Category Archives: Business

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

Morgan, Trevathan & Gunn Insurance Named Agency of Excellence by Prominent National Carrier


Benton-based Morgan, Trevathan & Gunn, Inc. (MTG) was honored with the 2019 Agency of Excellence Award by Sentry Insurance, a Fortune 1000 carrier. Sentry also named Michael Martin, vice president and partner, as its Producer of Excellence.

The carrier’s Transportation Agency Awards were designed to recognize individuals and agencies who excel beyond average performance and strive to ensure a mutually beneficial partnership. The Agency of Excellence Award was specifically given to MTG for many achievements including:

  • A closing ratio 20% above average
  • Solid retention
  • Growth in accounts
  • Profitability

“Being recognized by a titan of our industry is evidence of our agency’s commitment to quality.” “Our work every day is to provide our clients with the financial support they need when they need it. Winning awards for that work makes our efforts all that more rewarding.”

Sentry boasts a strong relationship with MTG and its customers spanning more than 25 years. MTG and Sentry connect businesses and individuals with quality insurance products in the ever-growing trucking industry. MTG has been in the trucking insurance industry for more than 70 years.

Founded in 1934, Morgan, Trevathan & Gunn offers “Creative Insurance Solutions with a Passion for People,” with a long track record of excellence in trucking, commercial, worker’s comp, life, health, and property insurance. MTG has three offices located in Benton, Lexington and Fort Wright.

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How To Get Cheep Teen Car Insurance


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“Teens are considered high-risk, thus making them really costly to insure. However, there are some ways to lower the premiums”, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Cheapquotesautoinsurance.com has released a new blog post that informs readers about how to save money on teen car insurance.

Being a teen automatically places a driver in the high-risk category. Auto insurance companies use several arguments related to age, lack of experience and teen-specific behavior. Plus, statistics show that they are right: teens are riskier drivers. However, there are ways to lower car insurance costs for teens. Find out how and get free quotes at http://cheapquotesautoinsurance.com/how-to-make-teen-car-insurance-cheaper/


  • Study hard and reap valuable discounts. Teens that have really good grades are regarded as more responsible. Companies also assume that they spend more time preparing for courses, rather than venturing outside and exposing themselves to accidents. The good-student discount can reduce insurance costs by 5%-15%. Some companies offer discounts as high as 35%. This will seriously offset insurance costs.
  • Graduate approved defensive driving courses. Teens who graduated defensive driving courses are also rewarded with cheaper premiums. These courses will improve the driver’s skills and knowledge. They will also offset some license points, thus avoiding further price increases. Before enrolling in a class, make sure that the insurer approves it. It is best to ask if the insurer offers defensive driving programs. It is in their best interest to keep a pool of safe drivers as clients.
  • Buy a safe car. Car’s make, model and details will influence the overall costs. It is recommended to let the teen drive a safe, medium-size car. They come equipped with all sorts of devices and systems that lower the accident risk. Avoid buying deluxe or sports cars. The combo teen-car will make the insurance extremely expensive.
  • Sign a driving contract and agree to respect certain driving habits. Teens can lower insurance costs if they sign a contract where several conditions are stipulated. For example, the teen agrees to always wear a seatbelt, to close all mobile devices while driving, avoid DUI and avoid coming to dorm rooms very late. Violating those conditions will make the insurer automatically deny any claim.

Cheapquotesautoinsurance.com is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

For more information, please visit http://cheapquotesautoinsurance.com.

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It’s a Board’s Game; Anticipating, Avoiding and Abating Risk of Private Company Directors,” a Symposium to be Held in New York on 11/6


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Join Financial Poise in NYC on 11/6 for “Risk: It’s a Board’s Game; Anticipating, Avoiding and Abating Risk of Private Company Directors.”

Private company boards of directors are constantly dealing with risk: anticipating it, avoiding it where possible, and managing the fallout when a crisis inevitably rears its head.

Financial Poise is the producer of “Risk: It’s a Board’s Game; Anticipating, Avoiding and Abating Risk of Private Company Directors,” a half-day symposium to be held at the New York City law offices of Kirkland & Ellis. The Symposium promises opportunities for private directors to network and gain insight into risk from seasoned experts with practical experience.

The first panel, “Anticipating, Avoiding & Abating Risk” addresses common issues faced by private company directors, such as:


  • How can a board help to foster a risk-focused corporate culture?
  • What is the risk oversight function of the board?
  • What are the most common risk-scenarios boards deal with?
  • What steps should a board take when it becomes aware of such a situation?

The second panel goes to the heart of crisis management: “What’s a Board to Do (and Not Do) in an Existential Crisis” and examines these questions:

  • What should a board do in these circumstances?
  • What should it not do?
  • To whom is the board’s duty owed when a crisis threatens the solvency of the corporation?

The Symposium features panelists Jay Heilbrunn of The Distributor Board Inc., Alan Miller of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Weil Gotshal, Chief Judge Cecilia Morris, Sabastian V. Niles of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; Carin Robinson, of PwC, Professor Stephen Lubben of Seton Hall Law School; James H.M. Sprayregen of Kirkland & Ellis, LLP; and Elizabeth Vandesteeg, of Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Helsinger.

The Symposium takes place on November 6, 2019 from 4-8 PM at the law offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in New York. Symposium co-sponsors include: the Association for Corporate Growth, Financial Executives International – New York City Chapter, New York Institute of Credit, Private Directors Association, The Society for Corporate Governance, The Society for Information Management – New York Chapter, Turnaround Management Association

For a complete schedule of events, please visit https://www.privatedirectorsymposium.org/

About Financial Poise –

Financial Poise has one mission: to provide reliable plain English business, financial and legal education to investors, private business owners and executives, and their respective trusted advisors. Financial Poise content is created by seasoned, respected experts who are invited to join our Faculty only after being recommended by current Faculty Members. Our editorial staff then works to make sure all content is easily digestible. Financial Poise is a meritocracy; nobody can “buy” their way into the Financial Poise Faculty. Start learning today at https://www.financialpoise.com/

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Nancy Parsons Receives International Thought Leader of Distinction Award in Executive Coaching by the MEECO Leadership Institute


Nancy Parsons, President of CDR Assessment Group, receives MEECO Thought Leader Award

Nancy Parsons

Nancy has dedicated her work and life to providing coaches and the leaders they serve with the best resources and support to maximize their potential and to manage what might otherwise derail them.

Nancy Parsons, President and Co-Founder of CDR Assessment Group, Inc. has been honored as The International Thought Leader of Distinction in Executive Coaching for 2019.

The International Thought Leader of Distinction Awards, presented by the MEECO Leadership Institute, honor professionals who have (a) demonstrated a body of work impacting knowledge of best practices; or (b) uncovered new findings in any of the four award categories. Recipients were honored during a black-tie gala at the MEECO Leadership Conference in October.

MEECO, which selects award winners, is an information-sharing institute for corporations, institutions, and government agencies interested in improving employee experiences. In addition, it is a certifying organization for master level corporate executive coaches. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges related to employment sciences.

Nancy Parsons is one of today’s foremost experts in combining the science of assessments with the art of developing people. In 1998, she co-authored the breakthrough CDR 3-Dimensional Assessment Suite®. Nancy provides executive coaching services for leaders and c-suite executives across all sectors, facilitates strategic team development sessions, and instructs various leadership workshops. Nancy’s second book Women are Creating the Glass Ceiling and Have the Power to End It will be released in November 2019.

Barbara Mintzer-McMahon nominated Parsons and shared the following, “Nancy has dedicated her work and life to providing coaches and the leaders they serve with the best resources and support to maximize their potential and to manage what might otherwise derail them. She helps all of us to see and understand how to achieve operational excellence individually and system wide.”

Other 2019 Thought Leader awardees include Sally Helgesen (Cultural Transformation), Drea Sigarmi (Employment Sciences), Vince Molinaro (Organizational Leadership), and Ramona Hood (Organizational Leadership). Previous award winners include Marshall Goldsmith, Barbara Singer, Bob Anderson, Jim Kouzes, and others.

Details about the MEECO Leadership Institute and the International Thought Leader Awards can be found at http://www.meeco-institute.org. For more information on Nancy Parsons and CDR Assessment Group, please visit https://www.cdrassessmentgroup.com/.

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ERISAPros Joins Vertafore’s Orange Partner Program Collaboration to Streamline Data Integration and Reduce Compliance Risk for Brokers


We envision our Agency Partners improving their efficiency in regulatory-related account management practices with the BenefitPoint integration inside “Wrap-Tight(sm),” said Michelle Lewis, BenefitPoint Product Manager.

ErisaPros, LLC announces its membership in Vertafore’s Orange Partner Program, which will allow ERISAPros to retrieve client data from Vertafore’s benefits management system, BenefitPoint®, and utilize it to prepare Wrap Plan Documents using its proprietary document builder, Wrap-Tight(sm). Vertafore is the leader in integrated software for independent agents, MGAs, carriers, and states and regulators.

The Orange Partner Program provides open access and integration opportunities with Vertafore application programming interfaces (APIs) for customers and partners. The program also extends to third-party technology providers, such as ERISAPros, which is joining the program to streamline solutions for agencies and brokers.

The ability to transfer client data directly from BenefitPoint® to Wrap-Tight(sm) will alleviate multiple data entry efforts, saving time, and improving accuracy. Using the same preparer for the Wrap Plan as for the Form 5500 reduces risk for the agency and broker that may arise when the description of benefits, plan name, plan number, and/or the plan sponsor reflected on the Form 5500 is inconsistent with the information provided in the Wrap Plan Document and SPD.

“We envision our Agency Partners improving their efficiency in regulatory-related account management practices with the BenefitPoint integration inside “Wrap-Tight(sm),” said Michelle Lewis, BenefitPoint Product Manager.

ERISAPros’ proprietary Wrap-Tight(sm) compliance and document system allows an employer to save time and money by integrating all of its benefit plans into one document rather than preparing a document for each separate plan. This approach permits an employer to file one Form 5500 and distribute a single SPD, Summary Annual Report (SAR), and Summary of Material Modifications (SMM). If amendments are required in response to benefit or regulatory changes, the employer only needs to make changes to one document, rather than for each separate component benefit plan.

About ERISAPros

ERISAPros is a premium provider of ERISA reporting and disclosure consulting and compliance services, such as Form 5500s, Wrap Plan Documents, SPDs, and Premium Only Plans (POPs) for welfare benefits including group life, medical, dental, and disability insurance plans. The integration of Wrap-Tightsm with Vertafore’s client management system, BenefitPoint®, reinforces ERISAPros’ dedication to being an industry-leading, cutting-edge provider in the ever-evolving and fast-paced U.S. health and welfare benefits industry. ERISAPros has preferred partnership agreements with six of the top ten U.S. benefit brokers.

About Vertafore

For over 50 years, Vertafore, the leader in modern insurance technology, has built and supported superior InsurTech solutions to connect every point of the distribution channel. Vertafore’s agency management, ratings, regulation, compliance, and connectivity products streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and drive productivity for more North American insurance professionals than any other provider – including more than 20,000 agencies, over 1,000 carriers, and 23 state governments. Through a continual focus on operational excellence, development of innovative solutions, and alignment with key industry partners, Vertafore is leading the way for customers of all sizes by delivering results that make a difference. For more information about Vertafore, visit http://www.vertafore.com.

Contact

Michael Eaton

Vice President of Sales

ERISA Pros, LLC

1455 Lincoln Parkway, Suite 315

Atlanta, GA 30346

Direct: 678-443-4009 | Cell: 404-307-8548

Email: meaton@erisapros.com

Web: http://www.erisapros.com

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Inaugural Product Innovation Summit Announced, To Be Held December 3, 2019 in Research Triangle Park, NC


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The goal is to help attendees kick-start the new year. 2020 is expected to be a year of dramatic change, financial headwinds, and technology disruptions at hyper-speeds. We wanted to help leaders in companies stay ahead of the curve.

Plazabridge Group today announced that it will host the 2020 Product Innovation Summit. The day-long summit will be held December 3rd, 2019 in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

“The goal is to help attendees kick-start the new year. 2020 is expected to be a year of dramatic change, financial headwinds, and technology disruptions at hyper-speeds. We wanted to help leaders in companies stay ahead of the curve, to network with great people and to hear how others are Innovating through these predictive changes,” explained Teresa Spangler, CEO, PlazaBridge Group.

A number of renowned keynote speakers will share engaging and actionable insights, stories and strategies to help attendees develop a methodical approach in response to the current state of business including company, people and products. Working sessions will present opportunities for collaboration and creative ideation to help participants prepare for opportunities and challenges in the coming year.

Current speakers include:


  • Paige Mullis leads Innovation and Advanced Projects for Glen Raven, where she is responsible for fostering innovation and creativity at the 139-year-old company.
  • Donald Thompson, CEO of Walk West, investor and thought leader on goal achievement, influencing company culture and driving exponential growth
  • Terrence Mills, CEO of AI.io, an industry leading data science and engineering company that envisions, conceptualizes, and delivers AI solutions in healthcare, travel, and entertainment.
  • Jonathan Opp, President and Partner at New Kind, strategist, writer, and community builder.
  • Chris Langford, Partner with Idea Fund Partners

Summit topics will include:

  • Product Innovation Leadership
  • The Next Big Ideas
  • Product Management for Success
  • Pivot to Scale
  • Funding Your Ideas or Business -Gaining Buy In!
  • Trends and Opportunities
  • Scouting for Innovations
  • Partnership Strategies for Innovation Success

To register and for more information on 2020 Production Innovation Summit, visit https://www.plazabridgegroup.com/event/2020-product-innovation-summit/.

Innovation For Good

In an effort to support those who, like Plazabridge Group, are passionate about solving big world problems, this year’s Product Innovation Summit will also feature the Innovation For Good video contest. Contest entries will include a 1-2 minute video sharing an innovative idea focused on making the world a better place. Possible categories include, but are not limited to, sustainability, clean water, financial crimes, human-trafficking, and affordable living. Video entries will be judged on creativity, purpose, demonstration and success metrics. One winner, company or individual will be awarded visibility at the event and up to $2,000 in services and cash awards to help bring that idea to life.

To enter your video contact Sabrina@plazabridgegroup.com

About Plazabridge Group

Since the dog days of 2008, Plazabridge Group has been helping companies bring innovation front and center to their company’s success. Applying unique process improvements to all aspects of revenue growth, our experts deliver on the promises of organizational impact, market advantage and the potential of innovative product strategies. When your revenue is in focus, asking Plazabridge Group associates to work with your existing teams can be a formula for lowering risk and improving opportunities to expand markets, product lines and internal business development processes. Learn more at https://www.plazabridgegroup.com/.

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Julie Mix McPeak Appointed to Federal Reserve Board’s Insurance Policy Advisory Committee


Julie Mix McPeak, a shareholder in the Nashville office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, has been appointed as one of the inaugural 21 members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System’s Insurance Policy Advisory Committee (IPAC). The inaugural IPAC members will serve staggered terms ranging from one to three years.

The IPAC provides information, advice, and recommendations to the Federal Reserve Board on domestic and international insurance issues, including negotiations at the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), according to a release from the Federal Reserve Board. The inaugural IPAC members have expertise in life insurance, property and casualty insurance, and reinsurance.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the Federal Reserve System as an advisor to its Board of Governors, particularly as one of the inaugural members of the Insurance Policy Advisory Committee,” said McPeak, who is a member of Greenberg Traurig’s Government Law & Policy Practice. “I look forward to drawing on my experience in the public and private sectors to work with the highly distinguished members of the committee and the board to inform decisions on a wide range of insurance-related issues.”

McPeak, a former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, focuses her practice on insurance law and insurance regulation issues. McPeak has more than 25 years of legal and administrative experience in state government and was the first woman to serve as chief insurance regulator in more than one state, having also served as the executive director of the Kentucky Office of Insurance.

“We congratulate Julie for her appointment to the Insurance Policy Advisory Committee and believe that it is a testament to her expertise and passion for the industry,” said Fred E. Karlinsky, co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Insurance Regulatory & Transactions Practice. “Her background and extensive knowledge of the insurance industry will undoubtedly make her an asset to the Federal Reserve Board now and into the future.”

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2100 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com, Twitter: @GT_Law.

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vcfo Welcomes Michael Bennett as Consulting CFO for the Denver Market


Michael Bennett joins the vcfo team in Denver as a Consulting CFO. Michael is an experienced financial executive with a successful track record leading high-growth companies and creating substantial shareholder value across a wide range of businesses. Michael consistently delivers sound financial leadership, strategic planning, financial planning and analysis. Throughout his career, Michael has been instrumental in capital development and leading companies through accelerated growth and financial restructuring.

“I am really delighted to have Michael on the team. He is an accomplished CFO and a really personable fellow to work with. He is a strong addition to vcfo and will do great things for our clients.” -Carter Freeman, Vice President, Western Region.

Michael’s industry expertise includes technology, software, marketing, real estate, construction and tourism. Prior to joining vcfo, Michael served as a C-level executive for a number of companies throughout Denver. He served as Chief Financial and Operating Officer at Factory Design Labs for 8 years before moving to R Investments as Chief Financial Officer in 2016. After successfully leading the way through a financial restructuring, Michael moved to Good Earth Minerals in 2018 to serve as their Chief Financial Officer and lead capital raising efforts.

Michael received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude at California Polytechnic State University.

About vcfo

vcfo provides an integrated suite of finance, HR and recruiting support, including outsourcing and consulting solutions that improve operational performance and optimize productivity. Founded in 1996, vcfo pioneered the concept of the “Virtual CFO” with its original core offering of fractional or part-time CFO solutions. For over 20 years, we have worked with more than 4,000 clients, evolving our service offerings and geographical footprint to meet new industry and market needs—expanding what we offer, the value we provide and the way we deliver it. At vcfo, our mission is always to make your company stronger.

If you would like to more information about vcfo, please call 512-345-9441 or email info@vcfo.com

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HazardHub Named to the InsurTech 100 list of the world’s most innovative companies


https://www.prweb.com/

HazardHub InsurTech 100

“The InsurTech 100 recognition tells the world what our clients already know – if you want inventive, cutting-edge data, there’s really only one place to go. That’s HazardHub.” – John Siegman, HazardHub

HazardHub, the USA’s fastest-growing supplier of geospatial risk data, is delighted to announce our inclusion to the 2019 Insuretech 100 – a listing of the world’s most innovative Insuretech companies. The InsurTech100 for 2019 is announced by FinTech Global, a specialist research firm.

John Siegman, CCA of HazardHub says, “We are thrilled to be added to the InsurTech 100 list. From the beginning days of HazardHub, our goal has been to constantly invent new and more accurate data tools for our clients to appropriately judge risk. The InsurTech 100 recognition tells the world what our clients already know – if you want inventive, cutting-edge data, there’s really only one place to go. That’s HazardHub.”

The Insurtech (insurance technology) industry has seen huge growth in the last two years as insurance companies grapple with the challenges of digital transformation and new demands from customers. Nearly $10bn has been invested in insurtech companies since the beginning of 2017.

As a result, this year’s process to identify the leading 100 companies in the insurtech space was even more competitive than last year. A panel of analysts and industry experts voted from a longlist over 1,000 companies produced by FinTech Global and the finalists were recognized for their innovative use of technology to solve a significant industry problem, or to generate cost savings or efficiency improvements across the insurance value chain. A full list of the Insurtech 100 can be found at http://www.TheInsurTech100.com.

Bob Frady, CEO of HazardHub adds, “HazardHub’s mission has always been simple – to have the best data available for the property industry and combine it with flexible and robust technology. We’ve designed our system to be almost infinitely scalable for both adding data and for volume. We now deliver more than 700 data elements per API call and can process millions of records per week with our AWS-based technology stack. With more than 6,000,000 API calls, another 4 million batch records, and now this inclusion to the InsurTech 100, the insurance industry has taken notice of HazardHub.”

About HazardHub

HazardHub is your insurance policy against property risk.

Air. Fire. Water. Earth. Man-Made. HazardHub is the only third-generation provider of property-level hazard risk databases spanning the most dangerous perils in the continental United States. HazardHub translates huge amounts of geospatial digital data into easy to understand answers, providing easy to comprehend risk scorecards that are used to make real-world decisions. Our team of scientists provides comprehensive, and innovative, national coverage for risks that destroy and damage property. With more than 10,000,000 results returned to the market, HazardHub is fast-becoming the industry’s go-to vendor for property and risk data.

To learn more about HazardHub or to use our free lookups, visit http://www.hazardhub.com or reach us directly at support@hazardhub.com.

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Dr. Frank Melo, Lead Investigator, joins Neuropsychiatric Research Center of Southwest Florida


Neuropsychiatric Research Center of Southwest Florida (NPRC) an Evolution Research Group (ERG) site is excited to announce that Dr. Frank Melo, M.D. has recently joined the NPRC team as a Lead Investigator. Prior to joining NPRC, Dr. Melo has participated in over 40 pre-clinical, and clinical research trials in laboratory, pharmaceutical, and medical devices. He has 16 years in various roles in clinical research in Texas and Florida, along with 10 years clinical experience in family medicine and addiction medicine.

“We welcome Dr. Melo as a Lead Investigator. He has experience, leadership skills, and mission focus to lead exceptional clinical trials and improving operational excellence,” said Erica Ridolfi, Executive Director of Clinical Operations for ERG. “We are happy to have a lead investigator with Dr. Melo’s dedication joining us to continue in partnership with Dr. Wendy Bond to drive future growth, improve patient experience and lead trials that provide the high-quality data our subject participants require.”

Dr. Bond will continue in her role as Principal Investigator at NPRC and will also be working at her new neurology practice office. (http://www.neurologyrelief.com ). For the past 15 years, Dr. Bond has practiced general neurology in the Fort Myers and Cape Coral area. Dr. Bond was also the previous medical director of the Lee Health ALS Clinic. In addition, given her fellowship training in neuromuscular disorders Dr. Bond will lead the expansion of a greater range of clinical trials conducted at NPRC. These areas include Parkinson’s, ALS, gait and movement disorders, Lewy-body dementia, frontal-temporal dementias.

In addition, Melissa Schaerf, M.S.N., A.P.R.N., has joined ERG Operation’s Senior Management team as Senior Clinical Liaison. As a co-founder and legacy owner of NPRC, she knows the ins and outs of running and growing a clinical research site. In her new role, Schaerf will be working closely with the business development and recruitment teams to support organic growth across ERG. Schaerf will also partner with the senior management team to promote and lead training initiatives across all ERG clinical sites. Her home office will continue to be in Fort Myers, FL.

About NPRC

Neuropsychiatric Research Center of Southwest Florida, a subsidiary of Evolution Research Group, is an outpatient research facility conducting high quality clinical trials in Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurological disorders. The facility has a strong presence in the community with access to subjects through direct physician referrals. As part of its diversification of CNS disease trials, NPRC will soon have an inpatient unit to serve even a greater population of patients desiring to participate in clinical research trials.

Learn more about NPRC at http://www.nprc-swfl.com

Learn more about Evolution Research Group at http://www.ergclinical.com.

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