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Piña coladas are no longer just for beach cabanas and poolside hang outs. Now, you can pack them in your pocket and bring them anywhere.

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That's because OGeez! Brands, a leading Arizona-based cannabis infusion company, just released a limited-edition piña colada gummy, its first-ever seasonal flavor. The gummy, which comes in both indica and sativa, hit Arizona dispensaries on June 21, the first day of summer.

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"Who doesn't love a piña colada?" said OGeez! CEO Bran Noonan. "They just conjure up summertime fun and relaxation."

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The summertime gummy — which comes in both 10 and 30 milligrams units — will only be available this summer and while supplies last. And it's not the only new thing OGeez! is rolling out for the season. The company is ramping up offerings across the board, from new products to live events, in an effort to provide more options to recreational cannabis users.

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Notably, OGeez! is partnering with several non-cannabis players this summer, including Maya Day Club in Scottsdale, where it's sponsoring a series of pool parties. The first of these OGeez! summer "takeovers" was held on June 25. Two more are planned for July 30 and August 20 — and, like the first, they'll also feature some of the area's best DJs, a new OGeez! summer-inspired cocktail (served with a non-medicated gummy as a garnish) and lots of OGeez! giveaways and swag.

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"We are very excited for this opportunity to partner with OGeez!," said Jason Adler, Chief Development Officer of Riot Hospitality Group, the national company that manages Maya. "They have a huge presence in their industry. This summer series will be great for Scottsdale to see what two large brands can accomplish when partnering up on a promotion."

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Maya guests will also receive a token for a complimentary bag of OGeez! gummies at an Arizona dispensary. Those at the June 25 party, for example, went home with a token for SOL Flower's East Valley locations — Tempe-McClintock, Tempe-University and Scottsdale Airpark — which can be redeemed until July 29.

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OGeez! is also partnering with Strap Photo Club, a Phoenix start-up, that provides disposable cameras which take high-quality photos that are digitally delivered to members.

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In addition, OGeez! is joining forces with Roosevelt Row, located in the Phoenix arts district, to sponsor a series of movie nights in the historic Downtown neighborhood. As with all OGeez! events, guests can expect OGeez! giveaways and swag.

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"This is shaping up to be the summer of OGeez! in Arizona," Noonan said. "The adult-use market is continuing to expand, and we are committed to being there for dispensaries and consumers as cannabis becomes more and more mainstreamed."

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The Arizona adult-use market has, in fact, been growing since it launched in 2021. In March 2022, adult-use cannabis sales shattered a state record, surpassing $72 million. And more growth is expected.

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OGeez! is already capturing a big piece of that growth. The company's "Summer of OGeez!" comes on the heels of another round of new OGeez! products and partnerships.

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In May 2022, the company launched the first "mini" gummy in Arizona. The bite-sized gummies come in a 3-milligram, tropical-flavor. They debuted in OGeez's new vibrantly colored bags with 25 units per package.

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Meanwhile, in October 2021, the company unveiled Peg's Raspberry Orange RSO, a cutting-edge gummy named in honor of the company's late founder Peggy Noonan. That product is now the company's No. 1 seller. It combines the potency of RSO with the unmatched flavor of OGeez! gummies and eliminates the inaccurate practice of dosing cannabis oil. It is available in a 100-milligram package of 10 gummies, making it ideal for both medical and adult users.

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In April, OGeez! also struck up a partnership with the growing media company PHNX Sports, which covers the Arizona sports scene. The two now hold regular events together.

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Looking forward, OGeez! is already planning more products, events, and partnerships, including several exciting collaborations with dispensaries.

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"We are not stopping," Noonan said. "We are on a mission to bring the OGeez! experience and flavor to more consumers and to stepping beyond traditional cannabis-industry activities. We want people to carry the flavor in their pockets and have it wherever they go."

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Phantom Phood, the next generation marketplace for curating private dining experiences, launched in New York City as part of their rapid nationwide expansion. The Phantom Phood platform enables customers to select local chefs, mixologists, and venues to curate bespoke private dining experiences simply & seamlessly.

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Founded and headquartered in San Francisco during peak restrictions of the pandemic, Phantom Phood was created to support customers looking to fill their need for human face to face interaction while also enabling those most impacted by the pandemic restrictions; chefs, mixologists & venues. With the mission to evolve the human experience through food, Phantom Phood is growing rapidly to meet both consumer & business demand in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City with plans to grow internationally in the beginning of 2023.

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Every city that Phantom Phood enters, an ecosystem of chefs and mixologists are enabled & inspired. Phantom Phood is also dedicating itself to creating sustainable food systems by educating consumers, chefs, mixologists, and venues around the right ingredient sourcing and joining the fight in reducing food waste. For more information, visit their website at: https://www.phantomphood.com.

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Uplift, the leading enterprise Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) solution serving the world's top travel brands announced a partnership with Olivia The Travel Company for LGBTQ+ Women. Customers booking packages on Olivia can now spread the cost of their travel over time with simple, affordable monthly installments through Uplift.

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For nearly five decades, Olivia's mission has been to provide safe and celebrating spaces for lesbians and LGBTQ+ women. Olivia is the leading travel company for lesbians and LGBTQ+ women having produced well over 300 trips for more than 350,000 women. From large cruises to resorts, intimate riverboats to adventure vacations, Olivia charters the entire ship or resort so that guests can always feel free to be themselves. Exceptional entertainment, friendly personalized service from Team Olivia, bucket list destinations and friendships that last a lifetime are just some of the highlights guests will find on an Olivia vacation.

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Available now, Olivia guests can make their travel dreams a reality by utilizing Uplift's pay over time monthly installments, rather than paying in full at booking. Guests will see the total cost of their trip upfront along with the surprise-free monthly payment amount and can choose from 3 up to 24 monthly installments.

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"At Olivia, we pride ourselves on taking lesbian and LGTBQ+ women on trips across the world and have been creating these vacation experiences for over 30 years," said Judy Dlugacz, President and Founder of Olivia Travel. "From the Arctic to the Caribbean, our trips are truly unique and extraordinary. With the addition of Uplift's flexible installments, Olivia will be accessible to even more guests looking to make special memories for a lifetime."

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Uplift partners with over 200 of the world's leading airlines, cruise lines, resorts and other major travel providers to offer BNPL payment options to help more consumers make meaningful purchases and experience the travel that they deserve. With Uplift there are no fees including no late fees or prepayment penalties and travel can happen before guests complete their payments.

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"We can't think of a better time than Pride Month to launch this special partnership with Olivia Travel," said Rob Borden, Uplift SVP of Commercial. "We are a company of passionate jetsetters and travel enthusiasts and it's important for us to make getaways available to more customers and guests through payment installments - Olivia is the ideal partner to continue with this mission."

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Uplift's Buy Now Pay Later flexible payment options are now available for booking, to learn more visit - Olivia Travel .

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Wildgood, the first and only non-dairy frozen dessert made with extra virgin olive oil, is launching a new flavor just in time for summer. Wildgood's new Caramelized Fig plant-based ice cream is a Mediterranean-inspired pint that features a rich and scrumptious fig jam swirled into a wildly creamy olive oil-based ice cream and balanced with caramelized brown sugar to create an irresistible combination.

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The new flavor joins the gourmet lineup of Mango, Pistachio, Chocolate Hazelnut, Coffee, Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate, and Vanilla Bean. Naturally better for you and the planet, Wildgood harnesses the wisdom of the Mediterranean diet and the goodness of olive oil sourced from family farms in Greece to create the best-tasting plant-based ice cream on the market.

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Greek artisanal ice cream maker Sotiris Tsichlopoulos launched Wildgood in summer 2021 with a single goal of creating a better plant-based ice cream. After finding the perfect ingredient in extra virgin olive oil, Tsichlopoulos spent eight years on a quest to perfect the ultimate upgrade for ice cream.  Since launching, Wildgood has expanded in Whole Foods and launched nationally in Sprouts.

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"We're incredibly excited that consumers have been blown away by Wildgood. We're not just offering a plant-based alternative, but a pint that tastes as good as its dairy-based competitors," shares Tsichlopoulos. "The Caramelized Fig is the ideal extension of our gourmet flavor lineup, and we can't wait for consumers to try it."

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⁠As a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, olive oil is one of the most versatile ingredients on the planet and is often seen as nature's best way to add "good fat" to our diets. Wildgood boasts the lowest saturated fat in the category (dairy and non-dairy) and has 40% fewer calories than the leading dairy ice cream, and is made with simple, pronounceable ingredients.

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Wildgood uses no alternative milks, just extra virgin olive oil which makes it environmentally sustainable and a great option for those with dairy or nut allergies.

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Caramelized Fig is available for purchase at wildgood.com and nationwide at Sprouts. Wildgood is also available at select grocery stores, including Sprouts, Publix, Whole Foods Market in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, Wegmans, Harris Teeter, and Shoprite.

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To learn more about Wildgood, purchase pints or locate the nearest retailer, visit wildgood.com and follow Wildgood on Instagram at @wildgood and on Facebook at /wildgoodco.

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Goli Nutrition Inc. ("Goli®"), the pioneering wellness company recognized for its award-winning supplement portfolio and as America's #1 Apple Cider Vinegar Brand and #1 Ashwagandha Vitamin Brand¹, is honored in the top 10 of IRI®'s 2021 New Product Pacesetters. Joining the ranks as one of the year's most successful new product launches, Goli placed top ten on the list for new product launches in all consumer packaged goods and top five for non-food launches.

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"We are thrilled to be included on this coveted list of the year's top CPG brand launches," said Goli Co-founder, Michael Bitensky. "The IRI 2021 New Product Pacesetters Report reflects what consumers care about most when making informed purchases. We are committed every day to simplify health for people around the world – consistently bringing to market innovative products driven by consumer needs, with a focus on delicious taste, powerful ingredients and real results. This list shows we are hitting the mark with our customers, further establishing Goli's position as a category leader, committed to changing the wellness space for the better."

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IRI is a fast-growing global technology leader in innovative solutions and services for consumer, retail and media companies. The New Product Pacesetters™ report features the top new food and beverage and non-food product launches from 2021, based on insights from IRI's powerful suite of analytical and decision-making tools, as well as a comprehensive consumer attitudes survey.

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In addition to its pursuit to provide innovative products that make daily supplements simple and delicious, Goli is committed to playing a profound role in giving back and supporting the health of our planet as well as underserved communities through Goli® for Good. For every order placed on goli.com, a 6-month supply of essential vitamins is donated to a child in need through its partnership with non-profit Vitamin Angels. Additionally, for every order placed on goli.com, a tree is planted on behalf of each customer through its partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects, helping to provide fair wage employment to impoverished communities and global reforestation.

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For more information on the IRI 2021 New Product Pacesetters Report, please visit www.iriworldwide.com. To find additional information on Goli products, please visit www.goli.com. To learn more about  Goli® for Good, please visit www.goli.com/pages/goli-for-good.

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Midnight Moon, the small-batch moonshine brand handcrafted at North Carolina's first legal distillery, today announces the expansion of their award-winning canned cocktail line with a new Peach Tea flavor. Following the success of the brand's Lightning Lemonade and Watermelon releases, the makers of the official moonshine canned cocktail of summer also celebrate multiple awards wins and expanded distribution.

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Midnight Moon canned cocktails are based on the brand's award-winning, legendary moonshine recipe and blended with natural mixers, delivering a refreshing, not too sweet experience. With an 8% ABV kick, the new Peach Tea flavor was recently described as having "big peach aromas and lovely peach flavor balanced with big, rich tea and lemon flavor" at Fred Minnick's highly-respected ASCOT Awards, where it was awarded Gold. Peach Tea also won Triple Gold at the 2022 MicroLiquor Spirit Awards and took home Gold honors at the SF World Spirits Competition.

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Not to be outshone, Midnight Moon's Watermelon and Lightning Lemonade Canned Cocktails also earned Triple Golds at the 2022 MicroLiquor Spirit Awards for both Taste and Packaging and Gold accolades from the ASCOT Awards. In addition, Watermelon Canned Cocktails received Gold ratings at both the SF World Spirits Competition and the Beverage Testing Institute Awards.

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Due to demand, distribution for both Watermelon and Lightning Lemonade Canned Cocktails has recently expanded to include over twenty-five states (Peach Tea will initially be available in AK, CA, CT, MD, MA, MN MS, MT, NY, NC, SC, TN, WI, WV, and WY). Fans wanting to "get their shine on" this summer can search for their nearest local retailer or order online.

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The Shipwright's Daughter has been honored for its outstanding wine program in Wine Spectator's 2022 Restaurant Awards, which celebrate the world's best restaurants for wine.

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Wine Spectator began its program to recognize the world's best wine lists in 1981. There are three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award.

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The Shipwright's Daughter has won the Award of Excellence, which recognizes restaurants whose wine lists feature a well chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. The Shipwright's Daughter wine list includes over 135 selections from around the world, from an inventory of 1,425 bottles.

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"We are honored to receive our first Wine Spectator Award of Excellence," said beverage director Kathleen Standridge. "Our aim has always been to make exceptional, small producer wines accessible and approachable to wine drinkers of all kinds. We are absolutely thrilled to be recognized for our achievements."

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In crafting the wine list for Shipwright's Daughter, Standridge strives to ride the edges of tradition and innovation. Working with her husband, executive chef David Standridge, she developed an eclectic wine program that complements the menu and celebrates farmers and producers who practice their craft using time-honored winemaking techniques, as well as the mavericks who are testing the boundaries of possibilities.

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"As a small, husband and wife team, we are deeply thankful to be one of the only restaurants in Southeastern Connecticut to be recognized for this distinction," said Standridge. "We look forward to our bright future and can't wait to share all the wonderful bottles and producers that we have yet to discover with our guests."

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The full list of Restaurant Awards can be found at Restaurants.WineSpectator.com, where winners can be searched by location and sorted by name, proximity, award level, cuisine and pricing.

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Allentown, Pennsylvania based food + travel tech start-up Hawser unveiled "Course Restaurant Guide" to hospitality industry leaders, visionaries and investors at Indie Cultivate: An event series, hosted by the Independent Lodging Congress.

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The event series described by emcees Andrew Benioff and Bashar Wali as 1/3 TED talk, 1/3 SXSW and 1/3 ALIS Conference incorporates a Shark Tank-style pitch competition which Hawser's Founder, Josh Sapienza won as best seed-stage startup.

Course Restaurant Guide matches you with restaurants that suit your personal taste and organizes your lists of the places you want to try or have tried, and don't want to forget.

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Unlike restaurant recommendation resources like Yelp, TripAdvisor, The Infatuation or OpenTable that recommend restaurants based on what's hot or popular in a given city; Course takes a more personalized approach to recommendations by utilizing deep machine learning to understand it's members' preferences and then calculating each person's individual compatibility with restaurants and bars so that they can eat (and drink) like a local everywhere.

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Is personalizing restaurant recommendations an entirely new concept? No. Not by a long shot. But those who have already demonstrated success, e.g., The Infatuation, Google, Trip Advisor and Ness Computing (purchased by OpenTable) have built their recommendation platforms with editorialized content or a heavy reliance on what "other people think" (i.e., public reviews and social media activity) which was groundbreaking 5-10 years ago in the "pre-bot browsing era" and long before social media activity (i.e., Likes, Shares and Comments) were monetized or charitably doled out in an effort to manipulate algorithms for greater exposure.

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"We understand that taste is personal and because of the phenomenon known as 'Audience Effect' - we've found our anonymous first-party granular data to be the most reliable, informative and immediately actionable data out there." - Josh Sapienza, Founder

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After creating a profile, you're asked to privately rate 20 of the restaurants you already know and to take a series of fun food quizzes. The app gradually learns more about your specific taste and displays a range of emoji faces that reflect your personal compatibility with different restaurants.

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Sapienza is seeking seed funding to finance further developing Course into the perfect digital companion for the food-loving lifestyle traveler which includes the integration of a social component and a lodging plug-in.

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Social influencers on TikTok, Instagram and even local restaurants groups on facebook have been giving restaurants with smaller marketing budgets more exposure over the last few years but Sapienza says: "There's still a lot more we can do to support those lesser known restaurants and bars that not only contribute significantly to the streetscape in their respective communities but also offer visitors unique and memorable experiences.  That's our main focus - streamlining the guest's discovery experience as time and finances become increasingly limited."

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You can learn more about Course Restaurant Guide by visiting their website: trycourseapp.com or watching this 60sec video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teBdCcuYodU

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Clinical+ Skin set out to revolutionize the skincare category by creating a groundbreaking, professional-grade, science-backed skincare line that combines medical research and proven results with luxury. Through rigorous research and testing, Clinical+ Skin contrived the ideal blend of performance-maximizing ingredients to address these aging skin concerns and help deliver a healthy, transformative appearance. The collection is built around its single hero product, The Polypeptide Firming Serum, and will feature a complete portfolio of skin-rejuvenating formulas designed to deliver results without irritation.

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Harnessing a careful curation of multitasking peptides, cosmetic growth factor analog, lipids, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid, the PolyPeptide Firming Serum is clinically proven to address sagging skin with its blend of actives that encourage a more youthful-looking appearance. To further amplify benefits and support the powerlifter ingredients, the formula features botanicals like aloe and plankton extract, Traditional Chinese Medicine-inspired actives such as Arabidopsis Thaliana extract, antioxidants vitamin C and E, as well as essential minerals copper and zinc to encourage a rejuvenated appearance.

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At the root of all Clinical Skin products is a proprietary blend of specialty ingredients known as A.C.E. Technology™, a combination of broad-spectrum antioxidants, biomimetic ceramides and a natural enzyme. These ingredients are known to help soothe skin and defend against environmental and free radical damage while supporting and nourishing the epidermal barrier.

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The Polypeptide Firming Serum is a perfect companion and complement to cosmetic treatments administered by dermatologists, spotlighting novel technology and innovative ingredients that are well-researched and recognized for their effectiveness by the medical community.

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Delivering immediate and long-term results, the serum was clinically tested in a 12-week double-blind study by an independent body to validate its efficacy and safety. The study found statistically significant improvement in the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and firmness in as soon as four weeks of use and those results continued to increase over the course of the study:

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In just three months of regular use, the serum:

• Improved firmness and elasticity by 29.7%
• Improved the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by 22.5%
• Improved hydration by 77.4%

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The serum was highly rated by study participants who agreed that:

• Their skin's radiance was immediately improved (93%)
• Their skin texture was more refined (94%)
• They felt increasingly more satisfied with continued use of the serum (97%)
• Their skin's overall appearance was improved (94%)
• They would recommend the serum to a friend (94%)
• It was well tolerated with no evidence of irritation (100%)

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Inspired by the notion of creating a unique, high-performance portfolio of meticulously crafted, breakthrough skincare products, industry veterans Israel Zahler, Owner & CEO, and Ewelina Aiossa, CMO, founded Clinical+ Skin. The collection is comprised of highly efficacious, luxurious products formulated based on compelling, clinically validated scientific findings. With over 20 years of knowledge and expertise of the beauty and wellness categories, Zahler identified a white space within the industry. He soon tapped Aiossa, who's background as a branding and formulatory expert at L'Oreal provided her with an array of scientific foresight and aesthetic insight that would be integral in the formulation of Clinical+ Skin. The two began developing a professional-grade skincare brand that marries high-performance ingredients and unique delivery systems with a cosmetic elegance, bridging the gap between prestige formulations and science-backed ones. Harnessing the power of advising dermatologists and skincare experts (or industry luminaries), the pair developed innovative formulations that are evidence-based, combatting multiple signs of aging while complimenting cosmetic procedures. Clinical+ Skin's cutting-edge skincare solutions are multi-functional and are designed to elevate any skincare routine.

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Once Again's Sunflower Seed Butter Graham Cracker Sandwiches have been selected as a winner in Good Housekeeping's 2022 Healthy Snack Awards in the Best Crave-Worthy Cookies Category. The single-serve snacks offer a high-quality and allergy-friendly alternative to traditional cracker sandwiches and are the first on the market to be certified both organic and gluten free. They're also vegan, kosher, Non-GMO Project Verified, and free of added preservatives.

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Hand-crafted in small batches at Once Again's own bakery, the clean-ingredient sandwich crackers feature a nutritious blend of organic sorghum flour, organic oat flour and organic cassava flour and are filled with ethically sourced, organic dry roasted sunflower butter milled creamy. RSPO certified palm oil is used to stabilize the spreads, which are lightly sweetened with sustainably sourced cane sugar. The plant-based product is also part of Once Again's Honest in Trade program, an initiative that seeks to improve quality of life through environmentally, economically, and socially fulfilling partnerships from farm to fork.

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Shared Gael J. B. Orr, Director of Marketing at Once Again Nut Butter, "Creating a convenient snack made with our sunflower seed butter has been a labor of love for us, and we so value this recognition from the team at Good Housekeeping. Perfect for lunch boxes, backpacks, and on-the-go snacking, our new Sunflower Seed Butter Graham Cracker Sandwiches are super portable, can be eaten straight off the shelf, and are surprisingly filling and tasty."

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Once Again's Sunflower Seed Butter Graham Cracker Sandwiches will be announced as a winner in the July/August 2022 issue of Good Housekeeping and are currently featured on GoodHousekeeping.com/healthysnacks. The product is sold at Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market locations across the country for an SRP of $1.69-$1.89 or $13.52-$15.12 per retail box of eight, plus online through the brand's website and Amazon. Peanut Butter Graham Cracker Sandwiches are also available.

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For more information about Once Again Nut Butter, the 100% employee-owned company spreading integrity since 1976, visit OnceAgainNutButter.com and follow @OnceAgainNutButter on social media.

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NIC+ZOE, the Boston-based women's clothing brand, is adding another industry standout to its team by appointing Jennifer Hudner Vice President of Marketing.

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Hudner is a seasoned industry veteran with more than twenty years in fashion and retail: a multi-channel marketing executive known for brand building, consumer-led strategy, and creative development. Her previous position was Head of Direct-To-Consumer and Integrated Marketing at New Balance where she spearheaded phenomenal digital and retail growth.

NIC+ZOE's founder and Chief Creative Officer, Dorian Lightbown, sees the acquisition of Hudner as a coup for the female-led fashion brand. "Jen brings such creative talent to NIC+ZOE. I am so excited to work with her and look forward to building our brand vision together."

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Just as thrilled is NIC+ZOE President Avra Myers, who had previously worked with Hudner at Myers' own A Ruby from 2013-2015.

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"I had such a lovely experience working with Jen. She brings an infectious passion to her work and everywhere she's been, well, the results speak for themselves. When the opportunity to bring her to NIC+ZOE presented itself, I had no hesitation. Her energy, creativity, and shrewd business sense is a perfect fit. I can't wait to get started!"

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For her part, Hudner is just as enthusiastic about the reunion and the opportunity.

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"I am thrilled about joining NIC+ZOE. First off, I am excited to be returning to a female focused apparel brand with an important mission.  With a solid team already in place, I look forward to accelerating the brand's forward momentum by driving greater awareness and acquiring new customers who don't yet know it's their new favorite label. And second, I will be reuniting with Avra: a mentor who shares my passion for product."

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A brand that prides itself on a personal touch and devotion to detail, Hudner's blend of creativity and industry insight leaves the label poised for further success. Under her guidance, the company can look forward to helping women feel like their best selves with the perfect balance of style, comfort, and—naturally—just the right amount of fun.

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Museum of the City of New York—the City's storyteller for 100 years—today announces the appointment of new Trustees to the Board: Mignon Espy Edwards; Jennifer K. Marrus; Neel Shah; Nicole Washington; and Julee Wilson. The five leaders join the board as the museum moves towards the future and its 100th year celebrations in 2023.

"As we enter the Museum's centennial year, these talented new trustees will be part of shaping the vision for the Museum," said William C. Vrattos, Chair of the Board of Trustees. "I'm confident that with their leadership experience and guidance, this beloved institution will be well-positioned to lead within the city's rapidly evolving cultural landscape."

"We are entering our centennial year with a continued emphasis on reflecting our city and its people, their needs, and their stories," said Whitney Donhauser, President & Ronay Menschel Director of the Museum of the City of New York. "Our board of trustees have shown steadfast leadership as we navigated through the pandemic, and I'm thrilled to have new energy and an infusion of diverse talent with our newest trustee appointments as we embark on the next chapter for the Museum."

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New trustee appointees include:

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• Mignon Espy Edwards is a seasoned brand strategist with over 25 years of experience and is widely recognized as a leading executive known for driving transformative brand growth. Prior to her current role, Espy Edwards was Head of Digital Content Marketing at Viacom CBS, where she led sales and marketing initiatives, EVP of Partnership Marketing and Strategic Planning at Warner Music Group, and began her career in sales at Island Def Jam Music Group, launching branded entertainment revenue streams for superstar talent. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics & Marketing from Spelman College. She currently serves as a board member of the New York Women's Foundation and Member of the Greater New York Links, Inc. and Metropolitan Jack & Jill Chapter, New York. Passionate about empowerment for women and girls, Mignon is an active philanthropist, donating her time and talent as a marketing and relationship advisor to many charitable organizations, including the Universal Hip Hop Museum, ABT (American Ballet Theatre), The Studio Museum of Harlem, and Healthcorps.

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• Jennifer K. Marrus is a former marketing executive and philanthropist with a wealth of experience in marketing and strategic problem solving in the for-profit and social impact arenas. She is a former Vice President of Marketing at American Express, was Operations Manager for a manufacturing company, and worked in Economic Development for the City of New York. Jennifer has been a long-time champion for Jumpstart, an educational nonprofit focused on providing underserved children pre-kindergarten with educational resources. She is a founding member of Jumpstart's Tri-State Local Advisory Board over 20 years ago, and its former national board chair. In addition to her work with Jumpstart, she co-founded a mentorship and networking community for Dartmouth graduates in the social impact sector and she regularly serves as a strategic advisor for growing social impact organizations. Jennifer holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. in Psychology from Dartmouth. She is married with two boys and lives in New York City.

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• Neel Shah is the founder and co-CEO of Vivid+Co, a brand strategy, communications, and technology company. Shah previously spent 15 years in investment management, including stints at Oaktree Capital Management and BlueMountain Capital Management, where he focused on opportunistic investing across the capital structure. He has advised and invested in the seed rounds of several tech companies, including Compass. Shah earned a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and has a master's degree from the London School of Economics, where he graduated first in his class. He resides in New York City with his partner Caitlin and their two children.

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• Nicole Washington is a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where she is a member of the Investment Funds Group. She represents domestic and international sponsors in forming, marketing and operating private investment funds, as well as on secondary market transactions, succession planning and co-investment arrangements. Nicole holds a BA from Columbia University and a JD from Harvard Law School.

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• Julee Wilson is the Executive Director of BeautyUnited, a nonprofit with a mission to provide community, education and access to support the next generation of beauty and wellness leaders. Separately, she is the Beauty Editor-at-Large at Cosmopolitan, leading the brand's robust beauty coverage across all platforms (print, digital & social) and creating new ways to reach readers. Wilson was previously the Global Beauty Director as ESSENCE and she also served as ESSENCE's Fashion & Beauty Director for three years. Before her tenure at ESSENCE, Wilson was the Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor at The Huffington Post. She started her career at Real Simple magazine where she worked her way up from assistant to the Editor-in-Chief to Staff Fashion Editor. Her writing has appeared in InStyle, Conde Nast Traveler, The Business of Fashion, and The International Journal of Fashion Studies—just to name a few. Wilson has also appeared on CNN, The Today Show, and the CBS Early Show. She is an award-winning journalist, which includes hosting a Webby Award-honored podcast. Wilson received her B.A. in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond and is an alum of Stanford University's former Professional Publishing Course. Wilson sits on the Black in Fashion Council's executive board, the advisory board for Harlem's Fashion Row, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She resides in Harlem NYC with her brilliant husband, two dope sons, and a massive shoe collection.

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The Museum of the City of New York fosters understanding of the distinctive nature of urban life in the world's most influential metropolis. Winner of "Best Museum" in Time Out New York's "Best of the City 2021" and multiple American Alliance of Museums (AAM) awards, MCNY engages visitors by celebrating, documenting, and interpreting the city's past, present, and future. To connect with the Museum's award-winning digital content, visit www.mcny.org.

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Source: A.A. Cristi for Broadway World.

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For almost five years, Little Muffincakes® has sought to ensure that parents of color can find products for their children that feature illustrations of children that look like they do. It is a simple mission undertaken by founder Debra Raney, and an essential one.

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“As a mother and grandmother, I am aware of how important it is that our children see positive and encouraging images that look like them,” Raney said. “When my twin daughters and son were growing up, it was so difficult finding characters and products that were made with them in mind.”

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Raney’s company, Little Muffincakes, was born out of this difficulty. To fulfill the company mission to provide high-quality, inclusive merchandise with unique character art that reflects the diversity and beauty in children, Little Muffincakes designs and sells items from apparel to paper products and room décor all featuring diverse imagery.

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Little Muffincakes products provide value outside of their functional purpose by helping parents of color reinforce the self-esteem and beauty of their children, especially Black children. But even the greatest products cannot reach their full potential unless consumers know about them.

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Enter Agency Habitat, a team of digital media experts with a long history of branding, marketing and social content creation. Raney initially sought help from Agency Habitat with Little Muffincakes’ social media efforts — but as an agency, they knew their expertise could do so much more for Little Muffincakes. Together, Raney and Agency Habitat worked together to make sure the brand image was as powerful as the brand story. The creative has since won local and national awards.

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“Debra and her business captivated the Agency Habitat team,” said Lindsay Hendon, Agency Habitat’s Vice President of Operations. “There was no question that her mission deserved a full-service experience to help her get to the next level more quickly.”

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Agency Habitat saw that Raney had an inspiring vision and the right products. The key would be getting that idea and those products in front of potential customers with an elevated style and a consistent, impactful message. With that goal in mind, the Agency Habitat team provided Raney with a redesigned logo, photo and video shoot, and detailed social media/brand guidelines. Their mission was to help elevate the Little Muffincakes brand and provide it with a new image that matched Raney’s creativity and hopes.

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“We are a small business with big dreams,” Raney said. “With everything Agency Habitat was able to do for us, we are well on our way to becoming a big business whose roots remain firmly planted in the cause of social justice and empowerment. Our rebranding not only caught the eye of new customers, but it also got us a critical new outlet for our product line.”

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Little Muffincakes products can now be found on the Little Muffincakes’ site as well as a growing list of online national retailers, opening the company to a larger universe of potential customers.

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“Agency Habitat was interested in why I started Little Muffincakes,” Raney said. “They wanted to listen to me and had all these fresh ideas, helping develop a vision for me to make my brand better. They helped address my social media, making our presence more cohesive. When firms like Agency Habitat work with brands like us, they can get a sense of pride about helping to elevate a small brand and directly see their impact.”

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“We feel so fortunate for the opportunity to work with Debra and Little Muffincakes,” said Lauren Coleman, Agency Habitat’s Vice President of Creative Services. “Her passion and purpose inspired our entire team. To see her boutique brand continue to gain national attention is a joy to us all. I’d encourage all agencies to find the time and resources to help small businesses that have amazing potential. Who knows? The next big brand could already be growing in your own backyard.”

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Simple Food Ventures today announced its first close of $6 million for its $15 million fundraise. Fundraising efforts for the remaining $9 million will continue through year end. The early-stage consumer fund invests in seed to series B CPG companies with a natural and organic ethos and a mass market appeal. More specifically, the fund will focus on natural and organic products that disrupt the stale assumptions around food and nutrition, making healthier food options more accessible and affordable to a broader demographic. The firm leverages a strong grocery network to grow its portfolio companies' retail distribution footprint in exchange for additional, performance-based equity, which produces enhanced fund returns for Limited Partners.

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SFV finds, funds and champions early-stage companies with passionate founders creating minimally processed, nutrient-dense, and nourishing products that are better for the body and environment. SFV’s leadership team, Greer Tessler, Cara Kaufman, and Luke Goldstein, leverage their extensive experience and network in the grocery industry to bolster the success of their portfolio companies, helping them scale distribution at an accelerated pace through strategic retail relationships and advisory services. The firm leverages 11 years of experience working with conventional grocery stores and strong relationships at mass and big box retailers to identify white space on shelves for new healthier food options.  

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With backgrounds in partnerships, grocery, sales, finance and consumer operations, the management team is uniquely equipped to take advantage of strategic opportunities in the grocery arena. Their successful investments to date include Aura Bora, craft sparkling water; Simulate, Instagram-famous plant-based staples; Cure Hydration, clean hydration powder; Belliwelli, the first Low FodMap Dessert bar; Rae Wellness, a female-centered supplement brand; and Bored Cow, a first of its kind line of lab-grown, animal-free dairy milk.

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All investors are private, made up of family offices and high net worth individuals.

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About Simple Food Ventures

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Founded in 2020, Simple Food Ventures Fund I is an early stage, mission-driven venture capital fund investing in the future of healthy foods and products by targeting the next generation of food, beverages and CPG companies. The Fund was founded to bring better-for-you food and beverage products to middle income markets within mass grocery stores. Brands include Aura Bora, Bears Fruit, Belliwelli, Cure Hydration, Faves, Lupii, Miracle Seltzer, Rae Wellness, Simulate, Tomorrow Farms.

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For more information, please visit https://www.simplefoodvc.com/ or contact Greer@simplefoodventures.com

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Naples Soap Company, Inc. (OTC PINK: NASO), a retail destination known for high-quality skin and hair care, has signed a lease to open a new store in Venice, Fla. in the planned community of Wellen Park located along US 41 and River Road. The location will feature over 2,200 square feet of retail space with a clean, coastal, modern vibe and showcase the Company’s full line of natural soaps, bath bombs, face care, body butters and more. The new store is expected to open just in time for the holiday shopping season in the fourth quarter of 2022.

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“We’ve built a strong following along the West Coast of Florida with many loyal shoppers. The Venice location will help us fill the gap between our store at Lakewood Ranch northeast of Sarasota and our Fishermen’s Village location on the coast.”

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“I opened my second store in Punta Gorda back in 2010 at Fishermen’s Village and love this area,” said Founder and CEO, Deanna Wallin. “We’ve built a strong following along the West Coast of Florida with many loyal shoppers. The Venice location will help us fill the gap between our store at Lakewood Ranch northeast of Sarasota and our Fishermen’s Village location on the coast.”

The Company is seeking full and part-time employees to fill a variety of roles at this new location and other stores within the footprint. To apply, visit naplessoap.com/careers.

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The beauty and wellness industry is one of the most competitive and demanding businesses anywhere in the world today, but Skinovatio Medical Spa has managed to take the lead since its establishment in 2015 by simply making a firm commitment to excellence, innovations, and safety. Known as the first medical spa franchise in the Chicago area, the company has made a respectable name for itself over the past seven years by offering quality treatments and state-of-the-art equipment handled by top medical practitioners and specialists.

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Skinovatio Medical Spa is a fusion of an aesthetic medical center and a day spa, offering a wide range of innovative aesthetic services centered on world-class beauty and wellness. It is composed of a team of highly qualified, trained, and experienced medical practitioners and aesthetic specialists that are qualified to utilize revolutionary technologies and proprietary therapies to bring out the natural beauty of its clients. It takes pride in offering quick, non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures and painless, safe, and carefully executed services.

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Business partners and founders Kat Sallam and Aleksandra Waibel wanted to create a high-quality brand that can provide excellent beauty treatments without downtime after every procedure. The two wanted to eliminate the inconvenience of not being able to work for a couple of days or having to stay indoors to recover from treatment. By choosing to use emerging and highly effective procedures that are virtually painless, their clients get to go back to their normal way of life after each treatment.

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Additionally, the two were motivated to create Skinovatio Medical Spa after realizing that too many individuals are put at risk by going through underground Botox treatments, for instance, that are not facilitated by qualified professionals.

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"We want to educate our readers and inform them that it is very important to choose the right facility for their procedures. Cheap injections are not always good injections. You can still receive your procedure out of cost, but it is very important to make sure that it is done by a highly trained injector or laser technician since the majority of these treatments carry on the risk of long life side effects," Kat and Aleksandra shared. "This is not a case with Skinovatio Medical Spa since we are heavily focused on maintaining a highly trained and qualified staff," they added.

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There is a wide variety of beauty treatments to choose from a Skinovatio Medical Spa, which include injectables, BOTOX, dermal fillers, KYBELLA, non-invasive facelifts, platelet-rich plasma, hair removal, laser tattoo removal, Endermologie, i-Lipo, VelaShape, Emsculpt, plasma pen fibroblast skin tightening, intense pulsed light photofacials, microneedling, and vampire facials.

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Apart from being the go-to place for reliable, fast, and painless treatments, it is also a lucrative beauty and wellness business opportunity that a lot of entrepreneurs will find promising. At present, Skinovatio Medical Spa has several franchise opportunities in key areas, including Arlington Heights, Barrington, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, and Western Springs in Illinois. The franchise fee is inclusive of training, coaching, and compensation.

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There is no doubt that the current success of Skinovatio Medical Spa is attracting potential investors. Its founders are presently focused on a nationwide expansion that will put the business in the spotlight as they aim to establish a medical spa in every state around the country.

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Sequoia Living, a nonprofit providing homes and services for healthy aging, recognizes the importance of creating healthier environments by reducing waste. With nearly 4,000 nutritious meals prepared daily, Sequoia Living uses sustainable practices focused on menu planning, tracking inventory, purchasing in-season ingredients, and reducing uneaten leftovers.

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"At Sequoia Living we are committed to reducing the impact on the environment while providing nourishing and sustainable meals daily," said Sara McVey, President and CEO of Sequoia Living. "We work with our chefs, dieticians, and dining service managers to prioritize ingredients from local and diverse artisans to reduce our carbon footprint."

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"Through this sustainable meals program, residents' choice is of the utmost importance," said Chef Tsitsi Helman. "We not only provide vegetarian options, but we also encourage 'Meatless Mondays' because we know reducing meat consumption is good for our heart and good for the planet."

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To continue learning about Sequoia Living's efforts to reduce environmental impact and climate change, watch our Legacy Talks webinar series featuring discussions about emissions, air pollution, and strategies to reduce waste.

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Being stewards of the environment is important to the people who live and work at Sequoia Living. Through our compost and recycling programs, everyone is involved in diverting waste from landfills. We invite you to come and learn what life is like at Sequoia Living. Click here to find a community near you.

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Littlebird, the Connected Care platform launching Fall 2022, has announced the hire of media veteran, Megan Colarossi, as Director of Media and Communications. The move comes as the company gears up to bring its Littlebird Toddler CareTracker to market, the first cellular Bluetooth and GPS wearable of its kind for small children ages one to five years old.

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A former Anchor for Good Day LA, TODAY Show contributor, and award-winning producer for famed news outlets such as CNN, MTV News, and more, Colarossi brings a wealth of journalistic integrity and cross-departmental experience to Littlebird.

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When asked what drew her to Littlebird, Megan shared, "As a working mom of three, the well-being of my children is my top priority. I was instantly inspired by LittleBird's core mission which is to bring families closer together through a state-of-the-art connected care platform. It is a game changer for parents who face enormous amounts of stress when we are apart from our kids. Littlebird's revolutionary 360° digital approach to childcare will help ease parent anxiety by allowing them to feel connected with their child anywhere - anytime - which is simply incredible!"  

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In another tactical step towards launching the brand, Littlebird brought on creative communications firm, Small Girls PR, whose client roster features a mix of venture-backed startups to publicly traded companies, many within the Famtech category. The agency will oversee brand communications and strategic media relations for the company.

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"Both Megan and Small Girls make a powerhouse communications team," says Monica Plath, Founder & CEO of Littlebird. "Their extensive media knowledge coupled with their strong relationships will ensure that Littlebird takes flight in a thoughtful and compelling manner. Our top priority is to create a safe and connected community for parents, children and caregivers to thrive and they strongly believe in that mission as well."

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Small Girls PR CEO & Cofounder Mallory Blair says, "As a woman-owned agency, we are passionate about supporting strong female leaders and first-movers in industries traditionally dominated by men, especially tech. In our initial meeting with Monica, we were immediately drawn to her enthusiasm for improving the lives of parents and children who will benefit greatly from this truly smart and innovative technology."

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For more information on Littlebird, visit https://www.littlebird.care/.

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Hank, a new digital platform connecting adults 55+ with people and activities in their community, officially debuted today. The company also announced it has raised $7 million in seed funding led by General Catalyst and Resolute Ventures. By connecting individuals with in-person events and like-minded people, Hank is redefining the midlife experience while helping this demographic build social connections that contribute to health, happiness, and longevity.

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Hank matches active adults over the age of 55 with relevant events and activities like pickleball, art workshops, coffee meet-ups, skydiving, and more. Members can find Hank-sponsored events in their area or create their own events to connect with others over shared passions, hobbies, and interests.

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"After ten years in the tech industry, I saw a clear and solvable bias problem in how products were developed: age," said Brian Park, co-founder and CEO, Hank. "I created Hank because I knew there was an opportunity to innovate for empty nesters like my parents, who were looking for ways to build their community and preferred to deepen their friendships in real life and not just behind a screen. For them, social activities have been key to happiness in this new chapter of life, and I knew that we could use technology to improve in-person social connections for this specific demographic."

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To help shift age-old stereotypes of what a person age 55 plus looks like, Hank has also launched a new brand campaign, "Generation You." Featuring real 55+ adults—not models—living their most vibrant lives, the campaign aims to capture what most age-specific media has not: a realistic and modern representation of age.

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"They were the first generation to graduate from mixed tapes to digital playlists. They mastered Pong and successfully survived over 30 versions of the iPhone. They are tech savvy and it's about time for a platform to connect this vibrant community," said Niko Bonatsos, managing director at General Catalyst. "Over 30 percent of the US population is over 50 and those lucky enough to be part of the GenX population have personalities, interests, and hunger for experiences that match their flair for 80's fashion. We are committed to helping the creative and passionate team at Hank as they continue to rapidly grow the brand and create a destination for those who actually know and celebrate the lyrics to 80s music."

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Currently, Hank is live in the New York City area, but plans to expand nationally in the second half of this year. To help expedite its expansion, Hank has raised $7M in seed funding led by General Catalyst, with Resolute Ventures, Canaan Partners, The Fund, and Tau Ventures also contributing to this round of fundraising.

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To find out more about Hank or to become a member, visit gethank.com.

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Texas Original, Texas’ leading medical cannabis provider, announced its newest prescription pickup location has opened in Waco, Texas. The new location is Waco’s first medical cannabis pickup site and the first drive-thru location in the state. The pickup location is open every Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. for patients who qualify under the Compassionate Use Program.

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Texas Original operates the most robust medical cannabis distribution network in Texas. In addition to its convenient pickup locations open weekly throughout the state, the company also delivers prescriptions directly to patients’ doorsteps on a daily and weekly basis. The Waco opening marks another important milestone in the company’s pursuit of expanding access to life-changing medical cannabis treatment for every Texan. Waco-area patients like Barry Freeman—who uses medical cannabis to treat symptoms of PTSD—now have a convenient option to pick up their prescriptions locally.

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“Medical cannabis has helped me sleep better, live without the burden of chronic pain and eliminate pain pills from my treatment,” Freeman said. “Texas Original’s medicine has changed my life and I’m so grateful to have nearby access to their products through the Waco pickup location.”

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Registered physicians can prescribe medical cannabis to treat conditions including epilepsy, cancer, PTSD and hundreds of neurodegenerative disorders. Texas Original's medicine alleviates common symptoms—including chronic pain, insomnia and anxiety—associated with such conditions for thousands of patients. Qualifying Waco residents can obtain medical cannabis prescriptions through online clinics or Waco-based physicians registered with the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas.

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“Getting your medical cannabis prescription filled should be as easy as picking up any other medicine,” said Morris Denton, CEO of Texas Original. “Swiftly receiving care from the comfort of your car is another significant step toward expanding access for our patients. I encourage Waco residents to ask their doctors about the life-changing benefits of medical cannabis and reach out to us to start experiencing relief as soon as possible.”

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Waco patients can continue to access their prescriptions through Texas Original’s delivery network. Today’s announcement also follows the opening of Texas Original’s first permanent medical cannabis pickup location in Houston, which serves the greater Houston area five days a week. Operating times for the company’s permanent Houston Heights location and other local pickup sites can be found on the Texas Original website here.

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Texas Original’s suite of gummies, tincture and lozenge products are also available for pickup at the company’s dispensary in Austin, Texas. To learn whether you or a loved one qualifies for medical cannabis, visit www.texasoriginal.com/patients.

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