Tag Archives: Awards and Honors

Dark Matter Technologies named to HousingWire’s Tech100 for innovation in loan origination technology

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Dark Matter Technologies (Dark Matter), an innovative new leader in mortgage technology backed by time-tested loan origination software and leadership, today announced it has been named to HousingWire's 2024 Tech100 Mortgage list of companies shaping the future of the housing finance sector. HousingWire attributed the recognition to the cutting-edge technology behind the Empower(r) loan origination system (LOS), a comprehensive, bundled offering from Dark Matter that provides all-in-one mortgage origination functionality.

The Empower LOS takes a task-based approach rather than a linear approach to automating loan production, allowing multiple processes to run concurrently with minimal lender intervention. By tapping employees only as needed to manage exceptions, the Empower LOS streamlines origination workflows, resulting in significant time and cost savings for banks, credit unions and independent lenders.

"Our approach to innovation is tightly focused on helping lenders curb the runaway expense of loan origination," said Dark Matter CEO Rich Gagliano. "In the last 12 months, we've doubled down on our investments in automation, piloted new applications of artificial intelligence in the origination workflow, and opened up our API architecture to facilitate deeper collaboration with like-minded vendors. It's an exciting time in the evolution of the Empower LOS, and it's an honor to have that recognized by HousingWire with the Tech 100 award."

"One of the most exciting parts of my role at HousingWire is having a front-row seat to witness stunning innovation in mortgage and real estate," said Clayton Collins, CEO of HW Media. "HousingWire is dedicated to serving housing professionals with the full picture, and the full picture isn't complete without deep and insightful coverage and resources to help mortgage and real estate professionals uncover the innovators and solutions that drive growth and efficiency in the housing sector."

Since 2014, the HousingWire Tech100 has acknowledged impactful contributions to housing finance technology. View the full list of winners and read Dark Matter's company profile here: https://www.housingwire.com/company-profile/dark-matter-technologies/.

About Dark Matter Technologies:

Operating with the nimble nature of a startup and the disciplined maturity of one of the industry's leading providers, Dark Matter Technologies delivers cutting-edge technology, unparalleled automation and relentless innovation to leading mortgage lenders and companies nationwide. For more information, visit https://www.dmatter.com.

Dark Matter Technologies (Dark Matter), an innovative new leader in mortgage technology backed by time-tested loan origination software and leadership, today announced it has been named to HousingWire's 2024 Tech100 Mortgage list of companies shaping the future of the housing finance sector. HousingWire attributed the recognition to the cutting-edge technology behind the Empower(r) loan origination system (LOS), a comprehensive, bundled offering from Dark Matter that provides all-in-one mortgage origination functionality.

Related link: https://www.dmatter.com

Down Payment Resource presents Housing and Education Alliance Founder and Executive Director Sylvia Alvarez with 2023 Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry's leading technology for connecting home buyers with homebuyer assistance programs, today announced that it selected Sylvia Alvarez, founder and executive director of Housing and Education Alliance (HEA), as the winner of its 2023 Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award.

Now in its sixth year, the Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award recognizes an individual or organization that has exhibited a steadfast commitment to expanding access to affordable homeownership. DPR created the award program in memory of one of its first employees, Beverly Faull, for her wholehearted dedication to the company's mission to improve access to homebuyer assistance programs.

Long-time housing advocate and HUD-certified Housing Counselor Alvarez founded HEA in 2002 to serve residents of Tampa Bay, Fla. HEA has delivered more than $126 million in down payment assistance to low- and moderate-income (LMI) families in support of 12,000+ home purchases. The non-profit has received many awards including the coveted "NonProfit of the Year" through PBS's national program the Be More Awards.

Alvarez is a highly respected housing advocate and has worked with the U.S. Treasury, HUD, the Department of Agriculture and has been invited to the White House six times to consult on housing issues. She is the co-author of The American Nightmare: Strategies for Preventing, Surviving and Overcoming Foreclosure, which chronicles both the judicial and non-judicial processes, phases, options and consequences of foreclosure and how homeowners can rebuild their credit to purchase a home again. Alvarez has become an advocate and voice for homeless families and is frequently interviewed in local and national media on housing issues.

"We have been a proud partner and admirer of HEA for many years and look toward a brighter future in working together to help even more Tampa families become homeowners," said DPR CEO Rob Chrane. "I see a lot of Beverly [Faull] in Sylvia's determination and leadership style. We are thrilled to recognize her in Beverley's memory."

"I am honored DPR has recognized our efforts to help more than 55,000 Tampa Bay residents secure affordable housing. Our team has been passionate about this issue for more than two decades and continues to help LMI renters in Tampa make the move to homeownership to start to create generational wealth," Alvarez said. "We will continue to work hard to help every deserving applicant have a place to call home."

In recognition of Alvarez's achievements, DPR will make a $5,000 donation to HEA.

To learn more about HEA, visit https://www.heausa.org/.

About Down Payment Resource:

Down Payment Resource (DPR) is the housing industry authority on homebuyer assistance program data and solutions. With a database that tracks more than 2,200 programs and toolsets for mortgage lenders, multiple listing services and API users, DPR helps housing professionals connect homebuyers with the assistance they need. DPR frequently lends its expertise to nonprofits, housing finance agencies, policymakers, government-sponsored enterprises and trade organizations seeking to improve housing affordability. Its technology is used by five of the top 10 retail mortgage lenders by volume, three of the four largest real estate listing websites and 600,000 real estate agents.

For more information, visit https://downpaymentresource.com/.

Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry's leading technology for connecting home buyers with homebuyer assistance programs, today announced that it selected Sylvia Alvarez, founder and executive director of Housing and Education Alliance (HEA), as the winner of its 2023 Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award.

Related link: https://www.downpaymentresource.com/

FormFree celebrates its 10th appearance on the HousingWire Tech100

ATHENS, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree® today announced it has been honored as a HousingWire Tech100 Mortgage award winner for a tenth year. The fintech was recognized for the launch of its Residual Knowledge Income Index(tm) (RIKI(tm)), an innovative method for measuring consumers' ability to pay for mortgages and other loans based on cash-flow analysis.

RIKI offers lenders a more complete understanding of a loan applicant's borrowing capacity than traditional credit scores alone, making it possible for lenders to evaluate default risk and extend financing to homebuyers with little to no credit history. By downloading FormFree's Passport Wallet® app, consumers can view their real-time ability to pay, including their RIKI, and connect with home, auto and personal lenders on FormFree Exchange (FFX®), a marketplace that connects lenders with the high-intent, financially vetted borrowers who need them.

"While traditional credit scoring is a valuable resource, we want to ensure lenders have every scrap of data they need to make the right call on any given loan application," said FormFree Founder and CEO Brent Chandler. "By supplementing credit history with granular detail around a borrower's monthly income and expenditures, we empower lenders to provide financing to underserved markets while managing risk. It's an honor to have our efforts recognized as a part of the HousingWire Tech100."

"The technology capabilities and solutions that this year's Tech100 winning organizations have developed are an absolute testament to the relentless innovation within the real estate and mortgage technology landscape," HW Media Editor-in-Chief Sarah Wheeler said. "These past few years have been transformative for the industry, and these honorees are continuing to bring long-awaited solutions to the challenges that mortgage and real estate professionals have struggled with for decades. Congratulations to all the deserving winners for their outstanding contributions to our ever-evolving industry."

Now in its 12th year, HousingWire's Tech100 program recognizes tmpactful and innovative organizations whose technology solutions are driving efficiency, transparency and accessibility across the housing industry. Learn more about the HousingWire Tech100 and view FormFree's full company profile here: https://www.housingwire.com/company-profile/formfree-4/

About FormFree®

FormFree empowers consumers to understand their ability to pay and share it with lenders like never before. Using FormFree's Passport Wallet® app, consumers can share all the core financial data required by loan underwriters - including identity, assets, income, employment, credit history and cash-flow data - in seconds. Once consumers are ready to transact, they can anonymously share their data on the FormFree Exchange (FFX) and receive immediate offers from a marketplace of lenders who fully understand their ability to pay, residual income and eligibility for down payment assistance and inclusive lending programs. For more information, visit https://www.formfree.com/ or follow FormFree on LinkedIn.

FormFree® today announced it has been honored as a HousingWire Tech100 Mortgage award winner for a tenth year. The fintech was recognized for the launch of its Residual Knowledge Income Index(tm) (RIKI(tm)), an innovative method for measuring consumers' ability to pay for mortgages and other loans based on cash-flow analysis.

Related link: https://www.formfree.com/

LenderLogix Celebrates its Third Appearance on HousingWire’s annual Tech100 List of Innovative Mortgage Technology Firms

BUFFALO, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- LenderLogix, a leading provider of mortgage automation software and application programming interfaces (APIs), today announced it has been named to HousingWire magazine's annual Tech100 list. The Tech100 award seeks to highlight the most innovative technology companies across the housing sector.

LenderLogix was founded with the mission of delivering a meaningful and agile way for lenders to provide borrowers with a custom, digital-forward mortgage experience. This vision has resulted in the company's current suite of solutions, which have enabled hundreds of lending organizations to improve their borrower-facing digital footprint quickly and easily without squandering their bottom line.

"Lenders' need for agile technology is only growing. As the mortgage landscape shifts and consumer expectations grow, using outdated antique systems no longer meets borrower expectations, to put it simply," said LenderLogix founder and CEO Patrick O'Brien. "We're extremely proud of the better user experience we've brought for all parties through our product suite and thank HousingWire for recognizing our efforts."

LenderLogix offers a suite of tightly integrated white-labeled solutions for lenders of all sizes. Its product suite includes LiteSpeed, a white-labeled point of sale (POS) solution; QuickQual, which provides borrowers and real estate agents the ability to run payment and closing cost scenarios and generate/update pre-approval letters instantly; Fee Chaser, which sends the borrower a unique link to pay mortgage origination fees from any device seamlessly; and CRA Analytics' intuitive dashboards that enable lenders to track and measure their affordable lending and Community Reinvestment Act-related initiatives.

"One of the most exciting parts of my role at HousingWire is having a front row seat to witness stunning innovation in mortgage and real estate," said Clayton Collins, CEO of HW Media. "HousingWire is dedicated to serving housing professionals with the full picture, and the full picture isn't complete without deep and insightful coverage and resources to help mortgage and real estate professionals uncover the innovators and solutions that drive growth and efficiency in the housing sector."

To view the full list of HW Tech100 winners, visit: https://www.housingwire.com/articles/announcing-the-2024-tech100-mortgage-winners/

About LenderLogix:

LenderLogix leverages the four decades of firsthand mortgage origination and real estate experience of its executive team to design customized software and APIs to meet the needs of today's mortgage lenders. The company's suite of products addresses the speed at which today's real estate market moves by delivering technology solutions that create agile and informed borrowers, build strong referral partners and ultimately save lenders time and money. For more information, visit https://www.lenderlogix.com/.

About HousingWire:

HousingWire is an information services company that provides unique data and research, respected business journalism and must-attend events for housing leaders to use to advance their understanding and business outcomes. Our vision is a world in which housing leaders have a complete view of the housing market, and a broad community of peers with whom they can connect. We are committed to delivering the data, analytics, media, and events that advance this vision.

Because housing is too important for narrow perspectives and missed connections. Informed housing leaders are better housing leaders. A connected housing industry is a better housing industry. And the full picture always reveals new opportunities.

Explore more at www.housingwire.com.

LenderLogix, a leading provider of mortgage automation software and application programming interfaces (APIs), today announced it has been named to HousingWire magazine's annual Tech100 list. The Tech100 award seeks to highlight the most innovative technology companies across the housing sector.

Related link: https://www.lenderlogix.com/

Optimal Blue Clinches 2024 HousingWire Tech100 Mortgage Award

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Today, Optimal Blue announced its selection by HousingWire as a Tech100 Mortgage award winner. Now in its 12th year, HousingWire's Tech100 award program spotlights the most innovative and impactful tech organizations in housing.

"We are honored to be recognized by HousingWire for our end-to-end capital markets platform, which connects hundreds of thousands of individual lenders, investors, brokers and vendors across the primary and secondary mortgage markets," said Scott Smith, interim CEO at Optimal Blue. "Optimal Blue is continually investing in product innovation that enables our customers to operate more nimbly, efficiently and profitably, while at the same time growing our bench of experienced industry advisors and services staff."

Optimal Blue is an undisputed leader in mortgage secondary marketing technology, facilitating more than $1.1 trillion in mortgage locking and trading transactions annually. Its technology and data solutions are relied on by thousands of lenders and brokers, and hundreds of investors, as well as government agencies, think tanks, and others. The company's solutions are used by 68% of the top 500 mortgage lenders in the U.S.

Optimal Blue continues to invest in its market-leading position with a focus on enhanced user experience, cloud-first and cloud-native technology, world-class mobile solutions, and premier workflow, rules, and compliance technology.

"The technology capabilities and solutions that this year's Tech100 winning organizations have developed are an absolute testament to the relentless innovation within the real estate and mortgage technology landscape," HW Media Editor-in-Chief Sarah Wheeler said. "These past few years have been transformative for the industry and these honorees are continuing to bring long-awaited solutions to the challenges that mortgage and real estate professionals have struggled with for decades. Congratulations to all the deserving winners for their outstanding contributions to our ever-evolving industry."

About Optimal Blue:

Optimal Blue is a market leader in mortgage secondary marketing technology. The company facilitates transactions among mortgage market participants through its Marketplace Platform, actionable data, and technology vendor connections. The platform supports a range of functions for originators and investors to automate and optimize core processes related to product, pricing, and eligibility, hedge analytics, MSR valuation, loan trading, social media compliance, and counterparty oversight. The company's premier products are used by 68% of the top 500 mortgage lenders in the U.S.

For more information on Optimal Blue's end-to-end secondary marketing automation, visit http://www.optimalblue.com/.

Today, Optimal Blue announced its selection by HousingWire as a Tech100 Mortgage award winner. Now in its 12th year, HousingWire's Tech100 award program spotlights the most innovative and impactful tech organizations in housing.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

Floify named a 2024 HW Tech100 Mortgage honoree

BOULDER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- Floify, the mortgage industry's leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, announced that it has been named a HW Tech100 Mortgage award honoree.

Floify was recognized as an exceedingly user-friendly point-of-sale (POS) whose easy-to-configure platform and rule-based automations have made it beloved among small and midsize lenders and mortgage brokers. Floify's no-hassle platform comes equipped with native features and workflows that help lenders reduce costs and move with agility in any market.

"At Floify, we believe in empowering mortgage brokers and lenders of all stripes with tools that streamline their operations and enable them to adapt swiftly in a dynamic market," said Sofia Rossato, Floify's president and general manager. "Being named among this year's Tech100 Mortgage honorees is a testament to our vision of making mortgage processing as efficient and hassle-free as possible. We are grateful for this acknowledgment and remain dedicated to continuing our pursuit of excellence and innovation in the mortgage technology space."

"The technology capabilities and solutions that this year's Tech100 winning organizations have developed are an absolute testament to the relentless innovation within the real estate and mortgage technology landscape," HW Media Editor-in-Chief Sarah Wheeler said. "These past few years have been transformative for the industry, and these honorees are continuing to bring long-awaited solutions to the challenges that mortgage and real estate professionals have struggled with for decades. Congratulations to all the deserving winners for their outstanding contributions to our ever-evolving industry."

Now in its 12th year, the HW Tech100 recognizes some of the most innovative and impactful technology organizations serving the housing sector.

The full list of HW Tech100 honorees can be viewed at https://www.housingwire.com/.

About Floify:

Floify is a digital mortgage automation solution that streamlines the loan process by providing a secure application, communication, and document portal between lenders, borrowers, referral partners, and other mortgage stakeholders. Loan originators use the platform to collect and verify borrower documentation, track loan progress, communicate with borrowers and real estate agents, and close loans faster. The company is based in Boulder, Colorado and is a subsidiary of Porch Group, Inc. ("Porch Group") (NASDAQ: PRCH). For more information, visit the company's website at https://floify.com/ or on social media at Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter / X.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this release may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although the Company believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning the Company's possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements may be preceded by, followed by, or include the words "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "forecasts," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "plans," "scheduled," "anticipates," "intends," or similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Porch and its management at the time they are made, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (1) expansion plans and opportunities, and managing growth, to build a consumer brand; (2) the incidence, frequency, and severity of weather events, extensive wildfires, and other catastrophes; (3) economic conditions, especially those affecting the housing, insurance, and financial markets; (4) expectations regarding revenue, cost of revenue, operating expenses, and the ability to achieve and maintain future profitability; (5) existing and developing federal and state laws and regulations, including with respect to insurance, warranty, privacy, information security, data protection and taxation, and management's interpretation of and compliance with such laws and regulations; (6) the Company's reinsurance program, which includes the use of a captive reinsurer, the success of which is dependent on a number of factors outside management's control, along with reliance on reinsurance to protect us against loss; (7) uncertainties related to regulatory approval of insurance rates, policy forms, insurance products, license applications, acquisitions of businesses or strategic initiatives, including the reciprocal restructuring, and other matters within the purview of insurance regulators; (8) reliance on strategic, proprietary relationships to provide the Company with access to personal data and product information, and the ability to use such data and information to increase transaction volume and attract and retain customers; (9) the ability to develop new, or enhance existing, products, services, and features and bring them to market in a timely manner; (10) changes in capital requirements, and the ability to access capital when needed to provide statutory surplus; (11) the increased costs and initiatives required to address new legal and regulatory requirements arising from developments related to cybersecurity, privacy, and data governance and the increased costs and initiatives to protect against data breaches, cyber-attacks, virus or malware attacks, or other infiltrations or incidents affecting system integrity, availability and performance; (12) retaining and attracting skilled and experienced employees; (13) costs related to being a public company; and (14) other risks and uncertainties discussed in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and in Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, as well as those discussed in subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), all of which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Nothing in this release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the forward-looking statements in this release do not reflect the potential impact of any divestitures, mergers, acquisitions, or other business combinations that have not been completed as of the date of this release. Porch does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of changed circumstances, new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Floify, the mortgage industry's leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, announced that it has been named a HW Tech100 Mortgage award honoree. Floify was recognized as an exceedingly user-friendly point-of-sale (POS) whose easy-to-configure platform and rule-based automations have made it beloved among small and midsize lenders and mortgage brokers.

Related link: https://floify.com/

KROST Is Ranked Among CalCPA’s Top 150 Firms

PASADENA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- KROST CPAs and Consultants has been named one of the Top 150 Firms for 2023-2024 by CalCPA. This award recognizes the firm, with 100% membership. The company is ranked 33rd on the list. The recognition reflects KROST's dedication to professional development and the CalCPA organization. KROST is committed to providing clients with exceptional service and innovative solutions to meet their needs. This award is a testament to unwavering commitment to quality.

"I am thrilled to see KROST being recognized for their hard work and dedication with this prestigious award. Our staff members are actively involved with CalCPA and constantly attending events and webinars that they offer. Being a part of the CalCPA organization offers great opportunities in our profession," said Keith Hamasaki, CPA, KROST Principal & Trustee of the CalCPA Education Foundation.

California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA) was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Burlingame, California. It is the nation's largest state accounting organization and serves over 45,000 members statewide in public practice, private industry, education, government, and more. CalCPA, with 14 chapters located throughout the state, is committed to the education and betterment of our members and the profession.

Learn more about KROST's services - https://www.krostcpas.com/services

About KROST:

Established in 1939 in Pasadena, California, KROST is a full-service Certified Public Accounting and Consulting firm serving clients across various industries. Their focus is on recognizing opportunities and creating value for clients by equipping them with the tools to make better business and financial decisions for the future. As trusted advisors, clients depend on KROST to provide timely information, innovative solutions, and result-driven teamwork to ensure success.

Along with providing traditional services, such as Tax, Accounting, and Assurance & Advisory, KROST also provides special services, including Client Accounting Services (CAS), Mergers & Acquisitions, Wealth Management, Tax Specialty Services, and KROST Business Intelligence (KBI).

RELATED LINKS:
https://www.calcpa.org/

KROST CPAs and Consultants has been named one of the Top 150 Firms for 2023-2024 by CalCPA. This award recognizes the firm, with 100% membership. The company is ranked 33rd on the list. The recognition reflects KROST's dedication to professional development and the CalCPA organization.

Related link: https://www.krostcpas.com/

Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation Celebrates First Annual Catalyst Awards

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation recently held the first annual Catalyst Awards luncheon at LaCigale in Delray Beach. Pastor Bill Mitchell of CityLead Boca and Delray Beach police Sgt. Danny Pacheco Jr. of Delray Kicks were each honored as the inaugural recipients of cash grants of $32,500 each. The Catalyst Award program was established to celebrate the spirit of the late entrepreneur and humanitarian Carl Angus DeSantis.

Launched officially just over a year ago, the Foundation has already distributed almost $4 million dollars to organizations and individuals who exemplify the spirit of community, leadership, and excellence personified by Carl DeSantis.

"Carl was a man of action, he made things happen," said Jeff Perlman, Executive Vice President at CDS International Holdings and Foundation Administrator. "He was compassionate, generous, and colorful. In a word, he was a catalyst. To honor his legacy in a way that embodies his character, we created this award to recognize the people in our community who show us what is possible when we take action to help others."

One of the two individuals honored as a Catalyst winner is Pastor Bill Mitchell of Boca Community Church, whose CityLead Boca program has made a huge difference in the city and has now been scaled to other towns in Florida and the Midwest. The monthly program provides lessons in life, business, family, and community. Founded in 2014, Pastor Mitchell saw an opportunity to speak to the business community of South Florida, with a vision to raise the bar of character and ethics in the area.

The other 2024 Catalyst winner is Sgt. Danny Pacheco Jr., who founded Delray Kicks, a soccer program that works with mainly immigrant children, who are often wary of law enforcement. As an immigrant from Peru, Pacheco Jr. understood the children's experiences and strove to create a program that has helped build relationships, taught citizenship, and brought positive change to the lives of the kids they serve, making Delray Beach a better community for everyone.

"There is no application for the Catalyst Award," explained Perlman. "The work these recipients do speaks so loudly, that it cannot help but be noticed."

The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation also awards grants through an application process and these recipients were also recognized at the luncheon with presentations about each organization's mission, which will be accelerated by the Foundation's grant.

Organizations that were awarded funding this year include:

* The Indaba Foundation, which works diligently to change the lives of mothers and children in the winelands of South Africa.

* The Convoy of Hope, which helps local churches distribute supplies and aid to the survivors of the fires in Lahaina.

* The E. Gerald Kay Scholarship at Rutgers University, which honors the legacy of DeSantis' long-time friend and nutrition pioneer Jerry Kay.

* The Mayo Clinic to support cutting-edge Alzheimer's research.

* The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience to support Dr. Nico Spiller and his team's research into neuronal mechanisms related to memory, decision-making, and movement.

* The Florida Alzheimer's Center of Excellence at FAU, which coordinates services and support for families whose loved ones suffer from the disease.

* 4Kids which helps children in crisis through a variety of holistic programs.

* The Achievement Center for Children & Families, which provides quality early childhood education for the most-needy.

* The EJS Project provides teenagers with the opportunities to meet political, civic, and business leaders.

* Bound For College which guides and supports students through every step along the path towards success at college, breaking the cycle of poverty.

* Second Chance Initiative employs women who have overcome significant obstacles in their lives and provides the opportunity to create a brighter future.

For more information visit: https://www.carldesantis.org/

About The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation:

Inspired by the innovative spirit and generous heart of entrepreneur and humanitarian, Carl Angus DeSantis, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Foundation that bears his name was established to honor his legacy while providing game-changing support for nonprofits and individuals whose initiatives model DeSantis's guiding principles. With a focus on Civic Innovation, Faith-based Giving, Health & Nutrition, and Leadership & Entrepreneurship, the Foundation's mission is to champion people of action who are a transformative force for good in this world. As the founder of the global vitamin leader Rexall Sundown and the visionary behind Celsius' international success as a fitness drink, DeSantis had an illustrious and an inspiring career as an entrepreneur, however, his true talent was helping others thrive. Through the Foundation's work, new generations will benefit from DeSantis' extraordinary influence.

The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation recently held the first annual Catalyst Awards luncheon at LaCigale in Delray Beach. Pastor Bill Mitchell of CityLead Boca and Delray Beach police Sgt. Danny Pacheco Jr. of Delray Kicks were each honored as the inaugural recipients of cash grants of $32,500 each. The Catalyst Award program was established to celebrate the spirit of the late entrepreneur and humanitarian Carl Angus DeSantis.

Related link: https://www.carldesantis.org/

Murray Homes Wins At The NARI CotY 2023 Awards!

SARASOTA, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Each year, NARI of Tampa Bay presents Contractor of the Year Awards to members who have demonstrated outstanding work through the submission of their remodeling projects. The CotY Awards are the highest form of recognition by industry leaders and peers and celebrate members committed to design, best practices, integrity, high standards, and professionalism.

Murray Homes recognizes the importance of being part of this respected community of ambitious, like-minded professionals on a relentless quest for improvement.

Murray Homes, against the stiff competition of over 455 entries, is extremely honored and proud to have won the 2023 Entire House award for remodeling excellence on projects $250k - 4500K, for their Lido Shores remodel.

The Lido Shores Modern property, originally 7 bedrooms and used for an Airbnb, needed complete remodeling, including extensive works to ensure the property's structural integrity was secure and reconfigure the plumbing and electrical supply.

The owner's brief was to create a 5 bedroom home while maximizing the indoor living space by adding a study and remodeled staircase to incorporate an under-stairs wine cellar. The challenge also included the addition of 2,000 sq ft of outdoor entertainment area to create an expansive outdoor living experience that could be used year-round.

The end result, completed on time and budget, is a remarkable Coastal Contemporary home with a stunning tropical landscape vibe.

The owners were delighted that their vision had been brought to life by the team at Murray Homes!

ABOUT MURRAY HOMES:

Murray Homes is proud of our reputation for being THE leader and innovator in building luxury, custom homes both on and off the water in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Our growing portfolio of custom renovations including our unique and creative approach to remodeling ensures that we have the necessary experience to bring any thoughts or sketches on paper into a real-life dream home!

Highly skilled and with a sterling reputation to uphold, we guarantee that every Murray Home project receives the same meticulous attention to detail and the same drive for superior architecture and craftsmanship throughout.

Whatever the size, from 3,000 sq. ft coastal cottages to 11,000 sq. ft estates, our commitment to the highest standards is enhanced by unparalleled real estate knowledge, a 20-year proven track record, and a second-to-none portfolio.

More information: https://www.murrayhomesinc.com/

Each year, NARI of Tampa Bay presents Contractor of the Year Awards to members who have demonstrated outstanding work through the submission of their remodeling projects. The CotY Awards are the highest form of recognition by industry leaders and peers and celebrate members committed to design, best practices, integrity, high standards, and professionalism.

Related link: https://www.murrayhomesinc.com/

Legacy Wealth Advisors has been named to the 2nd annual Forbes 2024 Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams list

WARRENVILLE, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- Raymond James Financial Services is proud to announce that Legacy Wealth Advisors has been named to the 2nd annual Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams list* for 2024!

"I am proud of the Legacy Wealth team and their commitment to serving our clients. The team views them as family and handles their finances with all the care they would their own," said Seth Pietrini, COO at Legacy Wealth Advisors.

"Our purpose is to guide, educate, and give confidence to our clients, and I am inspired to see our team do that every day. They are honored to receive this award," he added.

Legacy Wealth is a diverse team that includes Financial Advisors Fernando Ereneta, Justin Ancona, and Jennifer Secola.

Fernando S. Ereneta has previously appeared on the top industry recognition for the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. The team also won this award in 2023, the first year of the "Team" award.

The Forbes/SHOOK Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams ranking, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm that looks at criteria such as service models, investing process, team construct, skill sets, etc. Also factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records. Research also consists of qualitative criteria, including telephone, virtual and in-person interviews.

For the full list and further information visit: https://www.forbes.com/lists/wealth-management-teams-best-in-state/

The 2024 Forbes ranking of America's Top Wealth Management Teams Best-In-State, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. This ranking is based upon the period from 3/31/2022 to 3/31/2023 and was released on 01/09/2024. Advisor teams that are considered must have one advisor with a minimum of seven years of experience, have been in existence as a team for at least one year, have at least 5 team members, and have been nominated by their firm. The algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Out of approximately 10,100 team nominations, 4,100 advisor teams received the award based on thresholds. This ranking is not indicative of an advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. Raymond James is not affiliated with Forbes or Shook Research, LLC. Please see https://www.forbes.com/lists/wealth-management-teams-best-in-state for more info.

The Forbes Top Wealth Advisors Best-In-State 2023 ranking, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. This ranking is based upon the period from 6/30/2021 to 6/30/2022 and was released on 4/4/2023. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years of experience, and the algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Out of approximately 39,007 nominations, 7,321 advisors received the award. This ranking is not indicative of an advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. Raymond James is not affiliated with Forbes or Shook Research, LLC. Please visit https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-in-state-wealth-advisors/?sh=181ba856ab97 for more info.

RELATED LINKS:

https://www.raymondjames.com/legacywealthadvisorsil/about-us/bio?_=Fernando.Ereneta

https://www.raymondjames.com/legacywealthadvisorsil/about-us/bio?_=Justin.Ancona

https://www.raymondjames.com/legacywealthadvisorsil/about-us/bio?_=Jennifer.Secola

Raymond James Financial Services is proud to announce that Legacy Wealth Advisors has been named to the 2nd annual Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams list* for 2024! Legacy Wealth is a diverse team that includes Financial Advisors Fernando Ereneta, Justin Ancona, and Jennifer Secola.

More Than A Wine Store: Award Winning Beverage Retailer Pours Into Community

WESTERLY, R.I. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Wine Store, a family-owned business in Westerly since 1985, is once again among the winners of Beverage Dynamics third-annual Top 100 Retailers Awards. These awards recognize off-premise retailers throughout the U.S. who demonstrate innovation, excellent customer and community service, and superior beverage alcohol industry knowledge.

The Wine Store has been recognized annually as a Beverage Dynamics Top 100 Retailer since the program's inception seven years ago. Prior, they were among Beverage Dynamics Retailers of the Year three years in a row. The Wine Store is the only Rhode Island retailer ever to be honored.

"We are thrilled to receive this award once again. It is a great testament to our employees' ongoing effort and dedication to the community we serve," shared Owner Frank Celico. "We have been family and community-oriented since day one."

Frank, his family, and his entire team consider The Wine Store "Your Partner in Community Service," a tagline he had copyrighted to signify that The Wine Store is not only a destination for its products and product knowledge, but also for support of community organizations. The list of local nonprofit and other organizations the store has partnered with for fundraisers and events over the years is extensive, as is the amount of money they have helped to raise. The retailer also displays information on other businesses and organizations in the area to further build community.

According to Lisa Konicki, President of the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce, "The Wine Store has been a generous and steadfast supporter of The Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce for over 30 years. They truly lead by example and have demonstrated a sincere commitment to helping foster a positive business environment for the entire town and its valued non-profit community. From sponsoring events to providing volunteer staffing at major fundraisers, they are always there to help. We are forever grateful to Frank and his team for their community support."

Annually, nominees are judged by the Beverage Dynamics editorial team, and winners are chosen to represent a diverse cross-section of the off-premise industry. They are business owners who take pride in their store, care about their customers and employees and stay involved in the community and the industry at large.

For historical information about the Top 100 Retailers and Retailers of the Year Awards, visit https://beveragedynamics.com/top100/.

"We're proud to name these successful retailers as winners of our prestigious award," says Beverage Dynamics Vice President Jeremy Nedelka. "They join some of the best and brightest of the industry and deserve the recognition they've received."

About The Wine Store:

The Wine Store is a nearly 40-year-old, family-owned and operated business. Westerly native Frank Celico opened the store in 1985 with his wife Donna. Other family members involved include their son, Tim, as Chief Operating Officer, and at times their granddaughter Margret. The Wine Store offers a vast selection of wine, beer, liquor and gifts for purchase in store or online at https://www.thewinestoreri.com/ or via its app available on apple app and google play stores. The retailer also serves as a community center for information on and support of local organizations.

About Beverage Dynamics:

Beverage Dynamics is the largest and most respected national magazine dedicated to the needs of the off-premise beverage alcohol retailer, whether it's the owner of a single liquor store, the general manager of a warehouse store or the buyer for a large supermarket or drug chain.

About Beverage Information Group:

Beverage Information Group is the top information source for the beverage alcohol industry, serving all industry segments through its magazines (Cheers, Cheers@Home, Beverage Dynamics, Beverage Wholesaler and StateWays), industry events (Beverage Alcohol Retailers Conference and Cheers Beverage Summit) and information services division.

The Wine Store, a family-owned business in Westerly since 1985, is once again among the winners of Beverage Dynamics third-annual Top 100 Retailers Awards. These awards recognize off-premise retailers throughout the U.S. who demonstrate innovation, excellent customer and community service, and superior beverage alcohol industry knowledge.

Related link: https://www.thewinestoreri.com/

Down Payment Resource’s Executive Vice President Sean Moss honored in National Mortgage Professional’s 2024 Industry Titans awards program

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry's leading technology for connecting home buyers with homebuyer assistance programs, today announced its Executive Vice President of Product and Operations Sean Moss has been selected as an Industry Titan by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) magazine. The award recognizes experienced professionals who show exceptional dedication, compassion and integrity who are improving the mortgage industry for both industry professionals and the clients they serve.

NMP recognized Moss for more than a decade of dedication to making homeownership possible for low-to-moderate income (LMI) homebuyers. Moss guides DPR to simplify, standardize and expand access to important but underutilized homebuyer assistance programs, including down payment assistance (DPA). With his laser focus on evolving DPR's products to empower professionals and homebuyers nationwide, Moss embodies the compassion and advocacy of an Industry Titan.

"I am deeply honored to be recognized as an Industry Titan by National Mortgage Professional magazine. This accolade is not just a reflection of my personal commitment, but it is a testament to the collective efforts of our team at Down Payment Resource," said Moss. "Our mission has always been to make homeownership more accessible, especially for low-to-moderate income families. By simplifying and expanding access to homebuyer assistance programs, we are not just offering financial solutions but are empowering dreams and building stronger communities. I am proud of the impact we've made and am excited to continue our work in revolutionizing the housing industry for the betterment of homebuyers and professionals alike."

Sean Moss has more than 18 years of experience in the real estate and finance industry. As DPR's executive vice president of product and operations, Moss oversees product strategy and development and collaborates with customers and partners to implement new solutions for affordable lending challenges. DPR keeps tabs on every homebuyer assistance program in the country by communicating with over 1,300 program providers year-round and keeping more than 2,200 programs up to date in its DPA Directory.

The full list of 2024 Industry Titans honorees can be viewed on the National Mortgage Professional website.

About Down Payment Resource:

Down Payment Resource (DPR) is the housing industry authority on homebuyer assistance program data and solutions. With a database that tracks more than 2,200 programs and toolsets for mortgage lenders, multiple listing services and API users, DPR helps housing professionals connect homebuyers with the assistance they need. DPR frequently lends its expertise to nonprofits, housing finance agencies, policymakers, government-sponsored enterprises and trade organizations seeking to improve housing affordability. Its technology is used by five of the top 10 retail mortgage lenders by volume, three of the four largest real estate listing websites and 600,000 real estate agents. For more information, visit https://downpaymentresource.com/.

Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry's leading technology for connecting home buyers with homebuyer assistance programs, today announced its Executive Vice President of Product and Operations Sean Moss has been selected as an Industry Titan by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) magazine. The award recognizes experienced professionals who show exceptional dedication, compassion and integrity who are improving the mortgage industry for both industry professionals and the clients they serve.

Related link: https://www.downpaymentresource.com/

California Safe Schools Celebrates its 25th Anniversary Honoring Environmental Health Heroes!

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- On Monday, December 4, 2023 at the California Endowment in historic downtown Los Angeles, California Safe Schools, a celebrated children's environmental health and environmental justice non-profit celebrated its 25th Anniversary with an event called "Your Life is Now" honoring seven trailblazing health and safety heroes and organizations.

California Safe School's founder and Executive Director, Robina Suwol, welcomed guests stating, "The solution to the environmental challenges facing us can only be found if we actively engage as a community. We are enormously happy to celebrate such accomplished individuals whose efforts continue to make our world a much better place."

"I could not be prouder to support CA Safe Schools and 'Your Life is Now' as we work for environmental justice for all," said Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles). "We must ensure all communities have clean air and water and work with 'Your Life is Now' to ensure our communities are involved."

"We thank each of these leaders for their passion and commitment to student success and safety. Thank you California Safe Schools, and congratulations on an incredible 25 years of truly impactful work," added Clayton Heard, Senior Field Representative from the Office of Assembly Member Josh Lowenthal.

DISTINGUISHED 2023 HONOREES

Lowell Anger, joined the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office in January 1995 and has been a Head Deputy District Attorney of the Environmental Crimes Division and the Organized Crime and Hate Crimes Division. He received the 2016 Project LEAD Award for the outstanding teacher in the District Attorney's program that works with at-risk fifth graders. Throughout his career, Lowell has been a frequent guest lecturer in schools throughout Los Angeles County.

Enrique Baeza, Branch Chief Peace Officer, California Department of Toxic Substances, Office of Criminal Investigation. Enrique is one of the first in the nation to create an Environmental Justice unit within a Law Enforcement office and has also been recognized for outstanding performance in the investigation and prosecution of a polluter in the highest traditions of the US Department of Justice.

Maria Dolores R. Dalusong has worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division for 20 years and is now Chief of the Vectorborne Disease Surveillance Program. She also serves on the Los Angeles Unified Integrated Pest Management Committee to protect children and all school stakeholders from pesticide exposure.

Mui Koltunov, Ph.D., Research Scientist Supervisor II, Branch Chief of the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory in Pasadena for the Department of Toxic Substances Control. Dr. Koltunov and her team established the Toxic Crusaders Program to work specifically with K-12 students and teachers to learn about toxic chemicals in consumer products and the environment.

Pete Treebumrung, Combines analytics and technology into visual map layers that provide a simple but transformative understanding of data to enable clear communication and focus problem-solving. Projects he has completed include, "Asthma Alley, CA", "The Diesel Death Zone of Los Angeles" and "The Poverty-Pollution Loop".

Los Angeles 10th District PTSA Children are the main focus of everything the PTA does with Informed parental involvement in the schools being essential to effective educational programs. Issues on their agenda: gun control, drug abuse, vaping, homelessness, teenage suicide, cultural diversity and belonging and social media impacts.

Los Angeles 31st District PTSA The 31st District PTSA serves 6 councils and over 110 PTA/PTSA units in the San Fernando Valley, Sunland and Tujunga area. Their areas of focus are: student and school success, health and safety, arts and culture, and advocacy.

"Congratulations to all the honorees. Your hard work and dedication to ensuring that children have safe schools free from harmful pesticides is admirable and wholeheartedly appreciated," said Joel Torrez, Jr. Environmental Health Deputy Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn.

Noemi Emeric-Ford, US EPA Region IX Director, Southern California Field Office said, "Protecting children from harm isn't just a responsibility, it's a commitment to shaping a safer future. Honoring those who have been champions to identify and eliminate toxic exposures in schools underscores the California Safe Schools Coalition's dedication to nurturing healthy spaces for our most precious resource - our children."

Each honoree was presented with California Safe Schools engraved Hero Award designed by celebrated artist Michael Bruza. Catering for the event was by Wolfgang Puck.

About California Safe Schools:

Founded by Robina Suwol in 1998, California Safe Schools (CSS) is children's environmental health and environmental justice coalition. CSS achieved national prominence by spearheading the Los Angeles Unified Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy, the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation for K-12 public schools and the first to embrace the "Precautionary Principle" and "Right to Know". The success of the policy led to California's Healthy Schools Act. Today the LA Unified IPM policy serves as an international model for school districts and communities.

On October 6, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 405 (Montanez) sponsored by California Safe Schools. The bill bans experimental pesticides, whose health effects are unknown, from California k-12 public schools. As a result, more than 6 million California children and hundreds of thousands of school children are protected from experimental chemicals, whose health effects are unknown.

Learn more: https://www.calisafe.org/

On Monday, December 4, 2023 at the California Endowment in historic downtown Los Angeles, California Safe Schools, a celebrated children's environmental health and environmental justice non-profit celebrated its 25th Anniversary with an event called "Your Life is Now" honoring seven trailblazing health and safety heroes and organizations.

Related link: http://www.calisafe.org/

Kodak Moments Becomes First Business Inducted Into the Kiosk Hall of Fame

ROCHESTER, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Kodak Moments is the newest member of the Kiosk Industry Hall of Fame - an award presented by the Kiosk Industry Group to recognize outstanding achievement and long-standing service to the kiosk industry. Kodak Moments is the first business to be inducted into the Kiosk Hall of Fame since its inception in 2003. Previously, the Hall of Fame was an honor exclusively for individual contributors to the industry.

"No business has made a greater impact on the kiosk industry than Kodak Moments," said Craig Allen Keefner, Kiosk Industry Group Manager and curator of the Kiosk Hall of Fame. "Kodak Moments was the original global provider of kiosks."

Hundreds of thousands of consumers use Kodak Moments touchpoints each day in a wide range of retail locations including pharmacies, big box stores, and small businesses. Indoor and outdoor kiosks are also deployed at amusement parks, resorts, and on cruise ships. "The proliferation of kiosks across retail and travel and leisure has been driven largely by photo kiosks," said Keefner.

Kodak Moments is also a leader in kiosk fleet management with a complete understanding of kiosk performance, how to manage and service a fleet, and the skilled resources to drive kiosk success.

"We are honored to be inducted into the Kiosk Industry Hall of Fame," said Kodak Moments President Nicki Zongrone. "Consumers rely on us to help preserve their cherished memories as well as the everyday moments that are worth sharing. We look forward to our continued collaboration with our retail partners to provide consumers a simple, smart and modern photo experience."

Kiosks drive traffic to stores and help retailers accelerate growth

Kodak Moments offers retailers a variety of traditional photo prints and premium photo products that are easy for consumers to create and order on demand. Data analysis has shown that a retailer with a photo department will experience a higher market basket due to customer visits to order and pick up photo products.

Kodak Moments technology offers the flexibility to deliver products in a way that's most convenient to consumers, so they can buy and print in store or buy online with delivery options to ship to home, ship to store, or print in store the same day. "Kodak Moments supports a complete omnichannel experience," explained Keefner. "ATMs and airline ticketing kiosks are single function and designed for more linear transactions. Photo kiosks provide a wider array of products and services."

Kodak Moments kiosks process information from a variety of sources. Since every order is unique, based on an individual consumer's images, photo kiosks have a dynamic user interface to deliver an experience that adapts to what each consumer wants.

"Since our inception, we have continued to lead the retail experience with innovations that enable consumers to celebrate, relive and share their Kodak Moments," said Zongrone.

ABOUT KODAK MOMENTS

Kodak Moments is a leading global provider of photo products and services to retailers, consumers, and entertainment properties. We inspire consumers to bring their memories to life-delivering innovative, high-quality photo products and experiences they find truly meaningful. Powered by over 100,000 consumer touchpoints across 30 countries globally, it's our mission to be the brand consumers choose to celebrate and preserve life's memories, from the big events to the everyday moments that matter. https://imaging.kodakalaris.com/kodak-moments

THE KIOSK INDUSTRY GROUP:

Learn more about the Kiosk Industry Group at: https://kioskindustry.org/

About the Kiosk Industry Hall of Fame: https://kioskindustry.org/kiosk-about-2023/kiosk-hall-fame/

Kodak Moments is the newest member of the Kiosk Industry Hall of Fame - an award presented by the Kiosk Industry Group to recognize outstanding achievement and long-standing service to the kiosk industry. Kodak Moments is the first business to be inducted into the Kiosk Hall of Fame since its inception in 2003. Previously, the Hall of Fame was an honor exclusively for individual contributors to the industry.

Related link: https://kioskindustry.org/

Kodak Moments Becomes the First Business Inducted Into Kiosk Hall of Fame

Kodak Moments is the newest member of the Kiosk Industry Hall of Fame - an award presented by the Kiosk Industry Group to recognize outstanding achievement and long-standing service to the kiosk industry. Kodak Moments is the first business to be inducted into the Kiosk Hall of Fame since its inception in 2003. Previously, the Hall of Fame was an honor exclusively for individual contributors to the industry.

Related link: https://kioskindustry.org/

Financial Advisor Keith Eckhardt of Edward Jones Receives CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Certification

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- Financial Advisor Keith Eckhardt of the financial services firm Edward Jones in Colorado Springs, Colorado has received the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, or CFP®, certification, granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board).

Becoming a CFP® professional expands a financial advisor's knowledge base in the following areas:

* Financial management

* Tax−sensitive investment strategies

* Retirement savings

* Insurance planning

* Education planning

* Estate considerations

In addition to the education and examination components of certification, Eckhardt also has committed to abiding by the CFP® Board's Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct.

Eckhardt completed his professional program at The American College of Financial Services ( https://www.theamericancollege.edu/ ).

Keith Eckhardt's office is located at 2950 Professional Place, Ste 205, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904−8106.

Edward Jones is a leading financial services firm in the U.S. and through its affiliate in Canada. The firm's more than 19,000 financial advisors serve more than 8 million clients with a total of $1.8 trillion in client assets under care at the end of September 2023. Edward Jones' purpose is to partner for positive impact to improve the lives of its clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. Through the dedication of the firm's approximately 52,000 associates and our branch presence in 68% of U.S. counties, the firm is committed to helping more people achieve financially what is most important to them. The Edward Jones website is at edwardjones.com, and its recruiting website is careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.

The CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP® (with plaque design) in the U.S.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Keith Eckhardt

719−578-5833

https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/keith-eckhardt

Financial Advisor Keith Eckhardt of the financial services firm Edward Jones in Colorado Springs, Colorado has received the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, or CFP®, certification, granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board).

Related link: https://www.edwardjones.com/

Argyle partners with Dark Matter to bring seamless direct-source income and employment verifications to Empower LOS customers

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Argyle, a platform providing automated income and employment verifications for some of the largest lenders in the United States, announced today its integration with the Exchange, an interconnected network of mortgage-specific service providers available to customers of the Empower® loan origination system (LOS) from Dark Matter Technologies. This collaboration simplifies the income and employment verification process for lenders, further amplifying the cost and time-saving benefits of digital borrower verification.

The native integration makes it easy for lenders to order Argyle's verification of income (VOI) and verification of employment (VOE) reports through the Empower LOS. Lenders have the flexibility to configure where VOI and VOE report ordering occurs in the loan origination workflow to support their manufacturing process and desired borrower experience. When borrowers connect through Argyle, direct-source data, reports and associated documentation are made available in Empower and refreshed throughout the loan cycle.

In October, Argyle announced its status as an authorized income and employment report supplier for Fannie Mae's Desktop Underwriter® (DU®) validation service. The Empower system's integrations with both Argyle and DU enable lenders to benefit from greater purchase certainty on expedited timelines.

"We are extremely excited to bring Argyle's enhanced verification of income and employment capabilities to the Empower system. Together, we've built an ideal integration that vastly improves the home financing process," said Shmulik Fishman, CEO of Argyle. "We are passionate about providing a best-case experience to as many customers and consumers as possible, and our partnership with Dark Matter Technologies does just that."

"As a customer of both Argyle and a current partner of Dark Matter Technologies, we know first-hand how this integration will improve our processes and service capabilities for our members," said John Harpst, VP of mortgage strategy at Lake Michigan Credit Union. "Argyle has proven a vitally important partner for us, and we look forward to increasing efficiency and data security through increased adoption of Argyle and its integration with the Empower LOS."

"We recognize the incredible effort lenders invest in perfecting the homebuying experience for borrowers and manufacturing loans efficiently, and we're here to support them every step of the way," said Rich Gagliano, CEO at Dark Matter Technologies. "Our native integration with Argyle underscores our commitment to supporting lenders in their choice of tools and processes. We aim to make the homebuying process a modern and enjoyable experience for everyone involved."

About Argyle:

Argyle is the leading provider of direct-source access to real-time income and employment data. With Argyle, companies automate critical workflows-including income and employment verifications, deposit switches, wage advances and loan repayments-so they can build better, more efficient processes, reduce risk and scale their business. Argyle largely serves the mortgage, background checks, personal lending and banking industries as well as the gig economy.

Founded in 2018, Argyle has raised over $77.6 million in capital and is backed by top investors, including Bain Capital Ventures, Bedrock, Checkr, F-Prime and SignalFire. Argyle's coverage of the U.S. workforce includes 99% of the Fortune 1000, is superior to the three largest credit bureaus and delivers hit rates higher than other data providers. Argyle has been recognized by Fintech Nexus as an Emerging Fintech Innovator, Forbes as one of America's Best Startup Employers, Tearsheet as the Best Alternative Data Product and Fintech Futures as a 2023 Fintech Startup of the Year. Argyle is also an authorized report supplier for Fannie Mae's Desktop Underwriter® validation service, a component of Day 1 Certainty®.

For more information on Argyle's industry-leading platform, please visit https://argyle.com/.

To stay up to date on all Argyle news, sign up for our newsletter here: https://argyle.com/blog/.

About Dark Matter Technologies:

Operating with the nimble nature of a startup and the disciplined maturity of one of the industry's leading providers, Dark Matter Technologies delivers cutting-edge technology, unparalleled automation and relentless innovation to leading mortgage lenders and companies nationwide. For more information, visit https://dmatter.com/.

Argyle, a platform providing automated income and employment verifications for some of the largest lenders in the United States, announced today its integration with the Exchange, an interconnected network of mortgage-specific service providers available to customers of the Empower® loan origination system (LOS) from Dark Matter Technologies. This collaboration simplifies the income and employment verification process for lenders, further amplifying the cost and time-saving benefits of digital borrower verification.

Related link: https://www.argyle.com/

EnergyCAP Recognized as a Leader in Energy Management Software by Independent Research Firm

BOALSBURG, Pa. /ScoopCloud/ -- EnergyCAP, a leading provider of energy and sustainability enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, proudly announces its prestigious placement in the top right leader quadrant of the Verdantix Green Quadrant: Energy Management Software 2023. This accolade underscores EnergyCAP's commitment to delivering innovative and effective solutions in the energy & sustainability management sector.

Tom Patterson, CEO of EnergyCAP, remarked on this achievement: "Being recognized by Verdantix as a leader in energy management software is a reflection of our team's dedication and the innovative strides we have made in the industry. Our focus has always been on providing solutions that meet and exceed the evolving needs of our clients, and this recognition is a significant milestone that underscores our commitment to advancing energy management and sustainability practices globally."

The Verdantix Green Quadrant report offers a comprehensive analysis of top EMS vendors, providing a detailed, fact-based comparison. EnergyCAP distinguished itself in this rigorous analysis, which included live product demonstrations and a multifaceted evaluation process.

EnergyCAP's responses to the Verdantix questionnaire highlighted the robustness and versatility of its software solution suite.

With over 40 years of experience in energy & utility bill management, EnergyCAP has significantly broadened its product offering following a private equity acquisition in 2021. The company acquired energy management and monitoring provider Wattics in 2022 and launched our financial grade greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting solution, EnergyCAP CarbonHub, in 2023. The suite of solutions - EnergyCAP SmartAnalytics (formerly Wattics), EnergyCAP UtilityManagement, and EnergyCAP CarbonHub - integrate seamlessly to manage energy, cost, and carbon data from the portfolio level down to the asset and device level in a single platform.

EnergyCAP excels in all six functionalities assessed by Verdantix, earning a score above 1.0 in each category. EnergyCAP UtilityManagement is particularly noteworthy, scoring a 2.0 due to advanced automated bill processing, direct utility provider connections, and an intuitive interface for bill and contract visualization. The interaction between EnergyCAP SmartAnalytics and EnergyCAP UtilityManagement offers bill validation and enables energy and cost predictions through a cross-package machine learning algorithm. EnergyCAP also achieves a high score for carbon management, with comprehensive carbon accounting and reporting functionality, supported by a global catalogue of emissions factors.

"EnergyCAP's integration of utility bill data management, real-time energy intelligence, and finance grade carbon accounting into a single platform demonstrates a comprehensive approach to energy, cost, and sustainability data management. These features make it well-suited to address the diverse and evolving needs of energy and sustainability professionals," said Harry Wilson of Verdantix.

"Our placement in the Verdantix Green Quadrant is a reflection of our commitment to excellence and our mission of helping customers better manage their finite resources to create a more sustainable world," added Tom Patterson.

You can download the report from Verdantix here: https://www.verdantix.com/report/green-quadrant-energy-management-software-2023

For more information about EnergyCAP and our suite of energy and sustainability solutions, please visit https://www.energycap.com/.

About EnergyCAP:

EnergyCAP is a leading provider of energy and sustainability enterprise resource planning (ERP), empowering customers with full control and understanding of their energy & sustainability data to reduce their carbon footprint and drive savings. For over forty years, thousands of public and private institutions have been using EnergyCAP to streamline accounting processes, reduce resource consumption, and identify opportunities for sustainable operations. EnergyCAP helps customers who are drowning in paper bills, manual processes, and cumbersome spreadsheets and enables them to execute, analyze, and report on the energy and decarbonization projects needed to create a more sustainable world. Visit Energycap.com to learn more.

EnergyCAP, a leading provider of energy and sustainability enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, proudly announces its prestigious placement in the top right leader quadrant of the Verdantix Green Quadrant: Energy Management Software 2023. This accolade underscores EnergyCAP's commitment to delivering innovative and effective solutions in the energy & sustainability management sector.

Related link: https://www.energycap.com/

Lowell Chamber Orchestra Receives Three-Year Funding for Advancement Of BIPOC Composers

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO) has been inducted into the Barr Foundation's "Creative Vitality Grant Program," in order to continue its mission of providing the greater Lowell area with the most diverse classical music.

Barr's new Creative Vitality grant program builds on the Foundation's racial equity work to date and their commitment to centering BIPOC artists, organizations, and communities in their program strategies. Creative Vitality is an opportunity to expand the understanding and support of the BIPOC arts ecosystem more broadly by supporting arts organizations.

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra will receive funding over three years to expand the understanding and appreciation of BIPOC composers in classical music.

"The Lowell Chamber Orchestra will use this grant to further include the work of BIPOC artists," says LCO's Music Director Orlando Cela. "After we got the news, I decided to revisit the remainder of the season and include a work by South African composer Bongani Ndodana-Breen in our upcoming December concert, and the Symphony for Violas and Basses by the little-known but consequential African-American composer Julia Perry in our February performance."

The orchestra also plans to present educational events that will introduce the contributions of BIPOC composers such as Florence Price, William Grant Still, George Lewis, and many others, to classical music.

About The Lowell Chamber Orchestra:

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is Lowell's first and only professional orchestra. They provide the area with classical music at a very high level, of all styles and time periods, entirely free to the general population. The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is a component fund supported by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

For more information on this and upcoming events, please visit: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/fMYsvK_AadM

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO) has been inducted into the Barr Foundation's "Creative Vitality Grant Program," in order to continue its mission of providing the greater Lowell area with the most diverse classical music.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International Selects Two Bay Area Women to Receive Business and Mentorship Grants

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI-SF) is thrilled to announce the grant winners of their inaugural 2023 Female Entrepreneurship Grant and Mentorship program: Stephanie de la Cruz of De La Creamery in Oakland and Wendy Lieu of Socola Chocolatier in San Francisco.

The mission of the LDEI-SF Female Entrepreneur Grant and Mentorship program is to support SF Bay Area female-owned businesses in the food, culinary and hospitality industry with cash awards of $5,000 to help them expand and enhance their business. This is an exciting opportunity to help advance the grant winner's businesses through financial support and ongoing mentorship.

The grant recipients will receive benefit from a full year of mentoring meetings amongst fellow accomplished business owners, entrepreneurs, and members of the LDEI-SF Business Grant Committee: Mary Gassen, Emily Luchetti, Maryam Ahmed, Linda Carucci, Sue Conley, Duskie Estes, Janet Griggs, Marsha McBride, and Dominica Rice-Cisneros. In addition, they will receive access to relationship-building and networking as part of LDEI-SF's extensive and thriving membership.

"The LDEI Grant committee was honored to receive more than 20 applications in our inaugural year from very qualified woman-owned food businesses in the Bay Area," said co-chair of LDEI-SF's Business Grant Committee Mary Gassen, who created the concept. "The financial award is important to both businesses, but we feel that the year-long mentorship these businesses will receive from our chapter will be invaluable."

The Grant Recipients

Stephanie De La Cruz worked in events and hospitality for many years, but upon losing her job during the COVID-19 pandemic, started making ice cream. Stephanie decided to take on the challenge of making horchata ice cream; a prominent flavor in many taquerias and Mexican homes. Once the recipe was mastered, she started developing a line of ice cream flavors dedicated to her Mexican heritage and culture. Shortly after, De La Creamery was born. In 2023, she took out her first business loan, and looks forward to eventually expanding her business into a brick-and-mortar location.

"I am looking forward to learning and being connected to the talented creators of the Bay Area, many of which are household names for our community," stated De La Cruz. "We will be able to pave the steps to following in their footsteps."

Wendy Lieu has been making handmade chocolates and confections that reflect the diverse flavors of her Vietnamese heritage for over 22 years. A self-taught Chocolatier, Wendy also attended classes at the Culinary Institute of America and evening classes at Pastry School at Tante Marie Cooking School in San Francisco, and took the plunge into full business ownership through a Business Planning Course at Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center. She also holds a degree in Managerial Economics from UC Davis.

Timing of the award is particularly advantageous for Lieu, who will celebrate the store's 10-year anniversary next February. "I am so excited to be able to refresh the store with new signage and updates to make it an even more inviting space for our customers. I also look forward to the mentorship to grow my business."

This year's awards were made possible due to the generous support of Mijenta Tequila and the fundraising efforts of the San Francisco chapter of LDEI-SF, as well as the commitment of mentoring time and talent of the chapter's Dames. A gathering to celebrate the award winners will be held in the Bay Area in early 2024.

About Les Dames d'Escoffier International

LDEI is an international organization of women leaders who create a supportive culture in their communities to achieve excellence in the food, beverage and hospitality fields. To do this, 2,500 members in 43 chapters worldwide provide leadership, educational opportunities and philanthropy within their communities.

For more information, visit https://ldei.org/ and follow us on Facebook, Instagram @lesdamesintl, LinkedIn and Twitter @lesdamesintl. More information on The San Francisco chapter of LDEI, which will celebrate 35 years in 2024, can be accessed at lesdamessf.org. Follow our chapter activities on Instagram @lesdamessf.

The San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI-SF) is thrilled to announce the grant winners of their inaugural 2023 Female Entrepreneurship Grant and Mentorship program: Stephanie de la Cruz of De La Creamery in Oakland and Wendy Lieu of Socola Chocolatier in San Francisco.

Related link: https://lesdamessf.org/

Argyle CEO Shmulik Fishman named a 2023 HousingWire Tech Trendsetter

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Argyle, a platform providing automated income and employment verifications for some of the largest lenders in the United States, announced today that CEO Shmulik Fishman has been named to HousingWire's list of 2023 Tech Trendsetters. Now in its fifth year, the Tech Trendsetters award honors the 50 most impactful executives, product leaders and professionals shaping innovation in the mortgage and real estate industries. Fishman was recognized for his championship of Argyle's mortgage-ready offering, which allows lenders to instantly generate income and employment verifications, pull borrowers' pay stubs and W-2s without friction and automate loan repayments.

In the last 12 months, Argyle has secured new data quality and security certifications, established integrations with the industry's top loan origination technologies and become the first consumer-permissioned provider of income and employment verifications to support the Desktop Underwriter® (DU®) Validation Service from Fannie Mae. Under Fishman's leadership, Argyle has grown revenue over 100% year-over-year and has welcomed more than 50 new mortgage customers in 2023.

"Argyle's goal is to empower lenders to make decisions based on income and employment that is real-time, consumer-permissioned and equitable for all working individuals, not just full-time employees," said Fishman. "Developing novel ways to organize all the information wrapped up in employment records is a team effort. We are proud to be transforming mortgage underwriting with data that streamlines lender operations, reduces the growing issue of fraud and ensures up-to-the-minute accuracy."

"HousingWire's Tech Trendsetters award provides a unique platform for us to shine a spotlight on the visionaries steering the course of the tech organizations that are reshaping the housing landscape," HousingWire's Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler said. "These trailblazers play a pivotal role in the success of their mortgage and real estate clientele. Once again, they have exceeded expectations, addressing some of the most pressing challenges within the housing sector with ingenuity and determination."

The full list of 2023 HW Tech Trendsetters will be profiled in the December/January issue of HousingWire magazine. Winners were selected by a panel of HousingWire editors and reporters based on their accomplishments and professional success over the last 12 months. The complete list of HW Tech Trendsetters can be found online at https://www.housingwire.com.

About Argyle:

Argyle is the leading provider of direct-source access to real-time income and employment data. With Argyle, companies automate critical workflows-including income and employment verifications, deposit switches, wage advances and loan repayments-so they can build better, more efficient processes, reduce risk and scale their business. Argyle largely serves the mortgage, background checks, personal lending and banking industries as well as the gig economy.

Founded in 2018, Argyle has raised over $77.6 million in capital and is backed by top investors, including Bain Capital Ventures, Bedrock, Checkr, F-Prime and SignalFire. Argyle's coverage of the U.S. workforce includes 99% of the Fortune 1000, is superior to the three largest credit bureaus and delivers hit rates higher than other data providers. Argyle has been recognized by Fintech Nexus as an Emerging Fintech Innovator, Forbes as one of America's Best Startup Employers, Tearsheet as the Best Alternative Data Product and Fintech Futures as a 2023 Fintech Startup of the Year. Argyle is also an authorized report supplier for Fannie Mae's Desktop Underwriter® validation service, a component of Day 1 Certainty®.

For more information on Argyle's industry-leading platform, please visit https://www.argyle.com/. To stay up to date on all Argyle news, sign up for our newsletter here.

Argyle, a platform providing automated income and employment verifications for some of the largest lenders in the United States, announced today that CEO Shmulik Fishman has been named to HousingWire's list of 2023 Tech Trendsetters. Now in its fifth year, the Tech Trendsetters award honors the 50 most impactful executives, product leaders and professionals shaping innovation in the mortgage and real estate industries.

Related link: https://www.argyle.com/

LenderLogix Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Scott Falbo named a 2023 HousingWire Tech Trendsetter

BUFFALO, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- LenderLogix, a leading provider of mortgage point-of-sale and automation software for banks, credit unions, independent mortgage banks and brokers, today announced Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Scott Falbo has been selected by HousingWire as a 2023 Tech Trendsetter Award winner. In its fifth year, HousingWire's Tech Trendsetters award recognizes the most impactful and innovative technology leaders serving the housing economy.

"HousingWire's Tech Trendsetters award provides a unique platform for us to shine a spotlight on the visionaries steering the course of the tech organizations that are reshaping the housing landscape," HousingWire's Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler said. "These trailblazers play a pivotal role in the success of their mortgage and real estate clientele. Once again, they have exceeded expectations, addressing some of the most pressing challenges within the housing sector with ingenuity and determination."

Leveraging his experience in developing software within other highly regulated industries and direct lender feedback on existing pain points, Falbo architected the current LenderLogix product suite to help lenders address gaps in their existing tech stack that have prevented their organizations from delivering the agile digital mortgage experience borrowers crave. As a result, hundreds of lending organizations can now provide a more cohesive and responsive digital experience quickly, easily and cost-effectively through the LenderLogix technology suite, which includes LiteSpeed, QuickQual, Fee Chaser and CRA Analytics.

"Our team is fortunate to be made up of former mortgage lending professionals and technologists, which leads to empathy for mortgage lenders sitting at the core of our company culture," Falbo said. "Though digital point-of-sale and origination technologies have become table stakes in today's mortgage market, every decision we make within our platform of digital lending tools is with the mortgage lender and their customers at the center. By keeping this in mind, we help lenders deliver incredible experiences to their borrowers and real estate partners."

The 2023 HousingWire Tech Trendsetters were selected by HousingWire's selection committee based on their vital and dynamic contributions to their organizations and the housing industry as a whole. The complete list of HousingWire Tech Trendsetter Award recipients can be found at www.housingwire.com

About LenderLogix

LenderLogix leverages the four decades of firsthand mortgage origination and real estate experience of its executive team to design customized software and APIs to meet the needs of today's mortgage lenders. The company's suite of products addresses the speed at which today's real estate market moves by delivering technology solutions that create agile and informed borrowers, build strong referral partners and ultimately save lenders time and money. For more information, visit https://www.lenderlogix.com/.

About HousingWire

HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches more than 70,000 newsletter subscribers daily and 1 million unique visitors each month and has more than 5,000 members and event attendees. Visit www.housingwire.com or www.solutions.housingwire.com to learn more.

LenderLogix, a leading provider of mortgage point-of-sale and automation software for banks, credit unions, independent mortgage banks and brokers, today announced Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Scott Falbo has been selected by HousingWire as a 2023 Tech Trendsetter Award winner. In its fifth year, HousingWire's Tech Trendsetters award recognizes the most impactful and innovative technology leaders serving the housing economy.

Related link: https://www.lenderlogix.com/

Edupoint Educational Systems Recognizes Seven Partner Districts in its 4th Annual Synergy Achievement Awards Program

MESA, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- Edupoint® Educational Systems, creator of the industry-leading Synergy® Education Platform for K-12 student information and learning management, today announced the honorees of the 2023 Synergy Achievement Awards program. The company paid tribute to seven districts earlier this month at its annual Synergy Connect Users Conference in Orlando, Florida. The annual awards program celebrates partner districts that use the Synergy platform creatively to solve a problem, improve a process, or positively impact student learning.

"For this year's awards program, Edupoint recognized seven partner districts for a wide range of achievements," said Rob Wilson, President and Chief Innovation Officer at Edupoint. "These district initiatives helped improve processes and outcomes in a variety of areas, including attendance, consistency of instruction, and student health and safety. We continue to be inspired by the enthusiasm and innovation that our partner districts bring to the table in leveraging the Synergy platform's flexibility and extensibility to meet their unique needs."

Edupoint awarded $2,500 technology grants to four winning districts: Chesterfield County Public Schools (VA), Las Cruces Public Schools (NM), Poudre School District (CO), and Bonny Eagle School District (ME). Three additional districts received honorable mention awards and $1,000 technology grants: Coffee County Public Schools (TN), Osseo Area Schools (MN), West Genesee Community School District (NY).

About Edupoint Educational Systems:

For over 35 years, the leadership of Edupoint Educational Systems has provided well-designed, technologically advanced student data management systems that empower K-12 stakeholders to improve student achievement. Synergy Education Platform by Edupoint is an industry-leading student data management ecosystem built to fit the way educators already work. Synergy is unique among K-12 student data management solutions in providing an array of role-based mobile apps designed to give all stakeholders access to the tools they need when and where they need them. More than 5.5 million students use Synergy in 22 states.

LEARN MORE: https://www.edupoint.com/

Edupoint® Educational Systems, creator of the industry-leading Synergy® Education Platform for K-12 student information and learning management, today announced the honorees of the 2023 Synergy Achievement Awards program. The company paid tribute to seven districts earlier this month at its annual Synergy Connect Users Conference in Orlando, Florida. The annual awards program celebrates partner districts that use the Synergy platform creatively to solve a problem, improve a process, or positively impact student learning.

Related link: https://www.edupoint.com/

U.S. News & World Report Names Hebrew Home of Greater Washington on the Charles E. Smith Life Communities Campus the Best in Maryland

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- Charles E. Smith Life Communities (CESLC) is proud to announce that their skilled nursing health center, the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, has been recognized as the Best Nursing Home in Maryland for 2024 by U.S. News & World Report. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Hebrew Home has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report.

Since 2009, U.S. News' annual Best Nursing Homes ratings have assisted consumers in need of either short-term rehabilitation or long-term care for themselves or a family member.

The Hebrew Home of Greater Washington earned its U.S. News Best Nursing Home status by achieving a rating of "High Performing," the highest possible rating, for Long-Term Care. U.S. News gives the designation of Best Nursing Home only to those that satisfy U.S. News' assessment of consistent performance in quality measures.

"We are honored to be recognized and I applaud all associates at CESLC for their tireless dedication to delivering on our care promise. In addition to CESLC's numerous care providers, our long-term care team also includes a full-time medical director along with five full-time physicians dedicated to delivering award-winning quality and person-centered care and promoting the dignity of others," said Brenda Rice, vice president of operations at CESLC.

For the 2024 edition, U.S. News rated more than 15,000 nursing homes on patient and resident outcomes, such as infection rates; staffing levels; potentially inappropriate reliance on antipsychotic drugs; health inspection results and other indicators of quality.

"U.S. News' Best Nursing Homes ratings give patients, senior residents, their families and caregivers an objective assessment of quality, to help them choose the facility that best fits their individual needs," said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. "Nursing homes that have earned the recognition of U.S. News have a track record of achieving better outcomes for patients and residents, and maximizing the amount of care they receive from nurses and other staff."

To calculate the Best Nursing Homes ratings, U.S. News evaluated each nursing home's performance using a variety of quality measures obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The U.S. News methodology factors data such as resident care, safety and outcomes. Both short- and long-term ratings include data on nurse staffing, use of antipsychotic drugs and success in preventing ER and hospital visits. The long-term care rating also includes measures of whether a home changed ownership and how well they were staffed on weekends.

For more information, visit Best Nursing Homes and use #BestNursingHomes on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

U.S. News and World Report recognized the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington in the categories of Best Nursing Home for both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care for 2022-2023 and 2020-2021, and for short-term care additionally in 2021-2022 and 2019-2020.

Visit https://www.smithlifecommunities.org/ for more information about the community, care, services and awards.

About CESLC:

Charles E. Smith Life Communities (CESLC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving more than 1,100 older adults, is located on a 38-acre campus in Rockville, Maryland. Established as the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington in 1910, CESLC is committed to providing residents meaningful connections, intellectual pursuits, artistic expression, active social lives and cultural exploration. CESLC offers independent living at Revitz House and Ring House; assisted living at Landow House; memory care at Cohen-Rosen House, with services including post-acute care and long-term skilled nursing care at Hebrew Home of Greater Washington; medical care at Hirsh Health Center; and temporary shelter and advocacy for victims of elder abuse at the ElderSAFE(tm) Center. The Hebrew Home of Greater Washington has a Five-Star Overall Quality Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services which is the highest rating.

Charles E. Smith Life Communities (CESLC) is proud to announce that their skilled nursing health center, the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, has been recognized as the Best Nursing Home in Maryland for 2024 by U.S. News & World Report. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Hebrew Home has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report.

Related link: https://liveatceslc.org/

Edupoint Selects Wyoming Public Schools in Michigan for its 8th Annual Partner for Life Award

MESA, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- Edupoint® Educational Systems, creator of the industry-leading Synergy® Education Platform for K-12 student information and learning management, today announced that Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) has been selected as the recipient of the company's eighth annual Partner for Life Award. Edupoint Founder and CEO Bob Weathers presented the award to Deb Sellers, Data/Training Specialist for WPS, on Nov. 2 at the 2023 Synergy Connect Users Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Located near Grand Rapids, Michigan, Wyoming Public Schools began using Synergy in 2011 to support the district's 4,000 students and staff across nine buildings. Over the years, Wyoming's use of Synergy has evolved to include hosting and mentoring to four neighboring school districts, supporting a combined population of more than 12,000 students.

WPS and the districts it supports elected to adopt Synergy as their common student information system in order to better collaborate across districts as well as with Edupoint. The Wyoming technology department takes a leading role in supporting all aspects of that collaboration, coordinating the rollout of new releases, recruiting users to pilot new features, taking feedback from end users, and communicating those feedback points to Edupoint.

"My passion is making everyone's lives a little easier," said Sellers. "You really have to listen to what people's needs are and how to help them. The more success our teachers have with the technology that we provide for them, the more successful our students will be."

"Over the years, the Edupoint team has had the pleasure of seeing Wyoming Public Schools leverage the Synergy platform's functionality, and in particular its customization and automation capabilities, to maximize what the district can do despite the small size of its technology team," said Bob Weathers, Founder and CEO at Edupoint. "The Wyoming team consistently approach new product features and solutions with enthusiasm and a mindset for innovation, and have been outstanding partners to Edupoint for more than a decade. I am delighted to recognize Wyoming as this year's Partner for Life Award recipient."

Edupoint has awarded $10,000 to Wyoming Public Schools to be granted as a student scholarship.

About Edupoint Educational Systems

For over 35 years, the leadership of Edupoint Educational Systems has provided well-designed, technologically advanced student data management systems that empower K-12 stakeholders to improve student achievement. Synergy Education Platform by Edupoint is an industry-leading student data management ecosystem built to fit the way educators already work. Synergy is unique among K-12 student data management solutions in providing an array of role-based mobile apps designed to give all stakeholders access to the tools they need when and where they need them. More than 5.5 million students use Synergy in 22 states.

Learn more: https://www.edupoint.com/

Edupoint® Educational Systems, creator of the industry-leading Synergy® Education Platform for K-12 student information and learning management, today announced that Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) has been selected as the recipient of the company's eighth annual Partner for Life Award. Edupoint Founder and CEO Bob Weathers presented the award to Deb Sellers, Data/Training Specialist for WPS, on Nov. 2 at the 2023 Synergy Connect Users Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Related link: https://www.edupoint.com/

MMI Ranked 427th Fastest-Growing Company in North America on the 2023 Deloitte Technology Fast 500™

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), a leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, today announced it ranked No. 427 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™, a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech and energy tech companies in North America, now in its 29th year. MMI grew 285% during this period.

"It's been a difficult year for lenders, which has made us more passionate than ever about providing them with the data and insights necessary to succeed in this market," said MMI founder and CEO Ben Teerlink. "It's an honor to be included in Deloitte Technology's Fast 500. This award is a testament to the enthusiasm we're met with daily from our employees and industry partners. Quite simply, we couldn't do what we do without them."

MMI's signature data intelligence platform provides actionable insights for lenders, real estate agents, real estate brokerages, title companies and others in the real estate industry. By accessing an unrivaled database of comprehensive real estate and mortgage production information, MMI's enterprise customers can identify partner networks that best support their business objectives with granular insight into lenders, loan officers and real estate agents by region or individual transactions.

"As for growing companies, it's always rewarding to be recognized for the ongoing commitment it takes to navigate obstacles, transform when necessary and ultimately create a thriving business," said Christie Simons, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP and industry leader for technology, media and telecommunications within Deloitte's audit and assurance practice. "Over the nearly 30 years we've been compiling the Technology Fast 500, we've seen new categories emerge, growth rates explode, and certain regional markets shine from the bright talent they attract. We are proud of all the winners for achieving this well-deserved honor."

Overall, the 2023 Technology Fast 500 companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 201% to 222,189% over the three-year time frame from 2019 to 2022, with an average growth rate of 1,934% and a median growth rate of 497%.

About the 2023 Deloitte Technology Fast 500™

Now in its 29th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies - both public and private - in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2018 to 2022.

In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least US $50,000 and current-year operating revenues of at least US$5 million. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America.

About MMI

Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI) is a market leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, the company's signature product, MMI, provides actionable intelligence for lenders, real estate agents, real estate brokerages, title companies and others in the real estate industry. MMI is currently used by more than 450 enterprise customers, including 20 of the top 25 lenders in the country.

To learn more, visit https://mmi.io/ or contact sales@mmi.io.

Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), a leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, today announced it ranked No. 427 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™, a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech and energy tech companies in North America, now in its 29th year. MMI grew 285% during this period.

Related link: https://mmi.io

Nandita Bakhshi to Join Teresa Bryce Bazemore in Conversation at Financial Women of San Francisco’s Annual Event

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Financial Women of San Francisco (FWSF) today announced that Nandita Bakhshi, Special Advisor and Board Member at BMO Financial Group and Former CEO of Bank of the West, will be the guest moderator as FWSF honors Teresa Bryce Bazemore, President and CEO of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, at the 2023 Financial Woman of the Year luncheon in San Francisco, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

As the FWSF announced earlier this year, Teresa Bryce Bazemore is being honored as the FWSF's 2023 Financial Woman of the Year. This honor culminates with this annual event at which Ms. Bazemore and Ms. Bakhshi will engage in a fireside chat to share their professional and personal journeys and leadership perspectives.

Nandita and Teresa are uniquely connected as two of the most admired, influential, and recognized women leaders in the nation. This event presents a significant and rare opportunity to hear directly from them both on a wide range of subjects, including their unique paths to achieving transformative business results while leading inclusively, equitably, sustainably, and with purpose.

The FWSF annual event featuring Nandita and Teresa's fireside chat will take place on Tuesday, November 7th, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero in San Francisco, California. All proceeds benefit the FWSF's scholarship fund (a 501(c)3 nonprofit) which provides scholarships to graduate and undergraduate women studying finance and financial services. This next generation of financial leaders will also be a focus of this in-depth fireside chat, and many of the organization's current and past scholarship recipients will be in attendance.

More information about the FWSF annual event and sponsorship opportunities can be found on the FWSF website or by reaching out to info@financialwomensf.org

Learn more: https://financialwomensf.org/event-calendar#id=435&cid=1390&wid=1201

About Nandita Bakhshi:

Nandita Bakhshi rose through adversity as an immigrant and part-time bank teller to become one of few women CEOs of a major bank in the US. She has devoted her career to inclusive, transformational, and forward-looking leadership while consistently delivering operational excellence and tangible results.

As the CEO of Bank of the West, Nandita led a digital transformation that turned the company into one of the leading sustainable banks in the U.S. while improving profitability, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, culminating in a successful acquisition by BMO Financial Group. Under Nandita's leadership, Bank of the West became one of the nation's best employers for women, diversity, and LGBTQ equality.

As a senior executive at major organizations including TD Bank, Bank of America, First Data and Washington Mutual, Nandita has spearheaded innovation in digital channels and mobile payments, while also strengthening compliance and reducing operational risk in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.

Nandita has been recognized as one of the most influential women in business in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the U.S. In 2021, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco appointed Nandita to represent the 12th District on the Federal Advisory Council. She serves on the Board of Directors of BMO Financial Corp; Grameen America; the Supervisory Board of The Clearing House; and the Board of Directors of the U.S. India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF). She is also a member of the Pacific Bankers Management Institute Board of Directors at the Pacific Coast Banking School (PCBS). Nandita holds a Master of Arts in international relations from Jadavpur University and a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Calcutta.

About Teresa Bryce Bazemore:

Teresa Bryce Bazemore joined FHLBank San Francisco as president and chief executive officer in March 2021. She is a seasoned leader with more than 30 years of executive experience building and leading both mortgage insurance and services businesses. As president of Radian Guaranty from 2008 until 2017, she oversaw strategic planning, business development, and operations for the mortgage insurance business line. Prior to becoming president, she served as Radian's executive vice president, general counsel, corporate secretary, and chief risk officer.

Prior to Radian, Ms. Bazemore was senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary for Nexstar Financial Corporation and general counsel for the mortgage banking line of business at Bank of America. Ms. Bazemore served on FHLBank Pittsburgh's Board of Directors from 2017 to 2019. She currently serves as audit committee chair on the Boards of T. Rowe Price Funds and First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

Professional appointments she has held include Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Economic Advisory Council, Fannie Mae National Advisory Council, and Consumer Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve. She has also received numerous honors, including the 2017 Trailblazer Award from The National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America, Smart CEO Magazine's Brava! Women Business Achievement Award, and a Distinguished Service Award from the Mortgage Bankers Association of America. In 2022, Ms. Bazemore was named one of Savoy magazine's 2022 Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America.

She received her B.A. from the University of Virginia and J.D. from Columbia University.

To learn more about Teresa Bryce Bazemore's incredible leadership and career, please visit: https://www.fhlbsf.com/about/leadership/leadership-team

About Financial Women of San Francisco:

The Financial Women of San Francisco seeks to advance the success of women in finance and financial services and to be a source of insight and inspiration to financial women executives and managers throughout the Bay Area. In addition to the FWSF's professional organization focused on advancing women, since 1985, the FWSF Scholarship Fund (a 501(c)3 organization) has awarded more than $2.7 million in scholarship grants to more than 325 Bay Area women. Beyond financial support, FWSF scholarship recipients are mentored by FWSF members, become members of the organization, and attend career development and networking events.

For more information, please visit https://financialwomensf.org/ follow Financial Women of San Francisco on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Financial Women of San Francisco (FWSF) today announced that Nandita Bakhshi, Special Advisor and Board Member at BMO Financial Group and Former CEO of Bank of the West, will be the guest moderator as FWSF honors Teresa Bryce Bazemore, President and CEO of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, at the 2023 Financial Woman of the Year luncheon in San Francisco, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

Related link: https://financialwomensf.org/

Move For Hunger sets the new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Most Cereal Boxes Toppled in a Domino Fashion

DETROIT, Mich. /ScoopCloud/ -- It was just confirmed, Move For Hunger, a national non-profit organization that fights hunger and food waste, successfully broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the Most Cereal Boxes Toppled in a Domino Fashion with Topple Hunger.

The previous record, set in 2021, stood at an impressive 6,391 cereal boxes. Move For Hunger shattered that title with a staggering 12,952 cereal boxes toppled during the event held at the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center, thus raising the bar and hosting the biggest cereal domino topple ever seen.

Beyond the excitement of breaking a world record, this endeavor also focuses on a nationwide crisis- raising awareness about the significant issues of food insecurity and food waste in the United States. The record attempt will help provide half a million meals to communities in need, and there's still time to support the cause. Visit topplehunger.org to donate and get your donation matched by the event's generous sponsors.

To help make this challenge possible, WK Kellogg Co and Kroger generously donated the cereal used in the topple attempt, and the United Dairy Industry of Michigan contributed a gallon of milk for every serving of cereal donated. Additional support came from Hellmann's, the Lineage Foundation for Good, University Moving & Storage, and the Detroit Pistons, who all strive for a world without hunger or food waste.

"We had an incredible time partnering with these amazing sponsors to attempt to break a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title and support the local Detroit community," stated Adam Lowy, Executive Director and Founder at Move For Hunger. "Feeding 500,000 people from toppling cereal boxes is a feat we could only dream of a few months ago! We are so incredibly grateful for everyone involved that helped make this event possible."

In attendance for the October 12th event were both Tony the Tiger and the Detroit Pistons mascot, Hooper. Tony the Tiger had the important responsibility and honor of knocking over the first domino - a box of Special K(r) cereal.

After the event, all the cereal and milk used were delivered to Forgotten Harvest and Gleaners Community Food Bank in Greater Detroit, ensuring that the food doesn't go to waste and reaches those who need it most.

Move For Hunger is asking the public to join in and make a donation to help continue the fight against hunger. All donations will be matched up to $75,000 by the event's generous sponsors.

Visit http://topplehunger.com/ to make a donation and make a difference in the fight against hunger and food waste.

Click here to watch the full video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONmYDewsLZs

Click here to access the event gallery https://linke.to/topplehungerphotos

About Move For Hunger:

Move For Hunger is a national hunger relief non-profit organization that fights hunger and food waste by mobilizing transportation networks to deliver surplus food to communities in need. Since its founding in 2009, Move For Hunger has collected over 38 million pounds of food which has helped provide more than 32 million meals. https://moveforhunger.org/

About WK Kellogg Co:

At WK Kellogg Co, we bring our best to everyone, every day through our trusted foods and brands. Our journey began in 1894, when our founder W.K. Kellogg reimagined the future of food with the creation of Corn Flakes, changing breakfast forever. Since then, we have embraced the same spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship in everything we do, channeling our founder's passion and commitment to creating high quality and delicious products while fostering communities. Our iconic brand portfolio includes Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies, Froot Loops, Kashi, Special K, Raisin Bran, and Bear Naked. With a presence in the majority of households across North America, our brands play a key role in enhancing the lives of millions of consumers every day, promoting a strong sense of physical, emotional, and societal wellbeing. Our beloved brand characters, including Tony the Tiger and Toucan Sam, represent our deep connections with the consumers and communities we serve. For more information, visit https://www.wkkellogg.com/. 

About The Kroger Co. of Michigan:

At The Kroger Co. of Michigan, a company of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit(r). We are 16,000 associates who serve customers daily through a seamless shopping experience throughout Michigan. We are committed to creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.

About the Detroit Pistons:

Since their arrival in 1957, the Detroit Pistons have become one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. With over 2,600 regular-season and playoff victories, the club has celebrated three NBA Championships (1989, 1990, 2004), five NBA Finals appearances (1988, 1989, 1990, 2004, 2005) and 11 Eastern Conference Finals appearances. In October 2019, the club opened the new Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center located in the New Center area, a campus that serves as the organization's practice facility and corporate headquarters. Since its purchase by Michigan native Tom Gores in 2011, the organization has focused on operating as a community asset while promoting a culture of innovation and industry-leading thought.

About Hellmann's:

Hellmann's is committed to helping people enjoy great tasting good for the simple pleasure it is, without worry or waste. For over a century, the brand has helped people turn even the simplest ingredients into delicious meals. Hellmann's believes in the power of taste, because when food tastes good, less of it gets wasted. This belief has driven Hellmann's to be a force for positive behavior change around household food waste. Hellmann's partnered with experts to conduct one of the longest and largest consumer behavior studies on household food waste working with 2,000 families in the US and Canada gathering insights to help consumers better use the food they already have at home and to waste less. Hellmann's will continue to champion household food waste reduction through its "Make Taste Not Waste" campaigns, inspiring people to turn their left-behinds into easy, tasty meals. In the past year alone, Hellmann's has been able to inspire more than 200 million people across the US, Canada, and the UK.

About the United Dairy Industry of Michigan:

The United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) is dedicated to serving Michigan's hard-working dairy farm families and promoting Michigan's locally produced dairy products. UDIM is the umbrella organization for the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council of Michigan. These non-profit organizations provide dairy product promotion and nutrition education services on behalf of their funding members.

About Lineage Foundation for Good:

The Lineage Foundation for Good (the "Foundation") is the independent philanthropic arm of Lineage Logistics ("Lineage"). The Foundation leverages the unique access, influence, experience, and expertise of Lineage, one of the world's largest temperature-controlled logistics solutions providers, and its customers and partners to reduce food waste and fight food insecurity - a need that was accelerated by the practical challenges of getting quality food to those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Central to the Foundation's mission is to develop a dynamic, real-time, and global link between those who commercially produce our food and the individuals, families and communities who need it most. The Foundation creates a system in which food products, including those that might have otherwise gone to waste, can be quickly and easily steered to food pantries and other non-profits combating food insecurity around the world. The Foundation supports various philanthropic initiatives that have an impact in the communities in which we live and work, and is proud to partner with Feeding America, the Global FoodBanking Network, and other organizations to expand its reach, maximize its impact, and help feed the world.

About University Moving & Storage:

University Moving and Storage, founded in 1969, is a premier moving and storage company specializing in residential, commercial, and international relocations. With a strong commitment to customer service and a deep understanding of the complexities of moving, University Moving and Storage provides tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of each client. University is a globally recognized diversity supplier that holds a certification from the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Headquartered in Farmington Hills, MI with comprehensive service centers in Grand Rapids, MI; Cincinnati, OH and Indianapolis, IN, the company, and its people have been recognized for its excellence in service, commitment to maintaining World-Class service levels and utmost attention to social awareness in the communities they live, serve, and operate. University is a distinguished asset to the moving industry, the NorthAmerican Van Lines network, and always delivers on its promise to corporate responsibility and community support, such as Move For Hunger. Visit https://www.universitymoving.com/ for more information.

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/ONmYDewsLZs?si=lHLJ8JsrpaJJR5AN

It was just confirmed, Move For Hunger, a national non-profit organization that fights hunger and food waste, successfully broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the Most Cereal Boxes Toppled in a Domino Fashion with Topple Hunger. The previous record, set in 2021, stood at an impressive 6,391 cereal boxes.

Related link: https://moveforhunger.org/

Mortgage Bankers Association honors iEmergent for leadership in diversity, equity and inclusion at its Annual Convention and Expo

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, has been named the winner of the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) 2023 Residential Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Leadership Award for Market Outreach Strategies - Non-Lender. Laird Nossuli, iEmergent's CEO, accepted the award at MBA's Annual Convention & Expo today in Philadelphia.

iEmergent's software, Mortgage MarketSmart, helps mortgage lenders grow market share by identifying untapped home lending opportunities within the communities they serve. With technology that accurately models and forecasts demographic, economic and housing market trends down to the neighborhood level, iEmergent has created the only tool that helps lenders understand the home financing needs of underserved, minority and emerging markets.

"We are honored to be recognized by MBA for our efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion and look forward to continuing the work of fostering a more inclusive industry that extends more wealth-building opportunities to underserved borrowers," said Nossuli. "Our long-term vision is to help lenders change the homeownership pool so it mirrors the population of each market."

MBA is the leading trade association for the real estate finance industry. As part of MBA's multifaceted strategy and promotion of DEI, the Leadership Award for Market Outreach Strategies recognizes member company initiatives designed to increase outreach, marketing and products to attract customers from the industry's underserved market segments. The award also commends the hard work, dedication and creativity of exemplary programs promoting DEI.

"MBA received several worthy submissions [for the Residential DEI Leadership Award] this year, but iEmergent's application stood out for its clear goals and impressive metrics," said Laura Escobar, MBA chair-elect 2024 and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee chair in a written statement. "We were particularly impressed by [its] efforts in improving our industry and the communities we serve. It is apparent that these programs are positively impacting organizational culture."

About iEmergent:

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com.

For media queries, contact Depth: https://depthpr.com/contact-us/

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 15, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, has been named the winner of the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) 2023 Residential Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Leadership Award for Market Outreach Strategies - Non-Lender. Laird Nossuli, iEmergent's CEO, accepted the award at MBA's Annual Convention & Expo today in Philadelphia.

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

NotaryCam President Brian Webster named a 2023 Vanguard by HousingWire’s Magazine

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- NotaryCam®, a Stewart-owned company and leading remote online notarization (RON) provider for real estate and legal transactions, today announced Brian Webster has been selected by the publication HousingWire for its annual Vanguard awards program. Webster was selected for his leadership and the company's strategic growth. He's placed an emphasis on expanding the company's RON products and services, resulting in a 36% year-over-year growth in real estate transactions and 121% in its insurance transactions.

"The Vanguards award spotlights exceptional c-suite leaders in the housing sector - individuals who continually drive innovation and adapt resiliently in the face of economic challenges," said Clayton Collins, CEO of HW Media. "This year's honorees have demonstrated a razor-sharp commitment to their organization's objectives, astutely identifying and capitalizing on opportunities as they arise, steadfastly refusing to accept the ordinary."

"The benefits of RON are only growing, and I'm proud to help businesses harness its power," said NotaryCam president Brian Webster. "NotaryCam is always improving, and RON is a necessary piece of the puzzle as the world continues to embrace digitalization."

"The 2023 Vanguards are made up of the industry's most impressive and powerful leaders who are fueling the growth of their organizations and leaving an indelible mark on the industry," said HW Media Editor-in-Chief Sarah Wheeler. "These remarkable individuals underscore the pivotal role that visionary leadership plays in our ever-evolving housing ecosystem. These winners' achievements stand as a testament to the enduring significance of the Vanguards award, which has become a career-changing accolade reserved only for the industry's top leaders."

To view the full list of HW Vanguard winners, visit https://www.housingwire.com.

About NotaryCam, a Stewart Company:

NotaryCam, a Stewart-owned company, is the leader in online notarization and mortgage eClosing solutions, having notarized documents worldwide for more than a million customers in all 50 states and more than 146 countries. The company's eClose360® platform delivers the "perfect" online mortgage closing in every jurisdiction and supports all eClosing scenarios - RON, IPEN or Hybrids - with a flexible workflow for document recording and unparalleled identity verification, security and customer convenience. In addition to real estate transactions, NotaryCam provides RON services to many Fortune 500 companies as well as small and midsize businesses and includes the execution of employment-related documents, legal docs (e.g. power of attorneys) and Apostilles. The company also proudly maintains an industry-leading 99.8 percent customer satisfaction rating and the highest Net Promoter Score (NPS) amongst the best global tech brands.

Visit https://www.notarycam.com for additional information or to get a document notarized today.

About HousingWire:

HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 60,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 1.0 million unique visitors each month. Our audience of mortgage, real estate and fintech professionals rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Visit www.housingwire.com or www.solutions.housingwire.com to learn more.

NotaryCam®, a Stewart-owned company and leading remote online notarization (RON) provider for real estate and legal transactions, today announced Brian Webster has been selected by the publication HousingWire for its annual Vanguard awards program. Webster was selected for his leadership and the company's strategic growth. He's placed an emphasis on expanding the company's RON products and services, resulting in a 36% year-over-year growth in real estate transactions and 121% in its insurance transactions.

Related link: https://www.notarycam.com/

LenderLogix Co-Founder and CEO Patrick O’Brien named a 2023 HousingWire Vanguard honoree

BUFFALO, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- LenderLogix, a leading provider of mortgage point-of-sale and automation software for banks, credit unions, independent mortgage banks and brokers, today announced Co-founder and CEO Patrick O'Brien has been selected by HousingWire as a 2023 Vanguard Award winner.

O'Brien co-founded LenderLogix to provide loan officers and lenders the tools they need to deliver a digital-first borrower experience without hefty implementation times, investment or upkeep. This vision has resulted in a suite of products designed to save lenders time and money while delivering exceptional, digitally-driven borrower experiences from the initial point of contact - all of which play a crucial role in lenders' ability to differentiate themselves in today's highly competitive market.

"Technology is a vital part of the mortgage business, but legacy tech is often hindering lenders' automation and falling short in terms of efficiencies and cost-effectiveness. These pain points led to our three core products - LiteSpeed, Fee Chaser and QuickQual," said LenderLogix O'Brien. "The LenderLogix team and I love watching lenders' faces light up when they realize the power and ease of use these three products bring to individual businesses."

"The Vanguards award spotlights exceptional c-suite leaders in the housing sector - individuals who continually drive innovation and adapt resiliently in the face of economic challenges," said Clayton Collins, CEO of HW Media. "This year's honorees have demonstrated a razor-sharp commitment to their organization's objectives, astutely identifying and capitalizing on opportunities as they arise, steadfastly refusing to accept the ordinary."

The HW Vanguard Awards program recognizes C-level industry professionals and business leaders who have become experts in their respective fields within housing and mortgage finance - those whose leadership is moving markets forward every day. The complete list of HousingWire Insiders Award winners can be found at www.housingwire.com

About LenderLogix:

LenderLogix leverages the four decades of firsthand mortgage origination and real estate experience of its executive team to design customized software and APIs to meet the needs of today's mortgage lenders. The company's suite of products addresses the speed at which today's real estate market moves by delivering technology solutions that create agile and informed borrowers, build strong referral partners and ultimately save lenders time and money. For more information, visit https://www.lenderlogix.com/.

About HousingWire:

HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches more than 70,000 newsletter subscribers daily and 1 million unique visitors each month and has more than 5,000 members and event attendees. Visit www.housingwire.com or www.solutions.housingwire.com to learn more.

LenderLogix, a leading provider of mortgage point-of-sale and automation software for banks, credit unions, independent mortgage banks and brokers, today announced Co-founder and CEO Patrick O'Brien has been selected by HousingWire as a 2023 Vanguard Award winner.

Related link: https://www.lenderlogix.com/

ACES Quality Management President Phillip McCall named a HW Vanguard

DENVER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced that HousingWire magazine has selected Phillip McCall in its annual Vanguard award program.

HousingWire's Vanguard award program recognizes leaders of businesses contributing to the growth of the housing economy and its various sectors, including lending, servicing, investments, and real estate. HousingWire selects 100 leaders from diverse backgrounds who may run established companies or start-ups but share one common trait: an unmistakable impact on the industry at large.

"Behind every great company lies a visionary leader, and ours is no exception. Phil embodies the essence of excellence in every aspect of his leadership. From spearheading operations and product management to driving cutting-edge technology and client-facing initiatives, he has redefined what it means to be a true Vanguard in the industry," said ACES CEO Trevor Gauthier. "His unwavering commitment to fostering a dynamic internal culture has transformed our organization into a tight-knit community of passionate individuals working collaboratively towards a common goal."

McCall's most recent achievement is ACES PROTECT, a suite of automated regulatory compliance tests added to its flagship ACES Quality Management & Control ® quality control (QC) auditing platform. Through ACES PROTECT, users can easily access a suite of compliance checks within the ACES platform, including certification of loan estimate/closing disclosure calculations, high-cost mortgage and high-price mortgage loan testing, Qualified Mortgage (QM) tests and other critical compliance tests.

"The 2023 Vanguards are made up of the industry's most impressive and powerful leaders who are fueling the growth of their organizations and leaving an indelible mark on the industry," said HW Media Editor-in-Chief Sarah Wheeler. "These remarkable individuals underscore the pivotal role that visionary leadership plays in our ever-evolving housing ecosystem. These winners' achievements stand as a testament to the enduring significance of the Vanguards award, which has become a career-changing accolade reserved only for the industry's top leaders."

About ACES Quality Management:

ACES Quality Management is the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry. The nation's most prominent lenders, servicers and financial institutions rely on ACES Quality Management & Control® software to improve audit throughput and quality while controlling costs, including:

* 60% of the top 50 independent mortgage lenders;

* 8 of the top 10 loan servicers;

* 11 of the top 30 retail banks; and

* 3 of the top 5 credit unions in the United States.

Unlike other quality control platforms, only ACES delivers Flexible Audit Technology, which gives independent mortgage lenders and financial institutions the ability to easily manage and customize ACES to meet their business needs without having to rely on IT or other outside resources. Using a customer-centric approach, ACES clients get responsive support and access to our experts to maximize their investment. For more information, visit www.acesquality.com or call 1-800-858-1598.

About HousingWire:

HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 60,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 1.0 million unique visitors each month. Our audience of mortgage, real estate and fintech professionals rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Visit www.housingwire.com or www.solutions.housingwire.com to learn more.

ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced that HousingWire magazine has selected Phillip McCall in its annual Vanguard award program.

Related link: https://www.acesquality.com/

Mortgage Capital Trading Named Best Place To Work 2023 By SDBJ

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, announced that it has been named one of the Best Places to Work 2023 by the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ) in the medium-sized company category (50 - 249 U.S. employees). This award is designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best places of employment in San Diego that benefit the county's economy, workforce, and local businesses.

MCT has been headquartered in downtown San Diego for nearly two decades, and during that time, the firm has evolved its "team member first" mindset - focusing on wellbeing and intentional work/life balance. Throughout the pandemic and segueing into the volatile mortgage market the entire industry is currently facing, MCT leadership has continued to prioritize team member needs.

"We are honored to be named the Best Place to Work in San Diego year after year," said Chad Campora, Head of Human Resources. "It's humbling to know that MCT team members feel respected, rewarded, and empowered to bring their best selves to work each day. The tenure among many of our key people is definitely a point of pride."

The SDBJ puts companies that applied for the award through an extensive evaluation process that includes a detailed analysis of company workplace policies and practices along with a comprehensive employee survey. The combined scores determine the top companies and the final rankings. The winning companies were honored at an awards ceremony hosted by the SDBJ in August.

More information on the SDBJ's Best Places to Work in San Diego program can be found at https://www.sdbj.com/.

About MCT:

For over two decades, MCT has been a leading source of innovation for the mortgage secondary market. Melding deep subject matter expertise with a passion for emerging technologies and clients, MCT is the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology. From architecting modern best execution loan sales to launching the most successful and advanced marketplace for mortgage-related assets, lenders, investors, and network partners all benefit from MCT's stewardship. MCT's technology and know-how continues to revolutionize how mortgage assets are priced, locked, protected, valued, and exchanged - offering clients the tools to perform under any market condition.

For more information, visit https://mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111.

Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, announced that it has been named one of the Best Places to Work 2023 by the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ) in the medium-sized company category (50 - 249 U.S. employees).

Related link: https://mct-trading.com/

INSIDE Public Accounting Ranks KROST Among Top 100 Firms in the US in 2023

PASADENA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA) has named KROST CPAs & Consultants Top 100 Firm in 2023. The firm ranked 73rd on the prestigious Top 100 list. KROST along with other recipients of these distinguished awards are highlighted in IPA's monthly newsletter. KROST has been named Top 100 firm for the third year in a row.

"We couldn't be prouder to be recognized by our industry once again. It's a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible team who made this recognition possible. Receiving this award reinforces our commitment to providing quality services to our valued clients," said Jason Melillo, CEO

INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA) is a leader in practice management resources for the public accounting profession that include: the monthly practice management newsletter, the annual national practice management benchmarking reports and corresponding reports and training. IPA has assisted firms across North America grow and thrive since 1987. The one-of-a-kind IPA 500, recognizing the top U.S.-based accounting firms, is the most comprehensive list of North American public accounting firms available.

IPA annually ranks the largest public accounting firms in the U.S. based on participating firm's net revenues - from the multi-billion-dollar U.S.-based Big 4 to the $3.8 million firm. Ranking data is captured through IPA's annual practice management survey and analysis of firms. IPA is the survey leader in data collection for the profession, with more of the largest 600 firms participating than any other survey today and a 92% return rate of participating firms.

Learn more about our services - https://www.krostcpas.com/services

View INSIDE Public Accounting's 2023 Top 100 Rankings - https://insidepublicaccounting.com/top-firms/ipa-500/

For more information about KROST's awards and recognition, visit KROSTCPAs.com/awards

ABOUT KROST CPAS & CONSULTANTS:

KROST is a full-service Certified Public Accounting and Consulting firm headquartered in Pasadena, California. As trusted advisors and industry leaders, clients depend on KROST for timely information, innovative solutions, and results-driven teamwork in the areas of accounting, assurance, business management, consulting, tax, mergers and acquisitions, and wealth management. Our professionals have expertise in a variety of industries. We proudly serve the restaurant, hospitality, manufacturing, real estate, technology, sports & entertainment, financial services, not-for-profits, and grocery industries. We also provide thought leadership on tax laws and the rapidly changing market.

Learn more: https://www.krostcpas.com/

INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA) has named KROST CPAs & Consultants Top 100 Firm in 2023. The firm ranked 73rd on the prestigious Top 100 list. KROST along with other recipients of these distinguished awards are highlighted in IPA's monthly newsletter. KROST has been named Top 100 firm for the third year in a row.

Related link: https://www.krostcpas.com/

Palisade Capital Management Included in CNBC FA100 Ranking

FORT LEE, N.J. /ScoopCloud/ -- Palisade Capital Management is proud to be included in CNBC's Financial Advisor (FA) 100 rankings for the fourth year in a row - one of only two New Jersey-based firms to be recognized in the rankings.

The "CNBC FA 100" honors advisory firms that help clients navigate their financial lives and achieve their financial objectives. Rankings consider factors beyond assets under management to include the role the advisor plays in helping clients grow and protect their wealth. Results are based on a proprietary weighting methodology developed by CNBC in partnership with data provider AccuPoint Solutions. In preparing the CNBC FA 100, data was culled from a list of more than 40,600 RIAs from the SEC regulatory database.

Palisade President and Chief Executive Officer Alison Berman recognizes the role her team plays in helping families address their wealth needs and achieving this honor year after year, sharing "We owe this repeated recognition to Palisade's dedicated and collaborative professionals who understand the significance and responsibility we have in helping clients achieve their financial goals." She added, "Most importantly, we appreciate and value the continued trust and confidence our clients place in us."

For over 25 years, individuals and families have turned to Palisade Private Wealth for comprehensive wealth management that helps simplify their financial lives.

For more information, please click here to learn how the CNBC FA 100 rankings are determined.

Neither rankings and/or recognition by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations, nor the achievement of any designation or certification, should be construed as a guarantee that a client or prospective client will experience any certain level of results if Palisade Capital Management, LP ("Palisade") is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. The 2023 CNBC FA 100 ranking was conferred on September 12, 2023. Data provider AccuPoint Solutions applied CNBC's proprietary weighted categories to rank participating firms, ultimately creating the list of the top 100. Rankings published by CNBC base the selections exclusively on information prepared and/or submitted by the recognized adviser. The data Palisade provided to CNBC was as of May 31, 2023. Click here for a full discussion of CNBC's methodology: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/12/heres-how-we-determine-the-fa-100-ranking-for-2023.html

CNBC does not charge any type of fee to advisers to be listed in the annual ranking.

About Palisade Capital Management:

Palisade Capital Management, LP is an independent, woman managed and majority-owned investment management firm with approximately $4.2 billion of assets under management headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Founded in 1995, Palisade has built its business around developing and managing specialized investment strategies for individuals, families, corporations, pension plans, and other institutions. The firm has dedicated investment teams that actively manage Small Cap Core Equity, Smid Cap Core Equity, Focused Equity, and a variety of Convertible Securities portfolios, as well as a robust private wealth management and financial planning offering for individuals and families. https://palisadecapital.com/

Disclosures:

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. No assurance can be given that any strategy referenced herein will be successful. The performance of the strategies can be volatile and involve a high degree of risk. Investors may lose some or all of their investment.

This notice has been prepared for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any security, instrument, or investment product. Certain information contained in this presentation constitutes "forward-looking statements," which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "intend," "continue," or "believe," or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual events, results or the actual performance of investments may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Nothing herein may be relied upon as a guarantee, promise, assurance or a representation as to the future.

Palisade Capital Management is proud to be included in CNBC's Financial Advisor (FA) 100 rankings for the fourth year in a row - one of only two New Jersey-based firms to be recognized in the rankings. The "CNBC FA 100" honors advisory firms that help clients navigate their financial lives and achieve their financial objectives.

Related link: https://palisadecapital.com/