Yearly Archives: 2025

NEPTUNE, N.J. /California Newswire - National News/ -- Move For Hunger, the national nonprofit turning relocation into a lifeline for families facing hunger, is proud to announce a powerful new partnership with United Van Lines, further strengthening a mission that has already delivered over 2.5 million meals through the UniGroup network.

VANCOUVER, B.C. /California Newswire - National News/ -- Leadership coach and workplace performance consultant Laura Dowling releases her new book, "The Everyday Leader: Inner Mastery, Outer Impact" (ISBN: 978-1779623645; Tellwell Talent), an insightful guide that redefines leadership as an accessible and essential practice for individuals at every level. Recently recognized as an Amazon #1 Hot New Release in Career Guides, "The Everyday Leader" has also earned an IndieReader Approved designation for its well-crafted, engaging approach to leadership development.

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Informative Research, a premier technology provider delivering data-driven credit and verification solutions to the lending community, today announced its integration with Thomas & Company, a leading provider of value-added employer services and innovative solutions to support employee relations programs. The integration adds Thomas & Company's Wage and Employment Verification service to Informative Research's verification platform.

ST. HELENA, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Following the tremendous success of the inaugural 'Come Over October' campaign, which reached over 1.7 billion media impressions and garnered coverage in major outlets including Forbes, NPR, and The Washington Post, COME TOGETHER-A Community for Wine Inc. announces the launch of Share & Pair Sundays, a Spring-to-Summer campaign celebrating the delicious marriage of wine and food. The new campaign also reinforces wine's unique ability to bring people together, so successfully communicated in the Come Over October campaign.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire / -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, announced today a 0.12% decrease in mortgage lock volume compared to the previous month. Industry professionals and market enthusiasts are encouraged to download the complete report for a deeper understanding of the latest market trends and dynamics.

ADDISON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Click n' Close (CNC), a multi-state mortgage lender, today announced its SmartBuy™ Shared Appreciation Mortgage (SAM) program now features a 30-year, fixed-rate conventional option approved by Freddie Mac.

ADDISON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Mortgage Machine™ Services (Mortgage Machine), an industry leader in digital origination technology to residential mortgage lenders, announced that it has been selected by HousingWire magazine for its annual TECH100 award, marking Mortgage Machine's first-ever inclusion on the premier list of mortgage and real estate technology providers. The magazine chose Mortgage Machine for its high efficiency, dedication to security and outstanding client growth outcomes.

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire - National News/ -- Cloudvirga, a leading provider of digital mortgage point-of-sale platforms, has been named to HousingWire's 2025 Tech100 Mortgage list, marking its eighth consecutive year receiving one of the industry's top technology awards. The recognition reflects Cloudvirga's ongoing commitment to innovation, from enhancements to its Horizon suite of point-of-sale solutions to investments in a next-generation platform that will introduce new levels of speed, flexibility and customization for lenders.

DES MOINES, Iowa /California Newswire - National News/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced its selection to HousingWire's 2025 Tech100 Mortgage list. The prestigious recognition honors iEmergent's flagship platform, Mortgage MarketSmart, for equipping mortgage lenders with the insights to serve diverse and underserved communities.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today unveiled a series of new products and features, alongside its major Ask Obi AI assistant announcement, at its Summit user conference in San Diego. These innovation announcements underscore the company's commitment to delivering high-impact solutions, at no additional cost, that tackle real-world challenges and help lenders maximize profitability.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire / -- Optimal Blue today announced Ask Obi, an AI assistant designed to provide mortgage lending executives with instant, actionable insights from their Optimal Blue products and data. Unveiled during Optimal Blue's inaugural Summit user conference in San Diego, Ask Obi gives lenders the power to view their operations holistically with data aggregation across Optimal Blue's comprehensive capital markets platform.

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. /California Newswire - National News/ -- Informative Research, a leading technology platform that delivers data-driven solutions to the lending community, announced today the company has been named to the prestigious HousingWire Tech100 annual list. Informative Research's solutions have driven measurable impacts for lenders and consumers alike.

BUFFALO, N.Y. /California Newswire - National News/ -- LenderLogix, a leading provider of mortgage automation software and application programming interfaces (APIs), today announced it has been named to HousingWire magazine's annual mortgage Tech100 list. The Tech100 award aims to spotlight innovative technology companies across the housing sector. LenderLogix is recognized for its tightly integrated, white-labeled solutions built to empower lenders of all sizes to lend more efficiently while delivering outstanding borrower experiences.

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. /California Newswire - National News/ -- Argyle, a platform providing automated income and employment verifications for some of the largest lenders in the United States, today announced its second consecutive appearance in HousingWire's annual Tech100 Mortgage list, which recognizes the most innovative technology companies in housing finance. The recognition highlights Argyle's significant contributions to the mortgage industry through its delivery of real-time, cost-effective income and employment verification (VOIE) solutions that streamline loan processing, improve loan pull-through and reduce costs for lenders.

ATLANTA, Ga. /California Newswire - National News/ -- Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry's leading technology for connecting homebuyers with homebuyer assistance programs, has been named to HousingWire's 2025 Mortgage Tech100 list, which recognizes "the companies and solutions that are revolutionizing the mortgage process - from origination to closing, and servicing to secondary markets."

BOULDER, Colo. /California Newswire - National News/ -- Floify, the mortgage industry's leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, announced that it has been named a 2025 HW Tech100 Mortgage award honoree. Now in its 13th year, the HW Tech100 award program recognizes some of the most innovative and impactful technology organizations serving the housing sector. The company is based in Boulder, Colorado and is a subsidiary of Porch Group, Inc. ("Porch Group") (NASDAQ: PRCH).

HEALDSBURG, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Merriam Vineyards, a pioneering force in Russian River Valley's diverse winegrowing landscape, announces the commencement of its 25th anniversary celebration. Founded in 2000 by Peter and Diana Merriam, the winery has evolved from its initial 12-acre purchase into a distinguished estate encompassing three distinct vineyard properties, each expressing the unique terroir of the Russian River Valley AVA.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Secured Signing, a global leader in Digital Signatures and Remote Online Notarization (RON) solutions, has announced the integration of Cisco Duo Single Sign-On, a cutting-edge enhancement designed to fortify user login security. This milestone innovation introduces built-in two-factor authentication (2FA) to the platform, setting a new standard in safeguarding digital transactions.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Neurotech Reports, the longest-serving publishing and market intelligence firm covering the neuromodulation industry, announced the launch of its first European management and investment conference. The two-day event, called Neurotech Leaders Forum at imec, will take place on June 3-4, 2025 on the campus of imec in Leuven, Belgium. Imec, a world-leading research and innovation center in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, is deeply committed to advancing health innovations through the power of semiconductor technologies, making it the ideal host for the conference.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ -- L.A. Metro welcomes the 2025 Metro Youth Council to the agency. The council, comprised of young individuals aged 14 to 17, will share their ideas and perspectives on current Metro projects, offering insights on ways to enhance the transportation system for everyone. Representing communities across Los Angeles County, these youth will serve a one-year term.

NEW YORK, N.Y. /California Newswire - National News/ -- TravelInsurance.com, the leading platform for comparing and purchasing travel insurance from global providers, makes it easier for cruisers to compare plans and find the most personalized coverage at the best price during the 2025 Wave Season. According to Cruise MarketWatch, 15 new ships with a combined passenger capacity of 38,629 are set to enter the market and are projected to facilitate a total of 33.7 million passengers by the end of 2025, representing a 4.9% increase over 2024 and a 22.4% rise compared to 2019.

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. /California Newswire - National News/ -- Tavern 101 Grill & Tap House, a beloved staple in Agoura Hills, stepped up once again to support first responders by providing hot meals to over 1,500 firefighters, sheriffs, and National Guard members battling the devastating wildfires in Pacific Palisades. This act of generosity is nothing new for Gonzalez and his team.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Veteran entertainment industry publicist and wellness influencer, Makeda Smith is solidifying her commitment to 'senior soft life' living. The 64-year-old grandmother, who started pole dancing as a fitness hobby over 14 years ago, is expanding her pro-aging brands, the dance flow movement practice, Flying Over 50 (and online coaching portal, The Makeda Method. Makeda is launching a new book series on Amazon Live, with one of the platform's Top Five influencers, Cyrus Webb.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire / -- The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's leading network of independent mortgage lenders, banks, credit unions, and service providers, is proud to announce the appointment of Jodi Hall as its new Chief Executive Officer and President.

LA VERNE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- In a remarkable display of compassion and community spirit, Hillcrest, an age-qualified community in La Verne is showing what it means to be a good neighbor by helping seniors displaced by the devastating Eaton Fire. Hillcrest offered seniors housing and a chance to rebuild their lives with a new home. The fire destroyed The Terraces at Park Marino in Pasadena, leaving many residents, including those with significant health needs, without a place to call home.

AUSTIN, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Concerned Shareholders of WOW today issued the following letter to the management of WOW. To the Management and Board of Directors of WideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW), We, as concerned stakeholders and shareholders are writing to formally request an update regarding the unsolicited non-binding preliminary proposal submitted on May 3, 2024

CULVER CITY, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ -- The Culver City Council awarded 21 organizations $202,223 for the 2025 Performing Arts Grant Program in music, theater and dance events. The Cultural Affairs Commission and staff have implemented Culver City’s Performing Arts Grant Program since its inception in 1994. A Peer Review Panel consisting of seven independent individuals with professional performing arts expertise and non-profit arts experience scored the applications.

VANCOUVER, B.C. /California Newswire - National News/ -- On January 27, 2025, the world will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. On this historic day, author Richard K. Lowy launches "Kalman and Leopold - Surviving Mengele's Auschwitz" (ISBN: 978-1779410092), a powerful firsthand account of resilience and survival in the face of unimaginable evil, released by Tellwell Publishing.

HOUSTON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- As the nation honors the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and anticipates the transition to a new administration, the importance of amplifying the voices of those impacted by policies has never been greater. Nonprofit Story Bank is stepping forward to ensure these voices-the human stories behind the policies-are neither muffled or ignored.

PHOENIX, Ariz. /California Newswire - National News/ -- Twenty-two entrepreneurs graduated from the Impact AZ 2025 Supplier Diversity Accelerator on Tuesday, January 14, during a ceremony held at the Arizona Public Service (APS) Headquarters in Phoenix, the Black Chamber of Arizona announced today.

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. /California Newswire - National News/ -- Chad Lawson Cooper, a renowned movie producer and national playwright based in New York City, has made an offer of $20 million to acquire The Paul Robeson Theatre. Founded in 1980 and named in honor of the esteemed African-American singer and actor Paul Robeson, the theater showcased poetry, plays, and various works by black artists for over 25 years.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire - National News/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading (MCT), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, today announced the release of MSRlive! 4.0, a groundbreaking enhancement to its mortgage servicing rights (MSR) valuation platform. The latest version offers mortgage servicers an unprecedented level of transparency and business intelligence, equipping portfolio managers with powerful new tools to assess and optimize their

NEW YORK, N.Y. /California Newswire - National News/ -- HitPaw Edimakor, a cutting-edge AI-powered video editing software, has officially launched its latest version, V3.5.0, introducing an exciting array of creative and innovative tools. Among the standout features are the AI Voice Clone and Video Templates, designed to simplify and elevate the process of video creation, enabling users to achieve professional-quality results with greater ease and efficiency.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- ColoCrossing, a HostPapa Inc. company and global leader in enterprise-grade hosting solutions, proudly announces the grand opening of their new Los Angeles datacenter at 1200 W 7th St., Los Angeles, CA 90017. This expansion marks a significant milestone for ColoCrossing, reinforcing their position as a leader in colocation and dedicated server solutions in one of the nation's most vital technology hubs.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ -- This week, while homes are still burning and resources have been widely stretched, Governor Gavin Newsom continues to respond to current and future disaster threats. With recovery efforts already underway to support those impacted by the Los Angeles hurricane-force firestorm, Newsom on Monday expanded the special session of the California Legislature that he convened in November to further boost response and initial recovery efforts for Los Angeles.

NEW YORK, N.Y. /California Newswire - National News/ -- The J.R. O'Dwyer Company, Inc. has published its January 2025 Crisis Communications Magazine featuring content designed to assist corporations and organizations manage their reputation, prevent communications crises and communicate effectively with the public and stakeholders.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, announced today a 16.7% decrease in mortgage lock volume compared to the previous month. Industry professionals and market enthusiasts are encouraged to download the complete report to gain comprehensive insights into the evolving market dynamics.

PLANO, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released its December 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, showcasing year-over-year (YoY) growth in mortgage activity, even as seasonal trends led to a month-over-month (MoM) decline in rate lock volumes. Overall, December mortgage lock volume was up 26% YoY, driven by an 18% increase in purchase locks, a 43% rise in cash-out refinances, and an 82% jump in rate-and-term refinances.

NEW YORK, N.Y. /California Newswire - National News/ -- UniFab, an AI video and audio quality improvement software, launched UniFab All-In-One V3.0 on January 6, 2025. The latest version of UniFab has a new design by relocating the initial function menu to a more central spot for simpler workflow. Additionally, the features have been consolidated to streamline the workflow and boost efficiency.

California Newswire - OPINION: LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- In perhaps one of the more touching human responses to the tragic firestorms scorching and leveling Los Angeles area neighborhoods this past week, is a video posted today by tech YouTuber BitWit (Kyle), He was at CES when the fires broke out, and sadly his home and neighborhood were not spared from the fires. (VIDEO)

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire -- CapitalW Collective, a trailblazing non-profit dedicated to advancing women and their allies in mortgage capital markets, proudly announces Polly as its first product and pricing engine (PPE) Diamond-level corporate sponsor. This alliance underscores CapitalW Collective's mission "to create more inclusive and dynamic mortgage capital markets, one woman and ally at a time."

CICERO, N.Y. /California Newswire - National News/ -- USA Needle, Inc. (usaneedle.com), a leading provider of precision-manufactured needles, proudly announces its continued commitment to delivering top-quality surgical and industrial needles to meet the evolving needs of healthcare, manufacturing, and specialty industries.

PHOENIX, Ariz. /California Newswire - National News/ -- The Black Chamber of Arizona is proud to announce the recipients of its Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual (SEDI) Business Supportive Grant designed to help address the challenges SEDI-owned businesses face. The recipients were officially recognized and spotlighted at the Black Chamber of Arizona's 26th Anniversary Gala on December 13, where over 500 community leaders, national figures, and stakeholders gathered to celebrate economic impact and strides made to close the racial wealth gap.

COSTA MESA, Calif. /California Newswire / -- Tidemark Talks, a new podcast dedicated to telling the stories behind Orange County's most iconic business leaders, officially launched this week. The podcast features authentic, compelling interviews with some of the region's most notable entrepreneurs, innovators, and visionaries. The podcast is hosted by Jim Snyder, CEO of Tidemark Real Estate Services, alongside Taylor Snyder and Basil Newburn.

ADDISON, Texas /California Newswire - National News/ -- Mortgage Machine Services (Mortgage Machine), an industry leader in digital origination technology to residential mortgage lenders, announced that it now offers an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered pricing engine. The pricing engine ingests and updates pricing for a lender's investors and aggregators automatically.

SACRANEBTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Today, Calif. Governor Newsom issued an executive order directing state agencies to recommend potential actions to limit the harms associated with “ultra-processed foods” and food ingredients that pose a health risk to individuals, building on the nation-leading nutrition and health standards established in California. “Ultra-processed foods” are known to pose a health risk to individuals, and today’s efforts are designed to support affordable, healthy living and reduce the growing impact of chronic illnesses on Californians.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Thursday, Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California has increased paid family leave and disability benefits to historic levels in the state, with eligible workers earning less than $63,000 per year now able to receive up to 90% of their regular wages while on leave. Workers earning above that threshold will receive 70% of their wages. Both represent an important increase, and this major benefit enhancement begins with new claims filed on or after January 1, 2025.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (Metro) Central Maintenance Facility and Operating Divisions completed retrofitting the entire active bus fleet with new, expanded barriers made of shatterproof, tempered glass that fully enclose drivers. LA Metro Retrofitted its 2017th Bus, Providing Extra Layer of Security for Operators. The barrier design, prototyping and much of the fabrication were completed in-house at Metro’s Central Maintenance Facility (CMF) in downtown Los Angeles, and the barriers were mostly installed by Metro staff at the operating divisions.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Glynns Thomas, founder of Sacramento's renowned headshot photography business Glynns Thomas Headshots, has been selected to present at Imaging USA 2025. This prestigious conference, dedicated to photography and imaging professionals, will take place in Dallas, Texas, from February 2-4, 2025.

BOULDER, Colo. /California Newswire - National News/ -- Floify, the mortgage industry's leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, today announced that its Head of Sales, Jason Mapes, has been named a 2024 Thought Leader by PROGRESS in Lending (PIL). Now in its fourth year, PIL's Thought Leader award recognizes industry thought leaders who are not afraid to "step forward and blaze a new trail."