Monthly Archives: April 2018

Business

Principals in Leading Florida-based Vacation Rental Consulting Firm Featured Speakers at Four Industry Conferences in 2018

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Ben Edwards, founder and CEO, and Greg Herr, VP, of Weatherby Consulting LLC, a leading vacation rental consulting firm based in Florida

Miramar Beach, FL, April 18, 2018 — Ben Edwards, founder and CEO, and Greg Herr, VP, of Weatherby Consulting LLC, a leading vacation rental consulting firm based in Florida, were featured speakers at three industry events in March and April as well as one coming up in September.

Herr spoke at the 2018 Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA)

Western Regional Conference at Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront in Portland, Oregon, on March 27. Edwards spoke at the 2018 VRMA European Conference March 4 in Paris, and at the 2018 VRMA Eastern Regional Conference on April 16-17, at Hyatt Regency Miami, in Miami, Florida.

And, both principals will speak at Rezfest 2018, the world’s leading vacation rental technology conference, on Sept. 25-27, 2018, at JW Marriott Beach Resort in Marco Island, Florida.

At the Western Regional event March 27, Herr’s talk, “Financially Managing Your Business like a Pro,” articulated tangible techniques to financially manage vacation rental operations like a professional. Participants learned how to increase efficiency and generate a meaningful profit in their business.

At the European Conference on March 4, Edwards spoke on “Strategic Financial Management for Your Vacation Rental Company.” Edwards discussed how, no matter how big or small your company, financial management is key to success. The session taught participants how to set their company up for optimal financial management with best practices for taxes, proactive financial reporting, and tips on how to find outside investments.

At the Eastern Regional Conference event April 16, Edwards participated in a Property Management Executive Roundtable with Steve Milo, CEO of VRTrips. In this session, property managers get to speak freely among themselves on important topics, including software systems, technology platforms, marketing channels, regulations and much more. Edwards, Milo and Eric Bordier will moderate this roundtable in a manner that facilitates an exchange of multiple topics.

Edwards also gave a talk on “Financially Managing Your Business like a Pro,” on April 17, at the Miami event.

Edwards and Herr will also speak at RezFest 2018, which is set for Sept. 25-27, 2018, at the JW Marriott Beach Resort, Marco Island, Florida. At this year’s Rezfest, participants will dive deep into industry trends and technology solutions, inviting all professional property managers to join in. The event will feature exciting general sessions and keynote speeches, plus many opportunities to collaborate and network with hundreds of industry leaders and property managers from around the globe.

About Ben Edwards

As a respected and innovative industry leader, Ben Edwards has been positively affecting the vacation rental industry for over 18 years. From managing small resorts, to financial and operational auditing, to opening large-scale resort developments, Edwards’ unique background provides a multi-level approach to vacation rental consulting, transaction advisory services and accounting services. Involved in more than 100 purchase and sale transactions in the vacation rental industry, Edwards’s experience offers significant advantages, typically providing material gains or savings of the gross purchase price for clients at a cost that is generally a small fraction of the value delivered.

About Weatherby Consulting

Weatherby Consulting provides strategic transaction advisory services, vacation rental consulting an expert accounting services to create opportunities and solutions in the highly competitive vacation rental and resort management industries.

Founded in 2013 by vacation rental industry veteran Ben Edwards, Weatherby Consulting is the preeminent provider of consulting services in the vacation rental industry with more than 100 buy-and-sell transactions and more than $200 million in sales of vacation rental companies throughout his career.

Based in Miramar Beach, Florida, Weatherby Consulting delivers high-impact results, provides partner-level attention and implements solutions tailored to address every client’s unique goals and objectives.

Weatherby Consulting has worked with industry leading clients in more than 200 resort markets across North America and beyond. With more than 18 years of industry and accounting knowledge, Weatherby Consulting provides rapid, strategic advice to assist our clients with purchase-and-sale transactions, profitability consulting and vacation rental specific financial reporting.

With an unwavering dedication to both the short- and long-term interests of your company, our services are designed to identify underlying issues, provide straightforward answers, and create solutions that will achieve the maximum financial benefit and a competitive advantage for your organization.

Their services include:

1. Transaction Advisory Services — This service line includes the purchase and sale of Vacation Rental Companies, our primary service line.

2. Vacation Rental Consulting — We provide consulting services focused on creating sustainability, efficiencies and increased profits.

3. Accounting Services — We provide expert-level accounting services and financial reporting to more than 30 companies across the U.S.

4. Partnership Opportunities — Weatherby Consulting is willing to partner with Vacation Rental Companies to more effectively manage certain business operations and substantially increase the value of the business.

Weatherby Consulting, LLC

755 Grand Boulevard

Suite 105-275

Miramar Beach, Florida 32550

Toll-Free: (888) 304-1405

Fax: (888) 304-1405

Email: info@weatherbyconsulting.com

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.weatherbyconsulting.com

Business

Monterey Entrepreneur with Passion for Olive Oil Launches Ruccello Olive Oil, specializing in Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Olive Wood Items and Olive Oil Parties

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RoseAnne Ruccello-Fischer has a passion for premium olive oil and she’s turned that passion into a vocation, recently launching Ruccello Olive Oil, which specializes in Extra Virgin Olive Oils from Italy and California, hand-crafted olive wood items and handmade aprons.

Monterey, CA, April 16, 2018 — RoseAnne Ruccello-Fischer has a passion for premium olive oil and she’s turned that passion into a vocation, recently launching Ruccello Olive Oil, which specializes in Extra Virgin Olive Oils from Italy and California, hand-crafted olive wood items and handmade aprons.

“I want to offer consumers the highest quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil from the best producers from around the world,” says Ruccello-Fischer, a native of Monterey, California. “I’m also committed to educating the consumer on the many health benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and how to be a discerning consumer through olive oil tastings, olive oil and food pairing events and house parties showcasing this incredible oil.”

Starting April 15, Ruccello Olive Oil will offer on its website, ruccellooliveoil.com, Extra Virgin Olive Oil from the Tuscany region in Italy and California, handmade olive wood bowls and cutting boards, and aprons crafted by hand.

In the future, she hopes to offer more varieties of Extra Virgin Olive Oil from around the world. She also currently imports European antiques with her husband in partnership with a company in Carmel Valley.

And starting April 4th, olive oil lovers will be able to book a Grove Gathering, a fun way to spend an evening with friends learning about olive oil and tasting and savoring the way olive oil enhances the flavor of food.

Participants in the Grove Gathering will learn about olive oil facts and tips, health benefits of olive oil, olive oil tasting and food pairings. Hosts of these parties will receive discounts and/or a gift based on party sales.

To have a Grove Gathering or to get more details, contact RoseAnne at roseanne@ruccellooliveoil.com, by calling 831-275-8306, or through this website at ruccellooliveoil.com.

Ruccello Olive Oil also offers monthly subscriptions and have your olive oil delivered automatically every one or two months.

Ruccello-Fischer may be passionate about olive oil, but she’s equally passionate about eating and living well.

She’s been in the health care field for more than 30 years and is a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, so she’s well acquainted with the many health benefits of olive oil.

But it wasn’t until 2015, when she and her husband bought a small house in Tuscany nestled in the Chianti hills, with vineyards and olive groves everywhere you could see, that the idea of running her own olive oil business took seed.

A local business owner in their small Italian town suggested importing extra virgin olive oil to the U.S., an idea that appealed to her. She wanted to learn everything she could about olive oil, so signed up for an Olive Oil Sommelier class.

The original business idea didn’t pan out, but she did learn quite a bit about olive oil, especially the fact that many olive oils for sale in the U.S. are mislabeled and adulterated and that customers were being duped into buying Extra Virgin Olive Oil that was either virgin olive oil or lampante oil, which is not fit for human consumption.

So she decided she wanted to educate American consumers and offer them the best Extra Virgin Olive Oil that the world has to offer.

“Consumers know that olive oil is good for you, but there are a lot of myths about it out there,” she says. “I want to share what I’ve learned and I want to provide a product that people can trust and feel safe in the knowledge that the products are of the highest quality.”

Ruccello Olive Oil was founded, the name taken from her maiden name. She’s already working with three olive oil producers in Italy and one in Callifornia, with another from Italy in the works.

With Ruccello Olive Oil, Ruccello-Fischer is fulfilling one of her passions.

“I have a passion for good food and a desire for a healthy life, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil enhances both.”

Ruccello Olive Oil

P.O. Box 257, Monterey, CA 93940

Telephone: 831-275-8306

WhatsApp: 1-831-275-8306

roseanne@RuccelloOliveOil.com

http://ruccellooliveoil.com

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://ruccellooliveoil.com

Software, Technology

InPreflight Pro for InDesign Is Now Available on the New Adobe Exchange

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Zevrix Solutions announces that InPreflight Pro for Adobe InDesign is now available on Adobe Exchange, a new and improved Creative Cloud marketplace. InPreflight Pro is a document preparation solution for InDesign, which offers thorough quality control and batch document packaging. Users can now purchase the software directly on Adobe Exchange which makes it easier for customers to discover and install third party plug-ins for Creative Cloud.

Toronto (ON), Canada — Zevrix Solutions today announces that InPreflight Pro is now available on the new and improved Adobe Exchange. InPreflight Pro is a document preparation solution for Adobe InDesign, which offers thorough quality control and batch file packaging.

Adobe Exchange provides a new way to search, discover, and install plug-ins, extensions, and other content for Creative Cloud products. As a unified destination that brings third-party integrations with Creative Cloud, Document Cloud & Experience Cloud under a single umbrella, Adobe Exchange will make it easier for customers to discover and install integrations that expand and enhance what they can achieve on Adobe’s Clouds.

“InPreflight is very simple, it provides excellent display of document’s elements with full control over preflighting and file collection,” says Michael Anikst of Anikst Design in London, UK. “I am designing very big books on art, and InPreflight lets me keep all my documents in perfect order.”

InPreflight Pro provides a robust, fast, reliable and easy-to-use solution for printers, service providers, ad agencies and publishing houses and offers the following key features:

Batch-packaging and job delivery:
–Collect multiple InDesign files automatically
-Package all shared files into one folder and save gigabytes of disk space
-Package jobs into separate folders automatically
-Send collected jobs to FTP and other servers with email notifications

Quality control:
–Quickly preflight InDesign documents for common problems
-Reveal hidden issues such image compression and embedded fonts
-View info on all fonts, colors and links at a glance

Graphic preflight reports:
-Create graphic preflight reports
-Print and save reports as PDF
-Interactive report setup
–Detailed paragraph styles report for typography professionals

Pricing and Availability:
InPreflight Pro can be purchased from Adobe Exchange for US$99.95, as well as from Zevrix website and authorized resellers. Trial is also available for download. InPreflight requires macOS 10.7-10.13 and Adobe InDesign CS3-CC 2018.

About Zevrix Solutions
Located in Toronto, Canada, Zevrix Solutions provides productivity solutions for Adobe Creative Suite software, PDF and graphic file diagnostics and Microsoft Office on Mac OS. Zevrix Solutions is dedicated to helping professionals achieve more while doing less through automating their everyday tasks, producing error-free documents, saving disk space and cutting production costs. For more information, visit http://www.zevrix.com.

Contact:
Leo Revzin
Owner
Zevrix Solutions
105 McCAUL St, Suite 301
Toronto Ontario M5T 2X4 Canada
858-206-0607
media@zevrix.com
http://www.zevrix.com

Art

The 59th Annual Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival Gives Back to the Community through its 12 Charity Partners

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The Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival not only provides the community with a wealth of fun and learning every year, it gives back to the community through its dozen charity partners.

Castroville, CA, April 13, 2018 — The Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival not only provides the community with a wealth of fun and learning every year, it gives back to the community through its dozen charity partners.

The 59th annual festival takes place June 2-3, 2018 at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center in Monterey and continues the legacy of celebrating the iconic artichoke and region known as the “Artichoke Center of the World.”

For almost six decades, the Artichoke Festival has been dedicated to informing and exciting festival attendees about the unique qualities of artichokes including farming, harvest, and preparation to demonstrate how the artichoke industry has influenced the history of Monterey County. And now, as a 501c3 organization, the purpose remains the same with an emphasis on giving back to the local community.

“We look forward to the Artichoke Festival each year because the event paints a clear picture of how this community comes together to support one another,” said Diana McClean, senior director of marketing at Ocean Mist Farms and board member for the Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival. “The purpose of this organization aligns directly with Ocean Mist Farms’ values, which is part of the reason we enjoy sponsoring this annual event.”

Proceeds from the festival are used to support 501c3 community organizations and activities that align with the festival’s mission. The following are the 2018 Artichoke Food & Wine Festival Donation Recipient Organizations:

>Ashleigh Nicole Swain Memorial Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund was set up in the memory of Castroville’s Ashleigh Nicole Swain, 16, a junior at North Monterey County High School, who died in a tragic car accident on Nov. 4, 2011. She was born January 18, 1995 in Salinas, to Jeremiah and Tobi Swain. She was a member of PAL at NMC, was talented in stained glass and jewelry making, and hoped to pursue a career in nursing. A page on Facebook was set up for her, In Loving Memory of Ashleigh Swain. https://www.facebook.com/In-Loving-Memory-of-Ashleigh-Swain-218362504897879/

>Bikers for Bikes

Founded in 2008 by motorcyclist Rick Jenkins and members of the West Coast/Monterey Bay Harley Davidson Owner’s Group, Bikers for Bikes provides 20-30 new bicycles a year to underprivileged youth. The group is also involved in a Turkey Trot to raise funds and buy turkeys for holiday meals, donates toys to kids during Christmas and participates in other charitable events. This is their third year with the festival. To donate to Bikers for Bikes, contact Rick Jenkins at 831-320-2956.

>North Monterey County High School Baseball

North County High School Baseball is heading in the right direction of its old traditions. NMC Baseball teaches young teens the core values of life through the game of baseball while pursuing greatness, sportsmanship and respect. North County has a rich tradition of athletes, who can play at the highest levels of baseball if given the opportunity and financial help they deserve. nmcusd.org

>North Monterey County High School Golf

Head Coach Tim Bearden heads the 2018 Condor Golf Team in Monterey Bay League action. nmcusd.org

>Marina Lions Club

The Marina Lions Club, established in 1984, is a small, but active club, part of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. One hundred percent of funds raised by the club goes back to the community. http://e-clubhouse.org/sites/marina_lionsca/

>Ord Terrace Elementary School

Ord Terrace Elementary School in Seaside provides a positive learning environment, establishes high expectations, and worsk collaboratively with each other, families, and the community to ensure all students achieve academic success and demonstrate social responsibility. https://ote-mpusd-ca.schoolloop.com/

>Agricultural History Project

The Agricultural History Project (AHP) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 1986, and opened its doors to the public in May 2004. Its mission is to honor and promote knowledge about agriculture on the Central California Coast, both past and present. It does this through exhibits and interactive activities that help visitors experience daily life on farms and ranches on the Central Coast during the 1800’s and early 1900’s.

http://aghistoryproject.org

>Peacock Acres

Peacock Acres in Salinas provides supportive housing, intense case management, and life coaching for foster children and young adults who have been separated from their families. With high character and resolve, Peacock Acres youth are steered towards opportunities for healing and growth as they continue their journey toward a fulfilling, productive life.

peacockacres.org.

>North County Bulldogs

The North County Bulldogs play in the 12-team Monterey Bay Youth Football League in Midgets, Pee Wee and Jr. Pee Wee divisions. The league’s mission is to provide a positive outlet for the youth around the Monterey Bay and tri-county areas. The league strives to teach kids the sport of football and cheer and how to be productive citizens who are proud of their teams and the MBYFL.

North County Bulldogs

>North County Recreation & Park District

NCRPD is a Local Government Agency (Special District) providing recreation and parks services to the North Monterey County area, including the communities of Castroville, Moss Landing, Oak Hills and parts of Elkhorn and Prunedale, along with the surrounding rural community. NCRPD operates the North County Recreation Center, Cato-Phillips Park, Crane Street Park, Japanese School Park, Rancho Moro Cojo Park and the Moro Cojo Nature Trails. ncrpd.org

>Hope Horses & Kids

Hope, Horses & Kids serves as a resource for families, organizations and schools that utilizes authentic learning experiences to foster positive character and leadership development. HHK, a non-profit organization, is committed to positively impact the emotional, mental, behavioral and social challenges of individuals that are underserved or have special needs. www.hopehorseskids.org

For more information contact:

Diana McClean

dmcclean@oceanmist.com

(831) 770-6435

>North Monterey County Middle School Library

The library has been partnering with the festival for the past 25 years. Funds are used to buy books, computers, and whatever is needed for the library. And from time to time, funds have been used to gift students who are unable to afford graduation. nmcusd.org

About the Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival

The Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival began in 1959 and has since developed to become a harvest festival to celebrate the iconic artichoke and region known as the “Artichoke Center of the World.” The festival features family-fun events for all ages and has been a primary source of funding for local non-profit groups for many years.

Festival attendees enjoy several fresh artichoke food delicacies, a beer, wine and spirits garden, chef demos, live entertainment, field tours and more during the two-day festival. To support these events, the Artichoke Festival is encouraging individuals and organizations to volunteer their time to ensure another successful year.

For more information about giving back to the community through volunteering, please visit http://artichokefestival.org/general-info/volunteers/. For general information, visit http://artichokefestival.org/.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://artichokefestival.org/

Entertainment

Joseph Eid Drops “Watch It Fall” Music Video Available April 13!

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“Watch It Fall” is the title and focus track from Eid’s recent EP

Los Angeles, CA, April 11, 2018 – On “Watch It Fall,” pop-folk artist Joseph Eidtells the story of a life lived as a spectator, an existence filled with perception, insight, empathy, and, of course, sadness. The song is told from the perspective of someone who’s lived in the same building for years, something they never intended to let happen. And yet, mingled with the regret of a static existence is the beauty of knowing a place so well, and feeling a profound connection with that shared history. Hardships become strengths.

Set to lovely and light guitar strings and a melody which marries quiet joy with melancholy, this is Eid at his most honest. The music video, filmed and directed by Patrick McPherson, brings the vision behind the music to life. On half the screen, we see Eid – on the other, we see what he witnesses: lives unfolding amongst his building’s shared hallways, gardens, and laundry rooms, turning corners and stepping through doorways. From these lives, in this place, he draws inspiration. Even if he isn’t in his ideal place or circumstance, his art blossoms.

On April 13, 2018, you can watch Joseph Eid’s “Watch It Fall,” a touching new video release from one of indie folk’s most thoughtful artists.

About Joseph Eid:

Since the release of his Human LP, Folk-Pop artist Joseph Eid has been garnering considerable buzz. American Songwriter Magazine featured him in its “Best New Music” column, and he was named as one of the 100 Hottest Live Unsigned Artists by Music Connection Magazine. The magazine also reviewed his latest EP release “Watch It Fall” and described him as “an engaging storyteller (a la Jason Mraz) with a keen eye for character.” His song “It’s Only Love” is in the new Universal Studios film All I Wish, starring Sharon Stone.

Eid was raised in a strict, traditional home. The arts were only supported as a hobby — never a career.But destiny prevailed. After his first semester in medical school, his dreams got too big to contain.Eid dropped out. Hemoved to New York City to pursue music.

He picked up a guitar. He joined a band. He moved, again, this time to Los Angeles. Shortly after, he began working with world-renowned guitarist/songwriter, David Lamar, honing his songwriting at weekly showcases at the Stone Bar. This led him to write dozens of new songs as well as record a debut EP, Cardiac Output, followed by a full-length LP, Human. He has a residency in Downtown LA at Bar Mattachine, where he performs when he’s not touring nationally.

For More about Joseph Eid visit:

https://www.josepheidmusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JosephEidMusic/

https://twitter.com/JosephEidMusic

https://www.instagram.com/josepheidmusic/

Contact:

Chip Schutzman

Miles High Productions

PO Box 93157

Hollywood CA 90093

323-871-4821

chip@mileshighproductions.com

http://www.mileshighproductions.com

Business, Electronics, Technology

Fulham Exec to Speak on Clever Lighting Strategies as Building Blocks for Building Automation at Niagara Summit

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Fullham’s Russ Sharer to Discuss How Smart LED Luminaire and Sensors for Smart Lighting Deliver on the Promise of Native IoT for Niagara Framework®.

New Orleans, LA, USA — Tridum’s Niagara Framework is being recognized as the de-facto standard for building management, providing single-screen control of physical, mechanical and environmental building properties. As the demand for Internet of Things (IoT) compatibility grows as a necessary requirement for controls systems, lighting and their sensors become the ideal data gathering points for IoT analytics, AI and machine learning applications to reveal the “golden nuggets” of business intelligence. That’s the topic that Russ Sharer, Vice President of Global Marketing for Fulham, Co., Inc., will be discussing in a session entitled “Clever Lighting: Leveraging the Power of Niagara to Build the Exoskeleton for IoT” at the Niagara Summit, being held here April 15-17.

In his presentation Sharer will discuss the advent of clever lighting – programmable LED light fixtures with on-board sensors – and how clever lighting can deliver more data directly and natively into the Niagara Framework and, ultimately, IoT systems. Lighting is the most prevalent electrical system in any building, and strategically placed sensors in luminaires can support new control systems based on the movement, behavior, and actions of building occupants. Connecting clever lighting end points provides a cost-effective means to deploy the sensors needed to feed Niagara directly as well as associated IoT systems.

“For too long lighting system have been focused solely on illumination,” said Sharer. “The new generation of clever luminaires with integrated sensors can deliver new types of data to Niagara natively via direct end-point communications. By connecting luminaires and their sensors to Niagara platforms directly, Niagara users will have a system that delivers previously unavailable building information, enhancing the value of Niagara based IoT edge controllers and paving the way for IoT communications.”

Sharer predicts that clever lighting units could be adapted to monitor and manage various building functions. For example, locally installed sensors could also be used to detect heat, humidity, measure air quality to provide additional information to HVAC systems. Information derived from Clever luminaires and sensors could also be used to augment life safety systems. And with the number of luminaries in close proximity in the average commercial building, clever lighting components can be readily connected using wireless technology such as Bluetooth Mesh, which could simplify installing luminaire retrofits to support Niagara building controls.

Fulham is a leading supplier of clever LED lighting components and has been working with partners to promote intelligent lighting by connecting clever luminaires. The company also offers elitedali™, a native DALI Niagara product that can transform any NiagaraAX or Niagara4 platform into an IoT convergent lighting commissioning and control platform.

For more information, visit Fulham Controls at http://www.control-network-solutions.co.uk.

About Fulham
Fulham Co., Inc. is a leading global provider of intelligent, socially-conscious sustainable commercial lighting components and electronics for use in commercial general lighting, parking structure, signage, horticultural, UV and other applications. The company develops and manufactures a variety of award-winning LED and emergency products, as well as legacy products across multiple lighting platforms. Fulham sells its lighting solutions worldwide through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and electrical equipment distribution channels. Headquartered in Hawthorne, Calif., the company has sales and/or manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands, China, India and the UAE. For more information, visit http://www.fulham.com. @FulhamUSA and @FulhamEurope.

Media Contact:
Andy Firchau
Marketing Manager
Fulham Co., Inc.
Phone: +1 (323) 779-2980, ext. 1252
afirchau@fulham.com

Main

Consumer Services, Internet & Online, Real Estate

HomeOpenly Reaches 147 Million US Properties with Aggregate Real Estate Savings

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Menlo Park, California, 2018-Apr-10 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — HomeOpenly continues to leverage the latest Internet technology in its effort to make real estate process less costly and more transparent. With its latest release HomeOpenly aggregate savings database now outperforms aggregate savings offered by the Redfin Corporation, a well-known online savings broker. HomeOpenly now advertises savings for more than 147 Million residential properties across the United States.

HomeOpenly works to transform real estate process with an OPEN Marketplace as the first platform of its kind to advertise closing costs savings to consumers without referral fees. The final output for its service are widely-accepted, current and fluid real estate closing commission rates and services defined by local competitive markets. HomeOpenly is estimated to help save US residential real estate consumers anywhere $10-15 Billion each year in closing costs by allowing competitive local real estate agents an opportunity to fairly represent a much greater number of real estate consumers nationwide.

The start-up operates an algorithm that is free from the influence of any referral fees revenue – all local results provided to users always match their best options. With its platform now successfully running on a national scale, HomeOpenly becomes a cost-saving alternative to referral fee brokers, such as Redfin. HomeOpenly actively advertises actionable and current savings in all 50 States.

“Redfin Corporation is heavily dependent on referral fees for revenue; the same independent agents who wage 30% of their commissions back to Redfin can freely advertise at HomeOpenly,” said co-founder Dmitry Shkipin, “we run our platform as an open system built on fair advertising methods to challenge all major referral fees models with genuine Internet principles and innovation.”

HomeOpenly allows real estate agents to comfortably participate in an OPEN Marketplace and to advertise competitive commission rates, service levels for a specific transaction price range, flat fees, quickly opt-in, or modify service advertisements at any time. Home buyers and sellers send their own leads requests to agents they like and HomeOpenly forwards these leads directly without any middle-man fees involved. These features, together, make up for the best and the most effective platform for home buyers and sellers to find and connect with competitive local agents for their real estate transactions.

“Co-founded a year ago working in a team effort with key help from early adopters, friends and fellow Internet companies, HomeOpenly now delivers the best aggregate advertised savings in the US, far outperforming savings offered by Redfin, without any referral fees to anyone,” continued Dmitry Shkipin, “this information directly benefits our users and encourages independent local real estate agents to list their best rates. The best part of our platform is that it only takes few minutes for home buyers and sellers to acquire local agent results without any strings attached – the user experience is 100% unbiased and secure.”

HomeOpenly is the first online platform rapidly allows real estate agents across the United States to effectively compete locally on 0% referral terms. HomeOpenly is built to advertise savings, however, the platform does not lock anyone into any referral agreements or specific rates, instead, competitive market guides the process. HomeOpenly acquires organic users with local search index results and generates revenue with independent advertising, real estate data analysis and optional premium services.

HomeOpenly is maintained in the heart of Silicon Valley as an Internet platform designed to promote lower cost of homeownership in the United States by generating an unbiased real estate match experience for all users. The service operates on its patent-pending model that allows users to advertise and receive the best local real estate agency savings information absolutely free. HomeOpenly can easily be found online at (https://homeopenly.com).

Contact-Details: HomeOpenly, Inc.
325 Sharon Park Dr. #416
Menlo Park, California 94025
(650) 281-6962

Business

Array of Informative Free Seminars Announced for the 2018 Spring Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey to be held on April 21st and 22nd at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center

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Don’t miss the informative home, garden and cooking seminars and workshops coming up at the free 2018 Spring Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey on April 21st and 22nd at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

Monterey, CA, April 10, 2018 – Don’t miss the informative home, garden and cooking seminars and workshops coming up at the free 2018 Spring Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey on April 21st and 22nd at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

Are you prepared for great home entertaining this Spring and Summer! Why not create a fabulous outdoor kitchen or back yard sanctuary, upgrade your dining room area or add a kitchen island for all of your cooking projects?

You will be able to ask an array of diverse experts on site all of your home improvement questions! This year’s event will feature 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. Home expo exhibitors include general contractors, flooring, landscapers, kitchen and bath, cabinets, closet organizers, landscape designers, painters, countertops, tile, granite, appliances, solar energy, fireplaces, and much more all from around Monterey County!

Spring is a great time to evaluate your home and initiate home renovation projects so you’ll be ready to enjoy visits from family and friends in your updated home.

It’s also a wonderful time to Get Inspired! 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.

At a Glance:

· Saturday, April 21, 2018 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

· Sunday, April 22, 2018 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

· Free to all attendees!

· The Spring 2018 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.

· Additional informative and fun free seminars will be available both days during the Spring 2018 Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey (full schedule coming soon on inspiredexpos.com)

· The Grand Prize for attendees of the event: $100 Home Depot Gift Certificate!

· Free parking!

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

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

During the Spring 2018 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 Spring 2018 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.

2018 Spring Home Expo Seminar Schedule

Saturday, April 21, 2018

12:00 pm

Easy Updates When Selling Your Home or Just to Enjoy It More

Presented by Amber Russell of Over the Moon Realty, Inc.

Join us as local real estate broker Amber Russell goes over quick fixes and changes for your home to make it a more attractive and impressive space. These updates can help with making your home more desirable when the potential buyers come through, or to just create a more enjoyable space for you and your family.

12:45 pm

Learn More About High Quality Olive Oil & Olive Oil Demo

Presented by RoseAnne Ruccello-Fischer of Ruccello Olive Oil

We know that olive oil is good for you, but there are a lot of myths about it out there. Many olive oils are for sale in the U.S. and are mislabeled or adulterated. As a new provider of high quality extra virgin olive oil from Italy and California, RoseAnne Ruccello will share olive oil facts and tips, health benefits of olive oil, and will discuss how to do olive oil tastings and food pairings.

1:30 pm

Cooking Demonstration

Spring Vegetable Farrotto Cooking Demonstration

Presented by Chef Scott “Paul” Blackerby of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel Spa TusCA Ristorante

Join Chef Paul as he makes a delectable dish of Spring Vegetable Farrotto, a dish much like risotto but with farro grains. We will make the quick and easy dish using ancient wheat grain farro, sauteed asparagus, peas, squash, baby tomatoes, herbs, vegetable broth, and finished with lemon olive oil!

2:15 pm

Homes for Heroes: Cash Back for Heroes who Buy or Sell a Home

Presented by Allison Chance of Homes for Heroes

Learn about the Homes for Heroes program where qualifying professions (Firefighters, Law Enforcement, Military (Active, Reserve & Veterans), Healthcare Professionals, EMS, Teachers) receive cash back when buying or selling a home. As a military spouse herself, Allison is pleased to offer this amazing program. Allison will also be doing a giveaway for a $50 Target gift card for those who attend the seminar!

3:00 pm

The ABC’s of Artichokes

Presented by Denice Amerison of Castroville Artichoke Festival Food & Wine

Join us to learn the ABC’s of Artichokes! We will cover basic preparation of artichokes, including how to microwave them, pressure cook them and other secrets of artichokes! Pat Hopper will also unveil the mystery and flavor of California’s official state vegetable!

Sunday, April 22, 2018

12:00 pm

Why Choose Metal Roofing

Presented by Mike Ruiz of Noble Pride Roofing

Watch a live demonstration showing how metal roofing panels are formed through a metal panel machine. Learn the advantages of metal roofing and see why today metal roofing is a popular alternative to traditional roofing products.

12:45 pm

Spring & Summer Painting Tips for Your Home

Presented by Jon Stuefloten of Jon Stuefloten Restoration Painting

Join us as Jon Stuefloten of Jon Stuefloten Restoration Painting discusses spring and summer painting tips for the exterior and interior of your home. He will be offering advice on the best colors for your home, techniques and much more.

1:30 pm

Hardscape Design & Opportunity

Presented by Steve McShane of McShane’s Landscape Supply

Too many landscapes go underutilized due to maintenance challenges. Join Steve McShane to dream up cost effective landscape solutions using stone, pavers, rocks and bark. Steve will highlight materials that last and require little or no upkeep. Steve will also walk through the design process so you can begin thinking about outside spaces you can enjoy.

And more seminars to be announced!

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 still available. For more information, go to www.InspiredExpos.com/Expos/Monterey.

Publicity Contacts:

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

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

About Presenter RoseAnn Ruccello-Fischer

RoseAnne Ruccello-Fischer has a passion for premium olive oil and she’s turned that passion into a vocation, recently launching Ruccello Olive Oil, which specializes in Extra Virgin Olive Oils from Italy and California, hand-crafted olive wood items and handmade aprons.

Starting April 1st, Ruccello Olive Oil will offer on its website, ruccellooliveoil.com, Extra Virgin Olive Oil from the Tuscany region in Italy and California, handmade olive wood bowls and cutting boards, and aprons crafted by hand. In the future, she hopes to offer more varieties of Extra Virgin Olive Oil from around the world. She also currently imports European antiques with her husband in partnership with a company in Carmel Valley.

Ruccello-Fischer may be passionate about olive oil, but she’s equally passionate about eating and living well. She’s been in the health care field for more than 30 years and is a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, so she’s well acquainted with the many health benefits of olive oil. But it wasn’t until 2015, when she and her husband bought a small house in Tuscany nestled in the Chianti hills, with vineyards and olive groves everywhere you could see, that the idea of running her own olive oil business took seed.

A local business owner in their small Italian town suggested importing extra virgin olive oil to the U.S., an idea that appealed to her. She wanted to learn everything she could about olive oil, so signed up for an Olive Oil Sommelier class. The original business idea didn’t pan out, but she did learn quite a bit about olive oil, especially the fact that many olive oils for sale in the U.S. are mislabeled and adulterated and that customers were being duped into buying Extra Virgin Olive Oil that was either virgin olive oil or lampante oil, which is not fit for human consumption.

So she decided she wanted to educate American consumers and offer them the best Extra Virgin Olive Oil that the world has to offer. Ruccello Olive Oil was founded, the name taken from her maiden name. She’s already working with three olive oil producers in Italy and one in California, with another from Italy in the works.

More about the 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 Spring 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 Spring 2018 Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 21st and 22nd 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 Spring 2018 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.

About Simply Clear Marketing & Media:

Simply Clear Marketing & Media (SCMM) is a professional event management and marketing company based on the Central Coast. SCMI 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 expos provide 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 (805) 222-0772.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.InspiredExpos.com

Business

Carmel Honey Company Gives Back to the Community with the Product that Gives Back — Honey

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At the heart of the corporate philosophy of Jake Reisdorf and his Carmel Honey Company is giving back to the community — both human and honey bees.

Carmel, CA, April 10, 2018 — At the heart of the corporate philosophy of Jake Reisdorf and his Carmel Honey Company is giving back to the community — both human and honey bees.

Reisdorf, who founded Carmel Honey Company when he was only 11years old (he’s now 15), is so passionate about honey and especially the need to save honey bees and endangered bee habitat, that he also founded the “Jake Gives Back” program.

The “Jake Gives Back” program not only makes financial donations to honey bee research and education organizations, it involves Reisdorf sharing his honey bee knowledge by speaking to students, service groups, civic organizations, businesses and corporations.

In addition to his speaking engagements, Reisdorf also does pop-up events where he can offer honey tastings, a presentation about bees and honey, as well as Q&A sessions.

Honey bees are a critical to the production of many of the fruits and vegetables we love to eat. In fact, about 90% of US crops depend on honey bees. These social insects also pollinate clover and alfalfa, which are fed to cattle, so they actually support the dairy and meat industry too. In addition, honey bees are also important to cotton and flax crops.

And yet the bees are dying. Pollination beekeepers lost an alarming 44% of their colonies last year due to Colony Collapse Disorder.

With his “Jake Gives Back” program, Reisdorf hopes to raise awareness about this crucial problem and identify solutions to how to reverse the trend.

And now, with the opening of Carmel Honey Company’s first brick-and-mortar store last August at the lower level of the Carmel Plaza in Carmel, Reisdorf is further able to support honey and bee research. When someone purchases a jar of honey or any honey-related product from Carmel Honey Company, either online or at the store, they just contributed to future honey and bee research and education.

In that sense, it’s one of the few products that consumers buy that actually gives back to the community and to the world at large in tangible ways. It can’t be understated how important honey bees are to sustain our global food system.

The Carmel Honey Company store is stocked not just with honey, but hive-related merchandise, including apparel, unique gifts, bath and body items and specialty edibles. Carmel Honey Company products also make for great gift items, including custom-made gift boxes that can be shipped directly to the recipient.

And of course, there is also an educational component to the store. Since most people haven’t tasted real, raw, premium honey, guests will be able to sample honeys from all over the country, discover beekeeping practices from around the world, and learn about the importance of pollinators to the ecosystem and the human race.

For more information on how you can buy “the gift that gives back,” please contact Carmel Honey Company at: (831) 687-8511 or at www.CarmelHoneyCompany.com.

More information is also available at:

www.Facebook.com/CarmelHoneyCompany

www.Instagram.com/CarmelHoneyCompany

www.Twitter.com/CarmelHoneyCo

Carmel Honey Company store

Carmel Plaza, Suite 118,

Ocean Avenue & Mission Street

Carmel, CA 93921

Phone: 831.687.8511

Hours: Mon-Sat 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.CarmelHoneyCompany.com

Art

Quilters Sought for First Annual Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival Quilt Challenge at 59th Annual Festival June 2-3

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Are you handy with needle and thread or sewing machine? Then you’re invited to join the Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival

Castroville, CA, April 09, 2018 — Are you handy with needle and thread or sewing machine? Then you’re invited to join the Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival Quilt Challenge, which will be awarding first, second and third-place People’s Choice prizes at the June 2-3 festival at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

The theme is anything you want it to be, but your quilt must depict at least one artichoke on the front. Contestants must also use “some” of the fabric provided by the festival and can add as much other fabric as well as any embellishments.

Each quilt must be 20 inches by 20 inches have three layers and a 4-inch sleeve. Quilts should be labeled on the back with your name, the quilt’s name, and “2018 Quilt Challenge.”

Quilts must be received by May 25, at The Artichoke Festival Office, 11402 Merritt St., Castroville, CA 95012.

If interested in this contest, mail $5 to Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival Quilt Challenge, 11402 Merritt St., Castroville, CA 95012, and you will receive the rules and fabric.

Quilts can be viewed both Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3, in the Salinas Room at the south end of the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey.

About the Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival

The Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival began in 1959 and has since developed to become a harvest festival to celebrate the iconic artichoke and region known as the “Artichoke Center of the World.” The festival features family-fun events for all ages and has been a primary source of funding for local non-profit groups for many years. For more information, visit http://artichokefestival.org/.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://artichokefestival.org/