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June 21, 2022 10:33 AM
EDT
CHARLESTON, SC

VasQ™ External Support Comparative U.S. Study Demonstrated Greater Fistula Primary Patency and Usability with a Lower Intervention Rate

The U.S. VasQ™ External Support Comparative Study results were presented this month for the first time globally at the VASA 2022. The study was a propensity-score matched comparison of the VasQ U.S. Pivotal Study single-arm prospective data with untreated contemporary Medicare patients who underwent arterio-venous fistula creation for hemodialysis by the same study surgeons. The study results demonstrated a significant improvement in primary patency and fistula usability with less re-intervention burden within the first 6 months post-creation.

Dr. C. Keith Ozaki, vascular surgeon and Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital of Boston, MA, and the local principal investigator for the phase 3 Pivotal study, stated, "The results of this carefully performed analysis clearly link higher patency, lower reintervention rates, and increased hemodialysis access usability with the VasQ device. This data supports similar results from multiple European studies on VasQ's ability to reduce intervention burden on hemodialysis patients."

The data release at VASA builds on previous VasQ U.S. Pivotal Study data releases, first by Dr. Ellen Dillavou, Chief of Surgery at WakeMed, NC, who reported at VEITH 2021 that VasQ met the primary effectiveness performance goal, and second, by Dr. John Lucas III, Vascular Surgeon at Greenwood Leflore Hospital, MS, who reported at Charing CX 2022, London UK, high secondary patency rates at 2-years as compared to published contemporary U.S. meta-analyses.

Dr. Dillavou added, "The mounting volume of evidence for VasQ continues to support the adoption of this technology as standard practice for access creation in order to give our patients the best chance for successful dialysis with a fistula and expediting removal of central venous catheters."

VasQ is currently under review by the FDA for market clearance and is not available for sale in the U.S. at the time of this publication.

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June 21, 2022 10:21 AM
EDT
Charlotte, NC

Cirba Solutions Unveils New Combined Entity of Heritage Battery Recycling, Retriev Technologies, and Battery Solutions, Designed to Build Circular Battery Supply Chain

Cirba Solutions is now the combined entity representing Heritage Battery Recycling, Retriev Technologies, and Battery Solutions, creating the most experienced and comprehensive battery management and materials platform enabling a circular battery supply chain for the industry. The company’s focus on lithium-ion batteries, required for the rapidly growing electric vehicle industry, is supported by its robust end-to-end solution for all types of battery recycling and processing. Its expansive footprint includes six processing locations in North America, including two lithium-ion operations, and will be rapidly expanding with additional materials processing sites being selected this year.

“Our society is experiencing a rapid electrification transformation. Cirba Solutions, which signifies where circularity and batteries come together, is the most experienced and trusted company to handle the entire battery management process for our customers and we have the expertise to grow our services to meet the scope and scale of the upcoming future,” said David Klanecky, CEO, Cirba Solutions. “A key to our success will be to address the complexity of the circular supply chain for customers to meet the industry’s need for lithium-ion batteries.”

The company has fundamentally expanded its operational capabilities and industry expertise in the last eight months:

  • In October 2021, Retriev Technologies combined with Heritage Battery Recycling to create the largest lithium-ion battery recycler in North America.
  • In March 2022, the company appointed battery-industry veterans David Klanecky as CEO and Luke Kissam as Chairman of the Board to join the leadership team.
  • In that same month, the company acquired Battery Solutions, the North American leader in sustainable, end-to-end management solutions for end-of-life batteries.

Cirba Solutions has a well-established heritage through its predecessor companies. Retriev Technologies was the largest and most experienced cross-chemistry battery recycler in North America and has recycled more than 50 million pounds of lithium-ion batteries. For more than 30 years, it has seen battery technology change and has adapted to meet market needs through innovation, customer collaboration, and laser-focused execution.

Battery Solutions built the largest North American post-consumer battery sorting services with a transportation, logistics, and collection infrastructure that can collect any volume of batteries of any type throughout the continent and leads the industry in compliance and safety. Processing tens of millions of pounds of end-of-life batteries annually with more than 7,000 customers, covering collection, services, and battery-centric logistics, this supports the battery management efforts for the circular supply chain.

“Cirba Solutions is the only player in the market today that has an operational, differentiated business with a full suite of capabilities to address lithium-ion and cross-chemistry battery demand,” said Klanecky. “Plus our differentiated technology roadmap provides a technical foundation for significant gains in upgrading materials while servicing the industry needs for today.”

The industry is preparing for the growing demand of electric vehicles in North America, which is estimated to grow from two million cars on the road today to 118 million by 2040. Auto manufacturers have committed to invest more than $500 billion in electrifying their fleet. Demand for new metals is anticipated to grow three-fold over the next eight years, enabling battery recycling as a viable and more sustainable resource for the overall EV supply chain.

“We are servicing the needs of today and supporting our future generations with sustainable solutions for the planet,” said Klanecky.

More information is available at www.cirbasolutions.com.

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June 21, 2022 10:00 AM
EDT
Atlanta, GA

InductiveHealth Informatics Announces Growth Investment Partnership With Diversis

"This investment will allow InductiveHealth to pursue significant product development initiatives," said InductiveHealth CEO and Co-Founder Matthew Dollacker. "The COVID-19 pandemic exposed many opportunities for improvement in public health. We plan to leverage this investment to bring forward exciting new technology capabilities to improve public health outcomes, while continuing to grow our industry-leading team of epidemiologists, engineers, and public health specialists to serve our growing client needs."

"Having the ability to push our innovation practices even further with Diversis, and to grow our world-class team, will mean that we can provide essential public health surveillance and response solutions to even more areas around the country, and eventually the world. Our goal is to help ensure that every public health crisis is met with accurate, timely data that can track and monitor the situation and enable the best public health outcomes."

Partnering with Diversis

InductiveHealth's new partner is the Los Angeles-based investment firm Diversis, dedicated to fostering growth acceleration and providing development opportunities to software and technology organizations. Their goal is a collaborative partnership that ensures the organizations they work with are always heard and supported.

"Diversis is excited to partner with another amazing and future-looking company," said Diversis Co-Founder and Managing Partner Kevin Ma, "The work that InductiveHealth is doing is vital to improving public health capabilities, and we believe that our growth investment in them will prove to be something that will genuinely help change the public health landscape for years to come."

Growth and innovation

InductiveHealth has had a long-standing commitment to fully remote work, which in turn attracted a wide number of expert technologists in public health that would otherwise not be able to relocate to the company's headquarters in Atlanta.

Today, the company has a staff of approximately 85 in the United States. It will use investment to continue a trend of more than 50 percent year-over-year growth, while also accelerating product development and client delivery at scale. InductiveHealth will primarily invest in engineering and product staff, developing services in ways that will improve the quantity, quality, and use of data for public health surveillance and response.

The proof is in the numbers

Currently InductiveHealth supports public health reporting and analytics for more than 70 percent of hospital and urgent care visits in the United States. In addition, more than 6 million healthcare transactions per day are facilitated through its services.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated, public health crises can occur at any time. InductiveHealth provides products and services that can help ensure that public health leaders have the tools that they need to effectively respond. With the growth investment from Diversis, InductiveHealth will be able to continue to innovate in this field, preventing avoidable illness and injury and saving lives.

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June 21, 2022 9:41 AM
EDT
Atlanta, GA

smartwater Announces Zendaya as Newest Global Brand Ambassador

smartwater is taking hydration to new heights this summer and today announces its newest global brand ambassador, Zendaya. A champion of artistry and originality, acclaimed actor and performer Zendaya is pioneering new ways to live a more purposeful life. As smartwater’s global ambassador, Zendaya will appear in a series of new creative from the brand that celebrates those who are defining ‘smart’ on their own terms and will support community water programs that will directly impact thousands of women.

“We could not be more thrilled to have Zendaya join smartwater as the newest face of our brand,” said Matrona Filippou, Global Category President, Hydration, Sports, Tea & Coffee, The Coca-Cola Company. “A global icon and cultural force, Zendaya isn’t afraid to be true to herself, and that’s what makes her the perfect addition to the smartwater family.”

Created in partnership with VMLY&R and WPP/OpenX, the campaign creative will begin rolling out in the U.S. from June 21 across television, audio, social and streaming channels, with global markets to follow. The campaign celebrates those who keep it smart, whatever the choice, and aren’t afraid to free themselves from the restraints of convention.

“I’m very excited to begin this new relationship with smartwater,” said Zendaya, smartwater Global Brand Ambassador. “We all know how important it is to stay hydrated and smartwater is my go-to source no matter what I am doing throughout the day.”

As the face of the brand’s newest campaign, Zendaya will work with smartwater to support community water quality and access improvements in various cities around the world, starting with Zendaya’s hometown of Oakland, California, by partnering with the Global Water Challenge (GWC) – a coalition of leading organizations collaborating to achieve universal access to clean drinking water. In the U.S. alone, 2.2 million people have no water at home and 44 million Americans are served by water systems that don't function optimally.

Together, smartwater, GWC and Zendaya are launching the smart solutions: global water challenge, which will invite local organizations to apply for grant funding to GWC’s women for water action platform that uplifts women and their communities through the power of clean water access. These efforts build on more than a decade of investments in clean water access around the world from The Coca-Cola Company which have reached more than 18.5 million people since 2010. GWC’s work has proven that with access to clean water, people, especially women and girls, are healthier, safer, educated and employed.

“Our organization doesn’t operate without the support of our purpose-driven partners, and we are grateful to have smartwater and Zendaya on board to help ensure communities in need have more access to clean water,” says Monica Ellis, CEO of Global Water Challenge. “With the smart solutions: global water challenge, we’ll specifically work to address community water access, improving and protecting water quality, and economic empowerment opportunities through water.”

For more information about smartwater, visit smartwater.com. For more information about the Global Water Challenge and the smart solutions: global water challenge, visit www.globalwaterchallenge.org.

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June 21, 2022 9:40 AM
EDT
Atlanta, GA

BlazeSports America Hosts 2nd Annual Peachtree Paragames

BlazeSports America, a nonprofit organization founded after the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games and a leader in the field of adaptive sports and recreation, is hosting their second annual Peachtree Paragames event on June 25 and 26. The Paragames is a multi-sport event that provides the continuation of competition for the developmental to elite Paralympic athlete. The competition will include archery, track and field and swimming events and take place in the heart of Atlanta.

“After an extremely successful first event, we are thrilled to host a second BlazeSports America Peachtree Paragames,” states Dawn Churi, Executive Director of BlazeSports. “The Paragames’ goal is to provide a competitive outlet for our athletes, while also providing an opportunity for potential new athletes to see first-hand the impact of adaptive sports. We are excited to continue this event in its second year and look forward to expanding Blaze’s impact in the community.”

This multisport event was created as a tribute to the first Paralympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia during the 1996 Olympics. Its purpose is to not only showcase and celebrate Paralympians but also to educate and encourage both youth and veteran athletes of all skill levels to join the BlazeSports America family.

The Peachtree Paragames will kick off with archery and track on Saturday, June 25 and will continue with field events and the Toddler Games that afternoon. On Sunday, June 26, the swimming competitions will be held. Both days will include free clinics that focus on a variety of adaptive sports such as rowing, sitting volleyball, wheelchair tennis, and pickleball for all participants and those new to the world of adaptive sports. There will also be the BlazeTots Play Day held on Saturday, June 25, for children ages two through five.

For more information or to register for the Peachtree Paragames please visit https://blazesports.org/paragames/.

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June 21, 2022 9:05 AM
EDT
Dallas, TX

Integrity Expands Annuity and Life Insurance Distribution by Partnering with Annuity Agents Alliance

Integrity Marketing Group, LLC ("Integrity"), a leading distributor of life and health insurance, and provider of wealth management and retirement planning solutions, today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Annuity Agents Alliance, an insurance marketing organization based in Denver, Colorado. As part of the acquisition, Anthony Owen, President of Annuity Agents Alliance, will become a Managing Partner in Integrity. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed and is subject to carrier consent.

Since 2006, Annuity Agents Alliance has supported a growing network of agents offering annuities and life insurance. The firm specializes in marketing, sales process and case design to help agents build thriving, sustainable businesses that serve the increasingly complex financial needs of American families. Today, Annuity Agents Alliance is comprised of more than 250 agents and advisors who produce more than $550 million in annual paid premium.

"With their strong growth trajectory and impressive track record, there is no question that Anthony and his team at Annuity Agents Alliance understand how to best provide annuities and life insurance products to the Americans who need them," said Bryan W. Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity. "Integrity offers companies like Annuity Agents Alliance an ideal solution for the next phase of growth. Anthony can focus on what he does best while feeling secure in the roadmap for the future of the firm and its employees. Additionally, his agent partners gain access to technology and resources that will improve their business and ultimately help them serve more consumers. By working together, both Integrity and Annuity Agents Alliance will achieve greater success. We couldn't be more excited to bring Anthony's experience and passion for service into the Integrity family."

"As our company grows, I want to keep my focus on the core competencies that differentiate us," said Anthony Owen, President of Annuity Agents Alliance. "Integrity provides the systems that allow us to offload administrative tasks and spend more of our time on the areas where we can best support our agent partners. The industry continues to become more complex — providing our agent partners with Integrity's beneficial technology, product development and customer support will help them grow faster and stronger. We're also excited to integrate the additional financial services and insurance products Integrity offers to help our agents build a comprehensive business. An Integrity partnership is an amazing opportunity for Annuity Agents Alliance to scale and serve our customers in new ways, and we look forward to an incredibly bright future."

Annuity Agents Alliance can diversify its product offerings and capitalize on new opportunities by incorporating Integrity's platform of proprietary technology and resources into its already successful processes. The Integrity platform stimulates growth by providing agents with real-time quoting and enrollment systems, and innovative product development fueled by insightful data and analytics. In addition, Annuity Agents Alliance can concentrate valuable time on core competencies by accessing Integrity's expanded suite of shared business services. It includes areas such as Technology & Innovation, People & Culture, finance, legal and compliance, as well as marketing guidance from a national advertising and marketing agency.

Anthony Owen will help Integrity fulfill its mission to transform the insurance and financial service industries by adding his deep life insurance and annuities expertise to Integrity's rapidly growing partner network. A forward-thinking collective of industry icons and legends, Integrity's partner companies collaborate to innovate and optimize insurance and financial processes. By strategizing on best practices and solutions, this elite group of peers helps millions of Americans plan for the good days ahead.

The benefits of Integrity partnership are further bolstered by the Integrity Employee Ownership Plan, which offers Annuity Agents Alliance employees meaningful company ownership.

For more information about Annuity Agents Alliance's decision to partner with Integrity, view a video at www.integritymarketing.com/AnnuityAgentsAlliance.

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June 21, 2022 9:03 AM
EDT
Dallas, TX

TOTUS Launches As Issuer and Full-Service Gift Card Management Solution for Leading Brands

TOTUS, a leading company to issue and fully manage multi-channel gift card programs for brands in a range of industries, has launched with significant seed financing to address a major unmet need in the multibillion-dollar gift card market.

Led by industry veterans with a combined 100 years of experience pioneering and managing gift card programs, TOTUS offers a scalable, adaptable program that manages issuance, distribution, marketing and all complex legal, compliance and regulatory work that gift card programs require.

"Global gift card sales could exceed $1 trillion within the next five years," TOTUS co-founder and CEO Dave Jones says. "But creating and managing these programs is not a core competency for any business. That's why we founded TOTUS. Brands need a partner that has expertise in everything from compliance to card production to processing to fraud prevention to distribution and marketing. Our team has that expertise, enabling us to offer our brand partners an end-to-end solution that's scalable and easily adapted across industries."

Jones co-founded TOTUS after 20 years of entrepreneurial and leadership experience in the e-commerce and payments industries, having served as a Head of the Digital and Incentives divisions at Blackhawk Network, a global gift card company acquired by Silverlake Private Equity in 2018. Jones' previous founder successes include exits with CardLab, PAYjr, RewardLayer and Billserv. He has also held senior roles with BillMatrix, Fiserv and JP Morgan Chase. The senior leadership team at TOTUS is comprised of veterans from gift card provider SVM, CardLab, Blackhawk Network and other leading payments, gift card and e-commerce companies.

"Launching a gift card program was a critical part of our strategy to grow our business," says Ben Soppitt, CEO of Unifimoney, a customer of TOTUS. "When we started the process, we were surprised to learn how complex it is to navigate the legal, regulatory, compliance and tactical operations of gift cards. TOTUS was the only partner we could find to take this off our plate and bring the necessary experience to ensure it's done correctly. Within days of our initial conversations with the team, we had a structure and agreement that met our needs and will allow us to achieve the sales and distribution we're looking for."

Jones is scheduled to share his vision for TOTUS and insights on the fast-growing gift card industry at the Lead Innovation Summit in Brooklyn, New York on July 12-13, an event where more than 1,700 leaders in retail, fashion and consumer innovation connect with the world's top brands. Jones will be speaking on July 12 at 1:30pm ET alongside other industry leaders, including Brandon Gell, Founder and CEO of Clyde, Benjamin Davis, Founder and CEO of TryNow and Adam Rivietz, Co-Founder and CSO of #paid.

TOTUS is in the process of launching with a dozen leading brands, to be announced, from a variety of industries and verticals. TOTUS raised significant capital from angel investors, prompting the company's inception in February 2022. Financial terms were not disclosed.

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June 21, 2022 9:00 AM
EDT
Charlotte, NC

Truist debuts new client-centered Innovation and Technology Center in Charlotte

Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) today announced the grand opening of its Innovation and Technology Center, a space designed to reimagine the client experience for the more than 6 million interactions that take place daily at Truist. The 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will be located at Truist Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and feature client journey rooms, a research lab and collaboration hubs where agile teams of innovators, product managers, engineers and designers will work with clients to build a better banking experience.

"The new Truist Innovation and Technology Center is ultimately all about our clients—a unique space that brings together direct client input with some of the best and brightest talent in the industry to build an innovative ecosystem that will propel Truist into the future," said Chief Information Officer Scott Case. "As our cross-functional teams come together with clients, fintechs and large tech companies to reimagine banking experiences through listening and empathy, we're fulfilling our purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities."

Highlights of the ITC will include:

  • Client Journey Rooms – Each Client Journey Room is dedicated to gaining greater insight into ever-evolving client needs—from everyday personal banking to the more intricate requirements of Wealth clients and businesses of all types and sizes—to create better banking experiences.
  • Makers Space – Truist teammates build prototypes in these spaces to test and refine new products and services.
  • Reality Lab – Inside the lab, the focus is on using virtual and augmented reality technology to create the future of banking.
  • Contact Center – Inside this 18-person call center engineers, designers and product owners connect with call center agents to get instant feedback directly from clients on their experiences.
  • Tree Houses – These innovative spaces showcase prototypes that allow guests to explore new possibilities that emerging technologies can create.
  • The Park – A space where teammates can meet to discuss a project or find tranquility. It resembles a community park with plenty of greenery, natural light and swings to help spark creativity and drive innovation.

"We're accelerating innovation through co-creation combined with cutting-edge technology to design experiences that wow our clients," said Ken Meyer, divisional CIO and experience officer. "By leveraging the most modern capabilities and solutions, we will advance innovative and groundbreaking projects that attract top talent and external partners."

The ITC will also be the home base for the Innovators in Residence program, a partnership that brings in visionaries from tech giants and startups to collaborate on and explore new and emerging technologies to help address longstanding financial and community challenges. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Verizon and Unqork are founding partners of the program.

"Innovators in Residence will tap the capabilities of some of the most innovative companies in the world to help clients and the broader financial services industry explore new opportunities for the future," said Michael Pinto, vice president, AWS America, East General Manager. "We're excited to bring AWS's expertise to help accelerate innovation using new cloud technologies as a founding supporter with Truist in this project."

"The demand for digital experiences has altered the business landscape," said Sampath Sowmyanarayan, chief revenue officer, Verizon Business. "The ability to innovate to stay ahead of demand is essential for success. Truist is a like-minded partner with a desire to drive change, and the Innovators in Residence program and this partner ecosystem will serve as the proving ground for delivering positive outcomes for businesses, consumers and communities."

"As businesses face increasing pressure to digitize, the ability to collaborate across an organization is becoming increasingly important," said Gary Hoberman, CEO and founder, Unqork. "Truist understands this, and has created an environment that will foster collaboration and fuel innovation, allowing them to ultimately address the biggest challenges in finance through technology. We're honored to join Truist as a founding partner of this program and look forward to helping them foster collaboration between tech and business users as they chart a path towards a codeless future."

The Truist Innovation & Technology Center won the CoreNet Global Carolinas Chapter CORE Award for Innovation Project of the Year.

For more information about the ITC, please visit www.truist.com/innovation-technology-center.

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June 21, 2022 9:00 AM
EDT
Dallas, TX

RREAF Holdings in Partnership with Innisfree Hotels Acquires Two Boutique Hotels in Amelia Island, Florida

RREAF Holdings LLC, a private real estate investment and development firm based in Dallas, and Innisfree Hotels, a premier coastal hotel operator in the southeast, today announced the acquisition of two boutique hotels in Amelia Island, Fla., on Fernandina Beach. The properties — Ocean Coast Hotel and Amelia Hotel — are situated in one of America's leading drive-to destination markets, which saw over 1.3 million visitors in 2021.

The portfolio has 225 keys, and the properties sit adjacent to each other. The hotels are ideally located across the street from one of Florida's iconic beaches and a few miles from Fernandina's Historic Downtown. This market is well-positioned to capture pent-up travel demand of millions of Americans who live within a one-day drive of the Atlantic coast. Amelia Hotel is located at 1997 Fletcher Ave., and Ocean Coast Hotel is located at 2707 Sadler Rd.

"In the past year, we have more than doubled our hotel portfolio in our drive-to leisure division increasing our beachfront hotel properties to nine with more than 1,100 rooms.  We will continue to expand the hospitality side of RREAF through acquisitions and development. Both these properties on Amelia Island fit perfectly within our growing hospitality and resort business model," said Kip Sowden, CEO of RREAF Holdings. "We are opportunistic buyers and believe now is a good time to buy and develop as consumers are eager to get out and travel post-COVID. Our drive-to leisure hospitality assets continue to show very strong results and that trend is expected to continue even with inflationary pressure. We currently have two beachfront resort properties under development that will add an additional 550 rooms to our Beachfront Hospitality and Resort division. Affordable family friendly vacation spots, such as Amelia Island, should continue to outpace other sectors in the hospitality space."

During the acquisition process, RREAF partnered with Innisfree Hotels, which will manage the properties. Innisfree is a best-in-class operator of beachfront hotels and resorts in the Southeastern United States. The hotels present immediate upside potential through professional management. The sponsors look forward to welcoming guests to a new experience in the near future. RREAF also anticipates driving top-line revenue and occupancy with Innisfree's experienced management and marketing.

"We're very pleased to add these stunning properties to the Innisfree Hotels portfolio, in partnership with RREAF Holdings," said Innisfree President and CEO Ted Ent. "Amelia Island's Fernandina Beach is a picture-perfect location for a family getaway or conference destination, and we are eager to provide our guests with a world-class experience and genuine Innisfree hospitality."  

With white-powder sand and stunning ocean views, hotel guests can experience one of Florida's most relaxing vacation spots. Both properties supply first-class amenities at affordable rates, including complimentary breakfast, nature trails, large outdoor pool and hot tub, pet-friendly rooms for cats and dogs, sports courts and equipment, bikes, beach wagons, beach chairs, and more.

Learn more about RREAF at rreaf.com and Innisfree at innisfreehotels.com.

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June 21, 2022 9:00 AM
EDT
Charlotte, NC

Charlotte Metro Credit Union to Build New Headquarters Building on Central Avenue and Piedmont Street

Charlotte Metro Federal Credit Union (CMCU), a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution headquartered in Charlotte, today announced that it will begin construction on its new primary office building on the corner of Central Avenue and Piedmont Street in Charlotte. The two-story, 48,000 square-foot facility will serve as the credit union's headquarters and home to the growing organization's operations and administration staff which currently deliver financial services for over 92,000 members.

Designed by Liquid Design & Architecture, CMCU's new headquarters will feature a modern style, with the use of unique materials and a rain-scene façade. The building will have a large terrace on the second floor facing Uptown Charlotte as well as a two-story atrium space that will enhance visual connectivity between levels. It will also include two underground levels of dedicated parking. Its design and height will be contextual to the surrounding structures in the vibrant Elizabeth community and will be directly adjacent to the new CMCU Central Avenue branch facility which broke ground in March 2022 and is expected to be open later this fall.

"Central Avenue has been the heartbeat of CMCU for over forty years and we are excited to reaffirm our roots in Charlotte's Elizabeth community with a sophisticated and appealing new headquarters building that we believe will be a landmark space for our members," said Eric Gelly, President and CEO, CMCU. "In combination with our new Central Branch facility, the new CMCU Central Headquarters office will give our members and staff the flexible and functional office space needed to further deliver the advanced financial services, online banking technology and comprehensive financial products CMCU is known so well for."

Construction for the new headquarters will begin in the first quarter of 2023 with an expected completion date in the second quarter of 2024. Upon completion of the new headquarters facility, CMCU plans to sell its existing headquarters building at 718 Central Avenue.

In addition to the new headquarters office building and 18 branch locations, CMCU will retain operational offices in Matthews, which services the credit union's mortgage operations, and an operational hub in Greensboro, N.C.

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June 21, 2022 8:27 AM
EDT
Dallas, TX

Parks Associates: By 2024, Traditional pay-TV services will Decline to 76.7 Million Households, a 27% Drop Since 2014

A new Parks Associates report, Video Services: State of the Market, reveals that pay-TV subscriptions and revenues are on a continuous decline as consumers embrace OTT services. The research firm forecasts that traditional pay TV will decline to 76.7 million households by 2024, the lowest penetration in a decade and a 27% drop from 2014.

"There has been substantial innovation over the years, but streaming's debut changed the trajectory of the modern video service industry," said Paul Erickson, Director of Research, Parks Associates. "The evolution of streaming video has given consumers immense choice in how, when, and what they watch. The ease of trialing, subscribing, and cancelling services has created new dynamics and challenges for content companies and service providers."

Traditional pay-TV companies are making their move to streaming and are rebranding, making big acquisitions, and forming new partnerships. As they enter the streaming market, new OTT services join more than three hundred direct-to-consumer streaming services in the US market alone, which are tracked monthly with Parks Associates' landmark service The OTT Video Market Tracker.

With so much choice and no long-term contracts for streaming video services, churn across all OTT service providers is increasing, and services are struggling to retain their viewers. Parks Associates data indicates that OTT subscription services average a 48% churn rate in the first quarter of 2022, which is a ten percent increase in just two years.

Parks Associates is hosting Future of Video: OTT, Pay TV, and Digital Media in 2022 to examine these trends and explore new strategies with industry leaders and visionary speakers. Future of Video features an in-person conference in December 12-14, 2022, at the Marina del Rey Marriott, sponsored by Adeia, FPT Software, Symphony MediaAI, Comcast Technology Solutions, and Metrological.

For more information on Video Services: State of the Market, contact sales@parksassociates.com. To schedule an interview with an analyst or to request specific data, please contact Rosey Sera at rosey.sera@parksassociates.com or 972-490-1113.

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June 21, 2022 8:23 AM
EDT
Dallas, TX

Axxess Elevates Leadership in Interoperability, Client Experience and Patient Engagement Analytics

Axxess has elevated its executive leadership team with three people who will help lead efforts to deepen relationships with interoperability partners, its software solutions clients and the patients they serve.

"Axxess' focus on people, partnerships and solutions is a key reason for our continuing success," said Founder and CEO John Olajide. "Our commitment to our clients and the industry is reflected in the deep bench of exceptional leaders in our organization who add real value because of their longstanding industry experience and knowledge. I am proud of the contributions they are making to advance care in the home."

Tim Ingram has been promoted to executive vice president of interoperability. He is the senior leader of the company's Interoperability Partnerships team, responsible for building relationships and key product integrations that expand the ability to improve patient care and streamline operations for Axxess clients. Ingram has more than 20 years of healthcare technology experience, including working in software, operations leadership, and mergers and acquisitions environments.

"I am humbled by the privilege of working with such incredible industry partners," Ingram said. "We are committed to enhancing our technology ecosystem through integrations with organizations who share our passion for patient-centered care."

Keri Lamont has been named vice president of client experience. Lamont will help lead the company's Account Management team that is directly responsible for building and maintaining enterprise client relationships. She has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare and has worked as a leader in business development and client advocacy for BAYADA Home Health Care and Intrepid USA.

Added Lamont: "I am so thankful to have found a home at Axxess. We are partnering with enterprise clients every day to deliver a delightful experience so they can deliver the best possible care to patients. Together, we can help them grow their business and retain staff through our easy-to-use solutions."

Andrew Awoniyi has been promoted to vice president of patient engagement and analytics. He manages the strategic direction for the organization's patient engagement services and industry benchmarking data to better serve Axxess clients. Awoniyi is also closely involved with the content development strategy and delivery of the Axxess Training and Certification Program. He has more than 25 years of experience utilizing technology solutions to enhance care delivery, improve patient outcomes, and support organizations and patients across care settings.

Added Awoniyi: "I am continually grateful for the opportunity to work with the incredible team at Axxess to elevate the delivery of care everywhere. Every patient and family interaction by our clients offers up continuous insights for making data-driven decisions to improve care quality and staff training to streamline operations and ultimately bend the cost curve."

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June 21, 2022 8:02 AM
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Dallas, TX

Kimberly-Clark Named One of the Top 75 Companies for Executive Women by Seramount for the Sixth Consecutive Year

Kimberly-Clark today announced that it was named one of the Top 75 Companies for Executive Women by Seramount for the sixth consecutive year. The list recognizes U.S.-based corporations that champion women's advancement in leadership roles, with a focus on succession planning, gender pay parity, benefits programs and flexible work policies.

"I'm proud that Kimberly-Clark has been named once again as a top employer for senior-level women," said Mike Hsu, Chairman and CEO of Kimberly-Clark. "This recognition reflects our commitment to increasing the representation of women in leadership positions across the company and to nurturing an inclusive and flexible work environment where all of our employees thrive."

Kimberly-Clark is dedicated to developing and promoting innovative policies that support employees as they balance career and family responsibilities. The company brings this to life through its flexible work policy, which empowers employees to fulfill job responsibilities in a manner that works best for them. Kimberly-Clark encourages its employees to create individualized work arrangements that may include flex time, flex locations, job sharing and voluntary reduced hours.

In addition, the company has a back-up care program to support employees with children. This benefit provides 10 subsidized care visits per year for all eligible employees who need on-demand childcare.

"As a business leader and a mom with three young children at home, I know that flexible work policies and support programs are not only critical for employees' well-being, engagement and success but also to the future growth of our company," said Lori Shaffer, Vice President of Global Nonwovens at Kimberly-Clark. "These initiatives ensure that Kimberly-Clark can attract, develop and advance the diverse talent that will drive game-changing innovation and help deliver our purpose of Better Care for a Better World."

Methodology

The 2022 Top 75 Companies application includes more than 200 questions on pertinent topics, including female representation at all levels, but it focuses on the corporate officer and profit-and-loss leadership ranks. The application, based on 2021 data, tracks and examines how many employees have access to programs and policies that promote the advancement of women, and how many female employees take advantage of them, as well as how companies train managers to help women advance.

To be considered, companies must have a minimum of two women on their boards of directors and at least 500 US employees. The full list of this year's winners can be found here.

Kimberly-Clark's inclusion in the 2022 Top 75 Companies for Executive Women list builds on the company's recent recognition as one of JUST Capital's 2022 100 Most JUST Companies, one of Ethisphere's 2022 World's Most Ethical Companies, and one of Forbes' 2021 World's Best Employers. The company was also named one of the 2022 Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

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June 21, 2022 6:30 AM
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Dallas, TX

Echelon Solutions Group joins Argano Expanding its SAP and Managed Services Capabilities

Argano announced today that Echelon Solutions Group, LLC (Echelon) has joined the company. With the addition of Echelon, Argano further expands its SAP capabilities and consulting services.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Echelon is a leading SAP S/4HANA and SAP Cloud applications partner offering comprehensive solutions in innovation, business transformation, implementation, and application managed services (AMS). The company has been recognized as a premier SAP Cloud Application Services Strategic Partner and has earned SAP Recognized Expertise within multiple industries for its client excellence and delivery capability. Echelon has 300+ employees across North America, Latin America, and Asia Pacific.

"Over the last several years, we have made significant investments in our services offerings to help our clients reimagine how they do business, which aligns well with Argano's strategy," said Aditya Bahl, Echelon CEO. "We are thrilled to join Argano and look forward to bringing our expertise and contributing to the company's ongoing success."

"Echelon's experience brings tremendous depth to our SAP team, enabling Argano to further expand our offerings and helping clients transform their businesses," said Chip Register, Argano CEO. "We're excited to welcome the Echelon team as we continue to drive value for our clients."

Echelon will be aligned within the Argano 4 SAP team to offer a unified set of business and technology solutions that are core to building a strong digital foundation, enabling clients to:

  • Reimagine products, services and experiences that align with client expectations
  • Rearchitect to move beyond legacy systems and technology debt
  • Realize speed and agility to build an intelligent cloud-based foundation
  • Realign challenges and obstacles with a clear path for continued innovation

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June 21, 2022 6:00 AM
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Charlotte, NC

KRISPY KREME® Shakes Retail Ice Cream Category to its Cone: Introduces Original Glazed® Soft Serve Ice Cream

In its mission to become the world’s most loved sweet treat brand, Krispy Kreme is shaking the retail ice cream category to its “cone” this first day of summer: introducing Original Glazed® Soft Serve – ice cream as original and irresistible as its iconic doughnuts. Available in shakes, cones and cups, Original Glazed Soft Serve Ice Cream is being offered initially in 10 U.S. markets.

An original ice cream that only Krispy Kreme can provide, Original Glazed Soft Serve is a one-of-a-kind ice cream made with ingredients from Krispy Kreme’s proprietary and secret Original Glazed Doughnut recipe, including its iconic glaze flavor, as well as real whole milk.

The innovative rich and creamy lineup includes seven shakes, hand-spun and flavored like Krispy Kreme’s fan-favorite doughnuts, led by the Original Glazed. In addition, fans can enjoy three flavors of Original Glazed Soft Serve offered in cups and waffle cones that are handmade with Krispy Kreme’s proprietary doughnut mix and Original Glaze flavor. Even the toppings and inclusions are “original,” some made from dehydrated Original Glazed doughnuts. ​

“The introduction of Original Glazed Soft Serve Ice Cream is a big day for Krispy Kreme and our fans,” said Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme Chief Marketing Officer. “Our fans love Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and they also love rich, creamy, ice cream. We’re confident their love of ice cream and for Krispy Kreme is going to go to an entirely new level after they experience these deliciously unique shakes, cones and cups. We’re thrilled to begin our rollout on the first day of summer.”

The original 10 markets celebrating the first day of summer with Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Soft Serve Ice Cream are: Charlotte, Greensboro and Winston-Salem in North Carolina; Greenville, S.C.; Norfolk and Newport News, Va.; Charleston, W.Va.; Nashville and the Tri-Cities area in Tennessee, and San Antonio, Texas. Krispy Kreme shops in Mobile and Southwest, Ala.; Tampa, St. Petersburg and Pensacola, Fla.; New Orleans; Branson, Mo.; and Wichita, Kan., will soon begin offering Original Glazed Soft Serve. Fans should visit www.krispykreme.com/promos/icecream to identify shops offering the ice cream.

Original Glazed Soft Serve offerings include:

  • Shakes: Original Glazed, Strawberry Iced Sprinkled, Chocolate Iced, Lemon Filled®, Cookies & KREME™, Birthday Batter, and Coffee & KREME™.
  • Cups and Waffle Cones: Original Glazed, Strawberry Iced Sprinkled and Chocolate Iced.
  • Toppings and Inclusions, including Original Glazed doughnut pieces.

Original Glazed Soft Service shakes, cones and cups are available at participating shops during all operating hours in-shop for dine-in and takeout, and via drive-thru. Share how you’re celebrating the arrival of Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Soft Serve Ice Cream by using #KrispyKreme and tagging @krispykreme. For more information on Krispy Kreme’s Original Glazed Soft Serve visit www.krispykreme.com/promos/icecream.

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June 21, 2022 1:00 AM
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Dallas, TX

New Bluetooth® LE wireless MCUs make high-quality RF and power performance more affordable

Texas Instruments (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN) today expanded its connectivity portfolio with a new family of wireless microcontrollers (MCU) that enable high-quality Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE) at half the price of competing devices. Featuring best-in-class standby current and radio-frequency (RF) performance, the SimpleLink™ Bluetooth LE CC2340 family is built on the foundation of TI's decades of wireless connectivity expertise. Pricing for the CC2340 family will start as low as $0.79, making it affordable for engineers to add Bluetooth LE connectivity to more products. For more information, see www.ti.com/cc2340.

"Industrywide, 5 billion Bluetooth® enabled devices are forecast to ship in 2022," said Mark Powell, CEO of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the standards organization that oversees Bluetooth technology. "The commitment and involvement of Bluetooth SIG members like Texas Instruments allow Bluetooth technology to meet the growing demands for enhanced wireless connectivity in a wider range of applications. I am grateful for the contributions of our membership in delivering innovative solutions that benefit the Bluetooth ecosystem and help broaden the adoption of Bluetooth technology."

TI will demonstrate the CC2340 wireless MCUs in booth No. 3A-215 at embedded world in Nuremberg, Germany, June 21-23, 2022. For more information, see ti.com/embeddedworld.

"The adoption of Bluetooth LE is accelerating and our embedded world demo of the CC2340 family will show you how to quickly and easily add the technology to any application," said Marian Kost, vice president and general manager of Connectivity at Texas Instruments. "The new MCUs will provide high-quality RF and power performance at an affordable price, backed by unrivaled technical support and internal manufacturing capacity investments that will help meet our customers' demand for years to come."

Implement high-quality RF and power performance at an affordable price

The CC2340R2 and CC2340R5 wireless MCUs, offering flash memory of 256KB and 512KB respectively, provide exceptional flexibility for engineers and ample space for application code. Additionally, with the proliferation of Bluetooth LE applications, designers need additional memory capacity to easily update software remotely. The new wireless MCU family features 36KB of RAM with over-the-air download support.

The new MCUs include industry-leading standby current of less than 830 nA, which is 40 percent lower than competing devices. The reduction in standby current helps extend battery life for up to 10 years on a coin cell battery in wireless applications such as electronic shelf labels and tire pressure monitoring systems. The CC2340 family also features an operating temperature range of –40ºC to 125ºC to help ensure a stable connection across applications, from industrial sensors and medical laboratories to outdoor environments such as EV chargers or smart meters.

Engineers are also able to expand RF performance and connection range with an output power up to +8 dBm, the industry's highest among competing Bluetooth LE wireless MCUs. In addition, the CC2340 devices feature an integrated RF balun to enable a simpler design with fewer external components, leading to cost savings.

Enable broader adoption of Bluetooth LE technology

With the increased memory, longer battery life and wider temperature range at an affordable price, engineers can enable more connected everyday applications such as:

  • Medical devices: In glucose meters, for example, the CC2340 MCUs' standby current of less than 830 nA leads to an end-product shelf life of 18 to 24 months and two weeks of active Bluetooth LE operation on a coin cell battery.
  • Building automation: Smart-home hubs can take advantage of the CC2340 MCUs' wireless protocol support and output power range up to +8 dBm.
  • Personal care: For products such as an electric toothbrush, the CC2340 wireless MCUs offer low power consumption in sleep mode, and can extend battery life.

Integrate Bluetooth in two minutes or less

At embedded world this week, visitors to TI's booth can use the SimpleLink CC2340 LaunchPad™ development kit to establish a Bluetooth LE connection in two minutes or less. Throughout the show, TI will demonstrate how its products can help engineers overcome edge AI, connectivity and automotive design challenges. To view virtual demos and related white papers, technical articles and on-demand training, see TI.com/embeddedworld.

To simplify implementation, engineers can connect with TI applications engineers through the TI E2E™ Bluetooth support forum. Engineers also have access to the proven, royalty-free Bluetooth LE software stack, which TI has supported and kept updated since 2010.

Package, availability and pricing

To get started with the CC2340 wireless MCUs, customers can request samples as well as a development kit (LP-EM-CC2340R5) priced at US$39. The new wireless MCUs are expected to be in volume production in the first half of 2023.

Pricing for the CC2340 family will start as low as US$0.79 for 1,000-unit quantities. To learn more about the new wireless MCU family, see www.ti.com/cc2340.

Connectivity solutions to match your design needs

The CC2340R2 and CC2340R5 wireless MCUs are the latest addition to the SimpleLink portfolio that provides innovative connectivity solutions to serve the industrial, automotive and personal electronics markets.

TI is developing affordable, quality and low-power wireless MCUs, certified modules, and transceivers, along with complete software offerings to fit any RF design need. For more information, see www.ti.com/wireless.

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June 20, 2022 9:24 PM
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Atlanta, GA

TerraCap Management Sells 100% Leased 75,000 Square Foot Office Building in Duluth, GA

TerraCap Management LLC, a privately held investment firm with its headquarters in Naples, Florida, announced today the sale of the 1200 Building at 3100 Breckinridge Boulevard, a three-story office building located in Duluth, GA. The property was built in 1986 and consists of 75,000 square feet.

TerraCap acquired the property in May 2017 as part of a seven-building office park acquisition and invested over $7 million in capital to improve and lease up the property.  TerraCap invested in exterior painting, roof replacements, updated landscaping, spec suites, parking lot improvements, and added amenities to the common areas. In December 2021, TerraCap sold the six single-story office buildings in the portfolio. In February 2022, TerraCap leased up the remaining 50,000 square foot vacancy in the three-story building, reaching 100% occupancy at the time of disposition.

"The sale of the 1200 Building at 3100 Breckinridge completes our investment objectives for the asset. This asset benefited from steady leasing demand during the pandemic and validated our investment thesis around the value of investing in creative suburban office properties. We are grateful to the Lincoln Property Company team in Atlanta for their hard work to lease, manage, and execute on all capital improvements over our hold period," said Matt Stewart, Director of Asset Management for TerraCap Management LLC.

Steve Good, Director of Acquisitions at TerraCap Management commented, "The pandemic posed some challenges, however, leasing remained steady, and our team did a great job repositioning this asset. Tom Shafer and John Hinson with Capital Real Estate Group also did a great job finding the right buyer and running a smooth sale process. We feel the asset has been set up for future success and we wish all parties the very best."

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June 20, 2022 7:00 PM
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Atlanta, GA

HONEYWELL PROVIDES VISIBILITY AND CONTROL TO HELP REALIZE CARBON NEUTRAL BUILDINGS

In recent years, thousands of companies have voluntarily pledged to meet sustainability targets, but many of them likely lack the knowledge and the tools to properly measure progress and how to optimize their carbon and energy footprints.

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Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON) is working to help solve this problem with its new Carbon & Energy Management, a carbon energy management software, that enables building owners to track and optimize energy performance against carbon reduction goals, down to a device or asset level.

Carbon & Energy Management is the centerpiece of Honeywell's new Sustainable Buildings solutions portfolio, which is ready now to help building owners and operators meet two pressing, yet often conflicting, objectives: reducing the environmental impact of buildings while optimizing indoor air quality to support occupant well-being, with the aim of helping them to meet carbon neutral goals.

Companies face increasing pressure today – from stakeholders as well as regulatory agencies – to curb energy consumption, reduce carbon emissions and create more sustainable, healthier facilities. There's an urgent reason for this: commercial buildings currently account for almost a third of global energy consumption and 37% of global energy-related COemissions.

‍While 28% of those emissions are related to building operations – or the energy used to heat, cool and power the building – many building owners likely don't have device or asset level insight into energy consumption or carbon impact.

Leveraging the Honeywell Forge enterprise performance management software solution's artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms, Carbon & Energy Management autonomously identifies and implements energy conservation measures to help drive efficiency, resiliency and accountability throughout a real estate portfolio. It continuously investigates, analyzes and optimizes building performance, down to an asset-specific level, measuring critical sustainability KPIs including carbon emissions.

"The buildings industry has long worked to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon impact, but it is imperative to make meaningful change in the near term – and that means building owners need better data about their operations," said Manish Sharma, vice president and general manager of Sustainable Buildings, Honeywell. "Given the increased awareness of and investment in sustainability, it's critical for a company to know – and to clearly communicate to stakeholders – how its facilities are optimizing energy baselines to reduce their carbon impact. We're helping customers create new metrics for success and removing the complexity of carbon management while balancing healthier spaces with our ready now solutions."

'Impact investors' want to know in specific terms what companies' carbon reduction goals are and what they're doing to meet them.According to recent market studies, reducing a building's carbon footprint can potentially increase its commercial value.

Honeywell Carbon & Energy Management establishes an energy performance baseline using up to a three-year usage history, live meter data and environmental factors to determine which assets are driving energy consumption. The enterprise-level Carbon & Energy Management software provides a real-time dashboard of critical sustainability KPIs; aggregates carbon data from energy-related emission sources in a building – gas, electricity and fuel sources; reduces energy consumption using advanced building control capabilities; and reduces carbon footprint without compromising occupant well-being or comfort.

Carbon & Energy Management continuously collects 24/7 energy use data, logged at 15-minute intervals, and submeters all energy-consuming assets to collect granular consumption information. This data allows Honeywell to help customers establish a rigorously derived baseline, provides a roadmap for carbon neutral, and helps customers to execute the roadmap to help meet their carbon neutral goals. The solution allows building owners to avoid capital outlays for technology upgrades to meet sustainability reporting demands and minimize the time required to implement solutions.

Honeywell's advanced Sustainable Buildings portfolio can help meet energy efficiency goals, improve occupant well-being and change the way occupants experience a building. The portfolio aligns with Honeywell's commitment to achieve carbon neutrality in its facilities and operations by 2035, building on a track record of sharply reducing its greenhouse gas footprint as well as its decades-long history of innovation to help customers meet their environment, social and governance goals.

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June 20, 2022 11:00 AM
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Atlanta, GA

Matte Collection Celebrates Female Business Founders

As the spring turns into summer and another International Women's Day has come and gone, it is worthwhile to reflect on the many impressive accomplishments made by female founders of fashion companies over the past few decades. With that thought in mind, Justina McKee, Founder of the noted fashion and swimwear brand Matte Collection, wishes to call attention to some of her fellow female business founders and their triumphs, as well as highlight her own achievements as an entrepreneur. Through hard work, determination, and undeniable skill, each of these women have succeeded solely based on their own merit in an objectively cutthroat industry, and in so doing have added to the vast, rich history of notable businesswomen in the 21st century.

Christina and Teresa Jaide of JLUXLABEL

Sisters Christina and Teresa Jaide created fashion line JLUXLABEL in 2006 with just three sewing machines, an $8,000 USD investment from their parents, and a vision to design unique fashion pieces for women to wear to the special occasions in their lives. From their humble beginnings working in a 400 square foot apartment, the siblings grew the company into a fashion industry powerhouse without any formal design training whatsoever. Currently, the company boasts 28 employees and routinely posts revenues in excess of $5 million USD, conducting the majority of its sales through e-commerce.

Shirin, Shideh, and Shida Kaviani of Naked Wardrobe

The trio of Shirin, Shideh, and Shida Kaviani, another set of sisters, founded Naked Wardrobe in 2012 with the intent of creating a line of affordable, fashion forward clothing that celebrates women of all shapes and sizes. Although the sisters began the company with only $7,500 in startup capital, they managed to make their first $1 million in profit within a single year. These days, the brand is synonymous with elegant, down-to-earth style, and prides itself on its role in empowering women to be confident to express their own personal style through the latest trends.

Justina McKee of Matte Collection

Likewise, Justina McKee created Matte Collection in 2017 with only a scant few resources and a dream of enabling every woman to look and feel their best without having to spend too much money. Headquartered in Atlanta's bustling Buckhead district, Justina started her fashion and swimwear company with a philosophy of creating clothes for women made by women. As not only the business owner but also the sole designer, she developed the company quickly, recording robust profits and cultivating it into an online fashion heavyweight. Now, only five years after its launch, Matte Collection has made impressive gains within the fashion industry, attracting models and influencers such as Amber Rose and Jordyn Woods as brand advocates, and hip-hop and R&B artist Ciara, Bravo TV reality star Porsha Williams, and award-winning actress Gabrielle Union as repeat customers.

Reached for comment, an official spokesperson for Matte Collection made the following remarks: "Because of the bold efforts made by women who have founded successful businesses, such as Christina and Teresa Jaide of JLUXLABEL, Shirin, Shideh, and Shida Kaviani of Naked Wardrobe, and indeed, Justina McKee of Matte Collection, women and girls all over the world can see that it is possible to realize their dreams of recognition and ownership in the fashion industry. We applaud these women for their many accomplishments, and wish them nothing but continued success in the future."

For the latest on Matte Collection's global features, collaborations, and Justina McKee's innovative designs made for and by women, visit the brand's official website.

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June 20, 2022 9:11 AM
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Atlanta, GA

Cox Enterprises Announces Karen Bennett as EVP and Chief People Officer

Cox Enterprises announced today that Karen Bennett will move from Cox Communications to Cox Enterprises as the company's new executive vice president and chief people officer, effective Jan. 1, 2023. Bennett has been with Cox since 2015 and most recently held the title of executive vice president and chief people officer. Her background includes more than 25 years of leading teams to help maximize talent potential and the total employee experience, while addressing the needs of the business across all areas of HR.

"We're excited to welcome Karen to Cox Enterprises," said Alex Taylor, chairman and CEO, Cox Enterprises. "Her time at Cox has shown that she's a talented leader who not only deeply cares for our people but also thinks strategically when it comes to our business operations. She's been a trusted leader in our company for many years, and we look forward to seeing the impact she will make in this role."

Current Cox Enterprises President and Chief People and Operations Officer Jill Campbell will retire at the end of the year. Campbell is celebrating her 40the company. She shifted from Cox Communications to Cox Enterprises in 2018, and she currently leads the people solutions, real estate, aviation, facilities, security and corporate affairs departments.

"Jill's presence and the impact she's made at Cox isn't something you can put into words," said Taylor. "Our employees and company are some of the most important things to me in my life, and Jill carries that same passion. I have countless examples of things she's said and actions she's taken that have continually renewed my faith in her and her dedication to Cox. She will be sorely missed, but we wish her well in her retirement."

Karen Bennett

Karen Bennett became executive vice president and chief people officer for Cox Communications in 2017. In this role, she developed and executed a talent strategy that aligns with Cox's operating principles and works through the challenges of driving continual growth in our rapidly evolving business.  

Prior to joining Cox Communications, Bennett was chief human resources officer for Cox Media Group, a sister company at the time within Cox Enterprises. Before her time with Cox, Bennett was chief human resources officer for YP (formerly AT&T Ad Solutions). She is a cable veteran as well, having served as senior vice president of human resources for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. for nearly 14 years. \

Bennett serves on the board of directors of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHM) Foundation; the board of directors for the Human Resources Leadership Forum of Atlanta; the WICT Network global board of directors; the Emma Bowen Foundation board of directors and Georgia State University's HR Roundtable consortium.

Bennett is a graduate of Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia where she earned both her bachelor's and executive MBA degrees. She is an ICF-certified executive coach.

Jill Campbell

Campbell assumed the role of EVP and chief people and operations officer at Cox Enterprises in 2018, before being promoted to president in 2021. She previously served as chief operations officer of Cox Communications. In this role, she oversaw the company's day-to-day operations, ensuring companywide alignment with competitive strategies to enhance marketplace execution and grow the company's nearly 7 million residential and business customers.  

Campbell joined Cox in 1982 as director of communications in Oklahoma City, where she also served as customer service manager and acting general manager. She later served in several roles for Cox operations, including vice president and general manager for Cox's Bakersfield, California, and Santa Barbara, California, operations; vice president of customer operations for Cox in Phoenix; and vice president and general manager for Cox's Las Vegas operation. In 2001, she was promoted to senior vice president of operations for the Eastern Division, and in 2011, she expanded her role to oversee the company's entire field operations.  

A graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Campbell also earned an MBA from Oklahoma City University. She is currently on the board of directors for the Atlanta History Center and Georgia Power, and is a member of the International Women's Forum. Campbell is a member of the International Coaching Federation and is also a certified master coach.  

She previously served as a board member for several nonprofit organizations, including United Way, Boys & Girls Club of America, YMCA, Woodruff Arts Center, Girl Talk and the WICT Foundation. She also served on the boards of the California, Arizona and Nevada cable television associations.  

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