Category Archives: Business

Business, Human Resources

Engage PEO Recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the Country for the Second Consecutive Year

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Engage PEO Ranks #741 on the 2017 Inc. 5000 List.

Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA — Engage PEO, a professional employer organization providing HR outsourcing solutions to small and mid-sized businesses across the U.S., continues to demonstrate its industry leadership by being named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. on Inc. magazine’s 36th Annual Inc. 5000 list. Engage earned the 741st spot on the list following its 127th ranking in 2016.

This is the second year the company is included on the list, which represents the most comprehensive look at America’s independent entrepreneurs. Over the course of the last four years, no PEO has grown faster.

“Engage’s presence on the Inc. 5000 list for yet another year is an example of how a business model centered upon putting clients first and delivering beyond expectations naturally yields sustained, positive results,” said Jay Starkman, CEO of Engage PEO. “Our growth is just part of the story – our team of experts remains committed to helping small and mid-sized businesses nationwide navigate the increasingly complex HR landscape, so they can focus on growing their businesses.”

According to Inc., the companies represented achieved a combined three-year average growth of 481 percent, created more than 619,500 jobs in the past three years, and generated revenue of $206 billion.

Engage recently received an additional distinction from the Internal Revenue Service that recognizes the company as one of the first professional employer organizations in the U.S. to earn “Certified Professional Employer Organization” status. This new designation ensures greater benefits for small and mid-sized businesses such as tax advantages and financial protections.

About Engage PEO
Engage PEO delivers comprehensive HR solutions to small and mid-sized businesses nationwide, sharpening their competitive advantage. Comprised of the industry’s most respected veteran professional employer organization executives, certified HR professionals and attorneys, Engage PEO provides hands-on, expert HR services and counsel to help clients minimize cost and maximize efficiency for stronger business performance. The company’s superior service offering includes a full range of health and workers’ compensation insurance products, payroll technology and tax administration, risk management services and advanced technology as part of an extensive suite of HR services. Engage PEO was recently awarded the designation of Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO) by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), ensuring greater benefits for small and mid-sized businesses such as tax advantages and financial protections. Engage PEO is also accredited by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation. In 2016 and 2017, Engage PEO was named to Inc. magazine’s list of the 5000 fastest growing companies. For more information on Engage PEO visit http://www.engagepeo.com.

The IRS does not endorse any particular certified professional employer organization. For more information on certified professional employer organizations go to http://www.IRS.gov.

Media Contact:
Sandra Fine, rbb Communications
(305) 567-0535
sandra.fine@rbbcommunications.com

Business, Electronics, Technology

Fulham Adds Universal Voltage LED Canopy Retrofit Kit

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New Universal Voltage Canopy Retrofit Kit Features Broad Power Specs and Versatile Design for Easy Replacement of Indoor/Outdoor Lighting.

Hawthorne, CA, USA — Fulham Co., Inc., a leading supplier of lighting components and electronics for commercial and specialty applications, has introduced a new Universal Voltage LED Canopy Retrofit Kit to illuminate locations such as service stations, parking garage, entryways, walkways, and other areas where LED lighting presents a cost-effective alternative to metal halide and other types of traditional light sources.

The new Universal Voltage LED Canopy Retrofit Kit offers a high-power factor with low total harmonic distortion (THD) and can be used for installations requiring 120V to 227V, making it a good replacement option for applications with up to 250W HID currently installed. Suitable for both damp and dry locations, the kit also features integrated thermal management for optimal performance and reliability, and has been tested to operate at temperatures ranging from -4 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. The Universal Voltage LED Canopy Retrofit Kit uses optical lenses to direct the beam at a 160-degree angle, making it ideal for parking garage, walkways and perimeter lighting.

Fulham’s retrofit kits are designed to offer the same aesthetics as the original fixture, but with a lower cost to retrofit resulting in lower power consumption and longer fixture performance. For example, the Universal Voltage LED Canopy Retrofit Kit features a 65W to 15W programmable driver for lower power consumption, and has five programmable settings for multiple lumen output options (preset by Fulham at the time of order). The Universal Voltage LED Canopy Retrofit Kit is UL classified for field installation and normally can be installed in 5 to 10 minutes per kit. The kit also is DesignLights Consortium Qualified in the category “Outdoor Retrofit Kit – Mid Output,” with a primary use designation of parking garage retrofit kits.

“The retrofit market for our LED modules continues to grow, and we are seeing increased demand for high-power LED lighting kits,” said Edwin Reyes, Product Director, LED Light Sources, for Fulham. “We designed the latest Universal Voltage LED Canopy Retrofit Kit to be especially versatile so our customers can stock fewer units, and installers have an all-purpose retrofit product that is reliable and easy to install.”

Fulham’s Universal Voltage LED Canopy Retrofit Kit offers a variety of features that make it an attractive replacement for canopy fixtures, including:

• The kit is fully assembled with plug-and-play connection between the LED light source and the LED driver.
• The unit can be mounted directly to the luminaire pan or reflector, or the driver can be mounted away from the module.
• The 65W retrofit system power has a programmable driver with up to 8,700 system lumens max.
• Dimming from 0 to 10V and is compatible with most sensors.
• The kit is smaller and lighter that traditional canopy luminaires, measuring 9.06 inches wide and 1.26 inches wide, and weighing 3.1 pounds.
• Optical lenses are used to direct light levels at 60~80 degrees (more than 30 percent of total flux), and 70~80 degrees (less than 25 percent of total flux).
• UL classified for field installation, typically in less than 10 minutes.

For more information about the Universal Voltage Retrofit Kit and other Fulham LED lighting retrofit products, please visit http://www.fulham.com.

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.

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

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Business

Have a Story to Tell About your Beloved Pooch?

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Then don’t just stand there… SIT… STAY… WRITE!

Carmel, CA, August 16, 2017 – Make us laugh, cry, think, feel and hug our dogs! And you could win America’s 1st PAWlitzer Prize™ for Best Dogged LITTERature. Winners receive a pooch perfect weekend in dog-loving Carmel-By-The-Sea!

Carmel Dog Tales wants to read the most memorable adventure, comedy, or tear-jerker tale you’ve had with your pooch. The PAWlitzer Prize will be presented to winners in two non-fiction categories: Drama and Humor.

WARNING: Best-selling and celebrated writers muzzle your keyboards; the PAWlitzer Prize is for ordinary people with extraordinary stories to tell about their Best Furry Friend Forever.

Winners of the PAWlitzer Prize™ will be invited to read their stories at the Awards Ceremony, in Carmel, California, Saturday, October 14, 2017.

In addition to receiving America’s 1st PAWlitzer Prize, winners in Drama and Humor will receive:

* Two-night pooch-preferred luxury accommodations in Carmel

* Wine tasting and gourmet dinners at the most pooch praiseworthy Carmel Bistros

* A photo shoot on Carmel Beach

* Spa and grooming for your pooch, (humans can fix your own hair!)

* Custom Golden Paw jewelry, created just for our PAWlitzer Prize winners!

And for all Poets, Actors, and Performance Artists, the PAWlitzer Awards Ceremony will feature a PAWetry Slam™ contest. Send us a YouTube video – funny, tragic, or just plain outrageous! – and you may be invited to perform at the Awards Ceremony.

Deadline to enter the PAWlitzer Prize™ and/or the PAWetry Slam™ is August 27, 2017.

To send in your story, or video, and for complete submission guidelines, plus all event details, go to: www.CarmelDogTales.com

100% of net proceeds from the PAWlitzer Prize event will benefit the SPCA for Monterey County, and the Birchbark Foundation.

The SPCA for Monterey County is your nonprofit, independent, donor-supported humane society that has been serving the animals and people of Monterey County since 1905. Online at www.SPCAmc.org

The Birchbark Foundation offers assistance grants to financially qualified animal owners in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, who are unable to cover some or all of the cost of their pet’s medical care. For more information visit: www.birchbarkfoundation.org

PAWlitzer Prize™ Partners & Sponsors include: Chatterbox PR, www.chatterboxpublicrelations.com , Carmel Dog Concierge, www.CarmelDogConcierge.com, Diggidy Dog Boutique, www.diggidydog.com , Porta Bella Restaurant, www.portabellacarmel.com , Grasing’s Restaurant, www.Grasings.com , Carmel Road Wines, www.carmelroad.com , Carmel Country Inn, www.carmelcountryinn.com , Tradewinds Carmel, www.Tradewindscarmel.com, Kerry Lee Jewelry, www.kerrylee.com , Suds ‘n Scissors Pet Spa, www.sudsandscissorscarmel.com , Say WOOF! Petography, www.saywoofpetography.com , A. Herman – Dog Therapist, www.ahermandogtherapist.com , Will Bullas, The Fine Art of Fun, www.WillBullas.com

Media Contact:

Mark Oman

(831) 624-4386 FAX: (831) 626-9357

Mark@markoman.com

ABOUT CARMEL DOG TALES:

Carmel Dog Tales™ was founded by Mark Oman, a best-selling golf humorist, longtime Carmel resident, and volunteer with The SPCA for Monterey County, and Carmel Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife, Barbara, have two rescue mutts from the SPCA, Winifred and Winston.

Carmel Dog Tales offers everything you and your pooch need to know to walk and wag your tails through Carmel-By-The-Sea. www.CarmelDogTales.com

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.CarmelDogTales.com

Business

As Far back in History as the mid 1700’s certain Experimenters have known that there are certain things that can kill Microbes and that had value in stopping infections but were being blocked from the public

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The Hulda Clark Parasite Zapper has been around for many years, yet, you may have never even heard of it or you may have heard some negative comments from sites that are paid to suppress information.

Horton, AL, August 10, 2017 – The Hulda Clark Parasite Zapper has been around for many years, yet, you may have never even heard of it or you may have heard some negative comments from sites that are paid to suppress information. You may have not heard of the Rife machine nor of the Lahkovsky MultiWave Oscillator, as well as many other devices because the medical profession and the FDA work hard to keep people from leaqrning about these devices, even to the point of destroying historically significant objects. There is also a continuous stream if lies and misinformation claiming that things such as colloidal silver do not work.

As far back as the 1750’s, the first experimenters discovered that even low levels of electricity could kill the newly discovered microbes such as bacteria, protozoa, and fungi and resultingly could stop many diseases. The medical industry was extremely against such use because it was not profitable to them. One of these early experimenters was John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church. Over a period of time, he set up and operated 3 clinics in London that used mostly electricity combined with natural therapies to treat and heal the poor. The clinics were such a resounding success that the medical authorities tried extensively to shut them down. You can read more about this in The Electric Cure.

Since the time of John Wesley, there has been a stream of electric and electronic products that have been offered to help relieve pain and suffering, as well for fighting disease and illness in the human body. The FDA has stepped in at every turn to suppress the products in favor of expensive and profitable medicines. In the 1870’s a product called “The Medical Electric Battery” was introduced and was available up into the 1930’s when the FDA stepped in and shut them down. There were even more advanced products such as the Rife machine that has a long list of successes claimed by users. Not only has the FDA forced these products off of the market, they have suppressed the information about these and even destroyed the original products whenever there have been able to get away with it.

Another significantly important issue is the suppression of colloidal silver. Silver has been used for centuries to fight unknown causes of death, including microbes such as bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. Yet the current medical profession even goes so far as trying to tell people that it does not work and that it can turn you blue ( which is true if you take way too much of the wrong form ). There are many many thousands of users of colloidal silver, yet there are only perhaps 3 or 4 who have actually turned blue. A current improvement to the use of colloidal silver is a product called Nano Silver.

At issue is the current situation in the medical industry where many people are dying every day from infections, both, those aquired in the hospital and those which are established before going to the hospital. These infections are difficult to stop with antibiotics because antibiotics are slow in working and in some cases may even suppress the immune system and cause other problems such as liver failure and kidney failure. Yet from reported experiences, the use of LVPEF ( low voltage pulsed electric fields ) can actually destroy or incapacitate many microbes in minutes or within a few hours of usage. The off-label use of these products can possibly save the lives of your friends, family members, or even your own.

What can be done? First, contact your congerssman or congresswoman and make them aware that the FDA is using its power to suppress potentially life saving technology. There are thousands of signatures and comments at http://paradevices.com/petition_link.html where you can add yours. Lastly, contact the FDA and let them know that this technology needs to be made available for the medical industry to use as well as for private individuals to use on themselves. Currently, this technology is used to kill microbes in water such as in cooling towers and backyard ponds. Similar technology is use to kill microbes in juices and drinks as well as elsewhere in the food industry.

Why should people die just because the medical industry does not want to allow this type of prduct for the sake of their own profits. The right to live is a basic human right and no one should be denied access to this type of product when life is at risk but that is the very reason that the FDA uses to justify preventing public access to these products. Their rule is that if it can save lives, it must be subjected to the most strengent and expensive regulations and requirements.

Notice: These devices are currently sold only for the experimental use of killing microbes in water. Any other usage is considered to be off-label and such usage is at the discretion of the user. This is not a Medical device and is not represented as such. The information above is posted only to highlight the potential of such use and to create public awareness.

About Para Systems Inc.

Para Systems Inc. is a US based maker of ParaZapper zapping products. They make a wide range of zapper models available for both US based and international customer from those countries that are not banned from trade by the U.S. government.

Contact:

Zapper

Hulda Clark Zapper Company

490 Holland Rd. Unit B

Horton, AL 35890

205-856-3909

sales@paradevices.com

http://huldaclarkparazapper.com

Business, Electronics, Technology

Fulham Joins CABA Together to Promote Intelligent Lighting as Part of Next Generation Building Management

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CABA membership gives Fulham another conduit to advance global standards for smart lighting as part of building automation systems.

Hawthorne, CA, USA — Fulham Co., Inc., a leading supplier of lighting components and electronics for commercial and specialty applications, has joined the Continental Automated Building Association (CABA), a global not-for-profit group dedicated to the advancement of connected home and intelligent building technology. Fulham has been developing standalone intelligent lighting management systems to supplement the company’s comprehensive line of LED lighting products. Participating in CABA will give the company a voice in the development and application of open standards for building management, especially standards for intelligent lighting controls.

While actively developing its own lighting control, Fulham also recently expanded its lighting control offering with the acquisition of Control Network Solutions (CNS), including the elitedali™ smart lighting control and management system based on the Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) lighting communications standard. Fulham recognizes a growing international demand for smart lightning solutions such as elitedali, which provides total control over LED fixtures including reducing input current, managing output to optimize LED longevity, adjusting lighting to dim at a constant level, and adjusting power output to accommodate different light sources. DALI is only one of the lighting and device control standards that are shaping intelligent lighting platforms.

“The future of lighting lies in standardized systems controls, and CABA membership gives Fulham an opportunity to listen to the voices of end users as we develop products for the next generation of intelligent lighting,” said Russ Sharer, Vice President of Global Marketing and Business Development for Fulham. “It also gives Fulham access to the latest building management initiatives as well as innovators who are shaping the future of building automation. Joining with CABA gives us a more active role in shaping standards for next-generation intelligent lighting and building technologies.”

Fulham also has been working with Tvilight, a Dutch technology company that develops sensors, wireless controls, and lighting management software to deliver programmable, wireless outdoor LED lighting systems. Using Fulham’s WorkHorse LED outdoor drivers with Tvilight’s real-time broadband mesh network applies an Internet of Things (IoT) approach to lighting control. Fulham’s outdoor LED drivers are fully integrated with SkyLite, Tvilight’s intelligent wireless control system, and also are compatible with CityManager, Tvilight’s cloud-based Smart City management platform.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Fulham into CABA as our latest representative in intelligent lighting,” said Ronald J. Zimmer, CABA President and CEO. “One of our most crucial functions is to educate industry stakeholders about the potential of connected buildings and the potential of interoperability as part of building controls. Lighting controls continue to be a major concern for many of our members and we anticipate Fulham will assume an important role in advancing the conversation around intelligent lighting.”

About Fulham
Fulham Co., Inc. is a leading global provider of intelligent, socially-conscious sustainable commercial lighting components, electronics and controls 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 and smart lighting controls. Fulham sells its lighting solutions worldwide through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), certified resellers and electrical equipment distribution channels. Headquartered in Hawthorne, Calif., the company has sales and/or manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands, China, India, UK, and the UAE. For more information, visit http://www.fulham.com.

About CABA
The Continental Automated Building Association (CABA) is an international not-for-profit industry associations dedicated to the advancement of intelligent home and intelligent building technologies. The organization is supported by an international membership of over 350 organizations involved in the design, manufacture, installation, and retailing of products relating to home automation and building automation. Public organizations, including utilities and government also are members. CABA’s mandate includes providing its members with networking and market research opportunities, CABA also encourages the development of industry standards and protocols, and leads cross-industry initiatives. More information is available at http://www.caba.org.

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

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Business, Financial, Real Estate

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

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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

Business

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

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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

Business

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

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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

Business

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

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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

Business, Security, Technology

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

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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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