Christopher Simmons
Christopher Simmons (aka Christopher Laird Simmons) has been a working journalist since his first magazine sale in 1984. He has since written for wide variety of print and online publications covering lifestyle, tech and entertainment. He is an award-winning author, designer, photographer, and musician. He is a member of ASCAP and PRSA. He is the founder and CEO of Neotrope®, based in Temecula, CA, USA.
KROST CPAs Recognized by Los Angeles Business Journal as among Top Accounting Firms in L.A. for 2022
PASADENA, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- KROST was recognized as one of Los Angeles Business Journals' Top 100 Accounting Firms in Los Angeles County, with 78% growth in revenue between 2020 and 2019, the firm is ranked 22nd on the list. KROST received this recognition during the Los Angeles Business Journal's Disruptor Awards virtual event.
EPIC Expands into financial planning and insurance services to medical and dental professionals with acquisition of Treloar & Heisel
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants announced today that it has acquired Treloar & Heisel located in New Castle, Pennsylvania. The strategic decision expands the offerings of financial planning and insurance services to medical and dental professionals.
EPIC Welcomes Jim McSherry as National Practice Leader for New Employer Stop Loss Center
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Jim McSherry has joined EPIC to lead its newly formed Employer Stop Loss Center of Excellence.
Mortgage Coach and ReverseVision to help consumers compare ‘forward’ and reverse mortgage financing options
IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time, today announced an integration with ReverseVision, a subsidiary of Constellation Mortgage Solutions, Inc., the leading national provider of Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and private reverse mortgage sales and origination technology.
Realtime North America and SecuGen to Provide Strong Biometric Authentication to SAP
SANTA CLARA, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- SecuGen, a world leading optical fingerprint device and technology vendor, is pleased to announce the exclusive integration of SecuGen fingerprint readers with realtime North America's bioLock software.
Choice Fine Art Opens the First Fine Art Gallery In Brentwood CA with Choice Contemporary
BRENTWOOD, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Choice Fine Art announces the grand opening of their first gallery Choice Contemporary on April 9, 2022 in Brentwood, California. This gallery marks a new development for the Choice Fine Art brand as an authority in specialized collections of contemporary art. Choice Contemporary merges the excitement of pop culture into the beauty and sophistication of fine art.
Calif. Gov. Newsom Announces $136.6M in Awards for 10 New Homekey Projects in the State
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday (March 30) announced $136.6 million in awards for 10 new Homekey projects located across the state. When fully operational, the projects will provide 488 housing units for people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness.
Mortgage risk management leader, MCT, names Ben Itkin National Sales Director
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), a recognized industry leader in mortgage risk management providing pipeline hedging, best execution loan sales and centralized lock desk services, announced today that Ben Itkin has been appointed the new National Sales Director.
Ventura, California-Based Harper Point Photography Expands Shooting Area to Santa Barbara County
VENTURA, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- With Harper Point Photography, those in Ventura or Santa Barbara County don't have to travel all the way to Los Angeles to get vibrant, eye-catching, professional photography for their products, brands, or other business or personal purposes. For more than 15 years now, the dream duo of Kira Friedman and Nathan Rega have used their immense skills and passion for photography to immortalize moments of magic and produce exceptional imagery that makes the viewer truly feel something.
Parallel Napa Valley Winery Promotes Adrienne D.A. Smith to Partner
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The partners of Parallel Napa Valley are pleased to announce the promotion of their General Manager Adrienne D.A. Smith to General Manager and Partner. After four years with the company, Adrienne has overseen strong growth for the brand in her role overseeing marketing, hospitality, sales and operations with an innovative and high energy approach.
Yiftee announces 115 Sponsors Step Up to Engage Communities in Shop Local Campaigns
MENLO PARK, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- In pandemic years 2020 and 2021, more than 100 of Yiftee's almost 400 communities who use its Community eGift Card platform ran dedicated gift card grant or bonus programs to benefit their small businesses, helping them stay afloat. Who were the "hometown heroes" that sponsored these programs during tough times, and continue to do so?
Kennedy Intelligent Data Partners with Blueshift Cyber Security to Provide Data Security Services
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- With the threat of ransomware and cyber-attacks in general growing daily due to worldwide unrest and economic insecurity, Kennedy Intelligent Data (KID) has allied with Blueshift Cyber Security. This alliance allows KID to provide comprehensive and turnkey managed security services for companies like those in the auto industry that are at significant risk of data theft and financial harm to their customers.
Nancy Pfund, Pioneering Leader in Impact Investing, Named 2022 Financial Woman of the Year
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Financial Women of San Francisco (FWSF) today named Nancy Pfund, the Founder and Managing Partner of DBL Partners, as the FWSF 2022 Financial Woman of the Year. DBL Partners is one of the first venture capital firms to bring impact investing into the mainstream. Nancy and her colleagues launched DBL out of JP Morgan in 2008 after seeing increased momentum in the move to social and environmental impact.
Calif. SB 721 and SB 326: ViewTech’s Video Borescopes Utilized for Inspecting Balconies and Elevated Structures
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- In response to the 2015 deck collapse in Berkeley which caused six fatalities, California legislation signed into law SB 721 and SB 326 requiring periodic inspections of exterior elevated elements (EEE) that structurally rely on wood or wood-based materials, says ViewTech Borescopes.
MCTlive! Integrates with Fannie Mae Connect Whole Loan Purchase Advice Seller API
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- MCT's award-winning capital markets platform, MCTlive!, is now integrated with the Fannie Mae Connect™ Whole Loan Purchase Advice Seller API. This API connection allows MCT Mark-to-Market and Hedge Accounting Reports to be updated with Fannie Mae purchase data instantly, instead of waiting to run reports through a Loan Origination System (LOS).
Amplify-Now and Asteri Partners join forces to drive client business transformation outcomes
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Amplify-Now, a leading global provider of Strategy Execution Management (SEM) software, and Asteri Partners, a North American advisory and analytics firm, are excited to announce a new partnership that will help companies deliver complex, transformational change.
Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LA and California Community Foundation release 2022 survey of Los Angeles Latina/o residents
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State LA (PBI) and the California Community Foundation (CCF) released a new survey of Latina/o residents in Los Angeles County, a community that will be a major factor in L.A.’s upcoming mayoral race and in other elections.
Calif. Gov. Newsom Announces Appointments for March 8, 2022 including to Office of Emergency Services
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Tuesday, Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the following appointments: First, Raymond C. Hitchcock, 51, of Carmichael, has been appointed Executive Secretary at the California Native American Heritage Commission.
Legacy Launch Pad Publishing Releases UNBOXED, a Book of Essays by Author Lauren Schwarzfeld
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Legacy Launch Pad Publishing is releasing "Unboxed: Essays on Learning to Trust Myself to Stop Doing the Things I Hate" (ISBN: 979-8985225327), the first book by coach Lauren Schwarzfeld. In the book, Schwarzfeld shares the diverse life experiences she earned by trying on various careers.
DocMagic Named One of the Top 100 Most Innovative Mortgage Companies for 2022
TORRANCE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of compliant loan document generation, automated regulatory compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it earned a spot on HousingWire's coveted 2022 Tech100 list for the ninth straight year.
Beverage Industry Thought Leader Amanda Wittstrom Higgins Launches Full Cup Solutions
PASO ROBLES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Leveraging her knowledge of - and networks in - all aspects of the alcohol beverage space and propelled by a deep personal investment in the agricultural world, industry notable and business strategist Amanda Wittstrom Higgins recently launched Full Cup Solutions, a full-service firm specializing in results driven unconventional planning in the marketing, sales, operations, employee development sectors and beyond.
Game Prep Tech Firm, GamePlan powered by Stack Sports, helps lift Los Angeles Rams to first Super Bowl win since 1999
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- A National Football League team based in Los Angeles, California recently won the 2021 Super Bowl LVI. While everyone watched them play, what they didn't see was their preparation using GamePlan - a mobile game preparation tool from Stack Sports - to win the championship.
Nomis Solutions announces strategic alliance with edtech non-profit Moneythink
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Nomis Solutions (Nomis), a global, industry-leading pricing and profitability management solutions provider, today announced it has established a philanthropic partnership with Moneythink, a national ed-tech nonprofit. Through the partnership, Nomis has pledged to make annual investments in the Moneythink platform and advise Moneythink on ways it can further empower historically marginalized students to achieve college success through informed financial decision-making.
California Ferret Owners Submit Ballot Initiative to Attorney General for Legal Opinion – AG Ignores Civil Code on Domestic Animals
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Non-profit Legalize Ferrets (legalizeferrets.org) announced today that we are disappointed that California Attorney General ignores Civil Code in Domestic Ferret Ballot Initiative. The ferret legalization grassroots organization, has repeatedly asked the California Attorney General for a legal opinion.
Lending Industry Tech Firm, Mortgage Coach lands on HousingWire 2022 Tech100 List
IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time, today announced it has been named to HousingWire's (HW) 2022 Tech100 Mortgage list.
NotaryCam listed as one of HousingWire’s Tech100 innovative mortgage technology companies for 2022
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- NotaryCam, a Stewart-owned company and a pioneering provider of remote online notarization and identity verification/authentication technology for real estate and legal transactions, today announced it has been named to the HousingWire Tech100 Mortgage list.
San Diego’s El Pollo Grill is THE Local Mexican Food Spot for Foodies in 2022
CHULA VISTA, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The team at El Pollo Grill knows that a new year brings with it new opportunities for patrons to have wonderful culinary adventures at their 3 dining establishments (Lemon Grove, Otay Ranch, and Bonita Rd. in Chula Vista). Although the focus is on the future, El Pollo Grill has a rich history that continues to shape the business.
Mortgage Coach enhances integration with Surefire to support mortgage lenders, helping convert borrowers at scale
IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time, today announced an enhanced integration with Surefire, Black Knight's customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software designed specifically for the mortgage lending industry.
Stacy Mayer’s New Book, ‘Promotions Made Easy’ Reveals How Corporate Women Get Promoted to The Executive Suite
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- In 2018, less than 10% of senior executives at the world's largest Fortune 500 companies were women. But it wasn't from lack of trying. Women were becoming better managers, but still weren't getting promoted to executive leadership positions. Stacy Mayer took on this problem as a personal challenge. She vowed to change the way organizations did business from the C-Suite out and she set about doing it, one executive-level promotion at a time.
Pop R&B Singer-Songwriter and Actress JADE Debuts Celestial Original Dance Single ‘Lucky Stars’ Airing on MTV and BETJams
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Classy in style, massive in appeal and savvy beyond her years, singer/songwriter and actress JADE has taken her time to learn her craft and study the business before jumping into it. The strategy is set to pay off like triple-cherry jackpots with her vibrant debut single and video, "Lucky Stars" (dropping on the artist's own TS2 Records imprint).
Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center Launches 2022 Prize Awarding $10K in Contest and Scholarship Money for Youth Poets of Color
VENICE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Beyond Baroque, one of the nation's leading literary arts centers, has announced that the Amanda Gorman Future Voices Poetry Prize is now actively accepting applications. The prize, created in honor of Beyond Baroque alumna and U.S. Presidential Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman, will accept applications until May 1, 2022.
EPIC Insurance Brokers’ Private Client Practice Appoints Steve Nelson as Chief Growth Officer
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants (EPIC), an independent insurance brokerage and consulting firm, announced today that they have appointed Steve Nelson as Chief Growth Officer of their Private Client Practice.
LoanMAPS LOS Now Integrated with DocMagic Eliminating Need for Disclosure Desk and Closing Department
TORRANCE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive eMortgage services, is pleased to announce that it has integrated multiple digital lending solutions with Take Three Technologies' ("Take3") cloud-based and fully-integrated loan origination system (LOS), LoanMAPS™.
California Soul Food Cookout and Festival: 2-Day Event with Purpose and Celebrity Chef Milly
PLEASANTON, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The California Soul Food Cookout and Festival is an exclusive, two-day weekend event being held on September 17 and 18, 2022 at the Alameda Fairgrounds. In its 12th year, this year's lineup will feature some of the state's top food vendors, hottest R&B artists and gospel greats. What's more, Chef Milly, a celebrity chef from "Hell's Kitchen," is the food venue host at the heart of it all.
KROST CPAs Announce Greg Kniss as Chairman of the Board, Jason Melillo as CEO and Keith Hamasaki as Principal of Assurance...
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Los Angeles-based CPA Firm, KROST CPAs and Consultants announced that Greg Kniss has been appointed to Chairman of the Board, Jason Melillo promoted as the new CEO, and Keith Hamasaki to Principal of Assurance & Advisory services.
Bay Area Brewers Guild and Half Time Beverage Partner to Deliver Series of Mixed Packs, Starting with SF Beer Week Beers
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Bay Area Brewers Guild and Half Time Beverage have partnered to launch a series of unique guild-curated mixed packs to celebrate California craft beer and the robust Bay Area craft beer scene. This partnership with a national direct-to-consumer retailer means the Guild will be able to showcase its membership of independent and world-class craft breweries to beer lovers within and outside of the Bay Area.
Spring EQ Offers Home Equity Products to Brokers in the Lender Price Marketplace
PASADENA, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Lender Price, a provider of mortgage loan pricing and origination technology, announced today that Spring EQ has joined the Lender Price Marketplace as the first home equity loan lender on the platform. Spring EQ, headquartered in Philadelphia, is one of the nation's largest lenders of home equity products.
Coalition For A Safe Environment to Distribute Free Personal Protection Equipment to Non-Profit Orgs and Public in So. Calif.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Coalition For A Safe Environment (CFASE), a 20-year old non-profit environmental justice organization headquartered in Wilmington, California, and its Community Emergency Preparedness Network will be distributing free Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to community non-profit organizations, public health service providers, churches and the public.
AmTrav launches guest travel planning solution, Gather
AGOURA HILLS, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- AmTrav, the one connected platform for business travel, announces Gather, the travel planning solution for today's guest traveler. Gather enables travel arrangers to quickly invite guest travelers to book their own travel within set itinerary parameters and travel policies, giving arrangers the controls they need and guests the travel choice they want.
Mortgage Coach and NAMMBA expand partnership to grow diversity, equity and inclusion in housing finance
IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time, has expanded its relationship with the National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America (NAMMBA).
EPIC Adds Joseph Freeman to Lead West Region Loss Control Team in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Joseph Freeman has joined the firm as Managing Principal. He will be based in Los Angeles.
Creative Blueprint Introduces the First Digital App of Connected, Arts-centered Learning for Kindergarteners
OAKLAND, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Creative Blueprint, launching 2/22/22, is the only EdTech company that connects art-based learning to the national education standards and measures students' progress. We address the problem of low student engagement by making arts-centered learning accessible to parents and teachers.
ReverseVision adds Marketing Expert Scott Shepherd to Help Elevate Brand
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- ReverseVision®, the leading national provider of Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and private reverse mortgage sales and origination technology, announced that seasoned marketing executive Scott Shepherd has joined the company to head its marketing efforts. As head of marketing, he oversees ReverseVision's marketing department and is responsible for the design and implementation of its new marketing strategy.
A.I. and Segmentation Tech Firm, Fanplayr Continues its Global Expansion with New Office Location in Spain
PALO ALTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Fanplayr, a global leader for e-commerce intelligence solutions, continues to expand its presence in the European market with the opening of a new office in Spain, with the goal of promoting brands that operate in retail, tourism, telecommunications, automotive, banking, energy, insurance and entertainment.
Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform, unveils redesigned website
IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time, has announced the launch of a newly designed website. The website redesign offers visitors an enhanced user experience featuring immersive brand exploration opportunities and an enriched library of lender resources.
LANtelligence Acquired by Matrix Networks to Create a CX-Automation Powerhouse
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Matrix Networks announced its recent acquisition of LANtelligence to create a new business venture enabling a powerful combination of modern business technology. Having informally shared resources for more than 10 years, it just made sense for these two companies to come together in a more structured way.
Legacy Launch Pad Announces Fitness Book Addressing Ketogenic Bodybuilding by Robert Sikes
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Legacy Launch Pad Publishing is releasing "Ketogenic Bodybuilding: A Natural Athlete's Guide to Competitive Savagery" (ISBN: 978-1956955071), the first book by Robert Sikes. The book is the result of Sikes' experiences as a professional bodybuilder and fitness coach.
Legacy Launch Pad Brings Award-Winning Business Book by Victor Orlovski and Vladimir Korovkin to U.S.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Legacy Launch Pad Publishing is releasing an updated edition of "From Rhino to Unicorn: How Fortune 500 Companies Can Evolve for the Digital Era" (ISBN: 978-1951407995), an award-winning business book co-authored by Victor Orlovski and Vladimir Korovkin.
Timely New Drama, ‘The Narrow Bridge,’ about the War Between Russia and The West Over Ukraine, now on Amazon Prime
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- GI-Films announces: What is really going on in Eastern Europe between Russia and Ukraine is the subject of a new movie "The Narrow Bridge" just released on Amazon Prime. Written and produced by Mirza Davitaia, and produced by GI-Films, "The Narrow Bridge" is about a young artist who must take up arms to defend Ukraine.
TMC Emerging Technology Fund LP recently participated in a $38M Series C investment round for AI Software, LLC dba Capacity
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's largest independent cooperative network serving the mortgage industry, announced today that the TMC Emerging Technology Fund LP (the "Fund") recently participated in a $38M Series C investment round for AI Software, LLC dba Capacity. Capacity is an AI-powered support automation platform.
