All posts by imreal

Old Century Wine Hutch from Weaver Furniture Sales – Wine Connoisseur’s Dream


The Old Century Wine Hutch has everything needed for spirited home entertainment.

More than a full-featured wine cabinet, the Old Century Wine Hutch is a fine piece of furniture, which owners will be proud to show off to family and friends.

Wine connoisseurs looking for the ultimate wine cabinet are likely to find their dreams fulfilled with the Old Century Wine Hutch from Weaver Furniture Sales of Shipshewana, Indiana.

This is because the cabinet is built with everything needed for spirited entertainment, plus the elegance and durability of a fine piece of furniture.

The wine rack, just below the elegant crown molding, provides room for up to seven wine bottles – all easily accessible. Open stemware storage places wine glasses within easy reach. Also, the solid hardwood, 1-inch-thick countertop has lots of serving space.

Seedy glass doors, which flank the wine storage, enhance the elegance of the hutch. Behind each glass door, one will find an an adjustable glass shelf and optional LED touch lights. So the upper cabinets are perfect places to display favorite figurines, or bottles of cherished spirits.

The drawers and cabinet space down below contain lots of room for bottles of wine and other spirits, as well as entertainment accouterments.

“More than a full-featured wine cabinet, the Old Century Wine Hutch is a fine piece of furniture, which owners will be proud to show off to family and friends,” says LeRoy D. Weaver, owner of Weaver Furniture Sales.

The Old Century Wine Hutch is custom-built by Amish cabinetmakers, the best in the Midwest. Also, these craftsmen use quality regional hardwoods, such as oak, maple and hickory. So the wine hutch is incredibly sturdy and durable. In fact, it’s heirloom-quality.

Furniture buyers can complement the wine hutch with other pieces from the Old Century collection, available from Weaver Furniture. Also, the hutch is available as shown or unfinished or the piece can be built to the buyers’ specifications, including the wood specie, finish and hardware.

The Old Century Wine Hutch can be ordered online. Or, customers can visit Weaver’s store in Shipshewana, Indiana.

About Weaver Furniture Sales

Weaver Furniture Sales is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The store is closed on Sunday.

The 20,000 square foot Weaver Furniture Sales is located 1/4 mile south and 1/4 mile east of the junction of State Road 5 and US 20 in Shipshewana, Indiana. So the store is easy to find. You can take your furniture with you. Or, we can deliver.

For more information, visit Weaver Furniture Sales website or call 260-768-7730.

Weaver Furniture Sales was established in 1989 in Shipshewana, Indiana. An Amish, family-owned furniture business, Weaver offers a full line of solid wood, Amish furniture at affordable prices. And Weavers caters to both residential and commercial customers. The company features Shaker, Mission and Traditional furniture styles. As part of their client services, Weavers provides furniture design consultation services, custom furniture options, furniture quotes, layaway options and various delivery alternatives for residences and businesses in the United States.

LeRoy and Ida Weaver own and operate Weaver Furniture Sales. They began with a 1,500 square foot showroom, which has been expanded to more than 20,000 square feet. Previously, they owned and managed LeWana Dairy Farm, where they milked cows and raised corn and hay.

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IBHS Ranks Atlas Roofing Product No. 1 For Hail Resistance


News Image

“We’re thrilled that StormMaster® Shake outranked the competition. The secret is in our Core4™ Enhanced Polymer Technology — the most innovative development in asphalt shingle manufacturing today.” —Paul Casseri, product manager, Atlas Roofing

Atlas Roofing is excited to announce that its StormMaster® Shake shingles exceed leading competitor brands for hail impact. The performance rating is based on 2019 results from a new test standard for impact resistance developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).

Severe weather can displace families, disrupting their lives and impacting finances. To prevent these avoidable issues, IBHS conducts top-tier scientific research, the results of which help manufacturers engineer better materials, ultimately saving both the insurance industry and homeowners significant time and money.

The IBHS impact-resistance rating factors in how well shingles hold up to specific damage caused by hail. Out of the 10 products tested, Atlas StormMaster® Shake shingles received a good rating for dents/ridges and an excellent rating for tears and granule loss. In addition, StormMaster® Shake is the only product to receive an excellent overall rating.

“We’re thrilled that StormMaster® Shake outranked the competition,” says Paul Casseri, product manager for Atlas Roofing. “The secret is in our Core4™ Enhanced Polymer Technology — the most innovative development in asphalt shingle manufacturing today. StormMaster® shingles are unmatched by all other products currently on the market.”

IBHS tests replicate real-world conditions on a variety of widely purchased shingles labeled as “impact resistant.”

“Hail causes billions of dollars in property damage every year,” explains Tanya Giammanco, managing director of research for IBHS. “Consumers deserve to have confidence that shingles labeled as impact resistant live up to expectations.

“Our research serves to empower manufacturers to develop better products.”

Built-In Technology

Atlas StormMaster® Shake shingles with Core4™ are made with enhanced virgin polymers that help to create an extremely durable shingle.

Core4™ consists of these four features:

“We’ve been investing in and researching asphalt polymer technology for nearly 30 years,” says Stan Bastek, national sales director for Atlas Roofing. “We continue to improve our manufacturing process, always striving to provide consumers with the highest-quality, longest-lasting products on the market.”

StormMaster® Shake shingles are UL 2218 Class 4 Impact rated and come with the highest wind warranty in the industry — up to 150 mph (with six-nail application). They also feature the power of Scotchgard™ Protector, which prevents the ugly black streaks caused by algae. So StormMaster® Shake shingles not only protect a home from the elements, they preserve its curb appeal too.

To learn about IBHS, its research center and how it determines its hail impact ratings, visit IBHS.org. For more information about StormMaster® Shake shingles, visit AtlasRoofing.com.

About IBHS

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is an independent, nonprofit, scientific research and communications organization supported solely by property insurers and reinsurers. IBHS’s building safety research leads to real-world solutions for home and business owners, helping to create more resilient communities.

About Atlas Roofing

Atlas Roofing Corporation is an innovative, customer-oriented manufacturer of residential and commercial building materials. Atlas has grown from a single shingle-manufacturing plant into an industry leader with 24 facilities across North America. For more information, visit AtlasRoofing.com. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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Stratosphere Networks CISO Raises Funds for 2020 Ecuador Mission Trip


Stratosphere Networks logo.

We encourage all of our team members to contribute to the greater good and take time to assist the less fortunate. He’s doing an excellent job of exemplifying our commitment to giving back.

Jesse Miller, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Stratosphere Networks, is participating in a mission trip to Ecuador organized by Hosanna Church of Minnesota and Contigo International. Miller will be part of an all-men’s team that will build a home for a family in an area of Quito called Pisuli.

The trip will take place from Feb. 22 to March 1, 2020. This is Miller’s second time traveling to Quito: He also went on a mission trip last year to help the community in Pisuli, a neighborhood marked by poverty, violence and overall harsh living conditions. Many parents in this area lack the means to support their children and, as a result, end up abandoning them to the state-run orphanage system. Due to the lack of a foster care system in Quito, children whose families cannot support them must either live in an institution or on the streets.    

One of the goals of this year’s mission trip is to help a family stay together and keep their kids safe through the construction of a house. Miller and the other participants will also visit some of the institutions in the area and spend time with the children who live there.

“Upon returning from last year’s trip, I almost immediately knew I would be going back,” Miller said. “There’s so much to be done, and although I know my personal contributions of time and money only make a small difference in the grand scheme of things, it’s still making a change for the better. If we can all make a little bit of change, and sacrifice some of our comforts – whether that’s time, money, or possessions – to help those in need, those little changes begin to add up, and I truly believe we will see our world transformed before our eyes.”

Miller has been personally tasked with raising $3,100 to fund the mission trip. Stratosphere has already donated to support the cause. To contribute, please visit https://hosanna.managedmissions.com/MyTrip/jessemiller1.

“We’re extremely proud of Jesse for traveling to Ecuador again this year to help children in need,” said Kevin Rubin, president and CIO of Stratosphere Networks. “We encourage all of our team members to contribute to the greater good and take time to assist the less fortunate. He’s doing an excellent job of exemplifying our commitment to giving back.”

Stratosphere Networks provides comprehensive managed services (including Chicago IT support) and trusted advisor services to businesses of all sizes and across all industries. The company offers managed IT services, managed cybersecurity solutions, advisory and consulting services and more.

About Stratosphere Networks

Stratosphere Networks is a Chicago-based multifaceted IT managed service provider focused on delivering comprehensive technology services and solutions to meet and exceed always-changing, diverse business needs. Since 2003, Stratosphere Networks has grown exponentially and continues to provide best-in-class and cost-effective solutions to businesses in all industries. Visit http://www.stratospherenetworks.com for more information.

For more information contact:

Lori Leonardo

847-440-8608

LoriL@stratospherenetworks.com

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Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists of Howell, Michigan provide Wound Care Specialist & Doctor Services in Livingston County


Wound Care Specialist & Doctor Howell Michigan

Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists of Howell Michigan provide Wound Care Specialist & Doctor Services in Livingston County

Thank you for making us your choice in Howell Michigan & Brighton Michigan for wound care, we have been working hard to keep your costs low, avoid any type of surgery, and get you healed as soon as possible!

Advanced foot and ankle specialists of Howell, Michigan and Brighton Michigan have been performing foot and ankle wound care for over 20+ years in Livingston County. This medical practice includes four hospital trained podiatrists and wound doctors available to help patients with foot and ankle ulcer or wound needs.

Many people are not aware that podiatrists treat foot and ankle wounds. The truth is that most chronic wounds occur on the area of the foot and ankle. Common types are diabetic foot ulcers, venous insufficiency ulcers, lymphedema ulcers and ulcers related to peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is the decrease in sensation throughout the legs, the toes and foot. This can lead to damage and wound formation throughout the foot and ankle without the patient realizing that a wound has even developed.

Advanced foot and ankle specialists of Howell, Michigan and Brighton Michigan pride themselves on providing comprehensive the care and working as a multispecialty team. The four doctors at this practice are on staff at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Livingston, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Brighton, and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor. Working as part of this large multi-disciplined team, they can work with internal medicine doctors, primary care doctors, endocrinologists and vascular surgery specialist to provide comprehensive care. This ensures that patients get award-winning and comprehensive care for their foot and ankle wound and ulcer.

Advanced foot and ankle specialists have four different doctors within their practice: Dr. Tom Biernack, Dr. John Stevelinck, Dr. Marc Bonanni and Dr. Danielle Meyka-Blanchard. All four of the foot doctors are on staff at St. Joseph Mercy hospitals. They pride themselves on serving Livingston County and Washtenaw County. Patients can find them at all major emergency rooms, and inpatient hospitals through the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital System.

In the past podiatrists were simply office-based clinicians, but now are all medical school and residency trained physicians. All four doctors have spent four years of medical school, and at least three years in a hospital-based surgical residency. The doctors’ credentials include Harvard residency training and have even some have completed specialized fellowships in diabetic wound care and treatment. The doctors at Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists are well trained, and their credentials show their experience! Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists have been awarded as a great choice in Livingston County!

Dr. Tom Biernacki states “We are so thankful to be your choice for wound care in Livingston County! It is such an honor to be recognized as a great choice, the number one goal is to take great care of people’s foot and ankle problems, with as little surgery as possible, and for as little cost as possible. We emphasize getting people better as quickly as possible, and it looks like we are starting to really make a difference. Thank you, Livingston County, Howell, Michigan and Brighton Michigan!”

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Salimetrics Launches New Salivary Human Total Immunoglobulin G (IgG) ELISA Kit to Support Multidisciplinary Investigators in Serological Studies


“Salivary IgG provides epidemiologists a means of qualifying a specific population quickly and efficiently in an effort to further identify and control for disease transmission, outbreak, and distribution.”

Today, Salimetrics announced an addition to their trusted line of Better Salivary Assay Kits. The new Salivary Total Human IgG Assay Kit exemplifies Salimetrics’ 20+ year commitment to cutting-edge salivary bioscience research. “By measuring total immunoglobulin G in saliva, researchers can extend the accuracy and ease of use of salivary bioscience into infectious disease research and epidemiological studies,” says Supriya Gaitonde, Ph.D., Salimetrics’ Senior Applications Scientist. “Measuring salivary total IgG is a critical step for sample qualification, used to identify an individual’s immunity to specific disease targets, such as HEV, norovirus, measles, zika, EBV, and dengue, among others.” Researchers will also be able to measure total IgG against any disease specific IgG assay targets to determine an individuals’ exposure and immune response to specific immunogens.

“The launch of this Salimetrics’ Salivary IgG Assay Kit is the product of close interaction with researchers in the public health sector. Working together, the team leveraged Salimetrics’ knowledge in salivary bioscience to break through technological and biological barriers. Now, researchers can utilize a more efficient solution to problems that put populations at risk,” says Steve Granger, Ph.D., Salimetrics’ CSO. “Salivary IgG provides epidemiologists a means of qualifying a specific population quickly and efficiently in an effort to further identify and control for disease transmission, outbreak, and distribution.”

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is a key component of the humoral immune system and regulates host immune-defense against pathogenic viruses and microbes. IgG passively diffuses into saliva through the gingival crevicular epithelium, where samples can be conveniently collected. Since IgG in saliva is bioidentical to its serum counterparts, researchers will find it an attractive alternative to blood sampling. Saliva as a non-invasive approach to monitoring immune status has the benefits of increasing participant compliance as well as the speed of sampling anywhere, anytime. “With salivary bioscience, investigators worldwide have gained knowledge through complex study designs and solved challenges that could never be feasible through traditional biological specimens,” says Dr. Gaitonde.

Research has also identified that salivary total IgG was strongly associated with salivary cytokines. A 2020 study, “Salivary total Immunoglobulin G as a surrogate marker of oral immune activity in salivary bioscience research” by Riis, et al., concluded that “Controlling for salivary total IgG may be a feasible, affordable approach to adjusting salivary biomeasure findings for the influence of the oral immune environment when it is not possible or practical to obtain clinical oral health data.” By controlling for populations at high risk of oral inflammation, studies can further improve the validity and reliability of their salivary bioscience data.

The Salimetrics Salivary Total IgG Assay Kit features a dynamic range of 0.3125 to 20 ng/mL, functional sensitivity of 0.94 µg/mL, and average inter and intra-assay coefficients of variation less than 10%. Saliva collection has been validated with SalivaBio’s passive drool protocol and follows the same convenient and reproducible methods that SalivaBio has provided the research community for years.

Salimetrics continues to be a key partner in bringing best-in-class solutions to salivary bioscience research. By using Salimetrics’ products and services, researchers can find and implement solutions where the full potential of salivary measures have yet to be realized. “With a history of supporting more than 25,000 researchers around the world, these new, high quality assays from Salimetrics will empower a new era in the application of Salivary Bioscience,” says Dr. Granger.

To learn more about the new Salivary Total Human IgG Assay Kit, researchers can visit the Salimetrics Website, or contact researcher support to integrate salivary IgG into their current or future research study.

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Imagine Learning’s New Impact Stories Spotlight District Transformations


The Imagine Learning Language Advantage™

“In our fifteen years of working with schools and districts of all sizes, we continually see the passion in educators and their drive to take the necessary steps to ensure students are equipped with 21st Century skills,” stated Jeremy Cowdrey, Chief Executive Officer of Imagine Learning.

Imagine Learning, a leading educational technology company providing digital curriculum for PreK through 8th grade students, today released a new series of Impact Stories. The stories highlight schools and districts achieving exemplary results in implementing programs leading to increased positive student outcomes. Each month, Imagine Learning will feature a school or district through a 4-6 page Impact Story, sharing the stories of significant and ongoing student achievements. These stories feature growth and gains in using Imagine Learning adaptive programs in literacy and math and detail the challenges, solutions, and results of the school or district from varying demographics.

“In our fifteen years of working with schools and districts of all sizes, we continually see the passion in educators and their drive to take the necessary steps to ensure students are equipped with 21st Century skills,” stated Jeremy Cowdrey, Chief Executive Officer of Imagine Learning. “We share these stories to create the opportunity for replication and collegial dialog for improving student outcomes.”

With a district-wide implementation of Imagine Language and Literacy, Meriden Public Schools, Connecticut, saw a 35% increase in the number of students in grades 3-8 scoring a Level 4, Exceeds, on the Smarter Balanced Assessment for English language arts. Due to these impressive results, Meriden Public Schools is featured in Imagine Learning’s first Impact Story and also named as the first Imagine Learning Impact District. To earn this honor, districts that qualified have displayed proven student achievement through multiple measures of program effectiveness and have completed a rigorous scientific research study with the Imagine Learning research team. This includes an analysis of reliable and valid student achievement data and demonstrated growth in district administered assessments. Selected districts cultivate a strong culture and innovative learning environments with administrators and teachers who are transforming learning in their schools. The data-driven stories unfold through the experiences of the teachers, principals, students, and key district personnel.

As one of the most disadvantaged and low performing schools in Connecticut, Meriden Public School leaders were dedicated to finding a solution that would provide all students the opportunity to excel. “The district really looked at, how do we improve engagement, how do we improve the opportunities for students to learn at a pace that’s more rigorous and more differentiated, and they made the decision to go all-in with technology, and it worked,” stated Daniel Crispino, Director of School Leadership, former Principal of John Barry Elementary.

Meriden Public Schools implemented an Alliance District Plan with five focus areas, including climate & culture, core curriculum, instructional practices, data-driven decisions, and support and accountability. To support these focus areas, district leaders broadened their existing partnership with Imagine Learning, expanding implementation of the supplemental digital curriculum Imagine Language & Literacy to all K-5 elementary schools supporting and improving literacy achievement.

With the new approach to literacy instruction, students were exposed to 90-minutes of daily class and small group instruction, practice on the Imagine Language & Literacy supplemental digital curriculum, and other activities such as researching specific topics or independent reading. Across four years, measurable improvement showed a 12% increase in grade-level performance across elementary grade levels. It was evident in both English language arts and mathematics achievement on the 2018-2019 Smarter Balanced Assessment. The gains Meriden Public Schools achieved are the direct results of dedicated leaders and educators who care about equity, quality, and teaching.

For more than fifteen years, Imagine Learning’s foundation has been helping students acquire, develop, and strengthen the language skills necessary to succeed in academic settings. Imagine Language & Literacy reflects The Imagine Learning Language Advantage™, a theory of action founded on more than 15 years of research and product development that promote the rigorous and equitable acquisition of the language skills necessary to succeed in academic settings.

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About Imagine Learning:

Imagine Learning is passionate about providing equity of access to learning for all students through teaching with technology. We are a leading educational technology company providing supplemental digital curriculum for PreK through 8th-grade students. Our adaptive suite of Literacy, Reading, Math, Espanol, and Assessment solutions are powered by the Imagine Learning Language Advantage™, a theory of action that promotes rigorous and equitable development of language, enabling students to have deeper comprehension, engagement, and enjoyment of learning. Over 3 million students nationwide benefit from Imagine Learning programs to accelerate their learning. Learn more at Imagine Learning http://www.imaginelearning.com

Imagine Learning LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com

Imagine Learning Facebook https://www.facebook.com/imaginelearning

Imagine Learning Twitter https://twitter.com/ImagineLearning

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Videotel Digital is Top-of-Mind for Innovation and set to Debut a New RFID Interactive Solution at DSE


interactive digital signage media player and RFID

RFID Interactive

Now unique messages can be played for a variety of audiences to help make their experience more memorable. The opportunities are endless and we are excited to share the solution across all industries, said Videotel’s VP of Marketing & Sales, Lisa Schneider.

A must-have for museums, retail stores, trade shows, healthcare, and just about anywhere people gather, a new interactive solution has come to play, literally. The latest in Videotel Digital’s lineup of stars, the RFID Interactive Solution is all about increasing instant engagement and improving the overall experience. Picture a customer doing what a customer does – lifting a product that’s of interest to them off of an area or display. This time, however, thanks to the new solution, that simple movement triggers a video or image file that plays information about that product in real-time. Now, users can broadcast promotions or helpful information about a specific item of interest onto a screen instantly. This will be of particular interest at the nationally-recognized Digital Signage Expo (DSE) in Las Vegas on April 1st and 2nd. There Videotel Digital’s RFID Interactive Solution will debut to amply heighten visitor experiences in booth number 1934.

Identifying objects with the use of RFID tags and an RFID reader, the new solution is designed to work with Videotel Digital’s VP71 XD or VP90 Interactive and Industrial Digital Media Players. It’s offered with any combination of smart cards, key fobs, or stickers programmed to work right out of the box. With ease, it can be used with one RFID sensor or multiple sensors connected together.

“We envision our new RFID solution as another key element that sets our clients’ venues apart. Museums can use it as an interactive tool that explains exhibits with a smart card or key fob for each guest. Similarly, the retail usage of this is inexhaustible and frees up the sales staff. Then, adding to engagement for trade shows, RFID interactive can invite and encourage guests to scan various products for more information. Now unique messages can be played for a variety of audiences to help make their experience more memorable. The opportunities are endless and we are excited to share the solution with all industries, said Videotel’s VP of Marketing & Sales, Lisa Schneider.

For more information about Videotel Digital, visit http://www.videoteldigital.com.

Product Link:

https://www.videoteldigital.com/rfid-solution-with-vp90-interactive-digital-signage-player

About Videotel Digital:

Videotel Digital is a leading manufacturer of Industrial Digital Signage Media Players, Industrial DVD Players, out of the box Interactive Digital Signage Solutions and Directional Sound Speakers. The industry leader services numerous industries, from retail to healthcare, educational concerns, hospitality, events, and museums, among others.

Information:

Videotel Digital

681 Anita Street Suite #104

Chula Vista, CA 91911

Contact:

Lisa Schneider

VP of Marketing & Sales

lisa@videoteldigital.com

(619) 670-4412

Websites:

http://www.videoteldigital.com

Social Media:

https://twitter.com/videoteldigital

https://www.facebook.com/VideotelInc

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Skout’s Honor Adds ADMC to its Distributor Partnership Roster


Skout’s Honor

“Adding ADMC to our distributor line up signifies complete geographical coverage of the US marketplace – and it allows us to continue to effectively service and deliver products to thousands of specialty retailers who are excited about our brand,” said Shannan Morlas, VP of Sales at Skout’s Honor.

Skout’s Honor, the award-winning pet specialty brand that has become known for its environmentally and socially-conscious cleaning, grooming and wellness products, today announced that it has added American Distribution and Manufacturing Company (ADMC) to its expansive list of distributor partners in the US & internationally.

With nine locations and delivering in seventeen states, ADMC is able to deliver to the entire central corridor of the United States. Starting this month, ADMC is now able to offer their pet specialty retailer customers access to Skout’s Honor’s variety of products.

“Adding ADMC to our distributor line up signifies complete geographical coverage of the US marketplace – and it allows us to continue to effectively service and deliver products to thousands of specialty retailers who are excited about our brand,” said Shannan Morlas, VP of Sales at Skout’s Honor.

Skout’s Honor’s other US distributor partners currently include: Burlo, King Wholesale, LADs, Natural Animal Nutrition (NAN), Nelson Wholesale, Veterinary Sciences Inc. (VSI), Pet Food Experts (PFX), Southeast Pets, Southern States, United Pacific Pet (UPP), and Van Den Bosch. The brand’s products are exclusive to pet specialty and can be found in thousands of retailers in the US, Canada, Asia, South Africa, UK and more.

“ADMC is thrilled to partner with Skout’s Honor to provide pet specialty retailers exciting, natural, and effective grooming, cleaning and wellness solutions for pets and their parents,” said Paul Sopsic, Sales Manager at ADMC.

Skout’s Honor will be exhibiting at the upcoming Global Pet Expo in Orlando, FL. (February 26-28, 2020) in booth #1375 and is debuting its NEW Wellness line of products, including a Probiotic Ear Cleaner, Probiotic Anti-itch Relief Spray, Prebiotic Pet Balm and Probiotic Hot Spot Hydrogel. For sales and distribution information, please contact Shannan Morlas at shannan@skoutshonor.com [Shannan@skoutshonor.com __title__ ].

About ADMC

American Distribution and Manufacturing Company (ADMC) has built a solid reputation on tradition and integrity. With more than 75 years of experience, ADMC strives to anticipate customer needs rather than just respond to them. Family-owned and operated since 1936, ADMC aims to provide services that meet and exceed the expectations of its customers and suppliers alike. For more information, visit http://www.admcmn.com

About Skout’s Honor

Skout’s Honor is an award-winning company based in Irvine, Calif. that offers super-natural cleaning (stain & odor solutions), topical probiotic grooming (dog shampoos and conditioners, daily-use essentials and pet deodorizers), and preventative wellness products for pets. Founded by a team of animal lovers and proud pet owners, the company created its “Skout’s Paw Pledge,” and donates a day’s worth of food for a shelter animal in need with every product sold. For more information on the products and for specific retailers, please visit SkoutsHonor.com

Skout’s Honor

17821 Sky Park Circle Suite LM

Irvine, CA 92614

Phone: 877-805-0399

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Complexities in Medicare Advantage Options may Discourage Seniors from Comparing Plans


Medicare Enrolloment

Another survey indicated that 23% of seniors said they found reviewing their Medicare plan to be one of the most unpleasant tasks they do among a list provided to them by pollsters.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MAOEP) is from January 1 – March 31. It’s a time when seniors can potentially save money and gain benefits. Unfortunately, many seniors will do neither. But why is the Open Enrollment Period ignored by seniors? As Dave Rich CEO, Ensurem LLC, puts it, “The Medicare Advantage market is constantly changing making better plans available to seniors every year during the fall Annual Election Period. This is crunch time for most seniors, but what they don’t usually realize is they also have a chance to make one additional change to their MA coverage for the year during the OEP. Additionally, insurance companies and brokers aren’t legally allowed to market this period or its benefits to consumers. So oftentimes, they’re left feeling stuck with the choices they made during a hectic AEP season.”(1)

The MAOEP is the time when a beneficiary with Medicare Advantage can either:

1.    Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.

2.    Drop their Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare, Part A and Part B (and subsequently apply for Medigap or Part D, if they choose.) (1)

For those who do decide to drop their Medicare Advantage policy and return to Original Medicare they often don’t understand that there is an increase in patient medical costs for Original Medicare holders, while Medicare Advantage costs are on the decline. (1)

Medicare Part A and Part B comprise Original Medicare. This covers the basic hospital and medical expenses that the government provides at age 65. It does not cover all healthcare expenses however (such as Prescription Drug Plans) and it leaves the senior with out-of-pocket expenses that can sometimes be crippling.

The difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Part C, replaces Original Medicare. This coverage is provided by private insurance companies that contract with Medicare. These plans will sometimes include additional coverage for things like dental and vision care, prescription drugs, rehabilitation services, diagnostic services or even fitness programs.

If a senior has Medicare Advantage (MA) they may want to shop during the MAOEP because the MA markets are getting more competitive as more entrants continue to break in. To stay competitive, insurance companies are always adding new services and benefits. For example, hundreds of Medicare Advantage companies are rolling out new homecare benefits in 2020. This is because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is giving Medicare Advantage plans the most flexibility they’ve ever had in terms of covering non-medical, in-home supplemental benefits. (2)

Additionally, the steps the Trump Administration has taken to improve and drive competition in Medicare Advantage means more savings, more benefits, and lower costs for seniors.(2) Nevertheless, many seniors will likely not take advantage of these benefits.

Only 6-11% of seniors voluntarily switched from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage during the 2006 to 2017 enrollment periods. In addition, more than one in three Medicare beneficiaries reported difficulty comparing the Medicare Advantage plan options. (3)

Seniors find it easier to confront a colonoscopy

Another survey indicated that 23% of seniors said they found reviewing their Medicare plan to be one of the most unpleasant tasks they do among a list provided to them by pollsters. Other choices they said they’d rather confront before Medicaid included “getting a colonoscopy” and “going to the dentist.” (4)

According to Rich of Ensurem, neither reviewing your Medicare program or shopping for a new Medicare Advantage program has to be confusing or painful. After years dealing in international insurance Rich became a passionate believer in the use of technology and the need to fundamentally change how insurance is sold so that more Americans can enjoy the benefits of these products. (5)

“What is needed,” claims Rich, “is a user-friendly online platform serving as an insurance broker on one side and a provider of tailored Medicare solutions information and purchasing opportunities on the other.”

Ensurem has designed such a platform. It has carrier relationships with Aetna, Humana, Ameritas, and other major health insurers where the senior can go and fill out a few forms and get straight, non-complicated answers as to which Medicare Advantage plan will work best for him or her.

Medicare Advantage beneficiaries still have a chance to make changes to their 2020 coverage during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31.) According to Rich an investment of a few minutes of time to do so may be worth it for any senior. “The Ensurem solution provides an online consumer marketplace that educates visitors and rapidly matches them to MA programs through a simple application backed by a fully licensed Contact Center staffed with Medicare experts.”

About Ensurem

Ensurem, headquartered in Clearwater, FL, is a leading technology and product distribution company serving carriers and consumers within the massive U.S. senior market. The company provides end-to-end solutions for carriers, including product development, digital marketing, and consumer-centric front ends and back end. For more information, please visit http://www.Ensurem.com

1.    “Press Release Medicare Advantage Premiums Continue to Decline While Plan Choices and Benefits Increase in 2019.” CMS, 2019.

2.    Bryant, Bailey. “CMS: Hundreds of Medicare Advantage Plans Preparing to Roll Out New Home Care Benefits in 2020.

3.    “Seniors Not Prone to Switching Medicare Advantage Plans.” Provider Long Term and Post-Acute Care, 2019.

4.    Lilleston, Randy. “Survey Finds Seniors Struggle to Understand Medicare Plans.” AARP, 16 Nov. 2017.

5.    “About Ensurem: Your Insurance Marketplace. Learn, Get Quotes & Shop.” Ensurem, 2019.

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Vision Critical Appoints Efrem Ainsley as Chief Operating Officer


Efrem Ainsley, COO, Vision Critical

This new management team, which now includes Efrem, is poised to realize Vision Critical’s aggressive mission to become a top contender in the quickly growing CXM marketplace.

Vision Critical, a cloud-based CXM (customer experience management) SaaS company that specializes in gathering and applying the hardest-to-reach customer experience data, today announced the appointment of Efrem Ainsley to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Ainsley’s rare blend of financial and operational expertise running successful software startups will help the company focus as it quickly moves on its high-growth trajectory.

Ainsley brings his pragmatic, result-oriented, data-driven style to lead and manage critical organizational functions at Vision Critical, including Human Resources, Finance, Privacy & Security, Legal and Enterprise Software.

“Efrem is a highly seasoned, respected leader and organizational guru with an impressive track record of growing technology businesses,” said Ross Wainwright, Vision Critical CEO. “This new management team, which now includes Efrem, is poised to realize Vision Critical’s aggressive mission to become a top contender in the quickly growing CXM marketplace.”

Ainsley comes to Vision Critical from ScribbleLive, where he led the company as CEO up to and through its recent acquisition by Brazilian content marketing startup Rock Content. Prior to that, Ainsley served as COO and CFO at networking hardware company Exinda and CFO at software company PlateSpin. Both companies were acquired during Ainsley’s tenure. Ainsley also spent over seven years at Open Text Corporation, one of Canada’s largest software companies, as Vice President of Finance.

“I’ve been privileged to be a part of a few companies – both private and public – that had bold objectives and exceeded those goals with a hyper-focused timeline,” said Ainsley. “I see Vision Critical as part of this elite group and am excited to be part of this success story.”

About Vision Critical

Vision Critical is a cloud-based CXM SaaS company that specializes in gathering and applying the hardest-to-reach customer experience data. Using proprietary technology and processes, Vision Critical is able to deeply engage any audience to increase voluntary customer data capture and apply that data to improve customer experience. With its unique, relationship-based approach, Vision Critical’s Sparq platform enables companies to interact directly with consented audiences of customers. Unlike traditional voice-of-customer methods, Vision Critical unlocks the real-time feedback that companies need to build better products, deliver better services and achieve better business outcomes hand in hand with their own highly engaged, deeply understood customers.

Hundreds of high-performing organizations across multiple industries benefit from Vision Critical’s technology and guidance, including BuzzFeed, LinkedIn, GoDaddy, VMware, and more. To learn more about Vision Critical, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, or visit us at http://www.visioncritical.com.

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