Banks Tighten Commercial Real Estate Lending and Interest Rate Hikes Are on the Horizon Says the Fed; Opens Window of Opportunity for Alternative Financing

Ascend Capital Partners steps in to fill the void, says Managing Partner Eric Fedewa.

Washington, DC, USA — Federal Reserve Bank Chair Janet Yellen testified that the Fed will likely continue its plans to implement federal funds rate hikes and balance sheet normalization measures in order to gradually raise short and long-term interest rates.

This, along with the May release of the Fed’s senior loan officer survey, highlights a “closing window of opportunity for affordable financing from commercial lenders,” according to Eric Fedewa, Ascend Capital Partners Managing Partner. The senior loan officer survey indicates that there will be a tightening in traditional lending practices for the commercial real estate sector.

With these factors in mind, Fedewa said Ascend Capital Partners can fill some of the void in traditional financing for commercial real estate by offering financing alternatives such as inexpensive institutional debt, bridge financing, and equity.

“The Fed’s May report concurs with the tightening trends we’ve been observing this year in traditional lending for commercial loans. The need for alternative financing is clear,” said Fedewa.

“The tightening of traditional lending sources comes at an inopportune time for investors as the new administration is trying to heat up the U.S. economy,” said Fedewa, noting that a tightening of monetary policies on behalf of the Fed could raise lending costs for alternative and traditional lenders alike.

“The strengthening economy is creating demand, yet traditional financing practices have tightened. Unfortunately, the window in which alternative lending sources can provide inexpensive financing could be limited as potential Fed rate hikes loom on the horizon,” he said.

Ascend Capital Partners has expanded its financial service offerings and added several new offices with strong teams of financial experts in prime market areas.

“We’ve expanded our Washington, DC area headquarters and are adding offices in Boston, New York City, Sarasota, Florida, Austin, and San Francisco. We’ve added new professionals to the D.C. team who are all top performers in their fields and can provide a broad range of services to our present and prospective clients,” he said.

“We’re not only assisting our customers with financing, but we also offer consulting and strategic advisory services,” said Anne Brensley, an attorney by trade who heads up the firm’s advisory business:

Brensley has been successfully facilitating financial deals, directly providing equity, and consulting on complex real estate matters for the past ten years.

“We’ve been able to assist in changing government attitudes towards projects, walking developers through rezoning issues, and helping owners ‘right-size’ their capital structure. Ascend has seen an unaddressed need for bridge funding with EB-5 projects, and we’ve helped our clients utilize an array of specialized funding vehicles to get their projects completed,” she said.

Ascend Capital Partners provides financing options as well as advisors in several different areas of the commercial real estate financial sector.

For instance, Fedewa and Jud Villa worked together in Florida funding commercial loans. Villa is also an expert in single family home, “fix and flip, and fix and hold” deals. “We have so many ways to assist our borrower/clients, but helping them make smart choices and matching them up with financing,” said Villa.

Rob Merkle and Vince Lane round out the Ascend commercial real estate team. Lane has been a real estate developer, and also has expertise in high tech and international business. He splits time between Austin and San Francisco. Merkle heads up the New York City office, where he has worked for years and overseen billions of dollars in deals in and around Manhattan.

In college, Merkle played football for The University of Notre Dame. He said: “I know about teams, and this is a great one. We cover some of the most dynamic markets in the country, and our people are aggressive and seasoned professionals.”

“In markets like San Francisco and Austin, there’s a huge need for the type of innovative and alternative financing that Ascend offers. Banks are not lending, but we’re picking up the slack,” said Lane.

“We have sources which include debt funds, private equity, hedge funds, and our own managed funds,” said Fedewa. “With our decades of expertise, we will assist in finding the most efficient capital stack for your project.”

For inquiries or information about Ascend Capital Partners financing and advisory services, visit the new website — http://www.ascendcapp.com — or call: (703) 982-0609.

Media Contact:
Eric Fedewa
Ascend Capital Partners
703-982-0609
eric@ascendcapp.com
http://www.ascendcapp.com

Souleye, New Age Hip Hop Rapper, Announces the Eagerly Awaited WILDMAN Album- Releasing June 16, 2017!

On June 16, 2017, thought-provoking hip-hop rapper Souleye will release his long awaited full-length record, Wildman.

Los Angeles, CA, August 04, 2017 – On June 16, 2017, thought-provoking hip-hop rapper Souleye will release his long awaited full-length record, Wildman. The Los Angeles based artist teamed up with house duo Crush Effect, comprising Jess Molloy and Dave Veith, to produce an exceptionally eye-opening hip-hop and electronic fused album.

Wildman represents a mindful and musically engaging listening experience. A socially conscious artist, Souleye delivers an innovative and intense lyric flow that drips with passion. His clever references outline a positive sense of being. In “Follow Your Heart,”the debut single from Wildman, Souleye discusses overcoming hesitations with self-awareness and self-motivation in order to follow your own passions. His rhythmiclinesweave in and out of the down-tempo grooves and musical stylings of Crush Effect. Molloyand Veith blend elements of electronic, R & B,hip hop, and trip-hop to create a psychedelic and atmospheric album that occupies the space between a traditional compilation record and a concept album.

“One of the reasons so many pop and hip hop albums don’t sound cohesive is that those 12 tracks were recorded in 12 different studios with 12 different producers,” says Veith, of Crush Effect. “It was nice to do a full record, to build that sound from song to song.”

In addition to Crush Effect, the album features guest appearances by an array of upcoming and renowned artists, incorporating fresh, melodic hooks into each song. The album includes focus tracks such as, “Snow Angel” (Ft. Alanis Morissette), “Hip Hop Medicine” (Ft. Dustin Tavella), “Classic” (Ft. Chantal Kreviazuk, Chachillie), “Fountain of Youth” (Ft. Wade Morissette) and the upcoming single and title-track, “Wildman” (Ft. Lynx).

Souleye is a one-of-a-kind artist making a statement in the hip hop and electronic scene. He continues to shape his signature style with inspiring and poetic rhymes. His carefully selected collaborators offer creative instrumentation that only enhanceSouleye’s enlightened lyrics.

Press Inquiries:

Chip Schutzman

Miles High Productions

Chip@mileshighproductions.com

Other Inquiries:

Kevan Schwartz

kevanschwartz@me.com

About Souleye

Souleye’s musical journey began when he was a teenager in rural Massachusetts, freestyling around a camp fire to entertain his friends. Blending traditional elements of hip hop, EDM and numerous other styles; Souleye’s music crosses the boundaries of genre, defies convention and inspires listeners with uplifting lyrics coupled with both traditional and unusual hip hop beats and samples. His first album, Soul Sessions was released in 2002. Since then, Souleye has released eight studio albums and numerous singles. Souleye has toured extensively with Bassnectar, shared the stage with the Glitch Mob, Tipper, Michael Franti and his wife, Alanis Morissette, with whom he has two children. For more information, visit souleye.net.

Souleye Discography:

Shapeshifting (2015)

Identified Time (2014)

Iron Horse Running (2013)

Music For People – with BLVD (2008)

Balance in Babylon (2007)

Intergalactic Vibes (2005)

UniverSoul Alchemy (2004)

Flexible Morality (2003)

Soul Sessions (2002)

For more information on Souleye, please visit: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud

Contact:

Chip Schutzman

Miles High Productions

PO Box 93157

Hollywood, CA 90093

323-806-0400

chip@mileshighproductions.com

http://www.souleye.net/

Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce Announces Chef, Restaurant, Beer and Wine Partners for the Oktoberfest Presented by 1st Capital Bank Event to be Held on Sept. 9 to Celebrate its 99th Anniversary

Tickets On Sale Now Tickets are $99 and available through the chamber at www.SalinasChamber.com, at (831) 751-7725 or by email at info@salinaschamber.com

Salinas, CA, August 02, 2017 — The Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 99th anniversary with a festive new event, “99 Years of ChamBEER on the Wall,” in September 2017. (The calendar even cooperated with us as the event takes places on 9/9.)

Paul Farmer, President and CEO of the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce shared, “When we were considering how to celebrate the Chamber’s 99th year, ’99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall’ jumped out from among the other event ideas and said ‘Pick me!’ We immediately recognized an Oktoberfest-themed event as the perfect reason to invite the community out to see the remarkable facilities of our member Alvarado Street Brewery. We’re delighted that our friends at 1st Capital Bank have signed on as our Presenting Sponsor for this event. They will also be the Presenting Sponsor for what we dream up for our 100th anniversary celebration next year.”

“99 Years of ChamBEER on the Wall” is an Oktoberfest event that will be limited to the first 199 people and takes place on Saturday, Sept. 9 (9/9) from 6-9 p.m. at the Alvarado Street Brewery in Salinas.

Partners Announced:

• This lively celebration will feature 12 to 16 beers on tap from Alvarado Street Brewery

• Blair Winery

• Caraciolli Cellars

• Joyce Vineyards

• Morgan Winery

• Schale Canyon Wines

• Scheid Vineyards

• Twisted Roots (Who will also celebrate their 100 Year Anniversary in 2018)

• Boardwalk Sub/Wild Thyme Deli

• Carmel Honey Company

• Forge in the Forest

• Luigi’s

• Portobello’s Salinas

• The Meatery

• The Turkey Boat

• Ventana Big Sur

• And more!

A DJ, photo booth, silent auction and a raffle that includes a chance to win airline tickets to anywhere in the US.

This fundraising event is one of only two the Chamber will hold this year (the Chamber Leaders Roast is being retired after a run of six seasons).

Tickets are $99 and available through the chamber at www.SalinasChamber.com, at (831) 751-7725 or by email at info@salinaschamber.com.

In addition, various levels of sponsorships of the event, advertising in the event program and donations to the silent auction and raffle are also available. Sponsorships are available through Sept. 1; advertising must be received by Aug. 1 and tickets are available until Sept. 1.

For further information about sponsorships, advertising and donations, please contact Marci Bracco at 831-747-7455 c/o Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce

119 E Alisal St, Salinas, CA 93901 or by e-mail at marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com.

For more information, contact:

Paul Farmer, President and CEO

Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce

119 E Alisal St, Salinas CA 93901

Main: 831-751-7725

Email: President@SalinasChamber.com

Website: www.SalinasChamber.com

The Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce is an association of nearly 700 businesses and organizations, representing thousands of local employees and stakeholders. The Chamber is dedicated to Creating a Strong Local Economy, Promoting the Community, Providing Networking Opportunities, Representing the Interests of Business with Government, and Taking Political Action. To learn more, visit www.SalinasChamber.com or call (831) 751-7725.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.SalinasChamber.com

2017 Fall Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey to be held on October 14 and 15, 2017 at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center

Get ready for holiday entertaining! Create a beautiful living environment and hire an expert to get your home improvement projects started!

Learn great strategies for “Aging in Place” with John Lewis, owner of Lewis Builders

Monterey, CA, August 02, 2017 – Save the date for the free 2017 Fall Inspired Home & Garden Expo on Saturday and Sunday October 14 and 15, 2017, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center. Fall is a great time to evaluate your home and begin to initiate home renovation projects so you’ll be ready to enjoy holiday entertaining with family and friends. It’s also the perfect time to Get Inspired! Talk with hundreds of experts who can help you make both large and small changes to your home and garden area! Enjoy informative and entertaining seminars on both days.

Presenting at this year’s Fall Expo will be John Lewis of Lewis Builders providing valuable seminars about effective ways for Aging in Place!

Ask the experts! This year’s event will feature an array of fascinating and useful Home and Garden Exhibits, Daily Seminars, Live Chef Demos, Shopping, and Charity Partners as well as Expo Sponsors. Stop by for a few hours and discover the very best in home-improvement products, advice and inspiration.

Start by visiting the Inspired Home Expo to plan your home improvement and landscaping vision and meet trusted experts who can make it a great reality. Unleash your creativity and create a true sanctuary where you can relax and rejuvenate in your beautiful home.

Be sure to bring all of your home improvement ideas and remodeling projects to the Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey. Experts at the Monterey Home Expo are there to answer all of your questions and help you get started.

The Inspired Fall Home Expo exhibitors will include general contractors, flooring, landscapers, kitchen and bath, cabinets, closet organizers, landscape designers, painters, countertops, tile, granite, appliances, solar energy, fireplaces, and much more, most based in Monterey County!

At a Glance:

· Saturday, October 14, 2017 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

· Sunday, October 15, 2017 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

· Free to all attendees!

· The Fall 2017 Inspired Home Expo of Monterey will feature a full weekend of activities for homeowners plus the latest remodeling, landscaping and home accessory trends and tips.

· Educational home improvement seminars by local professionals, cooking demos, local charity partners and more.

· Special Guest Appearance by John Lewis, owner of Lewis Builders

About John Lewis

John Lewis found his calling as a college student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, though it wasn’t how you might expect a career path to unfold. Flash forward to 2017, as Lewis is now the founder of Lewis Builders, which specializes in designing and building custom homes, doing design/build remodels and “aging-in-place” renovations for retirees, older people and those with health concerns. His firm employs 15 people and moved into new offices in The Barnyard Shopping Center in Carmel.

“We have a passion for helping those who are aging and just want to keep their dignity and independence in their own homes,” says Lewis. “We’re trying to educate the public on design/build and aging-in-place.”

Design/build, simply put, is the same company doing the design and construction, from conception to completion, of a custom home or remodel. Design/builders have a better conception of the real costs of a project and how to fit that into a client’s budget; it saves significant time in the overall project; and the construction team works collaboratively with the design team.

Aging-in-place is customizing homes with innovative, aesthetically pleasing solutions that alleviate the physical challenges of aging or injury.

It’s not just a specialty, Lewis Builders is a credentialed expert in CAPS (Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist). A program of the National Association of Home Builders, the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation program teaches the technical, business management, and customer service skills essential to competing in the fastest growing segment of the residential remodeling industry: home modifications for the aging-in-place.

“When people discover that cost of living in an assisted-living facility can be $10,000 or $20,000 a month, making modifications to their own homes becomes a no-brainer,” he says. “The ultimate result is that people are able to live comfortably and safely in their homes into their later years, rather than moving into costly assisted-living facilities.”

Born and raised in Monterey County, the youngest of five children, Lewis’s passion for the creative process of designing and building custom homes and remodels that started with small repair jobs in college, has now become his life’s work.

· Additional informative and fun free seminars will be available both days during the Fall 2017 Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey (full schedule will be coming soon on inspiredhomeexpos.com)

· The Grand Prize for attendees of the event: $100 Gift Card to Home Depot

· Free admission & parking!

· Location: Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Rd. Monterey, California. (Please enter at Gate 3 on Garden Road)

· For more information, go to InspiredExpos.com or call (831) 222-0772.

During the Fall 2017 Inspired Home Expo of Monterey weekend, there will be an outstanding line-up of seminars in the home, food and garden areas that include many experts in their field. Attendees can plan their visit to the Fall 2017 Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey around many valuable remodeling workshops and home improvement seminar presentations by local experts and live chef demos and some seminars are now listed below. Updates about the seminars and the presenters will be posted on the website, InspiredExpos.com.

Corporate Sponsors:

· Noble Pride Roofing

Media Corporate Sponsors:

· Monterey County Herald

· KRML Radio 102.1 FM and 1410 AM

· Times Publishing Group

Exhibitor booth and Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, go to www.InspiredExpos.com/Expos/Monterey.

More about the 2017 Fall Inspired Home Expo:

Learn from and become “inspired” by top professionals in the field. Come meet the experts from the community who can help you create a more beautiful living environment, make a space more comfortable or fix an issue in your home. The event gives you the opportunity to build relationships with the people who can help you make your dreams become reality. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for ideas for Fall projects, inspiration or just browsing home improvements large too small. Talk with expert local home contractors that can create all your “inspired”, images from your clippings and Pinterest boards, meet your Google search list face to face, and make your home improvement dreams a reality.

The free, fun and informative Fall 2017 Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 14 and 15, 2017 at the Monterey Fair & Expo Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA. This not-to-be-missed event will feature about a hundred LOCAL home and garden professionals on site, many based in Monterey County, with all of your home project solutions. They will be available to answer all of your questions and provide expert advice for enhancing your indoor and outdoor living space.

The Fall 2017 Inspired Home & Garden Expo will feature displays and exhibits of the latest ideas in home improvement, remodeling, interior design, decorating and landscaping. In addition, it will provide educational and informative seminars and demonstrations designed to help you enhance the beauty and the value of your home. Quality contractors, expert craftsmen, premier designers and home improvement professionals are there both days to focus on all of your needs to make your home meet your vision.

Publicity Contacts:

Wendy Brickman (831) 633-4444 or brickman@brickmanmarketing.com

Marci Bracco (831) 747-7455 or marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com

About Simply Clear Marketing & Media:

Simply Clear Marketing & Media (SCMM) is a professional event management and marketing company based on the Central Coast. SCMM currently produces 7 successful INSPIRED trade show events per year and is expanding its events and services. The Inspired Home Expos are designed to create an environment for consumers to find the products and services they need to create the home of their dreams. The vision behind the home expos is to create a location for local residents to meet face to face with local companies who can help them to create a beautiful living environment and increase the value of their homes. The health expo provides a location for residents to meet face to face with a variety of health, wellness, and fitness providers in the area.

Simply Clear Marketing & Media’s mission is to help small businesses grow by connecting them with potential clients through events and marketing. For more information, go to www.InspiredExpos.com or call (831) 222-0772.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.InspiredExpos.com

FED Publishing Releases New Book, “Love in the Lydia Devereaux College” by Ben Korgen

Love in the Lydia Devereaux College, by Ben Korgen, ends this crazy rom-com series with the most outlandish Rudy shenanigans yet of the Sorghum Series.

Providence, RI, USA — Ben Korgen’s Love in the Lydia Devereaux College finishes the Sorghum Series with Rudy being romantically pursued by an ex-professional wrestler, and does she mean business!

This fifth and final book in the Sorghum Series elaborates on a theme that survives all of the books of the series. Love is strange!

English teacher Cynthia has a crush on football coach Rudy who finds her repulsive. Cynthia undergoes a makeover by a personal trainer who builds her into a professional wrestler. She is able to consistently defeat male professional wrestlers. After building great wealth and fame as a wrestler, Cynthia feels empowered enough to rekindle her romantic interests in Rudy and create a plan in which she will win him over. But first she must make him deeply indebted to her professionally then deeply in love with her in return for making all of his childhood dreams come true.

Rudy’s wife Connie is furious and conspires with Rudy to defeat Cynthia, expose her ruthless character to public view and provide her with a new romantic interest, all the while Rudy once again becomes Love’s Lone Ranger, the title he earned in the first book of the Sorghum Series.

Ben Korgen has had a highly varied career. He served in the US Navy, earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota Duluth, earned a master’s degree at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, then coached high school football, earned a PhD in Oceanography at Oregon State University and had a long and rewarding career in Oceanography at the US Naval Oceanographic Office, the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Tulane University in New Orleans.

Genre – Creative, Coach, Repulsive, Teacher, Crushes, Rejection, Makeover, Wifestealer, Strategy, Battle

The ebook version of Love in the Lydia Devereaux College ISBN 9781506904382, published by First Edition Design Publishing (http://www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com), is available on-line wherever ebooks are sold.

Media Contact:
Ben Korgen
+1(941)921-2607
korgen2@cox.net

Romona Robinson’s “A Dirt Road to Somewhere” is Paved with an Undeniable Faith in God

Have you suffered failure, loss, betrayal, or just feel like you don’t measure up? If you want to know how Emmy Award-winning journalist Romona Robinson weathers these storms and achieves her success, “A Dirt Road to Somewhere” provides the answers.

Cleveland, OH (USA), August 01, 2017 — Have you suffered failure, loss, betrayal, or just feel like you don’t measure up? If you want to know how Emmy Award-winning journalist Romona Robinson weathers these storms and achieves her success, “A Dirt Road to Somewhere” provides the answers. It is an inspirational memoir that fills readers with a sense of purpose and confidence and will leave them saying, “If she can do it, so can I.” The author begins by putting us right in the middle of a KKK protest rally in Charleston, South Carolina. You can feel fear and uncertainty emanating from the pages. From that point onward, you will be moved by the author’s determination to do her job no matter the cost, and you will be in awe of her faith and trust in God, the foundations that keep her moving forward.

Throughout her journey, Robinson learns that she needs to embrace the struggles in her life. It is through these innumerable difficult moments that God gives her the strength to overcome and achieve His plan for her. For example, when a popular NBA player nearly violates her in a Milwaukee hotel room as she is held against her will, three simple words given to her by God will save her. When she is forced out of a television job because of her race, her decision to walk in faith will later launch her award-winning career.

“So many times I am approached by women who are stuck in their career or struggling with their place in life, and they ask me how I managed to overcome obstacles to achieve the life I have,” says Romona Robinson. “I tell them you can’t be complacent with your current circumstance and expect there to be a change without taking some risks in your life. God will send storms to force you into your purpose. I’ve faced unimaginable pain, prejudice, and love in my personal and professional life, and although there were dark times when I wasn’t sure if I was going to see the light, it was my faith in God that kept me going.”

At the heart of this book is Robinson’s message that not every closed door we encounter is a bad thing. God knows that as long as we’re comfortable, we won’t move; we’ll stay stuck. It may not feel good when God tests our faith, but we have to have faith that He is working on our behalf to come through the storm. Robinson’s wish in writing “A Dirt Road to Somewhere” is that readers will be moved and motivated to walk in faith, not fear. She hopes her own story will not only oblige readers to examine their own purpose but that it will also leave them filled with an increased faith in God. As Romona’s favorite scriptural passage says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1, NIV).

“I love this book,” says Lisa Umina, founder and publisher of Halo Publishing International. “I don’t just say that because I am a huge fan of Romona’s but because her story is so compelling. Her writing style grabs you from the opening sentences and takes you on a journey that you can’t resist. You find yourself rooting for her and confident in the knowledge that she will survive. As a Christian woman, I am also drawn to Romona’s faith and what an important role it plays in her life. I highly recommend ‘A Dirt Road to Somewhere.’”

“A Dirt Road to Somewhere” comes out this fall, but this compelling memoir is already garnering high praise:

“Even if you didn’t grow up on a dirt road, you can relate to the broken road of life. With humor, honesty, and eloquence, Romona Robinson shares how she navigated that road with her mother’s love as her compass. This book is a must-read for anyone who struggles with roadblocks of race, place, poverty, fear, or doubt—which is to say all of us. The way out was hard, but Romona shows us the way to reach your dreams, surpass them, then inspire others to reach theirs.” Regina Brett, New York Times best-selling author of “God Never Blinks”

“Romona Robinson’s story is beautiful in its presentation and compelling in its content. It is an urgent lesson in a global classroom. It teaches each of us that racism in our common culture in every aspect of our national life is almost incurable, and pessimism and despair are equally destructive. Romona’s story (which in my opinion has several chapters yet to be written) teaches us that preparation, excellence, integrity, faith, hope, and love have no substitutes. God is love and love is of God. Thanks, Romona, for offering this expression in your life and profession.” Rev. Otis Moss Jr., Pastor Emeritus, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church

“A Dirt Road to Somewhere” will soon be available through Halo Publishing International, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Look for the latest information about Ms. Robinson by following her on Facebook at Romona’s Room or visiting her website at www.romonarobinson.com.

About Romona Robinson:
Romona Robinson is an eight-time Emmy Award-winning journalist with decades of public speaking experience. She is currently an evening anchor at WOIO in Cleveland, Ohio and broke barriers by becoming Cleveland’s first black female primary anchor and the city’s first female solo evening anchor. She has earned several prestigious awards, including the Edward R. Murrow Award, the YWCA’s Women of Achievement Award, and the Diversity in Media Award. Romona has singularly devoted herself to issues of diversity and child advocacy and strives to help others by sharing messages of faith, hope, and purpose. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in broadcast journalism and currently resides in Cleveland with her husband, Rodney, and their pooch, Soldier.

About Halo Publishing International:
Halo Publishing International publishes adult fiction and non-fiction, children’s literature, self-help, spiritual, and faith-based books. We continually strive to help authors reach their publishing goals and provide many different services that help them do so. More information is available at www.HaloPublishing.com

Press & Media Contact:
Lisa M. Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176
San Antonio, TX 78213 – USA
+1 877-705-9647
contact@halopublishing.com

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FED Publishing Releases New Book, “Rumbles from the Ocean: It’s Time to Wake Up” by Ben Korgen

Rumbles from the Ocean: It’s Time to Wake Up, by Ben Korgen, enlightens and teaches about a complex subject and deals with the “what should we do?” problem concerning our world’s oceans in today’s changing climate.

Providence, RI, USA — Ben Korgen’s Rumbles from the Ocean: It’s Time to Wake Up is an introduction to the world ocean for those with their hearts in the humanities, curiosity in science and concerns about the environment.

This warm-hearted introduction to the world ocean and its solvable problems is accessible for readers without specialized backgrounds in science, mathematics or statistics. The author focuses on how the world ocean functions normally, what has happened to it in recent years and what humans can do to help the oceans recover from its wounds and prosper far into the future.

He writes in ways that cause readers to feel he is talking directly to each of them one-on-one. Although the book’s believability is based on scientific research, it has a palpable flavor of the humanities. To enrich the book’s explanations, the usual two-dimension illustrations found in other non-fiction books are replaced by browser addresses that jump readers directly into the rich collection of internet still images, animations, demonstrations and at sea videos.

Author Ben Korgen has had a highly varied career. He served in the US Navy, earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota Duluth, earned a master’s degree at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, then coached high school football, earned a PhD in Oceanography at Oregon State University and had a long and rewarding career in Oceanography at the US Naval Oceanographic Office, the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Tulane University in New Orleans.

Genre – earthquakes, tsunamis, gyres, upwelling, biomass, dolphins, waves, currents, interactions, tectonics

The ebook version of Rumbles from the Ocean: It’s Time to Wake Up ISBN 9781506903538, published by First Edition Design Publishing (http://www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com), is available on-line wherever ebooks are sold.

Media Contact:
Ben Korgen
+1(941)921-2607
korgen2@cox.net

Goodwill Central Coast Moves from Santa Cruz to Expanded New Headquarters in Salinas to Better Fulfill its Mission to Communities it Serves

Goodwill Central Coast has completed a more than a year long process of planning, renovating, and moving their headquarters from Santa Cruz to Salinas.

Salinas, CA, July 31, 2017 — Goodwill Central Coast has completed a more than a year long process of planning, renovating, and moving their headquarters from Santa Cruz to Salinas. The move will increase its operating space, improve efficiency and better fulfill its mission to help people find employment.

Since Goodwill Central Coast covers Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties, moving to Salinas centralizes its headquarters and with a bigger, more modern facility, will boost its efforts to train people in new careers and find them employment.

“It was a big decision on our part,” said Ed Durkee, Goodwill Central Coast President and CEO. “But this new facility was needed to meet the demands of our environmentally conscious community. The building is more modern, safer, more efficient, more centralized, bigger and can take more donations.”

The new facility, located at 1566 Moffett St. in Salinas, is more than double the size of the Santa Cruz location, and will house administrative offices, e-commerce, a salvage center, a donation center, a processing area and an outlet store.

The new headquarters will encompass 140 jobs. All employees who worked at the Santa Cruz headquarters have been offered jobs in Salinas or at other sites in Santa Cruz County. The relocation will also provide a chance to increase Goodwill’s employee base in a more centralized location and to better help the local community.

A grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony with Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce will be held at the new headquarters from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on September 20th. The Mayor of Salinas will be on hand to cut the ribbon.

Goodwill Central Coast, which covers Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties, is one of the region’s largest social enterprise and operates three career centers, five donation processing centers, 25 attended donation stations, 16 stores, and a vocational school. It also employs about 600 in three counties.

For many people, the barriers to employment are too high to overcome alone. Barriers like homelessness, military service, single parenting, incarceration, addiction, and job displacement can define a person’s identity, even when they have so much more to offer.

“Goodwill’s goal is to ensure all of their community members know their worth and gain the skills and confidence to land a job that could turn their life around.” Anne Guthrie, VP of Workforce Services.

Each year Goodwill assists more than 13,000 job seekers to get back to work and reclaim financial and personal independence. Goodwill provides a positive learning environment that creates brighter futures through connecting people to meaningful work.

Some of the ways Goodwill helps people find employment include programs on culinary arts, catering services, free tax preparation and subsidized job placement.

Success stories

Jeremy is one of those employment success stories. Jeremy had problems getting a job because of mental health issues and a criminal background. After attending and graduating from the Culinary Training Academy, with assistance from Goodwill, he is now a prep cook at Jeninni’s Kitchen + Bar in Pacific Grove and is working his way up to sauté cook.

Gloria Organista came to Goodwill’s Career Centers after an unsuccessful job search. She enrolled in our workforce development workshops to brush up on her business and computer skills and after completion enrolled on Goodwill’s Organizational Work Program, OWP. She was placed in the Goodwill Career Center and received on-the-job training in administrative duties and was quickly hired as a HR Assistant. She continued her HR training and is now Goodwill’s HR Supervisor.

Another success story is Eduardo, a painter who lost his job during the rainy season due to lack of work. Eduardo went through Goodwill’s OWP program in Monterey, trained in the store and worked with a trainer and employment specialist to find the right job for him. With the help of Goodwill staff, he was able to get a job with CSU Monterey Bay’s maintenance department as a full-time painter. He now has a stable job with benefits, which allows his wife to stay at home and take care of their two young children.

A new way to shop

The Bargain Barn outlet center, one of two (the other is in San Luis Obispo), will also move to the Salinas location after more than four decades in Santa Cruz. Unlike Goodwill stores, outlet centers exist to move merchandise quickly, selling everything (except furniture) by the pound. The Salinas outlet center will sell its merchandise for $1.79 a pound.

“It has been very popular in Santa Cruz,” said Jim Burke VP of Retail and Operations. “You can potentially get a new outfit for $1.79, including shoes and accessories. The upcycling people like it too because they can get a dresser for $3 to $5. And it’s good for the environment, otherwise it ends up in a landfill.”

Merchandise stays in stores for three weeks, then goes to the outlet centers. It’s put out on the floor each morning, then merchandise is rotated throughout the day, a couple times each hour. And since items rotate constantly, each rotation brings a new treasure trove for bargain shoppers. “Shoppers are always introduced to new merchandise this way,” says Burke.

If still there by the end of the day, merchandise goes to a salvage operator, who will repurpose it for other uses. For example, clothing and other fabrics can be repurposed for insulation.

Furniture and other bulky items will still have price tags, but will also be clearance-priced in order for it to sell quickly.

About Goodwill Central Coast

The Goodwill Central Coast chapter, a private 501(c)3 non-profit organization, began in 1928 in the city of Santa Cruz and today has expanded into three counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo.

Goodwill Central Coast employs over 600 people in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo County, including employment training professionals, sales personnel, donation center attendants, warehouse and distribution workers, and administrators.

Goodwill believes that everyone deserves the chance to join their team, which is why Goodwill Central Coast is an equal opportunity employer and an advocate for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

To deliver their services, Goodwill relies on partnerships with federal and state workforce development agencies, as well as strong relationships with the local businesses that provide employment opportunities.

Goodwill Central Coast

566 Moffett St., Salinas

(831) 423-8611

http://www.ccgoodwill.org

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.ccgoodwill.org

McKinsey Consultant Turned Into Cyber Security Keynote Speaker Training Top UK CEOs on Cybersecurity

Edgar Perez, author of The Speed Traders and Knightmare on Wall Street, partnering with Terrapinn Training in 3-Day Masterclass Cybersecurity to bring key insights for CEOs and board members on cyber security.

London, UK — Mr. Edgar Perez, author of The Speed Traders and Knightmare on Wall Street, is addressing senior executives from the United Kingdom and Europe at 3-Day Masterclass Cybersecurity organized by Terrapinn Training. Perez is a well-known international futurist and keynote speaker who currently offers Cybersecurity Due Diligence and Awareness Training services for Fortune 500 firms and private equity groups.

As information technology becomes ever more complex and Internet usage increasingly widespread, cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly important and business-critical field. Unfortunately, most organizations are not prepared to handle cybersecurity threats. In fact, 66% of IT and security professionals say that their firms are unprepared to recover from a cyberattack. A key example of this unpreparedness is the fact that many of the companies impacted by the recent WannaCry attack didn’t install critical updates into their Windows infrastructure that had been released by Microsoft back in March.

Perez’s workshops bring CEOs, board members and top executives up to speed on the most recent and battle-tested approaches to protect their companies’ valuable information and intellectual property from prying eyes of hackers and competitors, and leverage their cyber success in both cultivating stronger relationships with current and new clients and safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders, partners and employees.

Perez, author of Knightmare on Wall Street and The Speed Traders, is a recognized futurist, keynote speaker and director of programs targeted at board members, chief executive officers and senior executives looking for new ways to gain and maintain a competitive business advantage.

RECENT TESTIMONIALS
• “The team that Edgar has assembled is top-notch. There are no words to express our satisfaction with your high-quality delivery.” Member of the Board of Directors
• “After working with a number of vendors, we found your team to be in a qualitatively different level. By that I speak to your deep expertise and exemplary professionalism.” Divisional Chief Information Officer
• “Thanks for the great work training our employees. You really made a difference!” Global Chief Information Security Officer
• “The program provides a comprehensive approach for any organization to lead in cybersecurity readiness.” IT Security Coordinator

SPEAKER’S KEYNOTE TOPICS
• The Importance of the Cybersecurity Framework for Directors and CEOs
An email embedded with malware. Security systems hacked by thieves. Credit card numbers stolen from store purchases. There’s certainly no shortage of examples when it comes to data security breaches and the havoc they wreak on business. No wonder then that nearly a third of CEOs in KPMG’s latest global survey identified cyber security as the issue having the biggest impact on their companies today. Every organization should apply a Cybersecurity Framework for analyzing cyber security, and ideally it should be integrated into an organization’s existing enterprise risk framework. The key is making it part of the mainstream of risk management within an organization. The most innovative companies today have recognized that cyber security is a customer experience and revenue opportunity, not just a risk that needs to be managed. Mr. Perez will explain why this must done across the entire organization and why the CEO and Board of Directors have the most important role to play.

• Finance in the New Global Economy
Until quite recently, globalization was seen as a one-way street. Multinationals, which led the charge four decades or so ago into growing global markets, were its ambassadors, and American and European workers, whose wages and upward mobility were flattened, were feeling left out. The core idea was that globalization, technological innovation and unfettered free trade would erase historical and geographic boundaries, making the world ever more economically interconnected and alike. Developed economies would come under more and more competitive pressure from eager upstart nations. Now we are entering a new age of volatility. Financiers will become less important, manufacturers more so. Blue collar jobs will go high tech. Robots will replace Chinese workers. Mr. Perez will discuss why finance stands now in front of its biggest transformation triggered not by any of the financial conglomerates that dominate the world today but by obscure startups that could be working already in garages in Silicon Valley, Shanghai, Kiev or Delhi.

• The Biggest Risks for Financial Markets
Constant regulatory changes and technological evolution have transformed the financial landscape so profoundly since the advent of the first electronic networks in the early 1970s. Regulators around the world are now in a race to respond to the evolution of technology in financial markets and prevent its operational challenges from becoming the biggest risk for financial markets. However, when considering technology and the cyber landscape, errors are bound to happen. Financial services firms are expected to have deployed the most sophisticated defense systems against cyberattacks. Trading firms are expected to have controls in place and invest in the technology to keep up to date. Most companies would realize the need of these investments and honestly attempt to implement them, but their IT departments would soon hit a wall, because of direct involvement from senior management and boards of directors. Compliance actions against those who missed their importance will go a long way toward restoring investor confidence and limiting the impact of the biggest risk for financial markets.

• Social Engineering: The “Weakest Human Link” in Cybersecurity
Social engineering involves tricking your employees into breaching security protocols or giving away information, most often over the telephone or via email. Social engineering exploits human weaknesses rather than technology, preying upon people’s propensity towards trust in particular. Often, these exploits are used to gather information to support a more targeted cyberattack, with the initial forays based on the premise of ‘little and often’ so as not to cause concern. Employees at all levels, including senior executives, are vulnerable. Mr. Perez will explain why by improving employee awareness and introducing simple technical measures, organizations can protect themselves against social engineering techniques and the risk of a cyberattack and its potential impact on business, customers and data.

• Establishing or Improving a Cybersecurity Program
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework, which was drafted by the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), comprises leading practices from various standards bodies that have proved to be successful when implemented, and it also may deliver regulatory and legal advantages that extend well beyond improved cybersecurity for organizations that adopt it early. Its adoption may prove advantageous for businesses across virtually all industries. Mr. Perez will explain why a proper Cybersecurity Program will build on the analysis of the possible areas of concern, an understanding of the company’s most critical assets, and a thorough review of Information Technology’s policies and procedures when faced with cybercrime.

ABOUT EDGAR PEREZ
Mr. Edgar Perez is a published author, business consultant for billion-dollar private equity and hedge funds and Council Member at the Gerson Lehrman Group, Guidepoint Global Advisors and Research International, with subject matter expertise in cyber security, investing, trading, financial regulation (Dodd-Frank Act) and market structure.

He is author of Knightmare on Wall Street, The Rise and Fall of Knight Capital and the Biggest Risk for Financial Markets (2013), and The Speed Traders, An Insider’s Look at the New High-Frequency Trading Phenomenon That is Transforming the Investing World, published in English by McGraw-Hill Inc. (2011), Published in Mandarin by China Financial Publishing House (2012), and Investasi Super Kilat, published in Bahasa Indonesia by Kompas Gramedia (2012).

Mr. Perez is course director of 3-Day Masterclass Cybersecurity, Longest Running Cyber Security Business Workshop and 3-Day Masterclass Quantitative Finance, The World of Quant Finance. He has presented his workshops in Singapore, Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Warsaw, Kiev, New York, Singapore, Beijing and Shanghai. He contributes to The New York Times and China’s International Finance News and Sina Finance.

Mr. Perez has been interviewed on CNN’s Quest Means Business, CNBC’s Squawk on the Street, Worldwide Exchange, Cash Flow and Squawk Box, FOX BUSINESS’s Countdown to the Closing Bell and After the Bell, Bloomberg TV’s Market Makers, CNN en Español’s Dinero, Petersburg – Channel 5, Sina Finance, BNN’s Business Day, CCTV China, Bankier.pl, TheStreet.com, Leaderonomics, GPW Media, Channel NewsAsia’s Business Tonight and Cents & Sensibilities. In addition, Mr. Perez has been featured on Sohu, News.Sina.com, Yicai, eastmoney, Caijing, ETF88.com, 360doc, AH Radio, CNFOL.com, CITICS Futures, Tongxin Securities, ZhiCheng.com, CBNweek.com, Caixin, Futures Daily, Xinhua, CBN Newswire, Chinese Financial News, ifeng.com, International Finance News, Finance.QQ.com, hexun.com, Finance.Sina.com, The Korea Times, The Korea Herald, The Star, The Malaysian Insider, BMF 89.9, iMoney Hong Kong, CNBC, Bloomberg Hedge Fund Brief, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Dallas Morning News, Valor Econômico, FIXGlobal Trading, TODAY Online, Oriental Daily News and Business Times.

Mr. Perez has presented to the Council on Foreign Relations, Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University (Kiev), Quant Investment & HFT Summit APAC (Shanghai), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Washington DC), CFA Singapore, Hong Kong Securities Institute, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University, University of International Business and Economics (Beijing), Hult International Business School (Shanghai) and Pace University (New York), among other public and private institutions. In addition, Mr. Perez has spoken at a number of global conferences, including Cyber Security World Conference (New York), Inside Market Data (Chicago), Emerging Markets Investments Summit (Warsaw), CME Group’s Global Financial Leadership Conference (Naples Beach, FL), Harvard Business School’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Conference (Boston), High-Frequency Trading Leaders Forum (New York, Chicago), MIT Sloan Investment Management Conference (Cambridge), Institutional Investor’s Global Growth Markets Forum (London), Technical Analysis Society (Singapore), TradeTech Asia (Singapore), FIXGlobal Face2Face (Seoul) and Private Equity Convention Russia, CIS & Eurasia (London).

Mr. Perez was a vice president at Citigroup, a senior consultant at IBM, and a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Co. in New York City. Previously, he managed Operations and Technology for Peruval Finance. Mr. Perez has an undergraduate degree in Systems Engineering from Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, Lima, Peru (1994), a Master of Administration from Universidad ESAN, Lima, Peru (1997) and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School, New York, with a dual major in Finance and Management (2002). He belongs to the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society. Mr. Perez is an accomplished salsa and hustle dancer and resides in the New York City area.

Media Contact:
Julia Petrova
Media Relations Coordinator
The Speed Traders
+1-414-FORUMS0
jpetrova@thespeedtraders.com

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