Newsroom

View news releases and announcements distributed by EZ Newswire, the trusted source for business news.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
November 17, 2023 8:43 PM
EDT
MOUNT VERNON, NY

Taconic Innovations' Sweaters for Shelters Drive Distributes Clothes to Mount Vernon Shelter

Today, to make a positive impact and address the pressing needs of people living in shelters, the Taconic Innovations Day Habilitation Without Walls Program, on behalf of the Taconic Innovations Foundation, distributed warm clothes to a shelter located in Mount Vernon, NY.

Taconic Innovations recognizes the importance of community support, especially during challenging times. By organizing the Sweaters for Shelters Drive, we aim to contribute to the well-being of individuals in our community facing adversities.

We extend our deepest and sincere gratitude to everyone who participated in the Sweaters for Shelters initiative. Through collective efforts, we can create a positive impact and make a difference in the lives of those in our communities who are less fortunate.

Taconic Innovations is committed to fostering community inclusion and compassion. Please join us in our mission to bridge the gap to independence for those who come to us for services and support and those facing challenging circumstances in our communities. We will continue our efforts to build a community where everyone feels loved and cared for because everyone deserves the opportunity to realize their dreams.

Taconic Innovations provides:

  • Day habilitation without walls
  • Site-based day habilitation
  • Community habilitation
  • Respite services
  • Homecare / CDPAP
  • Transportation support

For more information about Taconic Innovations, visit: https://www.taconicinnovations.com

Media Contact

Mathias Oni-Eseleh, Jr.
Director of Strategy and Innovations

Media Contact

Dr. Mathias Oni-Eseleh
info@taconicinnovations.com

November 16, 2023 11:49 AM
EDT
WEEHAWKEN, NJ

Paquito D'Rivera and Brenda Feliciano to be Honored at United Children's Music Project's "A Night on the Hudson" on November 29

United Children's Music Project (UCMP) is thrilled to announce Brenda Feliciano and Paquito D'Rivera as its distinguished honorees for "A Night on the Hudson," on Wednesday, November 29 at 7 p.m. at Weehawken’s Chart House (1700 Harbor Boulevard).

"This year, we are so proud to honor multiple GRAMMY Award winners Brenda Feliciano and Paquito D'Rivera, two extraordinary artists whose commitment to music has made a profound impact around the world," said Melina Garcia, Founder and Executive Director of UCMP.

"Brenda Feliciano, a prominent figure in the music industry and two-time Grammy award winner, is a great inspiration to our young musicians," said UCMP founder Garcia. 

Born in Puerto Rico, Ms. Feliciano is a gifted singer/actress who has performed in theater and classical and jazz music. Along with husband Paquito D’Rivera, Feliciano received GRAMMY Awards for Best Latin Jazz Album ("Song for Maura" and "Panamericana Suite"). Feliciano performed and was associate/executive producer on many of D'Rivera recordings. She is the Vice President of Greenbug Productions and has managed D'Rivera’s career for decades. Feliciano is also on the Board of Trustees of WBGO Radio.

"World-renowned saxophonist/clarinetist and composer Paquito D'Rivera is not only a distinguished artist uniquely mixing Latin jazz and classical music," said Garcia, "but also an advocate for the transformative power of music in young lives."

The Cuban-born bandleader and resident of North Bergen, NJ is a 15-time GRAMMY winner and founding member of the legendary GRAMMY-winning Cuban ensemble, Irakere. Seeking asylum from Cuba while on tour with Irakere in Spain, D'Rivera came to the U.S., Dizzy Gillespie invited him to perform with his United Nations Orchestra—and the rest is history. Throughout his career, D'Rivera has recorded and performed with a who’s who of jazz, Latin, and classical greats, including Gloria Estéfan, Yo-Yo Ma, Lalo Schifrin, Herbie Mann, Tito Puente, McCoy Tyner, Nancy Wilson, and many others. D'Rivera is the recipient of countless awards including the 2005 National Medal of the Arts, a Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a 2022 Latin Grammy Trustees Award.

"Recognizing Brenda Feliciano and Paquito D'Rivera is a perfect match for UCMP," said Garcia. "They are both New Jersey treasures and their presence will serve as a source of inspiration for the children and families we serve."

Since 2012, UCMP has provided Hudson County children and youth with access to low-cost orchestral and choral music education, free instruments, and invaluable performance opportunities in the NJ/NY metropolitan area.

"A Night on the Hudson" will celebrate UCMP's 11-year journey and its profound impact on the lives of countless urban Hudson County kids. During an evening featuring live music, a breathtaking view of Manhattan's sparkling skyline, delectable hors d'oeuvres, and drinks, attendees will also enjoy performances by UCMP's Chamber Orchestra and surprise musical guests. UCMP thanks Ponce Bank for being a generous Bronze Sponsor of this annual fundraiser.

To buy tickets and for event details, please visit www.ucmusicproject.org.

About United Children's Music Project (UCMP)

United Children’s Music Project (UCMP) is a nonprofit organization that has been instrumental in transforming the lives of underserved children and youth in Hudson County through the power of music.  For more information about UCMP, please visit www.ucmusicproject.org.

Media Contact

Judith Bro
201-228-0341

Media Contact

Admin UCMP
admin@ucmusicproject.org

November 16, 2023 9:39 AM
EDT
WASHINGTON, DC

National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association Elects New Board Chair

The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA) has announced that Robert Mays, Staff Vice President for the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) at Elevance Health, has been elected chair of the NHCAA Board of Directors for 2024. The election took place during the Annual Business Meeting of NHCAA’s Membership Forum on November 6, 2023. Mays will succeed Jonnie Massey, Senior Director of the Special Investigations Unit at Blue Shield of California as Board Chair on January 1, 2024.

Commenting on the election of Mays, NHCAA Chief Executive Officer Louis Saccoccio said, “Bob has been a determined and tireless champion of NHCAA for many years. His enthusiasm for anti-fraud work is infectious and seemingly boundless. He shares his knowledge and expertise freely, benefiting a generation of our field’s newest anti-fraud professionals. His work as a faculty member for both NHCAA’s Annual Boot Camp program and the AHFI Prep Course is essential to those programs’ success. The Association will be in very good hands as we enter the year ahead.”

Bob Mays joined the NHCAA Board of Directors in September 2016, assuming a vacated Board seat. In the interceding seven years he has demonstrated proven leadership on the Board. His participation in NHCAA’s strategic planning  process in 2017 and again in 2020, was vital. Mays knows NHCAA well, and his lens toward innovation helped to clearly envision NHCAA’s future. 

Mays has served as a speaker at dozens of NHCAA programs and events, beginning in 2006.  His passion for anti-fraud education and the advancement of the profession is undeniable. He has also served on many NHCAA committees, often as Chair. Examples include the Anti-Fraud Management Survey Committee, the Accreditation Committee, the AHFI Practice Analysis Advisory Committee, the Education & Training Committee, and the Annual Training Conference Planning Committee.

In his role with Elevance, Mays leads more than 550 associates investigating medical and pharmacy fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) in support of the company’s Commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare business. With three decades of management experience, he advances excellence in operational execution with a range of innovative strategies that leverage data mining and analytic capabilities in the detection and prevention of health care fraud.

The Elevance SIU, led by Mays, conducts thousands of investigations annually, protecting company assets, its membership of affiliate health plans, and federal, state, and commercial clients. Under his leadership, multiple fraud investigative teams were consolidated, resulting in a 470% increase in savings for the company.

Before joining Elevance Health, Bob was a consultant to health care payers on fraud operations, advising how to lead multi-site operations, run large teams, and manage multi-million-dollar budgets. Prior to his work in the health care arena, Mays spent 20 years in law enforcement and retired as the Deputy Chief of Police for the Dover, Delaware Police Department. During his tenure there, he oversaw all aspects of the department including coordination of joint operations with the DEA, FBI, IRS, ATF, and U.S. Secret Service.

In addition to serving on the NHCAA Board of Directors, Mays sits on the National Antifraud Association Board (NAAB), as well as on the Executive Board of the Healthcare Fraud Prevention Partnership (HFPP).
 
Mays received his Master of Science in Public Administration from Wilmington University and earned his bachelor’s degree from Delaware State University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and is active with its non-profit organization—the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA). He has earned his Accredited Healthcare Fraud Investigator (AHFI) designation from NHCAA, is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and a recipient of the FBI Directors Award for distinguished public service in health care fraud.

The election of Bob Mays as NHCAA Board Chair was announced in conjunction with NHCAA’s Annual Training Conference in Dallas, Texas, held November 6-9, 2023. The Annual Training Conference is the premier event recognized as the nation's leading health care anti-fraud forum for more than 1,200 public- and private-sector health care anti-fraud professionals.

About the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association

Founded in 1985, the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association is the leading national organization focused exclusively on the fight against health care fraud and abuse. NHCAA’s members comprise more than 90 private health insurers and more than 250 public-sector law enforcement and regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over health care fraud.

Media Contact

Leigh McKenna

Media Contact

Leigh McKenna
lmckenna@nhcaa.org

November 15, 2023 3:20 PM
EDT
LOS ANGELES, CA

The Kratom Coalition Supports Indonesian Appeal to President Biden to Lift FDA Import Alert

The Kratom Coalition, along with the Indonesian Kratom Farmers Association and the American Kratom Association, commends Indonesian President Joko Widodo for meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday, November 14th, where President Widodo made an appeal to President Biden to maintain the free trade of kratom shipped from Indonesia to the United States as a part of the trade discussions between the two countries.

The meeting comes on the heels of General TNI (Ret.) Dr. Moeldoko formally asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to lift Import Alert 54-15, which broadly restricts the shipment of kratom from Indonesia to the United States. The alert constitutes a proxy ban on the substance, harming not just U.S. consumers but Indonesian farmers, their families, and the environment.

Kratom and its harvesting support the livelihood of more than 250,000 Indonesian farmers, most of whom live in remote areas in the Borneo rainforest where there are no other options for earning a living. An examination of economic alternatives to replace kratom farming (prompted by persistent threats like the FDA’s alert) revealed that converting the land area to palm oil production is the only viable option—requiring widespread deforestation that carries with it negative environmental impacts (increased temperatures, flooding, and forest fires, as well as reduced rainfall) and subsequent health consequences.

“Because 97% of U.S. kratom imports originate from Indonesia, the FDA’s alert will have an enormously harmful impact on Indonesian farmers who rely on kratom production for their livelihoods. It will also impact American consumers, who rely on kratom to relieve anxiety, manage pain, and treat symptoms of opioid withdrawal,” said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director, The Kratom Coalition. “In light of these considerations and the potential consequences to growers and their environment, we hope the Administration takes President Widodo’s appeal seriously and reverses this decision. A more productive and prudent approach would be to create a set of federal guidelines regulating the industry.”

The Kratom Coalition endorses the call to action put forward by Dr. Moeldoko, Chief of Staff of President Widodo. In a letter to the FDA issued on September 29, Dr. Moeldoko requested the lifting of the import alert, while proposing measures that would ensure the safety and quality of kratom products, and align with FDA standards. Such measures include the implementation of gamma radiation sterilization on raw materials, and independent laboratory testing to verify compliance with minimum standards for microbiological and heavy metal contamination.

While it has not been determined exactly how many people in the U.S. consume kratom products, a 2021 study identified approximately 2 million users, while the American Kratom Association, using Indonesian growers’ reports on exports, claims that 11 to 15 million Americans consume kratom. According to the Botanical Education Alliance, the industry contributes $1.13 billion to the U.S. economy.

About The Kratom Coalition

The Kratom Coalition’s mission is to empower individuals worldwide with access to safe and responsibly sourced kratom products while pushing forward scientific research and understanding surrounding the plant. Education is central to that mission, along with advocating for responsible regulation and funding research to advance the world’s knowledge about the potential benefits and risks associated with kratom.

To learn more about The Kratom Coalition, visit https://www.thekratomcoalition.org or follow on Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter).

Media Contact

Matthew Lowe
+27 76 424 6177

Media Contact

Andreas Biebl
abiebl@me.com

November 15, 2023 4:53 AM
EDT
MIAMI, FL

MOOON.PARTY: Unleashing a New Era in Entertainment With an Unparalleled Blend of Music, Art, and Space at Miami Art Week 2023

As the official prelude to the Art With Me festival, MOOON.PARTY is set to redefine Miami Art Week. This inaugural event, scheduled for December 6, 2023 at the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel in South Beach, represents a groundbreaking fusion of art, music, fashion, and space exploration, realized in collaboration with NRVLD.

Musical Odyssey

The event's heartbeat is its extraordinary music program, featuring a lineup of house DJs. Anticipated highlights include the global premiere of Brayden Pierce's "Capture the Moon (MOOON.PARTY Mix)" and performances by renowned DJs such as Knoll Doll, Matt Caines, Dude Skywalker, and DJ UZO.

Artistic Vanguard

The art showcase at MOOON.PARTY transcends boundaries, collaborating with Space Blue and the historic Lunaprise Moon Museum, and bringing them to Miami with the vision of Miami territory partner BitBasel. These exhibits are poised to embark on a celestial journey as part of the lunar missions in 2024.

A Canvas Beyond the Stars

A highlight of the event includes all participants in a "live art installation documentary," destined for the Lunaprise Moon Museum aboard a SpaceX mission aligned with NASA’s 2024 schedule.

Visionaries at the Helm

Co-founders Kelly Max and Brayden Pierce share their insights:

Kelly Max remarks,

"At MOOON.PARTY, we're creating a cultural lodestar. It's a fusion of extraordinary talents and brands, coming together for a celebration that transcends Earth's boundaries. This event is more than a festival; it's a landmark in cultural history. The moon doesn’t judge, the moon looks at all of us the same."

Brayden Pierce adds,

"Where humans go, art is there to define us. Embracing the moon's view offers a beacon of hope for humankind to see past our differences and open our eyes to compassion and kindness.  MOOON.PARTY is more than a celebration. It symbolizes a new chapter for human culture existing beyond Earth."

A Coalition of Creative Powerhouses


A New Epoch in Cultural Celebrations

Under the leadership of Kelly Max and Brayden Pierce, MOOON.PARTY combines elite talent, diverse partnerships, and innovative marketing strategies, setting a new standard in cultural events.

Join Us in This Celestial Celebration

MOOON.PARTY invites you to be part of this historic event, marking a new era of cultural expression and artistic exploration.

Tickets can be purchased at https://link.dice.fm/MOOONPARTY1

About MOOON.PARTY

MOOON.PARTY is an innovative festival at the convergence of music, art, and space exploration, uniquely positioned to influence major global events like Art Week Miami, Coachella, F1, and the World Cup. For more information, please visit https://www.mooon.party.

Media Contact

Sylvie Barnett
hello@mooon.party

Media Contact

Mooon Party
hello@mooon.party

November 14, 2023 1:48 PM
EDT
BOSTON, MA

404 Media Partners With BuySellAds To Drive Digital Ad Sales

404 Media, known for their commitment to groundbreaking journalism, has teamed up with BuySellAds in a strategic partnership to fuel 404 Media’s growth through a robust ad sales program. With a shared vision of enhancing the digital advertising experience, the collaboration aims to deliver value to advertisers and publishers alike. 

404 Media's goal is to establish a sustainable, responsible, reader-supported technology media business, while BuySellAds specializes in facilitating simple, contextual advertising sponsorships that connect brands with niche audience verticals such as developers, creators, and more.

In the month since its launch, 404 Media has broken numerous national news stories and has been leading the conversation with human-centric storytelling about artificial intelligence, consumer rights, hacking and privacy, and surveillance.

"Partnering with BuySellAds will help us achieve our long-term goal of building a sustainable media company that aligns the interests of our employees, readers, and our impactful journalism," said Jason Koebler, cofounder of 404 Media.

Both companies are committed to driving original, investigative and excellent journalism alongside beautiful ads.

For more information about this partnership or to inquire about digital advertising opportunities, please contact matthew@buysellads.com.

About 404 Media

404 Media is a journalist-owned digital media company exploring the way technology is shaping—and is shaped by—our world. We bring you unparalleled access to hidden worlds both online and IRL through investigative reporting, blogging, and breaking news. At 404 Media you’ll read stories you can’t find anywhere else written by journalists who are leading experts on their beat. Learn more and subscribe at www.404media.co.

About BuySellAds

At the intersection of top-tier brands and premium publishers, BuySellAds is reshaping the contextual advertising arena. Their extensive toolkit empowers advertisers to access a plethora of opportunities, ensuring impactful audience engagement. Publishers, in turn, are equipped with efficient strategies to monetize their digital assets, from websites to newsletters and podcasts. Explore more at buysellads.com.

Media Contact

Todd Garland
todd@buysellads.com

November 14, 2023 11:05 AM
EDT
SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Amadeus Travel Trends 2024: How Will We Travel Next Year? AI Matures, Influencers Become Agents, Business Class Fares Unbundle, and Musical Tourism Drives Demand, While eVTOLs Prepare for Take-off

Travelers never stand still for long. This is an industry of dynamic change, one always evolving and adapting to the latest innovation, fashion, or cultural shift. While it is impossible to know exactly what tomorrow will bring, Amadeus' position at the heart of the travel ecosystem gives unparalleled insight into the future.

Using the latest propriety data, industry-leading insight, and expert analysis from across the organization, Amadeus here explores what might be in store next year in its annual Travel Trends research. Identified are five developments that aim to create more meaningful travel experiences for the traveler, economy and planet.

Daniel Batchelor, Vice President, Global Corporate Marketing & Communications at Amadeus, says:
 
“After a period of recalibration and reassessment over the past few years, we are beginning to see a host of new ideas bear fruit across our industry. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) will continue to exert a growing influence across the sector during 2024, while electric taxis are finally poised for take-off. Doing what we love, be it traveling to see our favorite music acts or using new tools to follow in the footsteps of digital influencers, will also drive bookings next year, while airlines continue to reshape their offering to respond to changing tastes. There is much to look forward to, and Amadeus will be working alongside our partners from across the travel ecosystem to drive change for the traveler, wherever we can.”

Intelligent Concierge 

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is adding tremendous value to the online travel planning experience for consumers, as search and advice become hyper personalized and more intuitive. Instead of selecting filters to fine-tune a search on a metasearch site or online travel agency (OTA), travelers can simply provide a brief to a chatbot in the same way you would a human advisor. For example, a new ChatGPT plug-in from Expedia acts like a virtual travel assistant, listening to customer needs and delivering instant hotel and itinerary recommendations, with links to book.

The next generation of GAI-powered customer service will be delivered with greater patience and empathy, reducing the workload of employees to deal with the bulk of after-sales servicing and customer review management, giving them the bandwidth to provide the human touch on more specialist issues. 

Agents of Influence

Social media has become a powerful force during the inspiration phase of a trip. 

For younger consumers (Gen Z and Millennials), trust in influencers is growing, while trust in friends, family and review sites dip according to research done by Morning Consult [1]. Even Google's own data points to TikTok and Instagram challenging its dominance of search among Gen Z consumers [2].

At the same time, a new shift is occurring—with influencers not simply inspiring trips but becoming facilitators of direct bookings through their channels. Influencers, such as Ana Hernández Sárria, travel photographer Rafael Fernandez Caballero, travel blogger the Blonde Abroad, yoga and movement coach Sjana Elise, and full-time traveler and content creator, Alyssa Ramos, are designing and hosting their own group trips.

The rise of so-called “Agents of Influence” is being facilitated by e-commerce marketplaces such as Thatch, Luxury Travel Hackers and TrovaTrip, which Inc ranked number 236 out of 5,000 of the fast-growing companies in the US in 2023. This technology allows influencers using Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, for example, to share a booking link directly on their profile page and process payments.
 
Business Luxe-Lite

With ever-more travelers wanting to fly at the front of the plane, there is an opportunity to offer more affordable and accessible “unbundled” business class fares.

In 2019, Emirates was one of the first airlines to launch “special” business class tickets, with no lounge access, restricted seat selection and no upgrade abilities. Qatar Airways followed, unveiling a Business Class Lite fare, with passengers asked to pay extra for lounge access and date or route changes, while they also earn fewer Avios/Qmiles.

At the other end of the scale, airlines are also installing more spacious “luxe” business class seats in row one that are only available to a limited few. Examples include JetBlue’s [3] Studio on the A321LR and the new Upper Class Retreat Suite from Virgin Atlantic.

Music Tourism

After the social isolation of the pandemic, when bands and musical artists were grounded for months, a boom in concerts and festivals has this year tapped into a desire for connection. The trend is expected to accelerate as we look toward 2024.

In the summer of 2023, half a million fans flocked to Coachella in California, which brought in $1.5 billion to the local economy [4]. General admission passes for the festival will start at $499 in 2024.

Taylor Swift will also continue touring in 2024—and continues to influence global travel.  According to a recent media alert from Amadeus, which has analyzed flight searches around performance dates in the Asia Pacific region, there is a correlation between bookings and the dates of her concerts. Amadeus research shows that with the return of live concerts approaching pre-pandemic levels, Australia is gearing up for a tourism boom. Shows in Melbourne and Sydney in February 2024 have had a “very significant impact” on booking volumes to Australia, with an average week-over-week growth of 446%.

Electric Skyways

As cities are more congested and air pollution is more prevalent, a potential solution to fossil-fuel-powered transportation will be the emergence of skyways that allow flying taxis, electric vertical take-off, and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and other kinds of electric aircraft to provide lower emission air travel options, both within urban areas, to satellite airports, cross-country and between islands.

It may seem very futuristic but in the US, Joby Aviation intends to start commercial eVTOL flights from 2025 and has signed agreements to work with Delta Air Lines and Japanese airline ANA, which wants to operate e-taxi flights Expo 2025 in Osaka. Also, Volocopter recently collaborated with Tampa International Airport to have the first urban air mobility test at a large U.S. airport of an eVTOL and is planning to hold air taxi flights in the state of Florida.

To learn more about Amadeus and how we, alongside our customers and partners, put travelers first, check out this page: https://amadeus.com/en/about.

About Amadeus 

Amadeus makes the experience of travel better for everyone, everywhere by inspiring innovation, partnerships and responsibility to people, places and planet. Our technology powers the travel and tourism industry. Inspiring more open ways of working. More connected ways of thinking, centered around the traveler. Our open platform connects the global travel and hospitality ecosystem. From startups to big industry players and governments too. Together, redesigning the travel of tomorrow.

We are working to make travel a force for social and environmental good. A collective responsibility to protect and improve the people and places we visit, ensuring travel continues to make positive contribution to our world. We apply innovation to meet new needs, to solve real challenges. Our truly diverse global workforce, made up of 150 nationalities, is passionate about travel and technology.

We are an IBEX 35 company, listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange under AMS.MC. We have also been recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the last 11 years.

Amadeus. It’s how travel works better. Learn more about Amadeus at www.amadeus.com.

Footnotes:

[1]
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/20/more-than-half-of-gen-zers-think-they-can-easily-make-a-career-in-influencing.html

Media Contact

Niveen Saleh
nsaleh@fireoth.com

November 13, 2023 3:58 PM
EDT
LOS ANGELES, CA

The Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship to Honor First Responders and Caregivers at Worship Service

The Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship (CCCF), a church known for its years of social justice and action, global music tradition, and diverse community, today announced that that it will hold its First Responder and Caregivers Appreciation Day on Sunday, November 19 at 10:00 a.m. The church is located at 2085 S. Hobart Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018. All are welcome, there is no need to make a reservation or call, and there is plenty of free parking available on the CCCF lot. 

The worship service is dedicated to honoring law enforcement, firefighters, medical personnel, Red Cross personnel, caregivers, and their families who have tirelessly served the community. Following the service, a fellowship will be held to foster a sense of unity and gratitude. CCCF member David Burwell, Fire Inspector for the City of Los Angeles along with Clif Johnson, Union Bank (ret.), and others head up the Brothers in Christ (BRIC) planning committee for this special worship service.

Recognizing the immense contributions and sacrifices made by first responders and caregivers, CCCF aims to provide a platform for these individuals to be acknowledged and appreciated. The worship service serves as an opportunity for the community to come together and express gratitude towards those who selflessly serve the City of Los Angeles. CCCF believes that by honoring these dedicated individuals, it can inspire others to engage in acts of kindness, compassion, and service.

As a church with a rich history of social justice and a renowned music tradition, CCCF understands the importance of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. The church's commitment to social justice aligns with its mission to create a welcoming environment for individuals from all walks of life. This commitment is reflected in the diverse body of believers that make up the congregation, mirroring the multicultural city of Los Angeles itself.

According to James K. McKnight, Senior Pastor of CCCF, "We are thrilled to host the First Responder and Caregivers Appreciation Day. It is a way for us to express our gratitude and support for the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to keep our community safe and cared for. We hope this event will inspire others to recognize and appreciate the invaluable contributions of first responders and caregivers."

Looking ahead, CCCF remains committed to serving the community and promoting social justice. The church will continue to fulfill its mission to "honor God, develop Christians, connect people, and love everybody." CCCF invites all individuals to join their mission and contribute to creating a more just and harmonious society.

For more information about CCCF, email office@christianfellowshipla.org, visit https://www.christianfellowshipla.org or call 323-731-8869.

Media Contact

Lura Ball
vassie@oascla.org

November 8, 2023 6:41 PM
EDT
GLEN ALLEN, VA

The Wright Scoop Launches Book and Hosts Art Exhibit

Identified by Landscape Architect Magazine as an "Industry Mover and Shaker," The Wright Scoop –  Sylvia Hoehns Wright, has launched a newly published book "Landscape Gardening with CARE" and is hosting an art exhibit of her botanical art during the Hanover Book Expo held on November 11, 2023. For details of this event, visit: http://www.hanoverbookfestival.com/. To acquire copies of Wright's newly released tips and strategies book, visit https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/syhwright or query most well-known book distributors.

During the Hanover Book Expo, Wright hosts a first for public display of her botanical art. Wright is also scheduled to share in workshop format tips and strategies for acquiring market share and public visibility.

Why should you attend?

“The Wright Scoop – Sylvia Hoehns Wright,” says Nicole M. Bouchard, Editor-in-Chief of The Write Place at the Write Time, “through sharing her wordsmith tips and strategies enables an opportunity for all to acquire an organic voice, become recognized as a unique industry presence, and brand. For a brand should be a natural, organic evolution of you or your company extending to each outward facing component you have of your business (and your affiliates) in the public sphere."

About The Wright Scoop

The Wright Scoop – Sylvia Hoehns Wright has blogged for Build Green TV and provided speeches and workshops for national and international conferences such as the All-Cities Congressional City Conference held in DC and PLANET’s Green Industry Conference held at Louisville, Kentucky. To view details of her activities and/or acquire a copy of her books, visit www.thewrightscoop.com.

Media Contact

Sylvia Wright
syhwright@gmail.com

November 3, 2023 12:47 PM
EDT
MUNICH, NY

4screen Appoints David Moore as Chairman of the Board and Announces New Leadership of U.S. and European Operations

Munich-based 4screen, the company behind the world's first driver interaction platform, today announced the appointment of David Moore as Chairman of its Board of Directors, Jeffrey Kohl as Head of U.S. Operations, and Jean-Philippe Costa Mota as Head of European Operations.

Moore is a visionary leader with a career spanning over four decades at the nexus of media, technology, and advertising. With a track record in founding digital ad startups and holding senior executive positions at WPP, Moore’s experience and growth-centric vision will be critical to shaping 4screen’s global expansion.

“The fact that 4screen has locked up this in-screen car real estate with a variety of top manufacturers gives them such a great platform for moving forward,” said David Moore.

Leveraging their deep industry expertise in the mobility space, Jeffrey Kohl and Jean-Philippe Costa Mota are joining 4screen with nearly two decades of combined experience from Waze, a subsidiary of Google.

Kohl and Costa Mota have significant expertise in U.S. and European markets and will be instrumental in propelling growth and building key partner relationships with manufacturers and brands in their respective markets.

"We are thrilled to welcome David, Jeffrey, and Jean-Philippe to the 4screen family. They each bring expertise that is not only relevant but also rooted in visionary and bold thinking that will help us create content that produces exceptional experiences for our audiences worldwide," said Fabian Beste, CEO and co-founder of 4screen.

About 4screen

4screen is the world's first driver interaction platform that connects businesses with on-the-go customers, in real-time, directly through the car screen. As the pioneer of in-car marketing, 4screen is integrated into the top automotive brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Skoda, providing businesses with unparalleled access to millions of drivers across six countries. For more information, visit www.4screen.com.

Media Contact

Caitlin Kelly
ck@eznewswire.com

October 31, 2023 2:04 PM
EDT
SEATTLE, DC

Cordova Unveils New 2023/24 Ski Collection: Where Technical Excellence Meets Timeless Elegance

Cordova, the celebrated name in women’s ski/snow and après fashion, proudly presents its new 2023/24 Collection. This winter season, Cordova balances technical brilliance with enduring style, all while raising the bar for sustainable luxury in ski and snow fashion.

Inspiration and Aesthetic: The collection emerges from the euphoria of plunging into the heart of nature. Each design is a reflection of the striking beauty of our planet, capturing the thrill of navigating awe-inspiring landscapes. The color palette boasts deep, vibrant tones, inspired by the diverse terrains we traverse. Every piece is a timeless fusion, blending elements reminiscent of vintage styles with forward-thinking designs.

Design and Fit: Every piece in the Cordova collection is meticulously crafted, offering a synergy of elegance and functionality. Our designs transcend trends, fusing heritage ski style with contemporary global consciousness. From petite to XL, Cordova celebrates every form, ensuring impeccable fit and unmatched comfort. At Cordova.co, our size-predictor AI, powered by WAIR, makes finding your perfect fit a breeze for a stress-free shopping experience.

Technical Proficiency: Within Cordova's luxurious designs lies unparalleled technical prowess. Our garments are not only eye-catching but also brilliantly constructed, promising resilience, adaptability, and a comfort that feels almost tailored to the wearer. Cordova offers water-resistant, waterproof, and seam-sealed designs. Our tech collection is designed for the pro-athlete that refuses to sacrifice style for performance.

Creative Distinction: Spotlighting the Aomori jacket in Aura, an exclusive designer print crafted in-house. The journey involved the manipulation of organic materials in novel ways, followed by digital reworking to achieve an exquisite result. With its crafty-meets-high-tech design, the Aomori jacket in Aura is a testament to Cordova's innovative spirit and our obsession with symbiosis between woman and wild.

Sustainability and Quality: Cordova is committed to sustainability and quality, using upcycled, biodegradable fibers and engendered materials certified by BlueSign and OEKO-TEX. We collaborate with manufacturing partners that champion social responsibility, advocating for gender equity and livable wages. In partnership with GreenSpark, every purchase at Cordova's online store supports climate change initiatives.

Collection Highlights:

  • Fora suit, captivating in its minimalistic design
  • Apex suit, the pinnacle of tailoring for snow pros 
  • Limited-edition Huracán suit, a beacon of futuristic sophistication
  • Mogul jacket, a luxurious embrace of responsibly sourced down 
  • Aomori jacket's magnetic closures: where style seamlessly meets convenience
  • The Ploma sweater: hand-knitted, 100% merino, boldly fun and elegant

As a women-owned brand, Cordova is committed to shifting the narrative in a historically male-dominated sport, allowing women to not only participate but to lead and redefine the game.

Explore the Cordova universe online, available now with global shipping. Retail partners will be introducing the collection throughout October and early November. 

About Cordova

Cordova is a trailblazing force in ski/snow and après fashion, skillfully blending technical excellence with timeless elegance in each meticulously crafted collection. We believe that life is an exploration of paramount beauty and adventure, and our passion lies in designing apparel for women who boldly seek altitude, revel in the thrill of the descent, and savor mountain leisure without compromising style and glamour.

Media Contact

Yosef Kalfon, PR Manager
yosef@cordova.co
323-690-1885

Media Contact

Michelle Songy
michelle@presshook.com

October 31, 2023 11:03 AM
EDT
NEW YORK, NY

Sightly Names Agency and Marketing Veteran Walt Cheruk EVP of Growth

Sightly, the leader in real-time media, marketing and intelligence, announced today that it has signed Walt Cheruk, respected digital media and marketing leader, as EVP of Growth. Cheruk will help expand the company’s media execution portfolio and escalate proliferation of its patented, award-winning Brand Mentality® platform at a time when an accelerating and ever-shifting information stream intensifies the need for reliable brand safety and contextual alignment throughout the industry.

“More and more brands and media agencies want AI-fueled solutions that provide real-time insights, planning and activation tools under one roof that are both grounded in their own unique DNA and authentically aligned with their audiences,” said Sightly CEO Adam Katz. “Walt understands the incredible potential that our platform unlocks for these organizations and has already begun to bring the Brand Mentality story to life for them. We’re pumped to have an all-star of his caliber join our team who will not only help grow our business, but our clients’ businesses, too."

Cheruk brings more than three decades of media, technology, sales and leadership experience to help guide Sightly in this growth stage. Most recently, he was Head of Agency Strategy & Insights at Flashtalking by Mediaocean. Prior to that, he served as Managing Director of Digital Strategies & Insights at Morgan Stanley, and President of Varick, an innovator and leader in programmatic media trading services.

Walt also ran digital media at Dentsu Aegis’ Carat and Vizeum agencies, driving extensive client growth, and he led ad sales and marketing teams for Hearst New Media, Discovery and National Geographic—including the digital sales and brand marketing efforts for NationalGeographic.com.

“The decision to join Sightly was easy. It came down to the two Ps—people and product,” said Cheruk. “I’m ecstatic to join this great team, led by CEO Adam Katz. They are some of the most genuine, innovative and intelligent people I’ve encountered in my career. Brand Mentality truly is a game-changing product for agencies and brands. I’m impressed with the value it provides for media teams and marketers of all disciplines that I can’t wait to help drive its expansion across our industry.”

To learn more about Sightly and the revolutionary Brand Mentality platform, please contact Walt Cheruk, walt@sightly.com.

About Sightly

Sightly is the leader in real-time media, marketing and intelligence, as driven by each brand's unique perspective, opinions and outcomes. We work with key media, news and social data partners to monitor the information pulse of our world moment by moment. Our award-winning, patented Brand Mentality platform combines this speed with brands’ mindsets and values, so they can make advertising and marketing decisions instantly and authentically without sacrificing ROI. Learn more and master the mayhem at https://www.sightly.com and https://brandmentality.ai.

Media Contact

Robert Helstrom
rocket@sightly.com

October 31, 2023 7:02 AM
EDT
NEW YORK, NY

Tech Incubator at Queens College and Accompany Capital Launch TechImpact Startup Competition

Tech Incubator at Queens College, an organization supported by the New York City Council as a startup incubator for entrepreneurs, announced today the initiation of the TechImpact Startup Competition in collaboration with Accompany Capital. The application for the competition will be open from October 30 to November 30 and is open to all NYC startup founders. A total of $100,000 will be awarded across four categories. Each finalist will receive additional rewards, including mentorship, co-working space, or interns support.

Participants will have the opportunity to compete for a chance to win $25,000 in each of the following categories:

  1. Community Betterment
  2. Health and Wellness
  3. Financial Empowerment
  4. B2B Innovations

Visionary founders from all sectors are encouraged to apply, demonstrating their commitment to innovation and impact.

The Tech Incubator at Queens College recognizes the importance of fostering entrepreneurship and supporting tech-enabled startup companies. By providing resources and guidance, we aim to create more job opportunities and drive innovation and technology development. Our mission is to accelerate economic development in Queens, NYC, and beyond by building a collaborative and sustainable ecosystem that educates, engages, and inspires entrepreneurs to turn innovative ideas into thriving businesses.

According to Ying Zhou, the Executive Director of Tech Incubator at Queens College, "The TechImpact Startup Competition presents a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas and make a lasting impact in their respective industries. We are excited to partner with Accompany Capital and support visionary founders who drive positive change through their ventures."

Looking ahead, Tech Incubator at Queens College plans to continue its mission of fostering entrepreneurship and supporting startups by providing valuable resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Through initiatives like the TechImpact Startup Competition, the organization aims to create a thriving ecosystem that nurtures innovation and fosters the growth of tech-enabled companies.

For more information about the TechImpact Startup Competition and Tech Incubator at Queens College, please visit https://techincubatorqc.com/techimpact-startup-competition or email  pitch2023@techincubatorqc.com.

Media Contact

Ying Zhou
ying.zhou@qc.cuny.edu

October 30, 2023 3:50 PM
EDT
NEW YORK, NY

YouTube Creator Jesser Names Zach Miller as First-Ever President To Guide Next Wave of Growth for the Top Sports Creator

Bucketsquad, the media and e-commerce company started by top YouTube sports creator Jesser (Jesse Riedel), today announced the hiring of first-ever president, Zach Miller. Zach comes to Bucketsquad from Spotify where he led strategy and business development for the content business across podcasts, music, and emerging media formats. Miller will support Bucketsquad’s expansion into new revenue channels such as content subscription and retail for Bucketsquad’s apparel brand. Additional focuses include new content formats and series as well as international syndication.

The news comes on the heels of Jesser and team’s recent Streamy’s win for Sports Creator of the Year for the second consecutive year. In addition to being recognized for best-in-class content, Bucketsquad has doubled revenue annually over several years and will reach a subscribership of 17 million by the end of 2023.

“Zach is a key piece of the puzzle for us. When I first started creating content, I never could have imagined that we’d have one of the most popular sports YouTube channels with 16 million subscribers. Creating the content is the thing I love the most and bringing Zach onboard to run and grow Bucketsquad will allow me to double down on making videos. I couldn’t be happier that Zach is part of our team and I’m excited to see what we can do together with Bucketsquad,” said Jesse Riedel of the expansion. 

“This is a dream role for me. It’s really incredible what Jesse and the Bucketsquad team have built to date, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help them take it to the next level. Jesse is the most dynamic sports creator in the market today, and the team’s success with Gen Z speaks volumes about their knowledge of the market and relationship with their audience. I’m excited to bring my experience with startups and big media across ecommerce, video, audio, subscription and licensing to help Bucketsquad diversify and grow into a next generation leader in sports media.”

In addition to expanding the executive team, Bucketsquad has also elevated Marko Preocanin to Senior Executive Producer, responsible for all creative direction alongside Jesse. Bucketsquad President Zach Miller said, “Marko is the creative glue that brings our videos to life. His presence makes a huge difference in how the process runs from initial idea to finished video, and his creative work is the secret sauce. We’re excited to see him growing within the business and taking on even more responsibility, playing a wider role within Bucketsquad in creative direction overall.”

Miller brings extensive experience in tech and media to his new role with Bucketsquad. His work has covered the film world and high-growth startups to consulting for and working within Fortune 500 media and tech companies. Throughout his career Miller has primarily been focused on helping companies bring in new audiences and expand their digital businesses. Most recently at Spotify, Miller helped scale video podcasting and develop the company's creator platform strategy. Miller joins Bucketsquad at a time when the creator economy and YouTube ecosystem are maturing and legacy media is losing market share. 

Miller said, “It’s hard to argue with where the world is headed when creators like MrBeast have businesses valued at above $1 billion. Consumers are not only spending more time with their favorite creators than legacy media brands, their passion for and loyalty to those creators is on another level. Jesse and the team are deeply committed to delighting their fans with new and exciting offerings. I couldn’t be more excited to join Bucketsquad at this pivotal moment for the business.” 

About Bucketsquad

Bucketsquad is the media company started by top YouTube creator Jesse Reidel (aka Jesser). The company oversees the YouTube video businesses for both Jesser and Jesser Reacts channels, as well as various additional products and initiatives under the Jesser brand. In 2022, the company launched Bucketsquad Apparel, a direct-to-consumer sportswear line in partnership with Garrett James, founder of popular sports/streetwear line Ryoko Rain. Bucketsquad Apparel drove over $1 million in sales in its first 12 months of operation and has been growing aggressively since launch.

Media Contact

Kara Silverman

Media Contact

Kara Silverman
kara@variousand.com

October 30, 2023 2:11 PM
EDT
SAN ANTONIO, TX

Schreiner University Signs Agreement To Accept Art Institute Transfer Students

Schreiner University of Kerrville, Texas, is the first school in Texas to reach an agreement to accept all class credits for students wishing to transfer from the Art Institute of America (AIA), which is closing its campuses in San Antonio, Austin, and Houston.

According to reporting from my mysanantonio.com, hundreds of students once enrolled with the Art Institute are now scrambling to find out where and how they are going to complete their degrees as the private university abruptly announced its shutdown in October.

“We believe this is an opportunity for institutions such as Schreiner University to offer transfer-friendly options such as linking to available financial aid, scholarships, easy access to advisors, and generous transfer credit articulation,” said Wilbert Lleses, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment. “Support such as that will help AIA students who transfer to graduate on time.”

According to Lleses, Schreiner University approached this situation with “a heart to help” the estimated 670 students who are being affected.

“After AIA announced their closing, we knew that Schreiner would be a good fit for many of their students affected by the closure,” Lleses said. “We will provide an easy path for their students to transfer credits they have already earned, and secondly we can help them finish their degree affordably”

The university stepped up by offering a pre-award $16,000 scholarship for all AIA transfer students that ends up attending Schreiner University. Application fees and essay requirements also will be waived.

According to Dr. Charlie McCormick, President, Schreiner University is committed to providing an academic pathway for these and all transfer students.

“Schreiner is delighted to invite the Art Institute students to Enter with Hope and complete their educational aspirations in a seamless and efficient manner,” McCormick said. “We know that many higher education institutions are facing difficult days; we intend to be the most welcoming of places for their students to finish their degrees.”

Any student affected by the AIA closure is encouraged to contact Admissions at Schreiner University by visiting schreiner.edu/admissions, emailing admissions@schreiner.edu, or calling 830-792-7217.

Media Contact

Holdsworth Nicholas
hnteam@holdsworthnicholas.com

October 30, 2023 2:03 PM
EDT
SAN ANTONIO, TX

Firstmark Credit Union Donates School Supplies to Teachers Across 13 School Districts

Firstmark Credit Union is pleased to announce it has donated over $5,000 in school supplies to 13 school districts, following their first-ever classroom supply drive for educators.

Ranging from notebooks and pens to folders and classroom manipulatives, the donations aim to assist educators within our community in providing an interactive learning environment for their students. Rooted in education, Firstmark remains committed to carrying out the legacy established by its ten educator founders. The donations would not have been made possible without the Firstmark members, employees, and the countless people within the community who selflessly contributed to the drive.

“We are humbled by the generosity of our members, team members, and broader community who came together and showed up for our schools,” said Marisa Pérez-Díaz, executive director of the Firstmark Foundation. “We are grateful for every single school employee’s dedication toward inspiring our students. The donation of supplies is just one way Firstmark, and all those who donated, show appreciation for their tireless work.”

The supplies were distributed across 13 school districts throughout San Antonio, Fredericksburg, La Vernia, and New Braunfels, Texas, with a focus on reaching underserved communities and schools facing resource challenges. Firstmark is thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with local schools, Spurs Sports & Entertainment, and other partners to make a positive difference in the communities it serves.

To learn more about Firstmark and the ways the credit union supports the education community on behalf of its members, please visit firstmarkcu.org/foundation.

Media Contact

Holdsworth Nicholas
hnteam@holdsworthnicholas.com

October 26, 2023 1:32 PM
EDT
DALLAS, TX

Dallas FAN FESTIVAL Breaks Records with the Fall’s BIGGEST Pop Culture Extravaganza

Once again, Dallas FAN FESTIVAL brought some of the best and brightest icons to North Texas this fall.  With tens of thousands of die-hard fans and the pop-culturally curious alike, crowds were treated to intimate conversations with stars like Edward James Olmos, Andy Serkis, Paul Bettany, and Mira Sorvino; hundreds of unique shopping experiences; ongoing cosplay community interactions and contests; and fun for the record-breaking family attendance at this year’s most anticipated festival.  

“We couldn’t be happier to see how many of our dedicated fans come year after year because there is always something new to discover at the Irving Convention Center during Dallas FAN FESTIVAL weekend,” says Andrew Moyes, VP of FAN EXPO HQ. “We love to see generations pass down the traditions of fandom and this year amazed us with the sheer number of families who came to see their favorite characters, comics, community organizations, and even adoptable dogs at our second annual Pup Culture Adoption Event with Dallas Animal Services.”

Video recap can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-zt8tWbsEY

Now that the curtains have come down on Dallas FAN FESTIVAL, the countdown has begun for the organizers to pull off another monumental event, as FAN EXPO Dallas has announced that tickets are on sale now for the spectacular three-day event that runs from June 7–9, 2024 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Downtown Dallas. 

Early bird pricing is available until December 14, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Early bird single-day tickets start at $24 (full price from $35), early bird 3-day passes start at $84 (full price from $110 each), and the early bird price on the Ultimate Fan Package starts at $124 (full price from $150).

“We know that our fans are eager to get their tickets secured, at the lowest price of the season, for what we already know will be an extraordinary event. Each year, we play host to more than 60,000 fans at our pop culture playground in Downtown Dallas,” says Katie Loomis, Show Manager for FAN EXPO Dallas.

To order tickets go to www.fanexpodallas.com

Details on FAN EXPO Dallas 2024

When:

  • Friday, June 7 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Special preview at 2 p.m. for VIP, Ultimate, and 3-Day pass holders who purchase in advance.)
  • Saturday, June 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, June 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center at 650 S. Griffin St. Dallas, TX 75202
Tickets: Tickets are currently priced from $24–$124. Hours and information are available at fanexpodallas.com.

About FAN EXPO HQ

With over a million fans and counting, FAN EXPO HQ attracts pop culture enthusiasts, locally and internationally, to come together to celebrate all things fandom. Collectively it hosts nearly one million fans annually at FAN EXPO Dallas™, FAN EXPO Canada™, MEGACON Orlando, FAN EXPO Boston™, FAN EXPO Denver, FAN EXPO San Francisco, CALGARY EXPO, FAN EXPO Chicago, FAN EXPO Philadelphia, FAN EXPO Portland, FAN EXPO New Orleans, FAN EXPO Cleveland FAN EXPO Vancouver™, Toronto Comicon, Dallas FAN FESTIVAL, and EDMONTON EXPO.  The latest schedule of events is available here on their website, along with up-to-date ticket information. Discover. Celebrate. Belong.

Media Contact

Dana Cobb
FAN EXPO Dallas/The Vokol Group

Media Contact

Dana Cobb
dana@thevokolgroup.com

October 25, 2023 12:10 PM
EDT
SEATTLE, WA

Bold Reuse Announces Official Launch in the Seattle Market, Supporting Seattle Public Schools' Transition to Reusables

Bold Reuse, an industry leader in providing reusable solutions for food packaging, is thrilled to announce its official launch into the Seattle market. Bold Reuse launched with Seattle Public Schools & Seattle Public Utilities to support their efforts in implementing reusable foodware districtwide by providing an offsite washing solution.

Seattle Public Schools has embarked on a remarkable strategic initiative to transition much of their single-use food packaging to durable and reusable plates and bowls. This transformation aligns perfectly with Bold Reuse's mission to reduce single-use waste. With this partnership, Bold Reuse aims to play a pivotal role in supporting the district's commitment to environmental responsibility while addressing some of the challenges that individual schools face in this endeavor.

The results of the piloted program at Denny International Middle School have been impressive. The school achieved a 92% average return rate in the first month and had an 89% reduction in cafeteria landfill waste. “This program is making a significant impact at Denny. The results speak for themselves and our kids are fully embracing it and thriving,” said Doree Fazio-Young, Kitchen Manager at Denny International Middle School.

"We're thrilled to expand into the Seattle region, especially with a bold and visionary partner like Seattle Public Schools,” said CEO of Bold Reuse, Jocelyn Quarrell. 

“Supporting reuse within schools is helping teach the next generation how to be better stewards of our environment. This partnership will help drive positive change not just for today, but for generations to come.”

"Bold Reuse has helped us continue our journey to implement reusable foodware within Seattle Public Schools. Their commitment is not only to support the transition process but to make change easy for our staff and students,” said Rina Fa'amoe-Cross, Resource Conservation Specialist for Seattle Public Schools. "We look forward to more positive growth and getting closer to our vision for a waste-free future."

Bold Reuse's expansion into the Seattle market is a significant milestone, solidifying its commitment to fostering sustainable practices within the Pacific Northwest. This expansion builds upon previous successful engagements in Seattle, including collaborations with prominent names like Starbucks, Folklife Festival & NextCycle Washington.

“The response to Bold Reuse’s collaboration with events like Northwest Folklife and the NextCycle Washington Circular Accelerator Showcase was incredibly positive,” said Christy Chow of Cascadia Consulting Group and Reuse Seattle. “The reuse movement continues to gain tremendous momentum here in Seattle, and thanks to Seattle Public Schools’ partnership with Bold Reuse, reuse as a service is expanding beyond the entertainment sphere and reaching a critically important sector: K-12 education.”

“At Bold Reuse, we specialize in driving transformational business change for both consumers and enterprises alike. The Bold Reuse system is designed to ensure the success of reuse initiatives for our clients. Having engaged in conversations with many of the largest employers and prominent venues in the state, we're thrilled by the interest they've shown in partnering with us for large-scale implementations within the region,” said CRO of Bold Reuse, Heather Watkins.

Bold Reuse is at the forefront of creating innovative solutions for enterprises seeking to reduce waste and carbon emissions. Their expansion to Seattle is another step towards their mission of ending single-use waste by making reuse easy for all. 

About Bold Reuse

Bold Reuse supports companies incorporating reusable packaging into their business operations to reduce their waste footprint while expanding brand awareness and customer loyalty. Oregon Convention Center, Loop, Starbucks, Imperfect Foods, and the Portland Trail Blazers have partnered with Bold Reuse to help implement and scale reuse systems into their organizations. Recognized as a leader in the reuse industry, Bold Reuse received the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network 2022 Early Stage Entrepreneurs Award. Bold Reuse has helped customers divert nearly 3 million pounds of waste from the landfill. For more information, visit https://www.boldreuse.com

About Seattle Public Schools

Seattle Public Schools is the largest K-12 school system in Washington state, and has a deep commitment to every student’s journey—to ensure that each of our nearly 50,000 students will graduate ready for college, career, and life. We support student learning through collaborative inquiry, family engagement, building academic mindsets, recognizing and cultivating the strengths and gifts of every student, and anti-racist practices. For more information, visit https://www.seattleschools.org

Media Contact

Mya Manibusan
mya@boldreuse.com

October 25, 2023 10:51 AM
EDT
WASHINGTON, DC

Former Wall Street Executive India Gary-Martin Launches Edtech Platform to Reinvigorate DEI and Sustainability Engagement

India Gary-Martin, a former Wall Street managing director with two decades of experience as an expatriate in Europe and Asia, has launched Relucent Learning to revolutionize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and sustainability education. This innovative, self-funded, and fully accredited edtech-focused SaaS platform is poised to make a significant impact on DEI and sustainability e-learning for consumers, small businesses, and enterprise customers.

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, chief diversity officers (CDO) have been more vulnerable to layoffs, experiencing 40% higher turnover with CDO searches down 75% in the past year. Despite the challenging climate of cutbacks on DEI funding and commitments, Gary-Martin recognized the importance of scaling and finding alternate solutions to in-person labor intensive DEI programs and took the initiative to create a solution.

“While the shape of DEI is changing, it isn’t going away. For example, by December 31 of each year, all operating companies listed on Nasdaq's U.S. exchange will need to disclose board-level diversity data. Given the hyper focus on the economy and the reduction in DEI roles, Relucent offers an alternative to continue engagement and learning despite reductions in DEI and ESG staff and program funding,” said Gary-Martin.

The name Relucent embodies the platform's vision, fusing "renew" and "lucent" to reflect Gary-Martin's goal of reinvigorating DEI and sustainability efforts, even in the face of prevailing headwinds.

Key features of Relucent Learning include:

  • Cutting-edge technology developed in partnership with Qintess, a leading Brazilian tech and outsourcing outfit;
  • Fully accredited content featuring interactive video content, high-quality animations, actor-based videos, and real-time polling to engage learners; and
  • Expert content development team comprising business executives, educators, ESG, DEI, and sustainability practitioners.

Gary-Martin demonstrated her determination and dedication by bootstrapping the development of Relucent Learning as she encountered challenges in raising the seven-figure investment. This endeavor serves as a testament to the resilience and innovation of Black female founders, who have historically received a disproportionately low share of private equity and venture capital investment.

Relucent is pioneering a new era in DEI and sustainability engagement and is set to become the industry standard for accredited ESG centered e-learning at scale. With its immersive and interactive approach, the platform is a catalyst for employee engagement that remains crucial to fostering workplace inclusion and sustainability.

For more information about Relucent Learning, visit https://relucentlearning.com. For Mrs. Gary-Martin’s media kit click here.
 
About India Gary-Martin

India Gary-Martin is a former Wall Street technology and operations managing director. A public and private portfolio board director, she is the Chair of the Board for Travalyst, an organization that focuses on sustainability in travel. She is the founder of Relucent, an advisor to global CEOs, and a passionate advocate for DEI and sustainability. She is a multi-award winning (U.S. and UK) leader in technology, leadership, DEI, and entrepreneurship.

Media Contact

Chi Hinson
chi.hinson@leadershipforexecs.com
202-602-6111

Media Contact

India Martin
india@leadershipforexecs.com

October 24, 2023 1:47 PM
EDT
SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Mixpanel Connects to BigQuery to Help Teams to Easily Explore Consolidated Data

Mixpanel, a leader in event analytics*, has released a new native connector for cloud data warehouse BigQuery, making it easier for users to quickly explore and gain insights from trusted data.

Syncing a cloud data warehouse with Mixpanel is significant because it allows different types of data like product, support, marketing or revenue, and the connections between those business domains, to be easily explored. Ultimately, this means companies can now measure the impact of the decisions they take right through to the bottom line impact.

For example, a user might ask 'which marketing campaigns have driven the most revenue?’ or ‘what’s our win rate against competitors in the following key markets? Answers are returned in seconds and displayed as visual Mixpanel charts that help teams collaborate around the same trusted view.

Adam Kinney, VP of Analytics at Mixpanel, said: “This is about breaking down barriers between teams. We’re not trying to replace data scientists or the strategic analysis they perform with BI tools, but we want to empower non-technical users to ask questions of their data without knowing how to code. This relieves pressure from the data team, increases data accessibility and improves collaborative decision making.”

"BigQuery creates extensive business value by helping customers connect their data to better optimize their performance,” said Rodrigo Rocha, Director of Global Partnerships at Google Cloud. By syncing data to Mixpanel via cloud data warehouses, customers can now explore trusted and consolidated data in seconds to improve business outcomes."

Dubbed ‘Warehouse Connectors', the new native integration is available to all Mixpanel customers that consolidate data with BigQuery. Synchronization is achieved without writing a single line of code and is already being trialed by select Mixpanel customers. This update follows the recent release of ‘Spark’, which integrated OpenAI’s Large Language Model so anyone can ask questions of their data in Mixpanel with generative AI.

“Warehouse Connectors allows us to seamlessly integrate Mixpanel with enriched data from BigQuery. This helps us unlock new insights without adding technical overhead transporting data between two systems,” said Pasha Putra, Data Science Lead at Zalora.

* About Event analytics

Event analytics captures every action (or event) that each user performs within a digital product, like an e-Commerce site or a ride hailing app. This very granular view helps companies understand how different groups of users behave at various points during their experience, to answer questions like: which cohorts of users drop off during sign-up? Using Mixpanel, it’s now also possible to understand the knock-on revenue impact of such customer experience issues. 
 
This approach is faster and easier than traditional Business Intelligence (BI) tools that require data to be prepared and tabulated, with BI queries coded in SQL. While BI analysis is valuable for specialized analytics teams, it is not as easily accessible for cross functional teams to help themselves to data explorations. That’s why event analytics is so crucial for teams that seek to democratize data access and collaborate on building the most effective digital experiences.    
 
About Mixpanel
 
Mixpanel is an event analytics platform that allows anyone to get answers from their customer and revenue data in seconds. It offers powerful real-time charts and visualizations of how users interact with digital products. Regardless of technical expertise, anyone can focus on what’s working, and spend more time on their best ideas with Mixpanel. To learn more visit: www.mixpanel.com

Media Contact

Niveen Saleh
nsaleh@fireoth.com

Turn your news into performance

EZ Newswire is the only news platform connecting the most influential organizations with the most trusted media outlets.

Get started