Category Archives: Business

Press Releases from the Business World. Announcements, Product releases, Appointments.

OTJ Architects Announces Advancement of Key Staff to Leadership


OTJ Architects is pleased to announce the promotion of key staff members: Camie Bingham, IIDA, LEED AP, Pete Ducas, LEED AP, Holly Martin, IIDA, CID, LEED AP, and Pascal Molenat were advanced to the firm’s senior-most leadership position as Partners. Amy Carter, IIDA, John Easterling, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, Steve Jensen, AIA, and Georgina Sperber, SAIA, LEED AP, were named Principals.

OTJ has also promoted several business and design leaders to Senior Associate, including: Annette Carter, AIA, LEED AP, Kaan Dilber AIA, LEED AP ID+C, WELL AP, Margaret Fogarty, IIDA, NCIDQ, Denise Myler, WELL AP, Spencer Sear, AIA, Archana Tembulkar, Associate AIA, LEED AP, and Chris Leonberg, AIA, LEED AP BD+C.

In addition, the following individuals were made Associates: Oriol Aguilo International Associate AIA, LEED Green Associate, Chefe Benitez, LEED AP, Christina Christian, Cristina Darter, IIDA, NCIDQ, Catherine Dolezal, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, Jackie Garcia, Associate AIA, Sam Geraci, NCIDQ, Stacey Gracia, Associate IIDA, Allison Kahl, Associate IIDA, Jack Radowich, AIA, Thorne Ransom, Associate AIA, APX, Sarah Shuba, AIA, NCIDQ, and Katherine Tong, IIDA.

Managing Partner Lance Jaccard, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, remarked: “2019 saw the continuation of our firm’s rapid growth trajectory as we expand to new markets and continue to diversify our services. These promotions reflect OTJ’s commitment to the success of the firm through the strategic hiring and promotion of top talent. The addition of these professionals to our leadership team will ensure that we are ideally positioned to deliver projects of increasing complexity and design quality.”

Partners:

Camie Bingham, IIDA, LEED AP, is committed to advancing her client’s business objectives through the design of high-performing workplaces noted equally for their functionality, aesthetics, and brand savvy. Her recent work on the PBS and Aspen Institute headquarters exemplifies OTJ’s position as a recognized design leader. In addition, Camie initiated and leads OTJ’s Grass Roots committee – connecting staff across studios to inspire continued focus on design excellence. Camie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from Marymount University.

Pete Ducas, AIA, LEED AP, is noted for his expertise in the design and delivery of complex technical and security solutions for clients who require network operations centers, training rooms, and state-of-the-art conference facilities. A sample of his recently completed projects includes the 350,000 SF headquarters of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Overseas Building Operation (DOS OBO) as well as the new OneWeb workplace. Pete holds both a Master and Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Catholic University of America.

Holly Martin, IIDA, CID, LEED AP, is a former president of the IIDA Mid-Atlantic Chapter. A recognized industry leader, she believes that the most successful design outcomes are grounded in strategy informed by industry-specific research and client evidence. Holly holds a Masters in Real Estate Management which offers her a unique, business-centric perspective on design that aligns strategic, operational, and human objectives. Holly recently delivered new workplaces for NCARB and FiscalNote.

Pascal Molenat is OTJ’s Chief Marketing Officer. Pascal partners with OTJ’s design and executive leaders as well as its marketing and business development teams to deliver holistic solutions that shape the firm’s reputation and support its fast-paced growth in Washington, D.C., New York, NY, and the continental United States. Pascal’s professional experience spans the fields of publishing, public relations, as well as corporate branding and communications. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production from New York University.

Principals:

Amy Carter, IIDA, brings nearly 25 years of commercial interior design experience to bear on projects spanning the private, nonprofit, and government sectors. Since joining OTJ, Amy has more than doubled the size of a team focused primarily on the delivery of landlord projects, including commercial building repositioning and tenant build-outs. Her clients include Cushman & Wakefield, Stout & Teague, Blake Real Estate, Monday Properties, JPMC, and HHS/OIG among others. Amy graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design.

John Easterling, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, is a project manager and senior architect with 30 years of experience in developing superlative design solutions for cultural, educational, and public projects with complex budgetary, scheduling, and phasing requirements. John is currently at work on a trophy commercial office building located at 2100 L Street as well as the renovation of the National City Christian Church – both in Washington, D.C. He holds a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Studies from University College London and a Master of Architecture from Rice University.

Steve Jensen, AIA, is a highly collaborative architect and project manager, who enjoys a long professional history of trust-based relationships. Steve partners with stakeholders and consultants from the onset of each project to ensure that the built space supports his client’s objectives well into the future. He is a noted problem solver, adept at balancing financial imperatives without compromising the integrity or quality of his designs. Steve is currently at work on the reimagining of Washington, D.C.’s iconic Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library. Steve received a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University.

Georgina Sperber, SAIA, LEED AP, brings an international design background to a wide range of community planning, development, and educational projects. With a focus on the planning and design of performing arts venues as well as rehabilitation and adaptive re-use projects, Georgina provides strong leadership abilities in her role as project manager. Georgina lends her expertise in the design and production of technical documents for complex rehabilitation and new construction projects such as the National Center for Latino Culture and Performing Arts in San Antonio, TX. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

About OTJ Architects

Primed at the intersection of workplace design and performing arts architecture, OTJ Architects is an award-winning partner to nationwide leaders in the commercial real estate, corporate, government, arts and entertainment, as well as nonprofit sectors. With offices in Washington, D.C., New York, NY, Miami, FL, and San Francisco, CA, we deliver enduring human centric solutions that drive optimal real estate and staff performance, promote wellness, and maximize each organization’s investment in the built environment. Signature recent projects include workplaces for Adobe, BMW, Yelp, and United Way, Innovation Centers for Booz Allen and Capital One, as well as the reimagining of D.C.’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library and the repositioning of New York’s iconic Webster Hall. More information is available at http://www.otj.com

UNITS Moving and Portable Storage Celebrates Strong Franchise Growth in 2019


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Our franchisees have seen strong double digit percentage – increase in revenue. We’ve added a significant number of new containers to our inventory.

Providing personal customer service, while supplying the most innovative equipment in order to eliminate the frustrations associated with moving and storage space issues, UNITS® Moving and Portable Storage continues to expand steadily — a trend that gained momentum in 2019, with expansion spreading into 2020.

UNITS added seven new franchisees this year and eight new offices. Two more offices will open in the first quarter of 2020 in Columbus, Ohio and Jacksonville, Florida.

“Over the past two years, UNITS locations have grown in number by about 15 percent,” says Matt Dillon, director of franchise development at UNITS Moving and Portable Storage. “Our franchisees have seen strong double digit percentage – increase in revenue. We’ve added a significant number of new containers to our inventory.”

New locations included offices in Austin, Baltimore, , Northern Chicago, Northern Virginia, Denver, Miami, and Nashville. According to Dillon, the upward trajectory of UNITS Moving and Portable Storage is due to the company’s simple, effective business model and experienced team.

“Portable storage and moving is such a convenient solution that this segment of the moving and storage industry continues to grow exponentially,” he said. “We provide the ability to have the container delivered right onsite so that customers don’t have to rent a vehicle or a truck to take their belongings to a storage facility. This makes it much easier as well for customers who just need temporary onsite storage and moving services.”

What continues to separate UNITS from competitors, Dillon said, is that its offices are locally owned and operated by franchisees enabling hands on customer service.

“It sets us apart from the national container providers because they are all run corporately out of a headquarters and aren’t as familiar with each individual marketplace,” said Dillon. “Our customers really appreciate that face-to-face, one-on-one, customer-centric approach.”

Another differentiator assisting with the company’s growth is that UNITS can deliver containers to places other companies cannot.

“We utilize a maneuverable, remote-controlled system to drop our containers off and move them onto the customer’s property exactly where they want the containers to go,” Dillon said.

By staying the course, Dillon predicts UNITS Moving and Portable Storage will open another 10 to 12 new offices in 2020 and that its existing locations will continue to see double-digit percentage growth in revenue.

About UNITS Moving and Portable Storage

Founded by Michael McAlhany in 2004, the mission of UNITS Moving and Portable Storage is to provide personal customer service while supplying the most innovative equipment in order to eliminate the frustrations associated with moving and storage space issues.

UNITS Moving and Portable Storage currently has 30 franchised and three corporate territories across the United States. With a presence in more than 40 markets servicing more than 500 cities, and growing, the brand is looking to expand with the right people in the right markets.

For more information on how to take advantage of this opportunity, or simply to learn more about the moving and portable storage industry, visit https://www.unitsfranchisegroup.com/ and fill out the inquiry form. We will reach out to you to talk more about your interest in our brand, and how UNITS Moving and Portable Storage can help you reach your personal and financial goals.

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American Elite Molding Announces 30 Percent Growth for 2019, Among Other Achievements


American Elite Molding cable ties are Made in the USA and ship same day.

We are proud to continue our trend of double digit growth, year after year, and are grateful to our loyal customers and our dedicated staff.

American Elite Molding, America’s leading manufacturer of cable ties, announces that in 2019 the company experienced its second year of 30 percent growth and its 15th straight year of double digit growth.

In 2019 the company enjoyed multiple achievements:

  • Significant expansion of production capacity, including the addition of a new mold that enables manufacture of 48” 175lb cable ties.
  • 30 percent growth for the second year in a row.
  • Kept prices competitive despite rising costs.
  • Increased the tensile strength of 120lb cable ties significantly with an innovative new design.
  • Signed a deal to supply cable ties to one of the largest consumer home improvement chains in the U.S.
  • Introduced a variety pack of standard cable ties for retail outlets.
  • Implemented a Progressive Reward program for employees.
  • Partnered with The Arc of the Emerald Coast to provide jobs for their local clients.
  • CEO and Founder Robert Sires was named one of Florida’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders for 2019 by Florida Trend Magazine.
  • AEM was named a finalist in the 2019 Florida Sterling Manufacturing Business Excellence Awards.

“We are proud to continue our trend of double digit growth, year after year, and are grateful to our loyal customers and our dedicated staff,” said American Elite Molding Founder and CEO Robert Sires. “In just over 20 years, we have grown from 3 employees to nearly 200, and our production facility in Florida has expanded from 4,000 square feet to 75,000 square feet. We’ve managed this growth through our commitment to producing superior quality, American-made cable ties and to delivering exceptional customer service. We are constantly improving our processes and expanding production capacity; we have invested over $5 million in new machinery over the past three years and now have 17 machines running 24/7/365. In 2020, we will remain committed to providing top-quality made-in-USA products and superior service for our customers, including Just-in-Time delivery. We expect to reach over $50 million in sales within the next three years.”

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, American Elite Molding is America’s leading manufacturer of nylon cable ties. Located in Crestview, Florida, its state-of-the-art ISO 9001-certified facility operates 24/7/365 and boasts the most advanced production processes in the U.S. AEM offers an extensive line of cable ties in a variety of lengths, tensile strengths, and colors, plus accessories such as mounting pads and cable clamps. American Elite Molding’s specialty products include EZ-Off™ ties, releasable ties, custom-printed ties, and HVAC duct straps. All cable ties use virgin nylon 6/6 to guarantee superior quality and are UL Listed and Mil-Spec approved, including UL 62275 Type 21S. AEM maintains a full inventory of all cable ties for Just-in-Time delivery from regional stocking locations to its national distributor network. American Elite Molding is committed to continuous improvement in quality and service in all areas. The company focuses on customer success as well as satisfaction, and all American Elite Molding products are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. For more information, call 1-888-463-3454, visit http://www.AmericanEliteMolding.com, or find AEM on Facebook.

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Townhouse Sale – New Harlem Record


19 West 120th Street, standout Harlem two-family townhouse built in 1887 by Alfred Barlow

19 West 120th Street, record-setting Harlem townhouse

Another record-setting sale by Harlem Lofts!

Harlem Lofts Inc., the boutique real estate firm located at 272 Lenox Avenue in Harlem, New York, NY, has just completed another record Harlem townhouse sale. The firm’s exclusive listing of 19 West 120th Street, an elegant Romanesque Revival two-family townhouse built in 1887 by the noted architect Alfred Barlow, closed on December 18th, 2019 for $4,700,000, a record price for a residential (one- or two-family) townhouse in the Mount Morris Park Historic District, one of Upper Manhattan’s most sought-after enclaves. Closing occurred at the law offices of Capuder Fazio Giacoia at 90 Broad Street, New York NY 10004. Notably, the listing went from launch to signed contracts in just 38 days.

The current transaction represents the second record sale by Harlem Lofts in the past two years. The firm’s exclusive listing of the beautiful three-family townhouse at 123 West 119th Street, built in 1896 by Theodore E. Thomson, closed on September 14th 2017 for a then-record price of $4,150,000.

Robert “Robb” Pair, the president of Harlem Lofts, represented the seller in both transactions. Other members of the Harlem Lofts team involved in the current sale were Executive Assistant Janita Mercado and the firm’s Research Analyst, Dr. Gareth John. Both listings used a novel research-driven approach to present detailed analyses of historic and architectural details to buyers using cutting-edge three-dimensional and audiovisual techniques:

https://www.harlemlofts.com/harlem/townhouse-for-sale/19-w-120th-st/16198

https://vimeo.com/364095779

Collectively, these two sales illustrate the long-term trajectory of the rapidly gentrifying Mount Morris Park neighborhood in Harlem, and represent bright spots in Upper Manhattan’s current real estate market, in which townhouse sales in Q1-3 2019 were decreased overall by 19.3% compared to the same period in 2018 in terms of dollars spent.

About Harlem Lofts

Harlem Lofts Inc. is a boutique real estate firm incorporated in 2002 which covers all major residential property transaction types in Upper Manhattan and maintains a sharp focus on seller representation with specialization in townhouses and condominium properties, while maintaining an extensive proprietary database of well qualified buyers on a carefully tailored basis.

The employee-owned firm’s structure is unique within the real estate industry in that it emphasizes a research-driven approach to a targeted market for each listing. The firm delivers quarterly reports to its clients summarizing the Upper Manhattan real estate market, and each sale is individually tailored, with outstanding quality research underpinning a boutique sales model to optimize outcomes.

For more information about the firm, contact Robb Pair at Robert.p@harlemlofts.com or at 917 791 6986, visit http://www.harlemlofts.com, or stop in at the Harlem Lofts Inc. office at 272 Lenox Avenue between 123rd and 124th Streets.

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Semi-Finalists Announced in IARFC National Financial Plan Competition


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The National Financial Plan Competition continues to give students interested in the financial services profession an opportunity to gain practical experience…IARFC Trustee Chairman and CEO H. Stephen Bailey, MRFC®.

The International Association of Registered Financial Consultants (IARFC®) announces the 6 teams that will move on to the Semi-Finals of the National Financial Plan Competition. These undergraduate teams were selected from submissions representing 15 universities nationwide with financial service programs.

Selected to continue are:


  • Jackie Battles, University of North Texas, Dave Ragan, RFC®, Professor
  • Abigail Adams and Zachary Wakamatsu, Utah Valley University, Dr. Luke Dean, RFC®, Adjunct Professor
  • Michele Boyle and Gianfranco Gonzales, William Paterson University of New Jersey, Dr. Tao Guo, Assistant Professor
  • Dominique LaSalvia and Ethan Krumwiede, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Craig Lemoine, MRFC®, Director
  • Allison Biddix and Michael Austin, Western Carolina University, Dr. Patrick Payne, Assistant Professor
  • Jacob Hogan and Brenden Fillerup, Utah Valley University, Dr. Luke Dean, RFC®, Adjunct Professor

“We are thrilled to move to the next stage of competition,” commented Dr. Tao Guo. “It has been a great experience and we can’t wait to further showcase our students from William Paterson University. Thanks to the IARFC for making this possible!”

The IARFC National Financial Plan Competition is open to undergraduate university students who are enrolled in a financial services curriculum. From a fictional case narrative, the students are requested to craft a financial plan for judging. The Competition progresses through 3 stages, ending in 3 teams of students presenting their plan in person at the IARFC Annual Board Meeting.

In the Semi-Finals stage, the students attend a preliminary technical meeting for an equipment check and then will schedule their plan presentation time. On those days, the teams give their recommendations with accompanying PowerPoints for videotaping. These sessions will subsequently be sent to the IARFC Board of Directors for voting on the 3 finalists.

These final selected 3 teams will give their plans in person at the IARFC Annual Board Meeting in Cincinnati, OH April 23. “The National Financial Plan Competition continues to give students interested in the financial services profession an opportunity to gain practical experience,” relates IARFC Trustee Chairman and CEO H. Stephen Bailey, MRFC®. “I am extremely pleased with our semi-finalist this year and wish them well as they go through the next phase of the Competition.”

More information on the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants and the National Financial Plan Competition can be found on http://www.iarfc.org. Corporate sponsorships and individual donations are welcomed to support this next generation of financial professionals. More information can be obtained by contacting Susan Cappa at susan@iarfc.org.

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The Stevie Awards Is Offering a Deeply-Discounted Conference Registration


The Stevie Awards is offering a $99 registration through January 10 for its third annual Women|Future Conference, November 12-13 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Whether you’re looking for a gift for someone else or yourself, the best gift is an investment in the future.

What gift should be given to the ambitious, forward-looking woman this holiday season? A gift card, a fruit basket, a sweater she won’t wear? How about two days of networking, keynote sessions, panel discussions, and a showcase of young women-owned businesses, in the entertainment capital of the world, for just $99?

The Stevie® Awards, organizers of the world’s premier business awards programs, is offering a $99 registration through January 10 for its third annual Women|Future Conference, November 12-13 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The conference’s mission is to address the most pressing issues of tomorrow, from the perspective of how they will effect women entrepreneurs, executives, and employees, in all industries. The deeply-discounted registration is available at http://www.WomenFutureConference.com.

The price will jump to $299 on January 11.

The best gift is an investment in the future. The 2020 Women|Future Conference will help attendees gain insight into how to secure theirs.

The first two editions of the conference were staged in New York, in conjunction with the Stevie Awards for Women in Business. Check out the summary of the 2019 conference.

Like all great gifts, this one is fully returnable. Conference registrations fees are 100% refundable through early October.

About the Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the new Middle East Stevie Awards. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

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Armadale Capital Leads $133 Million FHA Insured Loan Financing for MUSC Health (Charleston, SC)


Loan Will Refinance a Short Term Bridge Financing used to Acquire Four Acute-Care Hospitals and Related Facilities in Chester, Lancaster, Florence and Marion, South Carolina.

On December 12, 2019, FHA multifamily lender Armadale Capital (New York, NY) closed a $133 million Section 223(f)/242 FHA-insured mortgage loan for MUSC Health (also known as MUSC, Medical University Hospital Authority or MUHA), the teaching hospital unit of the Medical University of South Carolina, located in Charleston, South Carolina. FHA insured loan proceeds will be used to refinance a $129 million bridge loan which, in late February 2019, funded the acquisition of four acute care hospitals and ancillary facilities previously owned by a for-profit health system. MUSC Health’s 700 bed main facility in downtown Charleston has been re-named MUSC Health University Medical Center. The names, locations and bed count for the newly acquired MUSC Hospitals are listed below:

MUSC Health Florence Medical Center (Florence) – 396 beds

MUSC Health Marion Medical Center (Marion) – 124 beds

MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center (Lancaster) – 225 beds

MUSC Health Chester Medical Center (Chester) – 82 beds

While based in Charleston, MUSC Health, an agency of the State of South Carolina, has been pursuing strategic initiatives over the past several years to expand its footprint in the State and enhance access to healthcare for South Carolina residents. The acquired facilities added approximately 827 licensed acute-care beds to the MUSC Health system for a total licensed bed count of approximately 1,600 throughout South Carolina. For the fifth year in a row, U.S. News & World Report has named MUSC Health the top hospital in the state in its 2019-2020 “Best Hospitals” rankings, with a number of MUSC Health’s specialty programs ranking among the best in the entire country.

“Buying these hospitals is about bringing better connectivity to our world class research and subspecialties, while also doing more to keep patients in their home communities whenever possible; our successful telehealth program, which allows patients around the state to access our physicians and nurses long distance via online technology, is one such application of the cutting-edge care we can provide to achieve these goals of better health and wellness,” said Dr. Patrick Cawley, Chief Executive Officer of MUSC Health and Vice President for Health Affairs, University. “We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our staff and financing team as well as our new colleagues in the four newly acquired facilities. We also want to thank the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Hospital Facilities, and the State of South Carolina Treasurer’s Office for their efforts, partnership and support,” added Cawley. “We continue to realize our strategic goals that align with our mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina and beyond.”

In terms of the financing, MUHA was able to take advantage of current market conditions and secure a fixed mortgage interest rate of 3.00% for the 25 year amortization period. This rate is one of the lowest rates for a 25 year FHA insured hospital loan in the program’s history. FHA Section 242 of the National Housing Act provides mortgage insurance on loans for acute care hospital facilities ranging from large urban teaching institutions to rural critical-access hospitals. The program began in 1968 and has been utilized by hospitals in most states throughout the U.S.

“Once we came to terms and signed an Asset Purchase Agreement with the seller last November, our financing strategy was to first utilize a short term bridge loan to close the acquisition no later than March 1, 2019 and then apply for HUD’s mortgage insurance approval for permanent financing,” said Lisa Goodlett, Chief Financial Officer of MUSC Health. “As our FHA lender, Armadale Capital was effective in leading the effort to obtain HUD approval, coordinating the financing team and structuring the transaction. As a result, our financing objectives have been achieved and even exceeded in some cases, and we are well positioned for access to capital for future strategic initiatives.”

Armadale Capital, based in Manhattan, also served as FHA lender and led MUHA’s $361 million FHA Section 242 refinancing in 2012 and $47 million FHA Section 241 refinancing in 2013, saving MUHA over $70 million in interest costs. In 2016, the firm also led the $316 million FHA Section 241 financing of the Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and Pearl Tourville Women’s Pavilion, slated to open in early 2020.

“This FHA insured loan is a pioneering event for the HUD Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program in that it is the first to be effectively used to acquire other acute care hospitals. While the four acquired hospitals have struggled in recent years under different ownership, MUHA is in the best position to own and operate these facilities going forward and enhance the healthcare provided in these South Carolina markets. This acquisition aligns with HUD’s mission to help provide hospitals access to capital in areas where they are most needed,” said Stephen Pack, President of Armadale Capital.

“During site visits with HUD at the four hospitals in June 2019, it became abundantly clear the community leaders, physicians, nurses, technicians and employees at these four hospitals are beyond excited to become part of the MUSC Health family. There is a palpable confidence and trust in the MUSC Health brand. Since the original FHA insured financing in 2004, MUSC Health has continued to successfully avail itself of HUD’s refinancing and supplemental loan programs. It is an honor working with this major State healthcare institution and being asked to lead something so beneficial to residents in South Carolina and even other states,” added Pack. “With this acquisition and its long term FHA financing, in the last 15 years I have witnessed MUSC Health go from a one campus university medical center to a major five campus academic health system improving the lives of increasing numbers of South Carolina residents.”

Harris Beach PLLC (New York, NY) served as FHA lender’s counsel to Armadale Capital. Kaufman Hall (Chicago, IL) served as financial advisor to MUSC Health for this transaction. Wipfli LLP (Milwaukee, WI) served as feasibility consultant for the study included in the FHA mortgage insurance application.

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Year Up CFO Ellen McClain Named in WomenInc. Magazine’s 2019 Most Influential Corporate Directors


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“I’m honored to be on WomenInc. Magazine’s list, and excited that women serving on public boards are being recognized for their work,” said Ellen McClain, Chief Financial Officer at Year Up.

Year Up, a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the Opportunity Divide for young adults across the United States, announced today that its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Ellen McClain, has been named as one of WomenInc. Magazine’s 2019 Most Influential Corporate Directors.

McClain was recognized for her role as an independent director at Crane Co., a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products. McClain joined the board in 2013 and currently serves on the Audit and Compensation committees.

“Ellen’s expertise in strong corporate governance and financial management, paired with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, makes her an extraordinary leader and CFO,” said Gerald Chertavian, Year Up’s Founder and CEO. “She has made Year Up a stronger organization while providing guidance and support to the next generation of diverse business leaders, and we are thrilled to have her accomplishments recognized by WomenInc.”

McClain joined Year Up as CFO in 2015 after gaining extensive professional management experience as CFO and COO at organizations including the New York Racing Association and Hearst-Argyle Television Inc.

“I’m honored to be on WomenInc. Magazine’s list, and excited that women serving on public boards are being recognized for their work,” said McClain. “More and more business leaders are recognizing the value of a diverse workforce, but still face challenges in creating space for people of different races, genders, sexual orientations and backgrounds. Partnering with organizations like Year Up is one effective solution; having more inclusive boards is another.”

Year Up is a free yearlong program that prepares students (ages 18-24, without college degrees) for meaningful-wage careers in business and IT. Students spend six months learning in-demand technical and professional skills, followed by a six-month internship at one of more than 250 corporate partner firms, including AT&T and JPMorgan Chase. Nationwide, 90% of Year Up graduates are employed or attending college within four months of completing the program, with average starting salaries of $40,000/year.

McClain earned a B.A. in Economics from Brown University in 1986 and a Master in Business Administration degree from Harvard University in 1993. A native of suburban Boston, she resides in New York City with her husband and two children.

About Year Up

Year Up is an award-winning, national 501(c)3 organization that enables motivated young adults ages 18-24 to move from minimum wage to meaningful careers in just one year by providing the skills, experience, and support they need to reach their full potential.Through a one-year, intensive program, Year Up utilizes a high-expectations, high-support model that combines marketable job skills, stipends, coursework eligible for college credit, and corporate internships at more than 250 top companies. Its holistic approach focuses on students’ professional and personal development to enable young adults with a viable path to economic self-sufficiency and meaningful careers. Year Up has served more than 26,000 young adults since its founding in 2000, and will serve more than 4,700 young adults in 2019 across 25 U.S. cities including Arizona, Baltimore, Bay Area, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Greater Atlanta, Greater Boston, Greater Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, the National Capital Region, New York City/Jersey City, Puget Sound, Rhode Island, South Florida, Tampa Bay, and Wilmington. Year Up has been voted one of the “Best Non-Profits to Work For” by The NonProfit Times for eight consecutive years, and rated a 4-star charity by CharityNavigator for twelve consecutive years, placing them in the top 1% of tracked organizations.

To learn more, visit http://www.yearup.org, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

About WomenInc. Magazine

WomenInc. Magazine is a cultural catalyst for professional women—a media platform that showcases and drives positive dialogue on and about women. With its unique mix of stunning photography from major events, in-depth reporting, and social commentary, WomenInc. accelerates ideas and images to center stage. WomenInc. is an unrivaled media event that reaches the progressive, modern and sophisticated female consumer who demands the best in news coverage and that their voice is heard.

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Sureify Hires Guidewire Executive, Brian LaReau as Vice President of Customer Success


We are so fortunate to have Brian agree to lead our Customer Success team. His deep experience with Guidewire in leading strategic implementations and assuring customer success during times of rapid growth will help us to continue to delight our customers as we grow in the coming months and years.

Sureify, the leading digital platform for life and annuity insurance, announced today the appointment of Brian LaReau as Vice President, Customer Success. LaReau’s primary focus will be developing metrics and initiatives that will influence several areas of the company to ensure customer success.

“I am delighted to join the Sureify family.” said LaReau. “It was amazing to see how quickly Sureify has been able to establish a substantial foothold in the InsurTech market. This was achieved with a product offering that solves some of the most difficult pain points related to end customer acquisition, service and engagement in the life insurance industry. The company culture is outstanding, which likely contributed to building an impressive customer base.”

LaReau brings with him extensive experience in driving customer success. As a professional services leader on Guidewire’s international team, LaReau was a key driver in increasing Guidewire’s European customer base by 500% and revenue by 840% in five years by leading InsuranceSuite implementations at Aviva UK and PZU Poland. LaReau’s proven success with customers and partners created advocates for Guidewire in the region leading to explosive sales and revenue growth.

LaReau’s accomplishments as a global technology and business startup leader created a proven track record in modernizing and significantly improving profitability of the P&C insurance, telecommunications and healthcare industries.

“We are so fortunate to have Brian agree to lead our Customer Success team. His deep experience with Guidewire in leading strategic implementations and assuring customer success during times of rapid growth will help us to continue to delight our customers as we grow in the coming months and years,” commented Brian Mulconrey, SVP of Customer Implementations and Services.

About Sureify

Sureify’s mission is to modernize the life insurance and annuity industry. With Sureify’s platform, Lifetime, carriers are elevating the way they sell, service, and engage their policyholders. The LifetimeAcquire™ Module for digital sales enables end-to-end omnichannel sales, including quoting, e-app, status tracking, and the policy delivery experience. With the LifetimeService™ Module, insurers can offer their in-force customers self-service capabilities for payments, beneficiary updates, lapse notices, and much more. Lastly, the module that made Sureify famous is LifetimeEngage™, a robust engagement platform with which carriers can enable engagement features around health, lifestyle, rewards, geolocation, education, social, personal finances, and much more. Learn more at http://www.Sureify.com

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Coronado Brewing Company Fills Key CEO Position with Industry Veteran, James Murray


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“We are thrilled to welcome James to the team,” says Ron Chapman, Co-founder, Coronado Brewing Company. “James has tremendous experience scaling operations and growing brands. He is a family man that fits in well with our company culture, and we can’t wait to hit the ground running in 2020.”

Never ones to rest on their laurels, the team at Coronado Brewing Company is heading into 2020 with a new CEO at the helm and a strategic plan for accelerated growth. Coronado Brewing welcomes James Murray to the team as the company’s new CEO. Murray comes to Coronado with more than 15 years’ experience in craft beverages, most notably, seeing Ballast Point through its meteoric rise, and more recently as Chief Operating Officer of San Diego-based Sol-ti living beverages. “We are thrilled to welcome James to the team,” says Ron Chapman, Co-founder, Coronado Brewing Company. “James has tremendous experience scaling operations and growing brands. He is a family man that fits in well with our company culture, and we can’t wait to hit the ground running in 2020.”

Murray comes to Coronado as the company is wrapping up a year of better-than-industry-average growth, heightened brand awareness, and two big wins at the Great American Beer Festival. “I am beyond excited to be part of this team and to continue building on the momentum that’s been established,” says Murray. “Coronado is a family company with an incredible reputation as one of San Diego’s original craft breweries producing world-class beer, and I am looking forward to leading our team into the next chapter of growth. I am passionate about developing people, maximizing efficiencies, and growing companies, and I’m excited about Coronado’s bright future.”

Murray’s first order of business was to restructure Coronado’s leadership team in order to streamline operations and elevate key personnel into new roles. “I want to set us up for success in 2020 and beyond, and part of that was rethinking our Senior Leadership structure to allow for increased efficiencies and to further develop key members of the team who have helped cement Coronado’s success in the market,” says Murray. As such, the new structure will transition co-founders Ron and Rick Chapman to the Board of Directors, with Rick continuing to serve as President, and Murray overseeing day-to-day company operations and strategy as CEO. “We are very excited to have James on board. As we head into 2020, James will be instrumental in helping us fine tune our efficiencies, diversify our portfolio, and continue to propel our brand,” says Rick Chapman, Co-Founder and President, Coronado Brewing Company.

Reporting into Murray will be a C-suite team, including Kate Zittere as Chief Financial Officer, Kasey Chapman as Chief of Retail Operations, and promoting Clinton Smith from Director of Sales to Chief Commercial Officer. Smith has been with the company for 10 years and his new role will allow him to more broadly focus on sales growth, while working closely with the marketing and business development teams. Smith was previously at Boston Beer before taking on the role of building the sales team at Coronado. Reporting into the C-suite will be a new level of VP roles, with Eddie Buchannon being elevated to VP of Business Development and Melody Crisp being promoted to VP of Marketing. Buchannon has been with Coronado for six years, with previous experience at Craft Brewers Alliance, while Crisp is going on four years with the company, with almost a decade of prior experience at Karl Strauss Brewing Company.

“My goal coming into this new position was elevate the people who have worked hard to grow the business and the brand over the past several years. I wanted to make sure that the Senior Leadership team was equipped to continue forward with the momentum they have created,” says Murray. The company is continuing to build off of the momentum established in 2019. “In just the past year, Coronado has launched an incredibly successful line of 16oz can hoppy beers, including the GABF award-winning Weekend Vibes IPA, as well as undergo rebrand of its Coastal Classics. We’ve seen our distributor depletions up 12% from 2018, and our Distributor shipments have gone up 8% YOY. Our retail locations continue to grow in a competitive market,” says Clinton Smith, Chief Commercial Officer. “We know the industry is more competitive than ever, and that’s not going to change. We are confident that the key to success goes beyond amazing beer—you need the right team in place to execute the plan—and with James on board, it’s like the last piece of the puzzle is falling in to place.”

As Coronado heads into 2020, the company will continue to focus on growing sales in its home state of California, while exploring a few key markets where opportunities align with the brand’s stay coastal ethos. “We want to be strategic about how and where we grow,” says Murray. “In today’s hyper competitive market, we believe the key to success will be maximizing our efficiencies, growing our home market, and continuing to build brand affinity with current and new consumers.” Strategic focus will be placed on key brands, including GABF award-winning Weekend Vibes IPA, new lifestyle collaboration Salty Crew Blonde Ale, rebranded Coastal Classics, as well as innovation through the company’s Art Series and collaborations.”

“While our focus is beer, we are also excited to push the envelope and see where we can find our niche within other specialty beverages,” says Murray. “In today’s environment of never-ending consumer choices and limited attention span, we’re excited to pursue other opportunities in craft beverage, so keep your eyes on Coronado in 2020.” For more information about the company, visit http://www.coronadobrewing.com. Stay Coastal. Cheers.

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About Coronado Brewing Company

In 1996, when craft beer was still a foreign term and San Diego County was home to only a handful of breweries, the Chapman brothers Ron and Rick opened a brewpub in their hometown of Coronado. Today CBC stays true to its San Diego roots, brewing abundantly hoppy West Coast-style ales, which are available today in 14 US states and 12 countries. In addition to the long-established pub in Coronado, the company opened a tasting room inside its San Diego production facility in 2013, and a tasting room and restaurant in Imperial Beach, California in 2014. Coronado Brewing Company was honored in 2014 with one of the brewing industry’s most prestigious awards—World Beer Cup Champion Brewery and Brewmaster for a Mid-Size Brewing Company, and more recently, a bronze medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival for its Weekend Vibes IPA (American IPA category, 362 entries) and silver medal for its Freebooter Barleywine (Barley Wine-Style Ale category).

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Website: https://www.coronadobrewing.com

Facebook: Coronado Brewing Company

Instagram: @coronadobrewing

Twitter: @CoronadoBrewing

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