News Hub | News Direct

Steve Brunk Continues Track Record of Success in Florida, Grows Minuteman Press Franchise in Port St. Lucie

Minuteman Press International Inc

Minuteman Press in Port St. Lucie is the third Minuteman Press franchise that Steve has owned in Florida. He previously owned the Boca Raton location and still owns the Vero Beach location, which were both built into Million-Dollar centers. Minuteman Press in Port St. Lucie, located at 130 SE Entrada Ave., has remained open and operating during the pandemic. Owner Steve Brunk and his family have worked hard to support local businesses with essential printing, marketing, and mailing services, and have been rewarded for their efforts. In fact, Minuteman Press in Port St. Lucie has doubled their sales through the pandemic from 2019 to 2020, and they are on track to have another record-breaking year in 2021. For Steve Brunk, growing sales for his Minuteman Press printing franchises is nothing new. Steve first joined Minuteman Press in 1995 when he bought the location in Boca Raton. He explains, “After I bought Minuteman Press in Boca Raton, we worked hard and built it up before selling the business. I simply said ‘yes’ to my customers instead of ‘no’ and followed the Minuteman Press system.” Prior to franchising, Steve worked in retail. He says, “I was working for a Hallmark card franchisee in their mall stores where you just wait for holidays to drive business. I knew nothing about printing, but it was something in which I could go outside the store and generate more business. I also loved the concept of reprint orders because it kept the customers coming back.” After selling the Boca Raton location, Steve moved to Vero Beach and took over another Minuteman Press location there. He says, “I bought the Vero Beach location in 2007 and we worked hard to build it into a million-dollar center. We now have a 10,000 sq. ft. building in Vero Beach and a fantastic team of employees who are incredible.” In 2017, Steve expanded further by buying the Minuteman Press location in Port St. Lucie, where he is working to continue his track record of success through community outreach, marketing, and providing vital products and services to local businesses. “I’d like to congratulate Steve Brunk and the team of Minuteman Press in Port St. Lucie for their growth and success. It is a fantastic accomplishment for Steve and his family to build yet another successful center in Port St. Lucie, and I look forward to being there to support their continued growth,” adds Larry Trimble, Minuteman Press Regional Vice President, Florida. Asked about his accomplishments in Boca Raton, Vero Beach, and now Port St. Lucie, Steve simply states, “I love the short reorder cycle of print, especially compared to retail,” he says. “In retail, you sit in the store and wait for customers to come to you, and there are no assurances they will come back. With all three Minuteman Press centers I’ve owned, the business model enables me to go out there and build my business while the reorders keep coming in. You can’t beat that.” Minuteman Press in Port St. Lucie is located at 130 SE Entrada Ave.; Port St. Lucie, FL 34952. For more information, call 772-212-7350 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/fl/port-st-lucie. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

September 13, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

Stop Worrying about the Cost of Ransomware with Cyvatar

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced that it has partnered with Cysurance, a next-generation platform delivering cyber insurance as a service to growing businesses, to offer an enhanced service guarantee as a benefit to all customers with a silver membership or higher. Starting today, Cyvatar members can worry less about the high costs associated with ransomware or business email compromise (BEC) attacks, regulatory fines, cyber legal liability, and more. With a Cyvatar Silver, Gold, or Enterprise subscription, members benefit from an exclusive service guarantee that pays for up to $500,000 of breach-related costs. “The partnership with Cysurance gives Cyvatar members a financial safety net in the event of a successful attack,” said Kirsten Bay, Cysurance co-founder and chief executive officer. “The added protection will enable them to manage all types of cyber risk.” Cyvatar already guarantees members of all levels a fully remediated, continuously clean security environment within the first 90 days. Now, that guarantee extends to service disruption costs related to: Ransomware threats Business email compromise Compliance penalties, audit failures, and regulatory fines Cyber legal liability expenses Business Interruption costs “We’re proud to partner with Cysurance and offer our members a one-of-a-kind security experience, one where they can get CyValue fast,” said Cyvatar Co-Founder and CEO Corey White. “As we continue to grow and evolve our revolutionary cybersecurity-as-service (CSaaS) offering, we have the opportunity to add more exciting benefits for our members all for the same fixed subscription price they pay today.” Cyvatar’s enhanced service guarantee comes bundled with all memberships starting at the Silver subscription level. In addition to breach cost assurance, the membership also includes: Click here to learn more about Cyvatar and Cysurance’s new partnership and sign up for Cyvatar’s robust membership offering today. About Cysurance Cysurance is the next-generation cyber solution, protecting small businesses and their partners through affordable cyber risk management. Built on a proprietary platform, our program comes with a complete set of features to safeguard business continuity and insure against loss, protecting both revenue and recovery. For more information, visit www.cysurance.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, or email us at info@cysurance.com. Insurance and 360Protect offered by Cysurance, LLC. NY License #1578397. All products may not be available in all states. This communication contains product summaries only. Coverage or protection is subject to the language of the policies and terms as actually issued. Nothing in this communication should be construed as involving the sale, solicitation or negotiation of insurance, the provision or offer of insurance services, or the provision or offer of legal advice or services. About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to effortless cybersecurity for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert practitioners, market-leading technologies, and proven best practices to guarantee business results. Our approach is rooted in a proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack prevention, all bundled into a fixed monthly subscription that members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California, with locations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at cyvatar.ai and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Details Cyvatar KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai Cysurance Gray Newhouse +1 917-503-8031 Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

September 13, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

The Way We Travel Now: Airbnb Looking Ahead, Looking Back

YourUpdateTV

As summer winds down and the seasons begin to change, now is the time to look back at how Americans spent their summer traveling and what they are looking forward to experiencing in the fall. Recently, Communications Leads for North America at Airbnb, Liz DeBold Fusco, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to share the most recent travel trends. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/aBehaUcamIE Not surprisingly, outdoor escapes with the family were the top summer travel trend, and as we come to the end of the summer, longer trips and reunions have become a go to. One of the biggest trends was the great escape to rural, with destinations near national and state parks among the top places to stay. Few weeks ago, Airbnb reached their biggest night ever in the US with more than 4 million guests using the platform. This has created a lot of opportunities for the Airbnb host community. This past summer, US Hosts on Airbnb collectively earned more than $1.3 billion – with some hosting while they were away to pay for their vacation to some offering one-of-a-kind unique stays, like treehouses and yurts. With the remote work trend continuing into fall, so does the increase in trips extending beyond just a weekend. Longer weekend trips with families lasting three to four days are up 70 percent, with weekday stays increasing from 63 to 65 percent. Guests’ rising and diversified interest in mid-sized cities extends beyond the weekend and is focused on fall scenery. Searches for stays in large and mid-sized cities make up about a third of searches each for fall, compared to more than half for stays in just large cities in fall 2019. Big events are also coming back, and more guests are eager to head back to stands and seats once again. In fact, a number of those top trending destinations for Labor Day Weekend and beyond are large and mid-sized cities. This is due to welcome-back iconic competitions and major music festivals, like the Made in America Festival in Philadelphia and Astroworld in Houston. You can always go to airbnb.com to find places to stay, Online Experiences to try. Or, if you are looking to share your space this fall or ahead of a big event, you can become a host at Airbnb.com/host. About Liz DeBold Fusco: Liz DeBold Fusco is a Communications Leads for North America for Airbnb. Prior to that, she was a Vice President at SKDKnickerbocker, a national public affairs firm, where she provided strategic communications guidance to organizations ranging from the NAACP and Demos to The Rockefeller Foundation and AT&T. Liz has also worked for Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray as well as the New York State Attorney General. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

September 08, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Xeneta Appoints Peter Sand as Chief Analyst

Xeneta

Xeneta, the leading ocean and air freight rate benchmarking, market analytics platform and container shipping index, today announced the appointment of Peter Sand as Chief Analyst at Xeneta. Sand’s appointment comes on the heels of Xeneta successfully closing a $28.5 million Series C round at over a $130 million valuation. Sand is set to begin his role on Nov. 1. “We are excited to welcome a seasoned professional like Peter Sand who has extensive knowledge and a successful track record in the shipping and logistics industry,” said Xeneta CEO Patrik Berglund. “Peter is a staple in the market who consistently gives a fresh and global outlook into the ins and outs of the ever-changing container shipping world. His extremely well thought-through market commentaries and expert insights will serve to further position Xeneta’s data as the go-to-source for accurate container rate information. Sand joins Xeneta after over a decade at BIMCO, where he was responsible for analyzing commercial markets based on the global economic situation and its influence on trade. Prior to Sand’s Chief Shipping Analyst role at BIMCO, he worked with D/S NORDEN, a Danish shipping company operating in the dry cargo and tanker segments worldwide, as a Senior Analyst. Throughout his career, Sand has been regarded for his widely read articles and industry insights, as well as his regular appearances on global news networks such as CNN, BBC, CNBC and Bloomberg. He holds a Master’s in Economics from the University of Copenhagen. “This is an exciting time to be joining a pioneer-leading company and I am fortunate to become a part of the Xeneta team at a time where the company is experiencing growth and momentum,” said Sand. “Xeneta’s groundbreaking freight rate data insights addresses industry pain points and I am eager to leverage my shipping and logistics expertise to help navigate such an unprecedented time that our sector is facing.” As Chief Analyst, Peter Sand will be responsible for delivering expert insights to strengthen Xeneta’s state-of-the-art intelligence software for both ocean container and air freight. His analysis will be invaluable to the company’s strong portfolio of multi-billion dollar brands such as General Mills, Volvo, John Deere, Amer Sports, Rockwell Automation, Volvo and CEVA Logistics. For more information on Xeneta, visit www.xeneta.com. About Xeneta Xeneta is the leading ocean freight rate benchmarking and market analytics platform transforming the shipping and logistics industry. Xeneta’s powerful reporting and analytics platform provides liner-shipping stakeholders the data they need to understand current and historical market behavior – reporting live on market average and low/high movements for both short and long-term contracts. Xeneta’s data is comprised of over 280 million contracted container and air freight rates and covers over 160,000 global trade routes. Xeneta is a privately held company with headquarters in Oslo, Norway, and regional offices in New York and Hamburg. To learn more, please visit www.xeneta.com. Contact Details Xeneta Katherine Barrios +47 951 46 414 press@xeneta.com Trust Relations Noe Sacoco +1 408-340-8130 xeneta@trustrelations.agency

September 08, 2021 05:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

Pet Insurance and the Pandemic

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/9KdDYhsia2A Amid the pandemic last year, more than 2 million dogs and cats were adopted from shelters. Now, as employees across the U.S. anticipate a potential return to in-person work, pet parents have some concerns about how the transition may impact both their animals’ and their own well-being. In fact, MetLife’s new Pet Parent Pulse Survey found that three in four (74 percent) working pet parents are considering how pet care during this time may impact their finances, while nearly all (95 percent) anticipate that a possible transition back to the office will cause a change in their pet’s health or routine. If you are a working pet parent, what do you need to know and prepare for during this time? “It may be as simple as making some changes at home, like introducing a crate or a gate to keep your pet safe and healthy. Alternatively, maybe pet care or ‘doggy daycare’ services make sense for you,” said Katie Blakeley, vice president and head of pet insurance, MetLife. “Many pet parents are also leaning on their employers to help them navigate the return to office and how it may effect their furry family members. For example, introducing pet health insurance into a voluntary benefit plan is becoming a popular option for many working pet parents.” For more information visit: metlife.com/insurance/pet-insurance About MetLife: MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("MetLife"), is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com. YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

September 01, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Ride the WAVE! North America’s Longest Autonomous Shuttle Deployment with Integrated Smart Safety Infrastructure to be piloted in Whitby, Ontario

SmartCone Technologies, Inc.

Transit passengers will soon have the opportunity to ride the WAVE – W hitby A utonomous Ve hicle E lectric – shuttle along the waterfront in Whitby, Ontario. The self-driving shuttle is anticipated to be on Whitby streets in the coming weeks for on-road testing, followed by public ridership later this year. The autonomous electric shuttle is emission-free and integrates cutting-edge smart infrastructure along the route to help create safer roads for pedestrians, cyclists, transit passengers and other road users. The pilot project is being undertaken in partnership between SmartCone Technologies, AutoGuardian By SmartCone, the Town of Whitby, Region of Durham, Durham Region Transit (DRT), Metrolinx, Nokia Canada and other partners, to learn about how new technologies can contribute to safer, more sustainable and connected transit and traffic operations. The six-kilometre shuttle route will begin and end at the Whitby GO Transit station, making a loop through the residential, recreational and industrial areas of the Port Whitby neighbourhood (in south Whitby). The pilot is the first time in Canada that an autonomous shuttle and smart infrastructure will be fully integrated into an existing transit service – as DRT Route 300 – providing the opportunity to assess the operational, financial and customer service benefits and implications of these technologies in community transit. The pilot will also help inform the physical and digital transportation infrastructure necessary to prepare for autonomous vehicles on public roads in Canada. With safety as the top priority, the shuttle will operate at a speed of no more than 20 kilometres per hour and have a trained safety attendant on board who can manually take control of the vehicle at any time, if required. The service will also be aided by more than 50 pieces of smart transportation infrastructure that dramatically increase road safety, including the elimination of blind spots experienced by vehicles, and use of real-time audio and visual alerts to other road users about the shuttle’s operation. The project is being supported by the Government of Ontario in funding through the Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network (AVIN), led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), as well as funding from project partners. The pilot will be delivered through the support and experience of local, national and international partners, including: Ontario Centre of Innovation – funding to Smartcone for smart infrastructure project SmartCone – project lead, provider of smart infrastructure technology AutoGuardian By SmartCone – operators of the intelligent infrastructure and autonomous shuttle Town of Whitby – host community for pilot Region of Durham – traffic and signal operations Durham Region Transit – transit service Nokia – private wireless network infrastructure provider Local Motors – shuttle manufacturer Metrolinx – provincial transportation agency Ontario Tech University – Automotive Centre of Excellence for autonomous vehicle maintenance Durham College – outreach and engagement support Transport Canada – regulator for importing the autonomous vehicle shuttle Ministry of Transportation – regulator for autonomous vehicle pilots in Ontario To learn more about the project and when you can ride the WAVE shuttle later this year, visit connectwhitby.ca/ridetheWAVE. QUICK FACTS Once public ridership begins later this year, shuttle passengers and operators will be required to follow all provincial and public health and safety measures in place at the time of launch to stop the spread of COVID-19, including the wearing of a mask or face covering. The onboard shuttle health and safety protocol will align with broader DRT COVID-response measures, including an enhanced cleaning and disinfecting process and onboard hand sanitizer stations. Once public ridership begins later this year, the shuttle service will be free during the trial and integrated into the existing DRT schedule as Route 300. Regular fares will apply when transferring to connecting DRT or GO Transit services. The shuttle will operate weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in off-peak times to minimize traffic impact, and on weekends between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. DRT On Demand service will also continue to be available in the Port Whitby area throughout the pilot. The pilot will be the longest operation of its kind in Canada in terms of route length being six kilometres. QUOTES “SmartCone is honoured to lead this project with the support of AVIN and OCI. Working with these technology leaders will be ground-breaking and together we will show how an autonomous solution can come to market in a real-world and truly integrated environment safely and to the benefit of all.” Jason Lee, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, SmartCone "OCI, AVIN and the Government of Ontario were truly instrumental in getting AutoGuardian off the ground through their support in this project. Working with these stakeholders has added immeasurable value for AutoGuardian to ensure our AV Operations services are seamless and align to support regional transit needs." Tenille Houston, Chief Executive Officer, AutoGuardian By SmartCone “Transportation advancements, like autonomous vehicles, have the potential to transform the way people live, work and move across the province. The introduction of this innovative new autonomous shuttle pilot will help connect people in Whitby to GO services, creating a more connected, efficient transit system for the region.” The Honourable Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation, Government of Ontario “This project puts Ontario at the forefront of leading-edge transit technology in Canada. Our government proudly supports this pilot that will enhance mobility and quality of life in Whitby and beyond. Ambitious projects like this foster growth and innovation and they make our economy more competitive while supporting our work to help businesses rebound from the impact of COVID-19.” Vic Fedeli, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Government of Ontario “Finding innovative ways to improve and enhance transit services while ensuring that it is also safe, accessible and sustainable for Durham residents, is a priority. I’m excited that Whitby is the first in Canada to integrate this pilot project into existing transit service highlighting another example of how Whitby and the Region of Durham is a leader in innovation.” Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby and Chief Government Whip, Government of Ontario “The Region of Durham is excited to partner with this forward-thinking group of innovators. The push towards environmentally sustainable transit options is beneficial for everyone in Durham. Durham Region has a long history of automotive advancement and leadership. This ground-breaking project demonstrates that Durham continues to be at the forefront of the development of new mobility solutions and technologies.” John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Region of Durham “This is an exciting project that shines a light on Whitby and Durham Region as leaders in innovation and technology, and environmentally sustainable solutions. We are proud to be part of a highly-experienced project team who bring together the right technology, knowledge and insights to undertake this project.” Don Mitchell, Mayor, Town of Whitby “We are proud to play our part in enabling the launch of the WAVE. Secure, reliable and high-bandwidth private wireless connectivity has an important role to play in the roll-out of autonomous vehicle systems, where safety and dependability are top priorities.” Shawn Sparling, VP Enterprise and Public Sector, Nokia Canada “We're excited to be a part of this pilot to integrate autonomous vehicles into our transit network, enhancing connections to GO Transit and local transit services. Metrolinx remains committed to working with our municipal partners to build on all of the work that has been done to date in finding new and innovative ways to move people throughout the region more efficiently and seamlessly.” Phil Verster, President and Chief Executive Officer, Metrolinx ABOUT AVIN AND THE OCI The Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network (AVIN) is an initiative by Government of Ontario, led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), designed to reinforce Ontario’s position as a North American leader in transportation technology and infrastructure systems. Through resources such as research and development (R&D) support, talent development, technology acceleration, business and technical supports, and demonstration grounds, AVIN provides a competitive advantage to Ontario-based automotive and mobility technology companies. SMARTCONE TECHNOLOGIES INC. SmartCone Technologies Inc. (SCTI) is an intelligent infrastructure eco system that enables use cases like Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), AI on the edge, distributed processing on the edge, indoor/outdoor positioning, next-generation asset & freight tracking systems, and more. TheSmartCone™ solutions have been used most recently in Return to Work solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as securing dangerous work sites, managing vehicle fleets, smart warehouses, crowd control, and more. Visit us at thesmartcone.com AUTOGUARDIAN AutoGuardian provides intelligent mobility solutions to get people to their destination in a safer, smarter, and more eco-friendly way. With safer bike lanes, crosswalks, and autonomous shuttle routes to include first and last mile autonomous shuttle operations, we aim to increase mobility for all. Learn more at autoguardian.ca ABOUT REGION OF DURHAM Durham Region is—simply—more. Located on the eastern side of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), Durham is a region with momentum. Offering a competitive advantage like no other, Durham is a community where talented, smart and ambitious people—known for their innovation, creativity, skills and education—bring access to world markets, insights, invention and traditions. A place where an innovative ecosystem helps propel new ideas forward. Where ingenuity and industry help tackle global challenges. Visit durham.ca to learn more about one of Canada’s fastest growing communities. ABOUT THE TOWN OF WHITBY The Town of Whitby is a lakefront community that is home to more than 130,000 residents and over 2,000 businesses. Whitby is the second largest municipality in the Regional Municipality of Durham and located in the heart of the region. The Town is committed to building a pedestrian-focused, cycling-oriented and age-friendly community, the revitalization of its two historic downtowns and maximizing its wonderful green spaces. The Town is committed to grow as a smart, urban community where talent and businesses can flourish. ABOUT DURHAM REGION TRANSIT Durham Region Transit (DRT) is one of Ontario’s largest regional transit systems, serving eight unique area municipalities; offering seamless connections to destinations across the Region and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. DRT operates an innovative suite of services, including scheduled, On Demand and Specialized. Visit DurhamRegionTransit.com for more information. ABOUT METROLINX Metrolinx, an agency of the Government of Ontario, is responsible for implementing an integrated transportation network that connects communities across the region. While operating GO Transit, UP Express and PRESTO, Metrolinx’s mission is to get people where they need to go better, faster and easier. ABOUT NOKIA At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a trusted partner for critical networks, we are committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. We create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities needed for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world. ABOUT DURHAM COLLEGE Durham College (DC) is leading the way in innovative and transformative education. Expert faculty and a focus on experiential learning through field placements, applied research, co-ops and other hands-on opportunities, provide over 11,000 full-time students access to leading-edge resources and state-of-the-art facilities. DC’s five applied research centres, including the AI Hub, Centre for Cybersecurity and Social Impact Hub, solve industry and social challenges through innovative and collaborative partnerships. With more than 140 programs offered at its Oshawa and Whitby campuses, including four honours bachelor degrees and nine apprenticeship programs, DC proudly enables students to develop career-ready skills for the ever-changing job market. ABOUT ONTARIO TECH UNIVERSITY A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca. Contact Details Erin Mikaluk, Manager of Communications and Creative Services, Town of Whitby +1 289-314-6913 mikaluke@whitby.ca Company Website https://www.thesmartcone.com

August 24, 2021 10:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

Grand Opening Koons Kia Owings Mills

Jim Koons Automotive Group

The Jim Koons Automotive Group welcomed its newest location, Koons Kia Owings Mills to the family of 20 dealerships located in the Mid-Atlantic. The ribbon cutting event was held June 1, 2021, when they officially opened the doors for sales and service. The newly renovated 50,000 square foot state-of-the art facility includes a six-vehicle showroom, convenient drive in service lanes, and 22 service bays. Mr. Jim Koons announced the grand opening remarking, “Kia is one of the most exciting automotive brands right now, and continues to produce high-quality and fun vehicles. We are thrilled to re-open our Kia dealership in Owings Mills, and continue to serve the Baltimore County communities. We can't wait for you to experience this one-of-a-kind facility, and the amazing Kia vehicles.” Location: Koons Kia Owings Mills 9610 Reisterstown Road Owings Mills, MD 21117 410-363-3333 www.koonskiaowingsmills.com About Jim Koons Automotive Group: Founded in 1964, Koons is one of the area's largest retail automotive dealers. Koons has sold and serviced three million vehicles and employs more than 2500 people in 20 locations throughout the Washington DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia region. For more information about Koons, visit Koons.com Economic Impact: Koons has brought a huge economic benefit to the Owings Mills area and Baltimore County, Maryland by increasing the number of high-paying skilled jobs in the community. Further, Koons will increase the amount of retail sales and provide additional spending in the community it serves. Community Involvement: Koons supports the communities in which it does business including Calvary Women's Shelter, Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors (TAPS), Homes For Our Troops, Youth leadership Foundations, and local fire and rescue departments. See Koons Cares for more details. For Press inquiries and further information contact: Jake Barron, Director of Marketing - Jake.Barron@Koons.com SOURCE Koons Owings Mills https://www.koonskiaowingsmills.com/ RELATED LINKS https://www.koons.com/ Contact Details Jake Barron Director of Marketing Jake.Barron@Koons.com

August 23, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video Image

Cloud Conventions Introduces SafetyNet to Create a Virtual Backup Plan for Live Events

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions today introduced SafetyNet ™, a new program to provide a virtual event backup options for associations, tradeshows, event managers or trade groups that have a live event scheduled now or in the near future. SafetyNet provides a standby virtual event platform that can be activated if needed when attendance for a live event declines or if there is a requirement to pivot to an all-virtual program. A SafetyNet platform can be brought online in a matter of days without technical support or programming. Cloud Conventions is a sophisticated event management platform that redefines the attendee and exhibitor experience with a strong focus on delivering virtual and hybrid events, regardless of size or budget. “It seems like a repeat of 2020 as event managers, associations and other trade groups are struggling to decide if they should cancel their live event, shift to virtual or hybrid, or take other precautions to make attendees and exhibitors feel safe,” said Carolyn Bradfield, CEO of Cloud Conventions. “Any group hosting live events today needs a virtual backup plan that can be activated to ensure attendees and sponsors can participate in industry sessions, continuing education and still make connections that they would miss when they can’t attend in person.” SafetyNet maintains a low-cost Cloud Conventions virtual platform on standby behind a private login until required. It is hosted on a custom URL, is fully branded, customized and organized to host live or on-demand sessions, exhibitor and sponsor booths or provide a resource center for all event-related content. Attendees can be imported from a live event registration system and have their record transferred to SafetyNet including demographics and event access permissions. Sponsors are assigned a virtual booth template and configured to go live without technical assistance, in a matter of hours. “Now that live events have partially returned, many groups ask themselves if virtual events are worth it, so they only focus on their in-person event, often to their detriment,” added Bradfield. “A 2020 study of 1,000 respondents, ‘ Association Trends: From Disruption to Opportunity’ produced by Community Brands, details that having a virtual option for membership participation has changed from a nice-to-have to a must have. Some live events scheduled for the fall of 2021 are being abruptly cancelled due to on-going COVID risks. This is clearly an indicator that the pandemic is far from over. A SafetyNet option is the best insurance that the show will go on, no matter what.” SafetyNet is offered for a low, setup fee to create a fully branded and configured virtual environment. If the organizer chooses to go live with a hybrid or all-virtual event, the setup fee applies to the event package. Show managers can choose as much or as little assistance from Cloud Conventions to bring their event online quickly with all the features needed to educate and engage attendees. Having a virtual option guarantees a rewarding experience for attendees, better ROI for sponsors and ensures smoother event operation for organizers. Explore SafetyNet at: https://cloudconventions.com/page/139455/safetynet. About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions from Convey Services is Cloud Conventions is an enterprise virtual/hybrid event management platform that redefines the exhibitor and attendee experience to allow companies to provide easy access to in-depth product information, showcase their brands with graphics and videos, create calls to action and generate immediate sales leads. Used around the world for large managed events and smaller self-directed meetings, conferences and corporate kickoffs, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, continuing education, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Cloud Conventions supports multiple languages and currencies, internal, external and single-sign on registration, and supports all conferencing carriers and platforms. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Community™, SafetyNet™, Cloud Kickoffs™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™, Hub & Spoke™, 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby Experience™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

August 19, 2021 10:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Airbnb.org Program Offers Free, Temporary Housing to Disaster Victims

YourUpdateTV

Communities across the US are in the midst of hurricane and wildfire season. When disasters like this strike, many people find themselves in need of temporary housing and space to figure out what’s next. Airbnb.org’s emergency response program helps connect people to temporary places to stay in times of need. Recently, Kristen Berlacher, the Head of Airbnb.org Programs, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to discuss this initiative and share tips on how to be better prepared for disasters and how to help impacted communities. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/OD7JPciKRbE The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since 2012, the program has responded to hundreds of disasters and helped find temporary housing for evacuees and relief workers around the world. Airbnb helped people in times of crisis through the Open Homes initiative. Airbnb.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the next chapter. The program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees and asylum seekers, and most recently, frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. How it Works: Airbnb.org will allow hosts on Airbnb to provide free and discounted stays to people impacted by emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. These stays, which provide alternative accommodation and shelter options, are especially helpful to government and nonprofit partners in a year where the COVID-19 pandemic has made housing vulnerable people in traditional congregate shelters extremely challenging. Hosts who support Airbnb.org by offering free stays or making recurring donations will receive a special badge on their profile to recognize their generosity and commitment to communities in need. Anyone who finds joy in helping others, who believes in kindness and is interested in helping by opening their homes or donating to this cause, can learn more at airbnb.org/join About KRISTEN BERLACHER: As Head of Airbnb.org Programs, Kristen leads a global team that supports Airbnb.org’s efforts to help people impacted by natural disasters, refugees and frontline responders fighting the spread of COVID- 19. With a background in tech-enabled social impact, philanthropy and nonprofit management, Kristen, as an employee of Airbnb, oversees strategic partnerships, government relations, response operations and community engagement for Airbnb.org with the goal of leveraging Airbnb’s unique assets to provide innovative housing solutions and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable populations around the globe. Prior to Airbnb, Kristen led Hyatt Hotel Corporation’s global philanthropy programs focused on economic empowerment, disaster response and employee volunteerism. Before Hyatt, Kristen served as Deputy Director for Working in the Schools, a nonprofit focused on literacy programming for vulnerable youth. Kristen holds a BA in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond, VA About Airbnb.org: Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc.’s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org’s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a programme that allows Hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the programme has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and most recently, frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, Hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 75,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

August 17, 2021 05:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video