building specially outfitted to house startups in the life sciences, agriculture, biotechnology, and medical technologies, and is the first of its kind in the region.
In addition to an array of state-of-the art laboratory equipment, tenants will have access to UC Riverside research core centers across campus, such as a nanofabrication cleanroom, proteomics, stem cell core, and plant transformation, through a service agreement. Tenants will also have the opportunity to interact and collaborate with UCR researchers, faculty and students, attend seminars, access patent research services and entrepreneurial development workshops, and use UCR’s SBIR/STTR Resource Center, which guides applicants through the process of obtaining commercialization development grants from the federal government.
About SimplSeq SimplSeq, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Murrieta Genomics. The company was formed in November of 2019 to develop new methods for extracting, isolating, purifying and preparing samples for genomic sequencing. It has filed three patent applications around its technology and plans to bring its first products to market in early 2021. For more information, visit https://simplseq.com.
Instructional Technologies Inc. (ITI), providers of training solutions for the transportation industry, today announced its 2020 HOS Change Management Package to help fleets address Hours of Service rule changes that take effect on September 29, 2020. The offering includes an updated PRO-TREAD Hours of Service online course, a free training video that covers the changes in driving regulations, a webinar discussing practical applications, and a printable poster to provide information on the new rules to drivers, managers and dispatchers.
“Hours of Service is one of the most critical training topics for every fleet because HOS violations are the most frequent cause of out-of-service fines,” said Nathan Stahlman, COO at ITI. “Even if all of your drivers use compliant Electronic Logging Devices, of the top 20 violations in over two million roadside inspections in 2020, five were related to ELD issues. That’s why fleets need to provide training to their drivers about the HOS rule changes immediately, and updated training going forward. With our HOS Change Management Package, ITI is making important information for drivers, managers and dispatchers about the changes available in an easily accessible and understandable way.”
The new 2020 Hours of Service rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) pertain to short haul operations, sleeper berth, 30-minute off-duty breaks, and adverse driving conditions. All portions of the ITI 2020 HOS Change Management Package explain these changes.
The PRO-TREAD updated Hours of Service online course includes the 2020 HOS changes. Current clients can assign the course via the Sentix learning management system. Course progress and completion is tracked and documented in the Sentix LMS.
The short course, 2020 Hours of Service Changes is available through Sentix for current ITI clients. Fleets that are not clients can access the course free as a video but it will not include documentation of completion. It is ideal for managers, driver managers, dispatchers and other support personnel.
ITI is also hosting a webinar – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FMCSA’S NEW HOURS OF SERVICE RULES – at 10 a.m. PDT on Tuesday, September 15, 2020.The live 30-minute program, featuring ITI’s Senior Training Specialist Roy Broomfield, will include a complete overview of new Hours of Service rules and examples to help understand exactly what the changes mean for fleets and drivers, and a question and answer period. Registered participants will also have access to a video of the presentation. REGISTER HERE
The 2020 HOS Change infographic is available free as a printable poster to anyone that registers for either the webinar or the free video course.
About Instructional Technologies, Inc. Founded in 1995 and based in Vancouver, Washington, Instructional Technologies Inc. (ITI) is the leading provider of online training to the transportation industry. The company’s commitment to training is based on the principles of mastery learning, accurate and automated record keeping, and up-to-date information that ensure personnel have been effectively trained and detailed records kept. ITI makes fleets and warehouses safer and more profitable through its large PRO-TREAD® and ClearDrive™ libraries, On Ramp™ ELDT (Entry Level Driver Training) for CDL schools, and its Sentix® learning management system. Transportation and logistics companies choose ITI because of its automated learning management system, custom training capabilities, flexible lesson methodologies, and engaging 3D animations that improve retention, ensure subject matter mastery and lower the total cost of training. For more information, please visit http://www.instructiontech.net
TalentKeepers, a leading provider of employee engagement and retention solutions for over 20 years, announced today the addition of four new offerings specifically tailored to organizations looking for employee engagement strategies and content to implement within their internal HR systems.
TalentKeepers addresses the needs of organizations that have the capability to implement employee surveys but need the employee engagement and retention expertise to successfully launch surveys, analyze the data, communicate the results, and ultimately drive change. TalentKeepers offers their experience and skills to these organizations through carefully developed packages of relevant information and tools geared for success.
"We're bringing these new solutions to market just in time for organizations looking to increase engagement during the challenging times faced by organizations across all industries in 2020," said Christopher Mulligan, CEO at TalentKeepers. "We've selected our most successful tools, developed through years of research and use within thousands of organizations, and made them accessible for organizations of all sizes."
The four new packages offer flexibility for organizations to choose the right tools for their needs. Plus, the packages work great together to create a full-featured engagement solution.
Survey Essentials Package Everything required to successfully administer an engagement survey. From what questions to ask, how to analyze results, and how to create action plans that get results, this validated survey system can be leveraged to improve engagement, retention and performance.
Creating a Culture of Engagement Package An effective survey enhancement, this audit of 6 key talent management areas provides a "Culture Rating" and identifies proven strategies for improvement.
Leader Engagement Effectiveness Package The ultimate "Toolkit" for leaders to engage their employees. Guides and best practices provide leaders with the confidence to engage their teams and drive increases in key business performance metrics.
Engagement & Retention Leadership Training Series These 11 online courses offer skill development opportunities for Operations leaders and Human Resources professionals to build core engagement competencies. Useful for all employees in leadership roles.
"We're thrilled to be filling a need in the market," added Mulligan. "By offering this flexibility, any organization can benefit from our experience, from those simply looking for content to those seeking a fully turn-key solution."
TalentKeepers also offers full-service employee engagement and retention solutions, with access to TalentKeepers' team of Industrial/Organizational psychologists to assist with solution design, customization and implementation.
About TalentKeepers TalentKeepers® is celebrating 20 years of providing award-winning employee engagement and retention solutions to help organizations around the globe increase their performance. We're a recognized leader in innovative onboarding tools, employee engagement surveys that drive growth and accountability, HRCI and SHRM certified training for HR professionals, unique eLearning leadership engagement programs, teambuilding tools, and much more. Twice we have won HR Executive Magazine's Product of the Year award. TalentKeepers provides successful solutions for organizations spanning high tech manufacturing, retail, hospitals and healthcare, banking and financial, secondary education, colleges and universities, as well as local and state governments.
When author Laurel McHargue completed her first 2,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, her friend Nadine Collier, a licensed professional counselor, suggested she should write a book about lessons she learned from the experience.
"I was never a puzzler," said McHargue, "and the idea of writing about my struggles and ultimate success intrigued me. I started the monster puzzle--the first one I've ever done on my own--during a period of quarantine at the start of the pandemic."
McHargue convinced Collier to collaborate with her, and together they completed and published Peace by Piece: 10 Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle! , a "fresh exploration of timeless life lessons."
"Many of my clients are struggling with anxiety and loss of motivation during this pandemic," said Collier, "and this book provides proven techniques for overcoming life's daily challenges. There are more than ten lessons in its pages, and a lot of humor, too."
"There's a great balance between contemporary wit and professional wisdom in each chapter," said McHargue. "We embellish our work with quotes from renowned sources from the past and present, and relevant stories from people we know."
The following chapters start with helpful life lessons McHargue discovered while puzzling and end with Collier's reflections and questions for consideration:
Patience and Persistence
Time Matters
Walk Away!
The Sum of Our Parts
The Little Things
Help?
Focus
A Different Perspective
Look Below the Surface
Celebrate!
"You don't have to be a puzzler to appreciate this book," said McHargue. "The lessons we share are applicable to any challenges readers might face in times of pandemic and, hopefully, beyond."
Laurel McHargue lives in Salida, CO, where she writes in multiple genres and hosts the podcast Alligator Preserves. She also raises ducks.
Nadine Collier lives in West Michigan, where she provides counseling services and enjoys boating on the Great Lakes with her husband.
McHargue and Collier would like to thank Mark Lumb for interviewing them about their book on his Jigsaw Chill Zone YouTube channel.
According to a 2019 Trulia survey of over 1300 US homeowners, 90% of those who own a home plan on remodeling it at some point. When it comes to remodeling, a study by the National Kitchen and Bath Association revealed that kitchens rank among the most popular rooms in the home to remodel. In fact, more than 10 million households spend more than billion on kitchens and kitchen remodels every year.
Yet, the industry has had its fair share of challenges, with many contractors and renovation companies following antiquated business practices and failing to take advantage of modern-day technology and systems.
As a forward-thinking kitchen remodeling company, Kitchen Infinity has made it their mission to leverage the power of technology, systems, and communication platforms to improve the customer experience while improving efficiency and producing superior results.
Founded with Passion and Purpose
Founded by Dean Scaduto, a Harvard University grad (2011) and George Kocher, a Cornell alum (2011), Kitchen Infinity was founded out of both passion and purpose. Both Scaduto and Kocher have a true passion for design, innovation and bringing transformational kitchen remodels from concept into reality.
According to the founders, although new and exciting products and materials have made their way to market over the last decade, the kitchen remodeling industry has lacked significant innovation when it comes to the contractor’s role and process. Kitchen Infinity aims to bridge this gap, leveraging the power of technology, people and processes to help their customers bring their dream kitchen to life.
Both founders have a long and documented track record of success in former careers, including that served as a former United Nations International Consultant (Scaduto) and former Barclay Investment Banker (Kocher).
Transforming the Heart of Homes and Bringing ‘Dream Kitchens’ to Life
As a full-service kitchen remodeling company, Kitchen Infinity is both capable and experienced in transformative designs, unique styling, customization and beatification from floor to ceiling.
From traditional and timeless designs, to contemporary and abstract, their team of seasoned professionals brings an element of creativity, passion and dedication to results that stands shoulders above the competition.
Kitchen Infinity isn’t just a kitchen remodeling company. They believe in the positive impact the right kitchen can have on the lives of their customers. The kitchen is the heart of a home. It is where memories are shared, and where meals are prepared with love and care. The right kitchen remodel can improve the value of a home while increasing its utility, complementing architecture, and establishing a warm and inviting or energetic space to enjoy time with loved ones.
Streamlined Process: Improved efficiency, better experience, and superior results
Kitchen Infinity has placed a premium on not just superior craftsmanship and results that exceed expectations, but also the customer experience from start to finish.
In an industry where contractors are often hard to reach, don’t return phone calls, or only want to deal with the demo and rebuild, Kitchen Infinity stands out as a company dedicated to streamlining processes, providing unbeatable support, and going above and beyond the call of duty.
Leveraging technology, the company has streamlined every stage of the process, from initial inquiry and consultations, to digital design demos and project progress from first hammer swing to cleanup and inspection.
About Kitchen Infinity
Headquartered out of the tri-state area, the company’s service area has expanded to cover New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and South Carolina.
Kitchen Infinity is a full-service kitchen remodeling company, providing affordable, custom kitchen solutions aimed at helping discerning homeowners bring their vision to life.
Those interested in learning more about the company or in obtaining a free no-obligation price quote are encouraged to reach out via their official website or by way of the media contact information below.
MiniCo Publishing has introduced a new multi-media website, which offers a wide range of education, information, and news resources for self-storage industry professionals. The fully mobile-responsive website offers intuitive navigation, robust search capabilities, and streamlined access to information.
The website offers thousands of free articles, a more robust news category, a new video area, an industry event calendar, sponsored content from vendors, and classified advertising. Highlights such as Publisher's Picks articles and featured videos will be updated frequently to address current and emerging industry trends. All content is now free and organized by industry topic to make it fast and easy to search for specific information.
A key feature of the website is the redesigned and improved Self-Storage Buyer’s Guide listings, which now offer more information about vendors including videos, downloadable resources, and featured vendors.
MiniCo Publisher Poppy Behrens commented, “We are very excited about the opportunity to give our customers, readers, and advertisers a better online experience with streamlined access to thousands of resources in a multi-media format. With the launch of our new website, MiniCo Publishing has truly become the Education Destination for Self-Storage for today's industry professionals.”
About MiniCo Publishing MiniCo Publishing is a leading publisher of trade periodicals and information resources for the self-storage industry. The company’s flagship publication is Mini-Storage Messenger, the leading monthly trade magazine covering the global self-storage industry. Other publications include the Self-Storage Almanac, Self-Storage Canada, Self-Storage Now, and the Self-Storage Buyer’s Guide. MiniCo Publishing is a division of MiniCo Insurance Agency, LLC, a member of the Aran Insurance Services Group. For more information, visit https://www.ministoragemessenger.com/.
Regroup Mass Notification, an award-winning provider of emergency and day-to-day mass notification technology, today announced the release of its fully updated platform. This highly anticipated upgrade was driven by customer feedback, requests, and more than a decade of experience in delivering millions of critical and emergency notifications.
The renovated Regroup solution is a high-performance platform that directly responds to the needs of organizations across many industries that 10+ years ago didn’t need a mass notification system, but now see it as an essential tool for keeping people and their assets safe. The new enhancements — combined with previous features such as robust API integrations, a versatile set of mobile applications, unparalleled 24/7 client support and more — continue to place Regroup as the leader in the field of mass notification.
The many improvements in the newest Regroup product launch include:
Powerful delivery speeds will allow organizations to send up to 20,000 voice calls, 65,000 text/SMS, 100,000 emails, and 540,000 push notifications per minute
Enhanced mapping features that enable powerful geo-targeted alerts to be sent to client-specific locations such as offices, neighborhoods, school locations, and more
Powerful and consolidated reporting for message delivery, response rates and more
Easier message sending with greater customization options
Highly customizable administration permissions and rules and unlimited groups, templates, and admins allowed in every account
Built-in solutions for commonly-requested customer support items
Streamlined implementation and initial set-up for new clients
Redefined and elegant user interface for IT professionals and every admin in the system
Security and hosting from industry leader Amazon Web Services (AWS)
An enhanced dashboard for users at all levels of administration
“Our whole team worked together to ensure this upgrade to our platform was completely customer-driven,” said Chris Utah, the Chief Operating Officer of Regroup. “This latest version of Regroup is a direct response to our clients’ requests and suggestions, and addresses their wants and needs. Every update to our platform was specifically chosen to help our clients keep people safer and better informed.”
Interested parties can join a free webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 1:00 p.m. EDT to see a live demo and presentation of the new Regroup Mass Notification platform.
To learn more about Regroup Mass Notification, and how its advanced notification solutions are helping organizations overcome communication challenges, please visit http://www.regroup.com to request a free customized demo.
About Regroup
Regroup Mass Notification empowers better mass communication that keeps people safe and informed at all times. The company’s award-winning, cloud-based mass communication platform is what clients across North America and around the globe rely on to send both emergency and day-to-day communications to millions of people. By enabling one-click messaging to mobile devices, landlines, social media, email, websites, and more, Regroup Mass Notification helps organizations keep people safe, strengthen operational resilience, mitigate risk, and thrive in an increasingly unpredictable world.
CAMO® STARTER Clips, part of the CAMO family of innovative products to help build a better deck, have earned a spot on Pro Remodeler’s Top 100 Products for 2020. Chosen by its readers, Pro Remodeler’s Top 100 list includes products that generated the most reader interest over the past 12 months.
Designed to eliminate face-fastening of the first and last board on any grooved decking installation on wood joists, CAMO STARTER Clips help achieve a completely fastener-free surface. The clips are easily installed by lining up the clip with the back edge of the joist, centered with the cross-joist, and fastening. Once the clips are in place, a grooved deck board can be tilted into the clip. Each package of STARTER Clips covers 30 linear feet and includes 25 clips and 25 screws made with 304 Stainless Steel for corrosion resistance.
“It’s an honor to see CAMO STARTER Clips on Pro Remodeler’s Top 100 Products in the Decks & Porches category alongside some of the top deck brands in the industry,” said W. Scott Baker, CEO, National Nail. “We aim to eliminate hassles for deck builders. STARTER Clips make quick work of starting grooved deck installs, so contractors can install up to 5X faster with our family of innovative CAMO products. The result is the upscale look of a truly fastener-free deck surface.”
For the best grooved decking installation, contractors should use STARTER Clips with CAMO EDGE™ Clips (for 90-degree deck patterns) and EDGEX™ Clips (for any angled deck pattern). Both clips are one-pass fasteners requiring no partial installation—EDGE Clip legs hug the joist and EDGEX wings fit in the board groove staying in place until they are fastened with the CAMO DRIVE™ stand-up tool or the Never-Miss™ Guide that comes with each pail of Clips. To learn more about CAMO STARTER Clips visit http://www.camofasteners.com To view the Pro Remodeler Top 100, visit http://www.proremodeler.com/top-100-products-2020-decks-and-porches%C2%A0
About CAMO CAMO exists to provide the best deck fastening installation experience for hardworking folks who take pride in their work and value their wallet. That’s you. Whether you install decks for a living, offer to help build them with a buddy, or maybe build just one in your lifetime, CAMO products are engineered to save you time and ensure your work looks and performs as you expect it should. CAMO®. The Better Way to Build a Deck. For more information or to locate a dealer, visit camofasteners.com or call 1-800-968-6245. Be sure to "Like" @camofasteners on Facebook and @camodeckfasteners on Instagram. Search CAMO Fasteners on YouTube to find our channel or check us out on Pinterest.
Puffy - one of America’s fastest-growing bedroom companies, has today released a luxurious modern area rug, the latest addition to its rapidly expanding range of mattresses, bedding, and furniture.
The modern rug is available in two versatile sizes and has been designed to add contemporary flair to any bedroom or living area easily. The style and soft finish of the Puffy area rug follow the brand’s commitment to innovating thoughtful and minimalist decor products that allow customers to decorate homes with ease.
“We believe in the power of simplicity. All our customers are passionate about different styles of home and bedroom decor - we get that. When we create products, like our new modern rug, we like to keep this in mind and innovate comfortable decor that can work in harmony with existing aesthetics. While still adding our signature touch of luxury, of course,” said Puffy CEO Arthur Andreasyan.
Inspired by minimalism with a luxurious finish, the team at Puffy introduces the all-new rug in two adaptable hues: soft ivory and elegant gray.
Standout Features Of The Puffy Area Rug:
Area rugs are a home decor essential that can effortlessly transform the look of a room. Many rugs boast durability but don’t stand the test of time, especially in high-traffic areas such as the bedroom and living room. The Puffy team set out to take the humble rug and create a design that perfectly blends durability and luxury.
High pile - with a pile height of 1.5”, the Puffy Rug is generously fluffy, adding a warm and inviting ambiance to the room.
Super-soft comfort - The area rug is perfectly plush underfoot - it’s soft enough to lay down on and relax!
Non-shedding - expert stitching and premium materials make Puffy’s modern rug non-shedding so customers can be sure it will stand the test of time.
Premium jute backing - high-quality jute stops the rug from slipping and sliding.
Easy to spot clean - the Puffy area rug is easy to spot clean inevitable spills so the rug can stay looking fresh all year.
Versatile sizes - customers can choose from a 5’ x 8’ area rug or a 6’ x 10’ area rug and finish any room with a touch of comfort.
The Puffy area rug joins a growing collection of recently released comfort products steering the company’s transition from mattress company to a complete bedroom solutions provider. Other recent launches include the Puffy faux fur blanket, body pillow, ultra-soft bed sheets, and the memory foam dog bed.
“We’ve quickly expanded beyond making incredibly comfortable mattresses - and it’s an exciting time for us. Offering a total bedroom and home decor solution to our customers is the bigger vision. It's truly humbling seeing so many customers transform their sleep and relaxation habits by utilizing our comfort products. We stand by our commitment to simplify comfort choices by constantly optimizing our customer experience to be faster and easier. We believe in minimizing distracting jargon, and developing uncomplicated products that look elegant, and feel amazing. I think the Puffy Rug will be a hit - I just got one for my bedroom!” said Puffy CEO Arthur Andreasyan.
Like every product in Puffy’s range of mattresses, bedding, and furniture, the Puffy Rug can be purchased with free shipping, lifetime warranty, a 101-night sleep trial, and a 100% money-back guarantee. To find out more about the Puffy Rug, visit: https://puffy.com/products/puffy-area-rug
About Puffy
Puffy is a mattress company currently operating in the United States and Canada. The Puffy team is committed to developing the most luxurious mattresses, bedding, and bedroom furniture that you can buy online. The company was founded on the idea of creating mattresses and bedroom products that feel like sleeping on a cloud.
Global Banking & Finance Review launched its e-learning platform called eLearning Classes offering on demand online courses across various streams like Business, Finance, Trading, Marketing, Technology & more. Education is known as a never-ending journey that helps individuals expand their knowledge and learn new skills to stay competitive in today’s market.
eLearningClasses.com grants its members access to an array of interactive and fully online courses comprised of different subjects, guaranteeing them a leg up on the competition. eLearningClasses.com is an innovative online academy powered by artificial intelligence and real human instructors, offering students an exclusive interactive educational system with access to resourceful videos, e-books, quizzes, and certificates that will help them achieve their educational goals. Through the eLearningClasses.com students will be able to learn as many skills they want with eLearningClasses.com unlimited course program. This program allows subscribers to enjoy unlimited access to all courses at a monthly flat rate with no risks. Subscribers can choose as many courses as they want to enrol in, obtain all course materials at no extra cost, and learn at their own pace.
eLearningClasses.com uses the state-of-the-art educational tools which are powered by artificial intelligence to make world-class education affordable and accessible to students across the globe. For a subscription fee of .99 /month, students get access to all the online courses, lectures, worksheets, assessments, eBooks, Audio Books and more. Paid subscribers also get their questions answered by trained instructors and experts from Global Banking & Finance Review & have access to social discussions on their platform’s forums. The e-learning platform launched with over 100 courses and offers a few free online courses as an introductory offer. To Top it off, eLearningClasses.com is also offering a 25% discount on their monthly subscription fee of .99 which would bring the subscription fee to below a month. If you wish to avail this discount, use the coupon code off25 when checking out.
Global Banking & Finance Review is a leading brand name in Banking & Finance. A media powerhouse with its own print & digital magazine and website portal with a combined readership of over 3 million readers annually. Global Banking & Finance Review has been a leader for the past decade providing analysis, opinion, reviews, news & interviews covering various topics. The initiative of launching its own e-learning platform is to make quality education accessible and affordable.
View all the free online courses by following this link on eLearning Classes
“Our Mission is to ensure quality education reaches those who need it the most and at a price which can be affordable by all,” said Wanda Rich who is the Editor of Global Banking & Finance Review. She also commented that “Learning is a continuous process and it takes more than few courses to get a deeper understanding of a subject, this is the main reason why we decided to launch an unlimited learning experience at a monthly fee of .99.”
Global Banking & Finance Review is a leading brand name in Banking & Finance. A media powerhouse with its own print & digital magazine and website portal with a combined readership of over 3 million readers annually. Global Banking & Finance Review has been a leader for the past decade providing analysis, opinion, reviews, news & interviews covering various topics. The initiative of launching its own e-learning platform is to make quality education accessible and affordable.
View all the free online courses by following this link on eLearning Classes
“Our Mission is to ensure quality education reaches those who need it the most and at a price which can be affordable by all” said Wanda Rich who is the Editor of Global Banking & Finance Review. She also commented that “ Learning is a continuous process and it takes more than few courses to get a deeper understanding of a subject, this is the main reason why we decided to launch an unlimited learning experience at a monthly fee of .99”
Cruise Planners recently launched a new “All-Inclusive Resort System” to help its travel advisor network sell more land-based travel. The new system will allow its travel advisor network to search from hundreds of all-inclusive properties based on supplier name, destination, client budget, resort amenities, client travel style and more. Rather than having clients navigating multiple sites and muddling through information, Cruise Planners advisors can now deliver all-inclusive resort information via their recently updated websites or through cohesive, beautifully designed and mobile-friendly “Resort Sheets” to ultimately close more sales.
“While cruising isn’t an option right now due to voluntary pauses in service, we want to ensure our travel advisors can offer their clients alternative vacation options,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and founder of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. “The pent-up demand fueled by the pandemic is forcing families to change vacation plans, and while our travel advisors have always been able to book land-based vacations, having this new system will provide them better tools to promote and sell them,” Fee said.
Consistent as Leader in Land Cruise Planners remains the top global seller of Sandals Resorts worldwide and each year continues to expand its mix of business in the land-based travel marketplace. Next month, the company will be hosting its next installment on the wildly successful “Where2Next” Virtual vacation series for consumers, this time focusing on all-inclusive vacation options, continuing to emphasize vacations consumers can experience now or plan for 2021 and beyond or plan for 2021 and beyond.
“I remain bullish on the travel industry recovery and feel that land-based travel remains an opportunity for full-service travel advisors, so I am thrilled about our All-Inclusive Resort System,” Fee said.
About Cruise Planners Cruise Planners, the nation's largest home-based travel advisor franchise network and an American Express Travel Representative, has more than 2,500 franchise owners who independently book vacations and travel experiences for their clients. Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla. since 1994, Cruise Planners provides its travel advisors with access to award-winning, innovative marketing; cutting-edge mobile technology; dynamic, hands-on training; lead-generating tools, as well as professional coaching and development. Cruise Planners has achieved top producer status with every major cruise line, many land vendors and maintains a philanthropic drive earning an International Franchise Association FranTech award for innovation, the Cruise Lines International Association highest honors and Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly. Learn more at http://www.cruiseplanners.com
Continuing on its rapid national expansion - Germinator Mobile Sanitizing and Disinfecting - a broad-spectrum sanitization, disinfection and deodorization provider - is proud to announce it has opened doors in Phoenix, Arizona. The company will offer door-to-door sanitizing and disinfecting services for businesses and residents throughout the area.
Germinator provides a 100% safe and non-toxic sanitizing and disinfecting process, utilizing breakthrough technology scientifically proven to help reduce the threat of harmful bacteria and viruses similar to the novel coronavirus.
Best friends since childhood, Greg Cook and Robert Blankenship will own and operate Germinator Phoenix. An Arizona resident of nearly 30 years, Cook resides in Phoenix with his wife Annette; their four children Kelsey, Kylie, Dylan, and Austin; and his parents, who live a short drive away in Prescott. He was motivated to open a Germinator franchise as a way to play a front-line role in helping to keep the community safe.
“I’ve spent most of my life in Arizona and it’s where I’ve built my family and career,” said Cook. “I’ve developed a true love for the community and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Now, more than ever, businesses and residents are relying on high-quality sanitizing and disinfecting services to keep their homes and businesses safe as we try our best to go about our daily lives. I wanted to do my part in restoring confidence to the community by helping create comfortable environments.”
Having previously lived in Phoenix, Blankenship – who now resides in Miami, Florida - has ties to the community and a passion for the Germinator brand. He is the founder and CEO of WebFindYou, the first All-In-One Digital Marketing Technology that provides companies, agencies, and freelancers with a more streamlined and efficient way to maximize a company’s online visibility and grow their brand, leads, and sales with less hassle, reduced costs and increased revenues. Through WebFindYou, Blankenship has spearheaded the successful launch of all 21 Germinator franchises. His passion for the brand led him to embark on the opening of Germinator Phoenix.
“I truly believe in the Germinator brand and have witnessed firsthand how big of a role these franchises have played in helping to keep communities across the country safe during these difficult times, especially without the use of harsh and toxic chemicals,” said Blankenship. “Germinator Phoenix allows us to fill a void in the market, giving the community access to a top-notch sanitizing and disinfecting process that is followed with an application of long-lasting protection from mold, mildew, and odor causing bacteria.”
Germinator - which is headquartered in Atlanta - was founded by Jeff Gill in 2015, with the vision of providing a safe, effective and non-toxic method of proper sanitizing and disinfecting for businesses and households. Since February, the company has launched Germinator locations in major cities across the U.S.
“We’re excited to welcome Robert and Greg to the Germinator family to spearhead our launch into the Arizona market,” said Gill. “I’ve worked with Robert for eight years now, and he has a true understanding of the vision and mission of the company. We’re confident that the Phoenix franchise is going to be extremely successful.”
Germinator utilizes a two-step process to sanitize and disinfect surfaces as well as provide long-lasting protection against odor-causing bacteria, bacteria which cause stains and discoloration and fungi such as mold and mildew, and algae. The first step - Genesis - harnesses the power of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) to destroy bacteria, mold, mildew, viruses and odors caused by bacteria. HOCI is a non-toxic, near-neutral pH, hospital-grade sanitizer and disinfectant. The second step applies the Germinator's Shield - an invisible microbial coating that protects surfaces for an extended period of time against the growth of mold, mildew and odor-causing bacteria. Both products are EPA registered and safe for humans, pets and the environment. The company’s highly trained field specialists employ best practices using electrostatic sprayers and wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as appropriate.
Upholding the highest standards of sanitizing and disinfecting, Germinator makes claims that are scientifically supported and within EPA regulations. In an effort to research and further validate its practice of sanitizing and disinfecting surfaces, the company recently created the Germinator Scientific Advisory Board. The board is made up of key leaders such as Dr. Roscoe M. Moore, Jr - who was an Assistant to the United States Surgeon General for five administrations.
"During these unprecedented times, the need to focus on sterilizing agents within our country's airports, public spaces, and offices in order to decrease the spread of viral pathogens such as Coronavirus is essential," states Dr. Moore. "I am extremely happy to be a part of the Germinator team and lend my expertise in public health and regulatory affairs to what I feel is an immense asset to the containment effort."
The company continues to expand across the country, providing communities with a proactive solution to help free environments from harmful germs, bacteria, and viruses. With Germinator, society can now have peace of mind and the freedom to live or work in a sanitized and disinfected environment. Arizona businesses and residents can learn more by visiting https://www.germinatorphoenix.com or calling (602) 932-7406.
Cano Health, LLC, a leading population health management company and operator of primary care medical centers in Florida and San Antonio is happy to announce that it has selected Tejano musician Jay Perez as ambassador for its South Texas medical centers.
In this capacity he will serve as community advisor, advertising talent, and creative consultant for Cano Health, helping the company build brand awareness and championing programs that resonate with the local community.
Mr. Perez, known to many as “The Voice”, is an award-winning Tejano singer-songwriter and native San Antonian with a deep understanding of the community. “Knowing that San Antonio is a City rich in culture and coming from a family that has its own health issues, I have seen up close what a lack of health care can do to a family and a community... I feel it is extremely important for me to use my platform to raise awareness and promote quality health care,” says Perez.
Edward Vargas, Texas Vice President for Cano Health, says the company is dedicated to transforming healthcare for San Antonians and its seniors by activating excellence in primary care, in-home visits, pharmacy delivery services, and expanded telemedicine for patient safety and convenience.
“Jay is an important local influencer in the San Antonio community. His dedication to our community and his character reflect our core values,” says Vargas. “We want San Antonio to know that Cano Health is committed to improving patient and community health by delivering superior primary care medical services, while forging a life-long bond with our patients.”
San Antonio is Cano Health’s first stop as part of its national expansion. The company will soon be opening a retail location and full-service medical center at 7031 Marbach; and three other medical centers at 100 S. Zarzamora, 2925 West Ave, and 6623 Zarzamora by the end of the year.
About Cano Health Cano Health operates primary care centers and pharmacies and supports affiliated clinics in Florida, Puerto Rico, and now San Antonio that specialize in primary care for seniors. As part of its care coordination, Cano Health provides sophisticated, high-touch population health management programs such as home visits, telehealth, transition of care, and high risk & complex care management. Cano Health's personalized patient care and proactive approach to wellness and preventive care is what sets it apart from competitors.
Cano Health was recently recognized by Inc. magazine for the second consecutive year as the fastest-growing health care company in the nation and 39th among all US companies as part of its annual 5000 ranking. For more information visit http://www.canohealth.com.
The first all-in-one real-time organization and collaboration platform Taskade launches free upgrades for teams and individuals. This week, the team behind Taskade announced they are removing the limitations on the number of projects and tasks for all free accounts. Taskade users will now be able to create unlimited projects, templates, and invite an unlimited number of collaborators into their workspaces, all for free.
Following its debut at Y-Combinator’s demo day, Taskade set out on a mission to make remote collaboration simple. The platform helps remote teams stay competitive in the modern workplace by cutting down unnecessary friction in planning, organizing, and decision making, says Taskade CEO John Xie.
While remote teams can cherry-pick the tools they work with, the number of options available on the market makes for some really tough decisions. More often than not, trying to juggle several solutions means that meaningful, focused work takes a back seat.
Now that the need for remote collaboration tools has soared due to the COVID-19 lockdown, Taskade's offering seems like a sound proposition. Instead of adding yet another brick to the wall, the company takes a step back and combines document outlining and editing, visual mind mapping, video conferencing and task management in one, simple and elegant tool.
Apart from the upgraded free package, the platform offers two paid tiers for small businesses and enterprise-grade clients. Their unlimited plan ( per user) removes the cap on storage space for files and attachments. It also unlocks priority support and custom onboarding. The enterprise package is priced individually and adds extended security, control, and support.
If you have used tools like Asana, Trello, Todoist, Zoom, Notion, Microsoft Teams or Slack, you will feel at home as Taskade combines all the essential ingredients needed for remote collaboration into one simple tool. Another good news is that it’s available on all popular operating systems, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and as a browser extension and syncs in real-time.
”We believe Taskade is fundamentally changing remote team collaboration by providing one tool that teams need to get work done effectively. Taskade provides a real-time, device-agnostic and cross-platform experience to end-users. We are excited to be part of the journey with the Taskade team,” said Dmitry Grishin, managing partner at Grishin Robotics.
Based in San Francisco and Singapore, Taskade is a real-time organization and collaboration platform for remote professionals and distributed teams who want to stay competitive in the modern environment. Taskade helps its customers get work done together, faster and smarter by providing one tool for tasks, notes, mind mapping, and video conferencing, in one remote-first platform. Some of its happy customers include teams at Uber, Shopee, Capital One, YCombinator, Lyft, Compass, Activision, Booking.com and Transferwise.
Reflexis Systems, Inc., the leading provider of intelligent workforce management and execution solutions for multi-site businesses in retail, food service, hospitality and banking, announced today that a second top U.S. bank has selected Reflexis ONE™ for Banking to transform their branch operations.
Reflexis ONE for Banking provides a best-in-class solution for branch staffing optimization and mobile tools for improved employee engagement. The solution simplifies work for branch employees and increases time spent directly with customers, driving productivity and improved client outcomes.
Banking executives have realized the value in looking outside of their industry for best practices to optimize branch performance, and they have found that retailers have overcome many of these same challenges. Reflexis has worked with the world’s largest retailers since 2001 to drive workforce efficiency, effectiveness and productivity and is uniquely well positioned to help banks adopt many of these learnings.
With AI and machine learning powered forecasting, automated schedule optimization and mobile-first Employee Self-Service, banks can ensure they have the right staff in the right place at the right time to improve client engagement. In addition to driving staffing efficiencies, the Reflexis ONE for Banking platform increases employee engagement and satisfaction in the scheduling process.
“Reflexis is thrilled to welcome a second top U.S. bank to our roster of more than 275 forward thinking banks, retailers, food service companies and hotels,” said Brett Friedman, Chief Revenue Officer at Reflexis.
“We’re confident that Reflexis ONE for Banking will streamline labor scheduling and branch operations processes, as we’ve done for our retail customers since 2001,” said Brian Wallace, General Manager of Banking at Reflexis. “This will improve the customer experience and increase operational efficiency, employee satisfaction and sales effectiveness across their national network of banking centers.”
About Reflexis Systems, Inc. Reflexis Systems is the leading provider of intelligent workforce management, execution and communication solutions for multi-site organizations in retail, food service, hospitality and banking.
The Reflexis ONE™ intelligent work platform is used by our customers across the globe to simplify execution, improve communication and optimize labor decisions. Today, over 275 leaders in retail, food service, hospitality and banking are leveraging Reflexis ONE™ to achieve measurable improvements in customer engagement & associate productivity and retention.
Reflexis Systems is privately held and headquartered in Dedham, Massachusetts and has offices in Atlanta, Columbus, London, Düsseldorf, and Pune (India), with additional sales presence across Europe and Latin America. For further information, please visit http://www.Reflexisinc.com.
Reflexis: Unleash the Power of Your Store Associates.
Martin Watts, Founder and CEO of Ozark River Manufacturing, wants to get hand washing out of the bathroom!
Experts may argue about gloves, masks and even social distancing, but one thing the CDC, WHO and other authorities agree upon, is this: hand hygiene remains the front line defense against the spread of disease. Since 2004, Ozark River Manufacturing, leaders in hand wash compliance, has been delivering safety and convenience in the design and delivery of NSF-certified portable hand sinks.
Ozark River Manufacturing may be small (16 employees), but it’s the only manufacturer of its kind that was able to meet the immediate demand of an order for the Jacob Javits Center “makeshift hospital” in NYC in the wake of the 2020 pandemic.
Now, organizations including restaurants, retail, office complexes, manufacturers and non-profit organizations are devising strategies to safely reopen and operate; recognizing the importance of NSF-certified portable sinks, which require no plumbing, in public areas, near entrances, and employee break rooms ... not just in the bathrooms.
Founder and CEO, Martin Watts, who holds several patents, is a tireless ---and enthusiastic --- inventor and entrepreneur. He has become an authority on hand washing protocols, the importance of NSF certification, and how manufacturing remains an essential business. Watts has a vision for how the future may look for manufacturing, business and public health/safety. His company, Ozark River Manufacturing, helped to keep other businesses open during the pandemic, and is now part of safe reopening and ongoing healthy operation strategies nationwide. MGM Grand, Sony Pictures, Toyota, Boeing, Cracker Barrel, and Turner Construction are just a few of the companies that have contacted Ozark River for information on the quick addition of hand washing stations for their customers and employees.
Watts oversees a team that provides a critical and convenient solution to improve personal hygiene and the ability to comply with state and local hand wash codes, as well as fight the spread of diseases like Covid-19. The company’s everlasting commitment to provide a top quality product that is essential to maximizing safety is why Ozark River Manufacturing is the world’s foremost portable sink manufacturer. Ozark River portable hand sinks feature instant hot water technology and convenient quick connect tanks. Without the expense of plumbing, users gain the hygiene benefits of instant hot water in both indoor portable sinks and outdoor portable sinks.
New York’s Jacob Javits Center, a 2.1-million-square-foot convention center within the densest, most populous American city, became a makeshift hospital as the city fought Covid-19. Ozark River Manufacturing delivered 70 sinks to the Javits Center within days, the only manufacturer of its kind that was able to meet the demand of that order so quickly.
Ozark River Manufacturing is a small but mighty, 40,000 sq. ft. portable sink manufacturing facility located in the heart of Middle Tennessee; a perfect example of efficiency for providing time saving delivery to the entire contiguous United States. From restaurants and food service businesses that gain new convenience and opportunities as a result of Ozark River Portable Sinks®, to educators and daycare centers that have healthier students and fewer absentees, to businesses that are now in hand wash code compliance due to implementing the use of portable sinks – the Ozark River team takes great pride in every portable hand sink they manufacture.
Watts fosters a team culture that is supportive and solutions-oriented with consistent communication and positive reinforcement.
With attention to quality that is as pure as the hot water they dispense, all Ozark River portable hand sinks feature instant hot water technology and convenient quick connect tanks. Without the expense of plumbing, each customer gains the hygiene benefits of instant hot water in both indoor portable sinks and outdoor portable sinks.
The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water whenever possible as proper hand hygiene reduces the amounts of all types of germs and chemicals on hands.
"We built a business on compliance, but our new focus is on prevention," Watts says. "It's time to get hand washing out of solely the bathroom and into public areas; at entrances, in break-rooms and more."
Ozark River Manufacturing supports Global Handwashing Day, observed annually on October 15th.
Learning Sciences Corporation has secured its reputation as a national leader with an international impact in workforce education with its ranking of #66 in the Software Industry and #535 of the fastest-growing privately-owned companies in America, achieving a three-year growth in revenue of 862%.
The Inc. 5000 list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. The Inc. 5000 recognizes private companies using a complicated set of quantitative metrics of growth and revenue. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent, and a median rate of 165 percent, aggregate revenue was 9 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years.
Founded in 2008 by company President Peter Ranzino, Learning Sciences Corporation is a learning and development company providing expertise in the design, development, and deployment of workforce web-based training programs for each employee’s skill sets. The learning experiences created are authentic, interactive, and accommodate multiple learning styles.
The company hosts access to client courses, tracks, and maintains critical training data, for over 100,000 employees of its national client base each week.
Learning Sciences' approach to customized platforms and technological advances in the training environment has led to their continual 12-year growth in a variety of industries in both private and public sectors.
In Entertainment, Television, Film, and Sports Broadcasting, clients include NBC Sports and its Summer and Winter Olympic Broadcasts, the IATSE Training Trust Fund, Fox Corporation, Fox Sports, FX, Disney Films and its umbrella of numerous production companies, like Lucas Films and General Hospital, NBC Universal, 21st Century Fox, and ABC.
Petrochemical and manufacturing clients include Citgo Petroleum, Phillips 66, Conoco Phillips, and British Petroleum. In the public sector, the State of Louisiana utilizes customized training and testing platforms in numerous executive, state, civil service, and law enforcement agencies including the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), Louisiana State Police (LSP) and Office of the Attorney General (AG), among others. Louisiana State University, professional, and trade associations also utilized Learning Sciences software and programs.
“We focus on optimizing our clients’ workforce, advancing their organization and its performance. Our ability to develop individual skills, then cultivate and grow that skillset is the key to our client’s success in an ever-changing business climate,” said Peter Ranzino.
“We have been fortunate to work with and for some of the world’s smartest companies and the brightest minds in business. What we learn from these companies and their executives has been invaluable to our success,” he added.
Learning Sciences management team operates a variety of learning and technology disciplines. Ranzino credits client referrals as their main source of new client acquisition, acknowledging that their software and learning development team members have earned a reputation for being customer-centric providing authentic, interactive learning experiences customized to each clients' needs, which are result-driven, and cost-efficient to deploy. Their corporate culture embodies research-based design principles, best practices for workforce training, content mastery, and proven quality assurance standards.
The team members Ranzino recruits and employs are highly skilled Instructional Designers with doctoral degrees in Instructional Technology, Graphic and Web Designers versed in learning methodologies, and IT professionals deploying best industry practice. The company’s methodology identifies and qualifies the skills and management acumen for any workforce position, tactical or strategic.
Learning Sciences Core Competencies:
Instructional Design & Analysis
Instructional Writing
Curriculum Development
Custom Content Development
Learning Management of Systems Analysis & Configuration
Miah Dancy, President of BLUEFIN, LLC, commented, “We are excited to welcome Crenshaw to BLUEFIN. Crenshaw has been an exceptional business for many years, providing expert solutions to its clients. We value its longstanding success, and we commit to providing its team of dedicated employees the resources they need to grow that success even further. Vickie Crenshaw brings exceptional technical expertise to our management team, and we look forward to working closely with her to continue providing superior service to Crenshaw’s customers.”
Crenshaw has a long history of providing the highest quality roof consulting services to a wide variety of customers in both the public and private sectors, including city, county, and state agencies, school districts, as well as major U.S. insurance carriers. The entire Crenshaw team will join BLUEFIN’s staff, and Crenshaw’s owner, Vickie Crenshaw, PE, RRO, RRC, will remain an owner in the combined business and become a Senior Vice President within the BLUEFIN organization.
Vickie Crenshaw commented, “Crenshaw is very proud of the legacy we have established and nurtured over the past 16 years. We view this transaction as an opportunity to continue growing, and we welcome the chance to provide an expanded service offering to our clients. Culturally, this is an excellent fit for us, and we are excited for our future with BLUEFIN.”
Joe Vallee of O2 Investment Partners added, “The addition of Crenshaw Consulting Group creates tremendous opportunity for both BLUEFIN as well as the broader Mantis Innovation Group platform. When combined, Crenshaw adds focused expertise in design services and creates an opportunity for Mantis to provide additional software-enabled services to improve facility performance and reduce operating and capital costs. Vickie and her team have built an exceptional business, and we look forward to accomplishing great things together.”
About Mantis Innovation Group, LLC:
Mantis Innovation Group, LLC is a technology-driven firm employing proprietary software and data analytics to improve facility performance. Mantis’ service offering includes electricity and natural gas procurement; proactive roof, pavement, and envelope management; roof design and quality assurance; demand management; energy monitoring; and solar / renewable implementation. Mantis is headquartered in Houston, TX, with additional operations in Dallas, Texas; Waco, Texas; Coppell, TX; Trenton, New Jersey; Burlington, MA; West Springfield, MA; King of Prussia, PA; Harrisburg, PA; and Brunswick, ME.
About BLUEFIN, LLC:
BLUEFIN is the nation’s leading provider of facility asset management and facility energy consulting services to clients with large facility footprints. BLUEFIN delivers an innovative portfolio approach to asset management that significantly reduces costs while improving facility performance.
About Crenshaw Consulting Group, LLC:
Crenshaw Consulting Group, LLC is a design, engineering, and consulting firm specializing in roof systems, waterproofing, exterior wall systems, lab analysis, forensic investigation, quality assurance, and construction observation. Crenshaw has expertise in complex site-specific plans and specifications for renovation, re-roofing, repair, and maintenance jobs.
About O2 Investment Partners:
O2 Investment Partners is a Midwestern based private equity firm that seeks to acquire majority interests in lower middle market B2B services, technology, and select niche industrial companies. The firm invests in businesses with earnings growth potential and a clear path to the creation of shareholder value.
O2 invests with a view toward partnering with management to build and grow the business and take it to its next stage of development. This requires not only a clear vision and strategic plan to create shareholder value, but a close partnership and alignment of interest with management.
VICTOR FOODS is a Spokane-based company specializing in clean label hummus products. Winner of the best locally produced foods (not only hummus) in the Inland NorthWest consecutively for the past 8 years. While VICTOR FOODS products are not “officially certified” organic, organic chickpeas are the main ingredient. Being a clean label product, VICTOR FOODS hummus has: NO preservatives, NO blended or filler oils (canola, soy), NO dairy, NO gluten, NO GMO.
The authentic and delectable hummus flavors of VICTOR FOODS are, also, very low in lectins (anti-nutrients) due to a unique proprietary cooking process. To keep all the natural nutrients from degrading, VICTOR FOODS does not pasteurize their products.
“We take great care to ensure that we have the most clean label of any hummus brand,” Victor Azar, founder of VICTOR FOODS, declared passionately. “We replicate a home-made, hand-crafted product by soaking and cooking the beans correctly with a proprietary process.”
By not including filler oils, Victor’s hummus products have as little as half the calories of many other brands.”
For the past ten years, VICTOR FOODS has been serving independent stores and regional grocery chains throughout the Pacific NorthWest, USA. At this time, there is more capacity to accommodate additional grocery chains who appreciate offering a healthy, clean and tempting product to their evermore critical and demanding shoppers.
Merchants Fabrication, Inc. (MFI), a full-service metal plate and structural shape manufacturer specializing in the machine building industry, is pleased to announce that John Bernier has joined the company as General Manager. Mr. Bernier joins MFI with over 30 years of manufacturing experience. He has extensive experience in operational excellence, manufacturing operations, and engineering, with a proven track record of exceptional quality management and customer relations skills.
“We’re just getting started,” commented Mr. Bernier. “MFI has been in the business a long time and we want our community to know that we’re not going anywhere. We have a lot of exciting projects and plans up our sleeves and are looking forward to engaging more with local businesses. Our extensive metal fabrication skills and abilities put us in a solid position in the marketplace and allow us to respond quickly to customer requests at a very competitive price”.
MFI has extensive history and experience in sub-contract manufacturing work, specializing in the aerospace, paper, food and beverage, medical, and specialty equipment industries. Their capabilities range from custom fabrication work, prototyping, and custom design to waterjet cutting, CNC punching, welding, and more. A full list of MFI’s capabilities can be found on their newly renovated website.
“Customer centricity is a hallmark to MFI,” added Mr. Bernier. “Our clients are the lifeblood of our business, and we are committed to ensuring exceptional quality, integrity, and service to our clients, both present and future.”
In business for over 55 years, MFI is dedicated to delivering only the most exceptional quality projects and service to their clients, both present and future. To learn more about MFI, visit http://www.merchantsfabrication.com.
You know who they are. The guys are walking tall and stand out in a crowd. And, when it’s time to play and relax with friends, they put on the styles that let everyone know they’re reaching for the brass ring. Now’s the time to help make them famous.
It’s one of the most talked about new men’s clothing labels and Chuck Brass is seeking Millennial and Gen Z men who are interested in a career as social fashion influencers. This announcement is a rare opportunity to launch a rising star across all social media platforms. Winners can be Brass Ringleaders, interacting not just with their friends and social channels, but with nationally recognized creative agencies, stylists, and photographers who conduct award-winning campaigns.
It’s easy to get started too. We have all of the assets for publication and media awareness on our website. Potential Brass Ring candidates can visit chuckbrass.com beginning August 1, and apply there for the chance to share with the world all the buzz about Chuck Brass clothes.
Here’s what we want potential Brass Ringleaders to know:
The Chuck Brass brand is igniting worldwide, and you can be part of the explosion as a Brass Ringleader. Chuck wants you to show him how you grab The Brass Ring, where you are - having the best time while looking awesome.
Brass Ringleaders have a direct channel to the company. That means involvement in new product launches, and giving feedback that shows from the ground up what customers want. Our national consultants will sign lucky Brass candidates by several criteria described on the website and winners selected by September 31st, 2020.
Winners will consult with Chuck Brass marketing teams across the nation who work one-on-one with influencers who will receive free merch and apparel. Our creative teams will coordinate with each Brass Ringleader to build personal brands along with Chuck Brass clothes, and the flavor of a Brass-clad life. Your brand. Your movement.
HomeSeer continues its 21-year pursuit of smart home excellence with the release of 3 new smart home hubs. HomeTrollers Pi, Plus & PRO are powered by HS4 smart home software which features locally-managed (cloud-free) automation and includes several new features and integration options.
Chief among the improvements is an all new mobile-friendly interface that provides full system management from any device. Built-in support has also been added to view and record security cameras and an automatic backup function allows quick system recovery if needed.
Several free plugins have been released for easy integration with popular smart home products & technologies including Z-Wave, Zigbee, Philips Hue, Ecobee, Harmony Hub, Tuya, MyQ, Wemo, Rachio, LIFX and more. As with previous hubs, full support is also included for smart speakers, devices and cloud services from Amazon, Google and IFTTT.
HomeTroller Pi and PRO hubs are shipping now. HomeTroller Plus hubs will ship later this year. For more information on HomeTroller hubs, visit https://homeseer.com/home-controllers/
HomeSeer’s free remote access service (MyHS) has also been enhanced to include paid “Premium” options for users who need unified control of multiple systems and users, or require more storage space for system backups and camera recordings. Learn more about MyHS Premium here: https://homeseer.com/myhs-premium/
HomeSeer Technologies, LLC is a leading provider of smart home systems based in Bedford, New Hampshire. Its smart home software and hubs allow users to integrate and automate everything in their homes, including lights, thermostats, sensors, door locks, security systems and much more. HomeSeer systems are locally managed for performance, reliability and security. Visit https://homeseer.com/ for more information.
Registration is now open for the now-digital Offsite Construction Expo – Denver, proudly sponsored by the Modular Building Institute (MBI). This two-day digital expo will start on September 16 and conclude September 17. The Expo will closely follow the format of previous in-person Expos and will feature educational presentations, digital booths from industry exhibitors, and person-to-person communication over video and chat. This event will mark the sixth year that MBI has sponsored the Offsite Construction Expos.
Attendees and exhibitors alike will benefit from the variety of modular vendors and component suppliers all in one virtual room. Past Expo exhibitors have included offsite construction contractors, traditional contractors that have integrated offsite methods, offsite factories, transportation companies, BIM suppliers, materials suppliers, and consultants of all types of offsite construction processes. A number of MBI members exhibit at the Expos on a regular basis.
Exhibitors at the Denver digital expo include the following companies:
Modular Building Institute
Innovative Structural Engineering
Johns Manville
Precision Structural Engineering
Guerdon, LLC
Horizon North Logistics Inc.
ICC Evaluation Service
neUdesign Architecture
Z Modular
BestGen Modular
Phoenix Modular Elevator
USG Structural Panels
“We’re very excited to be bringing the excitement of OSCE online,” said Dave Sikora, OSCE’s business development director. “There’s no doubt that COVID has presented some challenges for us, but we think this Expo is really going to exceed expectations.”
If you are interested in learning about offsite construction, the Offsite Construction Expo is the place to be. The event is only 9 for all attendees.
Speakers at the Denver Expo include MBI member Shawn Lothrop, CEO of Innovative Structural Engineering. He’ll be speaking about the advantages and value of structural engineering for modular and offsite construction. John Beddow, CEO of Guerdon, LLC, will be addressing affordable housing. Rhys Kane's (Horizon North) session will also explore the topic. Chris Waters from Z Modular will speak on new markets and challenges for modular construction and Troy Tiddens (neUdesign Architecture) will speak on the means and methods of offsite design.
Two additional digital Expos—each targeted to a specific North American region—are planned for 2020. OSCE Toronto is planned for October 21 and 22. OSCE Washington DC is scheduled for November 18 and 19. Each Expo is planned and run by association management company HardimanWilliams, LLC. The Modular Building Institute is sponsoring all three OSCE events in 2020.
CPF Lures is proud to establish itself as the newest fishing lure company in Kissimmee, Florida with a focus on soft plastic baits.
For the first time ever, CPF Lures launches its brand-new fishing lure company.
CPF Lures, a Kissimmee-based fishing lure company, is proud to establish itself as the newest fishing tackle provider in Florida. Founded by Chuck Pippin Jr and Jason George, CPF Lures stands for Chuck Pippin Fishing Lures. Founded in 2020, the company provides fishing worms, creatures, claws, and so much more.
According to the company, "Chuck began his career as a Bass fishing guide in 1997 on West Lake Toho and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, during his junior year at the University of Central Florida. After graduating, Chuck moved to Clewiston, Florida, and spent 5 years as a guide at Roland Martin's Marina on Lake Okeechobee. During this time, he began his career as a professional tournament angler fishing both the FLW Tour and the B.A.S.S. Southern Opens. In October of 2002, Chuck moved back to the Orlando Florida area to continue a guiding career on West Lake Tohopekaliga, the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and other Orlando area lakes."
A few of Chuck Pippins sponsors include businesses such as Ranger Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Toho Marine & Outdoors, Minn Kota Motors, Humminbird, 13 Fishing, and D.O.A. Lures.
Chuck goes on to say, "We started CPF Lures with a vision of perfecting fishing lures & tackle. Offering increased durability and higher quantities of baits, CPF Lures develops baits for the tournament pro and fishing guides who require a better quality solution."
The company continues to share that, "we wanted to make a product specifically for the tournament angler or professional guide. Our Pro Series baits are scientifically engineered for durability and usability. The soft plastics are durable enough to allow for multiple hook sets, allow you to catch more fish, yet are soft enough to puncture easily with a hook. The spongy feeling of the baits helps fish hang on longer due to the true to life feeling. Currently we offer our baits in 25 & 50 at a time in durable, recyclable, stack-able containers. However, we look to expand to traditional 10-count bags in the near future."
Want to learn more about Chuck Pippin Fishing Lures?
About CPF Lures: Official Disclaimer: "CPF Lures is a fishing lure company founded in 2020 in Kissimmee, Florida. CPF Lures stands for Chuck Pippin Fishing Lures, named after one of the founders, Chuck Pippin Jr."
Polyurea-polyaspartic 1-day coating systems can be a recipe for disaster. Concrete coating expert Robert Hanson of corporate GarageFloorCoating.com cautions consumers and coating companies about quick-cure, 1-day polyurea-polyaspartic garage floor coating systems.
The More Things Change
In an article written way back in 2007 in Residential Concrete Magazine (Jeanne Fields, December 15, 2007), titled “Garage Floor Coatings Pickup Speed”, Fields reported that epoxy garage floor contractors were discovering that polyurea-polyaspartic quick-cure systems could increase profits because of their quick installation time. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
1-Day Systems: A Recipe for Disaster
Flash forward 13 years and many less experienced floor coating contractors still hype these systems. But Robert Hanson, founder of GarageFloorCoating.com, warns that polyurea-polyaspartic 1-day coating systems are a “recipe for disaster.”
“Our concern is that the public is being misled about the capability and performance of these products and systems,” says Hanson. “The allure to the customer is the promise of a coated garage in one day. So many companies are jumping on this 1-day-system bandwagon.”
The Truth about 1-Day Systems
The reality? 1-day garage floor systems simply don’t meet commercial specifications. Application of a polyurea-polyaspartic direct to concrete isn’t recommended...unless the average measured moisture level in the concrete is less than 1.0%. Why? The ability of a polyurea-polyaspartic to bond strongly to concrete is hindered by moisture. Anything above 1.0% is a problem. And the flooring system is only as strong as the first (“primer”) coat. How many concrete slabs will have moisture readings below 1.0%? Not many!
In addition, this simple 2-coat system uses far less material. In fact, it creates a floor that is about half the thickness of a commercial-grade installation. The result is that 1-day polyurea-polyaspartic flooring systems are less durable and susceptible to peeling.
Hanson reminds us that “When a product fails, the cost and time to remove it and re-apply it proves very costly. As well, it’s a major inconvenience to the customer. We learned the hard way years ago when we had to re-coat close to one hundred floors due to failures with these 1-day systems. It’s a recipe for disaster.”
An Alternative to the 1-Day System
Hanson recommends using a 100% solids epoxy as the primer coat (or a moisture-mitigating epoxy if moisture levels are higher than 4.0%). In any space with vehicular traffic (garages, driveways), the primer coat is topped with a polyurea-polyaspartic. Then, one or more clear coats will produce the most durable flooring system. With this correct approach, the installation time is at least 2 days in duration...certainly not one!
How does Hanson know this? His company, GarageFloorCoating.com has been installing residential and commercial floor coating applications for over 23 years. They use water-based moisture mitigating or 100% solids epoxies as the primer coat. Only in the rarest of occasions will a polyurea-polyaspartic go direct-to-concrete.
Advantages of Polyurea-Polyaspartics
But once the primer coat is applied, polyurea-polyaspartics make for great color and top coats. In fact, these products are in a category all their own. Polyaspartics provide excellent wear, extreme UV and chemical resistance (oils, gasoline, acids). And they prevent plasticizer migration from hot car tires. Best of all, the quick-cure characteristic of a polyurea-polyaspartic allows for faster installations in hot or cold temperatures.
Where Can Polyurea-Polyaspartics Be Used?
Polyurea-polyaspartics are excellent for use in garages, driveways and anywhere vehicles are parked. They’re also excellent choices for most industrial settings and businesses (like an auto repair shop) that just can’t shut down for days. We’ve successfully used this product in large commercial spaces too, including aircraft hangars and automobile dealerships.
The Final Say
There’s an old saying that goes “If you don’t have the time to do it right, then when will you have the time to do it over?” This certainly applies to mass-marketed 1-day polyurea-polyaspartic flooring systems. So many coating companies are telling their customers that these 1-day systems are a magic bullet.
But why would a contractor emphatically hype a “1-day” flooring system? Because less material and less labor equals more profit. If your prospective installer suggests a 1-day polyurea-polyaspartic system without first measuring the moisture in your concrete floor, let the buyer beware!
Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, Garage Floor Coating.com (GFC) has been coating concrete with their proprietary epoxy, polyurethane and polyurea-polyaspartic products for over twenty-three years. With dealerships and franchises throughout the US, the company continues to expand and is always looking for individuals with a strong business acumen to open new dealership locations.
Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI) has been awarded a Phase Two grant from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicles Systems Center (formerly TARDEC). Based on the progress achieved during Phase One, ASI was chosen to continue development of a Deep Learning (DL) architecture that will support sensor fusion in environments with limited, or no, GPS. Specifically, ASI is making rapid advancements in triangulating data inputs from traditional cameras, LiDAR, and radar to feed machine learning that will provide clearer visibility, predictability, and safety in environments where GPS integrity is restricted or where GPS cannot be utilized at all.
"The objective is to create clearer real-time understanding of an autonomous vehicle’s surroundings, especially when navigating through compromised weather, environments, or conditions," said Jeff Ferrin, Chief Technology Officer at ASI. "As self-driving vehicles advance, especially for industrial use, the need to utilize machine learning, deep learning, and other artificial intelligence algorithms to improve performance in challenging environments only increases. Therefore, the success of this project is critically important – not only for the direct application within the U.S. military, but for applications across ASI’s multiple lines of business."
In the case of a deep learning architecture that fuses information from LiDAR, radar and cameras, the innovation could not come soon enough for some industries – especially mining.
"As global mining operations re-evaluate orebody economics and redesign mines as a result of automation, mining operations will become increasingly complex and dependent on technology. By association, the need for advanced visibility and situational awareness increases exponentially," explains Chris Soccio, General Manager of the Ferrexpo Yeristovo operations. "In locations where GPS or communications networks are compromised or unreliable, the ability to leverage machine learning fed by three diverse input methods becomes not only immediately desirable, but essential to ensure system redundancy for safe and efficient mining."
ASI expects to complete the Phase Two assignment by September 2022.
About ASI
Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI) is a world leader in industrial vehicle automation. ASI serves clients across the world in mining, agriculture, automotive, government, and manufacturing industries with remote control, teleoperation, and fully automated solutions from its headquarters and 100-acre proving ground in northern Utah.
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has announced the opening of its 113th worldwide franchise location in Atlanta’s upper westside. Located in the shopping area of Westside Village at Moores Mill, along Marietta Boulevard and Coronet Way, Aqua-Tots Westside Village is now serving families in West Atlanta, Midtown and Buckhead. They officially opened their doors on Monday, August 17, 2020.
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has been the leader in the swim instruction industry since 1991, offering comprehensive swim curriculum for children as early as four months old. With over 100 locations in 14 countries, families all over the world experience the dedicated, year-round, indoor swim facilities where their children can become safe and confident swimmers by completing the proven Aqua-Tots curriculum.
The 4,500 sq. foot swim school is the sixth Aqua-Tots location in Georgia and fourth Atlanta area location for Franchise Owners Andrew George, Jesse Rhodenbaugh and Tommy Fisher, who also own locations in Alpharetta, Briarcliff and Roswell, Georgia.
“We’re excited to serve the families of West Atlanta, Midtown and Buckhead,” said Franchise Owner Jesse Rhodenbaugh. “This year’s pandemic has caused many parents to work from home. Children are also at home, and they are bored. This has resulted in an increased rate of drowning all over the country. In fact, 69% of children who drown are not expected to be in or near a pool at the time of an incident. We are very proud to offer families in Atlanta a year-round place to equip their children with the water safety skills they need for a lifetime.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, “Consistency in formal swim lessons reduces the risk of drowning by 88% among children ages one to four years old.” That’s an encouraging reality since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional, injury-related death among children ages one to four.
Aqua-Tots Westside Village is committed to keeping families safe, healthy and comfortable when attending swim lessons. As such, they have implemented the Aqua-Tots Full Circle of Safety to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their swim school. These procedures focus on a modified swim school environment for the health of their families and staff, safety of their lessons and cleanliness of their facility. Preventative measures include social distancing in the lobby, hand sanitizer stations, enhanced cleaning procedures, masks for swim school staff and temperature checks for staff prior to each shift.
Additionally, a properly maintained and sanitized pool is still considered a safe environment for children and families. According to the CDC, “There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas, or water play areas. Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water.” The Aqua-Tots pool contains a commercial sanitation and filtration system which maintains the proper chlorinated levels.
For a limited time, those who enroll in monthly swim lessons will receive a free swim lesson to get started. Aqua-Tots Westside Village is open seven days a week and encourages families to reserve a spot in small group (4:1 ratio), semi-private (2:1 ratio) or private (1:1 ratio) lessons before classes fill up. Aqua-Tots Westside Village will also feature the Special Needs Aquatic Program (S.N.A.P.), which tailors lessons to each child’s special needs and abilities, Fast Track, which serves as a jumpstart to lessons, and birthday parties.
Aqua-Tots Westside Village is now hiring front desk staff and swim instructors. To apply, please contact Aquatic Manager Ally Gibson at westsidevillageam@aqua-tots.com. If you’d like to learn more about Aqua-Tots Westside Village or to pre-enroll in swim lessons, visit aqua-tots.com/atlanta-westside-village or call (770) 927-8155.
About Aqua-Tots Swim Schools
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools serves over 100 communities worldwide, offering dedicated, year-round, indoor swim instruction, community outreach and drowning prevention education to children of all abilities from four months to 12 years old. As the world’s largest swim school franchise, their hand-selected instructors are passionate about teaching children how to remain safer in and around the water, using tried and true curriculum, 29+ years in the making and trusted worldwide to teach 2.9 million swim lessons annually. To learn more, visit http://www.aqua-tots.com.
What makes a hero? That is a very important question, with more than one answer. “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” (Joseph Campbell) “A hero is somebody who voluntarily walks into the unknown”. (Tom Hanks) “A hero is no braver than an ordinary person, but he or she is brave five minutes longer.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson). All of these statements can easily be said about Bonnie Frankel, super athlete, author and activist who at 75-years old is still breaking the rules, while continuing to remain young in body, mind and spirit. She is truly a woman of inspiration who has accomplished much by doing the extraordinary.
While most seniors are huddled indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine, Bonnie Frankel is leading the way. She is releasing her new book, Bonnie’s Theory - Finding the Right Exercise, and is teaching and motivating people about how to remain positive, calm and healthy during these uncertain times.
No stranger to adversity, she is a true survivor. In 1993 Bonnie singlehandedly changed an NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) rule, and was the oldest female to compete in a Division 1 collegiate sport, now known as “The Bonnie Rule”. She had also faced breast cancer, divorce, a suicide attempt, hip replacement, and homelessness, but overcame it all by self-rehabilitation through exercise.
Crossing her path when she was an older student returning to college, was her running instructor Olympic champion Tommie Smith. He along with athlete John Carlos had raised their fists in a black power salute after winning the gold and bronze medals in the 1968 Olympics in the 200-meter run, reminiscent of today’s Black Lives Matter movement. Tommie saw true talent in Bonnie, and recommended that she compete in track as he noticed her “fast feet”. He became her mentor and coach, and told Bonnie that she would be “The George Foreman of running.”
Later when she was 60, and after undergoing a hip replacement due to Sickle Cell Anemia (Bo Jackson’s Disease), Bonnie had a chance introduction to meet John Carlos who was friends with Tommie Smith. He was so impressed with her ability and in her changing an NCAA rule that he decided to coach her to qualify for the Olympic trials in 2004.
Today with the Black Lives Matter movement in full swing, along with the Covid-19 crisis pandemic, and the presidential election right around the corner, Bonnie is no stranger to hard times, challenging personal difficulties, and triumphs.
Her latest project is to bring awareness to raise social security income so that current generations can live more comfortably in the world. This is especially important during these tough times when many people can’t afford food, housing, or the cost of living. Recently, senators Schumer, Warren and Wyden have unveiled a plan to raise these benefits by 0 during Covid-19 through 2021.
According to Bonnie Frankel, “People can’t survive by living off their social security benefits alone. They should be able to live comfortably without fearing poverty. The current system doesn’t work. The cost of living has exceeded many people's ability to properly take care of themselves.”
USA Today once wrote that if ever there were a made for TV movie, “The life and times of Bonnie Frankel” is it.
Tellwut is excited to announce the launch of Tellwut Insights, our new DIY platform along with access to custom support services and our weekly Omnibus program providing ease of access for businesses utilizing our platform to gain affordable and valuable market research.
Tellwut provides data and analysis through surveys accessing our large North American community (panel). Use our DIY platform or Tellwut will work with you to run personalized targeted surveys to gain valuable data and allow you to make informed market decisions. Our engaged community of respondents will answer your questions to give you a better understanding of the consumer landscape.
With competitive price points, Tellwut Insights is created to democratize market research to become more affordable for businesses. Tellwut Insights also offers a level of efficiency as answers can be rapidly gathered and distributed real-time responses.
Tellwut Insights serves as a mediator between businesses and the Tellwut platform, giving clients access to a willing and diverse panel of consumers providing businesses data towards an informed decision-making process. Tellwut Insights reporting provides clients with comprehensive data allowing analysis according to numerous demographic and psychographic separations.
Tellwut Insights seeks to provide greater access to companies for informed decision making and provides varying options for quick and affordable insights. Examples of Tellwut Insights case studies can be found on our reports page.
About Tellwut
Tellwut® is a North American community of individuals dedicated to expressing their opinions through online surveys based upon a wide variety of topics in exchange for rewards and the Tellwut community experience. Tellwut Insights uses its proprietary survey and panel member management application along with the Tellwut community to provide a platform for organizations to send surveys to their stakeholders or to crowdsource and conduct online market research quickly and easily; thus allowing businesses a clearer understanding and insight into their products or services, customer attitudes, and potential business opportunities.
Swiftly, the leading big data platform for public transit, today announced an investment round from SMRT Ventures, the Corporate Venture Arm of transport operator SMRT.
The collaboration with SMRT enables Swiftly to further expand its activities in the Asia region. Established in 2015, Swiftly has sales, marketing, and customer success operations in North America, Western Europe, and Asia. Asia is a large opportunity for Swiftly as its economies depend heavily on public transit to support their rapid economic and population growth.
Swiftly has created the first cloud-based data platform specifically designed for public transit data and operations. Unlike legacy transit software, Swiftly leverages big data and sophisticated algorithms to drive efficiency across the transit operations to boost the rider experience. Further, the platform includes a suite of APIs that enable public transit networks to connect and integrate services with other modes of transportation.
Swiftly has seen rapid growth and has more than doubled in size over the past twelve months. “We are thrilled to partner with SMRT as we look to accelerate our growth into Asia,” said Jonathan Simkin, Co-Founder & CEO of Swiftly. “Beyond growth, one of our core goals at Swiftly is to build a transportation community where we can share best practices that we observe around the world. We’re delighted to be able to include SMRT and Singapore within this network to broaden the scope of our reach.”
SMRT, Singapore’s leading public transport operator, serves more than 3 million passenger journeys daily via bus, rail, taxi and other public and private transport services. SMRT’s investment in Swiftly (via SMRT Ventures) aims to deliver innovative technologies and new business models in urban transportation.
“As a board member and historical investor, one of our key goals is to help Swiftly realize their vision to help make public transit more efficient and sustainable everywhere around the world,” said Xavier Gury, International Investment Director at Via ID. ”Thanks to our international platform, we’re excited to have made the partnership connection between SMRT and Swiftly. SMRT is a perfect partner now for Swiftly as it expands into Asia, one of the fastest growing and most dynamic regions in the world.”
About Swiftly: Swiftly has created the first big data platform specifically designed for transportation data and operations. Swiftly works with over 80 city transit networks around the world, including MBTA in Boston, Capital Metro in Austin, VIA in San Antonio, VTA in San Jose, and MDOT MTA in Baltimore, supporting over 5,500 transit agency professionals and impacting over 1.5 billion passengers per year. Swiftly has helped customers improve arrival predictions by up to 30% and complete planning projects up to 90% faster, resulting in increased ridership, fewer passenger complaints, and more efficient transit operations.
Today, Commonwealth and JPMorgan Chase announced their collaboration to address the challenges and opportunities that emerging technologies present to lower- and moderate-income people’s financial lives. As part of the two-year initiative, Commonwealth will conduct research, understand and document the financial landscape for financially vulnerable people, examining usage patterns of emerging technologies with a focus on how they garner trust.
Emerging technology is already shaping the financial landscape, and COVID-19 has only accelerated its disruption. 64% of financial services executives expect to become mass adopters of AI and 77% expect AI to be an essential driver across the industry within two years. Lower-income workers are already experiencing barriers to financial services. Commonwealth data shows 43% of lower income workers do not have a savings account. But as fintechs and social impact innovators progress towards folding technology like artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics into their products, a major risk exists.
If the needs of financially vulnerable, lower- and moderate-income Americans are not addressed, our financial system will become even more fractured. But if they are, the financial landscape could shift to include new people and drive widespread financial security and opportunity.
“Emerging technology will play a central role in the post-COVID economy--but the question is, will this hurt or help America’s most financially vulnerable?” said Commonwealth Co-Founder and Executive Director Timothy Flacke. “A time of disruption provides an opportunity to include new people in the financial system--but only if technology is intentionally designed and distributed based on a thorough understanding of the needs and aspirations of these customers.”
This initiative builds on Commonwealth’s prior work with JPMorgan Chase, which tested savings tools for lower-wage workers. Commonwealth will research, understand and document the financial landscape for financially vulnerable people, examining usage patterns of emerging technologies with a focus on how they garner trust. The initiative will examine how emerging technologies can address acute financial challenges faced by financially vulnerable people during COVID-19, and on the path to recovery.
Data will be disaggregated by race, gender and age, and will consider the role of place, recognizing that economic disruptions often have different impacts across communities. As part of this effort, fintech and nonprofit innovators will field test research findings on the ground with their financially vulnerable consumers to produce more accurate, nuanced insights.
Commonwealth will produce tools and resources that inform and influence fintech and social impact innovators to harness the power of emerging technologies like big data analytics and artificial intelligence in a way that addresses the needs of financially vulnerable Americans--transforming the landscape for decades to come. Importantly, the project will include discussions and collaboration with key stakeholders, fintechs and experts in emerging technology and ultimately findings will be disseminated through digital assets and events including a private stakeholder convening and a public webinar.
Commonwealth has a long track record of helping financially vulnerable people build savings and financial security. For the past 20 years, the organization has built innovative solutions that make people financially secure and work towards financial opportunity for all, helping people accumulate over B in savings.
About Commonwealth Commonwealth strengthens the financial opportunity and security of financially vulnerable people by discovering ideas, piloting solutions, and driving innovations to scale. For nearly two decades, Commonwealth has designed effective innovations, products, and policies enabling over 750,000 people to accumulate more than billion in savings. Commonwealth understands broad changes require market players to act. That’s why we collaborate with consumers, the financial services industry, employers, policy-makers and mission-driven organizations. The solutions we build are grounded in real life, based on our deep understanding of people who are financially vulnerable and how businesses can best serve them.
- Ad was part of rebranding campaign aimed at Latin, African-American and general markets
Campaign featured real stories from real Arbonne Independent Consultants
This is the 6th Telly Award for Sinema Films, other awards include campaigns featuring Bruce Willis
The video production company Sinema Films spot ‘Sisters and Friends’ has won a Silver trophy at the 41st Annual Telly Awards. The spot was produced for the global, holistic lifestyle brand and social selling giant, Arbonne. It tells the real-life story of two Arbonne Independent Consultants, as they help each other build their social selling business with the Arbonne brand. One of the Consultants plays mentor and business advisor to the mentee, and as their businesses flourish, they forge a strong, steadfast friendship. The story is an intimate, feel-good narrative about the experiences of entrepreneurs, and it plays particularly well for the mobile screen.
“This is a big honor for Arbonne. We are very proud that the warmth of our Consultants’ story resonated with our audience and is recognized by the Telly Awards Judging Council. Sinema Films did an excellent job in producing this campaign,” said Arbonne CMO, Carole Diarra. The Tellys are one of the most competitive awards to win with more than 12,000 entries each year. Previous winners include BET Networks, Bloomberg, CBS Interactive, Comcast and Conde Nast.
The spot is part of a rebranding campaign aimed at sharing the brand values of Arbonne through the stories of its' diverse community. In the campaign, Diarra was committed to telling honest, authentic stories about the Arbonne community. “Our Independent Consultants come from all walks of life. They are nurses, accountants, students, parents, triathletes and more. They are truly a global community coming from around the world, and in many ways, they are also from right next door. Each one of them brings a unique story to the table and that’s what makes our community so special. We wanted to capture the true experience of using and selling Arbonne products within a circle of friends. We wanted to tell their stories without any fabrications because the stories are inspiring on their own.” Indeed. Diarra’s aim at authenticity seems to have hit the mark, the larger rebrand campaign won three more Gold statuettes.
“’Sisters and Friends’ is a brief look into how these two amazing Arbonne women have supported and celebrated each other in their personal and career growth. When women support other women, incredible things happen. We were very humbled to be invited to work on this campaign, it is beauty, friendship, and community – it is magic,” said Noel Maimu, Sinema Films’ executive producer. The commercial production company handled both creative concept and production, taking the campaign from copy to final videos. “Clients are increasingly looking for a one-stop agency that does both – creative and production. As a production agency, we are faster, and more cost-effective, our clients are happy with our capabilities,’ Maimu added.
Since 1980, Arbonne International, LLC, has been creating personal care, beauty and wellness products crafted with plant-based ingredients, and grounded in science and clinical research. Arbonne’s philosophy of healthy living to improve Mind. Body. Skin.™ combined with the entrepreneurial business opportunity fosters a holistic approach, focusing on the whole person to flourish inside and out. Earlier this year, Arbonne became a Certified B CorporationTM, reinforcing its commitment to balance people, planet and profit.
Nirmata, Inc., a leading provider of Kubernetes management platform has announced the availability of Nirmata EKS Manager, an integrated solution designed for AWS users, in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) marketplace.
Adoption of Kubernetes in the enterprise continues to accelerate and Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) is one of the most popular managed Kubernetes services today. As EKS adoption grows, enterprise teams are faced with several challenges around Day 2 Kubernetes operations. Nirmata EKS manager has been designed to address these challenges. Nirmata EKS Manager solves the problem by providing on-demand cluster provisioning, centralized visibility, and compliance, multi-cluster application management for EKS.
More details of our solution:
On-demand cluster provisioning: Development teams need the ability to provision clusters on-demand but they do not want to deal with configuring networking, storage, and other infrastructure components. Nirmata’s unique approach allows operations teams to create predefined cluster configurations that can be used by developers to provision clusters that are secure and compliant.
Centralized visibility and compliance: As the number of clusters grows, operations teams need full visibility across these clusters and also need the ability to set policies to ensure compliance. Nirmata provides comprehensive visibility into cluster and node health, resource allocation, and utilization as well as costs across all your clusters in any AWS region. Nirmata also includes the open-source Kyverno policy engine along with predefined best practice policies to ensure workloads running on the clusters are secure and compliant.
Multi-cluster application management: Increasingly, applications need to be deployed and managed across multiple clusters for high availability or these applications deliver some common core services (e.g. security, monitoring, etc.). Streamlining the application management across multiple clusters ensures that your clusters are always up-to-date and consistent. Nirmata provides a robust application management tooling to make multi-cluster application deployment a breeze.
“Enterprises are accelerating their digital strategies and have truly embraced Kubernetes as their foundation. Our mission is to accelerate the enterprise cloud-native journey,” says Jim Bugwadia, Founder and CEO at Nirmata. “As enterprises adopt Kubernetes, they are increasingly faced with challenges related to Day 2 Kubernetes operations across multiple clusters. Enterprise platform teams need to strike a delicate balance between enabling developer agility and flexibility while ensuring compliance and controlling costs. Nirmata EKS manager integrates tightly with Amazon EKS, and several other AWS services, to deliver a comprehensive Kubernetes platform for enterprises of all sizes.”
Customer-centric SaaS
Nirmata EKS manager is delivered as a secure and scalable cloud-based service (SaaS) and has an integrated chat tool to reach our global customer success team. Our customer-success team partners with our customers across their entire journey and is always available 24/7 for enterprise customers to help with Kubernetes issues. The Nirmata EKS Manager offers integrated billing with AWS, so customers can enjoy the benefits of “pay-as-you-grow” pricing and a single bill for their cloud services.
Availability
Nirmata EKS manager is available now in the AWS marketplace.
Nirmata is a unified management plane for Kubernetes clusters and workloads built for enterprise DevOps teams. Nirmata enables self-service cluster provisioning, provides visibility, health, metrics, and alerts, ensures compliance via workload policies, and streamlines application deployments across clusters.
NFP, a leading insurance broker and consultant that provides property and casualty (P&C), corporate benefits, retirement, and individual solutions, today announced the acquisition of EFG&M Management, LLC, in a transaction that closed effective July 1, 2020.
EFG&M, an employee benefits broker located in the Austin Metroplex, serves employers in central Texas. With over 30 years of experience supporting employers in central Texas, EFG&M will help to expand NFP’s presence in a diverse and growing area. Don Eddleman and Carl “Hap” Feuerbacher, two of EFG&M’s co-founders, will join NFP as vice presidents and report to Kevin Brown, managing director of NFP's retail sales and distribution operation in central Texas.
“I’m excited to welcome the EFG&M team to NFP,” said Brown. “NFP is focused on growing in key markets by adding talented professionals, specialized expertise and deep relationships that elevate our ability to meet the dynamic needs of our clients. Don, Hap and their team support this focus and will play a large role in our ability to grow in the central Texas market.”
“Our values of providing exceptional service and consultative expertise to clients align perfectly with NFP’s,” said Eddleman. “Joining NFP gives us access to additional resources that enhance our ability to expand relationships and support our clients with tailored employee benefit solutions.”
About NFP NFP is a leading insurance broker and consultant providing specialized property and casualty, corporate benefits, retirement and individual solutions through its licensed subsidiaries and affiliates. NFP enables client success through the expertise of over 5,600 global employees, investments in innovative technologies, and enduring relationships with highly rated insurers, vendors, and financial institutions. NFP is the 5th largest benefits broker by global revenue, 6th largest US-based privately owned broker, and 8th best place to work in insurance (Business Insurance); 10th largest property and casualty agency (Insurance Journal); and 12th largest global insurance broker (Best’s Review).
Visit NFP.com to discover how NFP empowers clients to meet their goals.
Clean the World Foundation, a global leader in water, sanitation, hygiene, and sustainability has partnered with Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) to facilitate The Drop by Drop Project. A collaboration between Clean the World Foundation and initiative co-founder Sands, The Drop by Drop Project will reinvest capital from water stewardship efforts into three innovative projects supporting local water champions in Las Vegas, Macao, and Singapore. Managed and operated by Clean the World Foundation, The Drop by Drop Project will be supported in part by savings from Sands’ conservation programs.
The second organization selected for funding was Get Outdoors Nevada (GON), who will use the funding to conduct six water conservation teacher training programs for 120 teachers. In addition, the funds will support transportation for approximately 30 science and water-related field trips for thousands of students.
Healthy environments create healthy communities. Protecting the environment requires an engaged community that understands the importance of its natural resources. This is especially true of Southern Nevada, which depends almost entirely on the Colorado River and Lake Mead for its water resources. “Teachers are vital to inspiring the next generation to protect and care for our scarce water resources,” says Aaron Lynn Leifheit, Education Program Director, Get Outdoors Nevada. “Teachers will be offered two types of programs The Discover a Watershed and Project WET. These trainings will equip teachers with the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to become good water stewards and impart this information on students of all ages.”
“It is important to support organizations that support science-literacy and water stewardship, just as it is important for our teachers to be well versed in the importance of water resources to our local environment and community,” says Katarina Tesarova, senior vice president, global sustainability, Las Vegas Sands.
Sam Stephens, executive director of Clean the World Foundation, says that GON is proactively helping protect the Las Vegas watershed, a critically important Southern Nevada resource. “Educating the leaders of tomorrow on the importance of water conservation is a vital component to maintaining long-term sustainability goals. Facilitating this type of project is fundamentally why the Drop by Drop Project exists.”
For more information on The Drop by Drop Project, please visit: https://cleantheworldfoundation.org/dropbydrop
About Clean the World Clean the World Foundation is an international development and global health nonprofit operating hygiene-focused emergency relief initiatives, and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) education programs, targeting vulnerable communities in the United States and around the world. Clean the World Foundation is the 501(c)(3) non-profit sector of Clean the World’s social enterprise responsible for all soap and hygiene kit distribution both domestically and globally as part of many of its comprehensive WASH programs. Clean the World Foundation engages volunteers, donors, and other outcome-focused organizations around the world to provide hygiene supplies and education curriculum to support its global health programs. Since 2009, Clean the World Foundation has served over 10 million individuals through its global WASH programs. A copy of the official registration and financial information for Clean the World Foundation may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by visiting https://www.fdacs.gov/ConsumerServices. For more information, visit us online: https://www.cleantheworldfoundation.org.
About Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) Las Vegas Sands Corp. is the world's pre-eminent developer and operator of world-class Integrated Resorts. We created the meetings, incentives, convention, and exhibition (MICE)-based Integrated Resort. Our industry-leading Integrated Resorts provide substantial contributions to our host communities including growth in leisure and business tourism, sustained job creation, and ongoing financial opportunities for local small and medium-sized businesses. Our properties include The Venetian Resort and Sands Expo in Las Vegas and the iconic Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd., we have developed the largest portfolio of properties on the Cotai Strip in Macao, including The Venetian Macao, The Plaza and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Sands Cotai Central, and The Parisian Macao, as well as the Sands Macao on the Macao Peninsula.
Latent AI, creators of the Latent AI Efficient Inference Platform (LEIP) and the latest spinout from SRI International, has been recognized as the 2020 "Startup of the Year" from IoT World during their virtual awards ceremony on August 12, 2020.
The IoT World 2020 virtual awards program highlighted exemplary IoT projects, products, and people in 13 categories, with 81 finalists from over 600 total nominations.
The categories in the 2nd annual competition spanned the IoT ecosystem from Industrial IoT to Edge Computing to Consumer IoT, including deployment in such verticals as manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and the public sector. A mix of editors, analysts, researchers, consultants, and industry experts participated in the judging process.
The IoT World 2020 Startup of the Year finalist list included several other impressive young companies developing cutting-edge IoT solutions such as Zededa, Cohesion, Pointr, Luminance, NanoLock Security, and Senra.
Latent AI, launched in 2018 by co-founders Jags Kandasamy and Sek Chai, is backed by DARPA technology and is the latest SRI International spinout. Latent AI's technology, a suite of software tools designed with AI developer and engineering teams in mind, simplifies and accelerates the AI workflow from training to deployment. Latent AI transforms the way developers train AI for inference through adaptive AI technology. This enables rapid AI application development on lean edge devices at scale, works anywhere, and seamlessly adapts, regardless of framework, OS, architecture, or edge hardware.
Latent AI’s LEIP SDK allows compression of neural nets running on any edge AI hardware target in the edge continuum, enabling the Internet of Things. LEIP compresses conventional AI models by 10x without a noticeable accuracy change and allows deployment on inexpensive microcontrollers, DSPs, and other processor cores typically found in edge devices. With many thousands of compelling edge AI applications yet to be developed, Latent AI will solve AI workloads efficiently, even at the edge of the networks.
LEIP provides intelligence to migrate to the edge for local processing for any number of use cases such as face detection algorithms running locally within security cameras or appliances, or Siri-like voice interfaces working instantly even when network connectivity is missing.
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About Latent AI, Inc.
Based in Menlo Park, CA, Latent AI, Inc. is an early-stage venture spinout of SRI International, dedicated to building solutions that enable the adaptive edge to transform AI processing. Latent AI is well-funded by Steve Jurvetson, from Future Ventures and Autotech Ventures, with support from Fortune 500 clients. The Latent AI Efficient Inference Platform (LEIP™) brings AI to the edge by optimizing for compute, energy, and memory without requiring changes to existing AI/ML infrastructure and frameworks. Jags Kandasamy and Sek Chai are the founders of Latent AI. They bring decades of combined industry experience and R&D expertise in machine learning AI (lifelong learning), computer vision, embedded systems, IoT applications, and efficient computing.
OSNEXUS, the leading developer of grid-scale software-defined storage solutions, today announced the general availability of QuantaStor 5.7. The new release includes Ceph one-click storage auto-configuration capabilities, metadata offload features, and the availability of QuantaStor on Red Hat RHEL and CentOS 7.8.
“Our customers at major MSPs like IBM Cloud have been looking for QuantaStor on Red Hat in order to meet high security requirements and to enable better integration with enterprise software products within the platform,” said Steven Umbehocker, CEO of OSNEXUS. “QuantaStor 5.7 is a major milestone for us with the new Red Hat support and will be followed with a number of new security features due out in the QuantaStor 5.8 release in Q4/20.”
Release Highlights
IBM Red Hat & CentOS 7 Support - QuantaStor now runs on RHEL and CentOS 7.8, enabling governments and large organizations to deploy QuantaStor's scale-out software-defined storage platform on the same Linux operating system that's used for general operations and compute. This makes it easier for organizations to implement common security, monitoring, and log collection practices across all their systems.
Advanced Scale-out Storage Configuration - QuantaStor 5.7 now has one-click auto-configuration of storage media for Ceph based scale-out storage clusters. Administrators can now set up complete Ceph clusters for scale-out file, block, and object storage in as few as 10 clicks in the web management interface.
Metadata Offload - QuantaStor now ships with OpenZFS v.8 and integrates with the latest metadata offload features to boost performance for parity based Storage Pool configurations.
Founded in 2010, OSNEXUS enables organizations to manage their storage as composable infrastructure with its QuantaStor™ industry-leading Software Defined Storage (SDS) platform. The QuantaStor platform provides scale-out file, block, and object storage on commodity hardware as an easy-to-manage storage grid solution.
QuantaStor, deployed by Fortune 500 companies and major research institutions, addresses a broad set of storage use cases ranging from backup & archive, HPC, big data, cloud computing, virtualization, and high-performance applications through it’s scale-out grid architecture.
Buying CBD products in Milwaukee no longer has to be intimidating and confusing. “From the beginning, we’ve been dually-focused: to provide premium yet affordable CBD, and create an inviting space for our community to learn about, experience and purchase these goods,“ says Salem Kashou, the owner of the Eastside’s newest CBD store, Kind Oasis™, located in the former Kashou Carpets building on 2169 N Farwell Ave.
“In the last few years, we’ve seen an explosion in the popularity of CBD in Milwaukee and beyond,” explains Kashou. “Unfortunately, we’ve also seen a corresponding increase of pop-up stores selling overpriced, and sometimes, untested products from people who know little about what they’re actually selling. Our goal is to make the everyday shopper more comfortable and better educated about the various types of CBD so they can achieve optimal therapeutic effects at the most affordable pricing in town.“
Co-owner Erik Willms, who is originally from Mequon, lived the last 10 years in Montana. Much of that time was spent creating and refining techniques used for the concentration of cannabinoids. He will utilize his experience to improve industry standards for both product quality and consumer price.
“Our aim is to set the bar for CBD quality in Milwaukee,” notes Willms. “We’ve seen the wide-ranging comforting benefits that come with using quality CBD for chronic muscle and joint pain, insomnia, anxiety, focus, stress, and even depression. That is why we place such a huge emphasis on education and third-party testing. And we only provide medicated products from reputable brands with the strictest adherence to quality control and testing. You’ll find only the best Hemp-derived CBD products at Kind Oasis.”
The store, which opened in June, might be best described as a family-friendly, CBD wonderland. It features over 100 CBD products ranging from oils, softgels, tablets and gummies to sports balm, vape cartridges and a unique line of pet products. Besides selling its own Kind Oasis™ branded items, the store carries a large selection of Wisconsin-owned CBD brands, as well as national brands such as Medterra®, Plant People®, and Green Roads®. Just CBD-curious? The store also carries a thoughtfully curated gift selection including goods for the home, kids, pets, outdoor living, and lifestyle.
Also unique to Kind Oasis is the store’s free event space to foster Milwaukee’s creative community. This space can be used for educational seminars, community events and fund-raisers, as well as an option for local artists, musicians, fitness gurus, and others to host their own pop-up events.
“We’ve created an open, inviting space for the people in our community,” says Kashou. “In today’s environment its now more important than ever for all of us to find wholeness and balance together with plant-based relief.”
Kind Oasis stays committed to the health and safety of all guests. To keep everyone safe inside the store Kind Oasis offers masks for all shoppers, hand sanitizer throughout the store, and continuous cleaning of high-touch surfaces, in addition to touchless payment processing. More so, the stores spacious and open environment promotes natural social distancing. Kind Oasis launched an e-commerce website with free shipping on all orders for wellness seekers not in town, or too busy for instore shopping.
Kind Oasis is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am – 7 pm. The store is located at 2169 N Farwell Ave on Milwaukee’s East Side.
king of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.
“Our artificial intelligence delivers the best targeting, segmentation, and highest quality B2B leads.” explained Olin Hyde, CEO and co-founder. “Our growth was fueled by a great need in enterprise marketing: better data, better targeting, and better results. Our technology achieves just that.”
Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent, and a median rate of 165 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue was 9 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years. LeadCrunch posted growth of 7,249 percent, placing it in the top 99.3% of all companies in the Inc 5000.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies, including LeadCrunch, will be featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 12.
“The companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “From health and software to media and hospitality, the 2020 list proves that no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism.”
The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held virtually from October 23 to 27, 2020. As always, speakers will include some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation.
LeadCrunch uses artificial intelligence to drive new revenue growth for business-to-business enterprises. The technology identifies new opportunities, segments, markets, and audiences. It automatically collects, cleans, and creates (where needed) more than 30 billion data points on more than 10 million companies and 400 million business professionals worldwide. LeadCrunch’s AI is 217% more accurate at targeting and classifying company data than traditional data sources. This data advantage enables LeadCrunch to help its clients better target, segment and prioritize their target accounts and, optionally, expand their addressable market by an average of 84% while delivering leads with a 99.5% accuracy and acceptance rate.
CONTACT: Nick Arnaiz, (209) 712-8352, nick.arnaiz@leadcrunch.ai
More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000
Methodology The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is 0,000; the minimum for 2019 is million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.
About Inc. Media The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com. For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/.
Ephesoft, Inc., a leader in content acquisition and data enrichment solutions, is a finalist in the 2020 SaaS Awards Program in the Best SaaS for Business Accounting or Finance category. Ephesoft was selected as a finalist for Semantik Invoice, a cloud-based data acquisition product shown to improve accuracy and reduce cost for invoice processing.
Now in its fifth year of celebrating software innovation, the Software-as-a-Service Awards program accepts entries from around the world, including the US, Canada, Australasia, EMEA and UK.
“It is an honor to make the SaaS Awards shortlist, as it validates the Ephesoft team’s diligent work to deliver innovative SaaS technologies that save companies time and money,” said Ike Kavas, founder and CEO of Ephesoft. “As organizations seek to reduce accounts payable costs and move more transactions to the cloud, we see a market for highly scalable solutions with quick ROI like Semantik Invoice and are pleased that our industry peers concur.”
Semantik Invoice, released in May 2020, is geared to help finance and accounting departments expedite invoice processing by utilizing knowledge graphs. Built from the ground up on a multi-tenant public cloud serverless architecture, this SaaS solution performs a semantic extraction to invoices, extracting critical invoice data using artificial intelligence / machine learning with 97% accuracy. Semantik Invoice is the first point solution on the Ephesoft Semantik Platform, which turns flat data into context-rich information to fuel data scientists, business users and customers with meaningful data to automate and amplify their business processes.
SaaS technology is continually adapting and innovating. Semantik Invoice is designed to not only help companies be competitive, accelerate processes and cut costs by over 30%, but it is also poised to enable customers to easily adopt new features, functionality and integrate with other solutions in the future as new technology emerges.
“Software-as-a-Service’s force for positive disruption never seems to abate, with seemingly unending solutions for modern business,” said James Williams, head of operations for the SaaS Awards. “This year is of course a special case, with SaaS not only at the forefront of remodeling existing business processes but also agilely responding with pioneering solutions to unavoidable global disruptions. Indeed, SaaS technologies are now celebrated as providing new and inventive ways for organizations to perform what might have once seemed simple tasks in a changing international landscape. From fulfilling orders to arranging meetings, SaaS technologies are more important than ever.”
Final SaaS Awards winners will be announced on Tuesday, August 25, and the program will return in spring 2021. Hundreds of organizations entered, with international entries coming from North America, Canada, Australia, UK, Europe and the Middle East. To view the full shortlist, please visit: https://www.cloud-awards.com/2020-software-awards-shortlist/.
About Ephesoft Ephesoft is the leader in Context Driven Productivity solutions, helping organizations maximize productivity and fuel their journey towards the autonomous enterprise through contextual content acquisition, process enrichment and amplifying the value of enterprise data. The Ephesoft Semantik Platform turns flat data into context-rich information to fuel data scientists, business users and customers with meaningful data to automate and amplify their business processes. Thousands of customers worldwide employ Ephesoft’s platform to accelerate nearly any process and drive high value from their content. Ephesoft is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with regional offices throughout the US, EMEA and Asia Pacific. To learn more, visit ephesoft.com.
Media Contacts: For Ephesoft Kristin Brocoff, 949-400-4899 kbrocoff@thatcherandco.com
Christina Gillham, 646-868-5174 cgillham@thatcherandco.com
Notes for editors About the SaaS Awards The SaaS Awards is a sister program to the Cloud Awards, which was founded in 2011. The SaaS Awards focuses on recognizing excellence and innovation in software solutions. Categories range from Best Enterprise-Level SaaS to Best UX or UI Design in a SaaS Product.
About the Cloud Awards The Cloud Awards is an international program which has been recognizing and honoring industry leaders, innovators and organizational transformation in cloud computing since 2011. The awards are open to large, small, established and start-up organizations from across the entire globe, with an aim to find and celebrate the pioneers who will shape the future of the Cloud as we move into 2021 and beyond. Categories include the Software as a Service award, Most Promising Start-Up, and “Best in Mobile” Cloud Solution.
Finalists are selected by a judging panel of international industry experts. For more information about the Cloud Awards and SaaS Awards, please visit https://www.cloud-awards.com/.
Appended: Shortlist Best SaaS for Business Accounting or Finance
Accomplishing these competencies demonstrates that SPJ Solutions is committed to helping organizations accelerate their digital transformations by leveraging their validated services delivery capabilities around advanced VMware technologies. The Master Services Competencies (MSC) earned by SPJ Solutions are as follows:
VMware Cloud on AWS
Network Virtualization
Data Center Virtualization
Cloud Management and Automation
Sudhansu “Suds” Pati, SPJ Solutions’ Chief Technology Officer, “We are very excited to have achieved four VMware Master Services Competencies. SPJ Solutions has made a huge investment in developing our VMware consulting practice, and have been a very committed partner to VMware and their VAR community. We will continue to expand our VMware practice and skill set to provide high-level of expertise on all VMware technology areas, just as we have with VMware NSX, for which we are a committed deployment partner.”
“VMware is pleased to recognize SPJ Solutions for achieving four Master Services Competencies. This achievement shows customers that partners like SPJ Solutions are dedicated, invested and have validated expertise in advanced VMware technologies,” said Sandy Hogan, SVP of Worldwide Commercial and Partner Sales, VMware. “We value SPJ Solutions as a VMware partner, and appreciate their efforts in achieving this VMware distinction as they work to increase their service delivery capabilities.”
VMware Master Services Competencies are designed to help partners demonstrate customer-centric solutions and technical proficiency, with proven success and expertise in a specialized area of business. These competencies also allow partners to differentiate in six specific solution areas.
VMware partners can achieve VMware Master Services Competencies in:
Cloud Management and Automation – Designates expertise in delivery of VMware Cloud Management and Automation solutions and services with deep understanding and execution of cloud management design principles and methodologies.
Cloud Native – Designates partner organizational expertise to run and manage VMware Modern Application solutions. Achieving this competency validates partners' deep understanding of Kubernetes core concepts and proficiency in networking, security and application lifecycle management to ensure the continuous delivery of applications on Kubernetes-based platforms.
Data Center Virtualization - Designates expertise in delivery of VMware vSphere environments and digital infrastructure services with deep understanding of and execution in Data Center Virtualization design principles and methodologies.
Digital Workspace – Designates partner organizational expertise to design, deliver and support the ongoing management of customer apps, data and virtual desktop solutions whether on-premise or cloud delivered. Achieving this competency validates partners’ deep understanding and execution on VMware Horizon and VMware Workspace ONE end-user computing solutions.
Network Virtualization - Designates expertise in the delivery of VMware NSX environments and services with deployment and optimization of NSX environment capabilities.
VMware Cloud on AWS - Designates expertise in the delivery of hybrid cloud solutions based on VMware Cloud on AWS. This service provides an operationally consistent and familiar way to run, manage and secure applications in a hybrid IT environment.
VMware Partner Connect empowers partners with flexibility to meet customers’ needs, making VMware technologies and services opportunities more accessible. Partners now have an enhanced experience that delivers simplicity, choice and innovation, and recognizes and rewards partners based on the value they bring to customers.
About SPJ Solutions Inc.
SPJ Solutions specializes in the architecture/design, deployment, support, and training of VMware NSX and other software-defined network and software-defined data center technologies. We bring experienced, certified staff to every client engagement with the goal of quickly and successfully delivering our projects, training your staff, and allowing you to achieve self-sufficiency.
The cITopus logo is a registered trademark of SPJ Solutions Inc., El Dorado Hills, CA.
VMware, vSphere, Workspace ONE, Horizon, and NSX are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
For the second straight year, radiology portal AuntMinnie.com, part of Science and Medicine Group, has launched a new special section dedicated exclusively to the proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) annual meeting.
AuntMinnie's RADCast@ISMRM is available at radcast.auntminnie.com and features wall-to-wall editorial coverage of the premier medical conference dedicated exclusively to MRI. Important topics at the 2020 conference include the following:
Alternatives to gadolinium-based MRI contrast
Reducing the ecological impact of MRI scanners
MRI in low-resource countries
New applications of artificial intelligence and MRI
Holographic visualization of human anatomy
Efforts to improve the safety of MRI scanning
"We're pleased to once again be offering coverage of the ISMRM annual meeting," said Brian Casey, editor in chief of AuntMinnie.com. "This year's virtual format for ISMRM 2020 is a perfect complement to our exclusively online coverage."
ISMRM's mission to educate the MRI community continues with this year's virtual meeting, even in an era of social distancing, according to Lawrence L. Wald, PhD, 2019-2020 ISMRM president.
"Sharing research, networking, precipitating new thinking, and inspiring thought that does not come easily in isolation -- that is the goal of our annual meeting," Wald said. "It’s been a challenging year for all of us, with plenty of isolation, but I am confident that the virtual meeting can achieve these goals. I look forward to participating in it with you. It has been an honor serving the society as the 2019-2020 ISMRM president."
AuntMinnie's daily editorial coverage of ISMRM 2020 will run from August 8 to August 14.
About AuntMinnie.com
AuntMinnie.com is the premier online destination for radiologists, radiation therapists, interventional radiologists, and related professionals in the medical imaging industry, while AuntMinnieEurope.com serves the European radiology community. AuntMinnie.com and AuntMinnieEurope.com feature the latest news, communities, continuing medical education, and board review education for medical imaging physicians, clinicians, residents, and medical students across the world. AuntMinnie.com and AuntMinnieEurope.com are part of Science and Medicine Group.
iCONECT receives FedRAMP approval through Innovative Discovery for its Review Platform
iCONECT, a digital document archiving platform company, today announced that its been approved for the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) with Innovative Discovery of Arlington, VA. Innovative Discovery achieved full FedRAMP authorization for its iCONECT eDiscovery platform in July 2020. It currently is only one of a handful of platforms that are available in a secure FedRAMP-hosted environment.
FedRAMP is a government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and monitoring for cloud-based products and services. Its authorization process included an in-depth examination of the solution’s data security and data governance capabilities, as well as the security practices of its administrative services and logging capabilities. To achieve this, iCONECT worked with Innovative Discovery under the supervision of the FedRAMP Program criteria and has undergone an extensive scrutiny of security process implementation and rigorous auditing of its platform and processes by outside consultants.
Beyond listing on GSA, Innovative Discovery is committed to complying with the regulatory requirements set forth by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and enforced by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). From initial creation to the time it is deleted, ID consults with clients to establish workflows and procedures to increase compliance, mitigate risk, and improve the organizational structure of client’s data.
“By adding the iCONECT platform to our FedRAMP portfolio of available technology solutions, we’re committed to offering solutions that are designed to meet the needs of the various government agencies that we serve,” says Kim Taylor, CEO of Innovative Discovery.
As a foundational company in the eDiscovery landscape, iCONECT continues to innovate, optimize efficiencies and streamline the identification, collection, review, analysis and production of legal documents and multi-media files. Through the award-winning intuitive interface of its flagship platform, iCONECT is already used by hosting providers, law firms, legal departments and government agencies worldwide to collect, organize, search, sort and produce evidence in some of the world’s largest and most complex legal cases and archival projects.
“Working within the Innovative Discovery FedRAMP environment is next level,” said Ian Campbell, president of iCONECT. “This FedRAMP status allows Federal government agencies to leverage the power of the iCONECT document and multi-media review technology.”
ABOUT INNOVATIVE DISCOVERY Innovative Discovery partners with law firms, corporations, and government agencies to provide service, guidance, and consultation throughout the information lifecycle. Our team of lawyers, technologists, forensics professionals, and cybersecurity experts work closely with clients to develop tailored workflows to effectively and efficiently manage data and mitigate risk. Should litigation arise, ID offers the tools, services, and know-how to help you win your case. Visit the ID website at https://www.id-edd.com.
ABOUT ICONECT DEVELOPMENT, LLC iCONECT software has been selected for use in some of the world’s largest high-profile projects such as the ENRON investigation, BP-Oilspill, NASA-Columbia Return to Flight, FDIC-900+ Banking Investigations and most recently the creation of a public access archive for the 30,000 JFK document and audio files released by the CIA. iCONECT was recently named one of the ‘30 Fastest Growing Tech Companies 2019’ by Silicon Review. To learn more visit http://www.iconect.com
Structure Law Group, LLP is pleased to announce that Los Angeles Business Attorney, Michael B. Saryan, has been selected to the 2020 California Rising Stars list. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.
Mr. Saryan has been recognized for his remarkable work in the area of Business/Corporate and Securities. Mr. Saryan is a Los Angeles business lawyer with a focus on venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, private securities offerings, and commercial transactions. He has represented businesses in various stages of their lifecycles, ranging from formation-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies, in a broad range of industries, including technology, manufacturing, real estate, hospitality, financial services, and blockchain.
Mr. Saryan’s practice includes advising companies, boards of directors, private equity and venture capital firms, and high net-worth individuals and families in public and private M&A transactions, partnership arrangements, joint ventures, public and private capital raising transactions, business litigation, and general business matters.
You can see Michael's Super Lawyers profile by clicking here.
Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process, which results in a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.
The Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in their practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, go to SuperLawyers.com.
About Structure Law Group, LLP
Structure Law Group, LLP is a California business law firm with offices located in Los Angeles and Silicon Valley. SLG provides legal services to companies of all sizes as well as individual entrepreneurs with a national and international practice. SLG assists clients in all areas of California business law including start-ups and financing, business litigation, merger and acquisitions, employment law, intellectual property, debtor and creditor rights and commercial real estate. SLG is a dedicated team of legal professionals who have a solid understanding of companies of all sizes as well as businesses and entrepreneurs. SLG is committed to providing an exceptional client experience through innovative and cost-effective legal services and solutions. Practice areas include:
Business Transactions
Business Litigation
Construction Contracting & Payment Claims
Corporations
Debtor & Creditor Rights
E-Commerce
Employment
Limited Liability Companies
Mergers & Acquisitions
Partnerships
Real Estate
Start-ups & Financing
Technology Licensing & Protection of Intellectual Property
Mosquito Shield Franchise Corporation, a leading residential mosquito and tick control service with over 50 locations across the United States, today announced that Mosquito Shield of Southeastern Pennsylvania, owned by Tina and Rick Brogan, has become the company’s first franchise location to surpass 3,000 customers.
Of this milestone, Mosquito Shield President David Briggs said, “It is a remarkable accomplishment for any local business to reach more than 3,000 paying customers. Tina and Rick have set the standard for building an excellent team, proving the value of our service, and following through on our goal of customer satisfaction. We couldn’t be any prouder to have them as owners and to have such a great team operating in Southeastern Pennsylvania.”
Mosquito Shield of Southeastern Pennsylvania was established in 2013 as one of the flagship franchises of Mosquito Shield Franchise Corporate, which until then, had been operating as a single entity out of Massachusetts.
“Residential mosquito and tick control are among of the fastest-growing home services in America,” said Mrs. Brogan. “Rick and I entered the space fairly early on when Mosquito Shield began franchising and invested in establishing a valuable local brand in and around West Chester.”
That investment has paid off, and the franchise now covers an area emanating out from West Chester to Coatesville and Philadelphia, following the Delaware River north all the way to New Hope. This year alone, Mosquito Shield of Southeastern PA has added over 1,200 new customers - and the season isn’t done.
“We are happy with how our business has grown each year,” said Mr. Brogan. “We knew when we purchased the franchise that the environmental conditions and dense population of Southeastern Pennsylvania made for a mosquito hotspot. Having grown up here, Tina and I knew there was a real need for this service, and we were right. We’re thrilled to be among the most successful local mosquito and tick control providers in the nation.”
Mosquito Shield President, David Briggs, noted that the COVID pandemic has actually benefitted his business.
“While many businesses have struggled because of stay-at-home orders, such conditions have created a booming market for our services because people are left to enjoy the summer from their own backyards, rather than on vacation or at restaurants or large gatherings,” said Mr. Briggs. “With folks investing more to make their yards leisure-time destinations, our service has increased in value. Tina and Rick are leading the pack, but this is a record growth year across the company. We’re tracking to almost double our customer base year-over-year.”
About Mosquito Shield Founded in 2001, Mosquito Shield is America’s leading residential mosquito and tick control service. The company has invested nearly two decades developing an innovative approach to pest management that features a proprietary blend of all-natural oils and select control products, and a responsive spraying schedule designed around real-time pest population analysis and weather conditions that results in a higher visit frequency of every 10-17 days. Mosquito Shield also offers a proprietary tick control service, Tick Shield™, and special event service Event Shield™.
A leading information security consulting company, has completed a comprehensive Security Assessment of Proctorio’s approach to data security.
After a month-long engagement conducted from June 24 to July 24, 2020, White Oak Security, Inc. has conclusively found that Proctorio’s downloadable Browser Extension appropriately implements Zero-Knowledge Encryption, meaning that Proctorio never possesses the encryption keys for the audio or video that is stored. Zero-Knowledge Encryption guarantees that no one outside of approved institution representatives, including Proctorio employees, ever has access to exam-related data.
White Oak Security also confirmed that the Browser Extension’s cryptographic functionality was implemented appropriately, signifying that Proctorio is “adequately hardened” to resist external tampering or intrusion. Finally, White Oak Security determined that video and audio for all exams are stored in the proper geographical regions in compliance with national/local data privacy laws.
“Since inception, Proctorio has put data security first,” says Mike Olsen, CEO and Founder of Proctorio. “Proctorio leads with transparency and the public release of White Oak Security’s Security Assessment results confirmed what we have known all along: Proctorio’s protection of test taker privacy is unparalleled in the remote proctoring industry.”
Proctorio puts the security of student users at top priority. In early June 2020, Proctorio alone was ruled to be GDPR compliant and privacy centric by the Amsterdam District Court, encouraging the University of Amsterdam’s (UvA) continued usage of Proctorio’s remote proctoring services despite student concerns regarding privacy.
GDPR’s seven principles are: lawfulness, fairness, and transparency; purpose limitation; data minimization; accuracy; storage limitation; integrity and confidentiality; and accountability. In the case of security breaches that leak personal data, institutions are expected to communicate the incident with clients in a timely manner to ensure a quick escalation and resolution process.
With test takers in all but four countries around the world, Proctorio never requires the collection of biometric data or any personally identifiable information beyond what is already required to access each institution’s Learning Management System. Additionally, Proctorio conducts daily vulnerability and penetration tests to assess server strength against a potential attack. In seven years of providing remote proctoring services, Proctorio has maintained a 99.991% uptime with a collective total of eight minutes of downtime since 2013.
Proctorio is backed by Microsoft Azure data centers located in multiple international regions, allowing Proctorio to have the infrastructure necessary to be limitlessly scalable without users experiencing service interruptions or data loss. Proctorio has administered over 18 million exams since inception in 2013. Proctorio proctored 2.5 million exams in April 2020 alone, signifying a 900% year-over-year increase in the number of exams proctored from April 2019. Despite the remote learning challenges exacerbated by COVID-19, Proctorio remains firmly committed to upholding academic integrity without compromising test taker data to ensure that test takers around the world can rightfully and safely earn their degrees and certifications.
For more information on the Security Assessment’s results, visit Proctorio’s Data Security page.
About Proctorio: Proctorio’s Learning Integrity Platform is a live and fully-automated, remote proctoring service that provides a scalable, cost-effective solution to validating test taker identities, activity and originality during online exams. Proctorio ensures the integrity of distance learning and online certifications while protecting institutional accreditation, increasing the value of online degrees and credentials, and helping institutions grow their programs.
Proctorio’s customizable, secure exam settings, recording options and live ID verification allow institutions to set-up unscheduled, on-demand proctoring specific to their assessment needs. Proctorio ensures fairness for test takers by increasing accountability, securing exam content, deterring cheating, and promoting a culture of integrity while improving learning outcomes.
About White Oak Security, Inc: White Oak Security is a practitioner-led organization with a team of highly-experienced professionals that utilizes industry-leading tools, techniques, and testing methodologies to ensure a thorough and complete penetration test. The organization partners with clients to provide in-depth application and infrastructure penetration testing, red team, and threat emulation services.
SqwaQ, a leader in communications technology for robotics, autonomy and aviation, revealed today that it has successfully demonstrated its patented airborne LTE drone communications technology for multiple partners. The technology enables drones, helicopters, air taxis and other connected aircraft to share the same airspace rather than being segregated. This eliminates the need for UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) restrictions and resolves other obstacles that have been delaying wide-scale, routine UAS integration into the airspace. Rather than segregating or restricting drones, SqwaQ enables safe, unfettered integration into controlled airspace while also resolving Remote Aircraft ID, Pilot Credential Verification, Flight Path Management and other challenges that have limited UAS operations.
Easily integrated or retrofit into commercial UAS, the SqwaQboard is a compact, 3”x6”x1” communication module weighing only 270 grams that aggregates six 3G/4G LTE connections into one, multi-redundant data pipe to broadcast four pilot view and downward cameras or sensors simultaneously, plus multi-redundant command and control (C2) and headroom for an array of avionics like Mode-S transponder, ADS-B in/out and VHF radio. These and more capabilities are already patented or patent pending.
The SqwaQboard leverages the redundancy of communicating with multiple networks and towers simultaneously for more robust, redundant performance. Built to conventional AS9100 and DO-160 aviation safety standards, it is the first and only carrier approved device authorized for Airborne LTE Operations. The company worked with regulators and cellular network owners for over 2 years just to gain that access. As a result, SqwaQ can provision customized bandwidth services on 600 cellular networks across 130 countries and provide affordable roaming across entire regions like North America or the entire EU. This gives the customer a seamless experience because SqwaQ provides the hardware, data services and warranty support on both, eliminating any finger pointing if a problem arrises. It also means users can fly across wide spanning regions without losing connectivity because the six modules can roam across dozens of cellular networks simultaneously.
SqwaQ can enable a remote pilot in New York to fly a properly equipped unmanned aircraft through controlled airspace in Los Angeles with the experience of actually sitting in the cockpit. Multiple pilot view cameras can be supported to stream live, 360 degree views around the aircraft as well as the normal downward cameras or sensors. Nationwide command and control has less than 1/2 second latency round trip. The remote pilot could even talk to air traffic control via an onboard VHF radio just like manned aircraft, enter the traffic pattern, Ident with Mode-S or ADS-B transponder as directed, and then land at LAX airport per ATC approval. To air traffic control, the experience would ‘feel’ like any other manned aircraft routinely handled. The entire experience could also be automated so ATC can remain alert to thousands of active drone flights at any moment without the burden of managing them unless they want to use airport facilities. Gradually, that function could be automated and extend to manned aircraft as well, so air traffic controllers could manage 4-10 times the number of aircraft they handle today.
“Autonomy and industrial IoT require robust, redundant communications. SqwaQ is delivering today what 5G still won't do in ten years. We have prominent partners working under NDA to liberate drones and fly unfettered in the airspace. That won't happen with the plastic Chinese toy drones so commonly sold today of course. We're excited to have major stakeholders in multiple countries pursuing this with us,” said Ted Lindsley, CEO.
About SqwaQ SqwaQ is an SD-WAN and MVNO service provider focused on high-value mobile, Industrial IoT applications that demand reliable multi-redundant connectivity. Verticals include aviation, telemedicine, ground robotics, autonomous vehicles, oil and gas, and commercial construction. Founded in 2018, the company has more than a dozen patents issued or pending and wholesale bandwidth agreements with major cellular networks to provision custom data services on over 600 cellular networks across 130 countries. Learn more at http://www.sqwaq.com.
Phantom Screens, North America’s leading provider of retractable screens, is pleased to announce they have been recognized with reader-choice award wins with Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler magazines for their retractable door and motorized screens. The annual top 100 product roundups are determined by its readers and recognize the best and most innovative home building products in the U.S.
According to the National Association of Home Builders, despite the current global pandemic, the remodeling industry is seeing a growth this summer with outdoor living being a top priority for homeowners. More people are spending time at home this year, and many are turning to home improvement projects particularly when it comes to blending living spaces and creating functional, multi-purpose areas within the home.
“This is a gratifying accomplishment for the Phantom Team to be awarded by two top publications in our industry,” said C. Esther De Wolde, Chief Executive Officer of Phantom Screens. “We’re all about improving the living spaces of homeowners by delivering comfort and a greater connection to the outdoors without sacrificing curb appeal. These recognitions are an encouragement to us that we’re delivering on our promise to our clients and design/build partners.”
Phantom Screens offers a full line of screening products which includes their industry leading retractable door screens, oversized retractable door screens (for opening glass walls), retractable window screens and motorized screens for covered outdoor spaces and large openings. Phantom’s screen solutions bring fresh air, comfort, energy efficiency, shading and privacy to homeowners while keeping bugs out. Their products are fully customizable to blend seamlessly with any home design and disappear out of sight when not in use to preserve the home’s aesthetics. In addition, Phantom’s motorized screens can integrate with smart home technology, furthering ease of use and convenience.
The full list of winners can be found in the August 2020 issues of Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler. Both magazines are business-to-business publications owned by Scranton Gillette Communications that focuses on the U.S. housing industry.
About Phantom Screens Founded in 1992, Phantom Screens is North America’s leading provider of retractable screens. Phantom Screens offers customers a variety of retractable screen solutions for doors, windows, multi-panel systems and outdoor spaces. Phantom Screens products provide customers with insect protection, solar shading, temperature control and enhanced privacy in living spaces. For more information, visit http://www.phantomscreens.com.
For two years; organizers, advocates, and supporters have been tirelessly working towards opening a high school for young people who need an alternative learning environment that supports their recovery from substance use disorder. On that foundation and mission, the Phoenix Recovery Academy (operating as a program under Phoenix Foundation of Maryland) is now officially opening enrollment for the 2020-2021 academic year.
“This school will be a light in the dark,” says Sara Varga, Head of School for Phoenix Recovery Academy. “Seeing the culmination of the hard work and dedication of the community volunteers, including our board members, means lives will change, and hope will be afforded to so many families worried right now,” concludes Varga.
Phoenix Recovery Academy will be accepting rolling admissions with an inaugural first day scheduled for August 31. This non-public high school will service adolescents grades 9 through 12, is tuition-based with scholarships available, and is open to students who are as serious about their education as they are about their recovery from substance use disorder. Applications can be filled out online at http://www.phoenixrecoveryacademy.org or e-mail svarga@phoenixrecoveryacademy.org .
More on Phoenix Recovery Academy: Founded in 2020, Phoenix Recovery Academy serves central Maryland and beyond. Located at 117 E. Church St. in Frederick, Maryland, the Phoenix Recovery Academy is the first recovery high school to serve Maryland in 20 years. The Phoenix Recovery Academy models itself as a place of education while being a critical support structure for adolescents to succeed in their recovery from substance use disorder. Phoenix Recovery Academy and similar schools allow students an alternative to a traditional high school setting; a setting where they work towards their personal goals in recovery, while continuing their education. Find more information online at http://www.phoenixrecoveryacademy.org.
Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals today cut yet another ribbon for the opening of its newest 36 private bed, 41,000 square foot, modern post-acute care rehabilitation hospital in Keller, Texas (N. Ft. Worth) at 791 S. Main Street. The hospital provides comprehensive rehabilitative services and around the clock registered nursing care to patients overcoming a variety of debilitating illnesses and injuries such as stroke and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, orthopedic and other chronic complex medical conditions.
Jay Quintana, Everest Rehabilitation’s CEO and co-founder said, “While our traditional hospital ribbon cutting festivities are dampened by the Coronavirus; we are ecstatic about opening our fourth identical, 36-bed rehabilitation hospital in Keller, Texas. Our newest Keller, TX location is centrally located in the heart of the fastest growing part of the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex. We look forward to providing exceptional post-acute health care to the communities of Keller, Southlake, Bedford, Ft. Worth, Westlake, Trophy Club, Roanoke, Grapevine, Watauga, Colleyville, North Richland Hills and beyond. Rehabilitation hospitals, like Everest, are extremely valuable to the communities we serve as we complete the continuum of care to get patients home. We whole-heartedly believe that patients thrive best when their environment and care far exceed their expectations in the high energy, high quality, modern hospital setting at Everest.”
Omar Jenkins, Everest Rehabilitation’s CFO and co-founder said, “We started looking for a site in this part of the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex over four years ago and finally the perfect five acre site became available after an exhaustive two year search. We are excited to be able to provide one to one physical therapy care to our patients, five to seven days a week in this region. Our strong nurse to patient ratio contributes to optimal outcomes in our post-acute care, naturally lit hospitals.”
The hospital project represents a million dollar investment in the community and includes numerous uncommon hospital details akin to a luxury hotel. The project includes spacious, state of the art physical therapy gyms, a large outdoor (park like) mobility courtyard for therapeutic use, a HydroWorx aqua therapy system, a fully furnished Assisted Daily Living apartment where a patient can practice “every day” activities, several family gathering areas, a large open dining hall, a real therapy car, in-house dialysis and an in-house pharmacy. Everest Rehabilitation hospitals provide interdisciplinary care with physician-led teams of therapists focused on improving a patient’s quality of life in a modern and naturally lit setting. Each identical 36-private bed Everest Rehabilitation Hospital is carefully designed to expand by 18 additional private rooms. The entire infrastructure (dining, kitchen, parking and mechanical) is already in place for every hospital to support the bed expansion. The Keller, TX physical rehabilitation hospital is a prime location for these room additions. About Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals, LLC
Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals LLC, based in Dallas, Texas, is a multispecialty acute care physical rehabilitation hospital company focused on providing high quality, physical rehabilitation care. Everest is passionate about patient care; striving to create healing and nurturing environments for all patients that not only meet their medical needs but address their emotional and social needs as well. Patients are guided through the necessary steps to reclaim daily life, recover function, and return to an optimal quality of life by combining the latest treatments, technologies, and research with a unique interdisciplinary team approach involving the patient and family from day one. Everest provides the highest level of care available to patients with disabilities caused by injuries or illnesses, or from traumatic accidents.
Thermal Proximity Systems Helps Businesses & Public Institutions Return to Work Safely
Company Provides a Regimented and Automated Approach to Determining Body Temperature Allowing Companies to Comply with CDC, Government & Healthcare Guidelines
Solution Automatically Provides the Visibility and Insight to Understand if Employees, Customers, Students or Visitors are not Physically Distancing allowing Organizations to Minimize the Risk of COVID-19 Exposure
As America continues to open across all industries and public institutions with increasing velocity, many organizations are seeking to gain an understanding of how to facilitate the process of having employees and customers return to work safely in both public and private spaces.
While most companies are committed to ensuring a safe workplace, few understand the requirements and implications related for reopening safely. To help alleviate some of the uncertainty and provide clarity in uncertain times, Thermal Proximity Systems is focused on three (3) problematic areas:
Measuring an individual’s body temperature to ensure a fever is not present.
Checking to ensure an individual is wearing a mask, if applicable.
Monitoring and alerting you to groups that are not practicing physical distancing.
These vitally important practices are automatically performed via a non-invasive and anonymous approach driven by proven AI-assisted technology and software that alerts staff to issues in real-time.
In addition to providing the appropriate automated technology functions, Thermal Proximity Systems works closely with clients to provide guidance, processes, and practical approaches to ensure individuals can return safe, stay safe and be confident within their facility or workspace.
“The emergence of COVID-19 has created a life-altering situation that could potentially be life-threatening for some. With our years of physical security, video surveillance and network expertise we felt an obligation to help organizations fundamentally transform the way they prepare and think about reopening their facilities,” said Amy Friel, Thermal Proximity Systems’ Co-Founder and COO. “Many organizations, however, rush to embrace a return to work posture without a clear plan, or a precise understanding of the implications of this move. Thermal Proximity Systems was founded to help organizations weigh the pros and cons of safely returning to work, school or entering public gathering spaces and make educated and informed decisions based on practical advice and supported by automated technology platforms.”
Thermal Proximity Systems is poised to assist organizations who look to return safely to work or educational institutions who are now planning for the arrival of students and faculty in the Fall. The company’s experience, flexibility and business experience will be vital in helping organizations navigate the public safety issues that are present in reopening.
Pricing and Availability Furnished upon request
About Thermal Proximity Systems Thermal Proximity Systems helps organizations safely reopen and remain open using cutting edge technology that provides confidence and assurance that people are at the proper temperature and physically distancing without invading individual privacy.
We take a three (3) pronged approach that includes Advisory Services to help you look at various approaches to reopening, Thermal Protect®, our highly accurate, thermal body temperature monitoring solution is effective for quick and accurate detection of elevated body temperature and Distance Alert® our distance monitoring solution which provides you up-to-the-moment data on the proximity and concentration (not just capacity) of everyone at your location using real-time tracking of personal devices, allowing you to create a distance-friendly environment in today's new normal.
Contact: George Mellor Thermal Proximity Systems 508-356-4830 George.Mellor@ThermalProximitySystems.com
Perceptyx, the leading employee listening and people analytics platform for enterprise organizations today released new data showing productivity for working parents is set to decline at the start of the school year, as the recent surge in COVID-19 cases has led to schools moving to complete or part-time distance learning.
More than 60 percent of working parents believe that carrying out distance learning from home will place an extremely difficult burden on their family, while over half report they will be both distracted to either a “moderate” or “great” extent on days when their children are learning from home and that their work productivity will decline. Over 40 percent are also worried either a “moderate” or “great” extent about their job security due to their children learning from home.
Perceptyx previously reported a considerable increase in productivity and a decrease in the desire to return to the physical workplace near the end of May, just as the school year was coming to a close.
“Undoubtedly, school decisions will impact parents’ willingness and even ability to work in the physical workplace, leading to a potentially significant decline in productivity as work-at-home parents are once again forced to play the roles of employee, parent, and teacher during the workday,” said Brett Wells, Director of People Analytics at Perceptyx. “To mitigate the negative impact remote school can have, including the potential exodus of working parents, we recommend employers reevaluate their return-to-work strategies and leave policies, and consider adding new benefits to support employees and their new reality in any way they can.”
While school this fall will undoubtedly look different in every situation, the largest portion of parents are still uncertain about sending their children to a traditional classroom. Surprisingly, a quarter (26%) report they are not sending their kids back to school at all, while forty percent say it will depend on the school district's plans. As of the end of July, 41 percent say their school district has not communicated a clearly defined return-to-school strategy.
When it comes to mothers and fathers, Perceptyx found that there was not a great disparity between roles when it came to distance learning having a negative effect. The data did find, however, that working mothers who are in senior leadership positions (e.g., executives/vice presidents) are most at risk of feeling the extra burden, pressure, and challenges that distance learning brings to their workday. They are more than 1.5 times more likely to report they do not intend to stay at their current employer for at least the next 12 months as compared to fathers.
“It is clear that for working mothers in senior leadership positions, we risk losing decades of progress towards breaking the “glass ceiling” because of the demands of distance learning,” Wells noted.
Working parents aren’t the only ones who will be impacted by remote learning this fall, as non-parent co-workers report that they are feeling the disruption even now before the return to school.
39% of non-parents believe their co-workers who are parents are more distracted.
29% of non-parents believe their co-workers who are parents are less productive.
25% of non-parents say their workload has both increased and become more difficult to manage because of their co-workers who are parents.
Perceptyx also found that how an organization supports employees faced with distance learning plays a huge role in retaining these individuals. Ninety-two percent of employees who strongly agree their organization is providing the flexibility and support to work from home when children are at home intend to stay at the organization for at least the next 12 months. This drops to 66 percent for employees who do not agree their employers are providing flexibility and support.
“To adequately support working parents, organizations must be willing to consider cases at the individual level,” continued Wells. “Open and honest conversations are paramount, and a well-crafted employee listening and action plan can enable organizations to identify support areas that employees will value the most. Through these discussions and discoveries, organizations can create new ways forward.”
About Perceptyx Since its founding in 2003, Perceptyx has been redefining the employee listening industry, delivering enterprise-level employee surveys and people analytics to more than 30% of the Fortune 100 today. With an unrivaled technology platform and a tailor-made, flexible approach, the Perceptyx technology makes it easy for managers, HR, or business leaders to discover insights deep within large and complex organizations, driving meaningful action to improve business outcomes. Driven by a deep intellectual curiosity and a culture of innovation, Perceptyx is challenging the status quo—to help people and organizations See The Way Forward.
After more than a decade of research to identify key drivers of sustained growth of advertising-supported media, and presentations to more than 1,000 industry leaders, MediaVillage and AdvancingDiversity.org are announcing today a 0 million 10-year investment goal to expand the industry’s activation of diversity and educational programs. The 0 million goal represents a commitment to generate, by 2030, 50% growth in advertising revenues and to achieve 50% industry-wide diversity representation.
MediaVillage research has identified educational programs as a key contributor to diversity advancements. MediaVillage founder Jack Myers reports: “Business growth today requires a strong foundation of new majority talent; integration of diverse talent across capabilities and responsibilities; and dedicated commitment to easily accessible and user-friendly learning tools.” Myers adds, “The advertising and media industry under performs in each of these essential resources vs. most major industry categories, and it has failed to effectively and collectively activate, expand and communicate the successes.”
Myers, the nation’s leading practicing Media Ecologist, has been on a mission for more than a decade to advance the media and advertising community’s investments in diversity and education. “Our funding commitment reflects the community’s decade-long recognition that there are institutional and systemic failures in advancing diversity to which the industry has clearly not sufficiently responded. But the corporate community has not stood still. Thanks to a decade of industry investment and development, MediaVillage has in place the strategies, market intelligence, relationships, resources, communications tools, capabilities, team and credibility to profoundly move the needle measurably and quickly forward,” Myers noted. “With billions invested in technology advances, it’s finally hitting home that media and advertising growth will lag without meaningful investments in diversity and education.”
What’s Next for Advancing Diversity and Education Initiatives at MediaVillage
Over the past two years, Myers has been pounding on the message of diversity and education, generating funding support, and ramping up capabilities at his MediaVillage home base. More than 150 media industry companies, agencies, organizations, educational leaders, journalists, and subject matter experts currently contribute to MediaVillage educational content and Advancing Diversity initiatives. Myers often uses the MediaVillage subscriber base of 20,000 influencers to advance activist positions on diversity issues. MediaVillage hosts several well-known columnists who write on a spectrum of issues impacting the industry and an educational archive of more than 14,000 original, exclusive and continually updated articles, podcasts, videos and reports. MediaVillage is underwritten by membership fees.
U.S. advertising investments by marketers, excluding investments with Google, Facebook and Amazon, have declined steadily for two-decades and are forecast to decline an average 1.5% annually to 2025 (impacted by Covid-19). An AdvancingDiversity.org industry diversity census published earlier this year established media industry ethnic diversity at 14% among senior-level professionals and 24% among junior-level team members. Black professionals represent 6.5% of industry employees, with Black males representing only 1.6%
MediaVillage was founded in 2009 by Myers, a long-time industry consultant and executive at Metromedia Outdoor, ABC Radio and CBS-TV, with original funding from 12 media companies and agencies. Notes Myers: “MediaVillage is the only organization that represents all industry constituencies and is dedicated solely to industry growth in a rising tide model.“
Among MediaVillage’s newest initiatives:
As part of Myers’ series of Leadership Conversations, the MediaVillage Media Education Summit will take place on August 13 at 1:00pm ET. The webinar’s theme, “The Future of Media, Marketing, Advertising & Journalism Education – for Industry Professionals, Educators, Students & Job Seekers,” will feature Dean Mark Lodato, S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University; Dean Gracie Lawson-Borders, Howard University, Cathy Hughes School of Communications; Andrea Press, Media Studies Department Head, University of Virginia; plus a special keynote address.
As part of the organization’s 10-year 0 million investment goal, it has launched an AI-based search tool at MeetingPrep.com to serve the knowledge needs of educators, job seekers, brand managers, and professionals across the media and advertising ecosystem.
MediaVillage’s new Watch, Listen and Learn platform provides member companies with audio and visual learning tools and resources for the creation and delivery of educational content to multiple under-served communities including brand executives, educators and students.
Currently, MediaVillage is home to more than 100 independent educational and diversity focused websites, many underwritten by leading companies and organizations, including the Ad Council, Association of National Advertisers, A+E Television Networks, a4/Altice, Active International, Ampersand, AT&T Media, Cadent, Comcast, Crown Media, Discovery Communications, DISH Media, Female Quotient, IPG, NBCU, National Public Media/NPR, Nielsen, NY Interconnect, Outfront, Pandora, Publicis Media, She Runs It, Spectrum Reach, Standard Media Index, UPtv/Aspire, Verizon, Vevo, ViacomCBS, Walt Disney Company, and The Weather Channel.
For interviews with Jack Myers, or a copy of a White Paper on “The Case for Education & Diversity as Tools for Business Growth on Marketing & Media,” please contact Diane Stefani at diane.stefani19@gmail.com.
About MediaVillage: MediaVillage is the media and advertising community’s leading education and diversity activist. Through our collective impact approach, we implement effective and cost efficient B2B growth solutions. For the past decade, MediaVillage, in collaboration with partners across the marketing ecosystem, has been developing innovative strategies for generating growth through education and diversity programs. Today, more than 150 companies, organizations and industry leaders are MediaVillage members. Follow @mediavillagecom (Twitter) @MediaVillageCom (Facebook) @advdiversity
About Jack Myers: Jack Myers is founder of MediaVillage and is the nation’s leading Media Ecologist, a practice founded by Marshall McLuhan and advanced by his mentee, and Jack’s mentor, Dr. Neil Postman. For more than 40 years, Jack has been singularly dedicated to identifying, developing, and introducing solutions to the challenges confronting media companies. He’s a noted expert on generational and gender shifts, the impact of technological advances on business economics, and the dynamics of business growth and decline. His background includes executive roles at CBS Television, ABC Radio, Metromedia Outdoor, Television Production Partners, and UTV Cable Network. Follow @jackmyersbiz
“Google is proud to partner with WiCyS and SANS to provide scholarships to WiCyS community members for premier security trainings. Google believes one of the ways we help grow representative talent pools is to deepen our partnerships with organizations such as WiCyS that serve underrepresented communities. By supporting efforts to provide greater access to free learning, Google is committed to bringing more diversity and inclusivity to the security community,” said Sarah Morales, Google Outreach Program Manager for Security.
This new opportunity will offer 100 WiCyS members the chance to launch and/or advance their careers in cybersecurity within the next 1.5 years through a skills development training program. Even for those who have no previous cybersecurity experience, they will have the opportunity to progress through four stages.
First, participants will engage in CyberStart Game, where they will be introduced to topics such as Linux, web attacks, programming and forensics. They will build technical skills and creative thinking. Stage 2 will see technical aptitude for cybersecurity learning and fundamental skills tested in the SANS CyberTalent Assessment. In Stage 3, the top 12 performers will embark in online interactive hands-on learning with 48 modules of foundational material. After this stage, participants will receive a certificate of completion from SANS. Throughout the final stage, students will continue advanced SANS training courses along with career mentorship and soft skills guidance with an opportunity to take the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) exam. Once all stages are complete, participants will be ready for careers in cybersecurity.
“Google and WiCyS are leading the way in providing opportunities for underrepresented groups to discover their cybersecurity talent. With their support, 100 women will learn and practice hands-on cybersecurity skills in a fun, safe online environment with top performers before taking fundamental training and earning industry certifications,” said Alan Paller, founder of SANS Institute. “This program is an outstanding example of innovative organizations creating new opportunities to increase diversity in cybersecurity and bringing new talent into the field.”
WiCyS is a national nonprofit dedicated to bringing women together in cybersecurity from academia, research and industry to share knowledge, experience, networking and mentoring. This is yet another opportunity that is helping advance women in the male-dominated field of cybersecurity.
“This initiative was very important for WiCyS to launch and facilitate,” said Lynn Dohm, executive director of WiCyS. “It opens doors for positive professional development experiences to our community during these tiring COVID-19 pandemic times.”
About WiCyS: Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) is the premier nonprofit organization with international reach dedicated to bringing together women in cybersecurity. Founded by Dr. Ambareen Siraj from Tennessee Tech University through a National Science Foundation grant in 2013, WiCyS offers opportunities and resources for its members and collaboration benefits for its sponsors and partners. The organization’s founding partners are Cisco, Facebook and Palo Alto Networks. WiCyS’ strategic partners include Amazon Web Services, Bloomberg, Cisco, Facebook, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Google, HERE Technologies, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Nike, Optum, Palo Alto Networks, SANS Institute, SpearTip, Target, University of California San Diego, and Verizon. To partner with WiCyS, visit https://www.wicys.org/become-a-partner
Financial Recovery Group, Inc. (FRG), a leading provider of interactive software to health plans and physicians groups to improve financial performance, today announced the AccuReports® and Audit Tracker applications have earned Certified status for information security by HITRUST®.
HITRUST CSF Certified status demonstrates that the organization’s AccuReports® and Audit Tracker systems have met key regulations and industry-defined requirements and are appropriately managing risk. This achievement places Financial Recovery Group, Inc. in an elite group of organizations worldwide that have earned this certification. By including federal and state regulations, standards, and frameworks, and incorporating a risk-based approach, the HITRUST CSF helps organizations address these challenges through a comprehensive and flexible framework of prescriptive and scalable security controls.
"HITRUST plays an important role in how our prospects assess and choose vendors. FRG has always been committed to meeting the most rigorous industry standards for information security, and our work to achieve this designation reinforces that commitment," said Keith Robertson, President of FRG.
“HITRUST is continually innovating to help streamline and simplify how organizations assess information risk and manage compliance in a cloud environment,” said Jeremy Huval, Chief Compliance Officer, HITRUST. “We are happy that Financial Recovery Group, Inc. has taken the steps needed to achieve HITRUST CSF Certification—a designation which provides added confidence to their customers.”
About Financial Recovery Group, Inc
Since 1999, Financial Recovery Group (FRG) has worked with health plans and physician groups to improve financial performance through online analytical reports and claims audit recovery services. Trusted by national HMOs and over 700 Independent Practice Associations (IPAs), Medical Service Organizations (MSOs) and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), FRG brings industry leading medical economics capabilities to healthcare enterprises. FRG’s proprietary algorithms and rigorous processes make it easy to consolidate and evaluate complex health plan data sets. Clients in value-based care agreements gain the power to build informed medical cost improvement plans and boost risk pool, shared savings and incentive plan payments.
As families nationwide prepare for the start of another – although arguably very different – school year, CSX will join Operation Homefront to distribute more than 1,000 backpacks and essential school supplies to military children in Jacksonville, Florida; Clarksville, Tennessee; and Fayetteville, North Carolina as a part of Operation Homefront’s annual Back-to-School Brigade® (BTSB).
"We are so grateful for the generosity of the CSX Corporation who has stepped up for another year, through their Pride In Service campaign, to help us serve these very deserving military families at a time when unexpected deployments, unemployment and reduced work hours, along with the other stresses of military life, have hit them very hard,” said Margi Kirst, Chief Development Officer of Operation Homefront. “These donated supplies will help our military children have a strong start to their school year, while easing the parents’ financial burden of the back-to-school season.”
The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a huge toll on military families. This year, more than ever, these deserving families will benefit from a program that helps offset finances they would normally use for school supplies and allow them to apply their funds to other critical needs. As part of Operation Homefront’s mission to build strong, stable, and secure military families, the Back-to-School Brigade® program is supported by CSX and its Pride in Service initiative to ensure military families receive the support they need – when and where they need it.
"CSX worked closely with Operation Homefront to evolve our shared efforts to meet the needs of military families safely and effectively, as the nation continues to be challenged by COVID-19," said Bryan Tucker, Vice President of Corporate Communications at CSX. "We are proud to continue to positively impact military children through our Pride in Service initiative and these Back-to-School Brigades."
The BTSB is Operation Homefront’s nationwide collection of school supplies and backpacks that are distributed to the children of military families as well as to all ranks of wounded, ill or injured veterans and their families. The annual program is sponsored by national partners Dollar Tree and SAIC and during this year’s campaign, Operation Homefront will distribute its 400,000th backpack since 2008, saving military families more than million in back to school expenses.
This year’s Back-to-School Brigade® events will have a different look relative to past programs to adhere to all federal, state and local COVID-19 guidelines. Events will be delivered in a drive-through format with volunteers following CDC guidelines.
About Operation Homefront: Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 91 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America’s military families. For more information, visit http://www.OperationHomefront.org.
About CSX: CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products. For nearly 200 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation’s economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation’s population resides. It also links more than 230 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at http://www.csx.com.
Nura welcomes R. Scott Stayner, MD. Dr. Stayner will serve as the pain clinic’s Medical Director of Nura Ambulatory Surgery Centers.
In his new role, Dr. Stayner will oversee Nura’s interventional services at the clinic’s newly renovated state-of-the-art pain treatment facility in Edina, Minn. The expanded and updated clinic was officially unveiled in March 2020 and offers comprehensive pain management, with all evidenced-based pain treatments available under one roof.
Dr. Stayner has practiced interventional pain management since 2012, using a combination of interventional procedures, physical therapy, behavioral health counseling, neuromodulation and medications to help patients manage chronic pain. He was inspired to specialize in Pain Management after helping care for his grandmother, who suffered from debilitating back pain despite various surgeries and high doses of opioids.
“Dr. Stayner’s personal passion for alleviating chronic pain, his impressive technical skills and his holistic approach to pain management make him an ideal addition to Nura’s medical team,” noted David Schultz MD, Nura founder and CEO.
Dr. Scott Stayner is board certified through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in both Anesthesiology and Pain Management. From 2013 to 2017, he served as a member of the Montana Medical Association’s committee addressing the state’s opioid crisis. As a committee member he educated primary care physicians on best practices for managing chronic pain and the role of opioid medications in pain management. Dr. Stayner has published book chapters and journal articles on safe practices for opioid prescribing. He also is a frequent lecturer for the UC Davis Pain Fellowship Program and has co-authored multiple publications with its faculty.
Dr. Stayner completed his anesthesiology residency at the University of Minnesota, his Fellowship in Pain Management with the University of California, Davis, and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis.
ABOUT NURA Nura (formally MAPS Medical Pain Clinics) was founded in 1995 by David Schultz, MD, a pioneer in interventional pain management. In his work as a practicing anesthesiologist in the 1990s, Dr. Schultz realized the need to treat chronic pain patients with a more comprehensive approach and went on to found the region's first multidisciplinary pain management clinic, coordinating high tech interventional procedures with in-house physical therapy and psychology services. Nura’s mission is to give chronic pain sufferers their lives back.
At Nura patients can receive chronic pain evaluation, medication management, physical therapy and behavioral health counseling as well as interventional pain procedures and surgeries, all in the same clinic. This is a critical advantage for patients who otherwise may receive fragmented and poorly coordinated pain management by multiple providers at multiple locations.
Nura’s multidisciplinary approach to pain management includes medication management, physical therapy and behavioral health coordinated with minimally invasive interventional procedures such as nerve blocks, spinal injections and nerve ablation. For more complex chronic pain problems, Nura offers a full range of implantable pain control options including spinal cord stimulation, dorsal root ganglion stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation and targeted spinal drug delivery.
BabyLiveAdvice is pleased to announce a new partnership with March of Dimes, the leading non-profit fighting for the health of all moms and babies. The organization has also received an award from the world’s largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, Johnson and Johnson.
Recognized as an innovative tech health application, BabyLiveAdvice supports mother and parents virtually through their journey from preconception to early childhood and everything in between. Offering virtual access to a national network of mom providers such as midwives, nurse practitioners, lactation consultants, nutritionists, mental health professionals even a dentist. All provider come from various cultural background and via translation services can speak in all languages. Moms can join online live support groups, pre and postnatal classes or receive individual consults straight from their cell phones.
Through their partnership with March of Dimes, BabyLiveAdvice will connect families to vital telemedicine support while helping the Arlington, VA-based non-profit develop the virtualization of their program offerings and learn from user experience. In addition, BabyLiveAdvice will provide a portion of its proceeds from its telemedicine platform to support healthy moms and strong babies.
“We are happy to announce our collaboration with March of Dimes to provide virtual support to mothers and their babies,” says Sigi Marmorstein, founder and CEO of digital health platform BabyLiveAdvice. “We all know of the stressful and uncertain times when bringing a baby into the world, and that is especially true in current times with the coronavirus pandemic. Our partnership with March of Dimes will assure that mothers and parents get access to the right advice and support needed to negotiate through these turbulent times, so that they and their babies remain safe and healthy.”
This development comes after recent recognition of BabyLiveAdvice as one of the awardees in the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate Quick Fire Challenge in Maternal and Newborn Health, together with the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). Nurses from around the world were invited to submit innovative ideas aimed at improving maternal & new-born care – including but not limited to neonatal care, obstetrics, and women’s health.
“Access to quality healthcare for all parents, wherever they may be, is critical to winning our fight for healthy moms and strong babies,” said Stacey D. Stewart, President and CEO at March of Dimes. “Through this partnership with BabyLiveAdvice, we will gain valuable insight into how moms and parents utilize telehealth platforms, so that we may incorporate those learnings into our new virtual care and support programs.”
The BabyLiveAdvice digital platform has been designed to support, educate, and empower mothers and parents. The core aim of BabyLiveAdvice is to ensure women feel confident by providing the right information and enhancing their knowledge about pregnancy, delivery, breastfeeding, infant care, and more. BabyLiveAdvice connects with mothers and parents, with the aim to help them achieve better health before, during and after their pregnancies.
BabyLiveAdvice provides personalized, ongoing support both nationally and internationally, for the whole family, including moms, dads, grandparents, foster and adoptive parents. Virtual counselling is provided by BabyLiveAdvice through video and chat components to enhance the convenience factor for mothers. If moms have a concern about their health condition or that of the baby, they can get help online quickly and effortlessly.
According to Marmorstein, BabyLiveAdvice has been receiving a steady flow of moms seeking advice and support since the site launched. They have also been experiencing a larger surge in visitors to its site since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The service had thousands of visitors to date. They are recommended to others by 95 percent of their customers. They enjoy a high appointment adherence of 79 percent, and their visitors report an impressive 68 percent adherence to lactation.
The goal of the healthcare platform is to reach one million moms around the World. Their services are being used by hospitals, employers, insurers, care organizations, and non-profits, because they believe that only BabyLiveAdvice offers trusted technology, proven results, turnkey solutions, and sustained engagement. Marmorstein believes that the recently conferred Johnson & Johnson award, along with the March of Dimes partnership, will help them get closer to that goal.
By partnering with March of Dimes, one of leading organizations supporting pregnant women and families during the COVID-19 pandemic, BabyLiveAdvice will be closely monitoring current data and enhancing its capability to provide parents and families
BabyLiveAdvice is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA and is on a mission to make sure that every mother and her baby are safe and healthy. From 2018 to date, the platform has helped thousand mothers and families, from all over the US and the world, to successfully navigate their parenthood journeys. Parents can get one-on-one support in their language by a caring provider from BabyLiveAdvice whenever they require.
Qvinci® Software has released its second generation of its wildly popular What If forecasting and modeling tool.
This new solution with Qvinci’s new Model Merge Technology is the most robust forecasting solution for accountants, franchises, dioceses and SMBs giving you the ability to define your future and monitor the progress.
Create virtually an unlimited number of What If models and forecasts to show the ongoing granular impact of the present COVID-19 crisis (or any other future scenarios) on their business’ income, expenses, profitability and cash over time—and highlight the best path forward
Set the Report Options to cover a truly customizable range
The reference period can be set as a single month, a range average, or seasonal
The first What If month and the beginning reference month are fully customizable
Finally, there is a 12 month What If to Actual presentation with integrated charts and graphs
As the Chart of Accounts changes, Qvinci’s Model Merge Technology keeps the parent-child relationship intact and slots any new accounts correctly in the model instantaneously
Users make intelligent and timely adjustments to one or many accounts to establish an actual forward-looking 12-month roadmap, such that you immediately see your adjustments and their impact on the running cash balance and P&L performance for the next 12 months. What can be more relevant today!
Bonus: Qvinci is also releasing new versions of the Top 10 Expenses BI Templates that can be added to your reporting packages that present unique views of the top 10 expenses as a percent of income. The variations include:
Reporting Month vs Prior Month vs Same Month Prior Year
Last 3 Months vs Prior 3 Months vs Same 3 Months Prior Year
Reporting Fiscal YTD vs Last Fiscal YTD vs Last Fiscal Year
Qvinci Once Again Delivers! To introduce this game-changing technology, Qvinci has a live webinar scheduled for Wednesday July 29, 2020 at 12:00pm CT with its storied inventor, serial entrepreneur and renowned turnaround expert Charles Nagel, Founder and CIO of Qvinci.
First Heritage Mortgage, LLC (FHM), a leading independent mortgage lender, has opened a new branch in Columbia, South Carolina, and continues to rapidly expand its presence throughout the Southeastern United States. The new office (Branch NMLS ID #2000649) is located at 120 Cromer Road, Lexington, SC 29073.
FHM specializes in providing personalized home financing solutions to make homeownership achievable for as many people as possible within the communities it serves. FHM has been ranked one of the Top 100 Mortgage Companies in America by Mortgage Executive Magazine, one of the Top 75 Mortgage Lenders by Scotsman Guide, one of the Best Mortgage Companies to Work For by National Mortgage News, and most recently was named a Top Workplace by The Washington Post. The company originated more than .5 billion of mortgage loans in 2019 and is poised for significant growth in the coming years.
The Columbia location is FHM’s second office to open in South Carolina within the past two years, joining the company’s Charleston location, which opened in 2019. The new Columbia location also marks the 15th branch office for FHM, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary this December.
“We’ve found incredible opportunity within South Carolina,” said Chip Beveridge, SVP and Southeast Regional Manager of First Heritage Mortgage. “We are excited to open our new branch in Columbia and offer innovative mortgage solutions, in-house construction lending, competitive rates, and the personalized service FHM is known for to homebuyers and business partners across this thriving market.”
The Columbia branch is led by well-known local home financing expert Jacob Crowder (NMLS ID #198432). As Branch Manager, Crowder oversees all branch operations, customer interactions, and relationship development. Crowder has over 15 years of local mortgage banking experience and has called the Columbia region home for his entire life.
“Jacob has a remarkable track record and will use his extensive experience to benefit customers, business partners, and fellow team members,” stated Alex Wish, President of First Heritage Mortgage. “As FHM continues to expand, we are staying true to our roots by assembling the right people and building our branch presence around them. We look for talented leaders who understand our culture and our commitment to excellence. Jacob embodies these things and is an outstanding addition to our growing team.”
Prior to joining FHM, Crowder acted as Mortgage Loan Officer at First Community Bank of South Carolina, having held positions at Union Mortgage Group and 1st Choice Mortgage/Equity Corp. of Lexington before that. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Clemson University.
“I am thrilled to join FHM,” said Crowder. “It’s exciting to be part of a company with such a great organizational culture and wide array of mortgage solutions, including personalized products for people who may not meet the strict lending requirements of banks. I look forward to better serving the Midlands community which I care deeply about, and to forwarding the company’s success in this new branch.”
To learn more about the Columbia branch, customers and business partners can contact Jacob Crowder at 984-228-6246 or email jcrowder@fhmtg.com.
About First Heritage Mortgage, LLC Founded in 1996, First Heritage Mortgage, LLC (FHM) is one of the largest privately-owned mortgage companies in the Mid-Atlantic, originating more than .53 billion in mortgage loans in 2019. The company is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, with 15 branch locations across Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and California. As a direct lender, FHM controls every aspect of the mortgage process from start to finish in a local branch, allowing the company to provide deeply personalized mortgage solutions to its clients and business partners. Learn more at https://fhmtg.com.
First Heritage Mortgage, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender | Company NMLS ID #86548 (http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) | Columbia Branch NMLS ID # 2000649
Ardent Privacy, a Maryland-based data privacy company, announced today that it received a 0,000 investment from TEDCO's latest 0,000 funding round. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology companies in Maryland.
"We are excited to partner with TEDCO to pursue our mission to help companies in their data privacy journey. Enterprises are losing data in breaches not only because they are under attack, but also due to a lack of data hygiene and the absence of a data-centric security approach. Enterprises need a "Marie Kondo" tidying up approach for organizational data as they are challenged with data deluge and privacy compliance requirements at the same time. Our innovative data minimization technology will help companies reduce privacy risk and simplify compliance with CCPA and upcoming privacy regulations," said Sameer Ahirrao, CEO of Ardent Privacy.
"We believe these companies are in a critical area of known need, setting them on a path to build strong businesses here in Maryland," stated Frank Glover, lead director, TEDCO Seed Fund, and director, Maryland Venture Fund.
Companies have growing challenges with privacy with increased scrutiny of personal data by regulators, heightened consumer expectations, and the changing global environment. On July 16, CJEU (European Union's top court) struck down the EU-US Privacy Shield agreement. It found the Privacy Shield invalid due to inadequate privacy, surveillance, and data protection rights for the transfer of personal data between the EU and the US. The California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) was enacted on January 1, 2020, and enforcement began on July 1. Companies holding Californian's data are accountable for consumer data they own, and negligence can result in huge fines. Fourteen more states are in the process of passing similar laws. Virginia recently (July 1, 2020) enacted their Insurance Data Security Act enforcing security compliance for insurers and producers in Commonwealth.
Ardent Privacy's AI-driven solution helps companies reduce their unwanted or excess data footprint to become compliant and resilient in case of a breach. It provides deep discovery capabilities essential to meet privacy requirements for compliance, such as data subject access requests (DSAR). Organizations collect and retain vast amounts of personal data which represents a substantial liability for privacy compliance. For example, CCPA holds companies accountable for consumer data they own, and negligence can result in huge fines. By utilizing the Ardent Privacy solution, companies can reduce risk and liability by limiting excess storage of personal data. Data minimization reduces the costs associated with securing data and storage. It is vital for companies to know what data they have and only keep what they need to do business.
Ardent Privacy helps enterprises to comply with data privacy regulations such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), insurance data security laws, and more. Ardent Privacy's AI-powered data privacy platform provides a quick and easy to use data minimization solution to discover, identify, inventory, map, minimize, and securely delete personal data. Ardent achieves data minimization using machine learning and artificial intelligence to report on large data sets in hours rather than days. LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ardent-privacy
TEDCO enhances economic development growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology companies in Maryland.
Venminder, an industry recognized provider of third-party risk management solutions, today announced they have launched the Venminder Exchange, a secure 2-sided network for the flow of Venminder’s proprietary analyzed vendor data.
To achieve industry standards and meet regulatory requirements, organizations must complete detailed due diligence reviews on their vendors. This is often a time extensive exercise involving the gathering of documentation, artifacts and sending/receiving of questionnaires from vendors and then giving all that information to an appropriate, qualified expert to review it for risks. Since the expertise needed varies based on the area being reviewed, it is a huge drain on valued internal resources or requires multiple dedicated hires. With the Venminder Exchange, thousands of already completed Control Assessments have been added by Venminder’s qualified and certified experts, including CISSPs, CPAs and paralegals, and added to the searchable exchange for purchase.
“We are very excited about the launch of the Venminder Exchange and what it means for the future of due diligence for all sides involved – vendors and their clients and prospects,” said Dana Bowers, founder and chief solution architect of Venminder. “The Venminder Exchange will be a valuable asset to third-party risk professionals for quickly finding risk scores on their vendors and purchasing the assessments as and when they need. For vendors, it provides transparency and knowledge into the risk assessment process that is inherently vital to every third-party risk management program. Collaboration between all parties will undoubtedly improve the outcome for everyone involved.”
The Venminder Exchange launched this week with the first of many planned phases. The company is currently inviting vendors into the exchange to view and collaborate with Venminder on the assessments that have been completed on their organization. This advance period will give vendors the opportunity to learn how an independent third party, such as Venminder, views their stated controls and associated risk. Venminder will also offer training to vendors on how to accelerate the due diligence process by proactively sharing their Venminder assessments with clients or prospects. In the final phase, the Venminder Exchange will be available, by invitation only, to third-party risk professionals across the globe, who can register, search vendors, preview scores and go through the authorization process, with the vendor, of purchasing the full Control Assessments.
“Venminder is an all-in-one partner for all things third-party risk,” said James Hyde, CEO of Venminder. “We are extremely unique to the market in that we are 100% dedicated to third-party risk. While it’s fairly common to find initiatives for sharing access to a library of control documents, Venminder completes the final mile by actually assessing the documents and assigning a risk score saving valuable time and resources to complete the risk assessment process. We take our commitment to the market quite seriously evidenced by our library of thousands of Control Assessments, continued development of our world-class software platform, staffing of respected domain and subject matter experts as well as our ongoing certified education offerings. This newest edition of The Exchange is the next chapter in Venminder’s continued rapid growth by optimizing and streamlining the due diligence and risk assessment process for our clients and vendors alike.”
Venminder has now grown to over 800 customers across all industries and is on track to deliver over 30,000 Control Assessments in 2020. The Venminder Exchange will allow the company to distribute Control Assessments more efficiently and facilitate the building of vendor relationships. The Control Assessments include risk ratings and assessments covering:
The financial health and viability of a vendor
A vendor’s SOC reports, including an assessment of their internal control environment, areas of concerns and any recommended next steps
A review of the vendor’s business continuity and disaster recovery documentation, including plans, testing and recovery point and time objectives
A review of the most critical elements of a vendor’s cybersecurity preparedness to identify areas of potential weakness
About Venminder Venminder is an industry recognized leader of vendor risk management solutions. Dedicated to vendor risk, the company is the go-to partner for software, assessments on vendor controls, ongoing monitoring, certified subject-matter expertise and education.
The Executives’ Association of the Palm Beaches (PBE - Palm Beach Execs), recently appointed David Blotnick as their new President. David Blotnick is the CEO at Consult PR, a multi-national digital marketing firm based in West Palm Beach.
The Palm Beach Execs is a prestigious network of top business leaders in the area. The purpose of the Executives' Association is to refer, relate, and disseminate information, which aids members in obtaining new business. The PBE is also a member of a nationwide network of similar associations, known as the International Executives Association, whose beginnings date back to the 1920s.
In an invited comment about the recent appointment, David Blotnick expressed that he was honored at the opportunity to head such an amazing organization.
“I’m very honored to be the President of this prestigious group. I’m pleased that the fellow members chose me to be President of this very fine organization.” - David Blotnick, President of the Palm Beach Executives Association and CEO of Consult PR.
During his presidency, David intends to make an impact on the association and its members, with a specific focus on navigating their return to normalcy during the dynamic times of this pandemic and expanding the group’s internet and social media presence.
The entire team at Consult PR wishes to congratulate David on this prestigious appointment and look forward to seeing what he will accomplish during his presidency and beyond with the Palm Beach Execs. Congratulations, David!
Charlotte Plastic Surgery, a nationally renowned plastic surgery and skincare practice, announced today two of its physicians have again been named as Charlotte Magazine’s 2020 Top Doctors, based on a peer survey sent to 3,000 licensed physicians.
Dr. Kevin L. Smith and Dr. Theo Nyame, both certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, are two of nine physicians recognized in the specialty as top plastic surgeons who exemplify excellence in their medical field.
“I have been practicing plastic and reconstructive surgery for over 40 years and it’s vital to not only be respected by your patients, but to achieve the respect of your peer community as well,” said Dr. Smith, previously named to the Top Doctor list in 2006, 2009 and 2010. “Being named to the Top Doctors list again, and being considered a top plastic surgeon, validates the work we do as a practice and the level of results we achieve for our clients.”
This is Dr. Nyame’s second year being included on the list, made even more impressive by the fact that he is one of the newer doctors with the practice. “Since joining Charlotte Plastic Surgery in 2016, it has been a pleasure to work for one of the most trusted and well respected plastic surgery practices in the country,” said Dr. Nyame. “I am extremely proud to be included among the top plastic surgeons in Charlotte.”
Dr. Smith has been with Charlotte Plastic Surgery since 1987. He received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University, and then attended George Washington University for his Master of Science degree, before attending Eastern Virginia Medical School. Dr. Smith completed his general surgery residency at Thomas Jefferson University and his plastic surgery residency at Eastern Virginal Medical. In addition, Dr. Smith holds a fellowship in hand surgery at the Hand Rehabilitation Center at Thomas Jefferson University.
Dr. Smith is certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In addition, Dr. Smith is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, associate clinical professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and member of the Board of Medical Advisors for the Society of Medical Aestheticians. -more- Dr. Nyame graduated magna cum laude as an undergraduate at Cornell University; graduated from Harvard Medical School, where he was a Phiffer Fellow; and completed his aesthetic surgery fellowship at Gold Coast University Hospital in Queensland, Australia.
Among his many honors, Dr. Nyame won a surgical teaching award and was named a Hollis L. Albright and Linnane Scholar at Harvard, was an Omega Psi Phi scholar with the highest national grade point average and received the National Medical Fellowships Emerging Leadership Award. He also has served as a clinical adviser to skin/trauma research centers at Medizinische Universitat Wein in Vienna, Austria, and Pacific Private Hospital Breast Academy Center in Queensland, Australia.
About Charlotte Plastic Surgery
Founded in 1951, Charlotte Plastic Surgery is one of the oldest and most trusted plastic surgery practices in the country, with six board-certified plastic surgeons, skin health specialists and nurse injectors, providing the highest level of service and care. Charlotte Plastic Surgery’s mission is to renew the quality of life and increase the confidence of our patients through restoration, preservation and enhancement of physical form and function. The senior physicians of Charlotte Plastic Surgery are all members of The American Board of Plastic Surgery. Among our top medical accreditations, Charlotte Plastic Surgery is certified by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAASF). For more information, please visit https://www.charlotteplasticsurgery.com/top-plastic-surgeons/.
About Charlotte Magazine For 50 years, Charlotte Magazine has provided compelling narrative storytelling, stunning photography, unbiased dining advice and much more. Its products reach upscale, affluent and educated readers throughout the metro Charlotte area. As Charlotte’s premier media lifestyle brand, Charlotte Magazine connects with 500,000 readers every month through print magazines, website, social media, e-newsletters, signature events, and more. For more information, please visit http://www.charlottemagazine.com.
Patterson Legal Group is pleased to announce that their law firm will host a backpack giveaway on Thursday, August 27 at their law office located at 3105 E. Central Avenue, Wichita, Kan. 300 backpacks stuffed with school supplies will be handed out from 5:30 p.m. through 7:30 p.m., while supplies last. The law firm decided to host the backpack giveaway to help offset costs associated with preparing for the 2020-2021 school year.
The law firm is hosting two other backpack giveaways in St. Joseph, MO on Saturday, August 8 and Topeka, KS on Saturday, August 29.
“Parents with school-age children may find this upcoming school year extra challenging because of financial difficulties related to COVID-19 closures. That is why our team decided to host a backpack giveaway. We wanted to assist our community neighbors to offset back-to-school costs and give students tools to make the school year a success," remarked Managing Partner, Gary Patterson.
Social distancing and other precautionary measures will take place to ensure the health and safety of all participants. Those interested in attending are advised to arrive early as supplies are limited and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis while they last.
For more information about the Patterson Legal Group backpack giveaways, please contact Ella Reusser with Patterson Legal Group at (888) 687-2400, or via email at ella@pattersonlegalgroup.com. You can also contact the law firm by sending a direct message through their Facebook page.
More About Patterson Legal Group, L.C.
Patterson Legal Group is a personal injury law firm with offices located throughout Kansas and Missouri. Founded on the principle of helping injury victims pursue their legal rights, they are not afraid to take on large insurance companies or to hold negligent persons accountable for injuring a client. Their lawyers are champions of consumer rights with a strong track record for helping people suffering from personal injury or disability. Learn more about the specific legal services and community outreach activities of Patterson Legal Group at pattersonlegalgroup.com. You can also connect and socialize with their legal team through the law firm’s Facebook page (/PattersonLegalGroup/).
Vikar Technologies (“Vikar”), a leading provider of Loan Lifecycle Management solutions announced today that Valley National Bank (Valley) has selected Vikar to automate their commercial loan onboarding process to improve cycle time, enhance data integrity and to reduce compliance risk.
The Vikar Loan Lifecycle Management solution greatly reduces the time it takes to onboard and service commercial loans by providing an end to end digital experience straight through to core banking systems. The Vikar solution eliminates re-keying of data, provides pre-configured business rules to eliminate errors, and provides a seamless experience for bank employees and clients.
"Valley strives to deliver the best, most efficient banking services to our customers. By working with Vikar, we are able to leverage a rules-driven engine and strong data aggregation capabilities to reduce processing time and improve accuracy for our commercial loan borrowers" said David Goldberg, Director of Loan Servicing for Valley National Bank.
“We are thrilled to have Valley as a client”, said Glenn Bolstad, CEO of Vikar. “Valley’s adoption of our solution for their loan servicing operations will greatly increase the amount of loans they can onboard and service without additional headcount. This will ultimately allow them to deliver great experiences for their customers while optimizing their efficiencies.”
About Vikar Technologies Vikar Technologies combines modern technology and deep industry experience to help financial institutions digitally transform their business. Our Client Lifecycle Management (“CLM”) and Loan Lifecycle Management solutions provide workflow automation and data aggregation with open APIs for the front, middle and back office; enabling our customers to onboard and maintain clients and loans in a complete, end to end digital experience. For more information, visit http://www.vikartech.com
About Valley As the principal subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp, Valley National Bank is a regional bank with approximately billion in assets. Valley is committed to giving people and businesses the power to succeed. Valley operates many convenient branch locations across New Jersey, New York, Florida and Alabama, and is committed to providing the most convenient service, the latest innovations and an experienced and knowledgeable team dedicated to meeting customer needs. Helping communities grow and prosper is the heart of Valley’s corporate citizenship philosophy. To learn more about Valley, go to http://www.valley.com or call our Customer Service Center at 800-522-4100.
Commercial Real Estate (CRE) marketing platform SharpLaunch has announced an integration with Matterport to support 3D virtual commercial real estate tours for landlords and brokers in the era of social distancing.
Matterport’s 3D technology will be integrated as a standalone module that seamlessly embeds virtual tours into SharpLaunch property websites. These tours are designed to provide a facsimile of hands-on tours of commercial real estate - something that is no longer easily accessible in the “new normal” of the post-COVID world.
“Matterport has seen a sharp rise in the demand for digital twins of properties so that buyers can tour them virtually in stunning 3D,” says Robin Daniels, Chief Marketing Officer, Matterport. “We’re excited to see SharpLaunch integrate with the Matterport platform to provide their commercial real estate customers with our immersive 3D tours and help them engage prospects from anywhere in the world.”
Matterport is the leader in virtual tour technology across all industries including real estate, architecture, engineering, travel, and much more. Their 3D platform allows commercial real estate brokers and landlords to showcase properties in a variety of creative ways - capturing the essence of an in-person tour and augmenting it with key information about individual components of the space.
“Both SharpLaunch and Matterport are focused on creating forward-looking technology for commercial real estate marketing,” says Bob Samii, SharpLaunch CEO. “The addition of the Matterport module provides our clients with another way to showcase their commercial properties, create an impactful digital experience, and stay ahead of the competition.”
As the leading marketing technology for commercial real estate, SharpLaunch is an optimal medium to display Matterport virtual tours on any device, seamlessly integrating with the marketing processes and workflow of brokers and landlords.
About SharpLaunch
SharpLaunch is an all-in-one digital marketing platform for commercial properties. It provides an easy-to-use suite of marketing tools specifically built for CRE building owners, asset managers, and brokers who want to improve asset visibility, streamline marketing activities and save time.
SkyStem LLC, a provider of automated month-end close account reconciliation software, is pleased to announce Aquarion Water Company’s success story on reducing the time spent on their month-end close process with ART. Aquarion Water Company, a subsidiary of Eversource, is a public water supply company for Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire residents with approximately 230,000 customers. Founded in 1857, as a means to deliver fresh water to sailors and merchants, the company has evolved into the largest investor-owned water utility in New England and is among the seven largest in the United States.
“ART helped significantly reduce our audit research time, as we can now go through various periods and find whatever is needed within minutes,” said Aquarion Water Company’s Corporate Controller. “I wish we had adopted ART sooner as the automated process was smoother than a manual process.”
Since implementation, ART has enabled Aquarion Water Company to achieve the following:
Decrease financial statement risk through high quality reconciliations.
Better satisfy internal and external auditors.
Instantly access reconciliations and supporting documents.
Faster and easier electronic sign offs.
Reconciliation process is standardized and centralized with ART’s standard forms.
For more information on Aquarion Water Company’s success and benefits from adopting ART, read the case study here.
About SkyStem LLC Headquartered in the heart of New York City, SkyStem delivers a powerful month-end close solution for organizations seeking to streamline their financial processes. The company’s flagship solution, ART, is an enterprise technology that helps CFOs and Controllers shorten the month-end close and the time to issue financials by automating balance sheet reconciliations, managing month-end tasks, performing flux analysis and providing insightful reporting. The web-based solution streamlines and eliminates up to 90% of manual activities while strengthening internal controls and corporate governance.
Automated Business Designs (ABD), developers of Ultra-Staff staffing software, was named one of Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in 2020. This prestigious honor is the fifth consecutive year that ABD has been recognized by Chicago’s Best and Brightest program.
The Best and Brightest Program honors companies that distinguish themselves as having the most innovative and thoughtful human resources approach. An independent research firm evaluates each company’s entry, based on key measures in various categories including Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions, Employee Enrichment, Employee Education and Development, and more. Organizations must complete a rigorous application demonstrating their employees are provided with the resources and support for both professional and personal success. Additionally, organizations are judged by confidential employee responses. Those overwhelmingly positive responses helped ABD receive this distinguished recognition.
“We feel so honored to be recognized as one of Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® for 5 straight years,” said Terri Roeslmeier, President and CEO of Automated Business Designs. “Our employees mean a great deal to us, which is why we want to do everything we can to continually ensure they are well-compensated, always growing both professionally and personally, and sincerely enjoy what they do every day.”
ABD’s nomination included details of their comprehensive benefits package, which includes 100% Blue Cross Blue Shield health care coverage for each employee paid for by ABD. The company was also recognized for its innovative best practices and employee education. Last year, the Vice President of Systems Engineering introduced “Mornings with Molly,” which has seen an increase in attendance and popularity among employees. “Mornings with Molly” are optional bi-weekly training sessions that invite team members to take a deeper dive into the products ABD offers. These sessions have helped cross train all departments in the company and have opened up an environment for sharing tips and ideas for product enhancements. In addition to professional education, personal education is at the forefront at ABD. Annually, the leadership team invites a licensed financial advisor to conduct a session on managing 401K retirement plans. These advisors are available for free one-on-one consultation throughout the year.
ABD’s nomination also highlighted the company’s work hard play hard attitude. Birthday celebrations, team outings, FitBit® contests, and parties are all part of the culture at ABD. They always find an excuse to have a party whether that is to celebrate Barry Manilow’s birthday or to play their annual Hide and Go Peep Easter Scavenger Hunt Game, where they hide Peeps around the office and see who can find the most. It’s all part of the culture. With play though, also comes giving. As a team, ABD participates in fundraising walks and sponsors charity dinners throughout the year.
“I love working for ABD because they promote a culture based on team collaboration and giving back to the community,” said Sandy Lund, Controller at Automated Business Designs. “ABD’s positive culture makes work a fun and gratifying experience.”
The recognition of employee achievements was also demonstrated in the nomination. From giving out esteemed awards to employees at the ABD client meeting, to just simply recognizing someone in an email for receiving accolades from a client, all achievements are recognized.
These are just a handful of the reasons why ABD is one of the Best & Brightest Companies to Work For® in Chicago. To learn more about Automated Business Designs and Ultra-Staff EDGE staffing software, visit http://www.abd.net. The staffing software provider will be recognized by the National Association for Business Resources during the Best and Brightest Digital Winner Celebration on Friday, July 24th.
About Automated Business Designs Automated Business Designs, Inc. has been in business for 37 years, producing the staffing and recruiting software solution Ultra-Staff EDGE. ABD offers a customizable staffing experience that benefits both clients and candidates through an integrated front office, back office, web suite, and mobile application. ABD is an active member of the American Staffing Association (ASA), National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS), Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services (WASS), New York Staffing Association (NYSA), and board member status in the Illinois Search and Staffing Association (ISSA).
It’s a day Caitlan Williams and her husband will never forget. A day where happiness and hope quickly turned to fear. “It was April 2004. I’d just delivered our first child, a boy. Right before my baby was handed to me the delivery physician said, “don’t worry we can fix this.” I wasn’t sure what she meant,” said Williams. “Then, I saw my child for the first time. I was overcome with love, confusion and worry,” she added.
Williams’ baby, Jack, had a significant tear in his lip (cleft lip) and a hole in the roof of his mouth (cleft palate). “I was scared. I cried and cried. I didn’t know anything about this condition,” Williams said.
Williams is sharing her story as July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and improve understanding of orofacial clefts (clefts of the lip and palate) and other conditions of the head and face.
A person born with a cleft condition can face a host of health complications including difficulty with eating, drinking, speaking, and hearing, as well as social stigmatization. “In public, people would stare and whisper. Doctors told me my son would need metal and screws in his mouth. It was all so overwhelming,” said Williams.
The new mom made a lifechanging decision, “I left my career as a lawyer and pursued becoming a nurse,” Williams proudly stated. “I wanted to be educated from a medical standpoint to best help my child,” she added.
Jack has had five cleft related surgeries. More are scheduled to help correct his speech, lip, nose, and jaw. “Today, my son is a bright 16-year-old who loves video games, animals and playing the piano. Being a nurse has helped me make better and more informed decisions for my son. It also gives me the strength and skills to help other parents with children born with a cleft condition,” Williams said.
Williams has volunteered with Operation Smile, an international nonprofit that offers free surgeries to children born with cleft lip and cleft palate. “There are so many people living with a cleft condition. Donating my skills and time to Operation Smile is a way for me to support children like Jack and to offer families hope,” Williams concluded.
About Operation Smile: Operation Smile has provided hundreds of thousands of safe surgeries for those born with cleft lip and cleft palate. With more than three decades of expertise, Operation Smile creates solutions that deliver free surgery to people where it’s needed most. As one of the largest medical volunteer-based nonprofits, Operation Smile has mobilized thousands of medical volunteers from a wide range of medical specialties from more than 80 countries. Operation Smile engages public-private partnerships to advance health care delivery, train local medical professionals to provide surgical care for patients in their communities, donate crucial medical equipment and supplies, and increase access to surgical care so that everyone living with cleft is treated. Visit operationsmile.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
SafeSend today announced a strategic agreement with Thomson Reuters™ to help tax professionals drive firm efficiency, elevate client service, and eliminate various labor-intensive aspects of completing professional tax preparation engagements.
The alliance will have the organizations collaborate to build a technology integration that will fully streamline the process that starts at final review and sign-off of completed tax returns, offers an intuitive, and self-guided client experience, and ends with the firm’s receipt of electronically signed e-file authorization forms. Users of Thomson Reuters market leading UltraTax CS™ and GoSystem Tax RS™ tax preparation solutions will benefit from the newly enabled workflow integration that tightly links to the award winning SafeSend Returns assembly, delivery, and e-sign solution.
SafeSend Returns customers that license UltraTax CS or GoSystem Tax RS have been utilizing the SafeSend Returns technology to digitally assemble final returns, securely deliver them to clients, and automatically collect e-signatures. SafeSend Returns currently supports 1040, 1041, 1120, 1120s and 1065 returns prepared in both Thomson Reuters’ tax packages. The new agreement paves the way for an enhanced automated process for how completed tax returns flow directly from UltraTax CS or GoSystem Tax RS to SafeSend Returns creating a more seamless process and adding additional time savings with every return.
“Automation is in our DNA, and we’re thrilled to partner with a world class organization like Thomson Reuters that has set the bar for sophisticated workflow solutions and digital process innovation,” said Scott Fleszar, Chief Operating and Strategy Officer, SafeSend Returns. “The firms we engage with that are using UltraTax CS or GoSystem Tax RS are progressive and have high expectations of their technology providers for cloud based solutions that save them time, allow them to work from anywhere, and offer a secure, high-end client experience. The new seamless integration coupling SafeSend Returns with UltraTax CS and GoSystem Tax RS will allow firms to optimize all areas of their tax practice.”
“If the past several months have taught us anything, it is that operational flexibility, employing digital processes, and relying on cloud based solutions are critical if firms wish to remain viable and avoid client service disruptions amidst the new normal,” said Steve Dusablon, President and CEO, SafeSend Returns. “Offering direct integration from UltraTax CS and GoSystem Tax RS to SafeSend Returns provides another opportunity for progressive firms to bring efficiency to the last mile of tax engagements. And circumvent operating challenges brought on by Covid-19.”
The agreement represents the cooperation of two market leading technology providers coming together to add value and make the tax preparation process easier for their mutual customers. “Thomson Reuters has a proven track record of cloud-based product innovation, collaborating with leading organizations across the profession, and leveraging process automation technology,” said Dusablon. “We are guided by a common vision – laser focus on helping firms optimize workflows and delight their clients with innovative technology. Our alliance will unlock additional value for our mutual customers.”
About SafeSend Returns SafeSend Returns, a SafeSend cPaperless solution, is the multi-year winner of the CPA Practice Advisor Technology Innovation Award. Built on innovative technology, SafeSend Returns has redefined the way accounting firms digitally assemble and deliver tax returns for their clients. SafeSend Returns eliminates the manual and labor-intensive elements many tax departments experience producing client ready tax returns prepared in CCH Axcess™, CCH ProSystem fx™, Thomson Reuters UltraTax CS™ and Thomson Reuters GoSystem Tax RS™ saving firms per return. With over fifty percent of the Top 300 accounting firms using SafeSend Returns, we are the premier tax return assembly and delivery solution of progressive firms.
SafeSend cPaperless is also the developer of foundational products for the accounting profession including TicTie Calculate and SafeSend, the complete bi-directional document exchange system. Visit safesend.com to learn more about our digital solutions. ###
Alchemy Technologies, (“Alchemy”) a Fintech Infrastructure Company announces today the launch of their next generation of lending operating system that combines brick and mortar operation and online lending experience under one seamless solution.
Incubated in the past six months with two major player national brick and mortar financing companies, Alchemy and its clients finally unveiled this much anticipated solution into production. We also successfully migrated all of the existing customers and loans into the new lending system.
“Working day and night with some of the most forward thinking brick and mortar operators has been an eye opening experience. Not only did we bring their operations to the 21st century, our technology also allows them to acquire customers from new channels. Their customers can transact at home and complete a finance transaction from end to end, they can also visit branches and complete the transactions there as well,” said Timothy Li, CEO of Alchemy.
The Alchemy’s new online and brick and mortar hybrid solution is built for today’s environment as well. With COVID19 spreading around the world. Our digital, touch-less solution provides a great way of servicing those health conscious consumers in a completely different way.
While preserving the charms of brick and mortar locations, customers now have a choice of either visiting a branches or to continue their experiences on their mobile phone. This solution enables our brick and mortar clients to continue their operations even during a shut down scenario due to COVID19.
Some of our most exciting features are:
Seamless handling and completing applications whether the application started online or in store.
Buying leads from online lead generators and direct interested customers into an online or a branch experience
Integration with touch screen for signing promissory notes in branch.
Mobile friendly experience that allows customers to apply, upload document and sign their application.
Integrated and load physical pre-paid debit card at the branch.
Seamless refinancing functionalities
Branch open and closing as well as cash drawer functionalities.
Full integration with online lead generators
Direct Mail functionalities
Call center technology integration
Distinct Branch and Online Underwriting Strategies
Full integration with Debit Card and ACH payment gateways.
Integrated Collections module
General Ledger integration
Rule of 78 for state licensed lenders and effectively update ever changing state by state rules and regulations.
Check printing technology that allows branches to create checks for customers and paying expenses.
We are pleased and excited to bring this new technology to market and provide a whole new experience for brick and mortar operators as well as their clients.
About Alchemy https://www.trustalchemy.com/ Alchemy Technologies is a world first fintech infrastructure company offering out-of-the-box technology, algorithms, and servicing to launch financial products for Banks, Specialty Financing Companies, Point of Sale Financing, and FinTech startups alike. Our leasing solution reduces the barrier to entry and brings tremendous value both in our software and industry know-how. Our end-to-end infrastructure offering includes end user experience, merchant experience, loan origination system, decision engine, loan management system, payment gateways, and secondary market access. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Balluff designed its new block-style capacitive smart level sensor with IO-Link for applications with highly conductive fluids like acids and bases, using smart level 50 technology to compensate for foam and deposit build up. And thanks to its IO-Link interface, it delivers expanded application and setting options.
IO-Link’s automatic parameter setting allow the user to see the upper and lower hysteresis values allowing easy and precise adjustments that aren’t possible with a potentiometer. Once unplugged, the sensor goes into standard I/O mode (SIO).
“This IO-Link version is a good addition to an already great portfolio of sensors,” said Jack Moermond, engineering partner manager with Balluff. “The addition of IO-Link provides more flexibility and more control. It is great for those who are using IO-Link in their applications, but it also can be preset with IO-Link and then used in standard mode.”
This capacitive sensor reliably detects fluid levels through non-metallic containers up to 10 mm thick, making it well suited for a wide variety of industries including packaging, food and beverage, metalworking and general factory automation.
Key features:
Detects levels through walls of non-metallic containers up to 10 mm thick
For highly conductive media such as acids and bases
Compensates for foam and residues using smart level 50 technology
Operating modes: standard I/O mode (SIO), IO-Link mode
About Balluff Inc. Balluff Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Balluff GmbH, Neuhausen, Germany. Balluff is a leading supplier of networked IO-Link control system architectures that unlock the potential of the IIoT and Industry 4.0. Balluff offers a wide range of intelligent IO-Link and industrial Ethernet sensors in a variety of technologies including inductive, photoelectric, capacitive, and magnetic as well as magnetostrictive linear position sensors, magnetic tape linear encoders, industrial RFID systems, and industrial vision systems. Balluff provides cost-saving, process-enhancing solutions to machine builders and manufacturers to control, regulate, automate, assemble, position, and monitor manufacturing, assembly, and packaging sequences. Industries served include: automotive, packaging, food processing, beverages, tire, primary metals, conventional and alternative energy, semiconductor, plastics, and fluid power.
Los Angeles’ Art Deco Hotel Shangri-La has further elevated its culinary excellence with the launch of its chic al fresco dining space. Boasting panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica’s city skyline, The Sidewalk Cafe is the latest addition to the iconic LA destination, a continental style café tucked alongside the glorious coast.
Vibrant white Tulip chairs lined up in a Parisian fashion on the hotel’s VIP roped off pavement outside among the palm trees – where guests can enjoy timeless rituals such as the morning parfait and croissants, lunchtime pizzas made in Santa Monica’s only wood-fired oven shaded by umbrellas, or a leisurely dinner with a Pacific Ocean view while taking in the extraordinarily intense sunsets. Offering internationally inspired, Californian-infused cuisine, everything on the menu is locally sourced, organic seasonal ingredients, from Santa Monica Farmers Market.
Santa Monica’s chic new Parisian style café has been designed for the ultimate outdoor dining experience with dedicated attention from the hotel’s talented team, on hand to create unmissable dishes. The concept has been inspired by CEO Tamie Adaya and GM Armond Khosrovyan, with a varied menu fizzing with flavours, and a design that features space age tables and chairs that were originally designed by Eero Saarinen, of the famed TWA Flight Centre.
Ms Adaya said: “People coming together - dining outside - eating and drinking immediately makes any city come alive again. The Hotel Shangri-La is bringing summer to the streets with a degree of improvisation, vibrancy and spontaneity. Our Sidewalk Café gives our iconic hotel a continental sheen – a bit of Paris on the Pacific that visitors, residents and regulars alike will enjoy surrounded by palm trees and spellbinding ocean views.
“It’s an enticing and intimate space. When you feel like gazing at the ocean on a balmy summers day while sipping your coffee, a glass of Chablis or Shangri-La cocktail, The Sidewalk Café is the ultimate seaside dining spot in Santa Monica for an eclectic alfresco experience.”
Entrees include Whole Branzino accompanied by sautéed baby squash, zucchini and heirloom fingerling potatoes drizzled with a citrus butter sauce, Whole Red Snapper, roasted beets, turnips and heirloom fingerling potatoes, and a 12oz. New York Steak with a purple potato purée and a mushroom cognac sauce. For dessert, groups can tuck into the signature Shangri-La Knickerbocker Glory – the only place in the USA that offers this unique and delicious dish which features Vanilla and strawberry ice cream topped with strawberry compote, pineapple chunks, pop rocks, whipped cream and meringue.
A series of safety features has been put in place to protect both staff and customers, and the space will have a limited capacity in compliance with guidelines set by the State of California, the City of Los Angeles and the City of Santa Monica.
Offering lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, The Sidewalk Café is open every day 7am – 9pm Reservations can be made online at OpenTable
Rates at Hotel Shangri-La start at 6 for a timeless luxury room per night. To experience more visit Hotel Shangri-La
Richard Karr Motors is slashing prices this month with its GM Employee Pricing for Everyone promotion. The dealership is offering exciting discounts on select in-stock vehicles, bringing the prices down drastically. Shoppers looking to purchase a new Buick or GMC vehicle will find that with this pricing offer in place, the vehicles at Richard Karr Motors fit the bill.
Shoppers around the Waco area can take advantage of this employee pricing offer on select in-stock models, including the 2020 Buick Encore, 2020 Buick Envision, 2020 Buick Enclave, 2020 GMC Terrain, 2020 GMC Yukon and more. Richard Karr Motors is offering over ,000 off of select Yukon models and over ,000 off of select Terrain vehicles.
The GM Employee Pricing for Everyone promotion is bringing the price of select 2020 Encore models down by more than ,500 and the price of select 2020 Envision models down by over ,800. Shoppers considering a new 2020 Buick Enclave can save over ,000 on qualifying models.
Richard Karr Motors currently houses nearly 100 new Buick, Cadillac and GMC vehicles along with over 80 pre-owned vehicles. Located just a short drive away for Killeen, Temple, Whitney and Hillsboro shoppers, Richard Karr Motors will fit the bill for automotive shoppers throughout Central Texas.
Anyone can view the dealership’s entire new and pre-owned inventory online by visiting the Richard Karr Motors website, https://www.richardkarr.com/. Those with specific inquiries or who wish to schedule an appointment with dealership staff can contact a member of the Richard Karr Motors team by calling 254-262-0981. Richard Karr Motors is located at 900 W Loop 340 in Waco. The dealership is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
Telos Gifting, LLC announced they will now be able to produce on-demand Mastercard Gift and Reward cards for its clients. This certification with Mastercard is a huge step forward for the company as it provides a competitive edge for corporate reward and loyalty gift cards. In prior weeks, Telos also announced its integration and partnership with the Qolo payments hub as an on-demand processor.
No stranger to the gift card industry, Telos Gifting, LLC is owned by the former founder of GiftCards.com, Jason Wolfe. He and the team at Telos have over 20 years of experience in the gift card space. Their on-demand fulfillment center which once operated for 10 years under GiftCards.com will be able to print, pack, and ship reward cards within 24 hours.
Much time and effort have gone into preparing the facility which will include new Datacard MX 6000 machines, brand new inserters, personalization equipment, and sanitized packaging capabilities.
With Qolo and the Global Vendor Certification Program with Mastercard, Telos Gifting platforms, Perfectgift.com and GiftYa can take a corporate bulk order of Mastercard customized cobrand cards at 3:00 p.m., print them by 4:00 p.m. and have them shipped out to arrive at clients at 8:00 a.m. the next day. “This is unheard of in our industry. In the time of Amazon Prime, we are leading the pack and providing a much-needed service,” commented Jason Wolfe.
More information on Telos Gifting can be found here.
About Telos Gifting, LLC Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Telos Gifting occupies the building at 495 Mansfield Ave in Greentree, Pennsylvania. Telos Gifting, LLC, owns and manages PerfectGift.com, GiftYa.com and GiftCardGranny. Telos Gifting was formed in 2019 by Wolfe, LLC a fin-tech incubator, to re-enter the gift card market after selling GiftCards.com in 2016.
Film students wishing to put off their first year of college because of COVID-19 have two exciting alternatives thanks to the Idyllwild Arts Academy Film and Digital Media Department.
Department Chair Shelly Short and her colleagues—all of them experienced film industry professionals—will offer to postgrads as well as gap year students the chance to earn a Film certificate as they focus their studies on Directing, Writing, or Post-Production.
Postgrads who finished high school this past spring will live on the Academy's forested 205-acre mountain campus. In this beautiful natural setting, they can stay healthy among a student body of well under three hundred, for whom meticulous safety measures have been prepared by the school’s Student Services office. Classes with both the Film Department and Idyllwild Arts' innovative academic teachers will give the postgrads an extra year of preparation for college.
The Academy’s Film Department emphasizes hands-on instruction for all Film majors, of a kind often missing from college. At some of the top college Film programs, students never touch a camera until their junior year.
In contrast with the postgrad program, the gap year program will be all-online and will not include academics. Gap year students will receive Film assignments to complete on their own and will meet with each other and their teachers in weekly Zoom sessions.
For young people eager to climb onto a fast track to a filmmaking career, the Post-Production concentration will offer professional Avid User Certifications in Media Composer and Pro-Tools, with testing after a sixteen-week or a thirty-two-week intensive. The Directing and Writing concentrations will also give students an edge over other first-year college Film students.
Admission counselors are happy to give more details about these two programs to students who ask about applying to the Academy.
About Idyllwild Arts Academy and Summer Program The forested 205-acre Idyllwild Arts campus sits two hours inland from Los Angeles and an hour and one refreshing mile above Palm Springs. The campus hosts Idyllwild Arts Academy, where talented high school students from around the world specialize in their chosen arts disciplines while studying challenging college-prep academics, and the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program, offering immersive workshops in every arts discipline to people of all ages and skill levels. Both the Academy and the Summer Program accomplish the Idyllwild Arts mission of changing lives through the transformative power of art. http://www.Idyllwildarts.org
Texas Premier Locksmith is offering new customers a 10 percent discount on their residential locksmith services, automotive locksmith services, and commercial locksmith services in Dallas, Texas for the months of July and August this year.
While many consumers have only used locksmiths in times of emergency, locksmith services go far beyond emergency lockouts. Residents of the Dallas area can use their discount for any combination of these services:
Lockouts (Residential, commercial, or home) Ignition key replacement Rekeying locks Changing, installing, or repairing locks Sliding door locks Entry gate locks Screen door locks Keyless deadbolts Decorative handle sets Access control systems Door closers Panic bars Safe installation and repair File cabinet services Master key systems Garage door repair Whether a customer needs a single service from Texas Premier Locksmith or several, the discount can be applied to the total bill, including service costs and materials. Many businesses and homeowners let repairs and security fall to the wayside or make plans to upgrade locks or install a new security system later, but with discounted services from Texas Premier Locksmith, there’s no reason to keep adding to a growing to-do list.
Texas Premier Locksmith is a local locksmith company that is owned and operated by proud Texans. The Dallas location offers same-day services and quality materials for optimal security. All technicians are licensed, insured, and trained to provide the best possible service, which is why Texas Premier Locksmith is the first choice of countless homeowners and businesses in Dallas and beyond.
About Texas Premier Locksmith Texas Premier Locksmith provides expert locksmith services in Dallas, TX and its surrounding suburbs. Learn more about their services by visiting https://www.txpremierlocksmith.com/service-area/dallas-tx/, calling 972-301-2292, or stopping by their storefront at 6959 Arapaho Rd., Suite 125, Dallas, TX 75248.
News Press Release “Sharing is Caring! PPE from Vietnam to UK!!, Rainbow bags to homeless people.!!!” The Brighton based hotel group, who own the Charm Hotel & Spa has supported the NHS, frontline workers, homeless people, and local Charities during the Coronavirus pandemic by donating personal protective equipment. The group have also offered 80 rooms of accommodation across their 3 hotels in the City. Most heart-warming, the management and staff have come in to produce breakfast rainbow bags for homeless people in Brighton & Sussex and gone out to distribute them daily. The Golden Lotus Investment group which owns the hotels has rallied to support hospital trusts by providing vital equipment including masks, gowns, goggles and gloves to the NHS and frontline workers including care homes and others on the frontline of caring for those who might have contracted the Covid-19 virus. PPE has also been donated to some Care homes and charities in Sussex including Chestnut Tree House, nr Arundel and St Barnabas House in Worthing. The hotel group has dedicated its resources during this lockdown which has affected its business like the rest of the country to support those impacted by the outbreak of Covid-19 by joining forces with a manufacturer in Vietnam, where the owners come from and who are producing PPE as the outbreak continues to put a strain on the NHS, Care Homes, Charities, frontline workers and those in need in Brighton and around Sussex. Vietnam was regarded as highly vulnerable, given its long border and extensive trade with China, densely populated urban areas, and limited healthcare infrastructure. But Vietnam’s cost-effective containment strategy resulted in only 352 confirmed cases and no deaths in a population of almost 100 million people. The country was among the first to lift virtually all domestic containment measures. Leo Nguyen, Managing Director of the group of Hotels, said: “Vietnam has been very lucky so since the outbreak of Covid-19, our priority here has been the safety and wellbeing of our employees, our customers and our local communities in Brighton and all over Sussex and our contribution is to say thanks to the awesome NHS staff and all those front line workers who have remained focussed on doing the right thing for all of us.” Sam Jones from the procurement Unit of Surrey & Sussex Health care NHS Trust said, “We have received the boxes of PPE from the Charm Hotel, so thank you very much for the generous donation. We did not realise there would be so much. It was a very nice surprise.” Jo Bacon, Corporate & Gifts Fundraiser for St Barnabas said, “We are so grateful for your very kind and generous donation of PPE for our Care Teams at Chestnut Tree House and St Barnabas House – thank you so much. “ The hotel group also offered the UK Gov Covid 19 Response team use of 80 rooms from their 3 hotels in the City, The Charm Hotel & Spa, The Sea Spray and the Topps Hotel in Regency Square for healthcare staff and key workers. NHS workers are putting in so much and deserve support and recognition. These are extraordinary times. We are all just thinking on our feet and this is one way we could help. ENDS!
FACT FILE: Bedroom Suites at the Charm Hotel & Spa, Brighton start from £90 and include breakfast which is an impressive affair at the Charm. The buffet selection includes fresh juices, pastries, fruit, and waffles, while you can order hot dishes such as eggs Benedict and a full English breakfast off the menu. For the Charm Suite Spa package, the price is £70 (two sharing) with a 30% discount. For more information and to book • Call the hotel on +44 (0)1273 021 085, • visit the www.thecharmbrighton.co.uk, follow the hotel on • Facebook@thecharmbrighton.co.uk and on • Twitter@charm_hotel.
For more on this Press Release please contact AHPR on 07850 736544 or email ambrose@ambroseharcourtpr.co.uk
ENDS:
NOTES TO EDITORS The Charm, Brighton is a sensational new luxury boutique hotel, now with a new Spa Suite in the heart of Kemptown, Brighton. The hotel offers designer living in a traditional setting and the recent refurbishment has transformed the 200-year-old building into a stylish and modern hotel with a reassuringly classic ambience. Each room in the elegantly refurbished historic building has been thoughtfully designed to provide all our guests with the most comfortable and restful hotel VIP experience. Our inspirational interior designers have created a delightful and luxurious look and feel, enhanced by ethereal and original artworks in every room. The Charm – Brighton Boutique Hotel & Spa, 20-21 New Steine, Brighton. BN2 1PD East Sussex. UK Tel +44 (0)1273 021 085 Email – info@thecharmbrighton.co.uk www.thecharmbrighton.co.uk
The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) and Yale Union (YU) are proud to announce the transfer of ownership of the land and historic Yale Union building at 800 SE 10th Avenue in Portland, Oregon, from YU to NACF.
“Together, the NACF board and staff believe that this free land and building transfer will set an example for recognizing the value of Native ownership of property in urban areas across the nation,” says NACF President/CEO Lulani Arquette. “It’s liberating and encouraging to witness this kind of support for First Peoples of this country. The potential for local community and national partnerships around shared interests through Indigenous arts and cultures is wide open. We are deeply grateful for this transformative opportunity afforded NACF by YU board and staff, and stand united with all to reclaim Native truth, engage anti-racism, and address important issues we face today.”
NACF is a Native-led national organization committed to mobilizing Native artists, culture bearers, communities, and leaders to influence positive social, cultural, and environmental change. As such, it focuses on strengthening Native arts, providing artists and the creative community with the resources and tools they need to be successful, and expanding awareness and access to Native knowledge and truth. NACF is accepting this special property with great appreciation for what came before. We honor and respect the elders past and present, and acknowledge the land that this building sits on and the previous Native tribes and peoples who inhabited the land.
“I am proud of what we have accomplished with Yale Union over the last decade. Having been able to fulfill our mission through the unearned privilege of property ownership, it’s now time that we hand over the keys!” says Flint Jamison, President, Board of Directors of Yale Union. “I am inspired by NACF’s leadership, unwavering commitment to their mission, and capacity to operate on a large scale. I am eager to listen and learn from them as they use the land and historic building to fulfill their vision.”
The new national headquarters for NACF will be called the Center for Native Arts and Cultures, and the property will continue to be a site of contemporary artistic and cultural production. The building will benefit the local community and be a strong cultural asset for the city of Portland. NACF has just completed a planning process that determines its national programming and includes a vision for how it plans to maximize opportunities in the new space. The building will be a vibrant gathering place for Indigenous artists and local partnerships. It will provide space to present and exhibit, places to practice culture and make art, and areas for cultural ceremony and celebration. There will be opportunities for broad community learning, including workshops and seminars covering pertinent issues relative to decolonizing space, anti-racism, and environmental justice.
The process to transfer Yale Union’s historic property to NACF began in mid-2018 with discussions between YU’s then Executive Director, Yoko Ott, and YU’s Board President, Flint Jamison, regarding art institutions’ potential for proposing models of restorative social change. Ms. Ott then made initial contact with NACF’s President/CEO, Lulani Arquette, which led to NACF conducting a thorough feasibility study. In December 2019, NACF’s Board of Directors approved to move forward with taking ownership of the property. Both NACF and YU would like to acknowledge Ms. Ott’s vision and leadership in initiating this transfer of ownership.
YALE UNION BACKGROUND Since opening in 2010, Yale Union has provided public programming and presented the work of hundreds of artists through the labor of its dedicated board and staff, and the incalculable support of its donors, volunteers, colleagues, and friends. It has created and fostered a cultural community by hosting countless events, providing subsidized studio space to dozens of local artists, and facilitated numerous community programs. It has preserved its historic building and used its 9,400 square-foot exhibition space to present the work of internationally-recognized and under-represented artists in Portland. Through its publishing imprint, YU has published ten books, and it has housed a unique and publicly accessible art library.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Yale Union has suspended in-person events for 2020, but it will collaborate with NACF to co-present artistic programming in 2021. Later that year, Yale Union will dissolve its nonprofit. The property transfer to NACF will serve as a natural culmination of Yale Union’s decade-long mission to support artists, propose new modes of production, and stimulate an ongoing public discourse around art. Yale Union’s board and staff sincerely thank all of those who helped in achieving its mission and building a community of artists around the Yale Union building and beyond.
Year 2019 was a year of moderate performance for the world’s most popular theme parks and water parks, and a variable year for museums depending on region, according to the most recent TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index, released on July 16, 2020 and available free online. Globally, Disney remains the top theme park operator, and the Louvre in Paris remains the world's top-attended museum.
John Robinett, Senior Vice President - Economics, AECOM said, “After clearing the half billion attendance mark in 2018, the world’s top theme parks, water parks and attractions continued to climb to 521.2 million in 2019 for a 4.0% annual growth rate as represented by the top 10 attraction groups. The Asian operators once again dominated - with OCT, Chimelong, and Fantawild all reporting high single- or double-digit increases.”
Robinett added, “As a whole, 2019 was a rather mild-mannered year in the industry, with stable results in the established European and American markets being supplemented by moderate growth in Asia. This could indicate that some pre-recessionary pressures were building under the surface before the tectonic COVID-19 shifted the foundation of the world’s health and economies.”
The 20 most-visited museums in the world performed well and remained relatively stable in 2019, globally attracting some 105.5 million visits overall compared to 108.1 million in 2018. The current, full report and all prior editions back to 2006 are available to download free of charge from the TEA website and the AECOM website.
The TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index is an annual, calendar-year study, jointly produced by the Themed Entertainment Association and the Economics Practice at AECOM since 2006, tracking attendance numbers of the world's top visitor attractions. Charts are accompanied by analysis from industry specialists in the Economics practice at AECOM. The report studies the sector by region (The Americas, Asia-Pacific, EMEA), the global market as a whole and the top operators. In 2012, TEA and AECOM expanded the annual attendance report to include the Museum Index, looking at the world’s top museums and studying them by region.
TEA COO Jennie Nevin said, "The Themed Entertainment Association is delighted to continue its longstanding collaboration with AECOM to produce the TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index, which the industry and press depend on as a critical resource year after year. The Theme Index helps TEA in its mission to educate and enrich the industry and promote best practices that lead to success and innovation."
THE AMERICAS - THEME PARKS AND WATER PARKS The Top 20 theme parks in North America saw 1.2% growth overall in 2019, representing 1.9 million new visits. The top 20 water parks in North America added nearly 200,000 visits in 2019, an increase of 1.2% over 2018. The top 10 water parks in Latin America passed the 10.0 million mark in collective attendance for the first time - 10.2 million visits representing a 2.5% year-over-year increase.
Kathleen LaClair, Associate Principal - Americas, AECOM, said, “Collectively, we’re seeing the operators and parks in this sector doing all the right things – make strategic acquisitions, invest in new lands and rides, extend the season and customer base with new events, and focus on the guest experience to drive performance. These practices will continue to be important as the industry moves forward.”
ASIA-PACIFIC - THEME PARKS AND WATER PARKS The visitor attractions sector in the Asia-Pacific region overall showed attendance growth of 1.6% for calendar year 2019.
Chris Yoshii, Vice President – Economics, Asia-Pacific, AECOM, said, “The most dramatic increases in Asia’s theme park markets in 2019 were in China. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom became China’s top-attended theme park. Its 11.7 million visits in 2019 reflect an 8.4% increase from the prior year, coming in about 500,000 higher than Shanghai Disneyland. OCT, already the largest theme park operator in China, rose in the ranks above Universal Parks and Resorts to be the third-largest in the world.”
Beth Chang, Executive Director – Economics, Asia-Pacific, AECOM said, “Chinese tourists have been staying closer to home, which is good for domestic markets but has meant lost revenue to other countries. Operators are working to salvage what they can of the summer season, with an emphasis on local markets. The development pipeline remains strong.”
EUROPE - THEME PARKS AND WATER PARKS In the EMEA region, the 20 top-attended theme parks in 2019, all in Europe, exhibited stability, with relatively flat attendance. Disneyland Paris kept its rank as most-attended theme park in the region. In the water parks sector, Northern Europe and the UAE continue to dominate this region.
Jodie Lock, Senior Associate Economist, AECOM, said, “Growth in EMEA theme parks and water parks in 2019 was primarily driven by operators rolling out new rides and attractions, new hotels, and special events and celebrations, backed by strong marketing. The Middle East has seen much development. Looking ahead, in light of decreased tourism and restrictions related to COVID-19, parks will likely put new emphasis on generating revenue.”
MUSEUMS Asia’s top 20 museums gained global market share and Europe’s manifested significant attendance growth in 2019, while in North America, visits to the top museums declined due to a variety of factors.
Linda Cheu, Vice President at AECOM, said, “History shows that attendance swings at the world’s top museums are primarily driven by the presence or absence of blockbuster exhibitions. The size and character of the industry will likely shift post-pandemic. Attendance declines for 2020 are inevitable, and recovery will take time. However, the performance of museums in 2019 demonstrates continued public enthusiasm for what museums have to offer.”
The 2019 TEA/AECOM Museum Index also includes a special list of new and noteworthy museums around the world, charted by region.
EFFECTS OF COVID The 2019 TEA/AECOM Index is a portrait of calendar year 2019, which ended prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 the global visitor attractions industry is facing significant new challenges, and the current report touches on these while remaining primarily focused on 2019. As 2020 continues to play out, the effects of the pandemic and other factors shaping the future of the industry will be studied in detail and presented in next year’s report.
ACCESS THE FULL REPORT The TEA website and AECOM website are the official sources to view and download the most recent, full version of the TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index, as well as past editions dating to 2006, free of charge.
MORE COMMENTS FROM TEA Judith Rubin, editor of the report and director of publications for TEA said, “The TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index stands as an invaluable and meticulously researched business and educational resource. Members of the media, researchers, analysts, industry companies, operators and investors, students and many others turn to it year-round for statistics, industry background and insight. Now in its 14th annual edition, it shares a wealth of historical and current information."
TEA International Board President Michael Blau of Adirondack Studios said, "The TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index is an important aspect of how our global membership association serves the global industry with information and resources. TEA values its continuing partnership with AECOM."
TEA/AECOM COLLABORATION Since 2006, TEA and AECOM have collaborated to produce and publish the annual TEA/AECOM Theme Index and make the report available free as a resource and reference for business and education. It was expanded to include the Museum Index in 2012. The TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index is a definitive and widely cited global resource benefiting the international attractions industry and many other sectors including financial, real estate, education, hospitality, retail, travel and tourism. It is a vital reference for the media. It is published in PDF format on the TEA and AECOM websites, and in a limited print edition.
About AECOM AECOM is the world's premier infrastructure firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from planning, design and engineering to consulting and construction management. We partner with our clients in the public and private sectors to solve their most complex challenges and build legacies for generations to come. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, governments, energy and the environment, our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm with revenue of approximately .2 billion during fiscal year 2019. See how we deliver what others can only imagine at aecom.com and @AECOM.
ABOUT THE THEMED ENTERTAINMENT ASSOCIATION Through its activities in the global themed entertainment community, TEA helps lead the conversation about how great guest experiences are conceived and realized, and helps focus attention on themed entertainment as a vital niche of popular culture and its essential role in global economic development. As a nonprofit membership association representing the creators of compelling places and experiences worldwide, TEA encompasses some 1,800 member companies and produces a full calendar of conferences and events including the prestigious, annual TEA Thea Awards. TEA was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in the Los Angeles area. Visit teaconnect.org and @tea_connect. #TEAthemeindex #TEAdigital
Seagull Scientific, maker of BarTender software, today announced the release of BarTender Starter Edition, the newest addition to their product lineup.
Designed to help small businesses and departments, Starter Edition is built on the same BarTender technology that the world’s largest and most demanding enterprise environments trust to power their mission-critical labeling. Starter Edition features a straightforward, easy-to-understand way to create labels that use dynamic data sourced from databases like Excel or CSV, making it ideal for brands enrolled in the Amazon Transparency program.
“Starter Edition offers capabilities that no other software on the market does,” said Harold Boe, Seagull Scientific’s president and CEO. “Unlike other products geared to the small business sector, it supports multiple users across multiple computers with the ability to update, modify and print templates. That’s a differentiator that we think creates significant value for users who are looking for a solution that can scale and grow as their business does — they can add more advanced features when needed with a simple upgrade to a more powerful edition.”
With Starter Edition, new users can be up and running in minutes using BarTender’s intuitive design tools, smart wizards, built-in business logic and an extensive library of sample label templates. The product enables +1 / -1 incremental serialization for product traceability and regulatory compliance, and includes sophisticated design tools and over 400 preformatted, ready-to-use components based on 105 barcode symbologies and more than a dozen standards.
The BarTender Starter Edition is available through an extensive global network of resellers and partners. For more information, visit the Seagull Scientific website.
About BarTender by Seagull Scientific BarTender software by Seagull Scientific transforms data into the labels, barcodes, documents and RFID that drive business. Hundreds of thousands of companies in supply chain, manufacturing, chemicals, healthcare, food and beverage, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, logistics and other industries trust BarTender with the labeling and marking processes that keep their businesses running.
With corporate headquarters and software development in Bellevue, Washington, USA, and branch offices in Madrid, Taipei and Tokyo, BarTender is available in more than 150 countries through a global network of local partners.
Xuron Corp. has introduced a new, ergonomic cutter especially designed for cutting cable ties and leaving smooth and flat ends without spikes, to prevent people from being scratched and injured.
The Xuron® Model 2275 Quick-Cutter features the patented Micro-Shear® bypass cutting technology that cuts cable ties square rather than pinching them and leaving spikes which can cut or scratch people. Designed for rapidly cutting cable ties, regardless of their application, this tool provides a full cutting capacity along the entire length of their blades.
Ergonomically designed with the proper cutting leverage, the Xuron® Model 2275 Quick-Cutter has soft rubber hand grips that are comfortable to hold in either hand, a Light-Touch™ return spring, and no awkward finger loops. Originally developed for the cabling harness industry, it is ideally suited for attaching signs and shades, securing tote boxes, and many other uses.
The Xuron® Model 2275 Quick-Cutter sells for .95 (sugg. list). Literature is available upon request. Distributor and dealer inquiries are invited.
ChargeAfter, the leading technology platform for Multi-lender Point of Sale Financing today announced a partnership with Visa to integrate with the Cybersource payment management platform. ChargeAfter is also launching Visa’s installment solutions on the ChargeAfter financing platform in the US.
The strategic partnership enables Cybersource’s merchants worldwide to now access and offer consumers more choice and flexibility in the way they pay through personalized point of sale consumer financing. With its global reach, modern capabilities and commerce insights, the Cybersource digital platform offers payment management capabilities to merchants and acquirers in over 190 countries and territories around the world.
With the launch of Visa’s installment solutions on the ChargeAfter platform, participating U.S. merchants can offer their customers an installment payment experience at checkout using a Visa card they already have in their wallet. Eligible Visa cardholders will have the option to divide their total purchase amount into smaller, equal payments over a defined time period. 42nd Street Photo and Tire Agent are already offering Visa’s installments solutions to their US buyers through ChargeAfter.
“As COVID-19 continues to change retail as we know it and drive more shopping online, merchants are adapting to the new realities of online payments; offering alternative payment methods for consumers who are expecting affordable financing options to help them complete their purchases now and pay later,” said Meidad Sharon, CEO of ChargeAfter. “Our collaboration with Visa is a giant leap forward in bringing quick, convenient, accessible, and safe payments to consumers when and where they are ready to purchase - online or in-store. By combining ChargeAfter’s financing platform with Visa’s solutions, we have created a powerful network for multi-lender Point-of-Sale Financing.”
This announcement follows Visa’s investment in ChargeAfter and partnership that was announced in February 2020 to distribute point of sale financing through Visa’s global network of acquirers, gateways, and financial institutions. Working together, the companies aim to further the distribution of consumer financing tools and help merchants drive higher transactions, and approve upwards of 85% of POS financing applications.
“We’re delighted to continue the momentum of our collaboration with ChargeAfter and bring innovative solutions to our clients globally to help them meet an increased consumer demand for simple and flexible payment options,” said Shahar Friedman, Head of Visa Innovation Studio, Tel Aviv. “Through our global collaboration efforts, we aim to make it easier for merchants and acquirers to use Visa’s Cybersource and installment solutions to offer a range of personalized financing options to their consumers at the point of sale, empowering their customers to manage their payments in a way that works best for their unique needs.”
About ChargeAfter ChargeAfter is a leading multi-lender financing platform connecting retailers and lenders to offer shoppers personalized financing options at the checkout.
With its data-driven decisioning engine and network of global lenders, ChargeAfter delivers the most relevant financing offers to consumers from multiple lenders based on credit type – resulting in credit approvals for up to 85% of customer applications. ChargeAfter streamlines the distribution of credit into a single platform that retailers can implement swiftly both online and in-store. The company’s growing lender network offers seamless integration to lenders seeking to grow their customer base while expanding into new retail markets.
ChargeAfter investors include PICO Venture Partners, Propel Venture Partners, Visa, MUFG, BBVA, Synchrony Financial, and Plug and Play VC.
Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, ChargeAfter has offices in Dallas, New York, and Tel Aviv.
Kin Insurance, the insurance technology company that’s simplifying home insurance, today announced its latest innovation: condo insurance for Florida. Condo and townhome owners can apply online now at Kin’s website and get a quote in minutes with their address and a few details.
The new insurance product, designed exclusively for Florida condo owners, is a continuation of the company’s top-rated homeowners insurance experience: easy online signup, digital policy management, stress-free claim payments, and customer service that outshines every insurer.
“Our goal is always to create a product that reflects the needs of real homeowners. What’s exciting about our condo product is how customer-centric it is,” said Sean Harper, CEO and co-founder of Kin. “We want to reach as many condo owners as possible and show them a superior insurance experience.”
Kin can quote townhouses, rowhouses, or high-rise units, regardless of whether the condo is used as a primary, seasonal, or home-share residence. The company can even insure condo units that are owned by LLCs or trusts. That’s a stark contrast to most condo products available today – many insurance companies don’t cover seasonal use, short-term rental risks, or property owned by a trust.
Kin condo insurance policies offer open-perils coverage for the dwelling, protecting units for hurricane wind damage, fire, theft, vandalism, and much more. Policies also include coverage for personal property, loss of use, personal liability, medical payments, and loss assessments, a necessary safeguard for condo owners who might face unexpected expenses levied by their homeowners association.
To learn more about Kin’s brand-new condo product or to get a quote, visit kin.com/condo-insurance.
About Kin Kin Insurance is an insurance technology company that exists to change home insurance from what it is to what it should be. Founded in 2016 by seasoned financial technology entrepreneurs Sean Harper, Lucas Ward, and Stephen Wooten, Kin leverages thousands of property data points to customize coverage and prices through a super simple user experience. Kin manages the Kin Interinsurance Network (KIN), a licensed insurance carrier and reciprocal exchange owned by its customers who share in the underwriting profit. Because of its efficient technology and direct-to-consumer model, Kin provides exceptionally low prices without compromising coverage. The company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an office in St. Petersburg, Florida, and is currently hiring in both offices. For more information, visit http://www.kin.com.
This class is designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, consultants, and marketers looking to generate more leads, website traffic, and brand recognition online.
“In today’s current climate, now is a great time to work on reaching your target audience through the accessibility of this program,” explained Darcy Sullivan of Propel Marketing & Design.
Sullivan continued, “The program is designed to provide quick wins and long-term digital marketing strategies that will ensure your business goals are met.”
Through Ready. Set. Rank! students will be able to experience the best of online learning from the comforts of home and at a lower price than ever before.
The program is designed to radically propel a brand’s online presence and website’s organic rankings in just 12 weeks with a proven 3-step program.
The program comes in three stacks, each section building on top of the other:
Stack #1 – Ready.
Students clarify their business-offering and wrap their head around what digital marketing tactics are working for them and against them
Spy on their competition to find out what’s driving traffic form their brand
Discover how and where to find ideal customers with clarity
Learn how advancing technologies like mobile, social media, voice search, Rank Brain, AI, and others are a driving force for search engines and how to leverage them (without feeling like you’re in a tech tizzy)
Stack #2 – Set.
Set their website up to perform in a way that’s appetizing to website visitors and in a Google-friendly style
Complete a step-by-step website audit to find where SEO improvements can be made
Follow the foolproof formula to improve website rankings
Stake claim on the right social media sites to gain maximum exposure
Develop an easy-to-implement content strategy to ramp up webpage rankings
Learn how to write content in a way that both Google and your audience will love
Stack #3 – Rank!
Find which online directories are worth students’ time and how to submit information to online directories properly
Come up with a simple plan of action to start generating rave reviews online
Get high-quality website backlinks
Learn the process of creating external distribution channels to get in front of potential new customers
Learn what’s important to measure through website analytics, without drowning in data
During this program, Propel Marketing & Design will highlight some of the core elements of creating an SEO plan that truly works for all types of organizations.
This program is ideal for any business that is just getting started with SEO or currently running an active campaign. To avoid missing out on this course at its lowest price ever, it is suggested to register as soon as possible.
About Propel Marketing & Design, Inc. Propel Marketing & Design, Inc. is a full-service internet marketing agency, located in Boynton Beach, Florida, that specializes in SEO (Search Engine Optimization), social media, website design, email campaigns, search engine marketing, public relations, graphic design, and marketing workshops. Propel works with clients to create effective and unique marketing strategies to help raise their online profile and support their business objectives. For more information please visit http://www.propelyourcompany.com.
Contact: Propel Marketing & Design, Inc. (800)943-2346 533 E. Ocean Ave. Suite #1 Boynton Beach, Florida 33435
The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) has announced several changes to this year’s National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for America’s public lands, in light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Due to social distancing requirements remaining in place for the foreseeable future, many public lands sites will be unable to host large, in-person NPLD events,” said Meri-Margaret Deoudes, president and CEO of NEEF. “As always, our primary concern remains the health and safety of all those involved in NPLD events, including site managers and volunteers. With this in mind, we are excited to announce that NEEF is embracing our ‘new normal’ by expanding the available options for volunteers during this year’s NPLD on September 26, 2020.”
NPLD 2020 will include virtual events designed to connect the public to iconic parks, national forests, marine estuaries, and other public lands sites. These online events will serve as an alternative for NPLD site managers who are uncomfortable with or are not allowed to host in-person events due to local regulations. This will also provide an avenue for volunteer engagement to those who may not normally be able to participate.
NPLD 2020 Virtual Events will be tied to specific public lands sites at the federal, state, and local levels, and will be hosted by a qualified guide—such as park or forest rangers or local conservation group member—who will help lead participants through the event and answer any questions they may have. NEEF is collaborating with its federal and established NPLD partners to cultivate virtual events, including live discussions with rangers and conservationists, educational projects for children of all ages, and virtual tours of national parks, marine sanctuaries, and other awe-inspiring outdoor spaces.
In addition, NEEF is bringing back its popular NPLD Highlighted Site Sponsorship to support individual events taking place on NPLD. Sponsorship funds will be awarded through a competitive process.
“This year’s sponsorship will focus on providing funding to public land sites that host innovative and high-quality virtual events that emphasize active engagement rather than passive activities,” said Kevin Butt, senior director, Environmental Sustainability, at Toyota, the national corporate NPLD sponsor. “Virtual volunteers will be able to participate in multiple events on NPLD that will create a positive impact to conservation from the comfort and safety of their homes.”
Though NEEF is embracing virtual events for NPLD 2020, public land sites that wish to host in-person events—in accordance with local rules and regulations regarding COVID-19—can still register their event on the NEEF website and take advantage of the resources and promotional tools.
“COVID-19 has upended many aspects of daily life in this country, and our public lands are no exception,” said Deoudes. “NEEF greatly appreciates the outpouring of support we have received from our partners and supporters as we work to adapt our NPLD 2020 plans during this unprecedented time. We look forward to another successful NPLD this year.”
Superstar comedian Kevin Hart is investing in Detroit beverage maker Nailah Ellis and Ellis Island Tea.
Ellis Island Tea is an all-natural beverage, handcrafted from a recipe inspired by Ellis’s Jamaican great-grandfather, who came to America through Ellis Island more than 100 years ago. Made with real herbs, including hibiscus, Ellis Island Tea is rich, red, smooth and flavorful.
The story always matters to Hart. An artist and an author, Hart knows an audience looks for truth and a way to connect. So, when Ellis introduced him to her family tea, he was intrigued.
The tea’s history and Ellis’s own backstory of starting with nothing at the age of 20, brewing tea in her mother’s kitchen and selling it from the trunk of her car around Detroit resonated with Hart. Hart’s own story is one of resilience and perseverance – working small clubs and honing his craft for years before becoming a bankable star who commands million-plus a movie.
“There were a lot of people pulling for Nailah,” said Hart, who was impressed by the Detroiter’s determination and hustle. “Her name just kept coming up and coming across my radar. So, I figured there had to be something to it.”
Ellis won BET’s Queen Boss business competition and her company’s growth has been chronicled in national media, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, MSNBC, The Financial Times, The Root 100 and Black Enterprise. Accolades and awards have poured in, but Ellis has always focused on building a business that endures.
Today, Ellis has her own Detroit beverage production facility and is the largest Black female beverage manufacturer in the United States. Her tea is an emerging national brand sold by retail giants Sam’s Club and Costco and airport concessioners across the country.
Hart’s investment comes at a critical time – Ellis Island Tea will be rolling out in Walmart this month and will soon debut in Target and CVS. With Hart’s backing, sleek new packaging, competitive pricing, and new e-commerce options, Ellis expects rapid growth.
Ellis has always given a nod to the man who inspired the recipe for Ellis Island Tea – her Jamaican Great-Grandfather Cyril Byron.
“Cyril’s story is one of a true risk taker. He came here with nothing but his dreams,” Ellis said. “He went on to become a head chef on Marcus Garvey’s Black Star Line and then the owner of Byron Caterers, one of the most successful Black-owned catering businesses in the Bronx.”
Cyril was an optimist, an activist, an entrepreneur and a pragmatist, she said. When he passed down his tea recipe for future generations, Cyril said ‘This recipe is to be sold, not told.’
Hart also is a big believer in building for the future. The soon-to-be father of four has said that “You’re supposed to set up for the next generation…if you’re not doing that, you’re not doing your part.”
Ellis takes that seriously as well. She is building upon the dreams of her ancestors, hoping to pass on a legacy to her two young daughters. She’s also proud to be providing jobs for Detroiters like herself.
“We all need opportunity,” she said. “I’ve been given mine and now I’m paying it forward and providing that for others.”
ABOUT ELLIS ISLAND TEA Ellis Island Tea is the only Jamaican Sweet Tea made in America. It is an all-natural bottled tea made from hibiscus with a smooth, refreshing flavor. Ellis Island Tea comes sweetened with pure sugar cane and honey or in an unsweetened version that is crisp and tart.
When she founded her company back in 2008, Nailah Ellis realized a lifelong dream to become an entrepreneur. Brewing Ellis Island Tea continues a family legacy. The tea is based on a recipe created by her Great-Grandfather Cyril Byron, a Jamaican immigrant, chef and entrepreneur who told his family the recipe was to be “Sold, not told.” Ellis-Brown honors those words every day working from her company headquarters in Detroit where the tea is brewed.
The world is decades behind in pandemic readiness. Entrepreneurs can help. The Pandemic Impact Fund will put private investment to work in early stage tech companies with innovative solutions to detect, mitigate and respond to pandemics, and to build a more resilient future.
The pandemic has impacted everyone and everything: how we live, work, learn, socialize, exercise, travel, raise our children. The Pandemic Impact Fund will focus on four areas of pandemic readiness:
Know Faster: It took too long. The Fund will invest in startups that can speed identification of a potential pandemic and understand its movement through a population via surveillance, testing, analytics, population health, GIS, AI.
Fix it Faster: Velocity matters - even before an epidemic reaches pandemic scale. The Fund will seek startups working on rapid drug development platforms, novel disinfection technology, medical devices that can speed recovery, contact tracing and social distancing apps/tools, mobile and telemedicine.
Make Work, Work: Work, and consequently the economy, have suffered. The Fund will invest in technologies that help keep the economy (and life) running during a crisis including teleconnection, collaboration, business continuity, EdTech, robotics, HR tech.
Do Better Next Time: COVID-19 has exposed cracks in life as we knew it. The Fund sees these as opportunities including timely and accurate communication, food and toilet paper security, supply chain, process & manufacturing resilience.
The veteran team of investors includes Peter Adams, co-author of Venture Capital for Dummies, Wiley, 2013, and executive director of the Rockies Venture Network. With over 125 investments across 50+ companies over the last 5 years alone, including needle-free injection startup, PharmaJet, and telehealth provider, CirrusMD. The investment team has a honed process and a passion for accelerating impact while targeting top quartile returns. Peter commented, “We decided to take the same advice we give our portfolio companies: Success requires focus! Our focus now is pandemics because we can’t afford to get this wrong next time, whether a subsequent surge or the next pandemic.”
"An entrepreneurial and collaborative culture drives Colorado’s innovation,” commented Katie Woslager, Senior Manager of Advanced Industries at the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, “That same spirit can be found in the Pandemic Impact Fund. Colorado innovates its way through adversity, and this fund offers a vital source of capital for startups leading the way forward to pandemic solutions and resilience."
For more information regarding the Pandemic Impact Fund, please contact Sue Stash at 303-589-8135 or sue@pandemicimpactfund.com or visit our website at https://pandemicimpactfund.com/.
About the Pandemic Impact Fund: The Pandemic Impact Fund, L.P. is a 0 million Delaware limited partnership fund investing in early stage, tech startup companies addressing pandemic detection, mitigation and response and future resilience. Its portfolio companies will make significant contributions to pandemic readiness while delivering venture returns, with or without a pandemic.
Securities Notice The material provided herein is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any interests in the Fund or any other securities. Any such offering of the Fund will be made only in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Fund's Private Placement Memorandum. Prior to investing, investors are strongly urged to review carefully the Private Placement Memorandum (including the risk factors described therein), the Limited Partnership Agreement and the Subscription Documents, to ask such questions of the Investment Manager as they deem appropriate, and to discuss any prospective investment in the Fund with their legal and tax advisers in order to make an independent determination of the suitability and consequences of an investment. The fund is operating under a Regulation D 506C exemption from SEC registration.
Philadelphia Digital Marketing Powerhouse Media Components – Launches Curis Digital, a full-service Brand Strategy and Digital Marketing company focusing on HomeCare Agencies, Dental and Medical Spas and Aesthetic Practices. “Having an already robust portfolio of clients within the Greater Philadelphia area in these categories made our decision to expand services for their growing needs much easier,” said Denis Sinelnikov, President and Founder of Media Components. “In a time where precise messaging, strategic content and more dialed-in marketing tactics is needed more than ever. Curis Digital will provide that hands-on and enhanced level of service,” continued Sinelnikov.
Being an entrepreneur requires expertise, business savvy and a keen insight to grow an enterprise, but the reality is that the most intrepid and well-intentioned owners and doctors are typically expert in one thing – their own area of specialization. “Curis Digital is just the partner that every healthcare practitioner needs to identify their key market segments, engage them, then convert new business in today’s new marketplace,” said Rocco Iacobellis, Chief Marketing Officer of Curis. With a history of digital marketing experience to a variety of industries, Curis Digital was created from the legacy and continued success of its parent company Media Components who has been delivering full-service brand strategy and digital marketing solutions for over 20 years. Curis means healthcare in Latin and as such, the perfect defining name of this organization.
Today, healthcare practices can look to Curis Digital for brand strategy consulting, website development, social media, SEO|SEM, video production and expert content development. For more information about how Curis Digital can help your practice grow and profit, check us out at CurisDigital.com or contact us at (215) 396-3307. It's never too late to gain a winning edge! We’ll get back to your inquiry as well on info@curisdigital.com
Mnet Health, the leading end-to-end payment solutions and patient billing services provider for the surgical industry, reports that it saw an increase in total patient payment by 1.6% compared to the period prior to Covid-19.
Despite the coronavirus crisis, more patients either paid in full, made larger payments, or established payment plans:
Payment in full increased by 2.0%
Payment size increased by 3.3%
Payment plans established increased by 13.3%
The current pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of people’s lives and consumer spending is no exception. The way patients seek out and pay for care is changing dramatically due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lockdown measures and infection risks have restricted what consumers can spend money on. With restaurants and shops being shut and air travel being suspended, spending is generally down across many, if not all, industries.
Consumers became less inclined to spend more on non-essentials. Many expect their household income to continue to fall in the coming months as 1.5 million Americans filed new unemployment claims for the week ending June 13.
Last year, nearly one quarter of Americans reported having unpaid or past-due medical bills. Millions are now facing some tough choices like determining which bills to pay and which to put off. But why the increase in patient payments during the pandemic?
Here’s what Mnet discovered:
More patients are staying at home and are easier to contact. Even after the lockdown restrictions were eased, they were far more available and easier to be reached. Mnet’s patient contact percentages went up by 44.6% as a result.
This trend is in line with patients increasingly using telehealth and online shopping. Even as local officials lift restrictions, many people are still wary and plan to wait longer before resuming their old routines.
Patients have more time to devote to resolving their balance. Oftentimes in order to resolve a balance, the patient and Mnet would need to communicate with the insurance company. This process typically takes extra time and hasn’t always been easy to accomplish with patient’s busy schedules and the limited time to make contact with insurance companies.
However, during the pandemic, Mnet’s length of time on the phone with patients increased by 5.6%. This means longer and more meaningful conversations with patients which also led to more payment in full and more payment plans established.
With the pandemic, patients have had more time to sit down and review their finances. According to the latest TransUnion Financial Hardship Report, 60% of consumers plan to reach out to the companies that manage their accounts to discuss payment plans.
Patients are concerned with keeping their account in good standing to protect their credit and are changing their behavior as they spend less on vacationing and eating out. Instead, they are using their money to pay down debt and keep their credit lines open.
A recent survey by Money Done Right and Google Consumer Surveys showed that 43 percent of Americans plan to use their stimulus money to pay off debt. The CARES Act provided stimulus checks of ,200 to individuals with annual income below ,000 and ,400 to married couples filing taxes jointly who earn under 0,000.
A recent Harris Poll also found that nearly one-half of Americans (48%) are concerned the virus-induced recession would impact their credit score.
During these uncertain times, more patients wanted to pay in full or establish a payment plan. Patients from all financial classes expressed that they wanted to pay their provider as well as protect their credit.
Patients are expressing gratitude to those on the frontlines in the healthcare system who are working tirelessly to take care of their local community. Some healthcare workers in certain states do not even receive extra hazard or crisis pay for working during the pandemic.
Patients have made it clear that they are showing their gratitude for hard working medical professional heroes by paying their financial responsibility in a timely fashion. Mnet has received more thanks and appreciation for the medical staff who attended them in calls with patients.
Overall, patient-pay performed at a much greater rate than the pre-coronavirus months of June. The pandemic has put the healthcare industry in the spotlight and has caused patients to rethink their financial situation in these unprecedented times.
With its mission to help patients pay, Mnet will continue to track patient payment performances closely.
How healthcare providers help patients pay during this time of crisis will have a lasting impact on their business and the communities in the future.
About Mnet Health
Mnet is a revenue cycle service & technology provider partnering with the surgical industry to provide custom patient-pay solutions to surgical hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and management companies. As of 2020, Mnet is serving over 700 surgical facilities nationwide both directly and in support of centralized billing offices. Mnet’s brand, PaySUITE, is a platform of payment technologies that helps providers improve the patient financial experience while boosting collections performance. For more information, visit https://mnethealth.com/.
We believe every patient deserves a helpful, transparent, easy to navigate financial experience in healthcare.
New year, new (and improved) website. In June 2020 AmeriCash Loans invited customers to explore its brand-new website. The launch of the new AmeriCashLoans.net unveils a completely retooled digital experience.
Understanding the need for faster speeds and improved navigation, AmeriCash Loans’ new website features a modern design that lets customers quickly find and access important information. The lender’s commitment to its customer-first approach was a driving force behind the redesign, which promises faster loading speeds on all user platforms. It’s the latest in AmeriCash Loans’ efforts to meet its customers’ needs while exceeding their expectations.
“We are so excited to launch the new AmeriCashLoans.net for a better customer experience” says an AmeriCash Loans company spokesman. “The website design was created to give our customers access to the application, informative blogs, and new additional information in a clean format that is easy and fast to navigate.”
Although the web address remains the same, “AmeriCashLoans.net,” customers can expect a dramatically different look with the new minimalistic design and the addition of new pages. They can seamlessly discover everything from nearby physical locations, customer reviews, and new financial content.
Best of all, loading times are faster than ever. No matter if customers access the website on tablets, mobile devices or desktop computers, they can experience reliable speed as they click through the site and log into their customer portal. If a question ever arises, customers can contact a customer support representative directly through the forum on the website or simply access their phone and e-mail at the bottom of each webpage.
The new and improved AmeriCashLoans.net is designed for everyone in mind, from applicants to returning customers, to curious minds looking for information through the variety of blogs offered on the AmeriCash Loans website. These educational blogs provide key insights on a range of topics. The blogs are a go-to resource for anyone interested in learning more about the lender’s products and services, how to save money, tips on making (and sticking to) a budget, notices about events happening in the community, and giveaways.
Strong community ties are another part of what sets AmeriCash Loans apart. During the 2019 holiday season, the lender sponsored several drives in the communities in which it resides, including a “Stuff the Bus” event to collect nonperishable food items ahead of Thanksgiving and a “Christmas Wish” event to help a local Chicago family’s Christmas wish come true.
About AmeriCash Loans
AmeriCash Loans has come a long way since it opened the doors to its first location in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1997. From expanding to include online applications to opening neighborhood stores in more than 60 convenient locations, AmeriCash has continually strived to change and adapt to best meet the needs of its customers. As this lender keeps growing, the website will keep evolving and updating to ensure a top-notch experience to new and repeat customers.
Consumers can apply for loans in person at a location near them, or online at http://www.AmeriCashLoans.net/Apply. Questions? Call 888-907-4227 to speak with an experienced representative.
LogRhythm, the company powering today’s security operations centers (SOCs), announced that its RhythmWorld 2020 user conference will take place as an entirely virtual event from Sept. 22–24. Now in its fourth year, RhythmWorld is the ultimate conference for security professionals across industries looking to grow as a practitioner and improve their organization’s security operations. Attendance is completely free, and registration is officially open to LogRhythm customers, partners and members of the security community.
RhythmWorld 2020 will provide deep-dive learning sessions, comprehensive training, access to technical LogRhythm experts, and feature an epic capture the flag event. Sessions attendees should look forward to sessions such as:
Thinking Like the Adversary to Thwart Cyberattacks
Threat Hunting with MITRE ATT&CK Technique ‘X’
Women in Security Power Panel
Live Red and Blue Teaming in LogRhythm
In addition, LogRhythm executives — including CEO Mark Logan, Chief Security Officer James Carder, and Chief Marketing Officer Cindy Zhou — will host panels and fireside chats with leading security executives, including:
Abid Adam, group chief risk & compliance officer of Axiata Group Berhad
Chris Mitchell, chief information security officer of the City of Houston
Avani Desai, partner and president of Schellman & Company
Kip James, vice president and chief information security officer, global information security, TTEC
“LogRhythm is committed to providing our global community with the cybersecurity resources they need, and we’re excited for more participation from our international customers and partners by holding RhythmWorld virtually,” said Logan. “This security conference is as much about learning from LogRhythm’s own team of experts as it is learning from prominent security industry leaders and fellow attendees. We look forward to providing more of our community with those same quality learning experiences as they’ve come to expect with our in-person events.”
LogRhythm began its RhythmWorld conference series in 2017 to enable its customers to engage in peer-to-peer learning, discover security trends and best practices and help its users maximize their knowledge and use of the LogRhythm NextGen SIEM Platform. Last year, participation increased by over 100 percent, with more than 400 customers and partners in attendance. Ninety-three percent of attendees indicating they gained value by attending the conference, enhancing their security industry knowledge, and expand their use of the LogRhythm NextGen SIEM Platform.
More speakers will be announced over the coming weeks. For more information on the event, to register, or to sponsor the event, please visit logrhythm.com/rhythmworld.
About LogRhythm
LogRhythm empowers more than 4,000 customers across the globe to measurably mature their security operations program. LogRhythm’s award-winning NextGen SIEM Platform delivers comprehensive security analytics; user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA); network detection and response (NDR); and security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) within a single, integrated platform for rapid detection, response, and neutralization of threats. Built by security professionals for security professionals, LogRhythm enables security professionals at leading organizations like NASA, XcelEnergy, and Temple University to promote visibility for their cybersecurity program and reduce risk to their organization each and every day. LogRhythm is the only provider to earn the Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for SIEM designation three years in a row. To learn more, please visit logrhythm.com.
ODU, a worldwide leader in designing and manufacturing high-performance connector solutions and cable assemblies, is introducing to the market ODU SPC 16, the robust single power connector solution.
The ODU SPC 16 is a robust single power high voltage and high current connector. This connector benefits of the ODU LAMTAC technology, a high performance contact system with maximum current carrying capacity.
ODU SPC 16 has a robust housing made of engineered plastics and a bayonet locking system that ensures a quick and easy mating. The single power connector is IP65 in mated condition, can stand currents up to 615A/1,000 V, and has up to 5,000 mating cycles, making it a highly reliable and stable connector solution. Additional product features include: touch proof IP2X, operating temperature range of -40 °C up to +60 °C, crimp termination type for the plug and a screw termination for the receptacle, cable cross section of 150 / 185 / 240 mm² and 6 color coding options.
ODU Group: Global Representation with Perfect Connections The ODU Group is one of the world’s leading suppliers of connector systems, employing 2,300 people around the world. In addition to its company headquarters in Mühldorf am Inn (Germany), ODU also has an international distribution network and production sites in Sibiu/Romania, Shanghai/China and Tijuana/Mexico. ODU combines all relevant areas of expertise and key technologies including design and development, machine tooling and special machine construction, injection, stamping, turning, surface technology, assembly and cable assembly. The ODU Group sells its products globally through its sales offices in China, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Romania, Sweden and the US, as well as through numerous international sales partners. ODU connectors ensure a reliable transmission of power, signals, data and media for a variety of demanding applications including medical technology, military and security, automotive, industrial electronics, and test & measurement.
Tompkins International, a leading supply chain consulting and solutions firm, has announced the launch of SentryCheck, a new solution to help businesses operate safely and effectively amid the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The easily configurable mobile application can prompt users to perform time-sensitive tasks, record critical inputs, automatically send corrective action alerts and more.
“With warehouses operating around the clock to meet customer demands during the pandemic, it is more important than ever for businesses to verify that all processes and procedures are being followed to keep their facilities safe,” said Denny McKnight, CEO of Tompkins International. “By leveraging Tompkins’ 45 years of supply chain experience, SentryCheck provides businesses with the validation they need to ensure the health and safety of their employees and customers throughout COVID-19 and beyond.”
SentryCheck offers complete data transparency with cloud reporting and dashboards, allowing compliance teams to monitor all facilities from a single view. It provides automated tools to ensure all facilities comply with their company’s COVID-19 procedures, including Workplace Entry, Facility Sanitation and Remediation & Communication, as well as other customizable checklists and tasks. Additional features include:
Hourly, daily, weekly and monthly required tasks accessible from any iOS or Android device
Customizable task management checklists for any operational needs
Secure cloud-based storage of all task observations, activities and audit commentary
Corrective action alerts sent immediately via text or email
Photo, video and audio capture with notes for accurate recordkeeping
Consistent and complete reporting and analytics with subscriptions
In addition to the new mobile app, Tompkins International also offers free digital resources to help businesses overcome operational challenges and deliver on customer demands during COVID-19. The company’s COVID-19 Resources hub includes educational and thought leadership content that focuses on the impacts of COVID-19, successful supply chain reinvention strategies and other related topics to help businesses flourish in these uncertain times.
To learn more about SentryCheck or to schedule a demo of the solution, please contact us at info@sentrycheck.com.
About Tompkins International Tompkins International is a global supply chain consulting and solutions firm dedicated to helping clients achieve supply chain excellence and profitable growth. Founded in 1975, Tompkins has integrated its decades of experience in strategy, commerce, logistics and technology into an ecosystem of four business units: Supply Chain Consulting, Material Handling Integration, Robotics and Applied Technologies. By combining best-in-breed services and technologies, Tompkins delivers a true end-to-end supply chain solution enabling clients to improve the customer experience and ensure long-term success. Tompkins is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina and has offices throughout North America and in Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit http://www.tompkinsinc.com.
This week, GoReact—the #1 video-based assessment tool for online curricula—announced four extensions to its video coaching technology for higher education.
GoReact allows students to record themselves demonstrating their level of competence and makes those recordings available to instructors for comment, peer review, and formative assessment. These new capabilities will give students and educators enhanced options for videos to be recorded.
In these times, it’s essential to have as many high-quality options for online education as possible. The recently released tools from GoReact are paving the way for a more flexible, engaging, and equitable learning experience.
“These tools are a timely response to increased demand for video assessment that works with previous classroom models, as well as emerging online and hybrid approaches,” said Brent Bingham, GoReact’s Chief Strategy and Product Officer. “Knowing that educators and students are already coping with so much change right now, we designed these features to be simple, intuitive, and easy to implement.”
The new features include:
Extended Multi-Camera Support: GoReact recording sessions can now host up to nine participants. This feature also allows for more camera angles during presentations, student teaching, performances, and skill demonstrations.
Screen Capture: Presenters can share their computer screen during GoReact recordings. This feature seamlessly allows instructors and students to share documents, images, YouTube videos, applications, and so much more.
Picture-in-Picture: Presenters can overlay the feed from their webcam while simultaneously sharing their computer screen. That means that instructors can still see student presenters while they present what is on their screen when using GoReact’s new screen capture.
Mobile Friendly: To create a more equitable experience, students can now record and leave feedback in GoReact from a mobile browser. Students can join group recordings, leave peer feedback, and view an instructor’s feedback from their smartphones.
As instructors prepare for the upcoming fall semester, these four features are now live and available to users in all regions.
About GoReact GoReact is a Utah-based learning technology company that facilitates video observation, coaching and assessment for rapid skill development and improvement. It’s an incredibly popular platform used in more than 600 colleges and universities worldwide. Visit us at goreact.com or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.
NineLives Group is being launched by Erich Funke. Building his career on running creative departments at agencies such as Chiat Day, FCB, BBDO, Saatchi & Saatchi, Funke’s experience inspired him to launch a new advertising model. This group offers clients the immediate advantage of direct access to a broad, robust global network of talented, experienced ex-agency individuals from every aspect of marketing.
“It’s never been easier to work with great people no matter where they are. I’ve been fortunate enough to work all over the world, fostering relationships with some of the best minds in advertising along the way,” stated Erich. “I realized my experience and network is a huge asset and something both clients and creatives can benefit greatly from. To design it, I listened. To clients, to see what they want from their agencies. And to creatives, to discover how they want to work. The two needs perfectly align - clients want access to the people doing the thinking and they want a more cost effective, nimble process - creatives want ownership from start to finish, working with clients with whom they can build trust.”
NineLives eliminates the expensive redundancies of overpriced office space, unnecessary meetings, and layers of bureaucracy. Instead, team members are hand-selected on a project by project basis. The members have the talent and experience to work together efficiently, quickly and remotely, or in person. With this experience, comes the ability to recognize and develop authentic, strategically big ideas that will resonate and increase brand longevity.
NineLives is placed to disrupt this space and this group is designed to fill the gap for a new business model to better support clients and team members. Essentially, NineLives can scale to fit any advertising or marketing need.
“Now that we are emerging from a global pandemic, the appetite and appreciation for remote work has only increased,” Funke says. “The NineLives Group is filled with all the talent that clients want under one roof and none that they don’t need. It just so happens that our roof is virtual.”
About NineLives Group: NineLives Group was founded by Erich Funke as a reimagined agency model that gives clients and agencies direct access to scalable, custom built award-winning advertising teams, on a project by project basis. This group of proven leaders has worked with clients ranging from Unilever to Apple, Harman, PlayStation, BMW, LUX, Mazda, Wonderbra, Toyota, NUK, Taco Bell, Kellogg’s Jim Beam, Sony and more. The group provides strategic consulting, branding, media, digital, website, and video production services in order to get idea driven content that works across multiple platforms. Breathing new life into brands. For more information, please visit http://www.ninelives.net.
As part of the Technical Partner program, MSI has helped develop RES Forum’s Policy Analytics and Risk modules that allow companies to compare (on an anonymous basis) their risk and assignment policies against all other companies. Currently over 100 organizations have input data. For those companies who have already input responses, they will have the ability to change these, model scenarios and see the impact on overall weight and cost of these changes relative to others.
MSI’s Global Relocation division is a leading provider of relocation and Global Mobility Transformation® solutions to organizations worldwide. MSI has a diverse portfolio of services designed to help companies effectively and strategically meet their mobilization needs.
David Enser (The RES Forum) said, “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Timm Runnion and his team at MSI Global Ttransformation Solutions. The quality and service that MSI delivers to corporate clients and transferees is outstanding and that’s why we are excited to have them as one of our Technical Partners.
Timm Runnion, MSI Chairman said, “We too are delighted to build on the outstanding relationship we have with RES Forum and look forward to collaborating on these excellent tools, providing genuine value to our clients and the broader relocation community.” Kim Raymond, MSI’s SVP Global Talent Strategy added: “RES Forum’s values and culture of collaboration, research and shared learning will continue to resonate well with our clients.”
About RES Forum (http://www.theresforum.com). Created in 2006 as an independent community for International HR & Mobility professionals and is now the largest and most active network, specializing in global mobility survey data, modelling and analytics. Over 1850 members from 820 of the world’s leading companies in 41 countries, all mobility professionals, have joined the RES Forum and are active participants in knowledge sharing in an increasingly growing online community.
About MSI (http://www.msigts.com): MSI helps to transform businesses into highly optimized and well executed organizations that can embrace the ever-changing dynamics of the global economy.
Global corporations depend on MSI’s trusted expertise and managed services capabilities in the specialized areas of:
Global Immigration Domestic Relocation Global Employer Services International Assignments Global Employer Services Mergers & Acquisitions Post-Merger Integration Change Management Globalization Procurement Diversity and Inclusion Recruitment Process Outsourcing Compensation & International Payroll Tax & Equities Business Traveler Compliance Technology & Digital International PEO Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Analytics
Armacell, a global leader in flexible foam for the equipment insulation market and a leading provider of engineered foams, announced the commercial market release of ArmaFlex Ultra with FlameDefense technology, the first flexible elastomeric foam insulation UL Classified as to UL 723 with a 25/50 rating.
Armacell’s innovative FlameDefense technology helps resist burning and reduces smoke development. In the event of fire, materials that are UL 723 classified will burn slower and produce less smoke, giving occupants and first responders precious extra time. With patent pending FlameDefense technology, ArmaFlex Ultra goes beyond the required building codes and international safety regulations, thus furthering the company’s commitment to safety and energy efficiency.
“Safety is at the center of what we stand for at Armacell and as such, we are constantly looking at ways to improve our products while making safety a top priority,” says Ciro Ahumada, Armacell’s Vice President AMERICAS.
Armacell’s commitment to the National Fire Protection Association’s Life Safety Code drove the pursuit of a UL (Underwriter’s Laboratories) Classification Mark, which mandates that materials are evaluated by independent, third-party testing facilities compliant with UL classified testing and auditing requirements.
ArmaFlex Ultra was tested and proven to have 100 percent consistent and compliant results. The UL Classification Mark gives engineers, specifiers and building owners the assurance that ArmaFlex Ultra will perform consistently year after year. Plus, it meets an IMC (International Mechanical Code) third-party certification standard that no other flexible elastomeric insulation manufacturer has met.
“Insulation is a key material in the buildings in which we live and work every day,” comments Shawn Dunahue, General Manager Marketing AMERICAS. “By choosing ArmaFlex Ultra, customers can be confident they are choosing a smarter alternative — tested, proven and classified by rigorous third-party testing standards.”
ArmaFlex Ultra is a closed-cell, plenum-rated insulation. It has exceptional water vapor permeability and thermal properties. Additionally, ArmaFlex Ultra provides moisture resistance and condensation control to prevent moisture from forming on pipes, a common problem that leads to mold, corrosion and water damage in mechanical systems and buildings.
Introduced in January to engineers and specifiers, Armacell’s ArmaFlex Ultra is now available to the North American commercial market and will be sold through its extensive network of insulation distributors. For more information visit http://www.armacell.us.
Ontario Trumansburg Telephone Companies (OTTC) is proud to announce that it has completed its 600-mile Fiber to the Home (FTTH) build in Phelps, Clifton Springs, Trumansburg, Romulus, Interlaken and Ovid, NY. OTTC is also the first independent telephone company in Upstate New York to implement the new FlexNAP™ system from Corning, a leading innovator in materials science, into their FTTH build. This system allows for faster, more reliable fiber installation to both homes and businesses. As a result of its innovative fiber build, OTTC was awarded the FTTXcellence Award during the 2019 Fiber Connect conference.
OTTC’s new OTTC Blast router is being deployed to FTTH customers to provide them with the ultimate whole home wi-fi solution. This router gives the customer complete control of their network with the OTTC Smart Home app. This allows the customer to setup guest wi-fi, utilize parental controls, run speed tests, and manage their home network.
Paul Griswold, President and CEO of OTTC says, “We’re on the cutting edge of fiber technology, and our new OTTC Blast Router will provide customers with the most reliable whole home wi-fi solution.”
“Corning is excited to support OTTC’s most recent FTTH build, and proud that our pre-terminated solutions continue to deliver value in deployments across America,” noted Clark Kinlin, SVP of Corning Optical Communications. “OTTC’s willingness to innovate makes them the ideal partner for deploying next-generation solutions like FlexNAP. We’re looking forward to the countless benefits fiber connectivity will bring to the Ontario-Trumansburg community.”
OTTC has been owned and operated by the Griswold family since 1920, and now has 5 generations operating the company. Known for its innovative communication solutions, our 5 generations of family, have prided ourselves in keeping up with the technological times, the company has undergone many evolutions over its 100 years of operations. This has allowed its current generation the ability to provide customers with the latest high-quality and technically advanced communication services.
To meet the advancing needs of customers, Paul Griswold founded Finger Lakes Technologies Group (FLTG) in 1995. In 1999 the company became one of the earliest Cisco partners, and by the year 2000 the company had become a premier Cisco partner with over 100 Cisco Certifications. FLTG’s 3,000-mile fiber network serviced over 75 cities in Upstate NY, and in 2014 FLTG received the New York State Broadband Award for Fiber Innovation. FLTG was also the recipient of Top Work Place Awards for New York State in 2015, 2016, and 2017. In 2017, FLTG was sold to FirstLight. Now known as OTTC, the company continues to provide the largest privately-owned fiber network in Upstate NY. To stay up to date for promotions and everything fiber to the home related, like OTTC on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/OTTelephone.
# # # The Ontario & Trumansburg Telephone Companies (OTTC) and their subsidiaries form the largest independently-owned telephone Company in New York State, providing phone and internet services to more than 8,000 residential and business customers. Founded in 1920, OTTC is a five generation, family-led business that keeps innovation at its core with nearly 100 years of experience. OTTC offers services in Phelps, Clifton Springs, Trumansburg, Interlaken, Ovid and Romulus. If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Ashley Gustafson at 585-313-9794 or email at ashleyg@ottctel.com .
Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. is expanding again, this time adding a new branch to support our growing operations in the Southeastern United States. Biloxi, Mississippi is now home to the newest Bigge location and will specialize in bare crane rental for Mississippi and Alabama.
The new location will have a wide variety of rough terrain and crawler cranes available for bare rental. Bigge's young and comprehensive fleet includes 80-100-ton capacity Tadano Rough Terrain cranes and 275-330-ton Kobelco Crawler cranes. Combined with the hundreds of cranes capable of being dispatched from the company’s multiple locations around the country and Gulf Cost, Bigge has one of the largest and most modern crane fleets in the US.
Our new Biloxi branch is conveniently positioned at the intersection of Interstate 10 and 110 and will allow us to better serve the region's industrial, commercial and civil infrastructure projects with our Perfect Fleet equipment and 100+ years of heavy lift expertise. To contact Bigge about bare crane rental in Mississippi or Alabama, please visit Biloxi Crane Rental location page, or call us at (228) 265-7497.
We are hiring new staff for the Biloxi location. Interested parties should apply through the Bigge Careers portal.
About Bigge Crane and Rigging Co.
For more than 100 years, Bigge has been one of America’s premier global crane sales, crane rental, and project services companies. Our innovative specialized project teams have also provided heavy lift, heavy rigging, specialized transportation equipment, and innovative engineering solutions for some of the most challenging projects across the US. Bigge currently owns and maintains the largest inventory of new and used cranes for sale in the country. To learn more, visit http://www.bigge.com.
VertiMax, the world leader in sports performance, functional, and rehabilitative training systems, announced their new virtual certification set to release in July 2020.
VertiMax, firmly committed to supporting and educating the Sports Performance and Fitness community, has created a new virtual certification to support customers and distributors around the world in using VertiMax Platforms and Raptors.
Influenced by recent changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, VertiMax understands that high-quality virtual training has become a necessity for the global sports performance and fitness marketplace. The VertiMax Digital Certification is already approved by the American Council of Exercise, for 0.6 credits and VertIMax is currently in the process of submitting the course to be pre-approved through NASM and AFAA as well.
VertiMax will continue to offer its more hands-on in-person certifications, which were launched in 2019, through its team of accomplished Master Trainers. The American Council on Exercise and NASM has accredited the in-person certification courses and will extend credits to professionals for the new digital certifications as well.
"The Sports Performance and Fitness community are seeking educational opportunities during this time. Adding to their knowledge base, bringing more value to their training and advancing their resumes are all great attributes to attending digital education courses'" Says Jessie Ehren, VertiMax International Training Coordinator. "Attendees will learn training skills and programming with an accredited course conducted by our U.S. Master Trainers."
"This new wave of learning has driven the team to launch its virtual VertiMax Certification Course earlier than planned," says Bryan K. O'Rourke, an executive and investor in VertiMax through his private equity fund Vedere Ventures. "With live events being postponed and canceled, VertiMax took the opportunity to convert the full-day, in-person course with the help of Inspire360 as the host platform along with video tutorials, articles, slides, and assessments."
VertiMax offered digital support throughout the shutdown via their training App, which covers multiple sports and includes in-season and off-season training. "As schools and facilities were forced to close and group gatherings were limited, parents of athletes and fitness enthusiasts sought ways to continue their own or their athletes' training journeys," says Al Marez, COO of VertiMax. "With the support of the VertiMax App, individuals who did not have the experience and elite knowledge were able to coach and conduct their own VertiMax workouts. VertiMax thanks everyone who has adjusted to the new changes and continues to keep performance and fitness a focus as we keep a positive mindset. See you back on the field and court in no time!”
Gary Oleinik, Director of Sales and Marketing of Perform Better UK, said, "As we adapt to unprecedented times, the need for solid online training resources is higher than ever. Virtual training allows us to better serve our clients by adding the value of education when selling top sports performance technology like the VertiMax range."
"VertiMax Certified virtual training supports our customers to the highest level post-sale by providing them with all the tools needed to be a successful Vertimax user," said Oleinik. "We at Perform Better pride ourselves on implementing the best cutting-edge sports tech available and support our clients with the highest quality sports science support. That is what VertiMax offers."
The VertiMax App contains 100's of videos, fitness workouts, and pre-season/in-season/off-season sports programming is available onsite or by downloading on your iOS or Android App Store.
VertiMax provides sports, functional, and rehabilitative training solutions to fitness facilities, training centers, and high school and college athletic programs, including for use by student and professional athletes at home or on the field. Thousands of US high schools and 80% of D1 universities utilize VertiMax technologies and platforms, including their portable Raptor product. Over 40% of professional US sports teams like the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots, among others, utilize the technology extensively.
StormwateRx, in exclusive partnership with Frog Creek Partners, is proud to announce the availability of our newest stormwater treatment product, the patented Frontline™ family of drain inlet inserts.
Frontline™ is available in two common industrial configurations, the Frontline™ CBI (Catch Basin Insert) and the Frontline™ TDI (Trench Drain Insert) both of which offer the same simple installation, operation and high performance that is common to the other StormwateRx products.
Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, StormwateRx, a Newterra Company, designs, manufactures, installs, and maintains stormwater treatment products for customers worldwide. By adding Frontline to the Clara®, Aquip®, Purus®, and Zinc-B-Gone® product lineup, StormwateRx offers industrial facilities the most comprehensive line of industrial stormwater treatment products on the market to aid in compliance with stormwater discharge regulations such as the Multisector General Permit and the Industrial Stormwater General Permit.
Frontline is the first line of defense against trash, oil, hydrocarbons, nutrients, and metals in stormwater runoff. Designed specifically for industrial applications, Frontline offers the best performance and largest adjustable over?ow of any drain inlet insert on the market. Its flexible design fits under the existing storm grate in a drop inlet or a trench drain configuration. Frontline is easy to install—just insert the frame and pollutant filtration devices into your existing storm drain inlet.
Frontline™ is built to last and easy to maintain. Its super-duty, stainless steel construction is designed for years of rugged industrial use. Maintenance takes just a few minutes with readily available, off-the-shelf, replacement filtration and StormwateRx-formulated media inserts. The filtration bags are available for deep or shallow catch basins while the media can be configured to your site’s needs and replaced into the same housing by one person. Monitoring is a breeze using the optional sample port.
Frog Creek Partners president and founder, Brian Deurloo, states, “Stormwater pollution is a difficult problem to solve. Our team believes that an arrangement between Frog Creek Partners and StormwateRx will create immense value for industrial facilities seeking reliable stormwater filtration solutions. StormwateRx and Newterra have a great track record in the water industry and we appreciate the opportunity to become a part of their product lineup.”
Frog Creek Partners is an environmental technology manufacturing company that creates innovative products to remove pollution from stormwater.
Frog Creek is mission driven and dedicated to improving the health of watersheds by building long-term relationships with clients, partners, and anybody else who has a passion for clean water like we do. Because “Clean Water is a Good Thing™.”
With Frontline™, backed by StormwateRx’s proven stormwater expertise and Frog Creek Partner’s manufacturing know-how, you can stop industrial pollutants at the door, keeping your site cleaner and boosting the performance and runtime longevity of your downstream treatment best management practices.
The legacy of multi-generational poverty among American families is reaching worrisome levels. Multi-generational poverty is defined as a family having lived in poverty for at least two generations. According to the 2018 U.S. Census, 38.1 million Americans live below the poverty line while a survey conducted by the American Payroll Association found that 74% of the population is living paycheck-to-paycheck.(1)(2) People trapped in a cycle of generational poverty are focused on surviving day-to-day, not planning for the future but tackling their current situation. Jeff Mount, CEO of Real Intelligence LLC, says this can lead to a feeling of pessimism and loss of hope for the future.
“Growing up in a lower middle-class household, I was constantly told I would never be able to achieve much,” Mount said. “Never be able to be a competitive athlete, never be able to attend a great college, never be able to own my own business, never be able to retire. Children in lower and lower-middle class neighborhoods hear this constantly.”
In addition to feelings of hopelessness about the future and the everyday stress of how to pay the bills, people living in poverty often face more health problems due to excessive stress and lack of access to decent health care.(3) Reducing the overall rate of poverty can benefit Americans at every economic level as high rates of poverty cost the U.S. economy more than 0 billion annually in lost productivity, increased health care costs and higher criminal-justice expenditures.(4)
Financial and educational experts say that one way to break the cycle of multi-generational poverty is through education.(5) Not only are states like North Carolina and New Jersey planning to include financial literacy as part of their must-pass-to-graduate curriculum this year, international policy makers have issued a worldwide call to action for more financial literacy for the most vulnerable people in our society.(6)(7)(8)
“Financial literacy is probably the least recognized educational topic,” says Mount. “The education system has ignored this very critical topic for generations due to their commitment to the basics: math, science, literature and history. But financial literacy is incredibly important: it affects enormous life decisions that can impact the lives of others – in either a really positive or detrimental way. When was the last time you heard of someone negatively impacting another’s life because they failed an algebra test?”
The consequences of a lack of financial education can be devastating, according to a poll by the National Financial Educators Council, Americans estimate they lost an average of ,279 in 2019 due to a lack of financial knowledge. The losses can come from increased risks such as bank fees, high credit card and loan interest rates and losses on investments.(9)
In states that require financial literacy in high school, the average credit card debt is lower and young adults haver higher credit scores and lower loan default rates than those in states without the educational requirements.(10)
While sound financial education can make a positive difference at any time, financial investors and planners have a unique opportunity now to make a big change in Americans’ financial planning, health and education. While one-on-one discussions and meetings are essential when advising someone about their finances, apps and online programs have been shown to help individuals of all ages become financial literate.(11),(12) Some tools like Real Intelligence’s Dynamic Mapping financial planning program can help financial planners illustrate and explain the outcomes in a more intuitive way that promotes strategic understanding.
Mount’s path to financial independence started one summer when he was inspired by wealthy clients who encouraged him to expand his vision for his life. “While working as a tennis pro right after college, I was fortunate to secure a job where the people I met encouraged me to learn how to be innovative, entrepreneurial and smart about investing for the future. I am hopeful to pay it forward with the Dynamic Map app.”
About Real Intelligence LLC: Real Intelligence, LLC is the brainchild of entrepreneurs and industry experts Jeffrey Mount and Mike Helgesen. With 55 combined years of industry expertise and the alliance of both their AI inventions – Dynamic Mapping and training program, Essential Family Office – Real Intelligence, LLC is poised to offer a complete essential tool kit to the next generation of elite Financial Advisors. With strategic, industry-proven training, patented technology, and an unprecedented lead generation opportunity the paradigm of financial services is shifting from the current status-quo. This human-centered approach to financial planning is a consultant’s greatest tool to combat the competitive threat of free programs through robo-advisers and the dangers of irrelevancy. For more information, visit http://www.realintelligence360.com.
1. Semega, Jessica, “Income and Poverty in the United States: 2018” United States Census Bureau, September 10, 2019, census.gov/library/publications/2019/demo/p60-266.html. 2. Schlesinger, Jill, “Money: Why are so many living paycheck to paycheck?” Arizona Daily Star, February 1, 2020, tucson.com/business/money-why-are-so-many-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/article_00425632-d114-5eb9-a722-dca27afd7011.html. 3. Johnson, Tonisha, “Understanding Generational Poverty” Spectrum News 1, August 13, 2019, spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2019/08/13/understanding-generational-poverty. 4. Brown, Desmond, “10 Reasons Why Cutting Poverty is Good for Our Nation” Center for American Progress Action Fund, December 6, 2011, americanprogressaction.org/issues/poverty/news/2011/12/06/10771/10-reasons-why-cutting-poverty-is-good-for-our-nation. 5. Jackson, Lauren Bringle, “7 Tips for Breaking the Cycle of Poverty” Self, March 20, 2019, self.inc/blog/7-tips-for-breaking-the-cycle-of-poverty. 6. Lasure, Kayla, “Financial literacy class to be graduation requirement” Watauga Democrat, February 6, 2020, wataugademocrat.com/news/financial-literacy-class-to-be-graduation-requirement/article_2706ae18-d37b-5f8e-a81c-efd0154a543d.html. 7. Epperson, Sharon and Manning, Patrick, “Teaching financial education in schools finally catches on” CNBC, February 5, 2020, cnbc.com/2020/02/04/teaching-financial-education-in-schools-finally-catches-on.html. 8. Georgieva, Kristalina, “The Global Economic Reset – Promoting a More Inclusive Recovery” International Monetary Fund Blog, June 11, 2020, blogs.imf.org/2020/06/11/the-global-economic-reset-promoting-a-more-inclusive-recovery. 9. “Financial Illiteracy Cost Americans ,279 in 2019” National Financial Educators Council, January 8, 2020, financialeducatorscouncil.org/financial-illiteracy-costs. 10. Barrington, Richard, “States Where Financial Literacy Education is Working” Money Rates, June 4, 2020, money-rates.com/research-center/financial-literacy.htm. 11. O’Connell, Brian, “Teaching Kids Financial Literacy During the Pandemic: A Primer” The Kitchen Table Economist, June 9, 2020, thestreet.com/mainstreet/news/teaching-kids-financial-literacy. 12. McNamee, Paige, “Briefcase babies: How financial apps are helping kids learn about much more than money” Finextra, June 10, 2020, finextra.com/the-long-read/42/briefcase-babies-how-financial-apps-are-helping-kids-learn-about-much-more-than-money.
Datacomp published July 2020 JLT Market Reports for manufactured home communities in Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, and Wyoming, which include mobile home rent comps, occupancy, and other vital up-to-date data.
JLT Market Reports provide detailed research and information on manufactured home communities in 184 U.S.housing markets. Reports include the latest rent trends and statistics, marketing programs, and a variety of other useful management insights.
Datacomp’s JLT Market Reports are the nation’s #1 provider of market data for the manufactured housing industry. JLT Market Reports are recognized as the industry standard for manufactured home community market analysis.
July 2020 manufactured housing market data published in JLT Market Reports for Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, and Wyoming include information on 240 “All ages” and “55+” manufactured home communities.
Altogether, the reports from the four states’ manufactured home communities include data representations for 62,673 homesites.
Regional Trends in Manufactured Housing Community Rent and Occupancy
The West region manufactured home communities show a year-over-year 0.9% increase in occupancy to 95% as well as a 4.5% increase in adjusted rents year-over-year.
Northeast region manufactured home communities show a year-over-year 0.2% increase to 94% as well as a 2.9% increase in adjusted rents year-over-year.
“Looking at the July 2020 JLT Market Reports, the stability of the industry and the value provided in affordable housing is made evident by the consistently strong occupancy rates in varying markets,” Datacomp Co-President and Chief Business Development Officer Darren Krolewski said. “The sustained high occupancy rates also show that the very moderate increases in rent are in line with market demand.”
What’s in JLT Market Reports? Each JLT manufactured home community rent and occupancy report from Datacomp has detailed information about investment grade communities in the major markets. The detailed information includes:
Number of homesites
Occupancy rates
Average community rents, and increases
Community amenities
Vacant lots
Repossessed and inventory homes, and much more
JLT Market Reports also include management insights that rank communities by number of homesites, occupancy rates, and highest to lowest rents. Established reports show trends in each market with a comparison of July 2020 rents and occupancy rates to July 2019, as well as a historical recap of rents and occupancy from 1996 to present date in most markets.
The July 2020 JLT Market Reports for manufactured home communities in Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, and Wyoming are available for purchase and immediate download online at the Datacomp JLT Market Report website, or they may be ordered by phone in electronic or printed editions at (800) 588-5426.
Each fully updated report for mobile home communities is a comprehensive look at investment grade properties within a market, enabling owners and managers, lenders, appraisers, brokers, and other organizations to effectively benchmark those communities and make informed business decisions.
About JLT Market Reports For more than 20 years, countless professionals have trusted JLT Market Reports for timely and accurate management reports on land lease manufactured home communities. JLT Market Reports are currently published for 184 markets nationwide and are recognized as the industry standard for manufactured housing industry data. In 2014, JLT & Associates merged its resources, skills, and expertise with Datacomp, the industry’s oldest and largest national mobile home appraisal company and number one provider of market data for the manufactured housing industry, and MHVillage, the premier website for advertising mobile homes for sale and rent nationwide and publisher of the MHInsider trade magazine for manufactured housing news. For more information, or to purchase complete JLT Market Reports, call (800) 588-5426 or visit http://www.datacompusa.com/JLT.
techfrederick, a coalition of local high-tech companies, completed its second Annual Hackathon this week, yielding incredible results for some Frederick area non-profits.
Hackathon team members Steven Epstein, Cathy Anderson, Matt Layman, Augusta Pinson were named the Overall Winners for the app they produced to benefit SHIP of Frederick County (Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership). The winning team was tasked with creating a responsive mobile application for SHIP that would provide information on available resources for homeless youth.
“The Team’s app exceeded expectations in the biggest way!”, said Ed Hinde, Executive Director, SHIP of Frederick County, “I had planned to replicate an app from a similar non-profit in LA. Now I imagine that LA non-profit will likely want the SHIP app.”
Two additional local non-profits chose winning apps created to meet their own needs and specs. City Youth Matrix chose a winning app designed to be used by volunteers to coordinate youth transport to and from activities. Frederick Fire and Rescue Services (FIRE) chose an app designed to help with their records management.
Started in 2016, techfrederick focuses on connecting local professionals by providing advocacy, education, communication, and networking opportunities. techfrederick’s Hackathon is held annually and ran virtually this year from June 12 to June 26. This year the Hackathon gave local software developer participants the opportunity to build an application that would help one of three non-profits streamline a process or digitally transform their operations in a way that would help them better serve our community!
“The Hackathon went great. It was an awesome experience and a distraction for folks during these crazy times. People really enjoyed building these applications because they know the things they built will get used”, said techfrederick Hackathon Co-Chair Patrick Pierson of IronNet Cybersecurity. “Everyone’s a winner here! We’ve all put our hearts and time into contributing to Frederick County!”, said techfrederick Hackathon Co-Chair Matthew Rodatus of HighGear.
techfrederick has been formed to identify, highlight, support, foster awareness of, advocate for, and develop Frederick’s growing high tech community through community education and human resource development, entrepreneurship training programs and seminars, and related events.
For more information, please contact Amy Pontius, Executive Director, apontius@techfrederick.org . Please visit http://www.techfrederick.org and subscribe to our emails.
Houston Life coach, Rashad Garrett, has thrown a lifeline to those struggling with mental health problems during the pandemic and beyond with the launch of his new app, Faith Of A Mustard Seed (FOAMS).
The global pandemic has caused a drastic increase in the number of people dealing with mental health issues. In fact, a Federal Agency emergency helpline dedicated to helping people in emotional distress registered more than a 1000 percent increase in April for their service in comparison to the same period last year. But despite the growing demand for mental health services, therapists are struggling to bring their services online due to restrictions with reimbursement and licensing.
With the current state of affairs, the FOAMS App has never been timelier. Touted as the social therapy app, the FOAMS app offers a space for individuals to grow socially and emotionally by providing help for issues such as depression, anxiety, self-identity, abandonment, insecurities, low self-esteem and much more. Users of the app can access one-on-one personal therapy from the platform’s clinicians that include Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Licensed Therapists, and Life Coaches. Sessions are facilitated via phone, video calls, and live chats; users can even send in-app messages to their counselors.
FOAMS is a black-owned, LGBTQ business blazing the trail for a new kind of Telehealth. When asked about the motivation for creating the app, CEO and Founder, Rashad Garrett, explained: “I wanted to bridge the gap between counseling and technology by providing a preventative source to the society’s growing epidemic of depression. We just want people to have a place to turn to when they feel overwhelmed and or struggling with Mental health issues.”
For those who prefer self-help, the FOAMS app hosts free podcasts that focus on self-help techniques by industry leaders. There is also 24/7 access to forums and discussions moderated by life coaches and special guests as well as articles on topics such as abuse, relationships, panic attacks, depression, and more. FOAMS app also offers motivational apparel for children and adults.
The FOAMS App is available for free download in the Apple and Google app store. For further information, or to shop FOAMS apparel and other merchandise visit https://www.foamstherapy.com/.
Media Contact: Tikiyah Email: toverstreet (at) relatepublicrelations.com
The Receptionist today announced the release of a new Contactless Check-In option for its visitor management system as a way to reduce contact liabilities in businesses and facilities and help minimize the risk of spreading any virus or disease.
After months of intensive research into different screening procedures, interviews with customers to determine needs, and internal product testing, the rollout of the new contactless functionality prioritizes keeping visitors and employees safe during the check-in process when the chances of using shared equipment are at their highest.
“Business leaders around the world have had to rethink how they welcome visitors through their doors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Andy Alsop, President and CEO of The Receptionist. “We wanted to ensure that any solution we produced in response to this need would add lasting value to our customers not only during this time, but far into the future. By making our contactless feature available immediately to everyone using our software, we believe we’re helping our customers keep their visitors and their employees safer and healthier.”
The Receptionist for iPad's contactless feature allows office visitors to check in using their personal mobile device, without needing to physically touch an iPad kiosk or download an additional app, and at no additional cost.
Upon arrival, visitors can use their mobile device’s camera to scan a QR code displayed on the iPad screen, launching a browser that walks them through answering each company’s unique visitor check-in questions.
Additionally, visitors can start the process prior to their arrival by accessing a unique URL provided by the business. They will then be able to answer any questions ahead of their scheduled visit.
Once they’ve answered the check-in questions, visitors will be given a unique QR code on their mobile device to present to the iPad’s camera that will complete their check in and notify the appropriate contact that their visitor has arrived.
Feedback from Receptionist for iPad customers has been overwhelmingly positive in the initial days since the contactless feature’s release.
“As a community of independent health and wellness providers, protecting the health and safety of our Members and their clients and patients is at the forefront of what we do,” said Scott Zimmerman, Founder and CEO of Nexis Wellness. “The Receptionist for iPad has been a critical tool at Nexis for the past three years, and we are confident that our visitors are going to love using the new contactless check in process.”
The initial release of the contactless feature includes the ability to have visitors sign health, security, and/ or liability agreements/statements digitally and print badges (if a printer is available) once a visitor has scanned their QR code to confirm their check-in and log their Covid-19 risk.
Planned future updates include functionality to recognize returning visitors, take photos from the mobile device, search contacts, and more.
“We see contactless visitor check-ins becoming much more the standard rather than the exception moving forward,” said DeLynn Berry, The Receptionist Co-Founder and Director of Engineering, “and we’re going to continue to place our resources into additional functionality that provides our customers and their guests the best experience possible.”
BlueStar®, manufacturer of high-performance, customizable appliances for the home, is proud to celebrate a landmark anniversary – 140 years of high quality, custom manufacturing in Pennsylvania that has transformed home kitchens around America.
“We have committed ourselves to making great American handcrafted appliances for 140 years. We are a company that was born in the USA and never left,” said Eliza Sheffield, president, BlueStar®. “From our professional performance ranges to premium refrigeration, each BlueStar appliance is designed, engineered and handcrafted with pride by American workers. We are proud to celebrate our company’s great history of providing high quality, bespoke products that are winning with consumers.”
In honor of its milestone anniversary, BlueStar® is launching a Limited Edition Platinum Series Range, featuring a custom Heritage Blue finish and commemorative star logo with special 140 year anniversary inscription. The Platinum Anniversary range – offered in sizes from 24” to 60” – will be available from July 1 to December 31, 2020 and provides an added value of up to ,640 to consumers. The top-selling Platinum Range Series features searing 25,000 BTU burners, an interchangeable griddle and charbroiler system and an oversized PowR® oven that fits commercial-size sheet pans.
Originally known as the Prizer-Painter Stove and Heater Company, in its early days the company produced a full line of coal ranges, hot water heaters, furnaces and heating stoves, sold under many of the major brand names of the day. Many of those original models are still in service today across America. In the 1950s, Prizer also produced a full line of porcelain enamel cookware that was sold under the brand name Prizerware. Prizer continued to manufacture quality cooking ranges under the Prizer label, as well as for other high-end brands, and took a major step forward with the introduction of its advanced two-coat/one-fire enameling system. In 2002, Prizer introduced handcrafted, high-performance ranges for the residential market under the BlueStar® brand. Since then, BlueStar® has continued to strengthen its reputation as a top manufacturer of high performance appliances for the serious home chef, adding professional-grade custom ventilation and premium refrigeration to its venerable line.
American Workmanship, American Quality Today, BlueStar® is proud to produce award-winning home kitchen appliances including cooking equipment, kitchen hoods and premium refrigeration in its Pennsylvania factory. Using the finest, commercial-grade materials, each product is built by hand by skilled American workers. The handcrafted quality and performance of its appliances has caught the attention of cooking enthusiasts from home cooks and culinary enthusiasts to professional chefs such as Michael Symon, Paul Kahan and Suzanne Goin, among many others.
BlueStar® has been a trailblazer in color and customization innovation, offering its appliances in 1,000 color choices and 10 metal trim options, as well as any custom color. Many appliance manufacturers offer custom finishes, but none offer the breadth of BlueStar®. BlueStar® also has the ability to color match appliances to paint colors, or match paint colors to appliances for a seamless, integrated look within the kitchen space. An interactive web site tool, 'Build Your Own BlueStar', allows consumers to customize a new BlueStar range or refrigerator – from the intensity of the range’s burners to the color of the unit itself – before buying.
“This 140th anniversary signals an exciting chapter in our storied history. We bring a distinguished legacy and a renewed commitment to deliver high-quality, unique kitchen appliances that can be customized to the individual needs of our customers,” said Sheffield. “We are proud to support our country’s long standing tradition of quality manufacturing. We are looking forward to another 140 years of American manufacturing.”
Tweet this: While it may be our anniversary, it's everyone's celebration. @BlueStarCooking appliances deliver power & performance to American kitchens. #cheersto140years. Find out more: https://bit.ly/31yvxjX.
Altium is launching an exciting new contest this summer, open to engineers, students, inventors, and companies. The contest will allow PCB designers from all industries and experience levels an opportunity to show off their design work and a chance to be featured on Altium’s popular Altium Stories YouTube channel.
The Altium Stories YouTube channel, launched in late 2019, features short videos showcasing innovative projects designed by Altium users. In mere months the channel has grown to nearly 6500 subscribers and individual videos have received as many as 35,000 views.
The #MyAltiumStories contest gives viewers the unique opportunity to have their own designs featured alongside industry luminaries Arduino, Houston Mechatronics and Piano Arc. Contest winners will also be eligible to win Altium Designer licenses, official Altium-branded merchandise and more.
The contest is just as exciting for Altium, as it gives the company another way to connect with the PCB design community. As Masha Petrova, Vice President of Brand Marketing at Altium, elaborates, “Altium users are more than just customers to us—they’re vital to our success as well as the advancement of future technologies. The #MyAltiumStories contest is a great way for anyone who loves PCB design to show off their creations while inspiring peers and future generations of designers.”
Informative videos showcasing current projects using Altium PCB software tools may be submitted through August 31, 2020.
Altium LLC (ASX: ALU), a global software company headquartered in San Diego, Calif., is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.
The growing demand for smart and connected products is driving advancements in electronics technology. Design trends are demonstrating the need for minimizing power, reducing package size and energy consumption, and prioritizing high-speed design. For over 30 years, Altium has been delivering software that maximizes the productivity of PCB designers and electrical engineers, from idea to board. Users are at the center of Altium’s R&D and business operations. With its unique Business-to-User approach, Altium is focused on developing software that is easy to use and implement, with solutions that enable innovation and deliver industry-leading user productivity.
Performance Brokerage Services, a new car and Harley-Davidson dealership broker is pleased to announce the sale of Mt. Cheaha Harley-Davidson in Oxford, Alabama from Mark Christopher and Jay Pumroy to Josh Russom and Andrew Campbell.
Mt. Cheaha Harley-Davidson in Oxford, Alabama was acquired in 2003 by Jay Pumroy who later partnered with Mark Christopher in 2013. The dealership has been a staple in the community, hosting many events and supporting a loyal Harley-Davidson rider group. Since partnering with the Jay, Toni Christopher, Mark’s wife was instrumental in the marketing details of the dealership and in 2015, began hosting the annual “Rumble on the Loop” featuring live bands at the dealership’s on-site amphitheater. The employees have also been known for providing riders exceptional sales and service throughout the years, just one of many reasons to visit the dealership. Owner Mark Christopher commented, “After much thought and consideration, my partner Jay and I decided to hire George Chaconas of Performance Brokerage Services to advise us on the sale of Mt. Cheaha Harley-Davidson in East Alabama. George aggressively marketed our store and ultimately, we negotiated a deal with our neighboring dealers, Josh Russom and Andrew Campbell. George’s 20 years of experience in advising and brokering Harley-Davidson dealerships was very instrumental and helpful in the negotiations and throughout the buy sell process! He was always available and very responsive. I genuinely enjoyed working with George. When you are considering selling your Harley-Davidson dealership, I would definitely suggest you contact George Chaconas!” Mark and Toni Christopher will continue to own and operate their powersports dealership, Motorcycle Sports located in Munford, Alabama. http://www.motorcyclesportspolaris.com
Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has represented for sale over 250 automotive and motorcycle dealerships making it the highest volume automotive and motorcycle dealership brokerage firm in North America.
Josh Russom and Andrew Campbell are the new owners of what will now be known as Hooligan Harley-Davidson. Josh and Andrew currently own Redstone Harley-Davidson in Madison, Alabama and Blue Ridge Harley-Davidson in Hickory, North Carolina. The buyers had been looking to expand their already booming Harley-Davidson enterprise and reached out to George Chaconas who previously provided excellent customer service during the purchase of their two current locations. George C. Chaconas, the exclusive agent for this transaction and the head of the National Harley-Davidson and Powersports Division for Performance Brokerage Services, knew this opportunity would be a perfect strategic acquisition for them. George commented, “I am extremely excited to have helped Josh and Andrew acquire their third dealership. This is an excellent opportunity for them to expand their footprint into the East Alabama market and I look forward to helping their continued growth and success.”
The dealership will proudly display their new name and logo, Hooligan Harley-Davidson at its current location at 231 Davis Loop Road in Oxford, Alabama 36203.
The buyers, Josh Russom and Andrew Campbell, were represented by J. Gregory Humphries, Partner at Shutts & Bowen LLP http://www.shutts.com
Performance Brokerage Services, an auto dealership broker, specializes in professional intermediary services to buyers and sellers of automotive, commercial truck, Harley-Davidson and Powersports dealerships.
The company offers a different approach by providing complimentary dealership assessments, no upfront fees, no reimbursement of costs and is paid a success fee only. Performance Brokerage Services gets paid only after the client gets paid.
With nearly 30 years of dealership brokerage experience, the company utilizes an extensive network of industry related accountants, attorneys, hundreds of registered buyers and enjoys longstanding relationships with most of the auto manufacturers. The intermediaries at Performance Brokerage Services have been involved in well over 700 transactions. Pledging loyal and unwavering representation, confidentiality is vigilantly protected during the selling process and after the transaction closes.
With corporate offices in Irvine, California, 5 regional offices in Utah, Florida, Texas, Virginia and New Jersey, a dedicated Harley-Davidson and Powersports Division, and a dedicated Commercial Truck Division, Performance Brokerage Services provides its clients national exposure with local representation. For more information about the services offered by Performance Brokerage Services, visit https://performancebrokerageservices.com.
Meridian Investments, Inc. is pleased to announce the closing of R4 Housing Partners XIV, LP., a Section 42 Housing Tax Credit Fund. R4 Housing Partners XIV, LP raised 7.5 million of investor equity and will acquire interests in twenty-eight affordable multi-family rental properties located in fifteen states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Eleven corporate investors participated in the closing. When completed the twenty-eight projects will result in the creation and preservation of 2,758 affordable housing units for families and seniors.
R4 Capital is a nationwide syndicator, lender, loan servicer, and asset manager established in 2011 by its President and CEO, Marc Schnitzer. “Rising to meet the new COVID-19 business challenges to ensure the health and safety of everyone directly or indirectly involved and by partnering with our longstanding clients, we were successful in financing these much-needed projects”, said Marc Schnitzer. “The Housing Credit is our nation’s most successful tool for encouraging private investment in affordable rental housing and we thank the Congress for supporting this public – private partnership.” Schnitzer continued.
R4 Capital’s senior executive team has on average more than 25 years of Housing Tax Credit experience, with a track record that includes over billion of LIHTC equity investments on behalf of more than 200 corporate investors. R4 Capital has continuing relationships with the nation’s top LIHTC developers built over 30 years in more than 2,000 transactions. The firm maintains offices in New York, NY, Boston, MA, Newport Beach, CA, and Austin, TX.
Meridian Investments, Inc. was established in 1981 as a broker-dealer and financial advisor, with Billion in equity placements to over 175 institutional investors. Meridian is active in both the primary and secondary LIHTC markets as well as wind and solar energy renewables and statutory tax advantaged investments. Meridian has offices in Boston, MA. (Braintree), Washington, D.C. (Bethesda, MD.) and Atlanta, Georgia. Meridian is a Board Member of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition.
Media Contacts & LIHTC Program Information Requests: Rachel Tall, SVP | Director of Marketing, R4 Capital LLC ,780 Third Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017, (O) +1 646 863-6815 Jack Casey, Vice Chairman, Meridian Investments, Inc. (301) 983-5000 Mobile 301-529-7889 Emily Cadik, Executive Director, Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (202) 434-8287
Slippery Rock University Baseball becomes the latest program to join the AstroTurf® Diamond Series family as they have selected the premier synthetic baseball system in the industry.
Slippery Rock’s new field features the AstroTurf Diamond Series RBI System which includes multiple artificial turf components that have been specifically engineered to emulate the look, feel, and performance of both the grass and clay portions of a baseball field. Diamond Series turf systems from AstroTurf® are well-known throughout the sport of baseball for delivering the ultimate in playability, durability, and ballpark aesthetics.
"It's hard to put into words what this is going to do for our program and the school recruiting wise,” said Slippery Rock Head Baseball Coach, Jeff Messer. “This field is as good or better than any D1 school's field out there. Without question, no hesitation at all, it is the premier DII facility in the country. AstroTurf did an outstanding job for us."
Over 139,000 square feet of AstroTurf has been installed at Jack Critchfield Park which includes 12,000 square feet of practice area, pitching mounds and batting cages. The aesthetically pleasing field sports alternating panels of turf, with the Slippery Rock logo at centerfield, and “The Rock” in beautiful text just behind home plate.
“Our players development-wise are going to get so much stronger," added Messer. “There’s no better facility in our conference or in Division II. Everybody is trying to do a little extra to attract that student athlete. This is the gem of our conference now, so it’s definitely going to be a game changer for us without question.”
Slippery Rock University is now a member of a long list of AstroTurf® Diamond Series customers that include elite programs such as Vanderbilt, Michigan, Kentucky, Duke, Ohio State, Washington State, West Virginia, and many, many more.
About AstroTurf For athletes and sport enthusiasts, AstroTurf® has redefined the way the game is played. The brand offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams, and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority, and safety. To learn more, visit AstroTurf’s website at http://www.astroturf.com.
Conductiv™, formerly Medpricer, unveiled its new brand and integrated suite for purchased services cost optimization today with the launch of Conductiv Platform™, Conductiv Services™ and Conductiv Contracts™. The rebrand positions Conductiv, the leading end-to-end third-party services optimization company, to broaden its offerings and expand into new markets.
“Third-party services optimization has emerged as a top target for supply chain and finance executives looking to implement cost-saving initiatives,” said Chris Gormley, CEO of Conductiv. “Third-party services include purchased services as well as IT, construction, clinical, HR, marketing and administrative categories. Conductiv’s proprietary spend database shows that organizations spend 22 to 54 percent of their non-labor expenses on third-party services, representing a crucial, untapped source of margin improvement – especially with Conductiv’s ability to drive savings of 24 percent, on average.”
Conductiv empowers supply chains by integrating its technology and proven category expertise – including analytics driven by artificial intelligence, marketplace insights and express contracting negotiation capabilities – onto one integrated cloud-based platform. Its sourcing automation technologies enable members to engage with their own spend data, determine the competitiveness of their contracts, optimize group purchasing organization (GPO) contracts, unite business stakeholders, create transparency on services spend, and accelerate the speed of identifying and implementing cost savings.
Conductiv’s integrated third-party services optimization suite consists of:
Conductiv Platform™, a sophisticated, purpose-built procurement automation platform powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning. Drawing insights from large and comprehensive data sets on supplier quality, pricing and service regions, this predictive analytics engine works to maximize savings and gain end-user engagement while minimizing operational risks.
Conductiv Services™, a sourcing service that brings in more than 15 years of proven strategic sourcing results. Conductiv Services offers deep category insight, proven sourcing processes, program development and stakeholder governance delivered to meet an organization’s bespoke needs. Unlike traditional consultants, Conductiv Services are boosted by Conductiv Platform to provide specialized, data-driven insights that enhance savings based on the organization’s opportunity areas.
Conductiv Contracts™, a first-of-its-kind GPO that works alongside any primary GPO and accelerates the time for organizations to source, negotiate and implement contracts with third-party service providers. Membership is free and open to all organizations regardless of primary GPO affiliation. Conductiv soft-launched its GPO to its customers in April and launches publicly today with inaugural members that include Hennepin Healthcare, McLaren Health Care and Pandion Optimization Alliance.
“We see Conductiv’s rebrand and new positioning as a gamechanger for Pandion,” said Jeanie Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Pandion Optimization Alliance, which serves 17 hospitals and their related health systems in New York state. “Conductiv’s technology alone will allow our members to have greater visibility and control of a significant spend area of spend. In addition, Conductiv Contracts will enable our healthcare systems to partner with our local purchased service providers to not only improve quality and cost, but also increase jobs, within their communities. We are thrilled to be an inaugural member.”
The capability to source contracts from domestic and diversity businesses has emerged as a driving force post-pandemic, as more organizations seek ways to support local communities and improve regional economies. Conductiv Contracts’ technology-enabled sourcing process ensures that suppliers of local, regional and national presence can now compete equally for business within their respective markets.
“With access to a portfolio of local and regional suppliers, Conductiv Contracts gives us the opportunity to better support our local community and unite stakeholders across our organization in our choice of outsourced services,” said David Bueby, Corporate Vice President of Supply Chain Management of Michigan-based McLaren Health Care. “In addition, with greater transparency on our third-party services spend, we’re able to accelerate the speed of our RFPs and negotiations. We’re excited to be an inaugural member of Conductiv Contracts as we aim to increase transparency into spend data and better assess the competitiveness of our own third-party contracts.”
“Hennepin Healthcare has had a very successful relationship with Medpricer and we are looking forward to continuing and expanding our best practice journey with Conductiv,” explained Luis Valadez, Sr. Director of Supply Chain, of Minneapolis-based Hennepin Healthcare. “As healthcare changes, supply chain is looked at to ensure value and to be at the forefront of driving results. Our continued relationship with Conductiv will ensure we meet these goals. We are excited to be a part of this new offering.”
More than ever, organizations must urgently solve financial gaps with minimal impact to their future operations and local communities. Conductiv’s solutions optimize 22-54% of non-labor operating costs, helping executives solve those financial challenges with immediate impact.
About Conductiv Conductiv™, formerly Medpricer, empowers supply chains to optimize their third-party services. As the only end-to-end third-party lifecycle improvement company, Conductiv™ shares its strategic sourcing expertise and category best practices with multiple industries including healthcare, hospitality, government, real estate, transportation and education. The company has led more than 700 bids for more than 120 organizations, exceeding billion in contracted value. Member projects have generated 0 million of documented savings or an average savings value of 24% to date. To learn how supply chains are transforming their savings strategy, visit https://conductiv.com.
These five outstanding individuals have demonstrated exceptional work in the use and adoption of precision agriculture technologies and practices. They join 52 individuals and organizations honored by the PrecisionAg Alliance since the creation of the awards in 2007.
The 2020 recipients include:
Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award: Ofir Schlam, Co-Founder and CEO, Taranis Schlam is a 4th generation farmer, software developer, and computer science expert who merges his background in farming and tech to create precision agriculture technologies.
With Taranis, Schlam has facilitated the technological advancement and distribution of precision farming globally by developing an innovative “digital agronomist” system that sees and analyzes fields at scale and at a depth level that humans cannot.
Under Schlam’s leadership, Taranis has grown from a 3-person garage start-up to a 100-employee company with 17 offices globally, 19,000 customers, 20 million acres of land under management, and million in funding. His vision of how precision agriculture can improve farming worldwide has motivated a range of industry players to hop on board.
More than 60 world-class agronomists have combined their expertise on crop health and proper treatments onto the Taranis platform. Sixteen of the world’s top 20 agricultural retailers - including Wilbur-Ellis, John Deere, BASF, and ADAMA – have partnered with Taranis to make their tech available to agricultural businesses worldwide.
He has secured partnerships with three key organizations: Stratus Imaging, which brings specialized imagery services to Australian farmers; Climate Corp, to provide field photos for crop health analysis; and John Deere, through participation in its Startup Collaborator. Schlam oversaw the acquisition of Mavrx, to provide plane-level imagery. Through Schlam’s vision and leadership, industry players are uniting to spread the value of precision agriculture worldwide.
His Taranis platform combines three visual layers, and its deep learning then uses advanced mathematical models and computer vision to analyze images against Taranis’ database of over 1 million crop health issues (pest infestation, disease, weeds, nutrient deficiencies, etc.) to generate reports of matters affecting yield and perform tassel counts that accurately estimate yield to streamline operations for harvesting.
Educator/Researcher Award: Jason Ward, Digital Agriculture Team Lead, North Carolina State University Ward splits time between research, teaching and Extension, and his team covers the full range of production agriculture from moisture sensors in greenhouses to precision ag in commodity crops to a robotic platform supporting pasture animals.
Ward’s program addresses areas of research focusing on quantifying crop lodging damage and automating cotton replant decisions using UAS imagery. In addition to his UAS program, Ward is completing research in mapping sub-field cotton fiber quality for each cotton module sent to the cotton gin, utilizing machine data to improve harvest efficiency, and utilizing robotic systems to improve quality for pasture animals.
At NCSU, Ward led the effort to renovate and develop laboratory space focused solely on Digital Agriculture where faculty can work in both the applied and theoretical digital ag space to create and evaluate technologies. The Suggs Lab for Machinery Systems and Precision Agriculture is a large-scale machinery and small UAS showplace for on-campus tours, external visitors, and Extension agent trainings.
Dr. Ward is active in national and international societies, including membership in the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), ASABE NC Section, Alpha Epsilon Engineering Honor Society, and International Society of Precision Agriculture. He was named ASABE Machinery Systems Technical Community Outstanding Reviewer in 2015, Food and Process Systems Technical Community Outstanding Reviewer in 2014, and New Faces of Engineering in 2010.
Educator/Researcher Award: Ajay Sharda, Associate Professor and Precision Agriculture Engineer, Kansas State University Sharda’s work is focused directly on the implementation of precision technologies within crop production. In a very short time, he has become a well-known professional not only for Kansas and the region but both at national and international levels.
He has succeeded in many aspects of his profession, including training graduate students (served as chair to 11 MS & PhD students and as a member of 12 other MS & PhD student committees). He’s worked to improve knowledge of farmers via on-farm studies and science via publications. He sustains one of the largest teams in the country with more than million in research awards, and presents at key industry collaborations with many industries around the globe. He also dedicates time to mentoring undergraduate students in research projects while teaching a precision agriculture course.
His program at KSU is well recognized by peers both nationally and internationally, and he maintains leadership roles in precision agriculture focused groups at both the state and national levels He serves on the planning committee and board for the Kansas Ag Research and Technology Association (KARTA), and leads the precision agriculture program at KSU for on-farm research on precision planting and technology. He is a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and International Society of Precision Agriculture.
Farmer Award: Grant Strom, Strom Farms, Dahinda, IL Strom and his family operate a 5,600-acre no-till corn grain and soybean operation with some wheat and pasture for a small cow/calf operation. Farm acreage varies widely and includes flat prairie soils, rolling ground, flood-able river bottoms, and timber and clay soils, with moderate to high fertility. The Strom Farm takes into consideration rotation, slope, fertility, and soil type as they plan each year's crops.
He is the third generation to work on the farm full-time, and has long worked with his father to be progressive with testing new technology, whether that was with GPS usage and auto shut-offs 15 years ago or more recently with no-till, sidedressing, and other conservation strategies. Their farm has been in conversion phases for more than a decade, and some of the new structures include a shop and office — things that have helped make them more efficient with their business.
The farm participates in field testing through research trials with their ag retailer, and as yield monitoring equipment has gotten better, they’ve started applying fertilizer based on yield maps, which lets them optimize what they apply and only apply it when it’s needed. Technological advances that aid their 4R nutrient stewardship strategy work even better. Planters and combines are equipped with GPS, yield monitors, and VRT. He also incorporates drone technology. Integrating the data that the equipment generates with soil maps ensures that nutrients are applied solely upon crop needs.
Strom also shares his learnings and experiences, openly speaking to other farmers and the ag industry as whole on the benefits and challenges of using precision farming as a part of his farm management approach.
Legacy Award: Eric Lund, Founder, Veris Technologies, Salina, KS Lund founded the soil sensor company Veris Technologies with the goal of helping farmers and their advisors improve yields by mapping and managing soil variability across their fields. Under his leadership, Veris helped pioneer soil mapping and management zones by developing the world’s first on-the-go soil sensor. Its flagship soil electrical conductivity sensor has become a key enabler for management zone-based precision ag, and Eric has served the industry as a true global evangelist for this approach since founding Veris in 1996.
In an era of flash-in-the-pan, here today and gone tomorrow ag tech, Lund is a clear example of professionalism, leadership, and persistence who speaks most loudly through action rather than simply through words. As the founder of Veris, Eric has been a strong advocate for soil sensing, but he has been careful to not overstate the capabilities of Veris sensors.
Eric named the company Veris after the Latin word for ‘truth.’ The sensors reveal the truth about the soil, but he also believes honesty and reliability has been part of their success over the past 25 years.
This integrity can also be seen in the software platform Eric and the team at Veris built. Through its FieldFusion mapping portal, Veris has emphasized quality control and the importance of accurate data, with a team member conducting a visual and analytical review of each field submitted from around the world. Today this cloud-based repository contains more than 1 million acres of soil mapping data.
Eric has demonstrated industry leadership through his continual adherence to sound agronomic practices in pursuit of improved yields and profitability with appropriate implementation of variable rate fertilizer.
About the PrecisionAg Alliance –– The PrecisionAg® Institute, an initiative of Meister Media Worldwide’s PrecisionAg® Global brand, is a consortium of industry organizations that has been a leading source of research, advocacy, and education in the areas precision agriculture and digital farming since 2006. Through membership, partner organizations gain valuable market insights, and their combined resources and expertise reveal best practices and improved ag technology solutions from the farm-gate to the dinner plate. For more information and to see our Alliance Partners, visit http://www.precisionagalliance.com.
About Meister Media Worldwide –– Empowering Global Agriculture Meister Media Worldwide, founded in 1932 with world headquarters in Willoughby, OH, USA, and operating divisions in Mexico and China is the leading business media and information company serving global agribusiness. Meister Media brands, with products and services in print, digital, events, custom business services and data products, engage agricultural sectors around the globe to provide safe and abundant food to feed a growing world. The mission of Meister Media is to be the trusted partner empowering the business of global agriculture to grow a better world. Contact us for more information. info@meistermedia.com
Clean the World Foundation, a global leader in water, sanitation, hygiene and sustainability, has partnered with Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) to facilitate The Drop by Drop Project. A collaboration between Clean the World Foundation and initiative co-founder Sands, The Drop by Drop Project will reinvest capital from water stewardship efforts into innovative projects supporting local water champions in Macao, Singapore and Las Vegas. Managed and operated by Clean the World Foundation, The Drop by Drop Project will be supported by water savings from Sands’ conservation programs.
Drop by Drop supports water programs and nonprofit organizations focusing on four key areas: reinvigorating ecosystems by safeguarding and restoring aquatic ecosystems; leveraging technology by promoting early-stage innovation and solutions scaling for water efficiency; increasing resiliency by strengthening community response to floods, droughts and other water-related risks; and engaging the community by boosting awareness of water dependence issues.
“We have chosen three incredible organizations and are excited about each of the promising projects that have evolved as a result of Drop by Drop. These projects aim to make major contributions to the local communities within Macao, Singapore and Las Vegas, and the ripple effect will be far reaching,” says Sam Stephens, executive director, Clean the World Foundation.
The first of three organizations selected for funding is the University of St. Joseph Macao (USJ), Institute of Science and Environment, located in Macao, China. The university received ,000 in funding to investigate ways to enhance the water quality of Macao’s coastal waters through the use of native wetland plants, especially mangroves, as natural purifiers for water pollution. The university will also explore additional benefits of wetland restoration, including flooding mitigation, shoreline stabilization and habitat restoration for species biodiversity.
The second organization to receive funding is Seven Clean Seas, a Singapore-based social enterprise. A ,000 grant is being used to develop a static, floating system that can be deployed directly onto a river to collect plastic pollution at the source before it reaches the ocean. The system will be designed to be affordable, easily maintainable, mobile and easily replicable, so that it can be scaled and deployed in other regions globally.
The third organization is US-based Get Outdoors Nevada, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. A grant of ,000 will fund a water conservation teacher training program, benefitting over 120 teachers and thousands of students in the Las Vegas area. The grant will also provide water conservation-related field trips for youth in the region to provide real-world examples that reinforce the concepts taught in the classroom.
“Sands understands that water is one of the most critical resources on the planet, vital to sustaining life, supporting livelihoods and providing critical ecosystem services. We know that in order to drive change we must not only focus on efficient water use but also healthy watersheds. Each organization addresses The Drop by Drop Project’s core objectives: reinvigorating ecosystems, leveraging technology, increasing resiliency and engaging the community,” says Katarina Tesarova, senior vice president, global sustainability, Las Vegas Sands.
About Clean the World Clean the World Foundation is an international development and global health nonprofit operating hygiene-focused emergency relief initiatives, and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) education programs, targeting vulnerable communities in the United States and around the world. Clean the World Foundation is the 501(c)(3) non-profit sector of Clean the World’s social enterprise responsible for all soap and hygiene kit distribution both domestically and globally as part of many of its comprehensive WASH programs. Clean the World Foundation engages volunteers, donors, and other outcome-focused organizations around the world to provide hygiene supplies and education curriculum to support its global health programs. Since 2009, Clean the World Foundation has served over 10 million individuals through its global WASH programs. A copy of the official registration and financial information for Clean the World Foundation may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by visiting https://www.fdacs.gov/ConsumerServices. For more information, visit us online: https://www.cleantheworldfoundation.org.
About Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) Las Vegas Sands is the world's pre-eminent developer and operator of world-class Integrated Resorts. We created the meetings, incentives, convention and exhibition (MICE)-based Integrated Resort. Our industry-leading Integrated Resorts provide substantial contributions to our host communities including growth in leisure and business tourism, sustained job creation and ongoing financial opportunities for local small and medium-sized businesses. Our properties include The Venetian Resort and Sands Expo in Las Vegas and the iconic Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd., we have developed the largest portfolio of properties on the Cotai Strip in Macao, including The Venetian Macao, The Plaza and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Sands Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao, as well as the Sands Macao on the Macao Peninsula.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Sandie Beauchamp Clean the World info@cleantheworld.org 407-574-8353
Kristin Koca Las Vegas Sands Corp. Kristin.koca@sands.com 702-414-3218
Lead by Web Hosting Industry Veteran and seasoned startup founder Ben Gabler, Rocket today emerged as an all-in-one Managed WordPress Hosting provider at the Edge of the cloud.
Rocket is Gabler’s vision for bringing WordPress to the Edge of the Cloud with Global Caching and Website Security inherently built-in to the Platform. After spending years working with WordPress users seeking CDN and WAF solutions to layer on top of their hosting provider - Gabler realized there was not only an opportunity to integrate these services but simplify the experience so every WordPress website in the world can effortlessly benefit.
“WordPress users should be able to focus on building and managing their website content without needing a degree in security and performance best practices” said Gabler. “Our platform has a unique footprint at the Edge of the Cloud that not only brings WordPress hosting as close as possible to your website visitors, but it also provides Enterprise Website Optimization and Security tools at no additional cost.”
Starting with the end result, Rocket’s platform enables WordPress users of all sizes to deliver maximum WordPress performance across the globe, while maintaining a secure experience. Rocket delivers a full suite of optimization tools within the platform removing the skill sets and resources needed to manually configure separate plugins and operational settings during a WordPress deployment, optimization or update. WordPress users can now focus on what matters most, making a digital impact..
Rocket Platform Benefits include:
Easy to use Control Panel: Modern interface built for WordPress users of all sizes - making it easier than ever to develop, stage, launch, and boost your WordPress Website performance.
Premium Servers & Global Footprint: Directly connected with all major ISP networks the platform’s Enterprise grade servers at the Edge of the cloud put your WordPress within arms reach of our Website Visitors.
Built-in Caching (CDN) and Proxying: Rocket automatically caches all website content in over 200 locations, no plugin or configuration required. Rocket’s global caching fully supports dynamic content including WooCommerce. We also proxy and cache several third-party scripts like Google fonts to reduce DNS lookups and increase load time on your pages.
Always-on Website Security suite: Every WordPress installation includes a Website Firewall (WAF) and Malware Scanning/Patching specifically tuned for WordPress at no additional cost. Protecting every WordPress install from common http attacks, weak password usage, brute-force prevention, and much more.
Optimized JavaScript and Images: Our platform can automatically optimize your website’s use of JavaScript and increase page load time by asynchronously loading it. The platform also applies lossless image optimization with WebP support
Automated WordPress Updates: Save time, headache, and money with our automated WordPress core, plugin, and theme updates.
As a WordPress plus Edge Solution, Rocket is the only provider to leverage over 200 locations around the world extending the footprint of every WordPress installation. Not only is caching and security built in, the Rocket platform minimizes packet transfer delivering premium performance at increased speeds to site users anywhere in the world.
To build this innovative and easy-to-use WordPress hosting platform, Rocket teamed up with Total Server Solutions. “We take great pride in customizing our global reach and hyper converged cloud offering to support our client’s innovations” said Gary Simat, Total Server Solutions’ CEO. “The Rocket story is one of many partnerships where the result achieved more than each could accomplish individually. Even more, Total Server Solutions is using the Rocket platform to build our WordPress online presence”
“We’re really excited to bring this Product to market with our partners. While the name Rocket may be new, the team behind it is extremely seasoned” said Gabler. “Seeing WordPress evolve from the early 2000’s to where it is today, we’re thrilled to be a part of the WordPress community again. We strongly feel our Platform will really make an impact to provide a better Internet experience for users all over the world”
Rocket’s Simple, Fast, & Secure Managed WordPress Hosting is available today and is priced based on resources required starting at just a month. See full pricing details on our website or contact our Sales team for more information.
About Rocket
Rocket is an all-in-one Managed WordPress Hosting platform built for WordPress Websites of all sizes. We deploy and cache your entire website in over 200 locations with built-in Website Security tools. We primarily compete with WPEngine, Kinsta, and GoDaddy. Our management team comprises hosting industry experts that bring over 30 years of combined experience to the table. With an easy-to-use control panel on top of an Enterprise grade global footprint, we hope to help make the internet a safer place for WordPress users of all sizes. For more information, visit onrocket.com
For more information, media and analysts may contact: Aaron Phillips Rocket Chief Revenue Officer aaron.phillips@onrocket.com 646-895-6320
In this hyper-competitive landscape, businesses must go the extra mile to connect with customers at all times, across all touch points. As many businesses struggle to keep up with this demand, BirdEye is setting the curve. For the 10th time in a row, BirdEye has been recognized by G2 as the highest rated company. BirdEye is the leading customer experience platform for local businesses of all sizes, winning the following recognitions: Leader Overall, Momentum Leader, Best Results, and Best Usability in the G2 Summer Report, in addition to over 100 other recognitions in 8 categories. BirdEye has also received the 2020 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award by the Business Intelligence group and Most Innovative Tech Company of the Year in the 2020 American Business Awards.
“We are living in the age of the vastly empowered customer, and businesses need to adapt, provide a great experience, and find easy ways to communicate. Businesses who make customer-obsession an everyday competency and learn from the insights provided will be able to rise above the noise and be chosen by even more customers,” said Naveen Gupta, CEO of BirdEye. “BirdEye provides businesses with a suite of tools to lead in the digital transformation process and drive revenue through great customer experience while building a customer insights-driven organization.”
G2 releases Grid and Index Reports on a quarterly basis, ranking companies based on user reviews as well as data from online sources and social networks. Factors considered are customer satisfaction, recency of reviews, and number of reviews, among others.
BirdEye was named the overall leader in the categories of Online Reputation Management, Local SEO, Enterprise Feedback Management Category, Local Listing Management, Live Chat, Local Marketing, Mobile Marketing, SMS Marketing as well as a High Performer in Conversational Marketing. Other recognitions in the G2 Summer Report include Best Results, Easiest To Do Business With, Best Usability, Best Support, Easiest To Use, Fastest Implementation, Best Relationship, Best Meets Requirements, Users Most Likely To Recommend.
BirdEye was also named the Top Feedback Management Software, Top Customer Experience Software, Top Rated in Consumer Feedback, Quality Choice Award, and Top Customer Engagement software by Crozdesk and Top Rated by TrustRadius.
These recognitions from G2, the Business Intelligence Group, the American Business Awards, Crozdesk and Trust Radius show that BirdEye is the undisputed leader in helping businesses of all sizes understand their customers better than ever and utilize those insights to win new business on an ongoing basis. With 60,000+ businesses in 8 countries, BirdEye is continuing to lead in the customer experience and online reputation management space.
BirdEye is a comprehensive customer experience platform. More than 50,000 businesses of all sizes use BirdEye every day to be found online through reviews, be chosen by customers with text messaging interactions, and be the best business with survey and insights tools. Founded in 2012, BirdEye is headquartered in Palo Alto, and led by alumni from Google, Amazon, Salesforce and Yahoo. BirdEye is backed by Salesforce founder Marc Benioff, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, Trinity Ventures and World Innovation Lab.
Kate O’Hara has recently joined Morgan-Keller as Director of Corporate Safety. Within this role, Kate will work to further enhance Morgan-Keller’s safety programs and culture through safety training and risk assessment. She will be responsible for ensuring the safety of team members, clients, and subcontractors on all our project sites.
Kate comes to Morgan-Keller with 12 years of experience in the safety field. She graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Safety Management from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. Most recently, she worked as Safety Director for one of the largest mechanical construction contractors in the United States.
“We are pleased to have Kate join us here at Morgan-Keller,” said Taylor Davis, Morgan-Keller’s Vice President and General Manager. “In her role, she will help to promote and strengthen the safety culture we have in place here at Morgan-Keller.”
Established in 1955, Morgan-Keller Construction is a privately held general contracting and construction management firm with offices in Frederick and Hunt Valley, MD. By providing exceptional construction services for over six decades, the firm has become one of the region’s most respected commercial builders. To learn more, visit http://www.morgankeller.com.
Cleanliness and friendliness, the hallmarks of the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa in Lake Placid for over 40 years, are back on display once again as the iconic lodging property started welcoming guests for full-time service on June 26. The Inn just completed soft openings over the weekends of June 12-14 and June 19-21.
The AAA Four Diamond property, offering an authentic Adirondack experience, felt a moral and civic responsibility to do their part in flattening the curve and therefore made the decision to temporarily shut down the resort on March 16. But now, as Upstate New York advances through the state’s four phases of reopening, the staff’s friendliness has started greeting guests once again with open arms. When those visitors now walk through the doors, they notice an elevated level of cleanliness that is noteworthy.
“With the health and safety of our staff and guests uppermost on our minds, we have taken the concept of cleaning, that was thorough enough to help us achieve 36 consecutive AAA Four Diamond awards, and invested time, energy and money into making it even better,” said Ed Weibrecht, Mirror Lake Inn owner. “The past three months have landed us in a completely new and different world thanks to COVID-19. But our guests can rest assured that since March 16 when we closed, we have researched new methods and invested in state-of-the-art hospital-grade cleaning equipment. Equally as important, we have made a commitment to everyone who enters our resort, be they visitors or staff, that they should have the utmost confidence in our consideration of their health.”
In conjunction with the Inn’s return to daily operation, the Northern region of New York is set to enter phase four, also on June 26. To mark the “welcome back”, the Mirror Lake Inn is offering several new packages for stays through December 20, 2020.
Stay four nights and get the fifth night free. This deal is applicable for all room types.
Stay 14 consecutive nights or more and receive 50 percent off the nightly rate.
These offers must be booked directly with the hotel. Please call the onsite reservations team at 518-523-2544. They will help you make the best decision for your group or family, and can inform you of the myriad of activities that you can enjoy while in Lake Placid.
The luxury seven-acre property offers 130 units all overlooking Mirror Lake and the Adirondack High Peaks. The “single-loaded” construction and design concept of the magnificent resort naturally lends itself to better social distancing as there are less guests in the hallways than traditional lodging properties where rooms are placed on both sides of the corridor. No other Adirondack region hotel is designed in this manner.
With health and safety front and center, here’s what guests and hotel staff can expect when they enter the Inn:
As per the Governor’s executive order of May 29, all guests and employees are required to wear face coverings when in indoor common areas including hallways and elevators or wherever social distancing is not possible.
Hospital-grade Ultraviolet-C disinfecting tools have been deployed throughout the property to ensure the highest levels of cleaning and disinfection. This will continue.
Hospital-grade Electrostatic sprayers have been used to ensure the most thorough levels of disinfection on high touchpoint areas. This will also continue.
Remote check-in capabilities are being implemented via a smartphone app, allowing you to check in from your vehicle upon arrival, avoiding the traditional check in process.
A task force has been created to monitor the situation and work in conjunction with CDC and local officials to ensure safety protocols are implemented and maintained throughout the resort.
All staff will undergo thermal imaging prior to the start of every shift.
All staff will complete a state mandated health and safety questionnaire prior to every shift.
Any staff member registering a fever greater than 100.4, or who is unable to positively answer the verbal portion of the health and safety screening, will be unable to come on property until cleared by a healthcare professional.
All staff will wear PPE equipment while working in common areas or wherever social distancing is impractical.
Maximum hotel occupancy has been reduced to 75 percent.
Whenever practical, guest rooms will be left vacant for 72 hours for a potential virus to die without a host after each guest departure.
The pandemic has also resulted in a change to the dining scene inside the Mirror Lake Inn. The View Restaurant, AAA Four Diamond rated the past 13 consecutive years, has been re-imagined and enlarged with greater spacing as part of the new safety measures. The redesign includes hardwood flooring to facilitate better cleaning and sanitation.
Taste Bistro has now been integrated into The View with the bistro’s most popular items to be found on The View’s menu. The end result will present guests with the best of both worlds: a combination of upscale dining and elegant comfort food. Taste’s footprint has become The View Lounge. The hip Cottage Café, on the shore of Mirror Lake, continues to welcome diners and revelers for its 43rd year. The Cottage presents both indoor and outdoor settings, and now features yet a third and fourth open air options to complement its deck and patio. For added service and efficiency, the Inn is implementing “to-go” apps for these restaurants, allowing guests to order and pre-pay electronically from their own device.
The spa and salon are also ready to welcome guests. A physical barrier has been inserted at the check-in desk. Treatment schedules have been altered to ensure ample time for cleaning and disinfecting treatment surfaces between customers. Equipment in the fitness room will also be cleaned and disinfected between guest use. Manicures and pedicures will be limited to one at a time, although booking as a safe group is permissible. The policy is similar for the gift shop. In high traffic areas of the spa/salon, social distance markers have been put in place.
“We are insisting on these protocols for the safety of our guests, employees and the local community,” continued Weibrecht. “Until such time as we, in conjunction with the State of New York, determine that it is prudent to relax these protocols, we will strictly adhere to them and look forward to a time when we might be able to lift those protocols.”
-MLI-
About the Mirror Lake Inn
The AAA Four Diamond Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa is a luxury lakefront resort offering an authentic Adirondack experience. The Inn, rated Four Diamond for 36 consecutive years, offers both Four Diamond world-class cuisine and casual dining options, with impeccable service amid awe-inspiring views. Only one other property in New York State (located in Manhattan), has maintained the Four Diamond designation longer than Mirror Lake Inn. It is the only property in Lake Placid that combines Four Diamond lodging and dining. The Inn's renowned Lake Placid spa pampers the body and refreshes the mind with a comprehensive menu of services. The Inn is conveniently located one block from the restaurants and shops on Main Street in Lake Placid.
CloudAccess, a leading Wordpress and Joomla cloud hosting provider based out of Michigan, today announced that it has expanded its professional service offerings with the acquisition of Miller Media, a Michigan-based web development and search engine marketing firm.
Miller Media is a Google Partner digital marketing agency focused on Internet marketing strategies, usability, conversion improvement, SEO, SEM, design, and development of websites. For over 30 years, the team at Miller Media has worked to bring transformative experiences to the business goals of its clients and the unique needs of its customers.
The add-on acquisition will allow both firms to leverage resources from each other to expand their respective service offerings and create significantly more value for their clients.
“We are thrilled to be teaming up with Miller Media. Combining the expertise and assets from each company presents significant opportunities for growth” said Jonathan Gafill, CEO of CloudAccess.
"Very proud of my team and excited for the tremendous opportunity and synergies that this new partnership with CloudAccess offers” added Dan Miller, CEO of Miller Media.
About CloudAccess CloudAccess.net is the premiere hosting and support platform for the Joomla and WordPress content management systems. The company developed and has exclusive rights to the Cloud Control Panel (CCP), a custom built, feature-rich, application management portal that is setting new standards within the hosting industry. CloudAccess.net is home to over 15,000 websites and offers an industry-leading support team that supports all core Joomla or WordPress features.
About Cloud Equity Group Cloud Equity Group is a strategically positioned investment management firm capitalizing on the rapidly expanding industries of web hosting and cloud-based infrastructure. The company’s primary focus is leveraging investor capital in the acquisition of private lower middle market companies that possess high levels of unlevered free cash flow and/or significant opportunity for exponential growth.
Casebook PBC, known as a leader in child welfare software innovation, has continued its expansion across human services into four additional program areas. The New York City-based software company has been quietly developing its new platform and bringing innovation to new areas of human and social services. Casebook’s configurable Software as a Service (SaaS) platform is now bringing innovation to nonprofit and state and local government organizations in Youth & Family Services, Domestic Abuse & Victim Services, Inspection & Licensing Services, and Foster Care & Adoption Services.
"In times of crisis, such as the current pandemic, and the accompanying economic instability, there has never been a greater need to support the human services organizations and agencies that serve our country's most vulnerable. We've taken over a decade of experience in child welfare, user-centered design, and best-in-class software development and turned that into an affordable SaaS solution that can bridge the technology gap facing far too many human service organizations. Organizations no longer have the luxury of months or year-long modernization projects. Human services organizations require software that is native to the domain - and even specific program areas, as well as easy to onboard and requires very minimal training for their staff. With Casebook, we are getting service organizations up and running in weeks, including importing historical data. Crises don't honor delays, and our newest offerings are eliminating technical and programmatic obstacles so that organizations can work digitally and save time." said Nicole Reece, Chief Product Officer.
Casebook, originally incubated by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is a person-centric SaaS, inspired by the original version of Facebook. Purpose-built and designed to help workers, Casebook was originally designed with child welfare experts as a way to help workers prioritize and collect the data required to make informed decisions and improve outcomes. Today, Casebook PBC continues to create innovative solutions that are cloud-based, mobile-ready, and built with input from experts and workers in the program areas we support.
In making the selection, the NAELA Journal editorial board members note that the article thoroughly covers Medicare's arcane requirement of three-day inpatient admission to a hospital as a prerequisite for coverage of skilled nursing care and how this requirement continues to inflict untold financial hardship on elderly patients who have unwittingly consented to nursing home care believing it would be paid, or worse, deprived them of medically necessary care if they declined to consent knowing that Medicare would not provide coverage as a consequence of the "admission" being classified as "for observation" as opposed to "inpatient." The article helps elder and special needs law practitioners to understand that just doing a better job of providing "notice" of the situation does nothing to remedy what is still an unacceptable situation.
The Regan Writing Award was established in 1996 in memory of John J. Regan — a long-time NAELA member and Fellow, and a pioneer in elder law — and is meant to encourage quality submissions to NAELA Journal from NAELA members and non-members.
NAELA Journal is a publication of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. It covers substantive elder and special needs law topics including preservation of assets, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, disability, health insurance, tax planning, conservatorships, living trusts and wills, long-term care planning, housing and nursing home issues, elder abuse, fraud recovers, age discrimination, and retirement.
About NAELA Members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of all ages with disabilities. Upon joining, NAELA member attorneys agree to adhere to the NAELA Aspirational Standards. Established in 1987, NAELA is a non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations, and others. The mission of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is to educate, inspire, serve, and provide community to attorneys with practices in elder and special needs law. NAELA currently has members across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit NAELA.org, or to locate a NAELA member in your area, visit NAELA.org/findlawyer.
Modere Inc., a global company with a category-leading portfolio of live clean lifestyle essentials including beauty and personal care, health and wellness, and household products, today announced its new vice president of global operations, Jonee Woodard.
Woodard joins Modere with 20 years of progressive experience in global supply chain management, from manufacturing to procurement, inventory, logistics and fulfillment. Having begun her career as the Operations and Physical Distribution Manager for one of the top retail department store chains in the United States, Woodard’s subsequent trajectory led to higher and more widely responsible domestic and international operational positions, including Chief Operations Officer and VP Operations for consumer brands, health and wellness, skincare, and beauty companies in the direct selling distribution channel before joining Modere.
Well-regarded for her process-focused and performance-driven leadership style, Woodard has a strong track record of having developed able, independent department leaders while instituting operational best practices that ensure notable and measurable success.
Asma Ishaq, Chief Executive Officer of Modere, says of Woodard’s appointment, “The robust presence we are currently enjoying in 42 international markets requires a skilled leader with the experience and foresight to develop and manage operational strategies in a fast-growth environment. As we continue to grow those markets and launch others, Jonee Woodard presents as the best candidate for this critical role. She is experienced, astute, performance-driven and collaborative, and I believe she will make a very welcome addition to our management committee and team here at Modere.”
“I am honored to join the management team at Modere and to add my expertise in operations at this key moment in time as the company experiences growth across its markets,” commented Woodard. “It’s an exciting time to be at Modere and I am eager to contribute to its further success.”
About Modere Modere (http://www.modere.com) offers a category-leading portfolio of live clean lifestyle essentials including beauty and personal care, health and wellness, and household products that are equal parts safe, high-performing and scientifically designed. We believe modern health involves pure nutrition, a clean environment and safe ingredients across all our product categories. Modere brings a holistic, live clean approach to well-being, and our products reflect a commitment to excellence and innovation with tested formulas proven around the globe. The recipient of multiple third-party validations, our line includes products that are EPA Safer Choice-approved, EWG Verified™, NSF Certified and gray-water safe. The company is a proud supporter of Vitamin Angels
They’re students, eager to learn more than they’re getting in high school art classes. They’re moms, who put their art studies on hold for a few decades to raise their kids. One is a retired veteran, wanting to develop his skills and teach art classes at a senior care facility. They come from three nations, and cities literally spanning the country. And all nine are the first recipients of Barnstone Studios’ Gwendolyn Stine Scholarship.
Winners will receive the complete recorded drawing series taught by the late Myron Barnstone, recognized as a leader in bringing classical drawing and design back into mainstream art education. The Barnstone Method classes include an Introduction to Drawing, the Fletcher Palette Control and Color series, Figure Drawing, and the Golden Section, a key component of traditional training learned by master artists through the centuries. Winners will also receive three months of one-on-one mentoring from a Barnstone Master Guide, an elite group of distinguished Barnstone Studios alumni.
Cat Barnstone Szafran, Barnstone Studios Director, said she was thrilled with both the number of people applying for the Gwendolyn Stine Scholarship for its initial launch, and the caliber of the applicants.
“We intended to provide two scholarships for this first quarterly award,” Szafran said, “but so many people donated to the fund to honor Gwendolyn, and support Myron’s legacy too, that we were able to select nine deserving applicants.”
Gwendolyn Stine was already an artist before she began studying with Barnstone at his studio in Coplay, Pennsylvania. The Barnstone Method skills she learned took her art to a completely new level, and earned her national acclaim and numerous awards. Her original pieces are held in private and permanent collections across North America. Before her death on March 11 of this year, Stine was both a Barnstone Master Guide, and a Master Instructor in the Drawing & Painting studio at the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, Arizona.
June 21, the day the nine winners were notified they were the first to receive the Gwendolyn Stine Scholarship, would have been Stine’s 60th birthday.
Scholarship winners are: Evgenia Asimomyti of Victoria, Australia; Greggy Bazile of Boston, Massachusetts; Analese Bernhardt of Baltimore, Maryland; Gwendlyn Domingo of Cupertino, California; Holly Goeckler of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania; Andy Harris of Bristol, England; Jeffrey S. Lee of San Diego, California; Patrick Meyers of Bucyrus, Kansas, and Harriet Pearson of Leicestershire, UK.
The Gwendolyn Stine Scholarship will be awarded quarterly, and is supported by the generous donations of patrons. Also, a percentage of the sale of all original Barnstone art and prints goes directly into the scholarship fund. Browse the Barnstone galleries here. https://shop.barnstonestudios.com/artwork/
Barnstone Studios at 202 A East Main Street, Thurmont, Maryland, is dedicated to fostering an appreciation of fine art, and helping to make art education accessible to all who desire to develop their talent and enrich their lives. Additional information about Barnstone Method classes, the Patreon program, private coaching from Barnstone Master Guides, original works or limited edition prints and other related products is available online at BarnstoneStudios.com, or by calling 301.788.6241.
The Heritage Downtown Active Senior Living Apartment Homes in Walnut Creek, CA, has just announced they have had zero cases of COVID-19. With over 100,000 positive cases of the coronavirus in the United States to date, their announcement is both significant and reassuring to the senior citizens who reside at The Heritage Downtown, their family members, as well as the Walnut Creek community.
“Our staff has gone above and beyond to carefully follow the CDC, State, and County guidelines by putting into place stringent safety protocols that protect our senior residents. Our persistence and determination to keep our senior community safe has paid off, and we couldn’t be more relieved by this”, says Jenny Shively, Community Relations Director.
The Heritage Downtown keeps coronavirus safety protocols a priority throughout the day - from start to finish. Some of their daily safety routines include:
Diligently following CDC, State, and County Guidelines.
Staff member’s temperatures are taken daily.
Wearing masks and gloves.
Sheltering in place and social distancing.
Limiting visitors to “essential visits” only.
Staff members answer a COVID-19 screening questionnaire.
Thoroughly clean and disinfect the property throughout the day.
Delivering healthy meals to its residents in their apartments.
When it comes to preparing healthy meals for their senior residents, they have certainly taken it to the next level. Culinary excellence and farm fresh dining are enjoyed onsite at their very own Newton’s Restaurant. With an ongoing focus on health and nutrition, their Chef JV uses ingredients obtained from local sources - the Walnut Creek Farmers Market and their on-site Chef’s Garden. Newton’s Restaurant emphasizes the fresh cooking philosophy, which is serving locally sourced produce and thoughtfully prepared farm to table meals.
The team members of this San Francisco Bay Area senior community ensure that they maintain a high level of comfort and familiarity while putting their safety precautions into place. “This is an uneasy time for everyone, but more so for those individuals who may be more vulnerable. So not only do we strive to protect our older adult residents physically, but also take steps to keep their spirits high”, states Shively. The caring staff at this Walnut Creek retirement home mitigate the risk of contracting COVID-19 while continuing to provide their 55+ residents with essential programs and activities such as these examples:
Providing mentally and physically enriching activities to residents via Zoom to stay busy and connected. This includes fitness classes, discussion groups, independent film links, and more.
Organize weekly special events for their senior residents that are presented to them at their doorways - happy hour, ice cream, birthday cupcakes, crossword puzzles, contests, and the like.
Walnut Creek, the home of The Heritage Downtown Active Senior Living Community, has a population of just over 70,000, with only 72 COVID-19 positive cases, as reported by the Contra Costa Health Services, as of June 17th, 2020. These numbers attest to the fact that Walnut Creek, in general, is doing an incredible job shielding its community from this pandemic. This, coupled with the fact that The Heritage Downtown has taken such significant steps in their safety measures, has led to their record of zero cases within their senior housing facility. A statistic that will allow their senior community to feel safe in their own homes.
About The Heritage Downtown Labeled as the Bay Area’s #1 All-Inclusive Active Senior Living Community, The Heritage Downtown is recognized for its charming and popular location. It’s also known for its incredible amenities, services, programs, and events. These modern active senior apartment homes present an independent resort living atmosphere for those who are 55 plus. They were created for older adults who would like to have an enriched, socially active life, and who are seeking to enhance their mental and physical well-being. The Heritage Downtown offers 24-hour concierge service, award-winning onsite dining, resident gardens, two innovative technology centers, secured covered parking and storage, van & bus shuttle service, and more. Additionally, this outstanding senior community is located within walking distance of many exceptional restaurants and shops within the downtown Walnut Creek area.
Virtual learning and personalized learning have been at the forefront of education reform discussions for over a decade. One leader of this sector, Summit Public Schools, has been backed by almost 0 million philanthropic dollars from the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, the Gates Foundation, and others. Summit Public Schools has aggressively marketed its Summit Learning Platform to schools across the United States since 2015. As a result, the Summit Learning Program is now one of the most prominent digital personalized learning programs in the United States.
The marketing message of Summit Learning Program trades on the alleged success of the Summit Public Schools. Summit claims to have developed a “science-based” personalized learning model of teaching and learning that results in all of its students being academically prepared for college. It further claims that its students succeed in college and are prepared to lead successful, fulfilled lives. These successes, it claims, are the result of its unique approach to personalized learning and the use of the digital platform at the heart of its approach.
None of these claims made by Summit Public Schools have been confirmed by independent evaluators. In fact, other than scant bits of self-selected information provided by Summit itself, Boninger, Molnar and Saldaña found no evidence in the public record that confirms the claims. Nor did Summit Public Schools provide the information that the authors solicited in a California public records request.
Despite the lack of evidence to support the claims made by Summit Public Schools, the Summit Learning Program has been adopted by nearly 400 schools across the country. While Summit has offered positive anecdotes and some selected data, there is no solid evidence that “partner” schools are experiencing the promised success; to the contrary, there have been a number of reported incidents of problems and dissatisfaction. Further, the student data collected pursuant to the contracts between Summit and these partner schools presents a potentially significant risk to student privacy and opens the door to the exploitation of those data by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and possibly by unknown third parties—for purposes that have nothing to do with improving the quality of those students’ educations.
Virtual education and personalized learning are at the top of the education reform agenda in large measure because of hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and advocacy by philanthropic organizations (e.g., the Gates Foundation), large digital platforms (e.g., Facebook and Google), and venture capitalists anxious to access the school market.
Exacerbated by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, schools across the country are struggling to find safe ways to educate their students. The rapid spread of the Summit Learning Program, despite its risks and lack of transparency, provides a powerful example of how policymakers are challenged when faced with a well-financed, self-interested push for schools to adopt digital personalized learning programs. Boninger, Molnar and Saldaña provide policymakers with recommendations to protect the public interest by establishing oversight and accountability mechanisms related to digital platforms and personalized learning programs.
Find Big Claims, Little Evidence, Lots of Money: The Reality Behind the Summit Learning Program and the Push to Adopt Digital Personalized Learning Platforms, by Faith Boninger, Alex Molnar and Christopher M. Saldaña, at: http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/summit-2020
This research brief was made possible in part by the support of the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice (greatlakescenter.org).
The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), a university research center housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: https://nepc.colorado.edu
Offering everyday eye health care essentials at an affordable price point, SmartBuy Collection is proud to now also help support mothers and children desperately in need. Every eyewear purchase from the SmartBuy Collection, SmartBuy Kids and SmartBuy Readers will now directly contribute funds going to the program.
The Mother & Child Health program sees aid workers spending up to 15 years in Zambian communities, working with local leaders and families to identify their unique challenges and help develop lasting solutions together. The communities are given ownership of the program and its results to ensure long-term sustainability.
“We are beyond proud to join forces with World Vision on helping improve the lives of mothers and their children. No mother should have to die in pregnancy or childbirth and no newborn baby should have to die from easily preventable complications”, says Julia Ritchie, SmartBuy Collection brand manager.
Globally, ten children under 5 years old will die every minute today from preventable causes. That’s more than 5 million children each year. Fifty percent of those young lives are lost in their first week of life. In addition, more than 800 women die every day from complications in pregnancy or childbirth—99% of them in developing countries.
“As a brand we believe in providing stylish and affordable eyewear for all. The opportunity to extend this to the health of women and children in Zambia through World Vision is a great initiative”, says Julia Ritchie.
“We are so excited to partner with SmartBuy Collection”, says Bernadette Martin, Corporate Engagement Manager at World Vision US. “Their support will help us improve the lives of women and children who are most vulnerable, while also bringing awareness to this cause”.
The program provides life-saving health education and care directly to families in Zambia’s poorest Luwingu district. With proven community-based prevention and treatment interventions, World Vision is able to save the lives of mothers and children and ensure they thrive.
Browse the SmartBuy Collection here, and actively contribute towards the program with every purchase.
About SmartBuy Collection
SmartBuy Collection is a high-quality, affordable eyewear brand exclusive to SmartBuyGlasses online. The brand offers a wide range of eyeglasses styles and frame shapes, so everyone can find something they love for the best price. From everyday eyeglasses to bold and unique styles, their collection starts from just and includes free 1.5 prescription lenses and shipping. Browse the SmartBuy Collection here.
About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization working in nearly a hundred countries to build brighter futures for vulnerable children. Find out more information about World Vision’s Mother & Child Health programhere.
At Allerio we have chosen to do things differently. At Allerio we solved an important problem with connectivity for telemedicine and remote communications. We knew it had to be portable, it had to be reliable, it had to be secure, it had to be simple, and that it just has to work.
We are proud to announce that Allerio has passed all FCC and carrier certification requirements to operate on three U.S. nationwide networks simultaneously for its Allerio Mobile Hub platform. Allerio is a portable connectivity platform that optimizes cellular connectivity, enabling first responders in the field to reliably record, share, and transmit critical patient and other broadband data for telemedicine at the point of care and in transit.
Allerio CEO TJ Kennedy said, “At Allerio we are passionate about empowering first responders with life-saving technology. When creating Allerio, we looked at what was available for telemedicine at the patient’s location and found that more was needed, so we went to work to solve that problem. We came up with something completely different that optimizes coverage of three nationwide carrier LTE networks in one device that is lightweight, portable and is extremely easy to operate.”
Allerio Corporate Development Officer Jason Karp added, “The Allerio solution is a true step forward in connectivity options, which has been validated by public safety in the field, facilitating telemedicine for faster patient interventions and enabling true community paramedicine.”
The Allerio Mobile Hub platform, which includes all network connectivity, is now available for one low monthly fee. To learn more about Allerio, visit http://www.allerio.com.
About Allerio
Allerio's smart connectivity solution for first responders and other public safety personnel provides a reliable communication platform that facilitates the exchange of critical information and data from the field. Through an easy to use, one-button interface, Allerio offers an efficient and secure “Mobile Hub” to connect devices and transmit rich data in real-time, whether at the incident or in transit in an emergency vehicle. Allerio is headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota with satellite offices spanning the U.S., including production facilities in Madison Heights, Michigan. For more information, visit http://www.allerio.com and follow us on social media.
The Safe Boating Campaign, a worldwide effort focused on responsible boating, reminds boaters to boat sober this Fourth of July. Boating under the influence, or BUI, is the leading contributing factor in recreational boater deaths, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
“The July 4 holiday is around the corner, and unfortunately has become known for drinking and boating, and deadly accidents,” said Peg Phillips, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council, and lead organization for the Safe Boating Campaign.
“Operating a boat – or even being a passenger – is incredibly risky while under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” continued Phillips. “Drunken passengers can easily fall overboard, swim near the propeller, lean over the side, or stand up in small boats causing the boat to capsize.”
The side effects of alcohol or drug use, such as impaired judgment, reduced balance and poor coordination, are magnified while boating, due to environmental conditions from the sun, wind and boat motion.
“Impairment can be even more dangerous for boaters, since most have less experience and confidence operating a boat than they do driving a car,” said Yvonne Pentz, communications director of the National Safe Boating Council. “Boaters should also always wear a life jacket, similar to wearing a seat belt when you’re in a vehicle.”
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, a partner of the Safe Boating Campaign, in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard and law enforcement agencies nationwide, is coordinating the annual Operation Dry Water three-day weekend. This heightened BUI awareness and enforcement effort will be held from July 3 to July 5 in every U.S. state and territory.
Since the inception of the Operation Dry Water Campaign in 2009, law enforcement officers have removed 4,095 BUI operators from the nation’s waterways and made contact with over 1.5 million boaters during the annual three-day weekend.
The Safe Boating Campaign is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. For more information and to follow the campaign on social media, please visit https://safeboatingcampaign.com/.
4R Systems, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based machine learning & AI solutions that help retailers optimize their supply chain and merchandising decisions, announced Mark Garland to serve as its new President & CEO. Effective immediately, Garland will be responsible for leadership in all areas of 4R’s operations.
“On behalf of the 4R board, we are pleased to select Mark Garland as our new President & CEO,” said Marshall Fisher, 4R board member and UPS Professor, Operations and Information Management Dept. at The Wharton School of Business. “Mark has been key to our growth since he joined us in 2012. He has created positive change in all areas of our business and has been instrumental in countless operational improvements.”
Prior to assuming the role of President & CEO, Garland served as Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing & Solutions at 4R Systems, where he was responsible for growing the company’s brand and expanding sales.
4R’s new President & CEO, Mark Garland, said, “It’s a great honor to be chosen by our board to lead 4R. I’m proud to serve our entire team as each one has the utmost commitment to the success of our retail clients. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than when a retail client is pleasantly surprised by the increased profit 4R helped them to achieve. We’ve got more good things in store for our retail clients and I’m eager to keep 4R moving forward.”
“We are grateful for the leadership of Kevin Stadler, our former President & CEO," added Fisher. “Stadler and Garland were a great team. We know Stadler will bring success to the new role he has accepted, as he’s an innovator at heart. Mark Garland has earned this leadership role and the entire board is confident he will help 4R navigate uncharted territory in the retail world.”
About 4R Systems 4R is a leading provider of cloud-based, prescriptive analytics solutions leveraging the latest machine learning and AI strategies that help retailers optimize their supply chain and merchandising decisions.
Its innovative SaaS solutions are dedicated to helping retailers improve strategic decisions across the key functional areas of demand planning, omnichannel replenishment, assortment optimization, product markdown and seasonal allocation planning. Its holistic modeling learns your consumer demand including price elasticity, seasonality, localized demand variation, promotion lifts, and substitutability while allowing retailers to control the amount of risk.
Whether a traditional or pure e-commerce retailer 4R’s benefit driven methodology provides a flexible framework of exception-based management and scenario planning to meet the needs of a competitive landscape. Call (610) 644-1234 or visit http://www.4rsystems.com.
Former “Rich Dad Poor Dad” Trainer and Real Estate Educator Evie Brooks explained 11 Panama investing benefits in an “All Things Panama” interview on ESPN 1500 AM Cover Your Assets with Host Todd Rooker last weekend. With over 24 years of domestic and international real estate investing experience in 13 countries and 30 states, Brooks emphasized; “This trend of investing in Panama is an ongoing phenomenon that will continue for quite some time in both real estate and agriculture.”
Host Todd Rooker kicked off this educational interview by sharing; “During the global pandemic, Brooks continues to close deals every week,…not surprising. Primarily due to the soaring demand for organic smart farming investments, avocados, limes, mangoes and more, in Panama where 85% of the food is imported.”
As an educator, Rooker asked Brooks about her “boots on the ground” VIP Tours. Brooks explained; “Many are interested in Panama because it’s an emerging market where people can find additional cash flow from investment properties, gain a second income by starting a new company, invest in organic farms, find a second career in real estate as a whole, and/or retire in a tropical paradise community that speaks English, and is cheaper than living in most major metropolitan areas.”
When asked about what makes Panama so appealing, Brooks replied; “It's all about the bottom line for me, I'm always looking at how to take anything and turn it into an asset with multiple streams of income and exit strategies.” Brooks then expanded on the top 11 reasons why Panama and why now:
1. Tax Benefits – Panama has been referred to as the “next Singapore” because it’s very business friendly with low taxes designed by the government to attract people to move there and/or invest.
2. Don’t have to be a resident to invest – The Panama residency process is appealing to expatriates and retirees, but you don't even have to be a citizen to invest in real estate.
3. U.S. Currency and Protected Territory – All transactions are done using the U.S. dollar, and Panama is a U.S. protected territory.
4. Substantially Lower Prices - Panama real estate prices are typically 25-50% less for the same quality in most major U.S. cities, and the standard of living is more affordable.
5. Strong GDP (Gross Domestic Product) – Over the last 10 years, the Panama GDP before COVID-19, has been between 5.6% and 11.3%.
6. Tropical Paradise – Brooks’ VIP Tours focus on popular areas about 2 hours from Panama City, where the weather has tropical breezes and warm weather year-round.
7. Big City in Paradise – Panama City includes many things anyone would find in a major city, including metros, an international airport, and a new Johns Hopkins Hospital.
8. Panama Canal Expansion – This expansion started in 2016. A new cruise terminal is currently planned to open this winter, along with the anticipated completion of the 4th Panama Canal Bridge in 2023.
9. Hard-to-find Organic Farm Investments – Based on the global population growth estimates of 8.5 billion by 2030, Brooks explained that USDA certified organic farming is a growing investment area with smart greenhouses and long-term investments in trees.
10. Pre-Construction Investments with Low Deposits – Brooks also has access to pre-construction loans where “you put down a very small deposit 10% 20% or 30%, depending on where in the construction it is and then you hold until it's finished."
11. Lock Up and Leave – Investors can also lockup a property and leave it for long periods of time. Brooks’ company can “maintain your unit.” Properties can also be used as vacation rentals or a second home.
VIP TOURS: To learn more, Brooks added, “If you will go watch a very short video on eviebrookspanama.com, I've got two very substantial offers there. And as soon as you sign up for the video for free with your email, I’ll send you information to schedule a free one-hour consultation with me. But if you watch it all the way through, there's also a cash offer for this VIP educational tour to join us for this boots on the ground event that has a maximum of 14 people. We’ll pick you up at the airport, educate you on the country, take you to some of the best restaurants, and then review your goals and different strategies to make money. If you're looking to get involved with some of these projects or just become an expat, it’s a worthwhile experience. You can find out how to become an expat, find a place to rent, and experience Panama. We are truly 'All Things Panama'. And that's what we do.”
Media Contact Liz H Kelly, 310-987-7207
ABOUT - Evie Brooks (Atlanta, GA and Veracruz, Panama) is an elite Real Estate Investment Educator, Keynote Speaker, Investor, Coach, Mentor, Entrepreneur and former Advanced Trainer for “Rich Dad Poor Dad”, who now specializes in Panama real estate and organic agriculture investments. As a disclaimer, Brooks and her employees and affiliates are not investment or tax advisors, and do not offer investment advice. To learn more, visit https://eviebrookspanama.com
Quotible, a premier lead response and communication company, and SpinCar, the global leader in digital automotive merchandising, today announced an integration that will enable dealers to deliver advanced digital merchandising experiences within every Quotible quote.
This advanced new integration enables dealers to feature SpinCar’s interactive 360° WalkArounds and Feature Tour experiences in their outgoing lead response sent via text and email. Allowing prospective buyers to explore every aspect of their vehicle of interest directly from the lead response builds greater confidence in their purchase decision. With this new capability, dealerships are able to deliver a better first impression when responding to leads and consumer inquiries.
“As a long time SpinCar customer, I was excited to see the integration between SpinCar and Quotible as it will provides for a more dynamic way to show photos and ‘spins’ of cars to our customers along with an engaging customer quotation tool,” said Bill Feinstein, President of New Jersey Planet Honda. “We now can provide our customers with a fully dynamic quoting environment that will only increase ‘stickiness’ and conversion rates."
“We at Quotible could not be more excited about our partnership with SpinCar, as we feel both companies have an aligned goal to increase conversions for our dealer partners and improve the consumer shopping experience,” said Nick Kaptain, co-founder of Quotible.
“Over the past 6 years, thousands of dealers have upgraded their static, photo-based websites with enhanced digital experiences that truly bring their vehicles to life online,” said Devin Daly, SpinCar Co-Founder and CEO. “We are thrilled to be working with Quotible to be the first in the industry to extend this same technology to the outbound lead response process, and we look forward to welcoming them into our expanding partner ecosystem.”
Quotible is a dealer-founded technology that was created to solve the most common and critical pain points associated with automotive lead response and communication. Quotible replaces static, unengaging CRM email templates with powerful, personalized, and interactive quotes sent by both text and email. Dealers using Quotible deliver a first response that drives engagement, satisfies customers, differentiates the dealership, and most importantly, helps increase contacts, appointments, and closing percentages.
The integration with SpinCar offers various benefits including:
Personalized quotes that deliver a multimedia 360-degree virtual exterior and interior walkaround of every vehicle
Improved transparency and trust with close up zooming and panning of dealership inventory from every angle
More empowered shoppers in full control of vehicle exploration
ABOUT QUOTIBLE
Quotible is a dealer founded interactive lead response technology that helps progressive dealers all across the US maximize every single opportunity and differentiate from the competition by delivering highly engaging interactive quotes via text and email. Dealers using Quotible deliver a first response that drives engagement, satisfies customers, differentiates your dealership, and most importantly, helps increase contacts, appointments, and closing percentages. To learn more about Quotible, visit Quotible.com
ABOUT SPINCAR
SpinCar offers automotive dealers, wholesalers, OEMs and third-party marketplaces the industry’s most advanced platform for digital automotive merchandising. The company’s suite of products build trust between buyers and sellers by bringing the physical showroom experience to car shoppers wherever and whenever they want. SpinCar’s proprietary shopper behavioral data and digital technology applications enable vehicle sellers to deliver hyper-personalized interactions across the entire car buying journey. To date, the company has delivered more than 700 million shopper interactions across 20 countries. To learn more about SpinCar, visit SpinCar.com.
Vitria today announced the evolution of their Digital Operations suite with the VIA AIOps Application, which enables reliable automation across all layers of service delivery to improve the customer experience and optimize operations.
Customer experience is the ultimate measure of successful digital transformation — the VIA AIOps Application assures service delivery experience across today’s large and most complex ecosystems. The challenge operators face is siloed with noisy monitoring tools that tell them plenty about what is broken, but almost nothing about why and the potential impact to customer experience. In order to stay ahead of customer-impacting issues, operations teams need to leverage automation made available by digital transformation, but first need to separate root cause from symptoms, build trust in the analysis and then understand the potentially impacted population. However, lack of visibility across the entire service delivery ecosystem and ‘black box’ analytics can mask the real cause and make automation ineffective or even dangerous. To fully benefit from their investment in digital transformation, enterprises need less noisy monitoring tools and more comprehensive AIOps applications.
Today, Vitria is introducing VIA AIOps delivering a value multiplier that leverages all the data coming directly from sources or events from existing monitoring tools across the application, network and infrastructure layers in service delivery. VIA AIOps goes beyond traditional AIOps solutions by cross correlating this data with customer experience markers and change management events to provide the complete analysis needed for incident lifecycle automation.
“Today, we bring to market a comprehensive AIOps Application that helps enterprises accelerate their pace of innovation,” said Chris Menier, GM Digital Transformation, VIA AIOps. “Automating the incident lifecycle can maximize the customer experience while optimizing operations. VIA is the only AIOps application in the market that provides total ecosystem observability and explanatory analytics to assure the service experience.”
VIA AIOps
Is a next generation AIOps application that improves customer experience by providing total Ecosystem Observability, Explanatory AI, and Experience Assurance.
Total Ecosystem Observability—learns dependencies and generates an ontology across all layers of service delivery including application, network and infrastructure performance, as well as customer experience markers and change management events.
Explanatory AI—delivers advanced analytics and machine learning to accurately detect anomalies and determine what is the cause, what is symptomatic, and what customer populations are impacted with visual explanations of all analysis and actions.
Experience Assurance—remedial actions can be automated and customer-affecting issues can be predicted and acted upon prior to customer impact.
Move from Analyzing Data to Automating Actions. VIA AIOps enables reliable automation by correlating data and events across all layers of service delivery to improve the customer experience and optimize operations. Automation minimizes the incident-to-response lifecycle and overall service and customer impact. VIA AIOps provides total ecosystem observability, and explanatory AI to increase confidence in automation and speed up operationalization. Using VIA AIOps provides experience assurance to your customers — know and act on problems before your customers do.
5 high achieving students from Broward College (Florida) will complete a 1-month Virtual Internship this summer, after receiving funding from the Armstrong International Internship Grant exclusively offered to Broward College students. The Grant was funded by David Armstrong, former president of Broward College and current board advisor to Virtual Internships. His grant will cover the program fee for the 5 selected recipients to intern with an internationally-based company through Virtual Internships’ program.
The 5 awarded students include: Ariana Martinez, a film major William Zachary Dean, a biology major Annie Villalta, a rising senior at College Academy High School planning to major in political science or economics Kyle Ozuna, an international relations major Gia Marquez, a chemical and biomedical engineering major
Recent Virtual Internship program participants have been placed with global small-to-medium enterprises (SME’s) and nonprofits, such as Karen Hilltribes Trust - a community-based organization supporting the Karen people of Thailand.
“Internships provide students with valuable workplace skills and experience for their future careers,” said Armstrong. “Through Virtual Internships, these students will also receive global and international business experience that should enhance their world view and career opportunities. The students at Broward College receive an outstanding academic experience, and these diverse grant recipients will no doubt improve their life and work experience through their internships.”
Due to COVID-19, 2020 has seen a massive push towards remote working for employees and interns alike. Organizations such as Google, Apple, Amazon, and Facebook will host thousands of worldwide interns through remote and virtual internships this year.
“I feel very honored to have won this scholarship as it helps me participate in a wonderful opportunity to work in the field I eventually want to have a career in,” says Martinez of winning the scholarship.
About starting his internship, Ozuna says he is “most excited to put into action lessons that I have been taught and apply them into the real world. Also, [I’m excited for] the opportunity to be able to step out of my comfort zone to try something new.”
“I am excited to meet professionals with completely different cultures than myself, to begin to learn how they think. I think meeting people is wonderful, especially people who are so different than I am and who are also professionals within their fields. I think the most exciting part will be making lifelong connections with other respected professionals in my field,” says Dean.
When asked what she hopes to accomplish during her internship, Villalta says, “I hope to gain work skills that will potentially boost my employability. I also hope to gain cross-cultural skills that will help me communicate with those who are different from me.”
“I’d like to increase my skills in written communication and problem-solving as well as mastering software and platforms relevant to my career field. Be able to adapt and gain an international perspective and most importantly, be able to demonstrate my potential as a Dominican Woman in STEM,” says Marquez.
Virtual Internships is grateful for its partnership with Broward College and its fundamental belief in the positive outcomes of academic and professional development programs of international nature. Additionally, we thank David Armstrong for his vision and generous support, allowing more students to have the opportunity to gain professional and international experience.
About Virtual Internships In addition to these 5 students from Broward College, Virtual Internships will be supporting over 1,000 students from around the world to complete a remote international internship this summer. Students wanting to gain global work experience can complete an internship from the comfort of their own home, working 20-30 hours per week for 1-3 months. Virtual Internships’ program follows the highly-regarded National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Readiness Competencies framework.
High school students can also access the program through Virtual Internships Foundations programming, which is a structured 4-week part-time internship and career-exploration experience. Those interested in learning more can visit Virtual Internships' Website
Argos Health has made Black Book’s list for top-performing vendors among in-demand financial healthcare software, systems, and outsourcing services for the second year in a row, once again being named the number one Complex Claims Solutions vendor. Black Book™ surveyed nearly 1,800 hospital and health system CFOs, revenue cycle executives, and consultants to determine the top-performing vendors.
Eighty-one percent of surveyed CFOs and senior leaders revealed the absolute and immediate need for digital transformations for long term survival of their healthcare organization.
"It would seem most CFOs understand what the pandemic has proved is the need to speed up digital transformation initiatives to not only survive but to prosper in the new normal," said Doug Brown, President of Black Book Research. "For CFOs eager to expedite their organization's digital transformation, the standardization and simplification leaders want in their back-end processes are allowing for less complicated, faster adoption despite the times."
"From the beginning, Argos Health has remained focused on being the best complex claims solution in the industry. The acknowledgment by Black Book for the second year in a row that Argos Health is the highest-rated vendor in customer satisfaction and client experience in the complex claims category is a testament to our staff and their commitment to our customers," said Argos Health CEO, Brent McCarty. "At Argos, we have always felt we offered the highest level of service to our clients. Since Black Book does not involve vendors in the survey process in any way, we are gratified that a completely unbiased survey of the complex claims market came to the same conclusion. As hospitals and IDNs work to overcome the financial impacts of COVID-19 and seek to streamline operations and identify new options for increasing revenue and profitability, Argos Health stands ready to help."
Read the Black Book announcement of its 2020 awards here.
About Black Book
Black Book rankings are based on client experience scores obtained from crowdsourced ballots cast and available through mobile apps, web surveys, remote polling instruments, interview calls, and on-site trade shows and user groups throughout the year. They represent the opinions of healthcare professionals and clinicians from more than 4,600 hospitals, 600 IDNs, 2,800 clinics, 23,000 physician practices, 250 health plans, and nearly 500,000 healthcare industry consumers, and account for 6,000 products and services from more than 1,700 vendors.
About Argos Health
Argos Health is an industry leader in billing and resolving complex claims and prides itself on managing these challenging accounts to achieve maximum reimbursement for healthcare providers. Their team of experts can help get complicated claims, (Motor Vehicle Accident, Workers Compensation, US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and Out-of-state Medicaid), on the fast track for payment.
Pantomime Corporation has today launched the Reality Faucet augmented reality app which, on Apple’s iPad Pro 2020 models, uses new LiDAR depth tracking technology to seamlessly merge moving virtual objects with real environments in real time. The Liquid LiDAR in-app purchase lets users spray a kind of virtual liquid around their space, where it realistically flows across floors, behind furniture, and over irregularly shaped objects; bouncing off, flowing and pooling around real things; is pulled by gravity, fills containers; and physically interacts with other droplets and even with the iPad itself.
Liquid LiDAR is a milestone in augmented reality across several dimensions:
Physics — hundreds of virtual objects collide with the real world — with seamless occlusion as virtual objects disappear behind real ones.
Graphics — gorgeous translucent, shiny animated 3D droplets reflect the room, sky, and even details like floor tiles in each rolling, sliding bubble.
Sound — dozens of 3D sound sources engulf users via their iPad Pro’s four speakers. Surrounded by liquid — when a big bubble pops behind a user, sounds stay put even as he turns and moves.
Performance — high physics and graphics frame rates for hundreds of dynamic, interactive objects — with the user’s environment represented in tens of thousands of polygons — all ideally matched to the iPad Pro CPU, GPU, LiDAR and mobile tracking hardware.
Cutting edge hardware and software — the app leverages new LiDAR hardware and iOS 13.4 with new Reality Kit software — all introduced by Apple in late March 2020.
“LiDAR is the biggest leap ever into realistic virtual worlds people can reach into,” says Pantomime co-founder and CEO David Levitt. “Where clunky VR headsets block out the environment and isolate users, augmented reality is about anchoring things in the real world. Until now, the standard for mobile AR was recognizing where the nearest flat floor or wall was. Now AR knows the exact shape of your space and all the irregular objects in it. Seeing virtual objects interact realistically with the real world is a new kind of magic.”
The Reality Faucet app and its Liquid LiDAR in-app purchase are available for 2020 iPad Pros at the App Store today.
Pantomime Corporation, founded in 2014, has created augmented reality apps, earning awards including the Silicon Valley World Cup, patents, and fans with the first physically realistic networked AR experiences.
Pantomime founders Dr. David Levitt and Don Hopkins were on the teams that invented virtual reality and created The Sims™. Their previous apps include the first augmented reality app Invisibility, Pantomime Bug Farm, and Creatures AR.
Contact: David Levitt (707) 318-3456 david@pantomimecorp.com
With the success of Burnsville, Fargo, Eden Prairie, Blaine and Woodbury, Conquer Ninja Gyms will soon launch another Warrior Gym at in Queen Creek. Since the foundation of the Conquer Ninja Gyms in 2015, countless people have had the opportunity to train with complete freedom. In essence, all of the gym locations still share the vision of Jake Marshman, who is an avid supporter and participant of spartan tough mudder and spartan race.
The truth is that Eden Prairie was just the tip of the iceberg, Conquer Ninja Gyms want to convey new ideas and offerings to local communities for better health, and better living. Apart from training classes, the new gym will also offer birthday parties with a certain degree of social distancing protocols. The same rules will apply to summer camps. It is a chance to drive the boredom away and enjoy an unforgettable summer. There is a good chance that Arizona may just become a new prime location for Conquer Nina Gyms.
The all-new Conquer Ninja Warrior Gilbert space will adhere to new safety guidelines. Furthermore, the Gilbert Gym will also abide by updated cleaning protocols to maintain complete safety for the gym enthusiasts. Prior to the launch of the new Conquer Ninja Gym Gilbert location, all the relevant and safety regulations are in place. In fact, it will have a limited space to conduct classes for no more than 10 aspiring ninja warriors. The design and structure of the facility cater to the needs of the families. It is ideal for kids who are older than five (5) years. Simultaneously, there will be 30 minutes of break after each class or gym session for cleaning. Hand sanitization and washing is also mandatory for everyone. Furthermore, Conquer Ninja Gym Gilbert will go through rigorous screening to ensure the safety of the participants. In addition, gym enthusiasts should take a sigh of relief by knowing that the new Conquer Ninja Gym Gilbert will have extra staff to maintain continuous disinfecting and cleaning. What is interesting is that the new gym is still an open space so that you can train at your specific speed without any pressure. You can sign-up for classes and membership to further enhance your untapped ninja skills. The most defining aspect of all five Conquer Ninja Gym Warrior locations is their sense of communal participation. You will not feel left out but would be able to get the support you need to master your ninja skills. All guests can sign-up for the Conquer Ninja Gym Gilbert classes online. However, make sure you sign the waiver before you enter the new facility.
The new location could not be more ideal for families and individuals to come together and overcome their challenges. It is an opportunity to achieve the perfect fitness that is more important than ever. Contrary to misguided perception, kids need to learn that fitness is fun, not an exhausting activity. The professional teams at Conquer Ninja Warrior Gyms know how to imbue confidence, camaraderie, and strength among participants. So long as you have a positive attitude and willingness to work hard, you are in for a lot of fun. The new Gilbert location wants to represent more than just a fitness center; it wants to help you succeed and feel a sense of accomplishment. You can become a part of the new Ninja Warrior Gym Gilbert and build long-lasting character and skills. Conquer Ninja Gyms are a chain of Ninja training facilities in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Arizona. The premier fitness and training facilities cater to the individuals who want to become a ninja warrior through an adventurous training schedule. The design of the gyms serves the purpose of kids and as well as adults. The diverse background of the professional trainers at Conquer Ninja Gyms helps participants realize their full potential.
The new Christie® Griffyn™ 4K32-RGB continues the Christie tradition of delivering unmatched purpose-built laser projection technology for theme parks, indoor and outdoor sports venues, and other environments where there’s no time for downtime. With 360-degree orientation capabilities, and the ruggedness rental and staging customers demand, the Griffyn 4K32-RGB includes patented next-generation Trulife+ all-in-one electronics for a blur-free experience, and unrestricted connectivity to eliminate the time and hassle of removable option cards.
The Griffyn 4K32-RGB is Christie’s first projector to offer new digital convergence giving users the ability to select Red, Green, or Blue individually and adjust each color by remote control, for easy picture-perfect image alignment that saves time and money. Griffyn 4K32-RGB produces an exceptionally wide color gamut, achieving greater than 96% of the Rec. 2020 color space—more than twice the color of Rec. 709 and 50% more than DCI-P3-capable projectors—for a richer, more memorable audience experience. It also features optional high frame rate (HFR) capability to achieve 120Hz at 4K resolution or up to 480Hz with HD resolution for lifelike images.
“Weighing only 175 pounds (79.5 kg) the Griffyn 4K32-RGB is packed full of powerful features that will enhance your audience’s experience including exceptional color, sound performance below 50dB at full brightness, and superior video processing,” said Brad Martin, senior product manager, Christie. “Users can transport their audience to colorful new worlds since Griffyn not only raises the bar for RGB pure laser projection but soars above it. The Christie line of 3DLP® projectors are market leaders in electronics, illumination, and functionality, and the new Griffyn continues that legacy.”
Christie Griffyn 4K32-RGB at a glance:
All-in-one, omnidirectional RGB pure laser projector - compact single chassis, no additional components required
Up to 34,000 lumens while operating at less than 50dB at full brightness
New TruLife+ all-in-one electronics - unrestricted connectivity, eliminating the hassle of removable option cards
New digital convergence via remote control for easy, flawless, image alignment
Rec. 2020 color – more than twice the color capability of a Rec 709 projector
4K lens compatibility – compatible with Boxer and our current 4K40-RGB series
The Christie Griffyn™ 4K32-RGB projector ships in the fall of 2020 with a three-year parts and labor warranty backed by Christie’s industry-leading service and support.
About Christie Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. is a global visual and audio technologies company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Ushio Inc., Japan (JP: 6925). Christie revolutionized the movie industry with the launch of digital cinema projection, and since 1929 has embraced innovation and broken many technology barriers. From the world’s largest mega-events to the smallest applications, our technology—from advanced RGB pure laser projectors and SDVoE technology to image processing and LED video wall display solutions—empowers people to create the world’s best shared experiences. Visit http://www.christiedigital.com.
“Christie” is a trademark of Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc., registered in the United States of America and certain other countries. DLP® is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments.
Following a comprehensive audit of administrative documentation, medical practices, and facilities, the NAAMTA Global has awarded Medical Logistics Management, Inc dba AirEvac International with accreditation for their fixed-wing medical transport program. As a result, AirEvac International joins the NAAMTA Global Alliance and is thus privy to the associated benefits.
NAAMTA’s Alliance members are held in high esteem for meeting stringent requirements that define and influence transport operational excellence. AirEvac International demonstrated compliance in each of the numerous standards, offering documentation on processes for safety, aviation, and medical practices. NAAMTA found their compliance to be evident through employee interviews, on-site evaluations, and process reviews, all of which was conducted using ISO 9001:2015 auditing guidelines.
AirEvac International offers the highest quality of medical transportation care by combining the best medical resources and most efficient response times. As a direct service provider of bedside-to-bedside critical care, AirEvac provides repatriation for patients in North America as well as coordination of emergency evacuation throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America.
“AirEvac International prides itself in not only providing exceptional patient care but also for setting the industry standard for patient advocacy,” said Kelly LoCascio, General Counsel and CEO. “With that, we are absolutely exhilarated to be both affiliated with and recognized by NAAMTA and the prestige behind this accreditation. Every team member at AirEvac International continually strives to work above and beyond the NAAMTA standards for the benefit of its patients and we look forward to the advancement and growth of our team under the NAAMTA guidance for years to come.”
Nancy Purcell, NAAMTA Global’s Director of Clinical Operations stated, “NAAMTA Global’s Accreditation program is built on providing standards that focus on quality patient care and the safety of the transport for all involved. The NAAMTA Alliance unifies each accredited organization in the vanguard of continuous improvement for medical transports. Our audit evidenced AirEvac International’s determination to provide outstanding service for the international community. We were very impressed with the expertise of each individual and how their contribution in working succinctly as a team results in successful transports.”
By attaining NAAMTA Accreditation, AirEvac International demonstrates the depth of their medical transport experience through their dedication to improving patient care and cultivating an environment of safety. AirEvac International is made up of industry experts. Now their expertise is proven through a nationally-recognized medical transport accreditation.
About NAAMTA Global
NAAMTA Global is an accreditation standard-bearer for the medical transport industry, offering procedures that include guidelines for developing a quality management system focusing on transport safety, patient care, and continuous improvement. Since its inception in 2009, NAAMTA has worked diligently to be globally recognized by attaining ISO 9001:2015 QMS certification and to implement quality practices into their accreditation program. NAAMTA Global successfully identifies key best practices to improve the standard of performance among EMS providers at a national and global level. Through a dynamic approach to auditing and a vast array of web-based reporting and learning tools for members, NAAMTA distinguishes itself as an accreditation source interested in the improvement of medical transport organizations.
Roylen “Griff” Griffin, Executive Director NAAMTA Global P.O. Box 7 Blanding, UT 84511 http://www.naamta.com
“We are immensely proud of these two awards,” said Rob Braun, President of GLC. “As leaders in healthcare professional education, our content delivers measurable long-term benefits to clinicians and patients alike. The ACT FAST creative team is the best in the industry.”
GLC is dedicated to providing the highest-quality continuing medical education (CME) through unique learning experiences for healthcare professionals. GLC is comprised of four education subsidiaries, including Prova Education, who designed the education strategy for the award-winning programs. ACT FAST focuses on seasonal influenza and personalized treatment plans and features video interviews and modeling animation.
The Telly Awards attracts more than 12,000 entries from top video content producers including the BBC, Conde Nast, Netflix, Ogilvy & Mather, and may others.
Credits for the two GLC bronze awards include:
Director of Educational Strategy: Stephen Chavez (Prova Education, a subsidiary of GLC)
Associate Director, Supporter Solutions: Ann Early (GLC)
Senior Vice President: Sean Barrett (GLC)
Vice President, Scientific Affairs: William Mencia, MD, FACEHP, CHCP (GLC)
Project Manager: Samantha Cojocariu (ReachMD)
Senior Animator: Carrie Stanton (Winding River Productions)
Animator: Julie McCartney (Winding River Productions)
Senior Medical Education Manager: John Scott, CHCP (Genentech, Inc.)
ACT FAST: Insights on Influenza was supported through an education grant from Genentech.
ABOUT GLOBAL LEARNING COLLABORATIVE
Global Learning Collaborative (GLC) is a member of the US HealthConnect Inc. group of companies. GLC is the parent organization to Omnia Education, Prova Education, Medtelligence, and the Academy for Global Interprofessional Learning & Education (AGILE). GLC is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The track record of the MiniFlex plumbing camera is a story of how a modest investment prevented a huge financial loss. This compact, lightweight and portable camera, designed especially for narrow pipes with multiple bends, was able to locate a leakage in a swimming pool piping system in a Barbados hotel. Freshwater is scarce and expensive on the island, so fixing the issue saved the hotel management a lot of money, and let resort guests keep enjoying the pool and artificial waterfall without interruptions. The plumbing camera was rushed to Barbados when all other methods to detect the leaking spot within a complex and irregularly shaped piping failed. Once the problem area was successfully detected through visual inspection, the exact spot was located thanks to a signal transmitted by a sonde.
This compact and easy-to-use CCTV system was engineered to inspect narrow piping, such as bathroom and kitchen drains, swimming pools, hot tubs, showers, and sprinklers where larger diameter or less flexible push cables turn out to be useless.
MiniFlex comes with three cable length options, 65.6' (20m), 100’ (30m) and 131' (40m). The tiny 0.76" (19.5 mm) camera head boasts a Color CMOS chip, 12 white high power LED lights and an integrated 512Hz sonde, which works with any locator of the same frequency. The cable and the camera head are water-resistant and able to withstand up to 3 Bar pressure. The patented flexi-tube neck of the cable performs extremely well while running through multiple 90 degrees bends in 1.5’’ pipes and larger and can even navigate a P-trap in a 1.25’’ PVC pipe.
The portable DVR unit of MiniFlex plumbing camera has dual power supply: it can operate on a rechargeable battery (up to 7 hours on a single charge) or use standard 110V AC. The DVR is equipped with a 5.6’’ color screen with 640x480 pixels display resolution. The recorded files are kept on a removable SD card, and the image recording resolution is 720x576 pixels.
Your Home Digital CEO, Sean Stockell announced today a new marketing partnership with SimuStream, developer of the nation's first In-Video Call-to-Action Tool. "We're so grateful for the leadership and insight of our Chief Brand Strategist, Kathy Ireland, and the dedication and support of her team members, Tommy Meharey and Miles Robinson for bringing this partnership together. Your Home TV and Simustream is a powerful combination. What SimuStream CEO, Garrett Baxter and his team have developed is brilliant. They've increased video engagement by 30% or more and have enabled shoppers to act on opportunities quickly. Online shoppers today digest data rapidly and take action when best products and prices are identified. Video is the preferred content delivery format today, so SimuStream has really pulled it all together," says Stockell.
SimuStream Chairman, Garrett Baxter says, "When you consider the hundreds of home products featured on Your Home TV, the global reach of kathy ireland® Worldwide and their many home products under license, this partnership represents a video marketing main-stage. Home consumers will now find videos on anything and everything home on Your Home TV and have the ability to view products quickly, take immediate action on offers and sign-ups, or respond to other call-to-action opportunities. We're vastly improving the home shopping experience, and most importantly, we're shortening the sales cycle for our clients through improved video engagement. That's a powerful dynamic and one that delivers tremendous ROI results," says Baxter.
Kathy Ireland, Chair, CEO and Chief Designer of kathy ireland® Worldwide says, "With the rapid emergence of new technology, we continue to explore the most cutting-edge developments that can disrupt their industries, enhance business models and provide customers with innovative solutions and experiences. SimuStream is one-of-a-kind technology and we believe the new strategic partnership with Your Home Digital will truly revolutionize the customer-centric marketing industry." Kathy Ireland serves as Executive Editor of Content and Chief Brand Strategist of Your Home Digital.
"It's a great privilege to live the growth of Your Home Digital and work alongside CEO, Sean Stockell and his team. Your Home Digital has developed unique homeowner resources and provides tangible benefits in both B2B and B2C channels. This partnership with SimuStream is ideal for that reason. We're anticipating exceptional results with SimuStream's technology for Your Home TV viewers and increased sales for our home industry clients. We've changed the landscape in home intelligence and resources and SimuStream helps to build on that momentum," said Tommy Meharey, Board Member of Your Home Digital, and the youngest Board Member of kathy ireland Worldwide.
"This timely alliance between Your Home Digital, led by Sean Stockell, and Simustream, led by Garrett Baxter, is a major solution serving consumers who are looking for informational videos on anything and everything home. When you add seamless capabilities to shop simultaneously while streaming, you create conversions from views to sales in minutes. It’s a wonderful win-win for both consumers and retailers and this partnership will set a new paradigm in the way we will all shop on-line moving forward," says Miles Robinson, Vice President of Production, kiWW and YHD Board Member.
Schedule a SimuStream Demo Today. Write to Marketplace@YourHome1Source.com or call 1-800-860-7210
About Your Home TV® Your Home TV® is a home products & services video marketing platform developed by Your Home Digital, LLC. Your Home TV® is integrated with YourHome1Source.com (YH1S.com), America's Resource on Homeownership® and offers hundreds of videos on Anything and Everything Home®. Your Home Digital specializes in affordable video production, cost-effective video campaigns and executes high ROI video strategies across web, social and streamed media.
About kathy ireland® Worldwide (kiWW®) kiWW® is listed at #26 in the world by License Global Magazine. Kathy Ireland is one of the most influential businesswomen in the world today and according to Fairchild Publications, Kathy is one of the 50 most influential people in fashion. Furniture Today also names Kathy one of the most influential leaders in the furniture industry. Kathy has graced the cover of Forbes Magazine twice (2012, 2016) and was featured on the cover of SUCCESS magazine in August 2019. kiWW® is the recipient of many awards including several Good Housekeeping Seals.
About SimuStream® SimuStream is a powerful globally patented technology that allows consumers to make a purchase or fill out forms inside of a streaming video without ever disrupting or leaving the video. SimuStream increases sales conversions, reduces cart abandonment from eliminating redirects, and greatly improves your revenue channel.
The new sites launched by GBAF Publications Ltd are Asset Digest – A financial portal focussing on the need of education of Income producing assets, investing and Wealth Management.
Companies Digest – A business portal focussing on the latest developments and innovations made by companies across the globe.
Wealth Tribune – A Financial Portal focussing on the latest developments and innovations in wealth management, retirement and helping entrepreneurs build wealth.
Economy Standard – Global Financial Portal focussing on the economy and economics of various countries and regions across the globe.
Business Express – A Business portal focussing towards helping start-ups and established businesses expand.
These portals are created to expand the media foothold of GBAF Publications Ltd and take its overall holdings to 8 portals covering various niches. All these sites will cover news, Analysis, Opinion, Interviews, Deals, Video and much more giving each individual user a unique experience. We also welcome companies and individuals to submit editorials which are non commercial in nature in these websites for a limited period. If you have an interesting article idea, please contact our news team at news@gbafmag.com
The pervasive nature of the internet has brought almost every aspect of human life within the reach of every brand. That should be good news for brands across the board, but it is not that simple. If you are a brand representative trying to get your brand’s voice out there, you know exactly what we are talking about.
Since communication has gotten easier, it has also gotten more complex. Today, there are more platforms and media formats than there have ever been before. Newer platforms and formats keep emerging every day. As a result, audiences have rapidly decreasing attention spans. This has left brands wrestling to fit their message into as tiny a space as possible.
The first challenge is that people have started going to great lengths to avoid being bombarded with ads. This is what makes the portals run by GBAF Publications unique. You will not find intrusive ads disturbing the user experience. So ahead and visit one of our portals for more information.
June 10, 2020 (Las Vegas): FreedomFest, billed as “the world’s largest gathering of free minds,” will hold its annual conference as scheduled on July 13-16, moving from its original venue at Paris Resort to its new home at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
It will be the first large, person-to-person conference in Las Vegas since the lockdown began.
“We are determined to defend our First Amendment right as American citizens to freedom of assembly,” stated producer Mark Skousen. "We are pleased that Caesars Entertainment is hosting our conference at their premier property, Caesars Palace, and providing us the opportunity to network and socialize, as we discuss important issues regarding health, liberty and public policy.”
He added, “We expect a great turnout, despite the recent nationwide shutdown, and we are working closely with Caesars Palace to establish new protocols regarding distancing and sanitation."
FreedomFest, now in its fourteenth year, is a popular event in Vegas, an intellectual feast held in the entertainment capital of the world. The Washington Post called it “the greatest libertarian show on earth.”
Authors, business leaders, thought leaders, artists, professors, investment writers, and political leaders gather in Vegas every July to discuss philosophy, history, science & technology, healthy living, geo-politics, economics, religion, finance, and music and dance.
This year’s conference will begin with an "Emergency Meeting" hosted by Steve Forbes to determine the impact of the virus scare and the shutdown on the economy, the markets, the healthcare system, the November elections, and Constitutional freedoms.
Forbes and John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, are co-ambassadors to FreedomFest, and usually attend all 4 days. “FreedomFest is where the best ideas and strategies are fleshed out,” Forbes has stated. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Keynote speakers include MD and TV personality Dr. Drew Pinsky, and Dave Rubin, the political talk show host and author of the bestseller, “Don’t Burn This Book: Thinking for Yourself in an Era of Unreason.”
Past celebrity speakers have included William Shatner, George Foreman, Kevin O’Leary, George Will, Glenn Beck, Senators Rand Paul, Mike Lee, Marco Rubio, and Representatives Justin Amash and Thomas Massie.
FreedomFest also hosted a popular debate between Steve Moore and Nobel prize economist Paul Krugman.
Even Donald J. Trump made an appearance in 2015 that attracted a SRO crowd and major media coverage including CNN, ABC, Fox News, MSNBC, and C-SPAN.
FreedomFest also includes the annual Anthem Film Festival, the Pitch Tank competition of budding entrepreneurs, an exhibit hall known as “The Trade Show for Liberty,” and a 3-day investment seminar.
FreedomFest is famous for its debates, and the most critical topic each year is formatted as a mock trial. This year the government shutdown of the economy will be prosecuted. Was the shutdown a justified reaction to the health risk, or an overreach of staggering proportions? After vigorous examination and cross-examination of the expert witnesses, the jury will decide.
Other concerned speakers include Steve Moore, Tom Woods, Grover Norquist, Barbara Kolm, Charles Murray, Wayne Allyn Root, John Fund, Jennifer Grossman, Wolf von Laer, Michael Shermer, Lord Matt Ridley, Nick Gillespie, Matt & Terry Kibbe, Ken & Li Schoolland, and TK Coleman.
Salem Eagle Publishing will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of producer Mark Skousen’s investment newsletter, Forecasts & Strategies, with financial experts Alex Green, Doug Casey, Rob Arnott, Louis Navellier, Hilary Kramer, Peter Schiff, Jim Woods, and others. (See more under "speakers" at www.freedomfest.com).
Tech guru George Gilder, who is 80 years old, is coming. "I wouldn't miss it!"
FreedomFest is supported by many free-market think tanks and freedom organizations, including Reason, Americans for Prosperity, Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), Young Americans for Liberty, Americans for Tax Reform, Free the People, America’s Future Foundation, Young Voices, Turning Point USA, FreedomWorks, The Atlas Society, and the Ayn Rand Institute.
For more information, go to www.freedomfest.com. To arrange interviews, contact Valerie Durham, Executive Director, 855-850-3733 ext 101 or vdurham@freedomfest.com.
July 10, 2020 (Las Vegas) -- The tenth annual Anthem Film Festival moves from the Paris Casino to Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, this July 13-16. The film festival, part of the Libertarian themed FreedomFest conference, features a wide variety of films, both fictional and documentaries, exploring issues around social and political liberty.
FreedomFest founder and producer Mark Skousen explained the move: “The folks at Caesars are so excited about our plans to move ahead with FreedomFest that they upgraded us to their premier property.” Caesars, which reopened in June, plans to continue with social distancing and other COVID oriented precautions to maintain the safety of attendees.
The Anthem Film Festival will screen in Caesars’ Milano Ballroom/Theater and will feature over 25 films during its four-day run. The festival will include narratives, comedies, and documentaries from around the world with a special section devoted to movies made by Iranian filmmakers.
Anthem director Jo Ann Skousen spoke about the special emphasis on Iranian films. “A few years ago Iranian filmmakers discovered our focus on libertarian issues and began sending their works to us. Probably a third of our submissions are from the Middle East now. I feel privileged that they trust us with their message and know that we will take good care of their films.”
She also noted that there was an advantage to being part of the larger FreedomFest event. “FreedomFest provides us with a ready audience of eager viewers as well as renowned speakers to fill our post-screening panels.”
Features of particular relevance to today’s world include Miss Virginia and Rush to Judgement.
Miss Virginia, stars Emmy® winner Uzo Aduba as a single mother who fights to save her fifteen-year-old son from the rough streets of Washington, DC. She discovers she must also battle a corrupt power structure that doesn’t want change. The film features Vanessa Williams and Matthew Modine.
On the documentary side, Rush to Judgement explores the people and issues surrounding the viral video of an encounter between a young tourist and a drum beating Native American at the Lincoln Memorial. The film includes an exclusive interview with Nick Sandmann, “the boy in the MAGA hat.”
Skousen emphasized the importance of short films that illuminate subjects from the current struggle in Hong Kong, homelessness, and World War II internment camps. Several comedies and Sci-Fi tales also made it into the program to lighten the mood. “Shorts are hot at Anthem,” she said. “Unlike other festivals where short films are screened in a pack at a distant theater, we showcase our short docs and short narratives with post-screening panels and discussions.”
Skousen also noted that this is an opportunity to enjoy the full theater experience after three months of sheltering at home. “If you’re like me,” she said, “you’ve missed sitting in a darkened theater, munching on popcorn, and entering a world and a story created by the director.”
Find tickets and passes for Anthem Film Festival online at https://anthemfilmfestival.com/tickets/ or in person at FreedomFest from the ticket office across the hall from the Milano Ballroom at Caesars Palace. For information about FreedomFest check https://www.freedomfest.com/.
Cannes XR Virtual and Positron, a leader in XR Cinema, announced the jurors and finalists of the inaugural Positron Visionary Award for Best Cinematic VR, and details on the special VR screening program showcasing the frontrunners’ experiences hosted by The Marché du Film Online and the Museum of Other Realities during the all-virtual event set for June 24-26, 2020. Award finalists will be offered a worldwide distribution deal by Positron. The winner of the Award will be announced in a VR ceremony on June 26th at 12:00pm PST and will receive a Voyager® VR chair package delivered to their studio or office and support for bringing their VR film to the Positron XR network.
Viola Davis, Co-Founder & CEO of JuVee Productions, serves as president of an esteemed jury including Christina Lee Storm, XR Producer, "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Virtual Tour" / "Dragons Flight Academy", Jake Sally, (Head of Development, RYOT a Verizon Company), John Canning (Executive Producer – New Media & Experiential, Digital Domain), Josh Nelson (Head of Immersive & Interactive Media, JuVee Productions), and Jeffrey Travis (CEO / Producer at Positron). “We’re thrilled to support Cannes XR and Positron in recognizing the bold vision of talented voices who are using this immersive medium to offer fresh and authentic stories that connect with a global audience,” said Davis. JuVee Productions, helmed by Davis and her husband Julius Tennon, is an artist driven, production company that develops and produces feature films, television, theater, immersive, and interactive content.
Positron CEO Travis added, “Positron was built with a passion to elevate cinematic VR, and through this event we honor some fresh new creatives telling stories in this medium. While Positron is known for its unique VR motion chairs and location-based entertainment platform, we see the virtualization of Cannes XR as an opportunity to help bring the best VR content to audiences. We're excited to partner with Cannes XR and these filmmakers for this first-ever kind of event in VR itself.”
Nearly 200 immersive entries were submitted for the Award. The six finalists of the Positron Visionary Award competition are:
Enter The Tomb, Joel Newton
Everest VR, Jon Griffith
Gravity VR, Fabio Rychter
The Great C, Michael Masukawa
Lutaw, Michaela Holland and Samantha Quick
Wingwalker VR, Malvina Martin and Max Salomon
During the Cannes XR Virtual event open to VR headset users, finalists will screen their work at the Positron XR Cinema on the Museum of Other Realities (MOR) online platform starting June 24th. The entire virtual program will remain available until July 3rd via the MOR application on Steam, Viveport, or Oculus. Cannes XR Virtual 2D live video stream shot by a virtual cameraman from the MOR, including conferences, pitching sessions and project presentations, will be accessible on the Marché du Film Online. Cannes XR Virtual 2D live video stream will also be available on the Tribeca Film Festival and Kaleidoscope.
A network of partner Location Based Entertainment (LBE) in several major cities in the United States, China and France will offer access to Cannes XR Virtual to journalists and guests who do not have a VR headset. In Los Angeles, Positron will serve as the LBE location for the event.
Cannes XR Virtual is the destination where professionals from the traditional filmmaking industry, XR artists, independent producers, leading tech companies, location-based and online distributors will come together to imagine and shape the future of movies.
About Positron Positron is on a mission to bring wonder and connection to all audiences through its platform for immersive storytelling. Based in Los Angeles, the team includes filmmakers, mechatronics engineers, designers, software developers and artists. Positron is best known for Voyager®, an award-winning, full-motion VR chair platform that has been called "the future of movies.” The Positron XR Cinema, based on the Voyager system, is available for location-based entertainment venues. Positron XR Cinema is also developing the digital platform for XR content. Positron has worked with leading creators in VR as well as companies such as Universal Studios, Disney, Dreamworks, Verizon, Intel, and many more to bring cinematic VR experiences to audiences around the world.
Swervnation debut album "Born Broke" already is receiving streams in many of the top U.S. cities and International. Producer Dreadrock helps bring out the original hip hop vibe, paying homage to the many of the major artist styles with its sing-along lyrics and references to the Hip Hop generation.
Swervnation is a record label based on Chicago westside created by its very artist Dreadrock that decided to launch it on April 22, 2019, to support his dream and to help artist like himself to have a voice and an outlet through a musical career. Tamille Baker, who currently holds an MBA and a Master's in Education, has joined in partnership with Swervnation, as she has vocalized her support for social projects in Chicago and believes in the cause of this new company.
It makes sense to release Born Broke 2 with producer Dreadrock aka James Samuels being from Chicago, in the midst of pandemic and worry around us, we need a fresh voice, and a new swerv to some positive changes. The album has features that keeps your head rocking.
Few albums (or groups) have been met with such a warm reception internationally. After dropping two projects and 5 music videos and several concert venues the first year, Dreadrock is ready to take Swerving to a new level.
The American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Incorporated (Savoy Foundation) today announced the list of organizations supported through its charitable contributions through 2020. This list includes local, national and international organizations focused on health, human services charities, aid to victims of hurricanes and earthquakes, education and children’s causes through its Chivalry for Children’s Causes™.
Since it was founded in 1991, the Savoy Foundation has been committed to philanthropic initiatives, following the centuries old traditions of the Savoy Orders. The diverse charitable giving list included contributions to support local, national and international charities focused on providing medical, educational and humanitarian assistance and children’s causes, as well as social assistance charities that provide services to those in need and scholarship grants to support university students in the fields of arts/humanities and international studies.
Recent beneficiaries of Savoy Foundation grants have been the following:
Mercy Ships to support life-changing surgical procedures performed on hospital ships bringing hope and healing to the forgotten poor.
In 2019, the Savoy Foundation launched a new Initiative - Chivalry for Children’s Causes™ - with the presentation of a substantial grant to Southern California-based charity, Caterina’s Club, for its work providing meals, housing and job training for disadvantaged children and families
The New York Foundling’s Camp Felix Program: to improve the quality of life of children in disadvantaged circumstances, to gain self-esteem and to develop life skills with an overnight camp experience each summer, providing a week-long adventure to change their outlook on life, their future, and their sense of pride. Camp Felix is the only overnight camp for children in the child welfare system. The Foundling’s campers immerse themselves in activities that instill feelings of self-confidence, resilience, respect and community.
Stuart House at UCLA-Santa Monica Medical Center: to serve the special needs of sexually abused children and their families by providing comprehensive state-of-the-art treatment to help child victims and their families cope with the traumatic effects of sexual abuse on children's physical and psychological health.
Providence Rest Nursing Facility: to provide short term and long term care for the elderly in a peaceful environment.
Savoy Orders Pigott Scholarships: to provide scholarships to college and university students studying in the fields of fine arts/humanities and international studies. International studies scholars participate in the Savoy Foundation NGO program at the United Nations.
Savoy History Series: to fund a lecture series on subjects relating the Royal House of Savoy and the history of Italy, Italian literature, history, art, science and impact on other countries.
America’s VetDogs Program, a subsidiary of the Guide Dog Foundation Inc.: to meet the needs of disabled veterans by providing guide and service dogs specially trained to provide balance, relieve stress or perform other tasks.
About the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Incorporated
The American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Incorporated, a U.S. charitable 501(c)(3) organization, has three endowments: charitable causes, educational programs and operating expenses. The Savoy Orders Pigott Scholarships were also established by the Foundation to provide financial aid to students in the Humanities and International studies. Annual grants are also made to children’s and hospital programs. In order to raise funds for the support of its activities, the Savoy Foundation sponsors a winter event, Ballo di Savoia and a spring event, Festa della Primavera in New York City and an event on the West Coast, Notte di Savoia Los Angeles. The Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Roster Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Members of the Italian Royal Family, headed by His Royal Highness, Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy, actively support, attend and lend their names through formal patronage of the Savoy Foundation’s events. The Foundation also sponsors an annual history series on Italy and the Savoy dynasty which dates back over 1,000 years and is one of the oldest royal families in Europe.
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) announced today that PACCAR has renewed its Gold Level Partnership, helping the nonprofit organization empower more women to develop careers in transportation, celebrate their successes and address the challenges they face.
In addition to providing financial support, the company actively participates in the association. Michele Rodgers, Director of Business & Product Development for Dynacraft, a PACCAR Company, serves on the WIT board of directors.
“PACCAR is proud to support Women In Trucking, an organization with diversity-focused initiatives that parallel our own,” said Rodgers. “Inclusion initiatives within PACCAR and the industry drive success and open doors to all.”
“We are grateful to have the continued support from an influential business leader like PACCAR,” said Ellen Voie, President and CEO of WIT. “Their passion and advocacy for diversifying the industry is instrumental in advancing the WIT mission and affecting real change in the industry.”
Since 2007, WIT has been committed to bringing greater opportunities for women in transportation and helping them succeed. A few recent accomplishments include a record-breaking attendance at the 2019 Accelerate! Conference and Exhibition; an award-winning magazine that explores gender issues in transportation; and a weekly SiriusXM radio show called Women In Trucking that features listener call-ins and interviews with professionals from the trucking industry.
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About Women In Trucking Association, Inc. Women In Trucking, Inc. is a nonprofit association established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 17 percent of its members are men who support the mission. Women In Trucking is supported by its members and the generosity of Gold Level Partners: Amazon, Arrow Truck Sales, BMO Transportation Finance, Daimler Trucks North America, Expediter Services, FedEx Freight, Great Dane, J.B. Hunt Transport, Michelin North America, PACCAR, Penske Transportation Solutions, Ryder System, Walmart, and Waste Management. Follow WIT on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. For more information, visit http://www.womenintrucking.org or call 888-464-9482.
April 30th, 2020: BitCare Technologies Inc. (BitCare), a Dallas, TX-based Biotechstartup, has been working on various solutions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic with the recent launch of RT-PCR Lab tests and Rapid IgM/IgG Antibody Tests and has been working on potential solutions for therapeutic drugs for COVID-19.
"It has been one of the most challenging times of our lifetime; we at BitCare and our partners have been working on several solutions to fight the Coronavirus outbreak." Ric S. Kolluri, CEO of BitCare, adds, "I'm thrilled to see that the computer models have shown great success in our findings for a potential Therapeutic Drug to fight the COVID-19."
Since the onset of the COVID-19 infections is relatively recent, drugs have not been engineered to combat the illness. BitCare has been working with its research and development (R&D) partner Lynxbioscience LLC (Lynxbio), a Dallas, TX-based biopharma company and contract research organization (CRO) that provides drug discovery, drug development, and drug lifecycle management services. Hence, all efforts at BitCare and Lynxbio are directed to "repurpose" existing FDA approved drugs to find the appropriate prescription or cocktail that can help cure SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Dr. Siva Yadavalli, Chief Scientist of BitCare and CEO of Lynxbio, says, "Using the help of AI-based computer-aided models, we have identified potential drugs that are repurposed against protease targets encoded by the SARS-CoV-2 genome. These drugs belong to diverse therapeutic areas such as antiviral, antibacterial agents and have shown clinical evidence for treating respiratory disease in humans previously. Also,our team is working on novel therapeutic uses of Fullerenes and Fullerene derivatives for their potential applications in mitigating SARS-CoV-2."
Our R&D partner Lynxbio has conducted virtual screening from their highest potential and clinically evidence-based 35 FDA approved drugs from their library, and found five lead molecules that have the potential to bind proteases of SARS-CoV-2 with high affinity. Jags Porandla, COO of Bitcare, says, "This discovery is not only innovative but also revolutionary that can help in flattening the curve of the novel coronavirus cases around the world."
Lynxbio plans to make the findings openly available to experimental biologists and biomedical researchers, to investigate the findings in experimental setups, and for the clinicians to evaluate the potential of these findings for anti-COVID-19 treatment. Dr. Siva Yadavalli says, "The team is further conducting final validations in collaboration with academic researchers and hopeful that our computational findings with further validation will provide a cost-and-time-effective framework for rapid treatment trials towards an effective COVID-19 therapy."
BitCare & Lynxbio, through its partnership, decided to file a utility patent on these discovered potential Therapeutic Drugs.
BitCare Technologies, Inc. is a Dallas, Texas based Biotech startup offering COVID-19 (RT-PCR Lab and Rapid IgM/IgG Antibody test and PPE) services and AI-based precision health and wellness services through at-home DNA & Allergy testing. DNA products offer personalized insights based on a person’s DNA on Health, Diet, Exercise, Sport, Estrogen, Addiction, Behavior, and also provides some advanced DNA tests in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Dementia. All tests are simple to use at-home tests with a simple 20-second cheek swab; with free shipping. Also, BitCare offers Allergy, Intolerance, and Sensitivity testing, which analyzes up to 800 food and non-food items. All the tests are accessible through a secure BitCare’s platform.
2.About Lynxbioscience
Lynxbioscience LLC is a Dallas, Texas-based bio-pharmaceuticals and outsourcing company (Contract Research Organization-CRO), conducts research in drug development with “OMICS '' technologies. Lynxbioscience has leading scientific experts, state-of-the-art technologies as well as critical therapeutic expertise in the areas of neuroscience, oncology, diabetes, pain, inflammation, infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, fibrosis, and rare diseases. Lynxbioscience is the first biotech company in the Texas region that offers comprehensive next-generation omics technologies services for novel and repurposed drug research to diversified groups such as pharmaceuticals, academic, and biotechnology clients. Lynxbioscience intends leveraging the expertise, comprehensive knowledge-based infrastructure in multi-disciplinary therapeutic areas in a systematic and unbiased manner with “OMICS'' technologies.
1st April 2020, Arise Collective joined 1% for the Planet, committing to donate 1% of annual sales to support nonprofit organizations focused on the environment.
“In 2020, a new decade is upon us where as a global community, sustainability is our biggest priority” states Julia Ritchie, Arise Collective Brand Manager, “and this is part of our DNA here at the Arise Collective. By partnering with 1% for the planet we are able to actively donate and make a difference to our planet through every customer purchase of our eyewear. Enabling our customers to feel good about their purchases, whilst protecting their eyes.”
Arise Collective is a social brand that is fully committed to sustainability. It recently partnered with WWF Australia to upcycle plastic commercial gill nets pulled from the Great Barrier Reef, a huge threat to marine creatures, to create sustainable sunglasses. The ReefCycle collection aims to support a net-free North, with 50% of proceeds funding further WWF conservation work to protect Australia’s marine wildlife.
The CEO of 1% for the Planet, Kate Williams, who is thrilled about the new partnership says, "Currently, only 3% of total philanthropy goes to the environment and, only 5% of that comes from businesses. The planet needs bigger support than this, and our growing network of member businesses is doing its valuable part to increase giving and support on the ground outcomes. We're excited to welcome Arise Collective to our global movement of over 2,700 businesses,"
By contributing 1% of their annual sales, over 2,700 members from 45 different countries, have raised more than 5 million to support approved environmental nonprofits around the globe. Nonprofits are approved based on referrals, track record and environmental focus. Thousands of nonprofits worldwide are currently approved.
About 1% for the Planet
1% for the Planet is a global organization that connects dollars and doers to accelerate smart environmental giving. Through our business and individual memberships, 1% for the Planet inspires people to support environmental organizations through annual membership and everyday actions. We advise on giving strategies, we certify donations and we amplify the impact of the network.
Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, our members have given more than 5 million to environmental nonprofits to date. Today, 1% for the Planet is a network of more than 2,700 business members, an expanding core of individual members and thousands of nonprofit partners in more than 60 countries. Look for our logo and visit www.onepercentfortheplanet.org to learn more.
About Arise Collective
Arise Collective was founded in 2017 and creates stylish, socially driven, quality eyewear at an affordable price. Developed by a global community, the Arise Collective team have a clear vision of offering the latest eyewear designs, whilst celebrating diversity and driving social impact. For more information about joining our collective visit Arise Collective- About Us to learn more.
The community here in the Carolinas has supported RAM Pavement since the beginning and to show their appreciation, they take as many opportunities to give back whenever they can. For the past six years, they have had the honor of being sponsors for Go Jen Go’s major event, Run Jen Run.
The Go Jen Go foundation is a non profit organization that is dedicated to assisting women who are affected by breast cancer. Today, the Go Jen Go Foundation provides over 0,000 in financial support each year to women and men fighting breast cancer in the greater Charlotte area. They offer financial assistance so that survivors can focus on their fight and not worry about things like whether or not they can pay rent, put gas in their car, or buy gifts for their families at Christmas. Go Jen Go hosts two annual events, the Run Jen Run 5k and Festival in March, and Cheers Jen Cheers, a family friendly tailgate party in October.
RAM Pavement is well known in the community for wanting to give back and this encouraged the Go Jen Go foundation to offer them the opportunity to be one of the sponsors for their major event, Run Jen Run. Apart from being sponsors, some of their employees participate in the 5k run and others simply come out to show their support to everybody participating in the race. To add to the festivities, RAM Pavement also brings out a pink tractor trailer and paving machine so kids can take a look at them and enjoy. The ability to be a part of and support such an amazing cause means a lot to them and it completes part of their mission statement.
A lot of their employees, friends and families have all been impacted by somebody with breast cancer. They believe it’s more than just filling potholes or doing a concrete repair, it’s about helping somebody with breast cancer, it’s about helping somebody be fed during the holidays or helping a veteran transition from military life to civilian life. In 2020 they plan on participating in an upcoming turkey drive in November, they’ve participated in this year’s Run Jen Run event and they’ll be doing volunteer work with Veteran’s Bridge (which is a Charlotte-based nonprofit organization that bridges the gap between veterans and their community). The work with Veteran’s Bridge may range from helping with a park clean up to having a call center focused on checking in with veterans to see how the transition from military life to civilian life is going.
At RAM Pavement, they have fostered a culture of giving back. They know that they wouldn’t be here if not for the community in which they work. From the technicians who do the grunt work all the way to the founder and CEO. Their desire to give – be it through volunteering, donating, or simply praying is what sets them apart as human beings. They look forward to many more years of serving their community.
NEW YORK – Actor Ariel Eliaz emerges in the provocative satirical thriller THE HUNT, releasing in theaters nationwide from Universal Pictures on Friday, March 13th. Eliaz joins the project from Jason Blum (Get Out, The Purge) and Damon Lindelof (Watchmen, Lost), alongside a stellar cast that includes Betty Gilpin, Hilary Swank, Ike Barinholtz and Emma Roberts.
(photo: Actor Ariel Eliaz emerges in new Universal Pictures thriller 'THE HUNT' releasing in US theaters nationwide on March 13, 2020)
Directed by Craig Zobel (The Leftovers), THE HUNT centers around 12 strangers who wake up in a clearing. They don't know where they are or how they got there, but soon discover they’re being hunted down in a game devised by a group of elites. This sport gets derailed when one of the hunted (Gilpin), turns the tables and starts killing the hunters one by one. Gilpin runs into Eliaz along her vengeful journey.
Loosely based on the 1924 short story, The Most Dangerous Game, by Richard Connell, THE HUNT is written by Lindelof and Nick Cuse (Watchman) and produced by Blum under his Blumhouse Productions banner.
Eliaz is excited to be part of this though-provoking film, “I thought it was a great satirical story to reflect on how divided we currently are. It’s a movie that definitely delivers a jolt, while still masterfully telling a high energy and entertaining story.”
Audiences will recognize Eliaz from his recurring role as Lior on the hit FX series, SNOWFALL, created by John Singleton. Introduced during Season 3, Lior is the trusted bodyguard for prominent gangster Avi Drexler (Alon Aboutboul). Eliaz will appear in the upcoming fourth season set for release in 2020.
Eliaz has built a solid reputation for his talents appearing in numerous TV shows, including The Deuce, The Haves and the Have Nots, MacGyver, Pose, Bull, Homeland, Gotham, Bluebloods among others. His credits also include over 30 independent films with a Best Actor win at NYC Indie Film Awards for his portrayal of The Devil in Whisky Sour. On stage, Eliaz has proven a powerhouse, receiving Best of Festival for Boiled Alive! at The Player’s Theatre in New York; and the Theatre Association of NY State (TANYS) Excellence Award for his portrayal of The Cat in Seussical the Musical.
Eliaz has become a force behind the scenes as a director, producer and creator. He teamed-up with rising director Jessica Siqueiros to establish Viscera Productions, which focuses on creating socially conscious films. Their comedy short, Pozole, won the 2019 Cinequest Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short Film and qualified for the Academy Awards.
Eliaz also recognized that others need a helping hand, so he founded the non-profit The Cardium Project, assisting artists from low-income backgrounds get a foot hold with their acting careers. In addition, he works with kids that are locked-up at Juvenile Prisons, teaching them acting skills and creating film projects.
Eliaz is represented by Cristy Beasley at S+C Management.
The book unveils the inside picture of the war and posts some serious indictments of Ameri-Cong Media and political bureaucrats in "the Swamp" of Washington DC who wrongfully denied benefits to the Warriors. The book delivers an unforgettable proud legacy. This book had to be written!
In a recent conversation with Reporter Bob Gaetjens Trimmer says that the book provides a form of redemption for U.S. soldiers who served in Vietnam by redefining the Viet Cong as worthy adversaries with a tradition of military strength. More than once in their history, the Vietnamese used guerrilla tactics in the cover of the jungles to repel tough enemies, including Mongols, the author adds.
“We don't have to hold our heads down,” said Trimmer.
Trimmer said the U.S. didn’t prepare soldiers for an enemy with the Vietnamese pedigree for defending itself.“They never, never ever indoctrinated us and prepared us for what’s ahead,” he said.
After returning to the states Trimmer was drawn to the jungle for years. He calls the Vietnam War “the greatest adventure of my life” which is ironical given the misery of warfare and all the health problems that he suffered later.Trimmer says he took trips to South America and other places to recreate the excitement of the experience.“That was the greatest adventure we ever had,” he said. “There’s no way to go back.
Unbreakable Hearts has received rave reviews, and the most profound praises have come from have come from high ranking VA employees, the families of Vietnam Vets and the Vets themselves, as follows
-“Hello brother Dusty So many things you wrote about brought back memories, good and not so good...88 straight days in the boonies being one of them. We had everything thrown at us then, we were both there then. I could hardly put your books down until I finished Thanks for giving such good renditions of the war for us, I am urged to give the VA doctors copies..".....Stephen Earp, B Co 3rd 22nd 25th Infantry Vietnam 1968-69
-"Dusty I am one of the survivors of the Ia Drang Valley Battle of 1965.Your book was a great read !, Our battle was made into a book and a movie...WE WERE SOLDIERS, featuring Lt. General Hal Moore and author Joe Galloway. I know first hand and absolutely identify with the exasperating experiences dealing with the Veterans Administration , I had almost identical experiences with service-connected illnesses. For me your reading was Deja vu. you told it exactly like it was.....Patrick Stephenson, U.S. Army Vietnam 1965
-"Hello Mr;.l Trimmer,as the wife of a surviving Vietnam War veteran I must thank you for stepping up to continue telling the story of this country's tragic period which is still not told often enough, not truthfully. You can count on me purchasing your trilogy of books for my husband, myself and others in our family.(The check is in the mail) We love the Vietnamese people and I hope to take him back there before he dies. Lord willing. Semper Fi and of course WELCOME HOME !".....Nancy Falster, Marine's wife-Vietnam War vet..
- "Mr. Trimmer,I began reading your new book last evening and could not put it down. Thank you for all you have done to make people aware of the plight of our Nam veterans.. I truly have a deep; interest in healing those veterans and thank you for being a compassionate-driven, honest human being.Thank you for your service".....Robert Marcus, Ph.D. Homeless Outreach Dept of Veterans Affairs.
The image shows the author in June 1968 following a Vietnam ambush where he took a bullet through his helmet.
Earl "Dusty" Trimmer served with a highly decorated unit of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division in the bloody years of 1968-69.He began writing his books to share the horror filled experiences of his warrior buddies in his first book "Condemned Property?" launched in December 2013. Many Vietnam vets urged him to continue writing. Despite two Ischemic Strokes and one Cerebral Vascular Stroke, leaving permanent impairments, he launched "Payback Time" in 2015 and most recently "Unbreakable Hearts". All three chastised the VA for its shameful treatment of America's Vietnam War veterans. Most important "Unbreakable Hearts" leaves a badly needed and much deserved...LEGACY THAT VIETNAM VETS AND FAMILY MEMBERS CAN BE PROUD OF FOR AS LONG AS THEY LIVE."
Media persons and journalists are contacting the author for interviews. He was interviewed by ‘The Plain Dealer’, one of Ohio’s popular newspapers as this Press Release goes out.
Roy J. Meidinger’s book ‘The Truth About the Healthcare Industry’ is the outcome of many years of hard work and deep research. The book brings out some shocking truths about how the healthcare companies across the United States have been swindling their customers by indulging in grossly illegal and unfair practices in connivance with insurance providers.
Meidinger's book outlines how the whole healthcare industry has been scamming the public for years by entering into nefarious deals with the hospitals and the insurance companies.
“My security advisor suddenly asked me what is going to happen in the Healthcare Industry?” says Roy J. Meidinger while explaining the core substance of his book. “I guess his concerns arose from listening to the various Democratic debates on the issue of universal coverage.”
According to Meidinger, the answer to this question is simple. The Democrats are not debating how they are going to pay for healthcare and that is why it is going nowhere. They have to think about it in a broader manner says the author.
For the manufacturing industry to stay competitive and profitable, they must first analyze the cost of manufacturing products and find ways of lowering them.
In the United States, healthcare costs are paid for by the employers and are included in the costs below the break-even point for manufacturing products and hence must be covered. These are upfront costs and include the taxes for Medicare and Medicaid.
The privately insured healthcare costs the United States twice as much as other countries and they provide universal healthcare for everyone. The difference is that every other country also has government healthcare programs that cover the majority of the populace.
In the past thirty years, the healthcare industry in the U.S has grown by 11.2 percent of its gross domestic product. However, a breakdown of GDP reveals that the manufacturing industry has shrunk by the exact same percentage.
Changing the way people pay for healthcare can help rebuild the manufacturing industry, create manufacturing jobs, make greater profits, pay higher salaries and give employees greater freedom.
Cutting the costs for healthcare will help in better management of the country’s manufacturing industry.
“The Democrats are missing this point. A universal healthcare system will have immediate cost reductions, the first is 29 percent of its costs go to collection efforts by providers, over forty-five million follow up claims to patients are issued each year, with many going to court. These claims have wiped out family wealth and caused over a million personal bankruptcies.” the author explains in his book.
According to the author, the move will also help eliminate 250,000 salesman jobs for insurance companies. The salary of doctors will have to come down, but they will not make much of an impact as they will no longer have to pay for malpractice insurance.
“My security advisor came up with the question all Democratic candidates are arguing about that such moves will make the taxes go up,” says the author. “I replied that the tax revenues will go up but not the taxes. If it is done right, $ 12,000 each employer pays for healthcare benefits will be paid to the employees, increasing their income and increasing their taxes.”
Roy J. Meidinger believes that this is not enough. He expects that the companies will most likely freeze employees’ salaries for four years while all the changes take place while our manufacturing industry comes back and the society gets rebalanced.
The book claims that 34 of the 35 countries belonging to the Organization of Economic and Developing Countries collect tax revenues from company profits and personal income taxes. These countries have moved healthcare costs from below the breakeven point of cost of manufacturing, thereby lowering their prices and collecting a percentage of the profits as taxes.
These countries have also moved all the taxes for their social programs like FICA taxes and moved them in the taxes collected from profits and income. These changes and moves can also be replicated by the United States easily, suggests the author in his book. Roy J. Meidinger is certain that everyone would vote for universal healthcare if they knew it would bring back our manufacturing industry.
He then said "It is so clear and simple, but who is going to tell the candidates about it" then he sighed.
“Unbreakable Hearts: A True, Heart-Wrenching Story About Victory... Forfeited!” unveils the inside picture of the war and posts some serious indictments of Ameri-Cong Media and political bureaucrats in "the Swamp" of Washington DC who cruelly and wrongfully denied benefits and honor for returning warriors of the Vietnam War. This heart-wrenching book delivers a long overdue, unforgettable proud legacy for Vietnam War vets and families, as well as Vietnam's people. This book had to be written!
“Earl “Dusty” Trimmer relates with both skill and personal experience events surrounding our most forgettable and misunderstood war in America’s history,” says Earl Kennedy, a U.S. Army Major(retired) and former Commander of the Combat Infantry Association. “Through this book, Dusty Trimmer brings to life our days and nights living and fighting in these foreboding jungle warfare conditions. He skillfully dives into the Vietnamese history and culture and brings the reader into understanding our Vietnamese enemy’s amazing resolve while brilliantly explaining the evolution of our Vietnamese enemy over hundreds of years of invasions and wars.”
It is evident that Mr. Trimmer who was a combat infantry soldier in the Vietnam War from 1968–1969, has done deep research on the subject as the author brings forth the terrifying and frustrating days and nights the American soldiers spent fighting the war in the foreboding Vietnamese jungle warfare conditions. He has been acclaimed by many Vietnam War veterans for telling their story in a manner that no one else probably could have.
The core message that the book aims to deliver is that American soldiers were not baby killers as portrayed by the evil Ameri-Cong or Fake Media to the world. The book also compellingly dispels the fake narrative spread by none other than President Johnson and pushed forth by the Ameri-Cong media that the soldiers were fighting just a bunch of primitive Vietnamese farmers with pitchforks and knives.
“Unbreakable Hearts" has received a large number of rave reviews for the manner in which the author has daringly demolished the lies about Vietnam War and its veterans. The most profuse praises have come from none other than the present President of the United States Donald Trump.
This is what he had to say about the author's mission:
"Dear Mr. Trimmer, thank you for sending the books. I am grateful for your thoughtful gesture and of course your service to our country. I appreciate your steadfast support which strengthens me as I continue to fight for the values that you and I cherish. Melania and I send our best wishes".....Donald J. Trump. President (8/7/19)
Many other key personalities have shared their positive views on the book:
" Congratulations brother Dusty on your most timely books. I hope you are well and that we can speak out on this all important topic for our brothers". Best wishes.".. Pat Sajak, Celebrity (Army Vietnam Vet)
Author Trimmer delivers credible messages across the VA’s minefield of issues that get
stepped on by veterans seeking deserved healthcare. He empties his heart out to help
veterans in a VA system that has lacked so much for too long. Way to take up the battle
Dusty: Hodge Wood, Reviewer Military Writers Society Of America
"Mr. Trimmer,I began reading your new book last evening and could not put it down. Thank you for all you have done to make people aware of the plight of our Nam veterans.. I truly have a deep; interest in healing those veterans and thank you for being a compassionate-driven, honest human being. Thank you for your service". ..Robert Marcus, Ph.D. Homeless Outreach Dept of Veterans Affairs.
Earl "Dusty" Trimmer served with a highly decorated unit of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division in the bloody years of 1968-69. He began writing his books to share the horror filled experiences of his warrior buddies in his first book "Condemned Property?" launched in December 2013. Many Vietnam vets urged him to continue writing. Despite two Ischemic Strokes and one Cerebral Vascular Stroke, leaving permanent impairments, he launched "Payback Time" in 2015 and most recently "Unbreakable Hearts". All three chastised the VA for its shameful treatment of America's Vietnam War veterans. “UNBREAKABLE HEARTS” leaves a long overdue and greatly deserved...LEGACY OF HONOR for Vietnam vets and families that they will be proud of.
You can purchase the book from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Ingram, Dogear Publishing, Author website http://www.unbreakableheartsbook.com or direct from the author by telephone 330.842.0359 or email trimmerdusty@gmail.com.
Written by singer-songwriter Steven Blane who is also a Rabbi and Cantor, Fly Again is an inspirational song about rising above life's struggles toward fulfilling one's dreams. The video is available here.
Blane writes, "This song came to me easily and basically wrote itself. The real challenge for me was how to record it. It’s a power ballad and it required several vocal takes and instrumental mixes to get right. It also started as a guitar/vocal demo track- but then I came to realize it needed a fuller production, so I added bass, piano and percussion. I’m very proud of it."
Fly Again will be available on all digital platforms on Dec. 23rd, but it can also be heard on Soundcloud.
Read more about Blane here and his online synagogue, Sim Shalom.
About Sim Shalom:
Sim Shalom is an interactive online Jewish Universalist synagogue which is liberal in thought and traditional in liturgy. Created in 2009 by Rabbi Steven Blane on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Sim Shalom offers a means of connecting the unconnected. Rabbi Blane leads accessible and short Shabbat services every Friday night using a virtual interface and additionally Sim Shalom provides online education programs, Jazz concerts, conversion and life-cycle ceremonies along with weeknight services at 7:00PM EST led by Rabbis and students of this online community.
Rabbi Blane is also the founder and director of the Jewish Spiritual Leader's Institute, http://www.jsli.net, the online professional rabbinical program and founder of the Union of Jewish Universalist Communities, http://www.ujuc.org.
”In the technology space, you need to understand the dynamics of how the tech world works – at the minimum – from a conceptual point of view. Therefore I would advise women to study up on data science, coding, and artificial intelligence. Become a subject-matter expert. Read, read, read. Because what makes you good at your job are skills, hard skills.” Birgit Thumecke
Q: What are your current areas of focus?
As the CEO of a startup, I wear many hats and so do my colleagues. My main role is planning and steering the company, with limited resources, on a path toward profitability, financing, and/or an exit. I manage expenses and external financing, so we don’t run out of money. I allocate capital to the company’s priorities and direct its financial management, I focus on fundraising and investor relations. I oversee the business plan and financial model as I am responsible for efficient administration, particularly with regard to compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, and for ensuring that the decisions made by the board of directors are implemented.
We have just completed a rigorous Due Diligence with the Keiretsu Forum, a global investment consortium of accredited private equity angel investors, venture capitalists and corporate/institutional investors. It kept me fairly busy for the last 2-3 months. For more information please find our Due Diligence summary and further investor-related content at https://www.eventerprise.com/invest . We started with this right after two investor roadshows; the first one took us back to the US, particularly Chicago, Ann Arbor, Cincinnati, and San Francisco while the second took us to Hong Kong, where we exhibited at RISE, one of the largest and fastest-growing tech conferences on the planet.
Eventerprise is now raising a late-seed round of .1 million via convertible note with a 20% conversion discount and a M valuation cap. 5K has been raised in the first close, with 5K remaining, of which we plan to raise no less than 0k in this second close to fund the LA launch – our first US city.
In the growth phase that lays ahead I will be able to focus more on team building, talent sourcing, motivating, supporting, and growing our team as well as sales because at Eventerprise, we are all in sales!
Q: If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career what would it be?
Be bolder, be more daring & think bigger!
One of the most common regrets even successful people have is that they “didn’t think big enough.” Many of the things we want in our lives will come to us as long as we give ourselves permission to receive them. If we cannot envision it, it won’t ever happen or ever be ours. Whether you’re looking for a promotion, a new career opportunity, or a better life overall, it starts by thinking 10X bigger and raising your standards.
For example, billionaire and co-founder of PayPal, Peter Thiel, came up with a great question you can ask yourself to do just this:
“What would you have to do if you want to achieve your 10-year goal in six months?”
This level of XXL-thinking forces you to break past your current limitations and fears and ultimately approach your career with confidence and ambition.
Q: How do you improve your financial knowledge?
I like numbers. I started my career as a subject matter expert in revenue accounts in the airline industry on the back of a diploma which I have received from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Airline Accounting & Finance.
Later in my career, I became a managing director of a company with 450 staff, and although I employed a financial manager, as managing director I naturally had to understand the finances. I’ve always dealt with the tasks and never shied away from taking up the challenges. Finance is not rocket science, it’s pretty straight forward. It is a rational discipline and, should you need to learn more, everything can be found on the internet.
Today, I am a crossover between CEO & CFO, I run the financial management at Eventerprise. I am constantly learning and that will probably continue. One can never know it all, and you have to stay open to learning new things. I am fortunate that I have a good network of advisors, on whom I can rely at any time, made up of investment bankers and accountants amongst others. The important thing is not to be too arrogant or too shy to ask. The formula I apply is simple:
Should I ask or should I be told? – A: ASK! Q: Do I look stupid if I ask? – A: Who cares?
We can all obtain knowledge and we should be proactive about it, as it will not be delivered to us on a silver platter. That is how I have improved my financial knowledge, by asking a lot of questions, reading up and simply doing it: cash flow analysis, accounting, financial modeling, use of funds projections, capital formation strategy, annual financial returns and so forth.
Q: What advice would you give to a woman considering technology as her career?
The truth is that women are still vastly underrepresented in the tech space. Those who are in tech must speak up. I would advise them to use their voices to bring more women in and use that same voice when it comes to creating more inclusive technological solutions. A lot of the technology is funded, designed and built by groups of predominantly male investors, designers and engineers. More women deserve the investment and support of their peers to develop inclusive solutions that have the potential to unlock entirely new markets and revenues.
Sometimes women are other women’s worst enemies. We do not do a fantastic job of creating jobs for other women. We need to elevate each other and rely more on mentoring and networking.
In the technology space, you need to understand the dynamics of how the tech world works – at the minimum – from a conceptual point of view. Therefore I would advise women to study up on data science, coding, and artificial intelligence. Become a subject-matter expert. Read, read, read. Because what makes you good at your job are skills, hard skills.
Q: What is a skill you think all women should learn and why?
Women are hesitant to talk up their accomplishments because they are often penalized when they do. And yet I advocate that women should learn how to better self-promote. Both women and men fear that people won’t like them if they are self-promoting, but women are more likely to let it stop them. So, while both genders worry about rejection, this fear inhibits women’s, but not men’s, abilities to promote themselves. It’s not that women are inherently lacking in the ability to self-promote, but it seems unnatural or unethical for them. That’s an unfortunate reality because self-promotion is essential to getting ahead. Men also may be perceived as overly boastful, but the bar is set much higher for them. Women, on the other hand, face a double bind. They’re punished for behaving in ways that might be perceived as immodest, and they’re punished professionally for behaving in ways that aren’t self-promoting. Regardless of the underlying reasons, whether it be misunderstood modesty or the risk of being perceived as pushy or bossy, I firmly believe women should promote themselves more strongly and way more often. However, each woman should do this in her own way and not simply copy of men. For anything to yield the desired outcome, it must be carried out authentically. You can’t expect anyone to believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself. That means that every woman has to determine her own stance, be more or less assertive etc. until it feels right for her.
Q: Tell us about your proudest achievement?
It’s personal. My mother was from South Africa and moved to Germany to marry my father and live there. This was not possible in South Africa because of Apartheid and the so-called “immorality act”, as my mother was a person of colour and my father was white. At that time, one wrote airmail letters on thin light blue paper that took forever and a day to reach its destination, let alone to receive a reply. Approximately every 3 months, my parents registered a long-distance call to South Africa with the local post office. Although the call never lasted for more than 5 minutes, the cost was horrendous. When my maternal grandmother was seriously ill, my mother flew home for the first time in almost 10 years. That was very expensive at that time and hardly anyone ever flew on vacation, not even short distance to Mallorca, so I was very aware of my mother’s constant yearning and homesickness. I was maybe 10 years old and helped my mother washing the dishes when I looked out of the kitchen window and saw an aeroplane flying high up in the sky. Then and there I promised my mother that as soon as I grew up, I would allow her to fly home regularly. I did not know how, but I was certain I would find a way.
At the beginning of my twenties, I started working for an airline and my dream came true. My mother flew regularly to South Africa several times a year.
This is most certainly one of my proudest achievements. It ties in with my answer to question no. 6 – who dares wins.
Eventerprise.com is a Swiss global tech startup on a mission to connect the world of events. We do this by ensuring technology is accessible, inclusive and affordable across an underserved market. Eventerprise makes it easier to create memorable experiences by helping everyone find the best vendors, venues and event professionals, all on one platform.
Birgit Thümecke is co-founder and CEO of Eventerprise.com, a global marketplace platform that connects event organizers with event professionals as well as vendors of event-related products, services, and venues. As a recipient of a Stevie Award for Women in Business she is committed to building a world-class distributed organization that serves all its stakeholders with growing value.
In the age of automation where cars and aircrafts drive themselves, India still continues to grapple with manual cleaning of manholes and deaths incidental to it. Although employment in manual cleaning of manholes was outlawed more than 25 years ago, it is estimated that at least half a million manual cleaners across the country are cleaning, carrying and disposing of waste with bare hands and bearing the stench of sewage. This has also resulted in loss of life for many who get asphyxiated after being exposed to harmful gases. This job is not just demeaning, humiliating and fatal, but is the worst example of social injustice leading to social stigmatization, discrimination and exclusion of people employed in such activities from the mainstream of economic growth.
To eliminate manual cleaning of manholes and energize the dignity, health, safety and skills of safai karamcharis involved in such work, Bharat Petroleum Corporation’s Mumbai Refinery, under its umbrella of Corporate Social Responsibility, provided two Robotic Manhole Cleaning Machines (named Bandicoot) to Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai Ward M-west, Chembur, on 21st November, 2019. Mr. C. J. Iyer, Executive Director Incharge, Mumbai Refinery, Mr. R. R. Nair, Executive Director HR (MR & JVRs) and Mr. Kurian Parambi, CGM HR (Mumbai Refinery) handed over two Bandicoot Robots to Dr. Prithviraj C. Chauhan, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, MCGM M-west Ward. The Bandicoot robots were developed by M/s. Genrobotics Innovations Pvt. Ltd, a leading robotic start-up and funded under BPCL’s start-up support initiative, Project Ankur.
Using machine learning and artificial intelligence, the Bandicoot which is equipped with a user interface, limbs, cameras and sensors, can be lowered into manholes to determine the amount of unclogging needed and scoop / collect the silt from different angles inside the manhole. The Bandicoot can work with efficiency, precision and save many man-hours. Work that would take four to five hours manually can be completed in about an hour.
Before the robotic manhole cleaning machines were handed over to the Municipal Corporation, they were pilot tested at the BPCL's Mumbai Refinery. Furthermore, to ensure that there is no job loss caused due to robotic manhole cleaning, BPCL will up skill the safai karamcharis of MCGM M-west Ward, to use the robots through a training with rehabilitation session. This is a profound initiative to reintegrate safai karamcharis into a healthier and more dignified worklife.
By leveraging technology to eradicate manual cleaning of manholes, BPCL aims to address the longstanding challenges posed by social and health hazards and serve as a catalyst to change manholes to roboholes. Participating in the developmental journey of the country, BPCL is focused and proactive in its commitment to energize the dignity of marginalized communities and enable sustained social change or transformation across the nation.
The Indian events industry is an economic powerhouse. This week Birgit Thümecke, CEO and Co-founder, and Barry Blassoples, VP Growth of Eventerprise, will address the Mumbai investor network as part of Eventerprise’ global funding initiatives.
Eventerprise is a tech company on a mission to connect the world of events by ensuring technology is accessible, inclusive, and affordable across an underserved market.
Making it easier to create memorable experiences by helping everyday people find the best vendors, venues and event professionals, all on one platform.
Eventerprise recently announced the completion of due diligence with the Keiretsu Forum (USA), part of the world’s number one most active venture investor network. The three-month collaborative process, which saw substantial input from experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and legal experts, provides a platform to finalize Eventerprise’ .1 million late-seed funding raise coupled with significant industry and investor validation. With 5,000 already secured in the 1st close of the round, the report and additional financing of 5,000 will fuel the company’s growth marketing initiatives and launch in the greater Los Angeles region.
The move to address the Indian investor community is a logical one for the Swiss and US incorporated business, with an established strategic R&D partner in Vadodara, India, Co-founder and events entrepreneur, Charlie Wright, is excited by the potential: “India being arguably one of the largest events markets in the world makes the local validation, investment and partnerships already secured tremendously significant for us. We are now very much looking forward to launching the platform here in due course.”
Dr. Rajen Kilachand, investor, businessman and prolific philanthropist adds: “I have known Charlie for a number of years and his friendship and absolute commitment to what he does, along with his integrity as a businessman are what have convinced me to get behind Eventerprise, and I’m delighted to be part of the early pioneers in this platform.”
The experience with Keiretsu has been invaluable and created a platform to present the next phase for Eventerprise at a series of global events. “Receiving the stamp of approval from such an internationally recognized due diligence process was a key objective for us,” echoed Birgit Thümecke, who acknowledges that the benefits go far beyond funding from the Keiretsu network. “Having the opportunity for some of the best in the business to take a deep dive into every corner of our business, and come up with such positive sentiment, truly reaffirms our belief that the Eventerprise platform is ready to serve the global events industry.”
Adam Smith, owner of the digital growth agency Sound Press, Cincinnati, USA, highlighted the following in the final report: “They have a plan in place to put the funding towards the right tasks for proving the business model and acquiring market share. The supporting documents are some of the best I’ve seen in regards to preparedness.” It was not only the firm’s marketing strategy that received ringing endorsements, its underlying technology gained high praise from veteran and San Francisco angel investor Peter Henry: “Whereas typical early-stage tech start-ups have a great deal of risk inherent in their untested ability to deliver on the promise of their technology vision, this is not the case with Eventerprise. If anything, the technology, and its development are among the least risky aspects of the business at this point, and it’s more about the marketing and execution of launching the offering in the right place and time”.
The management team, led by serial entrepreneurs and industry experts Birgit Thümecke, Götz Thümecke and Charlie Wright, clearly understand the potential of the event management software market, the size of which is expected to balloon to .4billion by 2024 according to latest research. Industry giant Cvent’s recent acquisition of the event technology provider DoubleDutch provides testament to the event industry’s continuing ability to develop and embrace innovative digital solutions. With two-sided platform models being already well established with consumers in India and the United States, Eventerprise covers a niche which has been long overlooked by the industry’s established technology powerhouses. Its unique focus on streamlining the interactions between event hosts and vendors of event products, services or venues allows the company to, in the words of CEO Birgit Thümecke, “level the playing field by bringing trust, order and simplicity to an underserved and fragmented industry.”
Eventerprise has recently extended its reach into the Asian market, with a Singaporean hub coming online in 2019. Investor sentiment in the region has followed suit, with its current round adding Phillip R. Lynch, Vice President, Commercial Growth & Innovation at Johnson & Johnson Asia Pacific, to its list of seasoned angel investors. “My investment is predicated on good leadership, the right team and its business model. The team is privileged to be led by an outstanding leader in Birgit Thümecke, who is well qualified to take Eventerprise forward.”
Funds secured from the current late-seed round, which is led by San Francisco based Act 5 Ventures, are earmarked for growth market activation activities across the greater Los Angeles region, as well as further investment in its R&D capabilities. With expansion milestones and revenue targets achieved the team will head toward Series A latest 9 months after launch full of optimism. The event industry has seen high profile exit transactions such as Eventbrite’s billion IPO in 2018, Eventerprise’s market-ready platform, detailed roll-out plan, and potential return over five years (based on comparable investments), offers a very compelling investment opportunity.
To learn more about the Eventerprise investment opportunity, please click here.
Learn more at www.eventerprise.com/invest
Eventerprise.com is a Swiss global tech startup on a mission to connect the world of events. We do this by ensuring technology is accessible, inclusive and affordable across an underserved market. Eventerprise makes it easier to create memorable experiences by helping everyone find the best vendors, venues and event professionals, all on one platform.
Birgit Thümecke is co-founder and CEO of Eventerprise.com, a global marketplace platform that connects event organizers with event professionals as well as vendors of event-related products, services, and venues. As a recipient of a Stevie Award for Women in Business she is committed to building a world-class distributed organization that serves all its stakeholders with growing value.
Relevance, the online publication developed to promote content marketing, has reaffirmed its position as the best in this niche. With a community of over 42,000 marketing professionals, Relevance is clearly the preferred destination for everything associated with content curation, interactive media, influencer outreach, public relations, media relations, social media, search engine marketing, media buying, content marketing, native advertising and lots more.
“At Relevance, we are focused sharply on content marketing but we also focus on themes that are relevant to the subject,” says the spokesperson for Relevance.com. “We have a very creative and personalized approach to delivering the goals of our users. That’s why we are the preferred destination for those who have a passion and interest in content marketing and management.”
Today, Relevance.com is the fastest growing online publication in the content marketing and content promotion domain. The company has impressed industry experts with its user-friendly interface and remarkable features.
Relevance has over 500 writers, designers, and researchers that produce a steady stream of quality content for users.
The events section and the directory section which was added later also help in adding value to the user experience. These pages make it easy for users to find what they are looking for quickly and effortlessly.
Content marketing articles and blogs are posted under four categories in the main menu on Relevance. Readers can search for content under Earned Media, Paid Media, Owned Media, and Shared Media.
The News page provides the latest news as it develops on various topics while the Resources page offers a wealth of downloadable content on diverse topics such as press release, influencer marketing, landing page conversions, social media, SEO, lead generation and others.
Visitors to the website can find anything related to content management and marketing they are looking for, be it an agency, the latest tools, and services, or influencers and professionals from the industry, quickly using the filter option.
They can also locate content-specific blogs and articles using keywords, company name, and other aspects. The Post a Service option is especially useful for those who want to share information about their services using the Relevance platform.
The friendly interface has been carefully designed to make browsing and choice of options simple and straightforward.
Relevance stands apart from other content marketing and content management websites as it makes it easy and simple for users to find people and information related to content management.
Relevance.com is the world’s fastest-growing publication dedicated to content marketing and content promotion. They are trusted the world over for news, insights, resources, trends, and information of the highest quality and are the industry’s foremost source of thought leadership in the realm of content marketing and promotion strategy and tactics.
Energy Marketing Conferences announced the winner of the “Leadership and Integrity Award". The nominees were retail energy companies who have exemplified fine leadership qualities, the highest level of ethics, and benefit their customers, community, environment as well as internal stakeholders. The award was sponsored by Everlast Energy.
The 10 nominees for the award were: Abest Power and Gas, Agway Energy Services, Arcadia Power, CleanChoice Energy, LE Energy, Liberty Power, Mega Energy, RRH Energy, Tomorrow Energy, and Town Square Energy.
The winner of the award was Tomorrow Energy as announced at the Energy Marketing Conference on September 12th 2019 at the Midtown Hilton Hotel in New York City. Sean Figaro, of Tomorrow Energy accepted the award.
Past winners of the award were: UGI Energy Services (2017), USG&E (2016), North American Power (2015), Chief Energy (2014), and IDT Energy (2013).
“All the nominees for the Leadership and Integrity Award were exemplary companies of leadership and integrity,” said Jack Doueck, Co-Founder of Advanced Energy Capital, LED Plus and of Energy Marketing Conferences, “All of these companies showed leadership in how they excelled in hands-on customer service. They were all patrons to their communities and companies we can all be proud of. Paul Keene, CEO of Tomorrow Energy rose above everyone else."
“Tomorrow Energy implemented an 18 month transition plan that has completely remade the business, including a move of the business to Houston, a hiring of a new team of industry veterans, and a significant shift in business strategy that resulted in a rebranding. They built a new organization with a 100% focus on renewables. They not only totally rebranded the products. They also transformed the company culture, values, and ethics,” said Larry Leikin, Co-Founder of EMC and CEO of TrustedTPV.
The Energy Marketing Conference is the largest gathering of retail energy professionals in North America.
There were 50 exhibitors, 6 interactive panels, 8 executive workshops, more than 50 speakers, a networking breakfast, a luncheon and a vibrant networking reception with live music. The keynote was Rich Blaser, CEO Infinite Energy and Citizens for Energy Choices.
The next Energy Marketing Conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency Downtown in Houston Texas on March 3, 2020. It will be another fantastic networking opportunity and will be filled with a packed agenda of learning.
Fine Art Shippers, a NYC-based international art logistics company, is happy to share the amazing news that the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum has announced a call for works for the group photography exhibit that will be held on January 10 – April 19, 2020. All works presented at the exhibition will be for sale, with proceeds benefiting the Museum and the participating artists. The photographer with the largest number of votes from the visitors will also be awarded a solo exhibit at the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum in 2022.
At Fine Art Shippers, we are proud to provide comprehensive fine art shipping and museum services in the United States. We have the pleasure of working with many art institutions and organizations that entrust our team with handling highly valuable, one-of-a-kind art objects of any kind. At Fine Art Shippers, we also support talented emerging artists and various cultural activities that take place throughout the country, providing them with more publicity and attention they deserve. Now, we want to introduce the amazing Fort Smith Regional Art Museum and its recent program for professional artists in the field of photography.
The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum (RAM) was officially opened in the heart of Fort Smith, Arkansas in January 2013, but its history goes back further than that. The Museum originated under the Arkansas Association of University Women in 1948. At the time, it was a group of local artists who exhibited their artworks and held various classes throughout the city. Years later, they founded the Fort Smith Art Center that eventually was fully rebranded to align with the standards of the American Alliance of Museums. Thus, the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum as we know it today was born.
The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum is largely focused on the work of local and regional artists, but it also hosts nationally and internationally recognized traveling exhibitions. Among the Museum’s upcoming events is the exhibition of contemporary photography, which is aimed to foster art appreciation in the community and recognize professional artists at the same time. Any photographer, no matter whether they specialize in personal documentary, reportage, portrait, conceptual, travel, or landscape photography, can submit their works for consideration. Photographs to be shown in the exhibition will be selected by RAM. The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2019. The entry is free.
It’s interesting that throughout the duration of the exhibition that will run at the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum from January 10 to April 19, 2020, the visitors will be able to vote for the photographer they like. The winner will be awarded their own solo exhibition at the Museum, which will be held in January 2022. Besides, all the works will be available for sale, and proceeds will benefit the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum and the participating artists. Whether you are a photographer or a connoisseur, we highly recommend that you pay your attention to the upcoming photography exhibition hosted by RAM. It will definitely be an exciting and memorable event!
Fine Art Shippers, an international fine art shipping company headquartered in NYC, is happy to announce that this year’s edition of Nova Frontier Film Festival and Lab will be held at the Billie Holiday Theatre on September 20-22. This important cultural event will bring to Brooklyn a fabulous selection of shorts, films, experimental videos, and other works by some of the most talented filmmakers and artists from the African Diaspora, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Nova Frontier Film Festival and Lab is an arts organization and film festival founded in Brooklyn, NY by two talented people: Lydia Darly and Billy Gerard Frank. Lydia Darly is a filmmaker and award-winning actress of Guadeloupean descent, who was born and raised in France. She was featured in Renny Harlin’s famous 2004 horror film “The Exorcist: The Beginning” and was Jordan Bayne’s assistant director on his 2011 short film “The Sea is All I Know” starring Melissa Leo. Lydia Darly is also a frequent guest speaker at various film festivals, known for her support of independent and women filmmakers.
Billy Gerard Frank, the co-founder of Nova Frontier Film Festival and Lab, is a multi-disciplinary artist and filmmaker born in Grenada. This year, this talented person, who now lives in New York, represents his home country at the prestigious Venice Biennale that is often called “The Art Olympics.” Frank’s research-based work addresses the issues of global politics, race, sexuality, migration, minority status, and post-colonial subjects. His films and mixed media artworks have been featured in many different group and solo exhibitions held in the United States, UK, and the Caribbean.
Nova Frontier Film Festival and Lab is an annual film festival born from the collaboration between Lydia Darly, Billy Gerard Frank, and another Brooklyn-based arts organization – RestorationArt. The Festival is organized for emerging and young artists and filmmakers from and about the African Diaspora, Latin America, and the Middle East. It is currently held in Brooklyn, NY but is going to expand its borders next year to include Marseille, France and Ghana, Africa.
Nova Frontier Film Festival and Lab 2019 has a very interesting festival program that will take place at the Billie Holiday Theatre, starting on September 20. The Festival will focus on the themes of Social Justice, Immigration, Multiculturalism, and Identity, presenting works by a whole range of talented and creative people from around the world. These include dramatic and documentary films, shorts, experimental videos, performances, and virtual reality. Nova Frontier Film Festival and Lab 2019 will be juried by the Egyptian-American director and cinematographer Mona Eldaief and the famous American producer Lauren Beck whose film “Manchester by the Sea” won two Oscars at the Academy Awards 2017.
Nova Frontier Film Festival and Lab 2019 is expected to be a memorable event full of arts and culture. The Opening Night Ceremony will start on September 20 at 7pm with a short fiction “Yasmina” by Claire Cahen & Ali Esmili France. Very recommended!
Fine Art Shippers, a New York-based fine art shipping company, is pleased to introduce Angelov Franco, a talented Colombian multimedia artist whose beautiful artworks are characterized by bold compositions, intricate lines, and contrasting shapes. Angelov Franco creates colorful and vibrant paintings and sculptures, often combining different media in his work. His amazing creations are exhibited all over the world, sometimes in quite unexpected places, which only enhances the overall impression of his mixed media works to a whole new level of perception.
Fine Art Shippers is not just any fine art shipping company offering artwork transportation services in the United States. First of all, we operate around the globe, providing professional art handling and logistics services in many countries worldwide, including China, Israel, UAE, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom. Secondly, we are passionate about art and culture, and honored to serve many international artists, galleries, museums, and arts organizations. At Fine Art Shippers, we love and appreciate art in any of its forms, and it is always a pleasure for us to meet really talented people whose work deserves greater recognition and visibility. Angelov Franco is one of these artists, and we are happy to tell the world about his amazing art.
Angelov Franco is a Colombian artist known for creating colorful mixed media artworks on diverse subjects inspired by his vivid imagination. Franco fell in love with art in his childhood through frequent exposure to cartoons, comic books, and various illustrations. His passion for art gave an impetus to the further development of his artistic skills and creative expression, which eventually led the young artist to the famous Art Students League of New York. This prestigious art school was home to some of the greatest artists of our time, including Georgia O’Keeffe and Jackson Pollock, and it was also home to the talented artist from Colombia who mastered there his artistic technique.
Works by Angelov Franco have been exhibited worldwide, including at the Gwangju Biennale 2015 in Kwangju, South Korea, where he received a welcoming review from some of the most reputable art critics. Franco’s artworks were also displayed at SCOPE Miami Beach, Le Lavo//matik Gallery in Paris, Princeton University, and the Newark Art Museum. His most recent solo exhibition featuring mixed media works on wood panels took place in Los Angeles at the Polynesian tattoo studio Mana’o Tattoo-LA, attracting even more attention to the artist’s work. Titled “A Carousel of Shiny Stars,” it was a somewhat beautiful tribute to the migration through the oceans, the reefs, and the connection to the stars.
Multimedia art by Angelov Franco is amazing, with numerous details making you explore it over and over again. You should definitely see his works with your own eyes. Very recommended!
Fine Art Shippers, a global art logistics provider with representative offices around the world, is pleased to share the great news that the first edition of World Art Road Show will take place in Moscow on September 6-8. This important event will start a series of international art shows aimed at providing a space to showcase the best in modern and contemporary art. World Art Road Show will be held at Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art, one of Russia’s first and biggest private contemporary art centers uniting all areas of culture.
Fine Art Shippers has been at the epicenter of the art world since 1995, providing professional art handling and art shipping services to artists, dealers, collectors, museums, galleries, and a whole range of different arts organizations. With partners and representative offices all over the world, we operate globally, trying to meet our clients' needs quickly and comprehensively. Our team particularly specializes in providing art logistics services at the international art fairs and shows, such as the Venice Biennale, Art Basel, Frieze, Armory Show, Art Miami, and others. We also support smaller but no less important art events and shows happening around the world. For example, we highly recommend visiting the upcoming World Art Road Show that will open its doors in Moscow on September 6.
World Art Road Show is a creative international art project founded by the Council for the Development of Foreign Trade and International and Economic Relations in Moscow. It includes several international art shows of modern and contemporary art, held in the four world’s art capitals: Moscow, London, Singapore, and Miami. The first World Art Road Show will take place in Moscow on September 6-8, bringing some of the most talented and outstanding contemporary artists from around the globe under one roof. The show is expected to feature over a thousand original contemporary paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures, digital art pieces, and many other interesting artworks that will be displayed in a relaxed and friendly environment.
In addition to showcasing works of art by both emerging and established artists, World Art Road Show will offer a dynamic VIP program available by invitation only. These include exclusive events and lectures organized in partnership with prestigious publications and institutions. VIP lounge will be curated by Polina Eltsina.
At Fine Art Shippers, we are proud to be a media partner at World Art Road Show 2019 and share the world about this unique art fair that makes high-quality contemporary art accessible to everyone. We highly recommend visiting this amazing event in Moscow and all the following shows in other cities. In case you need any art logistics help, we have representative offices in Moscow, London, and Miami, as well as reliable partners in Singapore, and we will be happy to provide exhibitors and collectors with any fine art shipping services required.
Meet Becky. She’s a smart young recruitment professional from a mid-sized town near Chicago in America’s Midwest. And she’s unemployed, despite an honours degree which saddled her with ,000 in student debt. Automation in the HR industry has made her junior position redundant.
If predictions are to be believed, this is a nightmare scenario that is poised to play off on a large scale across multiple industries and countries over the next few decades. Those with a fervent imagination can probably hear the voice-over in their heads, like something from a cheesy 1980s horror movie.
“First they came for the blue collar workers, and now they’re coming for those working in the professional service industries.”
Automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, gig economy, and robotics have all become dread words as the Fourth Industrial Revolution steams inexorably onward. But is it really all doom and gloom for young professionals looking to make their mark in the world?
At first glance, the predictions are not on the side of youth. The Brookings Institution calculated that 25% of American jobs are at high risk of automation, with the risk for those in the 16 – 24 age group the highest. Although areas like office administration (60%) and construction (50%) face some of the highest levels of automation, the seemingly unassailable legal profession is also not immune with a 38% risk.
The flip side of the coin looks equally dire. 49% of global employers are struggling to fill vacancies due to massive skills shortages, according to a ManpowerGroup survey. And that is exactly where the opportunity lies for ambitious young professionals who want to grab the world by the scruff of the neck. Let’s dig in further to see what the Beckys of the world should do to set themselves up for success.
But first, some more bad news. An oft-quoted Oxford university study estimated that almost half of US jobs were at high risk of automation over the next ten to twenty years. And that study was based on advances in Machine Learning and Robotics back in 2013!
Fortunately, the same study also came up with the antidote – those human skills that are currently immune to robotic replication.
For the foreseeable future, artificial intelligence will struggle to compete with our creative intelligence and its ability to produce original ideas and creative solutions. Robots are also not able to mimic sophisticated human perceptions and insights related to other people. Which is probably a good thing; one Dr Phil is enough.
In the same vein, it’s difficult to picture software being able to negotiate a peace settlement or a major business merger. And of course, it’s called the art of persuasion for a reason. Definitely not a machine learning strength – yet.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report came up with its own prediction for most valuable skills which they have been tracking since 2015:
It is worth noting that Complex Problem Solving remained in pole position, while Critical Thinking and Creativity have moved into the second and third spots respectively. Emotional Intelligence and Cognitive Flexibility (your ability to switch between different mental tasks) both make a first time appearance.
At least half of the top skills are related to communication and collaboration, which should be seen as foundation skills that can be honed into top ten skills. But where or how do you get to do all that honing?
It’s a sad truth that many entry level roles are aimed that cost-effective execution of repetitive tasks. Exactly those tasks that will vanish within a few years from now. The old cliche of needing skills and experience has taken on a new meaning – you need ‘the right’ skills and experience.
So, the quandary for many young professionals is that they know they need skills and experience that universities and most entry-level jobs don’t offer. They often just don’t know where to go and get them. The good news is that forward-thinking startups like Eventerprise offer a powerful solution. It makes sense though; startups are generally already operating at the vanguard of commercial and societal change.
Many startups also offer something else, above skills and experience, and that’s purpose. Eventerprise, for example, is on a mission to make an extremely fragmented and under-served events industry more transparent and filled with value for all its participants. As the CEO of the company I like to believe that it played a role in the phenomenal growth of the young professionals who have taken their careers to the next level in our digital-first environment.
What does Eventerprise offer young professionals?
Collaborate within a strong culture that teaches work ethic as a way of living. When you believe in what you do and want to succeed, hard work becomes second nature.
Come to grips with the huge (global) growth potential of digital platforms and marketplaces.
Work closely with a leadership team that offers many years of experience and insights into a variety of business-related disciplines.
Learn faster, wider, and deeper than ever before on our agile development path.
Acquire the latest in-demand skills within a digital-first startup environment.
Interact with a diverse global team and gain life-changing multicultural and international exposure.
Celebrate female leadership, diversity, and inclusion.
Future-proof your career for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Discover opportunities to travel and explore the world on multiple levels
Work remotely or at our Cape Town, South Africa, operational hub.
There are of course a few expectations from our side
We expect that you take full ownership of everything that you do. That will require resilience and endurance, especially when things don’t go your way.
Sound work ethic is one of our core values. We hope you share that with us.
As the WEF mentioned, problem-solving skills are where it’s at. In a startup environment, your ability to come up with solutions to new challenges will be tested every day. Just like a startup needs to be agile in everything it does, so do you.
Sitting on the fence can be dangerous. That’s why forward motion is always powered by confident decision making. We support and guide, but we don’t hold hands. (Initiative is such a beautiful word.)
Opportunity knocks every day and around every corner. It just needs an attentive person to open the door. We’ve built an environment that’s conducive to out-of-the-box thinking. We trust you will seek out the fresh angles and openings.
Be bold and daring – within reason. We enjoy sparring with each other (it promotes creativity), but we always keep it respectful. Likewise, we move fast and break things to learn more, but we do so cognizant of all the relevant details.
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If you have read this far without breaking down in tears, well done. You may just be who we are looking for. One or two more carrots before we introduce you to some of our current career opportunities for young professionals.
We follow a performance-based remuneration model across the company. If you bring special skills to the party, we will definitely consider it in our offer. However, as a startup, our value proposition should be in what you can learn rather than a market-related salary. Longer-term, there is also potential to join our permanent core team, as well as acquiring equity through an employee stock ownership plan.
So without any further fanfare, here are some of those opportunities we’ve been going on about. Have a look and send through your application if you feel Eventerprise is the right fit for your career.
Junior Financial Operations Coordinator
Junior Freelance Graphic Designer
Junior Digital Marketer
Freelance UX Designer
Freelance UX Writer
Web Copywriter
Learn more about Eventerprise on our Careers Page.
Eventerprise.com is a Swiss global tech startup on a mission to connect the world of events. We do this by ensuring technology is accessible, inclusive and affordable across an underserved market. Eventerprise makes it easier to create memorable experiences by helping everyone find the best vendors, venues and event professionals, all on one platform.
If you would like more information about this topic, please write or call:
Fine Art Shippers, an international fine art shipping company, is pleased to share the amazing news that JD Malat Gallery in London is currently hosting a unique exhibition that features an outstanding collection of works by the gallery’s artists. This exhibition, which is titled Summer Exhibition 2019, highlights the originality and strength of art shown by JD Malat Gallery throughout its first year. The must-visit group show runs at 30 Davies Street in Mayfair, London through September 28, 2019.
JD Malat Gallery was founded in London in June 2018. The gallery is relatively young, but it has already held seven successful solo exhibitions featuring works by some of the best international contemporary artists. Summer Exhibition 2019 is a culmination of an intensive twelve-month gallery program, which carries a breath of fresh air with a selection of the strongest works by thirteen talented artists, both renowned and emerging. These include:
Enrico Castellani (1930-2017), one of the most influential Italian artists of the 20th century, who contributed to the development of European avant-garde art in the 1950s-1960s;
Marlene Dumas (b. 1953), a prominent contemporary South African artist known for her figurative artworks that touch on many difficult themes, from pornography to segregation;
Li Tianbing (b. 1974), a Chinese artist who creates thought-provoking paintings that interweave the dualities present in China today;
Zümrütoglu (b. 1970), a Turkish artist whose paintings represent a beautiful mix of physical abstract art and German expressionism;
Mio Yamato (b. 1990), a Japanese artist known for her monochromatic works distinguished by a careful repetition of separated and individual drops of paint;
Henrik Uldalen (b. 1986), a Norwegian artist who creates figurative oil paintings that are rather metaphysical and emotional than narrative;
Ian Cumberland (b. 1983), an Irish artist known for his unique paintings focused on fictional scenes depicting people and the things, often absurd ones, they do.
Santiago Parra (b. 1986), a Colombian artist whose large black and white paintings perfectly combine abstract expressionism with geometric abstraction;
Nina Pandolfo (b. 1977), a Brazilian artist known for her delicate, sensual, and playful paintings depicting expressive, large-eyed girls;
Katrin Fridriks (b. 1974), an Icelandic artist whose abstract expressionist paintings examine questions about new technologies and how they work;
Masayoshi Nojo (b. 1989), a Japanese artist who combines Japanese aesthetics with contemporary visual languages to create his beautiful mixed media artworks;
Conrad Jon Godly (b. 1962), a Swiss artist whose impressive paintings are inspired by nature and its relationship to humanity;
Andy Moses (b. 1962), an American artist known for his distinctive paintings that are simultaneously representational and abstract.
The selection of artworks presented by JD Malat Gallery at Summer Exhibition 2019 is diverse and vibrant. At Fine Art Shippers, we highly recommend that you visit this exceptional art exhibition at your first opportunity. In case you need any art logistics services, our London office will be happy to provide you with any help or assistance, from fine art shipping to artwork installation, required.
Call it what you want - distributed organization, remote work, outsourcing - these overlapping terms have been go-to buzzwords in business parlance for a while, almost as de rigueur as diversity and transparency. Globally, one in every three people are now working remotely to some extent. No wonder, when you consider the much-vaunted benefits of a distributed business model: lower overheads and wages, higher productivity, better quality of life, wider access to talent, and of course, the promotion of diversity and innovation.
That may seem great, but before we get too excited about lounging in our jammies while Dan from HR delivers his 11th presentation on company leave policy via Zoom, there are a few caveats.
The digital nature of platforms makes them ideally suited to a distributed business model. However, its successful implementation is not a one-size-fits-all affair. Some digital-first companies, like Buffer, Zapier, and Github, have built thriving fully-distributed businesses. WordPress is another good example of a decentralized community with shared goals. Conversely, online retail giant, Amazon, is spending billion on its controversial HQ2 office with space for 50,000 workers. The fact that your business is digital, doesn’t seem to dictate that your workforce should be too.
It’s not only digital startups that are buying into the promises of higher productivity and happier employees. Many traditional companies, especially in the professional services sector, are experimenting with decentralized models. Unfortunately, some of these companies are either woefully ill-equipped to run a distributed organization or are trying to sugarcoat labour arbitrage.
Originally arbitrage meant cross-border trade in goods - the buy low, sell high principle. This was followed by offshoring factory work to low-wage countries. Now, Globalization 4.0, driven by the proliferation of digital technologies, is introducing a new form of arbitrage in the services sector. As a result, professional workers in developed economies are increasingly being subjected to the vagaries of the gig economy, which has diluted many hard-won workers’ rights.
It is therefore important to distinguish between a true distributed organization, which binds together remote professionals, working towards common goals within a harmonious culture, and a simplistic outsourcing exercise with a one-dimensional (and sometimes exploitative) purpose. Hopefully, the Zeitgeist is changing. A quick Google Trends exercise shows that interest in outsourcing has waned dramatically over the past 15 years while remote work has risen in popularity.
How did we get here?
Large multinationals have actually been running distributed formats for ages. The Dutch and British East India Companies were early forerunners of these mega corporations with workers and offices spread across the globe. Ironically, the British East India company also helped to create the antithesis of distributed organizations, one of the first gargantuan centralised offices. It was an early forerunner of the labour concentration that was so characteristic of the First Industrial Revolution, due to the latter’s need for factory fodder.
Despite its ubiquity, office culture has only been around for about 300 years. For most of humankind’s existence work was conducted from home. This allowed families and communities to build strong bonds and support networks. The advent of centralised offices disrupted this natural state of affairs, as workers were generally reduced to units of production, with scant regard for their quality of life.
The internet and new methodologies like Agile and Lean have created an opportunity to break free from the constraints of the centralised office model. Ambitious young companies can now use a distributed model to compete with established players and disrupt entire markets. That is, if they are able to negotiate the following hurdles.
7 critical factors for remote work success
The rise of the distributed machines
Skynet is live. The proliferation of SaaS solutions for very aspect of running a business has been a game changer.Cloud software for CRM, project management, communication, and video conferencing has made collaboration between remote teams much easier, while AI and machine learning applications have removed the need for many entry level positions.
However, knowing which tools to use at each stage of your company’s evolution can be tricky. Many young startups have rued the day that they signed up for the full (and quite expensive) Salesforce package, belatedly discovering that they only required 10% of its functionality. Runway up in flames.
Leadership experience
Digital tools are great, but if you don’t have the right culture and organizational structure in place, they will not be wielded effectively. Startups that build a distributed model into their DNA from inception tend to be more effective at leveraging innovation, increasing productivity and raising employee satisfaction. Doing that is easier said than done though.
Your organization needs highly-focused leaders who can implement a clear structure and develop processes that nurture trust in common goals across multiple channels. That said, transparency is key to building trust. Leaders should communicate strategies, opportunities, and challenges in a clear and consistent fashion. Nothing kills trust like not knowing what is going on in the company that you are working for.
Get rid of hierarchies. The more layers you add to your distributed organization, the higher the likelihood of communication breakdown. That’s why a lean approach works so well with a remote team.
Communication skills have never been more important
The fact that you are using cutting-edge digital tools and working in real time with team members situated thousands of miles away, does not mean that proven business principles don’t still apply.
Omni-channel communication is not just for your clients. Your team should know when and how to use a specific communication channel. Make sure your onboarding process is up to scratch in this regard. Screencast videos are a great way to get this done.
Be clear and concise in all communication. A lack of physical cues and different semantic interpretations can cause misunderstandings and frustrations that would not usually occur in an office. Follow up on all interactions to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Recruit the right people
Not everyone is cut out for remote work. Candidates may have the right qualifications and relevant work experience, but if they are not self-disciplined, self-motivated, and nimble around remote technologies you’re in for a challenge.
Recent studies have shown that many remote workers feel disengaged and isolated, which does not bode well for their commitment to the job at hand. This also ties back to communication and leadership - if you are not putting the right structures in places and coaching your people, you should not be surprised that they feel adrift and unvalued.
A good way to test a candidate’s suitability is to include a small remote project, based on their particular field of expertise, in the recruitment process. If you get the desired results within the stipulated time frame, you probably have a keeper. Just make sure the test project requires interaction with other members of your team.
The laws of the land and fair practice still apply
If you want your employees to buy into your company goals, you need to make sure that they feel valued as real partners. That means giving them the same rights as a traditional on-site worker. Trying to circumvent leave and other benefits to cut costs in the short term, means sacrificing loyalty and team stability in the long term.
This does not mean that you can’t negotiate a quid-pro-quo if you are a cash-strapped startup. As long as the terms are transparent. For example, if you can’t afford to pay market-related salaries, then offer delayed satisfaction in the form of share options. It’s a great way to create buy-in.
Choose the right mix
As a distributed organization, you need to know when to fill a position with a permanent employee and when to outsource the job to an independent contractor. The rule of thumb is usually that if it’s not a core function, outsource it.
Except for outsourcing non-core functions, there are other permutations that can define your distributed organization. For example, do you employ team members on a contract or permanent basis? That will usually depend on the nature of the role and how financially secure your business is.
Sometimes a hybrid approach may be the most suitable, especially if there is a clear need and opportunity for stronger or more regular social cohesion. It can take the form of quarterly focus days or conferences. Another option is to use hot seating if your team lives in the same area. The rise of co-working spaces and platforms like WeWork have made this option much easier to implement.
Do it for the right reasons
Many companies abuse the distributed model purely to the advantage of their bottom line and shareholders. This means remote workers are often subjected to the insecurities of the gig economy.
A distributed approach suits a results-driven organization that does not need to nanny its people. It does not suit a bureaucratic culture that relies on dogmatic processes and multi-layered hierarchies.
If you don’t trust your people to work remotely, you probably don’t know how to recruit properly. A well-functioning distributed organization allows your employees to get on with what they do best, instead of chaining them to an outdated work environment.
As CEO of Eventerprise, I have led the creation of our global hub-and-spoke model since the company’s inception. Never a trivial task, the job was made easier by the fact that I had previous experience of running a globally dispersed subsidiary for a major international airline. I can therefore attest to the immense value that a well-run distributed business offers to all your organization’s stakeholders.
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), India’s largest private sector company and the world’s biggest integrated polyester producer, has joined hands with Turkey’s textile behemoth, Kivanç Tekstil, to manufacture and market R|Elan™ GreenGold, a sustainable and innovative fabric 2.0, to leading apparel brands and consumers across the world. Apart from manufacturing and marketing R|Elan™ GreenGold fabrics, Kivanç will be the exclusive distributor of Recron® GreenGold fibres to spinners, yarn manufactures and knitters across Turkey and it will offer the best quality eco-friendly textile solutions to brands and retailers to meet the ever growing demand of environment friendly apparels.
Kivanç Tekstil is renowned worldwide to cater for major European and American fashion brands and retailers. Vertically integrated across spinning, weaving, dyeing, printing and finishing, Kivanç produces 18 million meters of blended fabrics per annum. Its yield comprises a wide range of blends straddling polyester, cotton, viscose, linen, tencel, modal and wool, and is lapped up by leading global brands engaged in making formal and casual wear apparels.
Speaking about the partnership, Mr Ziya Kivanc, CEO, Kivanç Textil opined: “The partnership with Reliance Industries is a significant initiative in accomplishing our mission. The exclusive distributorship of Recron® GreenGold fibres and yarns and being a manufacturer of R|Elan™ GreenGold fabrics will provide us immense growth opportunities. We are really thankful to Reliance, which has taken a stride forward in actualising our mission. Henceforth, most of the polyester blended fabrics will be made out of sustainable fibres at Kivanç!”
Innovative fabrics by recycling PET bottles!
RIL, the owner of brand R|Elan, is one of the largest recycler of PET bottles in India, recycling 2.2 billion PET bottles a year. R|Elan GreenGold, made from recycled PET, substantially reduces emission of greenhouse gases. The fabric being made from pre-dyed fibres and whatever little water is used, 90% of it is recycled. It uses bio-fuels and is one of the few recycled brands that provides end-to-end traceability throughout the supply chain, right from PET bottles to fibres.
Speaking on the newest member of the rapidly growing HEP, Mr Gunjan Sharma, CMO – Polyester Division, RIL, said: “It gives us immense pleasure to partner with the globally renowned Kivanç Tekstil. With RIL’s technological edge in sustainable offerings merging with Kivanç’s manufacturing prowess, we are certain to come up with stunning innovative fabrics to meet the growing demand for high-quality eco-friendly apparels”.
About Kivanç Tekstil Kivanç is one of the main woven fabric supplier to European and American apparel markets, and it caters to renowned local and global fashion brands. Kivanç has capacity to manufacture 18 million meters per annum of a wide mix of fabric blends weighing in the range of 100gr/m2 to 500gr/m2. The Company’s innovative approach and know-how in the industry has strengthened it’s long-term collaborations with leading fashion retail brands by producing best quality fabrics with professional work ethics. Kivanç Tekstil ranked 335th among the Turkish exporters, and 13th within the textile sector companies in 2018.
About Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)
RIL is India’s largest private sector company with a consolidated turnover of INR 622,809 crore ($ 90.1 billion), cash profit of INR 64,478 crore ($ 9.3 billion), and net profit of INR 39,588 crore ($ 5.7 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2019. RIL is the first private sector company from India to feature in Fortune’s Global 500 list of ‘World’s Largest Corporations’ – currently ranking 148th in terms of revenues and 99th in terms of profits. The company stands 71st in the ‘Forbes Global 2000’ rankings for 2019 – top-most among Indian companies. It ranks 10th among LinkedIn’s ‘The Best Companies to Work for in India’ (2019). RIL’s activities span hydrocarbon exploration and production, petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals, retail, and digital services.
Fine Art Shippers, an international art logistics company, is pleased to share the amazing news that Billy Gerard Frank will be doing limited screenings of his film “Second Eulogy: Mind The Gap” at Martos Gallery in New York. The screenings will be part of EBSPLOITATION, a curated program of short films and videos, which runs at the gallery through August 3, 2019. “Second Eulogy: Mind The Gap” will be showing on July 17 and 24.
Billy Gerard Frank is a Grenadian-born multi-disciplinary artist working at the intersection of filmmaking, art, activism, and design. He is one of the artists selected this year to represent Grenada at the Venice Biennale, the most prestigious and important event in the world of art and culture. At the Venice Biennale, Billy Gerard Frank presented his new 40-minute film, “Second Eulogy: Mind The Gap,” accompanied by mixed media collages, sculptures, and canvas paintings. The work is built on the memories of Frank’s father’s life and explores the themes of estrangement, sexuality, exile, and migration. It is an abstract story of interconnected lives, which perfectly combines non-fiction with fiction, mirroring the artist’s own experience in Grenada as a gay teenager. It is also worth noting that the producer of “Second Eulogy: Mind The Gap” is Lauren Beck – the same Lauren Beck who earned her Academy Award for Best Picture nomination for the critically acclaimed 2016 film “Manchester by the Sea.”
“Second Eulogy: Mind The Gap,” along with the entire installation, is on view at the Venice Biennale until November 24. However, you don’t have to visit Venice to see this film because it will be showing at Martos Gallery this July.
This summer, Martos Gallery was transformed into a movie theater to present a program of videos and short films showing a different side to filmmaking. The unique exhibition is titled EBSPLOITATION, paying tribute to Blaxploitation, a genre of black action film aimed at black audiences, which emerged in the US in the early 1970s. EBSPLOITATION features videos and short films by many talented artists, including Billy Gerard Frank and Arthur Jafa who won Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival this year. The curated program runs daily during gallery hours, with screenings of longer films every Wednesday night at 8pm. Billy Gerard Frank will be showing his film on July 17 and 24.
At Fine Art Shippers, we had the pleasure of helping Billy Gerard Frank ship his art installation to the Venice Biennale. This amazing artist did an incredible job with his “Second Eulogy: Mind The Gap,” which was called “incredible” by ARTnews. If you are in New York, don’t miss a chance to see this 40-minute film at Martos Gallery!
Actor DaJuan Johnson soars as Detective Rondell Pierce in Season 5 of Amazon’s Emmy-nominated original police drama series, BOSCH, currently available for streaming. Johnson also secures For Your Emmy® Consideration as ‘Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series’ for his heart-wrenching performance as Garrett Boland on ABC’s mega-hit, GREY’S ANATOMY.
Releasing in April, Season 5 of BOSCH is based on best-selling author Michael Connelly’s 20th book in the long-running series, Two Kinds of Truth. The storyline involves a murder case from Bosch’s past being brought into question and raising issues of police misconduct — which could endanger his entire career. All the while, resident ‘boy scout’ Detective Rondell Pierce (Johnson) gets a new partner, but learns to rely on his own merits this season. Once a newbie himself, Pierce now proves he can hold his own with the big boys.
Earlier this season, Johnson brought audiences to tears emerging in a recurring role as Garrett Boland on ABC’s long-running medical drama series, GREY’S ANATOMY. In the episode “Girlfriend in a Coma,” a distraught Garrett (Johnson) agonizes over the fate of his comatose girlfriend with the fate of their future hinged on a ventilator. As Garrett endures the mental and emotional strain of watching his love take two steps toward progress and then two steps back, that a heartbreaking decision must be made. But before they remove her ventilator and end their time together, Garrett arranges to give the love of his life her wedding under the stars.
Johnson is appreciative of the Awards consideration, but more excited that this storyline has resonated so well with audiences. Johnson adds, “I’ve wanted to be on Grey’s for a very long time for many different roles, but playing Garrett was definitely the role I was supposed to play. I’m beyond humbled that this storyline and character touched so many fans!”
Johnson has built a solid reputation and resume in the industry. Earlier this month, he received accolades for his leading role in the YouTube series, The New 30, which earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for ‘Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama’. Fans will also recognize Johnson from his recurring roles on Fox’s action-thriller 24 alongside Kiefer Sutherland and ABC’s hit medical-drama Private Practice opposite Tessa Thompson. Other notable television credits include guest starring appearances on Downward Dog, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Agent Carter, Bones, Close to Home, Criminal Minds, Lincoln Heights, CSI: NY, CSI and Scrubs among others. Johnson also gained attention as a stand-out talent in the MTV bio-pic Pedro, co-starring as Sean Sasser, the supportive boyfriend to AIDS activist Pedro Zamora, who was the first HIV-positive homosexual to appear in a reality show on MTV.
Growing up in Miami, Florida, Johnson realized his passion for acting at an early age while participating in local theatre productions. After receiving dual B.A. degrees in Theatre and English Literature from the University of Florida, he continued his education at Colorado State University obtaining his masters in Higher Education. With this foundation, he moved to Los Angeles where he continues to pursue one of his greatest passions - acting.
DaJuan Johnson is represented by AKA Talent Agency and Untitled Entertainment.
LOS ANGELES – Actress Wendy Braun reprises her recurring role as the uptight, but well-intentioned ‘Kathy’ in the all-new Season 3 of the celebrated Netflix original series, Atypical. The role has earned Braun Emmy® For Your Consideration status for ‘Outstanding Guest Actress in A Comedy Series’with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for her work in Season 2.
Created by Robia Rashid, this coming-of-age comedy follows Sam (Keir Gilchrist), an 18-year old on the autistic spectrum who is looking for love and independence. Introduced during the first season, Kathy (Braun) is the leader of the autism parent support group and friend to Sam’s mom, Elsa (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Throughout the second season, Kathy uses her pushy but polite ways to get “something for something” when Elsa needs to find Sam a good therapist. The 10-episode Season 3 is currently shooting and the premiere date has not been announced.
Braun has been receiving raves for her work on the show, including TV.com touting “A standout among the recurring cast is Wendy Braun.”
“I’m grateful to be part of a show that celebrates inclusion and acceptance, proves that being normal is overrated, and continues the conversation to help break any stigma around autism. It’s so much fun to continually play a character who tries so hard to keep it all together, while things around her are falling apart,” shares Braun.
(Wendy Braun in "Atypical" / Netflix)
Braun recently wrapped a role on the upcoming second season of the YouTube original series, Liza On Demand. She was offered the role by creators Debon ah Kaplan and Harry Elfond, after working on their previous MTV comedy series, Mary + Jane.
Coming soon, Braun stars in the indie comedy feature, Donny’s Party, as the put-together, self-absorbed matriarch of a highly dysfunctional family. Braun also emerges in a pivotal role in Vital Signs, a semi-autobiographical show created and starring Dr. Dre about his road from rapper to business mogul.
Audiences have been recognizing Braun for years from her standout performances in film and television. She appeared with Ed Helms and Tracy Morgan in the indie comedy film, The Clapper; faced-off with Ellen Pompeo on ABC’s long-standing hit drama Grey’s Anatomy; took on Danny DeVito on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia; and earned laughs with Fred Armisen in IFC’s hit, Documentary Now!
Braun has racked up over 90 film, TV and theater credits, including guest-starring roles on hit shows like The Mentalist, Bones, Criminal Minds, Castle and Navy NCIS; and recurring roles on iCarly and General Hospital, which lead to a contract role in the spin-off, General Hospital: Night Shift. Braun has more than 1000 voice-over credits, including the sexy, snarky undercover agent, Gianna Parasini in the hugely popular video game series, Mass Effect; and alongside SNL alum Bobby Moynihan in Cartoon Network’s animated comedy series, We Bare Bears.
Braun is represented by BRS / Gage Talent Agency; and manager Jason Priluck at Priluck Company.
Watch Wendy Braun in ‘Atypical’ For Your Emmy® Consideration: wendybraun.com/fyc
LOS ANGELES – The new independent film organization Mark IT Indie is set to launch with a special event at the historic MONTALBAN THEATRE in Hollywood on Monday, April 29th. The evening unites a diverse cross-section of industry professionals to inform, inspire and encourage rising filmmakers to thrive at every level in their Indie career.
The Mark IT Indie team behind this new supportive venture are actors and filmmakers Bel Deliá, Camilla Jackson and Russell Jeffrey. Together, they are on a mission to help foster connections and new collaborations for all dedicated artists and independent filmmakers seeking to propel forward and reach the next level with their creative endeavours.
This special one-night inaugural program consists of insightful panels and one-on-one opportunities covering several key indie filmmaking areas, including:
Indie Ingenuity – Addressing the challenges from budget constraints to on-set hurdles to common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Creating Voice – How to find your audience, sell your brand and your film in a crowded industry while staying authentic to your voice and your art.
Mark it, Mark it – An in-depth examination of the technical aspects of filmmaking and practical tips to apply from start to finish.
Creative Chameleons – Multi-talented artists share their experiences working across roles as they create their own content and navigate their own careers.
Lending their support and perspective on what it is to be Indie by participating on these panels will include leaders from BuzzFeed, Seed and Spark, Indie Rights, Etheria Film Night, the JTC list and Spotlight PR.
Panelists also include award-winning indie film directors, creators and actors, among them are: Lin Shaye (Insidious, Room for Rent), Emma Bell (The Walking Dead, Scratch), Noree Victoria (Little, NewFilmmakers LA), Christopher Soren Kelly (The Tangle, Infinity Chamber), Jessica Graham (The Tangle), and Haley Webb (Final Destination, Joyeux Noel).
“The purpose of Mark IT Indie is to bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be in your own personal journey within your own unique career. We believe all you need to flourish is the seed of your creative goals and the hunger to bring them into being.” -- Mark IT Indie Team
This inaugural special event will set the tone for future Mark IT Indie programs including a full Summit in 2020. The objective is to offer an accessible, on-going forum for the advanced indie filmmaker, as well as those who may be at a pause in their career, just starting out or the actor who wants to create.
The Mark IT Indie team each comes with breadth of knowledge and experience in the industry. Bel Delia has been a producer in film and TV for over 20 years, starting in commercial and broadcast television, and is an actress having starred in genre films, such as The Tunnel and The Tangle. Camilla Jackson has worked across multiple fields and as a journalist for Blumhouse.com and created and starred in her own Jash/Amazon series The Milli Show. Russell Jeffrey is an actor best known for his regular work with BuzzFeed among numerous film and television roles, and as one of the producers behind significant media events such as YouTube RED’s Vidcon.
Spotlight PR is proud to support Mark IT Indie in this endeavor, delivering a like-minded objective of putting the power into every artist’s hands.
Mark IT Indie at the Montalban Date/Time: Monday, April 29, 2019 at 6:00pm Location: Montalban Theatre (1615 Vine St. Los Angeles, 90028) Tickets + Information visit: http://markitindie.com Price: general / students (discount code available on website)
LOS ANGELES – The new documentary series, FROM BOTTOM TO TOP, brings together Skid Row artists, emerging and celebrity artists to explore: What is your version of success?
Available now on Amazon.com, Filmmakers Bel Deliá and Annalea Fiachi are on a mission to uncover the highs and lows of being an artist. The result is an 8-episode humanitarian docu-series that delivers a new form of inspiration, uncovering words of wisdom from the heart of Skid Row.
Each ‘bite-sized’ installment showcases a lively one-on-one conversation between an emerging or celebrity artist and an artist from the non-profit The People Concern’s Studio 526, an arts program in Los Angeles’ Skid Row neighbourhood available to the community and those affected by homelessness — Studio 526 is rooted in the understanding that equitable access to arts and cultural spaces is a fundamental human right for all.
FROM BOTTOM TO TOP looks beyond the art that inspires you, to the artist behind it. Whether a musician from Skid Row, an art student, an acclaimed A-List actor, an emerging director or writer, the series examines what makes us tick, what makes us human and in turn what connects us all.
Some of the featured artist pairings include:
-- Actress/Director Emma Bell (Scratch, The Walking Dead, Dallas) with Musician the late Franc Foster of Franc’s Melting Pot -- Indie folk Singer/Songwriter Sunny War with DJ “Sir Oliver” -- Painter/Artist Linda Leigh with Actress Jaime Slater (Daredevil) -- Actress Alyson Reed (High School Musical) with Artist Hugo Gonzalez -- Comedian/Actress Amy Anderson with Actress/Singer Christina C. (Urban Voices Choir, LA Poverty Department Theatre Co) -- Artist/Filmmaker Vicki Maturo with genre Director Mike Mendez (Don’t Kill It, Masters of Horror) -- Dancer/Choreographer Essence Florie with Painter/Artist Garrison A. -- Artist Antonio Holguin with veteran Singer/Producer/Performer dubbed ‘The Ambassador of Soul’ Ellis Hall Jr.
Deliá began developing the project in 2016 with a specific focus, explaining “The goal is to build an awareness that homelessness is not an identity, it is not who you are, who you are is a dancer, a singer, a musician, a painter, a member of the greater community. Once we can appreciate that, we can all address the crisis of homelessness together.”
Deliá and Fiachi, artists themselves, bonded over their shared love of acting and filmmaking. Passionate about the creative arts, they ran a charity penny drive together for two years consecutive, raising funds for Studio 526’s arts program then called Lamp Arts Program back in 2013 and 2014.
Born and raised in the streets of Portland Oregon when gentrification did not exist, Antonio PettyJohnBlue quickly learned how to adapt as well as survive through the trenches of a hard knock life. Being born with alcohol and drug in his system, the world already deemed Mr. PettyjohnBlue a lost cause. However that did not stop him from allowing his unique lyrics and vocal skills to be heard amongst the young crowds in inner cities across the east and west coast projects. Possessing flare and finesse, Antonio has a sound like no other. A new music called (r&p) rhythm and pleasure, but as Antonio would say, “ its just raw pism.” A lyrical poet who not only has the ability to create in your face and sometimes in your bedroom melodies, and controversial as it is, Antonio’s music style is one of a kind.
Listening to legends like Michael Jackson, Prince, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, Antonio always knew that he was destined to be a superstar just like the people he aspired to one day perform with. Antonio was raised in foster care and admits although it still bothers him to this day, the hardship he experienced has made him a stronger artist. “ My mother’s side of the family is where I developed my ability to move and serenade crowds, but my father’s musical gift as a pro is where I got my soul, rhtym and funk from.”
The now midlife,midaged artist has put all his focus and drive into being the next breakout star not only in Portland, but across the world. The 31 year old conglomerate has brought together trends in people who never thought would team up. He is a current CEO of Rawzky Records and hopes to change lives of the youth around him who suffer from the effects of gang violence and lack of role models in their communities. In addition to his newly found record company, King Rawzky is also a first year student in college studying Radio Broadcasting.
Hailing from a musical background, Antonio’s mother also was a singer. His late mother who was tragically killed as a car illegally ran a stop light. had a voice that would sound a crying baby to sleep. His Father Jake the Snake Booker, is currently performing across the country showcasing his rock and soul funkadelic talents while honing his guitar entertaining packed lounges and night clubs. Antonio’s late grandfather Venerable F Booker is a legendary scholar who was one of the first black presidents of a bank he owned in Portland Oregon since the late 1960’s. Coming from a musical background and a traditional soul and gospel, his grandfather also was a lover of music.
The friends and family of Antonio pettyjohnblue express their gratitude towards Portland’s critics, says King Rawzky. Its ironic and amazing to be loved and respected by so many. Considering the hate and jealousy that keeps Portland’s music world in the dirt. “There’s no support first of all”, says King Rawzky (Antonio). “You have to give more than you receive…if you really want a reward.” A true found talent, King Rawzky is destined to be crowned one of Portland Oregon’s best artists.
‘Life’s Metamorphosis’ Out Now
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Oregon – March 3, 2019 – While his name showcases his reign, it hasn’t always been so for King Rawzky. An underdog for much of his life, he’s ready to prove that he’s rising above and going beyond the expectations of his haters with an exciting 2019 planned. His first stop, SXSW in Austin, Texas this March.
With a professional musician for a father, it was inevitable that King Rawzky would inherit his talents and want to proceed with them. Comparable to the likes of Donnell Jones and K-Ci & JoJo, King Rawzky is a master of his craft. He takes listeners back to the pinnacle time for R&B – the ’90s – while still making them feel present in the here and now thanks to the alternative rock spin he puts in things. Not only does his sound resonate with fans, but also his perseverance. His childhood wasn’t always the best, but he overcame adversity and showcases that in his narrative alongside love and romance. It’s all about “constantly putting out positive energy” he says. Over the years King Rawzky has put out a plethora of albums, including 2018’s Life’s Metamorphosis.
Growing up King Rawkzy looked up to his grandfather, a successful banker and accountant. Following in his footsteps, he graduated college with a major in music and orchestration. Today, on top of creating his own music, he provides top grade vocal lessons while simultaneously focusing on his future endeavors with his animal rescue agency.
provided below.
###Contact: King Rawzky Antonio Blue 971-409-8170 Antoniopjblue@gmail.com
LOS ANGELES – Award-winning filmmaker and actress Angela Matemotja earns ‘Best Inspirational Feature’ award for her feature film debut, ELEVATE, at the 2019 Golden State Film Festival awards ceremony which took place at TCL Chinese Theatre.
Writing, directing and starring in ELEVATE, Matemotja delivers a drama of intertwining stories about people who must fight to overcome their struggles with homophobia, food addiction and racism. Matemotja shares, “Winning Best Inspirational Feature is such an honor and is in complete alignment with my mission: creating a cinematic culture of compassion, one story at a time. Thank you Peter Greene and Jon Gursha for this wonderful accolade.”
On April 20th, ELEVATE will screen as the final Official Selection at The Women’s International Film Festival San Diego. Hosted by the Women’s Museum of California, the festival provides female storytellers a platform to share their work and connect with each other amongst a uniquely supportive audience.
Matemotja shares, “I am so touched that we are the final screening and only feature film playing at this special festival. This is a true honor and I can’t wait to view and discuss ELEVATE with other women considering our film was written, produced, directed, scored and stars mostly women. This is more than I could have ever hoped for.”
The film has been gaining momentum with international audiences as well, screening most recently in South Africa on International Womens’ Day, where during a robust panel one audience member asked Matemotja: Did you know about the #MeToo movement at the time you were filming?
Earlier this year, Matemotja earned the ‘Best Director’ award at the U.K.’s LGBTQ focused Rainbow Umbrella Film Festival and the ‘Female Pioneer Award’ at the Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival in Los Angeles. Prior to this, the film earned an Award of Merit for Best Feature Film and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Matemotja) from the Accolade Global Film Competition.
ELEVATE delivers a drama of intertwining stories about people who must fight to overcome their struggles with homophobia, food addiction and racism. The story follows Trina, an overweight elevator switchboard operator who desperately tries to accomplish just one day of healthy eating. Overwhelmed by her abusive boss and by the trapped elevator occupants that reach out to her for help, her fitness guru provides the inspiration and escape that she craves – or does she? Ultimately, all of the occupants in this trapped world find themselves caught face-to-face with their inner demons.
The film also stars Brianna Brown (CW’S Dynasty), Kit Williamson (creator/star of award-winning and Emmy nominated LGBTQ series Eastsiders), Alexis Carra (Latina star of ABC’s Mixology) and Matemotja (Tyler Perry’s Single Mom’s Club). To produce the film, Matemotja turned to Dele Ogundiran, who is also African, and Brown, who is the CEO of the non-profit The New Hollywood, which is dedicated to supporting socially conscious storytellers and change makers.
ELEVATE – The Women’s International Film Festival San Diego Location: 79 Horton Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 Date/Time: Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 7:00pm Details: ***Q and A panel with Angela Matemotja immediately following the screening. Tickets https://www.womensfilmfestivalsandiego.com/passes
(Angela Matemotja accepts 'Best Inspirational Feature' for ELEVATE at Golden State Film Festival - alongside festival Directors Jon Gursha and Peter Greene)
Videos, transcripts, and audios are available online soon after events take place.
APRIL 2019 EVENTS
April 03, 8:00-9:15 AM EST From Gutenberg to Google: The History of Our Future Tom Wheeler, Brookings Institution
April 18, 6:00-7:30 PM How Change Happens Cass R. Sunstein, Harvard Law School
ABOUT CARNEGIE COUNCIL Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1914, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is an educational, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that produces lectures, publications, and multimedia materials on the ethical challenges of living in a globalized world. Go to https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/.
LOS ANGELES – Award-winning filmmaker and actress Angela Matemotja brings her internationally celebrated feature film ELEVATE to the iconic TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood as part of the Golden State Film Festival on March 25th.
The film screens as an ‘Official Selection’ on the heels of playing in South Africa at the Rapid Lion Film Festival and on International Womens' Day last week. Matemotja earned the ‘Best Director’ award at the U.K.’s LGBTQ focused Rainbow Umbrella Film Festival and the ‘Female Pioneer Award’ at the DTLA Film Festival in Los Angeles. Prior to this, the film earned an Award of Merit for Best Feature Film and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Matemotja) from the Accolade Global Film Competition.
As writer, director and star of the film, Matemotja is now thrilled to take it to the famed Chinese Theatre for its final festival, adding “I am so grateful and excited to be screening at this incredible venue. This is the perfect place to have our final Los Angeles Film Festival screening -- this is a dream come true!”
ELEVATE delivers a drama of intertwining stories about people who must fight to overcome their struggles with homophobia, food addiction and racism. The story follows Trina, an overweight elevator switchboard operator who desperately tries to accomplish just one day of healthy eating. Overwhelmed by her abusive boss and by the trapped elevator occupants that reach out to her for help, her fitness guru provides the inspiration and escape that she craves – or does she? Ultimately, all of the occupants in this trapped world find themselves caught face-to-face with their inner demons.
The film also stars Brianna Brown (CW’S Dynasty), Kit Williamson (creator/star of award-winning and Emmy nominated LGBTQ series Eastsiders), Alexis Carra (Latina star of ABC’s Mixology) and Matemotja (Tyler Perry’s Single Mom’s Club). To produce the film, Matemotja turned to Dele Ogundiran, who is also African, and Brown, who is the CEO of the non-profit The New Hollywood, which is dedicated to supporting socially conscious storytellers and changemakers.
As an actress, Matemotja has appeared on screens big and small. Her notable feature film credits include the role of ‘Christina’ in Tyler Perry’s The Single Mom’s Club and alongside Kevin Hart in the indie comedy film Something Like A Business. Her television roles include appearances on the CBS mega-hit comedy How I Met Your Mother, Amazon’s top cop-drama Bosch, ABC’s long-running series Castle and edgy sitcom Don’t Trust The B…, and Ryan Murphy’s modern laugher The New Normal on NBC.
Behind the camera, Matemotja earned an NAACP Award nomination for directing the stage play Sunshine For a Midnight Weary. Her first short film as writer/director, The Encounter, screened at over 30 international film festivals, earning the Grand Jury Award at the White Sands Int’l FF, Honorable Mention at Toronto CommFFest and nominations for Best Short Film at SoCal FF, SOHO FF and Long Island Int’l Film Expo. Her second short, The Untimely Concurrence, won Best LGBTQ Film at AOF FF, San Francisco Black FF and San Diego Black FF, and the Silver Screen Award for Best Short Film at the Nevada Int’l FF. In addition, her screenplay Drunk Book was awarded Best Comedy Short for the written word competition at AOF FF.
ELEVATE – Golden State Film Festival Location: TCL Chinese Theatre (6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA) Date/Time: Monday, March 25, 2019 at 9:30pm Details: Matemotja along with stars Brianna Brown and Alexis Carra will be in attendance along with the rest of the cast and crew. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-film-festival-tickets-54491730232
Specialty Publishing Media is pleased to announce Peggy Smedley was awarded the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) Excellence in Journalism Award at its Opal Gala on Thursday, March 14 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Va.
Robin Kemper, 2019 president ASCE, and Tom Smith, executive director, ASCE, handed Smedley the award for her outstanding journalistic achievements to enhance the public understanding of the role and impact of civil engineering.
The ASCE also awarded the Charles Pankow Award for Innovation to Autodesk BUILD Space Technology Center in Boston, the Henry L. Michel Award for Industry Advancement of Research to Richard Tucker, five OPAL Leadership Awards in construction, design, education, government, and management, as well as five outstanding civil engineering achievement (OCEA) Finalists from which one winner was named: 150 North Riverside, Chicago, Ill.
“I am extremely humbled and delighted to be awarded the ASCE Excellence in Journalism Award. While there is always much more to be done, it’s really wonderful to see an organization like ASCE take the time to celebrate the hard work and dedication of so many involved,” says Smedley.
In 1994, under the leadership of then President James W Poirot, ASCE established the Excellence in Journalism Award to honor newspaper journalists for outstanding articles that enhance public understanding of the role and impact of civil engineering in designing solutions for clean water, transportation, the environment, and other public works projects.
In 2006, the award was expanded to include journalists and producers from English-language, general-interest regional and national newspapers, radio and television stations, magazines, and electronic and Web-based news outlets.
More than 20 years ago, Smedley launched one of the most formative media companies to help businesses understand how disruptive and innovative technology will help them navigate the flood of digital transformation so they can remain viable and competitive.
Today, she is passionate about addressing the infrastructure crisis that is happening by adopting a new vision and voice for the industry.
About Specialty Publishing Media Specialty Publishing Media is home to Constructech magazine, Connected World magazine, The Peggy Smedley Institute, The Peggy Smedley Show, and Constructech TV. With content spanning print, online, radio, podcasts, and streaming video, each interactive platform delivers audiences the latest in the technological revolution.
About Constructech Constructech is your fierce advocates for construction. It connects people, equipment, technology, and data. Constructech leads contractors and builders in today’s digital transformation by leveraging information and emerging technologies, connected equipment, and must-have tools at the jobsite. constructech.com
About ASCE Headquartered in Reston, Va., it is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. The American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 150,000 members of the civil engineering profession in 177 countries.
Advanced Energy Capital provided a factoring line for Pristine Property Management, Ltd (PPM) to enhance their working capital position. Pristine Property Maintenance is a mid-size company that has years of experience providing grounds-keeping and landscape maintenance services throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Their focus and expertise lies largely in the grounds and snow and ice maintenance for condominium townhomes and municipal properties.
The 1,500,000 facility was completed and funded on January 17, 2019 and provided significant working capital over and above Pristine’s incumbent lender’s line of credit.
“As a company that invoices in advance of our service and under long term contracts, we needed a capital provider who was comfortable with our operating history to structure a working capital facility that provides us the ongoing capital to propel PPM to the next level.” said Adam Watson, CEO of Pristine.
“Adam’s cooperation, history of corporate success and blueprint for long term growth made our job easy in closing and funding this cross-border transaction” Reported Richard Rudy, Principal at AEC. “We look forward to a long term relationship with Adam and PPM as they continue to execute on their business plan” said Steven Feldman, Managing Director of AEC.
About AEC: AEC is a commercial finance company which provides working capital financing ranging from 0,000 to ,000,000 to small and middle market manufacturers, distributors, and service companies nationwide. Based in New York, AEC is committed to helping businesses increase their capacity for business transactions. AEC’s programs provide companies with capital in a fraction of the time it would take to process a loan through the bank and in many cases provide significantly higher proceeds than the traditional factoring companies and asset-based lenders, while taking on assignments the traditional commercial finance market ignores.
Early on, the project was a finalist in Seed & Spark’s 2017 inaugural Hometown Heroes rally, where it was one of 5 films awarded a grant by respected filmmakers The Duplass Brothers. Now, The Mercury News touts the completed film as a world premiere that “shouldn’t be missed”.
Written and directed by Maria Mealla, this tragic story chronicles how a family and friends must cope after a horrific shooting leaves a young mother in a coma. As her sister Greece (Ratermann) and best friend Jada step in to help George maintain a sense of normalcy for his daughters, they all struggle to adapt in her absence. As time passes, everyone is forced to face their own grief and trauma in an overbearing routine that reveals the worst in all of them.
In recent years, Ratermann has established herself as an award-winning actress and filmmaker on the indie scene. She earned ‘Best Actress’ awards at the LA Film Awards, Studio City Int. Film Festival, International Independent Film Festival, Indiefest, and the Actors Awards, among others. Ratermann is a skilled actress having trained in Los Angeles and New York at Seydways Studios, Upright Citizens Brigade and Beverly Hills Playhouse.
Under her Little Hand Productions banner, this San Francisco born multi-talent has gained international attention for creating and starring in dark comedies which shed light on important social issues. The most notable is her mental health extended short film, Suicide, which earned 20 awards at over 25 festivals worldwide and was selected for Filmmaker Spotlight by ShortsTV and earned distribution on Amazon, DirecTV and other platforms throughout the U.S. and Europe. Her performance has been heralded as “organic, profound and touching” (Actors Awards) and “immediately humorous and lovable...10/10” (LA Film Awards).
Ratermann followed it up creating and starring in the daring short, Lizze Lost, which earned accolades for dealing with the complexity of unrequited gay-straight love, isolation, and a life changing cancer diagnosis. As a director, Ratermann helmed the dramedy web series, For Your Birthday, which dives into the realm of inner family matters; and the upcoming comedy-drama web series, Commune, highlighting social issues in the African-American community and flaws in the judicial system.
Molly Ratermann is represented by Scott Carlson Entertainment and Mazlea Talent Agency.
BRING ME AN AVOCADO– CINEQUEST Film Festival in San Jose, California World Premiere: March 8th at 7:15 pm at Hammer Theatre Additional Screenings: March 10 at 1:05 pm and March 16 at 12:15 pm at Century 20; March 17 at 10:45 am at California Theatre. More info: https://www.cinequest.org
Industry Era is a technology magazine focusing on innovative and unique enterprise solutions that can play a key part in redefining the business goals of organizations. The list of 10 Best Companies of the Year 2018 was shortlisted from all the US companies in the technology landscape.
“Thanks to its technology, A3Cube can build a system that perfectly fits the application needs maximizing the performance without needs for special application tuning.” said Sarah Fernandez, Managing Director of Industry Era. “The result is that an ordinary server in combination with A3Cube composable infrastructure can achieve the maximum potential outperforming any other equivalent system in the market.”
“To be featured in the top ten companies of the year list is a great honor for A3Cube. This recognition speaks to the timeliness of our technology which is enabling everybody without any specific experience to configure and build robust systems extremely optimized in minutes” commented Antonella Rubicco, Co-Founder & CEO of A3Cube.
About A3Cube
A3Cube is among the first companies that, years ago, understood the key role of data in transforming every aspect of modern society.
This vision has led A3cube to become the game-changing enterprise of today, pioneering the transition from high-performance computing systems to high-performance data systems.
The company is focused on developing holistic solutions for high-performance data-driven applications such as data mining, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
A3Cube has redesigned from the ground up the distributed data access, proposing a new architectural approach aimed at achieving maximum system performance and efficiency. While others speak about Software Defined Infrastructures, A3Cube realizes Software Defined Hardware-accelerated Platforms where the flexibility of the Software approach is boosted in a transparent way by the fastest hardware technologies on the market.
PAINWeekEnd on March 30 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Denver Tech Center, 7801 E Orchard Rd, in Greenwood Village, Colorado, will be a timely and relevant program providing busy clinicians and allied healthcare practitioners with 6.0 hours of practical instruction in the management of chronic pain.
On January 1, 2019, a regulation implementing House Bill 18-1007 went into effect in Colorado that expands access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) for substance use disorder, part of the state’s effort to go beyond prescribing limitations in its response to the crisis of opioid misuse. It requires individual and group health plans to provide a 5-day supply of at least one FDA-approved drug for MAT without prior authorization for the first request in a 12-month period, to respond with a coverage determination within 24 hours, and to expedite the appeals process for patients who are denied. Senior faculty member Jennifer Bolen, JD, is the founder of The Legal Side of Pain, Knoxville, Tennessee. She observed, “As payor policies for treatment continue to evolve, it is important that providers take steps to stay current on the legal and regulatory environment that may affect their practice and their patients. To that end, I look forward to helping PAINWeekEnd attendees understand medical necessity for substance abuse treatment, drug testing, and prescribing controlled medications.” Attorney Bolen will present 2 courses at PAINWeekEnd Denver, Get Your Specimens in Order: Timely Use of Test Results, and Embrace Changes and Prevent Overdose: A Basic Blueprint for Legal Risk Mitigation and Response.
Other courses will include Rational Polypharmacy: An Update for Specific Conditions; Involuntary Tapers: Legal, Ethical, and Clinical Concerns; Lost in Translation: Making Sense of Clinical Treatment Guidelines; and Cannabis vs Cannabinoids: The Politics of Medical Marijuana.
Commercially supported activities—addressing a range of product, disease state, and medical information topics—will also be presented.
For more information about this or other regional conferences, and to register for 9, go to the PAINWeekEnd website. BONUS: PAINWeekEnd registrants may register for the 2019 PAINWeek National Conference, September 3-7, in Las Vegas, for 0 off the regular online published price.
PAINWeekEnd is provided by Global Education Group. About Global Education Group:
Global Education Group focuses on producing partnership-based CME for healthcare practitioners. The Global team works with a select group of medical education companies, associations, academic institutions and healthcare facilities to develop and accredit live healthcare conferences and workshops as well as online activities. With each partnership or joint providership, Global brings accreditation expertise, project management excellence and grant funding intelligence. Based in Littleton, Colo., Global has accreditation with commendation from the ACCME. Global also holds accreditations to offer continuing education for nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, dietitians, dentists and psychologists. Global is a division of Ultimate Medical Academy.
Visual Graphic Systems Inc. (http://vgsonline.com) is approaching the one-year anniversary of its transition from a privately-held company to an employee-stock ownership plan (ESOP), an employee-owner program where employees hold 100% of the company’s stock.
“We have always prided ourselves on the strength of our internal relationships,” says Paul Theodore, CEO of Visual Graphic Systems. “Our average team member’s tenure at VGS is 14 years, which is more than three times the national average. We wanted to take the next step in building a workplace that is genuinely rewarding and satisfying to our entire team.”
To that end, Visual Graphic Systems created an employee-owned stock program so that workers could become owners. Per the National Center for Employee Ownership, ESOPs cover over 14 million participants across approximately 6,500 organizations nationwide. Multiple studies have found ESOPs can help generate increases in growth, productivity, revenues, wages, and retirement assets. For example, research from the National Center for Employee Ownership, analyzing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Longitudinal Survey of millennials, has found that employee-owners had 33% higher median wages compared to income overall and 53% longer tenure than average.
Visual Graphic Systems chose the ESOP as a vehicle to encourage employees to feel vested in the company’s success and to offer employees access to an improved retirement benefits program.
“With an ESOP, everyone in the Visual Graphic Systems family can be more successful and prosperous through their work,” says Theodore.
Further, by converting to a 100% employee-owned ESOP (versus the more common 30-40%), Visual Graphic Systems ensures that its employee-owners can derive the maximum benefit from the program.
The result of the implementation of the ESOP is a working environment in which managers and employee-owners are equally committed to facilitating shared success and empowering all workers at all levels of the organization. Everyone tangibly shares in the value they create through their work.
About At Visual Graphic Systems, innovation meets value to produce extraordinary results. For over 35 years, our uniquely concurrent process, combined with real-world thinking, has allowed us to design (or utilize your own design), fabricate and roll-out incredible solutions, distinctly tailored to your brand. And with an in-house design studio (Studio D), 110,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space, product development, value engineering with intention, and rapid prototyping – all under one roof – we have completely redefined the term “integrated.”
Purdue Pharma is back in the hot seat legally this month. Gulf Breeze Recovery wanted to bring to the reader's attention an article from NPR about Massachusetts attorney general, Maura Healy naming Purdue Pharma and eight members of the family that owns it in a lawsuit. The suit contends that the pharmaceutical company and members of the Sackler family are “personally responsible” for using misleading tactics to sell OxyContin.
Just last May as stated in the Miami Herald, Pam Bondi, the Florida attorney general, named Purdue Pharma in a suit alongside other drug manufacturers and pharmacy chains. That lawsuit alleges that Purdue Pharma, “launched a campaign of misleading advertising to inflate the market for these drugs, peddling them as safe and appropriate for use to treat a range of chronic conditions, and severely downplaying how addictive and dangerous they are.”
Lawsuits against Purdue Pharma and other pharmaceutical companies have surged over the last year, aiming to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their alleged role in the current opioid crisis. With more than two thirds of overdose deaths in 2017 attributable to opioids, city, county and state officials look to make sense of the devastation caused by opioids and hold responsible parties accountable.
For their part, Purdue Pharma called the recent allegations “a rush to vilify” them. In an internal e-mail referenced by Maura Healy in the suit, the then-President of Purdue Pharma, Richard Sackler, diverts blame, writing, "we have to hammer on the abusers in every way possible. They are the culprits and the problem."
Barnett Gilmer, CEO of Gulf Breeze Recovery, a substance abuse treatment center, weighs in on Sackler’s claim: “I think that it is fundamentally untrue that drug abusers themselves are ‘the problem’. It would be more accurate to say that addiction is the problem. A person struggling with addiction is innocently trying to find the same peace and happiness that we all are. Unfortunately, they are misguidedly looking outside of themselves to a drug, which causes immense pain and grave consequences. By focusing on the real problem—the addiction—we can provide treatment and help the person struggling.”
About Gulf Breeze Recovery: Gulf Breeze Recovery is changing the future of addiction treatment with the THRIVE® program focused on overcoming chronic relapse. Gulf Breeze Recovery’s THRIVE® program is designed for those who are looking for a drug and alcohol treatment program to produce a different and positive result. This non-12 step program allows you to drive beyond your addictions and promotes a new outlook on life. For more information about our program or to speak with an Addiction’s expert, please call 855-973-3551 or contact us.
Tantiv4 Inc. is bringing new capabilities to Sharps 2B-C10BT1 BDR series by complementing the physical remote with a voice-based navigation of the BDR system. Consumers can now communicate with Sharps 2B-C10BT1 BDR series using their existing voice input devices such as the Google Home/Mini in Japanese local language.
“ThingaOS™ provides a powerful AI based backend system allowing for a higher accuracy in interpreting the user intent through continuous machine learning algorithm,” said Lokesh Johri, co-founder and CEO of Tantiv4 Inc. “Voice is increasingly becoming the predominant user interface and as more users start using the voice capabilities provided in the Sharp BDR, the system constantly learns and improves the accuracy and response time to respond to searches.”
This system currently works with the Google Voice platform and can be easily extended to other leading industry standard smart speaker platforms. Consumers can easily and securely connect, manage, and search for their favorite content using ThingaOS™ on the cloud or stored locally on the BDR device using voice in real time providing an enhanced intuitive user experience.
“By integrating ThingaOS™ technology consumers can verbally issue commands that are used to control Sharps 2B-C10BT1 BDR series or to search for the desired content in the cloud or locally on the device," said Kishore Moturi, co-founder and VP Sales of Tantiv4 Inc. "Complex electronic program guide (EPG) searches by genre or title within a local cultural context use machine learning and AI to constantly adapt to provide the most accurate search results."
About Tantiv4 Inc. Tantiv4 Inc., headquartered in Milpitas, CA, is powering the next generation IoT platform by providing uniquely architected solutions with a focus on simplifying technology for enterprises and everyday consumers to achieve AI and ML based automation and increased business efficiencies. ThingaOS™ operates on all popular cloud eco-systems, RF protocols and supports several control and voice interfaces.
For more information about this topic, please contact Kishore Moturi at +1 408 396-5962 or email at contact(at)tantiv4(dot)com.
ThingaOS, FetchitGO are trademarks of Tantiv4 Inc. All other trademarks used are the property of their respective owners.
Thomas J. Arkell, a senior partner in the prestigious Dunn Law Firm, has published “Your Guide to National Interest Waiver Petitions”, a free ebook that can be downloaded at NationalInterestWaivers.com.
The ebook explains the process of filing for a National Interest Waiver (“NIW”), which offers a unique means for individuals with exceptional ability to obtain permanent residence in the United States without labor certification or a U.S. job offer.
“Your Guide to National Interest Waiver Petitions” includes detailed information about who is eligible for a NIW, what the NIW process entails, what evidence is required for a successful petition, how long the process takes, and how much petitioners should expect to pay.
National Interest Waivers allow qualified individuals the ability to greatly reduce the time it takes to obtain a green card and to avoid the ordinarily mandatory labor certification requirement when seeking employment-based permanent residence. The labor certification process not only requires sponsorship from a U.S. employer, but it can also be long and cumbersome.
“One of the major benefits of a National Interest Waiver is that it can effectively avoid the problems associated with the labor certification process,” explained Mr. Arkell. “National Interest Waivers provide a route for qualified individuals to achieve permanent residence relatively quickly and continue their important contributions to critical research and development in the United States.”
Mr. Arkell has helped thousands of scholars, researchers and scientists obtain permanent residence in the United States. He has successfully advised applicants for permanent residency from a wide variety of fields in industry and science, including physics, chemistry, biology, aerospace, nanotechnology, medicine, engineering, materials science, sociology and genetics.
Having practiced law for over twenty years, Mr. Arkell has unique first-hand experience of the immigration process, as he arrived in the U.S. as an international student before himself becoming a permanent resident and later a U.S. citizen. Mr. Arkell’s personal experiences shaped not only his approach to legal practice, but also the commitment and compassion for his clients as he guides them through the important and complex immigration process.
About Thomas J. Arkell Attorney Thomas J. Arkell is a senior partner in Dunn Law Firm, LLP, located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1915, Dunn Law Firm is a well-respected firm with a long history of representing talented professionals from all over the world. Mr. Arkell has extensive expertise in filing National Interest Waiver immigrant visa petitions for college and university faculty, PhD students, researchers and other scientists in a wide variety of professional disciplines. For more information, download Mr. Arkell’s free ebook “Guide To National Interest Waiver Petitions” at http://www.nationalinterestwaivers.com.
ASEOHosting, a provider of SEO-friendly hosting, today examined the relationship between blockchain and SEO.
A distributed database that uses multiple systems to ensure security and data integrity, blockchain was originally created to serve as a public transaction ledger for bitcoin. The peer-to-peer was intended as a solution to the double-spending problem that could be implemented without requiring a central server. As cryptocurrency continues to grow in popularity, businesses have begun exploring other uses for blockchain beyond serving as a public ledger.
“At a glance, it may seem like blockchain has relatively little to do with search engine optimization,” explains Daniel Page, Director of Business Development at ASEOHosting. “However, looking closer at the technology and its potential uses reveals that it has the potential to fundamentally change digital marketing and advertising. Moreover, it stands to upset the very core that defines SEO.”
“It is no secret that digital advertising is in dire straits,” he continues. “Malicious and fraudulent advertising has reached epidemic proportions and the usage of ad-blockers is at an all-time high. Blockchain offers a direct solution to this issue and blockchain-based identification systems provide a level of unmatched transparency and trust.”
Many companies are already working to implement such systems, and not simply for advertising. Other areas of search engine marketing, such as product reviews, also stand to benefit. A company that validates all on-site advertisements, customer reviews, and product sales through blockchain is one that demonstrates care for its customers, says Daniel.
“Believe it or not, all the applications of blockchain within the advertising space are only the tip of the iceberg,” he continues. “Through the use of distributed ledgers, we could see better keyword research, a higher premium placed on verified people and data, and an even greater crackdown on black hat SEO tactics like paid link building.”
Beyond that, says Daniel Page, the larger impact of blockchain is as-yet uncertain. He does, however, estimate that the development of a blockchain-based search engine could completely change SEO as we know it. Such a search engine would, he said, serve results based on each person’s identity; information available to and provided by them alone.
“I doubt we will be seeing any significant market upsets from blockchain in the immediate future,” he says. “But it’s still something to pay attention to - because eventually, we will see a change.”
About ASEOHosting:
ASEOHosting is the leader in providing all types of SEO Hosting, including Shared SEO Hosting, Dedicated SEO Hosting, US Dedicated SEO Servers, and EU Dedicated SEO Servers, based in Orlando, FL, and Detroit, MI, owned and operated by Ahosting, Inc., supplying hosting services that are truly beyond imagination. Since 2002, ASEOHosting has established one of the web’s premier solutions for reseller web hosting, multiple IP hosting, dedicated servers, and VPS hosting. For more information, visit https://www.aseohosting.com.
An online platform for renting farmland in the United States is announcing its partnership with a reliable payment integration. Tillable, the first online marketplace for farmland owners and growers to rent and manage farmland, is partnering with Dwolla, Inc., a financial technology software company, to enable payment functionality within its marketplace.
In one platform, the Tillable marketplace provides price discovery, unprecedented access to new land and information surrounding the management of the land to all parties. Tillable provides data transparency to the farmland market and makes it more efficient to rent farmland.
In need of a payment integration that could facilitate the movement of funds through its marketplace and affordably send funds, Tillable integrated with Dwolla’s ACH API to access the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network.
"The concept of digital payments for farm leases is new to our market, and it's a critical part of the Tillable solution for landowners,” says Corbett Kull, CEO of Tillable. “It introduces an element of reliability, consistency and ease that was missing before. We needed a partner who could provide a payments solution that would work seamlessly as part of the total experience we provide to our users, and Dwolla was able to deliver."
Dwolla, Inc. is a financial technology company that offers businesses an onramp to the ACH Network, an electronic network of financial institutions that moves trillion dollars annually.
Partnering with Dwolla allows Tillable to keep its brand at the forefront of the payment integration, providing a better experience for its users while also streamlining user onboarding. Providing users a simple way to easily link their bank accounts and receive status updates around transaction activity is something Tillable believes will help them grow.
#DWOLLApowers Tillable
About Tillable
Tillable is the first true online marketplace for farmland rental. Through its robust digital platform, the company provides the process, technology and tools for landowners to determine if rent is in line with local market conditions. In addition, Tillable helps landowners connect with suitable farmers, track and share data around the farm’s performance, and administer leases and payments. Tillable empowers landowners to make the best decisions to optimize their farmland investments and help farmers to find land to expand their operations. For more information, call 833.845.5225 or visit https://tillable.com.
About Dwolla
Dwolla, Inc. is a financial technology company that is changing the way businesses send and receive funds. The company offers a seamless, white label API platform to connect to the ACH Network to initiate payments.
Since 2008, when Dwolla began creating the ideal platform to move money, the company has helped move billions of dollars for millions of end-users annually for businesses of all shapes and sizes; in addition, Dwolla has been mentioned in Inc., Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. Businesses that need to efficiently send or receive money and are ready for the future either use Dwolla—or they should. Learn more at http://www.dwolla.com/.
For the second consecutive year, Reminder Services, Inc. - a provider of automated communications for the healthcare industry - has awarded ,000 in scholarships to physical therapy students who exhibit academic excellence and a strong sense of personal commitment continue their education.
Established in September 2017, the ReminderCall.com Physical Therapy Scholarship provides financial assistance to college sophomores, juniors, seniors or graduate students enrolled in an accredited physical therapy program for the 2018-19 academic year with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
The winners of the 2018-19 ReminderCall.com Physical Therapy Scholarship are:
Diego Galaviz, California State University-Dominguez Hills
Kevin Le, Saint Paul College - A Community and Technical College
Savannah McMillen, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Carl Meyer, Marquette University
Jennifer Thomas, Campbell University
“I hope to be a teacher not only in the clinic, but someday also to future physical therapists. There are few things more important than passing a passion for service to others, particularly the future generations. I also want to contribute to or perhaps found a non-profit physical therapy service that is able to narrow the healthcare disparity I see every day,” said Meyer, a first-year graduate student.
About Reminder Services, Inc. Reminder Services, Inc. is a Silicon-Valley based company that provides automated appointment reminders. The ReminderCall.com system lets therapists send appointment reminder calls, reminder text messages and reminder emails to patients. We work with an impressive list of Physical Therapy EHRs, EMRs, and scheduling software products. Therapists can customize everything, from voices and languages to delivery dates, times and frequencies. We help adhere to FCC, TCPA, CANSPAM, HIPAA and CASL guidelines.
There’s no need to ruff it without your furry friend. At Staypineapple they love ALL dogs! And especially love it when you choose to Staypineapple with your favorite companion!
Staypineapple knows a trip is better when the whole family takes part in the fun. That’s why they’ve created a hotel stay that ensures your pup is as comfortable as possible. They also understand that even though you brought Fido along, you can’t take him everywhere. So they created special door hangers for just such an occasion. “Staypineapple is committed to the well-being of all animals. We prioritize making our hotels 100 percent dog-friendly," said Michelle Barnet, president, and CEO of Staypineapple.
Staypineapple wants you to know that it's okay to leave your fur baby in the room while you go exploring. Just use the appropriate door hanger on your way out. If you and Fido go exploring together please hang the “My Dog Is Out Exploring (please clean my room)” sign on the door. They’ll be right in to tidy up.
If you go exploring without your best friend please place the “My Owner Is Out Exploring (please go away)” sign on the door. This informs Housekeeping to not disturb Fido’s nap. Upon your return use the Everything Button to contact the Front Desk to arrange service during typical housekeeping hours.
While you are out exploring Fido can take advantage of the pup perks every Staypineapple dog guest receives
Water bowl
Treats
Dog waste bag dispenser with bags
Dog Bed
And you can even save a few bones when you Staypineapple with Fido by booking the Pineapple Pup Package.
Along with being the most dog-friendly hotel on the block, Staypineapple also enjoys celebrating all things furry on social media. Their mascot Dash the Pineapple Pup, hosts an annual costume contest with the winner taking home a complimentary stay at any of their nationwide hotels.
About Staypineapple
Based in the Pacific Northwest, Staypineapple represents a brand of ten privately owned and managed hotels in Seattle, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and New York City. Focused on thoughtful service and design with an uncanny knack for anticipating needs, the brand wholeheartedly embraces the pineapple, a symbol of hospitality and joy. For more information, visit http://www.staypineapple.com or call 866- 866-7977.
The team at NuvoDesk is pleased to announce that they will officially open in April 2019, bringing to life Arlington’s biggest and boldest co-working space to date.
NuvoDesk will feature a massive 20,000 square foot facility brimming with rich amenities such as lightning fast wi-fi; receptionist services to cater to admin duties for guests; a hub where guests can have their own physical business address; a cafe whose menu boasts gluten-free items, beer, and wine; printing and copying; an elite Trackman Golf Simulator Room; a video and photo booth; and more.
The NuvoDesk facility is located at 2909 E. Arkansas Lane in Arlington, just a short distance from Cowboy Stadium, Globe Life Park, Texas Live, General Motors, UTA, The Epic and Epic Waters. NuvoDesk is near outlying cities, including Mansfield and Grand Prairie, making it easy for guests from nearby areas to take advantage of everything NuvoDesk has to offer.
For many entrepreneurs and startups, having an office is a necessity, but the cost of a dedicated office can be too much of a burden. NuvoDesk offers affordable office space in numerous designs suited to the needs of guests. As part of their membership, guests get the unique opportunity to meet other professionals in their area, network and collaborate.
NuvoDesk offers meeting rooms and conference rooms where guests and their clients can hold quiet meetings and negotiations.
At NuvoDesk, guests get to choose their “virtual office” based on the package that suits them best. For example, the Shared Desk Membership is 9 per month and lets guests come sit at a non-assigned workspace to make calls and get to work, plus the perks of membership. At 9 per month, the Dedicated Desk Membership gives guests their very own dedicated desk space and all of the perks that come with a NuvoDesk membership.
There’s even a standalone virtual mailbox package that includes basic mail receiving and forwarding services for per month.
For professionals who need a workspace just for a day, NuvoDesk offers .95 day passes.
NuvoDesk also offers another special advantage that other co-working spaces don’t: the NuvoDesk Investment Panel. Backed by a team of interested investors, this panel reviews business ideas within the NuvoDesk community of guests for possible funding.
NuvoDesk is Arlington’s largest co-working space, featuring 20,000 square feet of space designed to help entrepreneurs and startups innovate at their best. Decked with the best amenities, professionals have a Trackman Golf Simulator, video and photo booth, and cafe featuring gluten-free items, beer, and wine at their disposal.
Oyster Harbors Marine, the full-service pleasure-boating marine services company with locations on Cape Cod, eastern Massachusetts, Maine and Connecticut, has launched its newly designed website and contracted with Fuel Media, Inc., a creative agency based in Cambridge, Mass., to expand its Internet and social media presence.
The new website, which is now up and running, features access to Oyster Harbors Marine’s active boat brokerage services, including several dozen used yachts now on the market. In addition, the website lists the inventory and brochures for the new yacht manufacturers it carries, including Albemarle, Everglades, Legacy, Limestone, Mag Bay, Regulator, Tiara and Viking.
Also on the website is the company’s ongoing blog section, containing helpful service tips for powerboat owners, notices about upcoming boat shows and events, as well as stories on cruising some of New England’s favorite ports and destinations.
“It was definitely time to update the look and usefulness of our website,” said OHM’s VP Peter Maryott, “As well as time for our company to take advantage of the growing social media and online markets. Fuel Media was the perfect choice for us, with their experience in marketing to marine interests and their expertise in everything cyber. We’re pleased with our new look and online presence and look forward to continuing to connect with our customers--new and old--in the months ahead.”
Fuel Media is a highly specialized online marketing design and implementation firm that helps clients develop an effective online presence and connect with customers. The company’s expertise extends to website design, social media marketing and online marketing and advertising strategies.
Columbus-based spa owner and beauty expert, Jaclyn Peresetsky, announced today that she is opening the first advanced esthetics school in the Midwest in March of 2019. Skin Perfect University is located at 725 Buckles Court, Gahanna, Ohio, 43230, by John Glenn Airport. It is poised to pick up where beauty schools leave off by offering a roster of advanced classes for accredited estheticians including makeup techniques, permanent makeup, chemical peels, dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, nutrition for skincare, microcurrent, nanocurrent, cryotherapy, ultrasound, radio frequency, color analysis, and much more. Estheticians can earn CEUs by attending classes at Skin Perfect University or take classes to advance their knowledge.
“There are 160 beauty schools in Ohio and none of them offer this kind of advanced training,” said Peresetsky. “In speaking with many of these schools, I have learned how much this kind of education is missing from our industry. I’m thrilled to see how excited they are to have this advanced training available for their graduates right here in Ohio. It makes it easier to keep and grow great talent right here in the midwest.”
The school occupies 3200 square feet and is designed to give students the advanced education they need to succeed and the spa experience that allows them to learn the culture and experience of a professional clinical spa. The space includes:
five treatment rooms
a large theory room
a large clinical training room
a makeup and color studio
a skin analysis room
a concierge and reception space
Skin Perfect University will employ seven staff including esthetics instructors and ColoreMe Perfect Color Analysis Consultants. Peresetsky also owns Skin Perfect Image Wellness Spa and is the creator of the ColoreMe Perfect Color analysis process and cosmetics line, as well as the Skin Perfect skin care line.
“My passion has always been educating clients and estheticians about skin care, color analysis, and beauty,” said Peresetsky. “After speaking at beauty conferences across the United States for the last several years, I understand what education estheticians need to further their careers, and I’m thrilled to be able to help advance the professionalism of our industry by offering it.”
The grand opening party on March 22 will host licensed estheticians and spa owners who will hear from Jaclyn about the school, receive a facility tour, experience product and service demonstrations, and leave with a goodie bag. International industry publications including Skin, Inc. Magazine, Les Nouvelles Esthétiques & Spa Magazine, and Dermascope Magazine will also be in attendance.
Skin Perfect University (SPU), located in Columbus, Ohio, was created by Jaclyn Peresetsky for the estheticians, cosmetologists, nurses, skin care specialists, spa and salon owners who want advanced training in esthetics, skin care, and makeup. Clinical and medical esthetics are career specialties that demand for a higher level of knowledge than just basic esthetics. SPU education is designed for an interactive, hands-on learning experience for licensed professionals who are passionate about achieving results and wellness in skincare. http://www.SkinPerfectUniversity.com
About Jaclyn Peresetsky
Master esthetician, author, speaker, and noted color expert, Jaclyn Peresetsky, is the founder of Skin Perfect University, Skin Perfect Spas, ColoreMe Perfect Cosmetics and Analysis, and Skin Perfect Skin Care. You can usually find Jaclyn at one of her three Skin Perfect Spa locations, traveling to train spas on her cosmetics and skin care lines, speaking at an industry conference, or sharing beauty tips on television.
More Than Just Great Dancing®, an international dance studio affiliation program led by Misty Lown, has acquired Youth Protection Advocates in Dance and Youth Protection Advocates in Gymnastics to grow their missions to keep youth happy, healthy and safe in dance and gymnastics.
Founders of YPAD and YPAG, Leslie Scott and Joseph Zanovitch, selected Misty Lown and MTJGD after working closely together for the past four years. Misty Lown’s studio, Misty’s Dance Unlimited, was YPAD’s first Visionary Sponsor and first certified studio, and MTJGD became YPAD’s first certified organization.
“While the decision to grow, and thereby pass along, our youth advocacy programs was difficult, selecting Misty Lown and MTJGD was easy,” said Scott. “Misty’s philosophy and values match ours and her commitment to the mission is undeniable.”
The transfer is effective January 29, 2019.
Scott and Zanovitch founded YPAD in 2012, and YPAG formed soon thereafter. Scott said certification contributors, doctors, therapists and specialists who developed the advocacy programs’ educational content will stay on to work with MTJGD through YPAD and YPAG advisory panels.
“We want to assure all studios in process of becoming certified, and all certified studios and organizations that are up for renewal, they will still have that opportunity along with the support and care from the MTJGD team,” said Scott.
Zanovitch said people with questions are welcome to contact them at info@ypad4change.org or by telephone next week. (Zanovitch and Scott are teaching this week at Studio Owner University in Palm Springs, California.)
Charter Capital announced today that Stephen Ray has joined the factoring company to further develop their growing portfolio of accounts receivable factoring services. Stephen Ray comes with a wealth of experience within the factoring industry in underwriting and business development.
Stephen joins Charter Capital to continue success in providing accounts receivable financial services to many of the top industries it serves. Stephen says, “I'm thrilled to join the Charter Capital family and cherish the journey that I have before me."
Keith Mabe, Senior Vice president of Charter Capital says, “We are delighted to have Stephen join Charter Capital and look forward to him helping grow our client portfolio.” Charter Capital is a Texas based factoring company that has provided funding for small to medium sized businesses nationwide since 2001.
The unique aspect of Charter Capital is not only its flexibility in financing various industries, but also its ability to assist startup businesses. Funding programs are designed to provide a fast and steady source of working capital funds to businesses in need of an alternative to borrowing from traditional banks or costly online lenders. With a company mindset dedicated to fast, solution-oriented funding, Charter Capital fills the void created by limited access to traditional sources of working capital and gives small businesses a more reasonably priced option for funds than is typically offered by online lenders. Charter Capital offers factoring lines starting at ,000 up to million to customers in most industries.
EmployeeChannel, Inc., today, announced the company has joined the Rochester Data Science Consortium as part of its continuing commitment to leverage the latest in technology innovations in its leadership communications solutions. EmployeeChannel’s participation in the Rochester Data Science Consortium follows the company’s opening of a software development center in Rochester, NY in May 2018.
“We are delighted to welcome EmployeeChannel to the Rochester Data Science Consortium,” said Walt Johnson, executive director of the Rochester Data Science Consortium.
“EmployeeChannel’s decision to open an office in Rochester is recognition of the data science and artificial intelligence (AI) talent we have in the region. We look forward to collaborating with them on many innovative and exciting projects that will help continue to grow their business here in Greater Rochester.”
“As noted when we launched our development center, the ability to attract talented folks from the Rochester talent pool is key to our growth strategy,” stated Steve L. Adams, CEO of EmployeeChannel. “Joining the Rochester Data Science Consortium is another strategic opportunity for us to partner locally with the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology.”
“With the Consortium's world-class research capacity and leading technology innovators, such as the Harris Corporation, we can work jointly to bring the practical application of data science to real-world business problems. Specifically, the communication challenges faced by leadership and managers who are tasked with engaging a modern workforce.”
EmployeeChannel’s leadership communications platform currently uses AI and Data Science technologies to provide: -Digital coaching for the development of compelling content by leaders and managers at all skill levels. -Continuous listening for employee feedback, providing insights into organizational health and employee sentiment. -Communication impact and effectiveness, including the performance of communication programs and campaigns, individual publications, publishers, and digital touch points. About EmployeeChannel
EmployeeChannel is a leading provider of leadership communication solutions. Our platform enables leaders and managers to deepen employees’ connection to business purpose, to boost the impact and effectiveness of their communications, and to transform the communication experience for employees. Communication strategy and planning software make it easy to plan, execute, and measure communications. Communication coaching and publishing software make it easy for leaders and managers to develop relevant and compelling information and to reach the right audience with the right message. EmployeeChannel’s mobile app makes it easy to keep employees engaged and to make them feel part of achieving the organization’s goals. To learn more about EmployeeChannel’s end-to-end solution for employer-to-employee communications, please visit http://www.employeechannelinc.com.
About Rochester Data Science Consortium
The Rochester Data Science Consortium was founded in 2017 by the University of Rochester and Harris Corporation, with funding from New York State and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Its membership now includes the some of the largest employers in the Finger Lakes region, such as Wegmans and RIT, in addition to new and growing startup companies. Located at NextCorps in the heart of the Rochester Downtown Innovation Zone, the Rochester Data Science Consortium gives businesses and organizations a competitive edge with access to the data science expertise, partners and technologies needed for rapid development and deployment of data-driven solutions. To learn more, please visit http://www.rocdatascience.com.
The retail outlook for the year ahead is bright, with the National Retail Federation predicting growth of up to 4.4% for a total of more than .3 trillion in sales. For apparel brands, all eyes are on Amazon. With its two-day shipping, easy checkout and returns, and enormous catalog of brands -- the e-commerce giant has undeniably rewritten the playbook for retail. So how can apparel brands win their share of sales?
To better understand the evolving consumer behaviors that are driving growth for apparel sales, CPC Strategy, a retail-focused digital marketing agency acquired by Elite SEM in September 2018, surveyed 2,000 consumers about their shopping habits. The 2019 U.S. Forecast on Apparel Shopping Trends uncovered some surprising trends that should inform every retail brand’s advertising strategy - including a breakdown of how different age groups shop, how shoppers will browse and buy across devices, and what features influence their purchase decisions. A full report on the study’s methodology and findings, along with analysis of the results, can be found on the CPC Strategy website.
"Our study shows that 63% of Gen Z and 57% of Millennial shoppers are already purchasing apparel from Amazon, with Gen Z also showing a strong affinity for buying clothing directly from brand websites,” said Nii Ahene, COO and cofounder of CPC Strategy. “Although Amazon may be the apparel website of choice for younger shoppers, most age groups are browsing and buying clothing across multiple shopping channels, which speaks to the need for brands and retailers to invest in a strategic multi-channel strategy to engage with apparel shoppers across multiple touchpoints.”
Shopping channels do matter when it comes to apparel, especially when looking at different age groups. With a collective purchasing power of more than 0 billion as measured by Millennial Marketing and Nielsen, Generation Z and Millennials will drive e-commerce apparel growth, and cite features like free and fast shipping, low prices, and convenience as the most important features when buying apparel online.
Commissioned by CPC Strategy and conducted by Survata, the survey asked 2,000 online respondents ages 18-65 a series of questions, including how often they shop for clothes online, what items they’ve purchased in the past six months, which devices they prefer to use, and what category they’re most likely to consider for off-brand/generic apparel.
Other key findings of the report:
Casual wear is a top category. 59.2% of shoppers are buying casual wear online, a number that jumps to 70% when looking at Generation Z only.
Mobile is catching up to desktop with young shoppers. 63% of shoppers are still using desktop for apparel shopping, however, 42% of these same consumers also use mobile — a number bolstered by Gen Z and Millennial shoppers.
Shoppers are willing to explore private label basics. 47.4% of shoppers said they would consider purchasing off-brand casual apparel over a name brand. These shoppers are also more open to trying unfamiliar brands that sell active and outerwear.
Free shipping rated top feature for apparel websites. 53.9% value free shipping more than any other feature when it comes to making apparel purchases online — far more than customer reviews, easy returns, and the ability to filter items.
What can brands learn from this research? To succeed in 2019, brands must build visibility across multiple channels. That could mean improving the functionality and features of an e-commerce website on desktop and mobile, investing in premium content if that brand is selling on Amazon, and implementing a paid media strategy to scale traffic to each.
About CPC Strategy CPC Strategy is a retail-focused digital marketing agency that specializes in driving performance growth on the channels that directly impact a retailer’s digital bottom line. Founded in 2007 and acquired by Elite SEM in 2018, CPC executes on ad strategy and management for retailers and brands on Google, Amazon, Facebook, and other product advertising channels. CPC Strategy ranked #1,288 in the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies™ and was also honored as a finalist in "Best Places to Work" by the San Diego Business Journal. For more information visit https://cpcstrategy.com/.
A monumental carbon tax court case kicks off in the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal this week (Docket: CACV3239) as the Saskatchewan Party challenges the Canadian federal government on its carbon tax legislation, as reported by Global News, Feb. 10, 2019. This coincides with the release of a new report by Friends of Science Society entitled “Big Green Money vs Conventional Energy Advocates.”
The new report is critical of the ‘big green’ foreign-funding of environmental groups, many of which, like Ecojustice, a law charity representing intervenors in the carbon tax case, engage in ‘law-fare’ to block energy development and push for carbon taxes.
“Big Green Money…” report shows that common sense think tanks are vastly out-funded, out-lobbied and out-maneuvered by green billionaire foundations and their Environmental Non-governmental Organization (ENGO) fundees.
Robert Lyman authored the report which states that some .8 billion in foreign funding to Canadian ENGOs has been used to push the carbon tax and climate apocalypse agenda. Lyman is an Ottawa energy policy consultant and former public servant of 27 years, a diplomat for 10 years prior to that.
Most of the ENGOs reviewed in “Big Green Money…” have federal charitable status, thus subsidized by taxpayers. As reported by Global News, Aug. 30, 2018, one such charity, Ecojustice, successfully blocked Trans Mountain pipeline in the Federal Court of Appeals, resulting in the further loss of thousands of jobs in Alberta’s oil sands industry and other sectors.
As noted in the report, the National Energy Board publishes annual data on total investment (i.e. domestic and foreign) in the upstream Canadian oil industry. Investment in oil sands was .6 billion, down 60% from the peak level of annual investment of .4 billion in 2014.
Friends of Science says a carbon tax is irrelevant to climate change issues as more and more research demonstrates that carbon dioxide is not the control knob that can fine tune climate. They say the UN Climate Panel (IPCC) reports relied upon by proponents of the tax are based on Faulty Premises, as detailed in their Oct. 30, 2018 report by the same name.
As revealed by Donna Laframboise in her book “The Delinquent Teenager,” UN Climate Panel reports are heavily infiltrated by green activists from Greenpeace and WWF, whose organizations have been funded for millions of dollars by the billionaire ClimateWorks Foundation and partners who are pushing a global cap and trade system, as reported by Matthew Nisbet (2018) in “Strategic philanthropy in the post?Cap?and?Trade years: Reviewing U.S. climate and energy foundation funding“.
Friends of Science Society says a global carbon tax would be a road to ruin.
Another recent Friends of Science report issued Feb. 5, 2019, entitled “Carbon Pricing Consequences for Alberta” reveals a trail of destruction following the implementation of the provincial carbon tax.
Human industrial carbon dioxide emissions have greened the planet according to an April 26, 2016, NASA report. Growing climate science consensus shows carbon dioxide’s impact on warming to be nominal says French Emeritus Professor of physics, François Gervais.
About
Friends of Science Society is an independent group of earth, atmospheric and solar scientists, engineers, and citizens who are celebrating its 16th year of offering climate science insights. After a thorough review of a broad spectrum of literature on climate change, Friends of Science Society has concluded that the sun is the main driver of climate change, not carbon dioxide (CO2).
A new exhibition by internationally acclaimed painter Jenness Cortez will honor a group of illustrious artists including Johannes Vermeer, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam and Winslow Homer. On view February 17 through March 8, 2019 at the Harmon-Meek Gallery in Naples, Florida, this one-person show represents the latest installment in the Cortez series of thought-provoking paintings depicting art in art.
Historically, the tradition of “art in art” was most notably employed by such 17th-century Dutch artists as Johannes Vermeer. In her own painting “Alluring,” Cortez pays homage to the genius of Vermeer by incorporating his iconic ”Girl with a Pearl Earring“ into her own original composition. In “Alluring” Cortez continues to reexamine the classic paradox of realism: the painting both as a “window” into an imagined space and as a physical object.
A second Cortez painting in the Harmon-Meek exhibition pays homage to American impressionist painter Childe Hassam and U.S. veterans by incorporating Hassam’s “Rainy Day, Fifth Avenue 1916” into her own stately work entitled, “Centennial.”
For centuries artists have been challenging their intellects and skills by paying homage to the painters who preceded them. Today, Jenness Cortez has emerged as the twenty-first century’s most notable exponent of this facet of art history. Her masterful work gives Cortez solid footing in the colorful lineage of artists who have appropriated vintage images and woven them into their own distinctive, recognizable fabric.
Robert Yassin, former Executive Director of the Indianapolis Museum and Palos Verdes Art Center, refers to Cortez as one of the world’s most eloquent and successful visual conversationalists. Yassin says that, “All art is a dialogue . . . In Cortez’s paintings, each work talks to us at many levels, and creates in us a sense of both understanding and wellbeing. This happens because there is nothing arbitrary in Cortez’s paintings. The choice of the painting reproduced, the elements surrounding it, the space the elements occupy, the lighting, the color, everything is carefully selected and orchestrated following a fully articulated plan determined by the artist.” Yassin, who also served as director of Tucson Museum of Art during his illustrious career, freely confides that “the paintings of Jenness Cortez make my heart sing,”
In summarizing her creative process, Cortez explains, “Every painting begins with a vision seen in the artist’s mind. Sometimes the finished piece appears in the mind full-blown, and at other times it is amorphous––yet with some beguiling character that begs to be developed. In either case, between that first inspiration and the finished painting lie hours of research, thousands of choices and, of course, the great joy of painting. The process is organic. Even with a well-conceived composition in place, the painting has a life of its own and the best ones surprise even the artist with twists and turns that outshine the most clever of plans. It’s as if the creative spirit insinuates itself into the work, wanting to serve its own best interest with solutions that far exceed the artist’s original, limited vision.”
Each intricate Cortez creation challenges the viewers’ intellectual curiosity and celebrates the sheer pleasure of beautiful painting. In her latest Harmon-Meek exhibition, Cortez plays author, architect, visual journalist, art historian, curator and pundit to help open our eyes to what we might otherwise have overlooked or taken for granted. Each painting presents a specific theme, mixing straightforward cues and obscure allusions, complemented by references to other artists’ lives and times. By masterfully presenting iconic works of art in unexpected modern settings, Jenness Cortez truly inspires us to see differently––to rediscover, revalue and reintegrate our own intuitive resources into the hurried and often stress-filled culture of modern American.
Biographical Notes: Jenness Cortez was born in 1944 in Frankfort, Indiana. She received her B.F.A. from the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, apprenticed privately with noted Dutch painter Antonius Raemaekers and later studied with Arnold Blanch at the Art Students League of New York. Her work is in numerous public and private collections including those of Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, HM Queen Elizabeth, II, the New York State Museum and the Polk Museum of Art.
Since 1977, Perlmutter Gallery in Averill Park, New York has represented artist Jenness Cortez.
Educators who work in cybersecurity are able to share how their innovations help teach or expand cybersecurity, accelerate the adoption of new ideas throughout the academic community and receive recognition for their work. Select submissions will be included in the Cybersecurity Skills Journal: Practice and Research.
Last year, National CyberWatch received over 60 submissions. The five winners were Community Initiative Center of Excellence for Secure Software- Employer-led Secure Software Development Dual Model Apprenticeship Partnering with Community Colleges; Industrial Control Systems Security Curriculum Resource Kit; Have My Smart Lightbulbs Been Weaponized: Introducing Computer Security Issues Related to IoT Devices; Guiding Girl Scouts Through a Computer Science Journey; and Comic-Bee: Branching, Interactive Web Comics for Cybersecurity Education and Assessment for Learners of All Ages and Levels.
This year, the top selections will be awarded in the following categories: Evidence-based Strategies, Instruction, Practice, and Program Development.
“This is the third year for our Innovations in Cybersecurity Education program. Building on the solid expansion of the program and strong participation by all National CyberWatch stakeholders, we are creating one, new significant bridge to two other successful National CyberWatch programs this year. We have made slight adjustments to the category titles and are now aligned to the thematic categories of both the Cybersecurity Skills: Practice and Research as well as the popular Community College Cyber Summit (3CS). This will allow Innovations submissions to flow seamlessly into the editorial calendar of the Journal, as well as the 3CS presentation tracks,” said Casey W. O'Brien, executive director of National CyberWatch Center. “I encourage all our member institutions and supporting stakeholders to participate again this year and broaden the knowledge pool of innovations that can be shared across the National CyberWatch Center programs while continuing the march toward a stronger cybersecurity workforce.”
Award winners will be acknowledged at the Community College Cyber Summit at Bossier Parrish Community College in Louisiana, July 30-Aug. 1. Submissions should be currently in use or have been used in cybersecurity education. They will be accepted through May 3. For more information, visit nationalcyberwatch.org/innovations/
The new Franklin County 11/30 Visitor Center was the site of the 8th Annual “Power of the Partnership" breakfast, coordinated by the South Mountain Partnership in early February. Franklin County Commissioners David Keller, Robert Thomas, and Robert Ziobrowski welcomed over 130 attendees from Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, and York Counties, highlighting the historic, agricultural, and recreational value of the county they represent.
The South Mountain Partnership is one of seven landscape initiatives in Pennsylvania, which support investment and action around sustainability, conservation, community revitalization, and recreational projects. Cindy Dunn, Secretary of PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), spoke to the value of the state’s conservation landscape efforts and the success of the South Mountain Partnership (SMP), often a model of the effort.
Suzanne Dixon, CEO and President of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), shared ATC’s new initiative--the Wild East. The Wild East brings greater attention to the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) and the lands surrounding the 2,192-mile footpath. Both the Wild East and South Mountain landscapes are efforts to secure access to open, natural spaces and the historic, cultural, and aesthetic assets they bring.
The breakfast program focused on profiles of action along the South Mountain landscape, including Franklin County’s collective actions to oppose a 230KV, double line transmission project, proposed by Transource PA and slated to traverse more than 29 miles of the county. Speaking were Lori Rice of the Franklin County Stop Transource community group. Lori, a business owner and farm wife, discussed the impacts on the watershed, karst system, agricultural land, and the community culture of Franklin County. Mike Ross, president of Franklin County Area Development Corporation, addressed Franklin County’s balanced approach to development and the reasons FCADC did not support the project, noting the county approach to economic development and citing the zero-value of the project to PA.
The South Mountain Partnership awarded six 2018 Mini Grants, totaling ,000. The grant program commenced in 2009 and has supported more than 60 projects, awarding 0,000 in funds and leveraging just under 0,000 in matching investment.
Mike Eschenmann, DCNR Internal Lead of South Mountain Partnership, awarded Karen Lutz, recently retired as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director of ATC, with the ‘Spirit of South Mountain’ award. The award recognized Lutz’s long-standing efforts to advance the Partnership.
“Throughout our 13-year history, SMP has consistently relied on diverse partners to be the ‘Power’ that positively impacts the South Mountain landscape of Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, and York Counties. The gathering is invaluable as the region seeks to better conserve and manage agricultural, natural, recreational, and historical assets,” said Katie Hess, director of South Mountain Partnership.
The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore history, arts and architecture, recreation, natural beauty, fresh foods and the warm hospitality of communities like Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Franklin County PA is located just north of the Mason Dixon Line and is an easy drive to Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Plan a visit at ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com, contacting 866.646.8060, or stopping by the new Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center in downtown Chambersburg.
The Dentist Centers, located at 6309 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, GA 30328, is a modern family dental practice with a mission to provide a full scope of cutting-edge dental services in a rewarding and comfortable environment. Dr. Dan Myers leads the practice with elite talent and training in multiple facets of dentistry. His patients can take advantage of general, cosmetic and restorative dental care, as well as an expansive menu of additional services that would otherwise require a referral to a specialist. The Dentist Centers of Sandy Springs offers complete dental implants and bone grafting as well as advanced cosmetic services such as Invisalign, Snap-On Smile and dermal fillers.
Dr. Myers’ passion for dental arts as well as his dedication to patient comfort has undoubtedly led to the numerous outstanding reviews posted by his actual patients across many review sources. The consistent five-star ratings have led Find Local Doctors to acknowledge Dr. Myers as a 2019 Top Patient-Rated Sandy Springs Dentist. As a trusted online directory, Find Local Doctors helps consumers connect with local physicians and dentists who are both qualified and reputable in their respective fields.
“I am honored to receive the Top Patient-Rated Award from Find Local Doctors. My patients will always be the measure of my success as a dentist,” says Dr. Dan Myers of The Dentist Centers.
The Dentist Centers in Sandy Springs treats patients of all ages and uses the latest and most proven technologies in modern dentistry. Dr. Myers offers sedation dentistry, laser dentistry and can treat complex dental issues through all stages of life. The practice is currently accepting new patients in both their Alpharetta and Sandy Springs offices.
More About Dan Myers, DMD:
Dr. Myers received his Doctorate in Dental Medicine (DMD) from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. Prior to his dental education, he attended Murray State University for his undergraduate studies, which he accomplished in three years and was awarded early acceptance into dental school.
Dr. Myers believes in staying at the forefront of dental technology, and he carries a passion for the art of dentistry that guides him in transforming countless smiles. He continuously participates in continuing education courses in dental esthetics, including the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies(LVI). Dr. Myers’ professional affiliations include the American Dental Association, Georgia Dental Association, Northern Dental District Society, Hinman Dental Society, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
For more information about Dr. Dan Myers or the services he offers at The Dentist Centers in Sandy Springs, please visit http://www.thedentistcenters.com or call (404) 382-5798.
Moddern Marketing (Moddern), an award-winning independently-owned integrated marketing agency, has been honored as one of the Top 100 Healthcare Agencies in North America by Medical Marketing & Media (MM&M), one of the nation's leading business publications serving the executive healthcare market.
Moddern has had a sustained run of growth in the healthcare sector since 2013, when it won its first health supplement client. Since then, the agency has added numerous national healthcare and health-related client business in medical devices, infant nutrition, advanced wound care, nerve stimulation, menopause relief, and marketing for orthopedic device distribution. moddern is especially well-versed in the spine sector and has a specialty in marketing ambulatory surgical centers. This is the first time the agency has been honored by MM&M with the Top 100 Healthcare Agencies in North America award.
“It's a real honor for moddern to be named a Healthcare Agency of the year by MM&M. While we’ve been focused on our client business, it’s very rewarding to be recognized in this way for what we’ve accomplished on their behalf,” said Mark Kolier, co-founder and Managing Director of moddern.“From the beginning, we’ve been working diligently to tell the client story in a practical way, and to deliver observable results. It’s exciting for our team to be recognized in this way for the work we do every day.”
MM&M was first published in 1966 as Medical Marketing & Media, and today produces an essential mix of online breaking news and analysis combined with monthly print features. The content is designed for an executive audience of leaders and thinkers who work in pharma, medical devices, diagnostics, and greater healthcare marketing. Every year, the magazine produces several lists, conferences and events, and compiles an annual Agency Issue that features profiles of the top 100 healthcare marketing agencies in North America. It also runs the industry’s premier awards program, the MM&M awards, which celebrate creativity and effectiveness in healthcare marketing. Its parent company is Haymarket Media.
Moddern Marketing is an integrated marketing services agency based in New York City. With roots in direct marketing, the agency is focused on delivering strategy, creative, and media services in both online and offline environments with a watchful eye on effectiveness and driving measurable results. While moddern has clients in a variety of sectors, it began focusing on healthcare in 2013, and has since recruited against that discipline, while growing its client roster.
The new VT Series valve timer from Bonomi gives users advanced multi-function control of critical valve operations and solves potentially dangerous, time-consuming access problems. For example, automated valves 20 feet up a feeder assembly or near the floor behind a boiler can be quickly, easily and accurately controlled without risk of injury.
Available in AC or DC models, the VT timer switch can be installed in virtually any convenient location and connected directly to an electrically actuated valve, or a solenoid on a pneumatic actuated valve. Wired remote operations are secure and easy to set up.
The VT Series has capabilities beyond those of built-in actuator timers, with up to 18 functions to support a wide range of applications, including:
Irrigation system
Filtration systems
Boiler blowdown
Industrial plant operations
Features include a wide time setting range, from 0.1 seconds to 999 hours, with a 3-digit LCD display for Set Time and Run Time. A 24-hour clock function is also available.
VT Series valve timers are CE approved and UL Listed for use in the US and Canada. The polycarbonate enclosure is constructed for NEMA 4X - IP65 level protection. Dependability is built in with an extended cycle life. The operating temperature range is -10?C ~ +55?C (+14?F ~ +131?F).
For more information on Bonomi VT Series valve timers or other Bonomi products, contact Bonomi North America at (704) 412-9031 or visit online at http://www.bonominorthamerica.com.
About Bonomi Bonomi North America has served the U.S. and Canada since 2003 and is part of the Bonomi Group of Lumezzane, Italy. Bonomi Group brands include Rubinetterie Bresciane Bonomi (RB) brass ball valves and check valves; Valpres carbon and stainless steel ball valves; and Valbia pneumatic and electric industrial actuators. Bonomi North America maintains an extensive distribution network for these products from its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C. and a facility in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
Celebrity fitness pro and author Jon Douglas Gallo is now offering his famous health and wellness services to New Jersey townships.
Gallo, President of “Now I'm Fit,” created a unique Stretch and Flex Advantage (SAFA) program, which has already helped many corporations promote a safer, healthier, and more productive workplace. Gallo’s motto is “Educate, Inspire, and Transform,” and that’s the overall goal of the SAFA program he now intends to offer to municipalities throughout the region. As he explains, “We have been working with the townships of South Brunswick, North Brunswick, Milltown, and Old Bridge. That gave us an opportunity to refine the program and tailor it specifically to the needs of townships.”
SAFA benefits include improved workplace morale; reduction in injuries and absenteeism; lower health care costs; longer retention of employees, and enhanced attraction for new employee recruitment. SAFA promotes stress reduction, increased flexibility and agility, and overall fitness. Long term results typically include improved cardiovascular health and sleep, weight management, lower blood pressure, less fatigue on the job, and sharper cognition. SAFA provides added protection against diabetes, heart disease, obesity, arthritis, and other chronic and potentially life-threatening conditions.
“The Director of Human Resources and Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Health and Wellness Council for the Township of Old Bridge met with me recently,” Gallo reported. “We discussed the benefits that township employees could derive if SAFA was integrated into the Old Bridge Employee Wellness Initiative program. Township employees protect our health, safety, and wellbeing every day of the year. So we feel obligated to give back to them by making sure that their own lives are longer, healthier, and happier, too.”
Townships and their citizens rely on a healthy workforce to provide essential and critical services, 24/7. A municipal health and wellness program based on the proven effectiveness of SAFA can provide that, at an affordable price point. SAFA may quickly pay for itself through a measurable reduction in financial overhead and potential liability for townships and taxpayers. Enthusiasm for SAFA is growing and now Gallo hopes to implement it statewide, to promote greater health and wellness within New Jersey’s entire public service community. For the past two years Gallo has been a public service volunteer himself, as an active member of the local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). He also joined the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce two years ago and has been invited to be panelist at the upcoming New Jersey Human Resources Summit. Gallo is a NJ Licensed Medical Massage Therapist and Nationally Certified Personal Trainer with AFAA. For more information contact Info@NowImFit.com or Call 347.926.3410 http://www.NowImFit.com
SAE International’s SAE 2019 Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technologies Symposium has some exciting special events planned at Delta Hotels by Marriott Anaheim Garden Grove in California on Feb. 19-21, 2019. In addition to a robust technical program and packed exhibit floor, there are plenty of professional development and opportunities for attendees.
SAE recognizes the importance of person-to-person networking and has built in several networking breaks into each day’s programming to compliment networking on the exhibit floor. These networking breaks allow attendees to chat and exchange information, as well as ask questions or begin discussions based on the earlier sessions that day.
On Tuesday, Feb. 19, - the opening night of the event – Toyota will sponsor a Casino Networking Reception at 6:15 p.m. held on the Santa Rosa patio. Join us for drinks, appetizers and casino games.
On Wednesday, Feb. 20, - Participate in a panel discussion featuring experts from GM, Nissan, Ford, Toyota, and Honda at 5:00 p.m.
On Thursday, Feb. 21, - the morning of the last day of the event – Ford will sponsor Breakfast Roundtable Chats at 7:00 a.m. in the Catalina Ballroom. Join us to chat with experts in an intimate setting on a variety of topics. Advanced signup required.
Now in its 16th consecutive year, this event provides vehicle design engineers and management with a forum to share and discuss the latest technology, applications, and overall development challenges for electric and hybrid-electric vehicles through lively discussions and ample networking opportunities. To learn more about the SAE Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technologies Symposium or to register, visit https://www.sae.org/attend/hybrid.
For information on exhibit or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Linda Wagner at linda.wagner@sae.org or 1-724-772.4062.
To request media credentials, email pr@sae.org or call 1-724-772-8522.
SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting over 127,000 engineers and technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our charitable arm, the SAE Foundation, which helps fund programs like A World in Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™.
The San Diego labor law attorneys at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action lawsuit against Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., alleging that the company failed to accurately calculate and record overtime compensation for their hourly employees. Furthermore, the complaint alleges that Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., failed to provide mandatory meal and rest breaks to its employees. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., lawsuit Case No. 37-2019-00001930-CU-OE-CTL, is currently pending in the San Diego County Superior Court for the State of California. A copy of the complaint can be accessed by clicking here.
The class action complaint alleges that Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., failed to accurately pay PLAINTIFFS and the other members of the CALIFORNIA CLASS overtime wages for the time they worked which was in excess of the maximum hours permissible by law as required by Cal. Lab. Code §§ 510, 1194& 1198. Cal. Lab. Code § 510 further provides that employees in California shall not be employed more than eight (8) hours per workday and/or more than forty (40) hours per workweek unless they receive additional compensation beyond their regular wages in amounts specified by law.
According to the class action complaint, the company's non-exempt employees were also allegedly unable to take off duty meal breaks due to their rigorous work schedules. California labor laws require an employer to provide an employee required to perform work for more than five (5) hours during a shift with, a thirty (30) minute uninterrupted meal break prior to the end of the employee's fifth (5th) hour of work. The complaint alleges that the company did not provide their employees who forfeited meal breaks additional compensation.
If you think your company is violating the California Labor Code and would like to know if you qualify to make a claim, please contact attorney Nicholas J. De Blouw today by calling (858) 952-0354.
Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Riverside, and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today.
The workshop is geared towards programme managers interested in programme improvements and industry knowledge. A quick review of the basics brings beginners up to speed. The balance of the workshop goes in to depth, related to programme practices and procedures. During the workshop, you will participate in an interactive presentation and open discussion around program challenges and successes. The workshop will be led by Heather Miller, CPCP, MBA, NAPCP Community Engagement Manager.
Many individuals can benefit from a comprehensive understanding of Commercial Cards. This workshop is appropriate for professionals from end-user and provider organisations who are:
programme managers/administrators familiar with the mechanics and benefits of Commercial Cards, but are seeking to broaden their understanding of P-Card and/or Travel Card programme management
individuals tasked with exploring/implementing Commercial Card programme(s) for their organisation
managers, directors, vice presidents, etc., whose business lines include the P-Card or Travel Card programme; therefore, core knowledge is a must for supporting the organisation’s overall payments strategy
new relationship/account managers who provide support to end-user clients
The NAPCP is a global professional association that has been advancing the Commercial Card and Payment industry, which includes Purchasing Cards, Travel Cards, ePayables and more, since 1999. The organisation provides support for industry professionals who are enhancing Commercial Card and Payment programmes, developing policies and procedures, and seeking new products and technological advancements to create efficiencies.
The organisation's website is a robust online repository of educational materials and networking tools, containing thousands of pages of:
White papers
Case studies
Sample documents and implementation guides
Recorded webinars
Surveys and polls
eNetworking
The NAPCP’s rich content, dedicated EMEA web portal, events, and virtual educational opportunities highlight the industry’s latest advancements, and help users build strong policies and procedures, meet regulatory requirements and achieve management buy-in.
The NAPCP also seeks speakers and hosts for future events in the EMEA region. Review the organisation's year-round end-user speaking opportunities and submit a proposal today.
To access the content and tools on the NAPCP's website, simply become a complimentary subscriber.
About the NAPCP The NAPCP is a membership-based professional association committed to advancing Commercial Card and Payment professionals and industry practices worldwide. Serving a community of more than 20,000, the NAPCP is a respected voice in the industry and an impartial resource for members at all experience levels in the public and private sectors. The NAPCP provides unmatched opportunities for continuing education and peer networking through its conferences, Regional Forums, webinars, website, virtual demonstrations, newsletters and regular communication. The association sponsors research and publishes timely and relevant white papers, survey results and other documents. The NAPCP also offers a (Certified Purchasing Card Professional (CPCP) credential.
Each member of zChocolat’s 2019 Valentine’s Day Collection, created by World Champion Master Chocolatier Pascal Caffet, has been carefully selected for the moments when devotion dovetails passion and words are woefully inadequate. With options ranging from velvety dark chocolate hearts filled with “fleur de sel” caramel to larger-than-life half-pound chocolate masterpieces bursting with caramelized Piedmont hazelnuts, it’s chocolate with a touch of pure French romance. Add in options like the dazzlingly opulent gold leaf-covered chocolates and incomparably elegant packaging and it’s a decidedly singular way to say “Je t’aime.”
Prepared in special-editions of always-sophisticated packaging, a gift from zChocolat makes an instant impression. In an elegant nod to the liberating power of pure love, each mahogany treasure chest is carved with the word LOVE protecting the most romantic present you could ever offer to your beloved: your magnanimous heart. Like every zChocolat product, items from the Valentine’s Collection can be additionally customized with a personalized message, the recipient’s name engraved on the gift box, a personal wax seal, and even a heart-shaped padlock with an individually selected combination. All boxes from the Valentine’s Day Collection can also be refilled time and again with your loved one’s favorite assortments as a continual reminder of your constant devotion.
Of course, it’s the chocolates themselves that inevitably steal the show. All-natural ingredients, exotic single-origin cocoas, and an absence of preservatives ensure premium flavors, while zChocolat’s innovative recipes make each product an unforgettable experience. Particularly noteworthy are the gold leaf covered chocolates that deliver jewelry-like sentiment with edible appeal. Like golden dewdrops collected from a golden downpour, zChocolat’s rich dark chocolate heart is bursting with “fleur de sel” caramel on the inside and gilded with 24-karat edible gold on the outside for a dazzling experience that embraces romance with reckless abandon.
Each product in the collection is handcrafted in France and embodies the passion and elegance that make this region the world’s most romantic destination. Whether you’re commemorating a love that spans decades or fanning the flames of passion’s first sparks, let zChocolat help deliver the perfect present this Valentine’s Day.
As the preeminent source for fine French chocolate, the zChocolat brand has epitomized the expression “chic à la française” since its founding in 1999. The 2019 Valentine’s Day Collection, along with a wide range of other distinguished chocolate gifts, are available online exclusively at their website, http://www.zchocolat.com/. All zChocolat gifts are shipped directly from France to destinations around the world via DHL Express for a flat fee of .
Premier Social Security Consulting will host its National Social Security Advisor (NSSA®) certificate education in six cities this year while expanding its webinar and on-demand courses for busy professional advisors nationwide.
Marc Kiner, partner at Premier Social Security Consulting of Cincinnati, which teaches the Social Security education program, said professional advisors are busier than ever, but want the comprehensive NSSA program.
“We’ve found that advisors, like the rest of us, are pressed for time,” said Kiner. “An increasing number of advisors are choosing the all-day webinar option. We have the same content and the same interaction ability as a live program, but advisors can take the course in the privacy of their company conference room or the comfort of their home offices.”
NSSA is the nation’s only accredited Social Security education certificate program, with accreditation provided by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) in Washington, D.C.
The NSSA Advisor certificate is awarded to professional advisors who take the NSSA course and pass an assessment. The National Social Security Association has certified more than 1,700 advisors since the program began in 2013.
Full, all-day NSSA programming will be held in Cincinnati on Feb. 5, April 19, June 3 and 19, Aug. 15 and 16, Oct. 22 and Dec. 3; Orlando, Fla. on March 5; San Diego on March 28; Chicago on June 27; Cleveland on July 16; and New York on Sept. 23. Live Classes run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Webinars will be held on: Jan. 23; Feb. 14; March 12; April 5; May 3; June 18; July 23; Aug. 20; Oct. 17; Dec. 11; Dec. 27.
Cost for the live class is 5, with web-based and on-demand video classes at 5. Premier also offers private, on-site classes for organizations that need to provide in-house Social Security training to multiple professional advisors.
Eight continuing education credits are available for certified financial planners, certified public accountants, and insurance agents nationwide for live classes. Education credits will be also available for on-demand and web-based education in 2019.
Premier provides ongoing gold standard Social Security education support after an NSSA education course is completed, said Kiner. Support includes monthly webinars; marketing videos; and a PowerPoint presentation.
“Baby boomers turn 65 years old at the rate of 10,000 a day, yet the majority of boomers know little about how to maximize their Social Security income,” said Kiner. “That’s why we developed the NSSA certificate program—to help advisors teach clients everything they need to know about Social Security but didn’t know they had to ask.”
Premier is finding that more financial advisors are basing their practices on the needs of baby boomers, said Jim Blair, Premier partner and a Social Security expert. The Social Security topic, he added, has become an excellent lead generation tool.
“Since retirements today can last up to 30 years, Social Security income has become increasingly more important to help retirees not outlive their money,” said Blair. “We find that NSSA advisors are better educated about Social Security and equipped to help their clients make wise decisions about claiming Social Security.”
About 75 million Americans today are classified as baby boomers.
A married couple can leave as much as 0,000 on the table in Social Security benefits by not accessing the program correctly based on their ages, health and life expectancy and not coordinating spousal benefits, said Kiner.
Follow us on twitter @pssconsulting or connect with us on LinkedIn at Social Security Rainmaker™
About Premier Social Security Consulting: Premier Social Security Consulting, LLC in Cincinnati educates professional advisors nationwide on the nation’s Social Security program so they can counsel their clients on how to maximize lifetime Social Security income. Partners Marc Kiner and Jim Blair teach the National Social Security Advisor (NSSA) certification program.
According to the research report published by Zion Market Research, global cyber security market was valued at USD 105.45 billion in 2015, is expected to reach USD 181.77 billion by 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% between 2016 and 2021.
Cyber crime is not new but it seems it is getting worse with the rapid advances in the use of information technology. Higher the rate of cyber attacks, higher is the cost of damage control and security for businesses. Here comes the cyber security in picture. Nowadays, the online world is more active as compared to the offline one, which also means that the information is online and available to everyone. The misuse of the facilities results in abrasion of public confidence and major financial loss. Cyber security is the protection of information systems from theft or damage to the hardware, the software, and to the information on them, as well as from disruption or misdirection of the services they provide. Earlier, office automation was the focussed area and was of the most concern. Presently, this definition has changed to enhancing the customer experience, obtaining a competitive advantage, and providing customers a completely new dimension in which they can experience the product or service.
The cyber security market is one of the highest growing markets in the information technology domain and it yields large economic opportunities. Growing risks such as computer hacking, software piracy, and virus deployment are increasing the demand for cyber securities services. The governments of various countries are increasing their investment in cyber security owing to development in computer interconnectivity and remarkable growth in computing power of government networks.
The data from security firm BTB Security show that there is a drastic and considerable change in the number of breaches and identity thefts in 2015 as compared to 2005. Such security breaches cause serious financial damage. However, as there is no standard model for estimating the cost of an incident, the only data available are that which are made public by the organizations involved.
Some of the key players involved in global cyber security market include Symantec, IBM, McAfee, Northrop Grumman, and Booz Allen Hamilton, CSC among others.
The vulnerability of enterprises on information technology and stored sensitive digitally data have provided ample opportunities to cyber-attackers with financial gain being the primary motive. Solution providers’ major focus is in research and development to develop next-generation security solutions to provide higher security. For example, The Department of Homeland Security is publicizing eight new cyber security technologies developed under federal grants that are looking for private businesses to turn them into commercial products. Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) developed an innovative cyber security technology which helps the government to protect critical data, mitigate risks, and establish a comprehensive defence against cyber-attacks.
There is also a greater focus on the intelligence-led security as conventional security technologies including web, content management and network security are unable to deliver the tracking of security incidents. The cyber security market is anticipated to witness high demand for cloud-based applications as government organizations are going for the cloud platform for data sharing.
The cyber security market is segmented based on security types, solution, and vertical and by regions. On the basic of security types market is divided into network security, cloud security, wireless security and others. Cyber solution segment includes identity and access management (IAM), encryption, risk and compliance management, data loss prevention, antivirus and antimalware, firewall and others. By vertical, market is segmented into aerospace, government, financial services, telecommunication, healthcare, and others.
In 2015, North America dominated the cyber security market owing to the increasing cyber crime and strict government rules against it. Asia Pacific is a fastest growing regional market for cyber security market due to increasing number of internet users in China and India.
Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client’s needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to us—after all—if you do well, a little of the light shines on us.
LOS ANGELES – Award-winning filmmaker and actress Angela Matemotja earns ‘Best Director’ award for her feature film debut, ELEVATE, at the Rainbow Umbrella Film Festival, a new LGBTQ focused event in North London, U.K.
Writing, directing and starring in ELEVATE, Matemotja delivers a drama of intertwining stories about people who must fight to overcome their struggles with homophobia, food addiction and racism. Matemotja shares, “winning Best Director from an emerging LGBTQ festival is an honor. The fact that it screened in London really warms my heart, as I lived there years ago and fell in love with the city.”
ELEVATE will continue on the international circuit this March as an ‘Official Selection’ at Rapid Lion: TheSouth African International Film Festival in Johannesburg. Matemotja has close ties to South Africa, as she is half South African and it was while living there that she first began developing the project. She also loosely based one character in the film ‘Sipho’ on her South African father, who also plays the role in the film. Matemotja shares, “I'm especially excited the film is screening in Johannesburg as my hope is to help ‘elevate’ the minds and hearts of anyone struggling with homophobia and racism, as these issues are so prevalent on the continent.”
Last fall, Matemotja earned the ‘Female Pioneer Award’ when ELEVATE premiered at the DTLA Film Festival in Los Angeles. Prior to this, the film earned an Award of Merit for Best Feature Film and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Angela Matemotja) from the Accolade Global Film Competition.
ELEVATE follows the story of Trina, an overweight elevator switchboard operator who desperately tries to accomplish just one day of healthy eating. Overwhelmed by her abusive boss and by the trapped elevator occupants that reach out to her for help, her fitness guru provides the inspiration and escape that she craves – or does she? Ultimately, all of the occupants in this trapped world find themselves caught face-to-face with their inner demons.
The film also stars Brianna Brown (CW’S Dynasty), Kit Williamson (creator/star of award-winning and Emmy nominated LGBTQ series Eastsiders), Alexis Carra (Latina star of ABC’s Mixology) and Matemotja (Tyler Perry’s Single Mom’s Club). To produce the film, Matemotja turned to Dele Ogundiran, who is also African, and Brown, who is the CEO of the non-profit The New Hollywood, which is dedicated to supporting socially conscious storytellers and changemakers.
As an actress, Matemotja has appeared on screens big and small. Her notable feature film credits include the role of ‘Christina’ in Tyler Perry’s The Single Mom’s Club and alongside Kevin Hart in the indie comedy film Something Like A Business. Her television roles include appearances on the CBS mega-hit comedy How I Met Your Mother, Amazon’s top cop-drama Bosch, ABC’s long-running series Castle and edgy sitcom Don’t Trust The B…, and Ryan Murphy’s modern laugher The New Normal on NBC.
Behind the camera, Matemotja earned an NAACP Award nomination for directing the stage play Sunshine For a Midnight Weary. Her first short film as writer/director, The Encounter, screened at over 30 international film festivals, earning the Grand Jury Award at the White Sands Int’l FF, Honorable Mention at Toronto CommFFest and nominations for Best Short Film at SoCal FF, SOHO FF and Long Island Int’l Film Expo. Her second short, The Untimely Concurrence, won Best LGBTQ Film at AOF FF, San Francisco Black FF and San Diego Black FF, and the Silver Screen Award for Best Short Film at the Nevada Int’l FF. In addition, her screenplay Drunk Book was awarded Best Comedy Short for the written word competition at AOF FF.
Mustang Survival®, the North American brand known for innovative solutions for the most demanding marine environments, announces its sponsorship of the 2019 Race to Alaska(R2AK), a competition with one simple rule, no motors. Traversing some of the world’s riskiest and most temperamental waterways, R2AK participants are limited to only human power and wind power to complete the 750-mile course. With less than half of the starting teams making it to the finish line, R2AK is all about putting in maximum effort the entire time without exception – the winner takes home ,000 while the runner-up gets a set of steak knives.
“Mustang Survival is based in Pacific Northwest, specifically because we believe it’s one of the last frontiers and its wilderness and waters make for some of the best, and most grueling, testing-grounds for our gear. The people and conditions that make up Race to Alaska are precisely why Mustang Survival continues to thrive after 50 years. Their perseverance and grit to take on mother nature’s unyielding wiles is where our gear shines,” states Jason Leggatt, Mustang Survival’s general manager.
Kicking-off with a 40-mile sprint from Port Townsend to Victoria BC, the 2019 Race to Alaska begins on June 3. Applications are currently being accepted until April 15, and the arrogantly naïve need not apply.
“There are no rules or schedules, but the most competitive teams just go all out, all night, and the weather hits them right in the face again, and again, and again. Teams are pretty shredded by the time they finish,” explains Race Boss, Daniel Evans. “But,” Leggatt added, “with Mustang Survival, their gear won’t be.”
About Mustang Survival
Through constant innovation and inspired technical solutions, Mustang Survival strives to bolster performance, encourage exploration and inspire adventure in the marine environment. We are committed to the protection and enhancement of those who push themselves to extremes. Mustang Survival is part of The Safariland Group family of brands. For more information, visit www.mustangsurvival.com.
Mustang Survival. Saving lives since 1967.
About The Safariland Group
The Safariland Group is a leading global provider of a broad range of safety and survivability products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets. The Safariland Group offers a number of recognized brand names in these markets including Safariland®, Med-Eng®, Safariland® Armor, Mustang Survival®, Bianchi®, Break Free®, PROTECH® Tactical, Defense Technology®, Hatch®, Monadnock®, Identicator® and NIK®. The Safariland Group’s mission, “Together, We Save Lives”, is inherent in the lifesaving and protective products it delivers. The Safariland Group is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. The Safariland Group is a trade name of Safariland, LLC.
For more information about The Safariland Group and these products, please visit www.safariland.com.
The Resource Group has been included in Bob Scott's list of 2018 VAR Stars, a group of 100 Value Added Resellers (VARs) for mid-market accounting software. This unranked listing of VARs in the United States showcases accounting software resellers who demonstrate growth and leadership in the industry. According to Bob Scott's report, "the selection of mid-market accounting software resellers for Bob Scott's VAR Stars rests on one basic principal: quality, not revenue."
According to Marty Schillaci, Chief Executive Officer of The Resource Group, the VAR Stars inclusion is an honor that the company works hard to earn. "The Resource Group has been a leader among mid-market accounting software resellers for multiple decades, and 2018 was no exception," Schillaci said. "We make it our priority to help customers optimize their business systems by using the best technology available on the market, such as Sage Intacct."
As accounting software moves to the cloud, there have been shifts in the core group of VAR Stars who make Bob Scott's list. Changes in technology require resellers to be proactive about what they're offering to customers. According to Schillaci, The Resource Group's approach has always been to sell the best solutions available. "We specialize in offering just a few of the most effective accounting solutions, because with this approach we feel we can provide the depth of expertise that customers need to move beyond basic success and truly thrive."
The Resource Group The Resource Group helps clients improve business processes, overcome challenges during growth, and connect business information by providing rock solid financial management software solutions. Throughout Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, clients have experienced improved operational processes, optimized financial management, robust reporting and business insight across multiple applications. Headquartered in Renton, Washington, The Resource Group is there throughout the entire lifecycle of a client's new solution; from initial software evaluation to installation, data migration, implementation, software development, system integration, training and support.
Yisrayl Hawkins, Pastor and Overseer at The House of Yahweh in Abilene, Texas, has written a new post this week that invites world leaders and lay people alike to contact The House of Yahweh for viable solutions based on Scripture.
Yisrayl says the world is in great need of answers right now and The House of Yahweh is prepped and ready to provide scriptural answers that will eliminate problems in any situation. He says the answers are foolproof and were given from the very beginning for mankind to live in peace.
“We have always had these answers, but the world rejected them early on and that’s when the problems began to escalate. We can have peace, and we will provide the plan for it,” Yisrayl says. Yisrayl says The House of Yahweh is the only organization on earth that is obeying the Scriptures properly and is the only group qualified to teach them. He says he has scriptural proof that will back-up every word taught. He is adamant the proof is in the results. “If you put what the Scriptures say into practice and don’t sway from them one bit, you will see the great blessings that come into your life and anyone else’s who comes in contact with you,” Yisrayl says.
Yisrayl says the best way to gain a better understanding of these teachings is to watch their weekly Sabbath Service live streams every seventh day of the week at 9:00am CST on their website and Facebook live. Just type https://www.facebook.com/officialhouseofyahweh/ in your web browser and hit enter.
To read the article and get more details, go to http://www.yahwehsbranch.com. Click the top title word that says “BLOG” to read the newest letter.
About Us: The House of Yahweh, fully recognized in 1983 as a non-profit organization in the United States of America, continues to this present day to fulfill its commissioned work of preaching and publishing the True Message of Salvation.
The House of Yahweh correctly translated, restored and published The Book of Yahweh in 1987. It has the Sacred Names restored in all the correct places, and many of the mistranslated Scriptures have been correctly translated.
Media Contact: Rebekah Mathews or Teshua Schoenheinz (800) 613-9494
What is the right thing to do when a family member comes out as transgender? As Jonathan S. Williams (author of She’s My Dad: A Father’s Transition and a Son’s Redemption) discovered, “There’s no handbook. There’s no You-Tube video. Behind everyone’s coming-out party there is a family who is weeping, drinking too much, and googling what exactly it means to be transgender.”
Three months into pastoring his new evangelical church plant, Jonathan learned that his father Paul was transgender. A prominent evangelical pastor himself, Paul soon became Paula, and was immediately ousted from her community. Torn between supporting his father and his church’s position on transgender issues, Jonathan spiraled into depression and drinking. She’s My Dad follows Jonathan and Paula’s stories in alternating chapters, examining the feelings of loss, confusion, and anger when a parent transitions.
Jonathan and Paula explore their family’s continuing evolution, the meaning of remaining loyal to one’s father even when she is no longer a man, the ongoing theological evolution surrounding transgender rights and advocacy in the church, and the unflinching self-scrutiny of a pastor who lost his God only to find God again in his father’s transition.
Jonathan S. Williams is Senior Pastor of Forefront Church in New York, a progressive church that works to bring a just and generous Christianity to New York City.
Paula Stone Williams is a nationally known speaker on gender equity and LGBTQ advocacy. She is the Pastor of Preaching and Worship at Left Hand Church in Longmont, Colorado, and a therapist with RLT Pathways, Inc.
Praise for She’s My Dad: A Father’s Transition and a Son’s Redemption
“Written with gut-wrenching honesty and a raw vulnerability that exposes both deep pain and deep compassion, this gripping memoir reveals the heartache and the beauty of navigating life when a family member comes out. A much-welcomed addition of the library of LGBTQ+ resources and one I highly recommend!” —Amber Cantorna, author of Refocusing My Family and Unashamed: A Coming-Out Guide for LGBTQ Christians
“When a parent begins living their gender identity authentically, it impacts the identity of everyone in the family. In She’s My Dad, Jonathan Williams describes the pain of reconceiving his father and himself, both as individuals and as pastors. The book is a wonderful resource for transitioning people and their loved ones.” —Suzanne DeWitt Hall, author of Transfigured: A 40-Day Journey through Scripture for Gender-Queer and Transgender People
“Jonathan Williams manages to honestly capture the pain and heartbreak he felt during his parent’s transition without discounting the reality of Paula’s identity. I kept waiting for the moment when the suffering of these two people would be pitted against each other. Instead, Jonathan and Paula work together to show us a reality in which two people in difficult circumstances can journey through pain and toward a new relationship.” —Austen Hartke, author of Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians
She’s My Dad A Father’s Transition and a Son’s Transition Jonathan S. Williams with Paula Stone Williams November 2018 9780664264352 • 5.5" x 8.5" • 202 pages • Paperback • .00
On January 17th, 18th and 19th Kaminski Auctions will be returning to Palm Desert, California to host a three-day Antiques Appraisal event offering free verbal appraisals for your antique fine art, jewelry, silver, porcelain, decorative arts, Asian antiques etc. The event will be held in the Lobby Boardroom of the Embassy Suites by Hilton, Palm Desert located at 74-700 Highway 111, Palm Desert, California, 92260 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on a first come basis.
A Kaminski Auctions representative will be available by appointment for house calls for your larger items or you may bring in photos. We are now accepting consignments for our 2019 auctions. You may also email images to our team of expert appraisers at hmorgan(at) kaminskiauctions(dot)com.
Kaminski Auctions, located on the North Shore of Boston, has been serving the New England antiques market for over 30 years as a full service auction house and appraisal service for fine art, antiques and estates. As auctioneers of the Oprah Winfrey Collection and most recently,The Martha Stewart Studio Props Collection, Kaminski Auctions is uniquely qualified to handle collections large and small. Kaminski Auctions provides its customers with international exposure for their items on three live bidding platforms and bicoastal services with east coast offices in Beverly, Massachusetts and West Palm Beach, Florida and west coast offices in Beverly Hills and San Diego, California. If you are moving, downsizing or settling an estate we have highly trained and knowledgeable appraisers on staff that will help you determine the true value of your antiques, or entire collections. Our state-of-the-art auction gallery is located at 117 Elliott St. (Rt. 62), Beverly, Massachusetts. Kaminski Auctions hosts 24 plus auctions a year. For more information on this exciting event go to our website at http://www.kaminskiauctions.com or call our office at 978-927-2223.
The American Alpine Club (AAC) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 Climbing Awards honoring the most impactful climbers and conservationists within the North American climbing community. Among this year’s award honorees are climbing legends Tom Hornbein, Michael Kennedy, and Jim Donini, and present-day activists and trend-setters including Jeremy Jones, Kate Rutherford, and Brette Harrington.
The Annual Climbing Awards, presented by The American Alpine Club, are the longest running and most prestigious awards honoring climbing and mountain conservation in North America. The Annual Climbing Awards will be presented at the AAC Annual Dinner Weekend, March 8-10, 2019 in San Francisco. The event’s keynote speaker is Colin Haley, who will speak to the triumphs and tragedies of speed climbing.
Phil Powers, American Alpine Club CEO, said of the 2019 Awards, “The Annual Climbing Awards are unique in that they recognize both lifetime achievements and those who represent the future. Look at the list; from climbers who are changing the climbing landscape right now to icons from our history, we will hear some amazing stories.”
Celebrating some of the greatest mountaineers of Golden Age of American climbing, Jim Donini, Michael Kennedy will receive a prestigious Honorary Membership for their “lasting and highly significant impact on the advancement of the climbing craft,” and Tom Hornbein, famous for the 1963 first ascent of Everest’s infamous West Ridge, will receive the 2019 Heilprin Citation for his lifelong work to “maintain and strengthen the American Alpine Club.”
For the second year in a row, a female climber will receive the The Robert Hicks Bates Award which honors young climbers who show “outstanding promise for future accomplishment.” Brette Harrington, a 26-year-old climber, is perhaps best known for the first free solo of 2,500-ft Chiaro di Luna (5.11a) in Patagonia, but is also an accomplished trad climber with several 5.13+ routes to her name. Past Bates Award winners have included Alex Honnold, Chris Sharma, Tommy Caldwell, Steph Davis, Hayden Kennedy, Colin Haley (the 2019 Keynote speaker), Sasha DiGiulian, and Margo Hayes.
Kate Rutherford is set to receive the Underhill Award in recognition of a fantastic and inspiring climbing career. Rutherford was singled out by the AAC selection committee due to her impressive list of climbing accomplishments worldwide and a number of notable first all-female free ascents, including FreeRider (5.13a) on El Capitan, the Moonlight Buttress (5.12d) in Zion, and the North Pillar of Fitzroy.
Legendary big mountain snowboarder, Jeremy Jones, will be recognized for his conservation leadership to bring attention to climate change as it affects the mountain community. Jones has become an unrelenting champion to fight climate change and share his experiences of receding glaciers and changing mountain landscapes using his podium as an athlete. In 2013 Jones was named National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, and has been called a “Champion of Change” by President Obama.
The American Alpine Club is also pleased to recognize the selflessness and courage of a Polish climbing team who redirected from their first winter ascent of K2 to rescue another team caught at 26,660 ft on Pakistan’s Nanga Parbat. The team, comprised of Dennis Urubko, Adam Bielecki, Jaroslaw Botor, and Piotrek Tomala, climbed through the night in treacherous conditions to rescue a French climber, Elisabeth Revol.
Location: The Westin St. Francis 2295 Harrison Street San Francisco, CA 94110
Keynote Speaker: Colin Haley on the triumphs and tragedies of speed climbing.
Additional Festivities: Send ‘n’ Social celebrity climbing comp, climbing clinics, panel discussions, and more! Check the website for the full weekend schedule.
Ticket Information: The 2019 Annual Dinner Weekend is expected to sell out and tickets are limited. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit americanalpineclub.org/annual-benefit-dinner. Registration closes on February 14, or when sold out.
Honorary Membership For having had a lasting and significant impact on the advancement of climbing. Recipient: Jim Donini and Michael Kennedy
The Robert and Miriam Underhill Award Recognizing the highest level of climbing skill, courage, and perseverance, with outstanding success. Recipient: Kate Rutherford
Heilprin Citation Recognizing those who have worked to maintain and strengthen the American Alpine Club. Recipient: Thomas Hornbein, MD
The Robert Hicks Bates Award Recognizing a young climber with outstanding promise. Recipient: Brette Harrington
The David R. Brower Award Recognizing leadership and commitment to preserving mountain regions worldwide. Recipient: Jeremy Jones
The David A Sowles Award Recognizing unselfish devotion at personal risk or sacrifice of a major objective, in going to the assistance of fellow climbers imperiled in the mountains. Recipients: Dennis Urubko, Adam Bielecki, Jaroslaw Botor, and Piotrek Tomala
The H. Adams Carter Literary Award (Presented June 1 at the Excellence in Climbing event in Denver) Recognizing excellence in climbing literature. Recipient: Kelly Cordes
About The American Alpine Club
The American Alpine Club is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose vision is a united community of competent climbers and healthy climbing landscapes. Together with our members, the AAC advocates for American climbers domestically and around the world; provides grants and volunteer opportunities to protect and conserve the places we climb; hosts local and national climbing festivals and events; publishes two of the world’s most sought-after climbing annuals, the American Alpine Journal and Accidents in North American Mountaineering; cares for the world’s leading climbing library and country’s leading mountaineering museum; manages five campgrounds as part of a larger lodging network for climbers; and annually gives ,000+ toward climbing, conservation, and research grants that fund adventurers who travel the world. Learn about additional programs and become a member at americanalpineclub.org.
At least where the Maasai live in Kajiado County, Kenya, they will.
The idea was born just last week at the Global Water Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There, members of the Maasai tribe and the IndiMark charitable organization met with several companies to explore solutions to the tribe's many water challenges.
"We are not THE solution, but we can be an important part of the solution." says Yana DeMyer CEO of Roving Blue®, Inc. a Wisconsin company that manufactures a water purification device called the "Ozo-Pod® 10. "This is the perfect time of year to announce our charitable pricing program. That song by Band Aid always makes me tear up, now I feel like celebrating, because we have found a way to "let them know it’s Christmas time!"
Roving Blue®'s team was inspired by the good work that IndiMark does, and wanted to help them in their efforts. The Charitable Program makes Roving Blue's technology available for drastically reduced prices. For example, an Ozo-Pod® 10, which sells for 9 here in the US, will be made available for .00. One Ozo-Pod® 10 can ensure safe water for 4 families for over a year for less than 1/300 of a cent. Readers wishing to donate may go here. Roving Blue®'s innovative new technology puts "The Power of EO3™", electrolytic ozone, in the palm of your hand.
Ozone, a form of oxygen, is more powerful than chlorine when dissolved in water. This low voltage device (which can be run from a motorcycle battery which can be charged by the sun) kills bacteria, virus, and cysts. Cholera, typhoid fever, e-coli and salmonella are just a few organisms that are eradicated by ozone. When its job is done, ozone quickly and harmlessly reverts to oxygen.
Roving Blue®'s technology is small, robust, and has no moving parts, so it’s ideal for austere living conditions. It will allow the villagers to keep captured rainwater pure, as well as enable them to use water from the same pools that the cattle drink from and wade in.
"The water may not be pretty, but it will be safe to drink", ensures Yana.
IndiMark is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in July 2018. We are located in Madison, Wisconsin. Other charitable organizations may contact Roving Blue®'s Director of Sales, Meli Lussier, for details of the program.
The SCARPA Maestro family, a high-performance new collection of rock shoes built for trad climbing and situations where people are in their shoes for longer periods of time, earned a 2018 Best in Gear (BIG) Award this month from Rock and Ice Magazine, one of North America’s most respected climbing publications.
The BIG Award is given to 10 products that rise above the fray in innovation, value and performance. Rock and Ice notes that the Maestro shines in all three. The awards were announced in the magazine’s November issue.
“The Maestro is a high-performance all arounder, a rarity among rock shoes,” says Duane Raleigh, Publisher and Editor in Chief of Rock and Ice Magazine. “It has just enough downturn, just enough rand tension, and just enough midsole to power up your feet with just enough squeeze and support to make it a precision tool for face and cracks.”
The Maestro family, redefines the belief that rock shoes built for trad climbing have to be stiff in order to perform well thanks to a new high-performance rubber rand system and soft, comfortable Eco Leather. The Maestro shoes start with SCARPA’s new IPC-Tension active rand system, which provides serious support without unnecessary stiffness. To help with comfort, innovative patterning in the upper relocates seams away from spots where they could cause discomfort, particularly when wedging feet into cracks. Comfort also stems from the use of a premium Eco Leather, an incredibly soft and supple, yet durable, leather. In addition, Eco Leather uses a process that alleviates the environmental impact of tanning.
The Maestro Mid has a higher-cut for ankle protection in cracks, and the women’s Maestro Mid is the first women’s specific high-cut trad shoe on the market. The men’s and women’s Maestro, by contrast, are lower-cut, ideal for technical face climbing. They also use a more powerful version of the IPC-Tension active rand.
“The staff at Rock and Ice are serious climbers who invest serious time into their reviews. Look no further than the fact that they subject most gear to 50 pitches or 50 days of climbing before reviewing it,” said Kim Miller, CEO of SCARPA North America. “We invested a lot into creating the Maestro family, and that’s why this award means so much to us and to our community. We’re incredibly grateful for this recognition.”
About SCARPA and SCARPA North America
Founded in 1938, SCARPA builds performance footwear for climbing, hiking, skiing, mountaineering, trail running and other outdoor pursuits from its headquarters in Asolo, Italy. SCARPA has been owned and operated by the Parisotto family since 1956. In 2005, SCARPA opened its North American headquarters in Boulder, Colo., staffed and directed by veterans of the North American outdoor industry, to oversee sales, marketing and distribution in the U.S., Canada and South America. For more information about SCARPA footwear, visit www.scarpa.com.
Signpost, a partnership between the global humanitarian organizations Mercy Corps and the International Rescue Committee, has reached 1 million refugees, asylum seekers and crisis-affected communities with critical information across seven countries and three continents. Through a suite of digital tools, Signpost provides up-to-date information in multiple languages on legal rights and documentation, accommodation, transportation, medical care and more to people who are in transit or starting life in a new country.
Signpost, supported by Cisco, Google, Microsoft and TripAdvisor, initially began as Refugee.Info, a mobile-friendly website launched in 2015 to assist refugees arriving on the Greek islands. Since then, Refugee.Info has reached an estimated 60 percent of the refugee population in Greece. Signpost has expanded to four additional countries in Europe and has launched regional platforms in Jordan (Khabrona.Info) and El Salvador (CuentaNos.org), providing WiFi connectivity and information in seven languages through websites, Facebook, a blog and service maps.
“We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to help more than 1 million people get the support and information they need during some of the toughest and scariest chapters of their lives,” says Meghann Rhynard-Geil, Technology for Development Advisor at Mercy Corps. “With a record 68.5 million people on the run because of conflict, poverty and climate change, technology and private sector partnership with humanitarian organizations will continue playing a critical role helping people in search of a better life.”
“Technology, when coupled with human-centered design can play a critical role in providing solutions to the global refugee crisis. Signpost meets refugees where they’re at – whether via a website, social media, or through face-to-face communication that is enhanced by the use of digital technology – to provide critical information and help save lives,” says Lani Fortier, Signpost Project Director for the International Rescue Committee. “People experiencing crisis have enough obstacles to overcome as they work to survive and rebuild their lives. Signpost ensures that misinformation is not another barrier to overcome.”
In a new place and without speaking the local language, refugees often lack basic information they need to access essential humanitarian services. And after suffering or witnessing traumatic events for months or years, they are often unprepared to absorb complex information. In this environment, rumors and misinformation can take the place of credible news. In addition to providing up-to-date information, Signpost also employs social media moderators who are refugees themselves to provide two-way communication, answering questions and providing guidance in users’ own languages and on their preferred platform. In 2018, 11,000 Signpost users sent 94,200 messages to social media moderators.
“Making information universally accessible and useful is a core part of our mission,” says Hector Mujica, Program Manager at Google.org. “As such, we're proud to support Signpost not only with financial contributions, but with Googlers—our top asset—who've dedicated time and technical expertise to help expand this powerful tool to the most marginalized communities around the world.”
Mercy Corps and the International Rescue Committee aim to continue expanding Signpost’s presence in countries situated along migration routes, such as the Central Mediterranean, or where people are displaced due to conflict or crisis.
ABOUT MERCY CORPS Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action – helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Learn more at http://www.mercycorps.org.
ABOUT THE IRC The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 24 offices across the U.S. helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future, and strengthen their communities. Learn more at http://www.rescue.org and follow the IRC on Twitter & Facebook.
LOS ANGELES -- Actress MELANIE HAYNES delivers plenty of fun this holiday season appearing in Lifetime’s TV movie, MY CHRISTMAS INN, and then in theaters with Sony’s animated Marvel feature film, SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE. Haynes will head back to the small screen in 2019 when she emerges in season three of HBO’s anthology crime drama TRUE DETECTIVE.
On November 21st, Haynes joins the festivities as Ruth in the Lifetime holiday movie MY CHRISTMAS INN. The story follows Jen Taylor (Tia Mowry-Hardict), who inherits a cozy Alaskan inn and unexpectedly discovers a spark of love with small town attorney Steve Anderson (Rob Mayes). Ruth (Haynes) and her husband are regulars at the Inn who demonstrate to Jen just how fulfilling a loving relationship can be.
Then hitting theaters on December 14th, Haynes lends her voice to the Marvel Universe for the new Sony animated feature film SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE. Spider-Man crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the Spider-Men of those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality. Haynes joins the action as the Logic Teacher alongside the all-star cast including Nicolas Cage, Hailee Steinfeld, Liev Schreiber, John Mulaney, Mahershala Ali, Lily Tomlin.
Coming in 2019, Haynes heads back to the small screen for the anticipated season three of HBO’s anthology crime drama series TRUE DETECTIVE, premiering on January 13th. The next installment tells the story of Wayne Hays (Mahershala Ali), a state police detective tasked with investigating the disappearance of two young children in the Ozarks. Haynes joins the cast that also includes Carmen Ejogo, Stephen Dorff, Ray Fisher, Sarah Gadon and Rhys Wakefield among others.
Haynes is excited by the diverse projects she’s been part of recently, adding “I love working on such a variety of projects in drama and comedy – traveling to new, beautiful locales and working with such wonderful actors, directors, and crew! Since so much of my work has been in voice over through the years, it was especially delightful to be asked to voice a character in this ground breaking new animated Spider-Man feature film. Excelsior!"
Haynes has landed in several celebrated indie films, including as the awkward Aunt Patty in the comedy Antiquities, starring Andrew J. West, Ashley Green, Mary Steenburgen and Michaela Watkins; and as Aunt Trish in the new digital buddy road-trip comedy release Chasing the Sun. Her film roles also include Mother of Mackenzie Davis in the coming-of-age drama, A Country Called Home; as a Church-going, pyramid scheming deceitful woman in Heartland; as the charming but lonely Southern belle Cordella in the award-winning short Tender Moments; and as the no-nonsense bar owner Sissy in the indie drama The Last Mark.
Splitting her time between Los Angeles and her hometown Houston, Texas, Haynes has appeared in and voiced numerous television projects, most recently as a Southern Chef opposite Adam Conover in TruTV’s Adam Ruins Everything. Her TV credits also include The Middle, Salem, A Face to Kill For, The Con, Arrest & Trial and The Daily Apple. She earned her Bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate in Theater and English at the University of Houston, and danced for several years with Patsy Swayze’s Houston Jazz Ballet Company. Haynes served on the board of SAG-AFTRA’s Houston Local Branch for 15 years and as the President for two terms. Today, Haynes continues to run her own professional voice over studio which she established back in 2002.
Melanie Haynes is represented by Aqua Talent, Caviar Enertainment, Osbrink Agency (VO), Pastorini-Bosby Talent (Houston/SE) and Stars Talent Studio (Utah).
LOS ANGELES – Filmmaker and actress Angela Matemotja picked up the ‘Female Pioneer Award’ for her feature film debut, ELEVATE, at the recent 10th annual DTLA Film Festival in Los Angeles.
The theme of the 2018 festival was women’s empowerment, a nod to the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements launched one year ago. Writing, directing and starring in ELEVATE, Matemotja delivers a drama of intertwining stories about people who must fight to overcome their struggles with homophobia, food addiction and racism. For this, she proved an exceptional choice for the ‘Female Pioneer Award’ honor beside ‘Independent Film Pioneer Award’ winners Mira Sorvino, Rosanna Arquette and Malcolm McDowell, who all starred in prominent films at the festival.
"It’s a tremendous honor to receive such an award from DTLA Film Festival," Matemotja shares. "Karolyne Sosa did an outstanding job. Because our film touches on many social issues, I am pleased that she recognized the women's issues the film deals with as well, particularly the #MeToo aspect of our story. Our screening had a great turnout, audience was extremely receptive and what a great venue. It was such a success, I’m thrilled."
ELEVATE follows the story of Trina, an overweight elevator switchboard operator who desperately tries to accomplish just one day of healthy eating. Overwhelmed by her abusive boss and by the trapped elevator occupants that reach out to her for help, her fitness guru provides the inspiration and escape that she craves – or does she? Ultimately, all of the occupants in this trapped world find themselves caught face-to-face with their inner demons.
The film also stars Brianna Brown (CW’S Dynasty), Kit Williamson (creator/star of award-winning and Emmy nominated LGBTQ series Eastsiders), Alexis Carra (Latina star of ABC’s Mixology) and Matemotja (Tyler Perry’s Single Mom’s Club).
To produce, Matemotja turned to Dele Ogundiran, who is also African, and Brown, who is the CEO of the non-profit The New Hollywood, which is dedicated to supporting socially conscious storytellers and changemakers.
Leading up to its premiere, ELEVATE has already earned an award of Merit for Best Feature Film and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Angela Matemotja) from the Accolade Global Film Competition.
As an actress, Matemotja has appeared on screens big and small. Her notable feature film credits include the role of ‘Christina’ in Tyler Perry’s The Single Mom’s Club and alongside Kevin Hart in the indie comedy film Something Like A Business. Her television roles include appearances on the CBS mega-hit comedy How I Met Your Mother, Amazon’s top cop-drama Bosch, ABC’s long-running series Castle and edgy sitcom Don’t Trust The B…, and Ryan Murphy’s modern laugher The New Normal on NBC.
Behind the camera, Matemotja earned an NAACP Award nomination for directing the stage play Sunshine For a Midnight Weary. Her first short film as writer/director, The Encounter, screened at over 30 international film festivals, earning the Grand Jury Award at the White Sands Int’l FF, Honorable Mention at Toronto CommFFest and nominations for Best Short Film at SoCal FF, SOHO FF and Long Island Int’l Film Expo. Her second short, The Untimely Concurrence, won Best LGBTQ Film at AOF FF, San Francisco Black FF and San Diego Black FF, and the Silver Screen Award for Best Short Film at the Nevada Int’l FF. In addition, her screenplay Drunk Book was awarded Best Comedy Short for the written word competition at AOF FF.
There are many hip-hop performers, but hip-hop innovators can be a bit more difficult to find. The good news in Indiana-based J Tizzle Muzic are doing their best to help, recently announcing they have signed Augusta, Georgia's breakthrough group Tueazee to their growing independent label. Mixing an old and new-school aesthetic Tueazee have been winning huge praise from both fans and music media, and the anticipation surrounding the release of their new single on J Tizzle Muzic, scheduled to drop July 10th, with pre-orders available starting on June 22nd, is high. Expect Tueazee to live up to the “outside of the box” Georgia hip-hop tradition.
“Tueazee is the modern day Outkast,” commented J Tizzle, head of J Tizzle Muzic LLC. “I know these guys are special, and they can bring in fans that are both hardcore hip-hop lovers and people who just appreciate great music period.”
The single “I Know” will be available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and other major digital music outlets.
Tueazee have been winning praise for their mix of originality and glimpses in the songs of their classic influences from artists like Jay Z, Kendrick Lamar, Common, and J Cole. The golden age blended with the present in Tueazee may just represent the real future of hardcore hip-hop.
Fans certainly agree.
Michelle S., from Boston, recently said in a five-star review, “My boyfriend and I have had Tueazee on play constantly since one of our good friends from Georgia put us on them. It's great to hear they have signed a deal and that is sure to make more people aware of the amazing songs they are dropping.”
LOS ANGELES -- Filmmaker and Actress Ren Hanami has been earning awards on the festival circuit with her dramatic short film, LIKE LAST NIGHT, which tests the limits of a teenage friendship after a sexual assault. The coming-of-age film will screen next as an ‘Official Selection’ at the inaugural Golden State Film Festival in Los Angeles on August 12th and Long Beach Indie International Film Festival in late August.
LIKE LAST NIGHT follows Caroline (Carmen Hodgson) and Alex (Andrea Claux), two high school best friends with very different points of view on life, who are forced to confront what to do after one of them is raped at a party. Will the crisis tear them apart or bond them closer together?
The film earned ‘Best Coming Of Age Short’ at the 2018 Culver City Film Festival and ‘Best Short Film Supporting Actress’ for Hanami at the Silicon Beach Film Festival. In addition, the London Story First Film Festival declared: "This is a heartfelt short about a difficult topic, and is sensitively acted by the cast, including a strong performance by Director Hanami as Caroline’s mother.”
Behind the camera, Hanami has been writing and developing several original projects. She is in-development on the feature film, Ninja Mom; and the teen focused spin-off television series pilot, Fashionista Ninja. In addition, Hanami is developing the feature film she penned, Native Land, Rising Sun; a finalist in the 2018 Diverse Voices Screenplay Contest, the story follows a Japanese American girl and Native American girl who meet in the Poston Arizona Internment Camp during World War II.
Hanami is best known in Hollywood for her on-camera work. Most recently, she appeared in episodes of the acclaimed Netflix series GLOW, Showtime’s Shameless, CBS’s police-drama S.W.A.T. and TNT’s popular drama Major Crimes. She also flexed her funny side recurring as Ernie Hudson’s wife in the fan-favorite comedy, Angie Tribeca; ‘Claire’ in Santa Clarita Diet and recurring as ‘Lynn’ in the critically acclaimed HBO series Silicon Valley. Her previous television credits also include Criminal Minds, Pretty Little Liars, Grey’s Anatomy, Parenthood, Southland, and The Big Bang Theory among others. On the festival circuit, Hanami emerged at the Sundance Film Festival in Marianna Palka’s acclaimed bleak comedy Bitch, starring Jaime King and Jason Ritter.
A Huntington Beach, CA native, Hanami was influenced by the heritage of her Hawaiian/Japanese Mother and Scottish Father. She proudly sits as the National Chairman of the SAG-AFTRA Asian Pacific American Media Committee, which offers moral support and a forum where diverse voices can be heard.
LIKE LAST NIGHT at Golden State Film Festival When: Sunday, August 12, 2018 – 4:00pm Where: The Sepulveda Screening Room (1640 S. Sepulveda Blvd, Ste 104, Los Angeles, CA 90025) Info: http://www.goldenstatefilmfestival.com
#LISTENTOOME Women Movement is part of 2018 Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Challenge FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, March 30, 2018{, #LISTENTOOME Women Movement will compete for the Grand Prize, and be a voice for millions of women all around the globe to join and participate in the challenge. #LISTENTOOME Women Movement is a powerful Voice to speak out, inspire, change and impact millions of women all across the world.
Be a part of this powerful movement and join our team at https://www.crowdrise.com/gift-of-a-helping-hand-charitable-tr-purplepurse2018 Everything goes live on Tuesday, October 2 at 12 p.m. ET and ends Wednesday, October 31 at 1:59:59 p.m. ET.
The #LISTENTOOME Movement to support sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence and end domestic and sexual violence. Let Your Voice Be Heard And Be Counted Among The Number Who Are Making A Change. 17,700,000 women have reported a sexual assault since 1998. Break the silence and make a difference. Be a part of History and take a stand for the girls, young women and women of our future. Join the movement and take the pledge to your voice being heard and donate. Visit our website at www.tgoahhct.org. Scroll down toward the bottom of the page and click on the link Join The Movement. Make a ,000.00 donation and be listed as a Gold sponsor on our movement page.
Cathy P Russell is proud to be working in partnership with2018 Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Challenge and financial bringing #LISTENTOOME Women Movement to the spotlight and bringing positive light and a Voice for millions and millions of women all around the globe.
The Gift Of A Helping Hand Charitable Trust welcome all States and countries to come on board and join our team and be a part of #LISTENTOOME and help us inspire women life’s all across the world. Click on this link and join our team. https://www.crowdrise.com/gift-of-a-helping-hand-charitable-tr-purplepurse2018.
According to the latest publication from Meticulous Research™, global Quality Management in Healthcare Marketwill grow at a CAGR of 15% from 2018 to 2023 to reach USD 3,698.1 million by 2023.
The report states that the growth in this market is mainly attributed to “the government initiatives to improve patient outcomes & safety, rising unstructured data in healthcare, rising geriatric population & burden of chronic diseases, and improving health IT infrastructure”.
Geographically, the North American region is the largest market for quality management solutions in the healthcare market. This region is expected to continue its dominance in the global market with “the implementation of Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the U.S., stringent legislative and accreditation requirements regarding healthcare quality reporting, shift from fee-for-service to value-based reimbursements, growing patient data volume, high awareness and adoption of healthcare IT technologies, regulatory requirements to minimize medical errors and clinical risk, and presence of a large number of healthcare IT companies in the region.”
The key players in global quality management in the healthcare market are McKesson Corporation, Medisolv, Inc., Nuance Communication, Inc., Quantros, Inc., Dimensional Insight, Inc., Dolbey Systems, Inc., Verscend Technologies, Inc., MedeAnalytics, Inc., Citiustech Inc., Conduent, Inc., ArborMetrix, Inc. (Change Healthcare), Altegra Health, General Dynamics Health Solutions, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, 3M Company, Truven Health Analytics (IBM Watson Health), and Persivia, among others.
Meticulous Research® is founded in 2010 and incorporated as Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. in 2013 as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. Since its incorporation, the company has become the leading provider of premium market intelligence in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.
Contact Info: Viren Shrivastava Email: viren@meticulousresearch.com Direct Lines: +1-646-781-8004 (North America) +44-203-868-8738 (Europe) +91 744-7780008 (Asia-Pacific)
Queens native DJ Chris Dollar is set to have one of the biggest weekends in his career. Starting with his celebrity Gemini birthday bash alongside "The Kingpin" Funk Flex and hosted by Hot 97 radio personality TT Torrez, this Friday, May 25th at the Orbit Night Club in New York City located at 637 west 50th Street New York, NY.
This event is expected to feature a who's who of industry heavyweights and insiders with many celebrity guests. In addition, DJ Chris Dollar will make his debut on Hot 97 this Sunday, May 27th from 6 am to 7 am part of the station's annual "All-Mix Weekend". Finally this week Dj Chris Dollar drops his new mixtape "Money, Power, Respect Volume 3" with the exclusively recorded "100 Racks" by Kaio Kane featuring Lil Baby and LouGotCash.
This is the third installment of his M.P.R. series which has been well received by both fans and industry insiders alike. "Chris' work ethic is the key to the success that he has achieved in such a short amount of time. We are far ahead of schedule but we still have more work to do to reach the goals we set for ourselves." – Adante Ace In the past few years under the tutelage of mentor & manager Adante Ace, DJ Chris Dollar has become a staple of the New York party and club scene.
Chris has appeared on the same bill with many legendary turntablists. And has gained the respect of fellow deejays such as Funk Flex, DJ SnS, Dj Envy, Dj Self, DJ Camilo, DJ Prostyle and others. His impressive achievements included hosting events throughout the United States including Puerto Rico; as well as international events in places like Mexico and parts of the Caribbean; three well received and critically acclaimed mixtapes in addition to a modest hit single "Feel it (I Love NY)" which garnered major radio airplay on New York radio stations including Power 105.1. We expect this summer to be a pivotal moment in the career of DJ Chris Dollar. With hit records, a hot party, the admiration of fans and the respect of his peers the sky is the limit for this young man.
As RoSPA state, seat belts should ‘be worn as tight as possible with no slack’ and ‘the lap belt should go over the pelvic region, not the stomach’. It is well documented that although the crash test dummies are in this perfect sitting position when new cars get tested by NCAP/EuroNCAP, this is not the position most of the world’s 900 million vehicle drivers are in during normal driving.
As EuroNCAP state “Occupant positioning is critical to effective protection during a collision: systems such as seatbelts and airbags do not work as effectively if the occupants are displaced from the expected sitting positions before the impact.”
Although seat belts are proven to reduce injury and save lives, after just a few miles we slip down just an inch or two and our pelvis rotates and this leads to the lap belt riding up off the pelvis onto the stomach, compromising the seatbelt safety. Any collision in this position leads to a very different outcome compared to the EuroNCAP tests. At lower impact speeds the seat belt can cause bruising but at higher speeds internal bleeding and even ‘submarining’ can occur, where the occupant slips under the seat belt. Ask any first-on-the-scene paramedic. A head on collision of 2 cars travelling more than 30mph leads to a 60mph impact. The seat belt works optimally when firmly across the hips to take the huge force on the strong pelvic bone, but if there is slack in the lap belt section, as happens commonly, the damage to the occupants can be fatal.
SHOFT is a new patented product that goes a long way to solving this problem, and it’s so simple.
We all want to sit in the safest position and although most of us start off in a healthy upright position with slack removed, gravity takes its toll after just a few miles and we tend to slip down and forwards slightly into a ‘slouch’ position. We often see drivers sit back up at traffic lights and even give the seat belt a tug upwards to remove the slack again, only for the process to happen again a few miles down the road.
The stark fact is that any slack in the lap belt or misplacement of the seat belt will compromise the effectiveness of the safety devices fitted to the car, such as airbags, knee protection and the seat belt as they are all designed and tested with the occupant sitting upright with seat belt across the hips and with no slack.
Now there is a simple solution.
SHOFTTM is a small palm-sized product designed to keep the slack out of the seat belt. After a 2 second install adding a SHOFT to the seat belt provides it with extra functionality by turning it into an ‘anti-slouch’ device. By keeping out the usual slack that creeps into our seatbelts, SHOFT helps to keep both driver and passengers in a better and potentially safer seated position. And with our poor posture in cars being identified as a major cause of back pain, SHOFT also helps to solve a problem that nearly all of us will have to deal with.
The innovative simple design invented by Dr Graham Cox and his father Ronald, is made from a specially designed soft material that fits by slipping over the top of your car seat belt tongue (that’s the bit you grab every time you buckle up). How does it work?
SHOFT has a specifically designed built in ‘brake pad’ made of a secret formula called GRIPteneTM, that engages the seat belt webbing across the lap portion when you buckle up and this helps to resist slack creeping into the lapbelt. SHOFT only affects the lap section of the seat belt, so the occupant can lean forwards in the seat to reach dials as normal.
Adding SHOFT to your vehicle can help you comply with RoSPA guidelines and will help ensure your seat belt is optimally positioned every mile of your trip.For more infomration visit us at www.shoft.co.uk.
New York, NY. In a matter now filed with the Attorney General’s Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force, the New York Court of Appeals upheld a lower court decision to charge a veteran for all legal fees incurred by his landlord in his attempts to evict him. Landlord, Larry Ginsberg, of Algin Management and owner of over thirty NY high-rise buildings, filed to evict a 40-year tenant on the basis of a claimed late payment of one rental check.
Tenant Gerard Sunnen, a Vietnam–era U.S. veteran (USAF-MC 71-73; USAF Reserves 73-82), states that this one check was duly sent, but not cashed. “For forty years the landlord happily took rent checks, Sunnen said, “ then one month, nothing except for a City Marshall eviction notice pasted on the door. While this may be a case of bias and discrimination, now known is that this is also a common tactic of certain NY landlords eager to flip apartments out of rent stabilization, flouting the rent stabilization guidelines of New York’s Department of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR).“
.The matter landed in NY City’s Housing Court, where months of court appearances ballooned legal fees. Algin demanded some ,800 - reflecting the rates of the landlord’s lawyers, Belkin, Burden, Wenig and Goldman, LLP. - The matter went to Justice Anne Katz, head of NY’s Housing Court. Katz upheld the landlord’s demands.
Appealing the decision to the NY Supreme Court Appellate Term, First Department, the matter awaited final adjudication. In their decision, appellate justices Martin Shulman, Martin Schoenfeld, and Doris Ling-Cohan upheld Katz’s order.
“Tenants’ rights are sacrosanct in many cities around the world,” Sunnen added, “where community cohesion is protected. In these turbulent times breaking down New York’s cultural fabric via massive real estate upheavals, veterans, as all New Yorkers, should have housing shielded from powerful predatory interests, all in the context of a benevolent judicial system.“
