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.
Getec Industries Achieved Record-Breaking Growth in 2020 with Pandemic Specific Compliance
TORRANCE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated businesses all over the country. Despite this hostile business climate, Getec Industrial's business grew by 28%. This was due to several actions taken by executive leadership this year.
Sacramento SPCA Races to Complete its Zoe K. McCrea Animal Health Center
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Sacramento SPCA announced today that they have reached more than 90% of their fundraising goal to finish construction of the Zoe K. McCrea Animal Health Center - and the non-profit organization is asking for community support to help cross the finish line.
South Bay Mommies & Daddies teams with Beach Cities Health District to Support Raising Happy and Resilient Children
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- "Parents' Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy and Resilient Children," presented in partnership with Beach Cities Health District and South Bay Mommies and Daddies, is a five-part video series designed for parents of children ages 0-6.
CERTA, the No-Code Platform, Hires Senior Talent From D&B and GLG
PALO ALTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Certa, the leading no-code platform for cross-enterprise solutions including supplier risk management, KYC/AML and credit and insurance applications, has significantly boosted its leadership strength with key hires of senior talent, as well as other leadership moves.
Fanplayr Launches Personalized SMS for Brands Focused on eCommerce
PALO ALTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Fanplayr, a leader in online behavioral personalization and artificial intelligence for the past 10 years, announced it will add Personalized SMS to its menu of products for targeting lead generation and online shoppers.
The Joy Factory Rolls Out First Apple iPad Product in aXtion Extreme Series Designed for Hazardous Work Environments
IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Joy Factory, Inc., a global manufacturer of leading tablet mounting, cases, enclosures, kiosks and mobility accessory products, recently launched the first product in its aXtion Extreme Series - a heavy-duty enclosure for iPads.
AmTrav Corporate Travel Launches Innovative Flight Shopping Experience for Business Travelers and Travel Managers
AGOURA HILLS, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- AmTrav, the one-stop platform for business travel, announced today the launch of its brand-new flight shopping experience in their award winning a2b booking tool.
Parkk, the first RV focused parking app that allows travelers to reserve private RV parking in advance
PASO ROBLES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Parkk, the first RV focused parking app that allows travelers to reserve private RV parking in advance, today announced the parking technology is now available on both iPhone and Android, so RV travelers will no longer have to limit their travel routes based on current RV parking options.
Yiftee Inc. Surpasses 200 Community eGift Card Programs, Supporting Over 10,000 Local Businesses
MENLO PARK, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Yiftee, Inc., a leader since 2012 in local business eGift Cards, celebrates having implemented over 200 Community eGift Card Programs across the United States. Consumers, corporations, schools, hospitals and other organizations showed their heartfelt support of small business by buying millions of dollars' worth of cards that can only be spent in their local communities.
Paramount Property Tax Appeal Offering Free New Year’s Evaluation for Homeowners & Business Property Owners, RE: ‘Feb 16 Changes to Tax...
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- With only 20 days left before CA tax laws change, imposing limitations on property tax relief - property tax reduction firm Paramount Property Tax Appeal is ushering in the New Year with a free New Years evaluation for California families, affluent homeowners and all types of business property owners - to determine what steps to take to lower their property tax bill.
Vistamar School in El Segundo Begins Construction on New Viking Commons
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened many issues of inequity across our region. Vistamar School, an independent college preparatory day school serving grades 9-12, announced construction started this week on the Viking Commons, a new commercial kitchen and gathering space for the school.
Handwriting is Cool! 8th Annual Cursive is Cool Contest Adds Additional Prizes for Pandemic-Friendly Participation
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Cursive is Cool® contest will be held as usual this year after encouragement from teachers, parents and students, announced the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation today, despite some schools in the USA and Canada operating remotely, or using a hybrid model with in-person learning.
MCT Hires David Burruss to Address Demand for its MSR Services
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- MCT® announced that David Burress has joined the company in the position of MSR Sales Director, directly addressing the increase in market demand for MCT's MSR products. The hiring of Mr. Burruss ensures MCT can continue serving the needs of their MSR clients.
Olea Kiosks Announces Los Angeles Manufacturing Expansion, Engineering Growth
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Olea Kiosks®, Inc., a visionary provider of self-service kiosk solutions, today announced expansion of its manufacturing and engineering capacity in Los Angeles, Calif. This expansion enables Olea to continue to grow its customer base, partnerships, and OEM relationships to provide faster time to market and greater operational agility.
ReverseVision Lowers Lenders’ Costs to Originate Reverse Mortgages with Restructured Tech Plans
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- ReverseVision®, the leading national provider of Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and private reverse mortgage sales and origination technology, today announced it has restructured its technology plans and pricing matrix to ease lenders' entry into reverse lending and support their success.
PODCAST: Childhood Trauma – The Dark Secret 64% of Us Share: Compassion Prison Project with Dr. Vincent Felitti
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Two years ago this month, film producer Fritzi Horstman, and Compassion Prison Project founder, walked into a California maximum-security prison and sat down with the men who were serving time, hoping to bring them compassion and trauma-awareness.
Calif. Gov. Newsom Proposes 2021-22 California State Budget
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom today submitted his 2021-22 State Budget proposal to the Legislature – a $227.2 billion fiscal blueprint that provides funding for immediate COVID-19 response and relief efforts where Californians need it most while making investments for an equitable, inclusive and broad-based economic recovery.
Denial of Coverage for Gender-Affirming Care in California Declared Unlawful says TransFamily Support Services
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- TransFamily Support Services (transfamilysos.org) today announced a milestone victory in the organization's mission to build a world where all genders are accepted and treated equally.
New Carbon Dioxide Monitors from Forensics Detectors Meet California Compliance Monitoring Requirements
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- As more and more businesses, schools and other public indoor spaces prepare to open up, they're working to not only be effective, but compliant too. Forensics Detectors works to solve both challenges with the recent launch of its first carbon dioxide (CO2) monitors for COVID-19 preparedness planning.
Awair Announces Strategic Investment from Emerson (NYSE: EMR)
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Awair, the San Francisco-based startup that makes Indoor Air Quality monitoring and software solutions for home and commercial spaces, has received a major strategic investment from Emerson (NYSE: EMR). Emerson is a leader in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controls industry, as well as the creator of the highly-rated smart thermostat, Emerson Sensi.
ReverseVision Announces Joe Langner New CEO
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 the promotion of its president Joe Langner to president and chief executive officer. In this expanded role, Langner will lead ReverseVision's mission to empower America's seniors to use home equity as part of retirement finance.
Fanplayr, a leader in online behavioral personalization, acquires Jamu Inc.
PALO ALTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Fanplayr, a leader in online behavioral personalization, announced it has acquired Jamu Incorporated, a reseller and development firm based in Tokyo, Japan. The acquisition represents the fulfillment of a long-term relationship between Fanplayr and Jamu Inc.
TechAhead Corporation Launches Fuzon to Expand Internet of Things (IoT) Solutions
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- As the Internet of Things (IoT) transforms the way the world works, businesses have to keep pace, says TechAhead Corporation. With the launch of Fuzon.io, their new website, Fuzon helps them do exactly that.
Sarah Hellman of MCT Selected as Finalist for San Diego Business Journal 2020 Business Women of The Year
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, announced that Senior Trader, Sarah Hellman, was selected as one of the finalists for San Diego Business Journal's 2020 Business Women of the Year.
ReverseVision’s Wendy Peel Named a 2020 PROGRESS in Lending Trailblazers Award Recipient
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 PROGRESS in Lending Association has honored company Vice President of Sales and Marketing Wendy Peel with its Trailblazers award.
‘The Mikuni’ Blended Japanese Whisky Comes to the U.S.
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Suzuki-Marketing, Incorporated, a South San Francisco-based wine and spirits importer and marketing company, is introducing "The Mikuni" blended Japanese whisky to the U.S. Market.
Aloha Wanderwell Baker Film Makes 2020 LOC National Film Registry Cut
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Library of Congress has just announced its annual list of 25 films selected to be preserved in the National Film Registry's vault. And, Richard Diamond, trustee, Richard Diamond Trust, is excited to share that "With Car and Camera Around the World" made the cut.
Fanplayr Launches ‘Product Recommendations’ Offering Realtime Behavioral e-Commerce Personalization
PALO ALTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Fanplayr, a leader in online behavioral personalization for the past 10 years, announced it has added Product Recommendations to its menu of offerings. Fanplayr is a global leader in e-commerce behavioral data, using machine learning and AI.
Tapcheck Helps Employers Unlock New Financial Options for Employees with Earned Wage Access Application
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Tapcheck, a simple and easy-to-integrate financial wellness benefit that allows employers to give employees the ability to access their earned wages before payday, has experienced strong growth since first launching. In 2020 alone, Tapcheck saw 863% growth, with exponential adoption in the in-home care and quick-service restaurant (QSR) industries.
Paramount Property Tax Appeal Offers Free Evaluation to Affluent California Homeowners and Business Property Owners
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Now that California Proposition 19 has passed, Wes Nichols, president of Paramount Property Tax Appeal Service in San Diego has decided to offer a free evaluation to affluent families, business property owners and homeowners who are transferring property to heirs or simply wish to lower their property taxes, or appeal their tax bill.
‘Flavor First’ Intuitive Line of Glassware Designed Around the Flavor of Wine Released in U.S. Market
ST. HELENA, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- For the first time ever, a line of glassware designed around the flavor of wine has been released to trade and consumers in the United States by The Oneida® Group. The set of three glasses corresponds to three key flavor/styles found in wine: Crisp & Fresh™, Creamy & Silky™ and Bold & Powerful™.
IntelliMedia Networks and MoSHE Partner to Digitally Transform the Ethiopian Higher Education and Vocational Training Sector
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Ethiopian Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE) agrees to join forces with IntelliMedia Networks Inc. and its local partners Andalem Consulting PLC and United Systems Integrators, to enable a country-wide online learning platform to streamline access to higher learning across Ethiopia and improve quality of education and training for undergraduate and graduate students.
Calif. Wildfire survivors must act now to join the California no-cost 2020 wildfire cleanup program, says CalRecycle
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Survivors whose homes were damaged in the 2020 California wildfires now have until January 15, 2021, to sign up for the government-run debris removal program, says CalRecycle. The program is also available to property owners with fire damaged trees in danger of falling on public roads and other infrastructure.
A FINAL REMINDER: New Sci-Fi Novel Debates Ominous Cures for Two Crises, Pandemics and Too Many Men
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Born out of a raging pandemic, Buzz McCord's new techno-thriller wrestles with artificial intelligence, surveillance and sex crime. "A Final Reminder" (ISBN: 978-1736148815) moves energetically between upbeat and malevolent. Its author wrote it to simultaneously entertain and enrage.
DocMagic’s Leah Sommerville Named to NMP 2020 Top 40 Under 40 Most Influential Mortgage Professionals List
TORRANCE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that Leah Sommerville, 33, a senior account executive on DocMagic's eClosing team, earned a spot on this year's Top 40 Under 40 award list provided by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) magazine.
Treadstone 71 Releases Intelligence Advisory on Social Media Targeted Iranian Influence Operation
HALF MOON BAY, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Treadstone 71, LLC, the cyber intelligence and counterintelligence company, today released details of an Iranian intelligence-backed influence operation. Treadstone 71 observed IRGC Cyber Unit members playing an essential role in managing the campaign.
Tapcheck joins the isolved Integration Marketplace to enhance human capital management
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Tapcheck, a simple and easy-to-integrate financial wellness benefit that allows employers to give employees the ability to access their earned wages before payday, announces today that it is now a partner on the isolved Integration Marketplace.
Olea Kiosks announces partnership with UrVenue the leading hospitality technology platform
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Olea Kiosks, Inc., a visionary provider of self-service kiosk solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with UrVenue, the leading hospitality technology platform that powers commerce, enhances the guest experience and monetizes a resort's real estate.
L.A. Arts Non-profit, Dream A World Education Honored with Academics’ Choice Award
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Dream A World Education®, a Los Angeles-based non-profit that delivers virtual and in-classroom arts-based social-emotional learning to young children, announced that their Secrets of the Heart™ TV program has been honored with an Academics' Choice Award.
KBLA Talk 1580 Announces Talent Search for Los Angeles’ Newest Late Night Talk Show Team
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- LA's newest talk radio station, KBLA Talk 1580, is scheduling open on-air auditions for its 9 p.m. - 12 a.m. weekday host lineup. The station will discover and introduce to the Southern California talk radio market new voices yearning to be heard at this critical time.
Fanplayr Partners with PFG to Enhance E-Commerce Behavioral Intelligence Solutions
PALO ALTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Fanplayr, a leader in online behavioral personalization and AI for the past 10 years, recently closed a funding round from Partners for Growth (PFG) to support significant growth in its business and customer base.
Calif. Gov. Newsom Announces Appointments for Dec. 2, 2020 including Dept. of Social Services
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Wednesday, Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the following appointments: First, Joseph W. McCullough, 45, of Wilton, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director at the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, where he has served as Division Chief since 2019.
New Children’s Book Series Prescribes Solutions for Racism, Inequality and Hate
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Author/Educator and Chiropractor based in Santa Monica, Dr. Todd Gewant, today announced the release of his 2nd book in the "What I Wish I Was Told" children's book series, "What I Wish I Was Told: Part 2: A Poetic Guide To Unite Us All" (ISBN: 979-8696235394).
MCTlive! Pool Optimizer Technology from Mortgage Capital Trading Sets New Bar for Best Execution Loan Sales
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, debuted upgraded MCTlive! Pool Optimizer functionality at its MCT Exchange client conference last month. The technology enables secondary marketing managers to use actual cash window execution for optimization on each individual loan rather than using a dealer survey for spec pay-ups.
Galway Insurance Holdings Secures Majority Interest from Harvest Partners with Investments from Oak Hill Capital and The Carlyle Group
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Galway Insurance Holdings ("Galway"), the holding company for EPIC Brokers & Consultants ("EPIC") and JenCap Holdings ("JenCap"), which together represent one of the nation's largest insurance distribution firms, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement with vehicles controlled by Harvest Partners, LP and its affiliates ("Harvest") for a majority interest of Galway.
NotaryCam’s Henry Smith Named 2020 HousingWire Tech Trendsetter
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- NotaryCam, the pioneering leader in online notarization and original provider of mortgage eClosing solutions, today announced that Henry Smith, Director of Notary Operations, has been named a 2020 Tech Trendsetter by housing finance trade publication HousingWire as part of its second annual HW Tech Trendsetter Awards program.
Mortgage Comparison Shopping with Pureloan.com Leads to $15,335 Average Interest Savings
PALO ALTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Pureloan.com confidently demonstrates that, for the average home purchaser, its mortgage search engine provides on average $15,335 of lifetime savings in reduced interest payments by comparing loans.
California Association of Food Banks and CalRecycle recommend practical steps every Californian can take right now to help hungry families
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Demand for food assistance has more than doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 1 in 4 Californians without enough to eat. Sheltering-in-place makes it difficult to take part in traditional in-person holiday food drives and fundraising events. But this year it’s more important than ever to help people struggling to feed their families during the holidays, according to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery and its partner the California Association of Food Banks.
Bright Road Recovery Contracts with Magellan Healthcare to Provide Eating Disorder Treatment for Blue Shield Subscribers
CLAREMONT, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Bright Road Recovery, the Inland Empire's Premier Eating Disorder Treatment Program, announced today that they are now in-network with Magellan Healthcare. This is good news for Blue Shield subscribers in the Inland Empire who are looking for help with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or ARFID.
Community State Bank Implements Fully Paperless eClosing Process with DocMagic Total eClose
TORRANCE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, regulatory compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that Southeast Wisconsin-based Community State Bank has implemented its full suite of eClosing solutions to transform the bank's mortgage closing process, making it 100 percent digital.
