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.
Secured Signing Notary Community enables notaries to connect with clients online, receive jobs, and chat directly
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Secured Signing, a frontrunner in the realm of digital signature and remote online notarization solutions, is thrilled to unveil a series of substantial upgrades to its Notary Community platform. These enhancements are meticulously crafted to empower notaries to broaden their client base, attract many business opportunities, and optimize their workflow efficiency.
Patented Fintech Allows Mortgage Buyers to Transact with Any Seller on MCT Marketplace
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, today announced that the company has been awarded a patent for the security spread commitment used in the industry's largest mortgage asset exchange: MCT Marketplace. The security spread commitment transforms loan auctions, turning shadow bids into executable prices.
Over 20 communities become first to earn new Clean California designation in 2024
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ -- This week (on Aug. 3) Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the launch of the Clean California Community Designation Program, a statewide effort encouraging local engagement to make communities cleaner, safer, and more sustainable. The Newsom Administration joined the City of Fresno to launch the program and designate Fresno as one of 22 California communities first to take the pledge.
MCT Reports a 6% Mortgage Lock Volume Decrease in Latest July 2024 Report
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, announced today a decrease of 5.67% in mortgage lock volume compared to the previous month. Industry professionals and enthusiasts are invited to download the complete report for comprehensive insights into the market dynamics.
Restrictive Policies Contribute to California’s Low Construction Employment Ranking in 2024
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The construction unemployment rate in California stands at 3.9% through June 2024. While this marks a decrease in a year, a deeper review of the numbers shows that only 7 states have seen their unemployment rates improve slower than California, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). "While the industry is pleased with a relatively low unemployment rate, we wonder how much lower it could be if we simply adopted policies consistent with the rest of the nation," said John Morris, President and CEO, ABC Northern California Chapter (ABC NorCal).
Championing Environmental Change: California Safe Schools Fosters National Collaboration and Innovation
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- California Safe Schools (CSS) celebrates their 26th annual pioneering "Your Life Is Now" Forum which brings together students, members of the public, local, state and federal government. 26 years ago, California Safe Schools (CSS) was founded by Robina Suwol with a mission to protect children on school sites from ever being exposed to pesticides.
Informative Research’s Kelly Richards Receives 2024 MPA Elite Women Award
IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Informative Research, a leading technology platform that delivers data-driven solutions to the lending community, announced today that Kelly Richards, Head of Sales Support, has been named a winner of the MPA Elite Women 2024 by Mortgage Professional America (MPA). This award recognizes exceptional female leaders who have significantly contributed to the mortgage industry.
Informative Research Enhances Verification Platform through Expanded Integration with The Work Number from Equifax
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Informative Research, a leading technology platform delivering data-driven solutions to the lending community, today announced the expansion of its verification platform through the integration of additional Equifax solutions that leverage The Work Number®, the industry-leading commercial source of consolidated income and employment information.
California feeds over 3.2 million low-income children through summer SUN Bucks
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ -- Today, Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that through SUN Bucks, a new federal food program, more than 3,240,000 low-income children and their families have received food assistance during summer break. More than $162 million in food purchases have already been made by families across the state, and over five million total cards are expected to be distributed across California in the coming months, keeping kids fed and supporting local economies.
Calif. Gov. Newsom announces appointments for 7.17.24 including to California Youth Empowerment Commission
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ -- On Wed., July 17, Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the following appointments: First, Melany Acosta-Parra, of Kerman, has been appointed to the California Youth Empowerment Commission. Acosta-Parra has been a Recreation Leader for the City of Kerman Parks and Recreation Department since 2021. She served on the Kerman Youth Commission from 2021 to 2024.
Landmark $12.6 billion agreement to build a clean, renewable Hydrogen Hub in California announced
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and ARCHES announced the official signing of a landmark $12.6 billion agreement to build a clean, renewable Hydrogen Hub in California, including the up to $1.2 billion in federal funding that was announced last year when California was selected as a national hub. ARCHES is the first of seven Hydrogen Hubs throughout the country to officially sign their agreement with the DOE.
California funding 51 projects across the state to boost apprenticeships for opportunity youth ages 16-24
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ -- On Wednesday (July 17) Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the Department of Industrial Relations awarded $31 million in California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship (COYA) grants to 51 projects across the state to increase pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships in healthcare, education, advanced manufacturing, information technology, public sector, transportation and more.
Petco Love Again Invests in Sacramento SPCA for 2024 to Save and Improve Lives of Pets in the Sacramento Region
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Sacramento SPCA was awarded a $15,000 grant investment from national nonprofit Petco Love in support of their lifesaving work for animals in the Sacramento region.
William Cole Vineyards Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Cuvée Claire
ST. HELENA, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- This fall, William Cole Vineyards a multigenerational, family-owned winery producing handcrafted wines in St. Helena, will commemorate the 25th anniversary of one of their signature wines, the Cuvée Claire Cabernet Sauvignon. Created by owner and winemaker William Ballentine Jr. in honor of his daughter, Claire, there is either a family connection or a special commemoration behind every label at William Cole Vineyards.
Dr. Anju Mathur Supports 2024 Chronic Disease Day with Functional Medicine for a Blue Zone Lifestyle
STUDIO CITY, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- When Dr. Anju Mathur experienced health complications years ago, the shortcomings of her medical practice really hit home. While traditional medicine suppresses the symptoms of illness, she realized that actual healing needed to occur at a root level. She began to investigate alternative treatments for her own transformation which led to the establishment of her functional medicine office, the Angel Longevity Medical Center.
Informative Research Adds Process Transformation Expert, Brandon Hall as New EVP of Operations
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Informative Research, a leading technology platform that delivers data-driven solutions to the lending community, has named Brandon Hall as its new executive vice president (EVP) of operations. Hall brings over 20 years of experience driving operational excellence within the financial services sector and is known for implementing innovative process improvements, fostering cross-functional collaboration and leading through change.
MAGLITE and The Pedestrian Safety Institute Promote Traffic and Pedestrian Safety During 2024 National Roadside Traffic Safety Awareness Month
ONTARIO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Maglite® brand partners with the Pedestrian Safety Institute (PSI) to support traffic and pedestrian safety during one of the deadliest times of the year, the first week in July. The days surrounding July 4th are particularly dangerous and are routinely referred to as the deadliest driving days of the year and pedestrian deaths make up approximately 20% of those fatalities.
Come Over October 2024 Campaign Officially Announced for Wine Lovers and Foodies
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Celebrating the role of wine as a communal and celebratory beverage both now and historically, the team behind COME TOGETHER - A Community for Wine Inc., announces the kickoff of their Come Over October campaign. Conceived by respected wine authority Karen MacNeil, together with wine industry communications professionals Gino Colangelo and Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET, the campaign encourages friends, family, and colleagues to "come over" during the month of October to share wine and celebrate friendship.
MCT Integrates with Fannie Mae’s Mission Score API and New Product Grids to Empower Originators to Take Advantage of Market Incentives
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, announced the launch of new integrations with Fannie Mae's Mission Score application programming interface (API) and Mission Score 2 and 3 product grids that provide better transparency and pricing for mortgages aligned with Fannie Mae's mission objectives.
National Pygmy Goat Association (NPGA) Crowns 2024 Champions at Annual Convention
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The National Pygmy Goat Association (NPGA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 Champion Challenge held in Lewisburg, WV June 14, 2024. Sponsored by the North Carolina Pygmy Goat Club, the Wild Wonderful World of Pygmies National Convention brought together the best animals from all over the U.S. for a chance to claim the top honor of national champion. Based in Bakersfield CA, the National Pygmy Goat Association is the official breed registry for Pygmy Goats in the United States.
Olea Kiosks Unveils Revolutionary Driver Check-In Kiosk Solution to Transform Logistics Operations
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Olea Kiosks is proud to announce the launch of its latest innovation in kiosk technology, the Tampa Driver Check-In Kiosk. This new and innovative solution was designed to transform the way logistics companies manage driver arrivals and departures.
‘LA Carnival on the Shaw’ 2024 in L.A. Culminates Juneteenth and Caribbean American Heritage Month with Music and Masquerade
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- When LA Carnival launched on Crenshaw Boulevard last year, the seeds were planted to grow an economic development vehicle using the carnival parade as the mechanism for community engagement. One hundred drums led an inaugural procession with an exuberant, multicultural starlight jamboree into Leimert Park Village. Produced by MARIKEL Productions in association with Mandrill World Music, and sponsored by International Eye LA, this year the festivities continue to explode with "LA Carnival on the Shaw," June 30, 2024.
Calif. Gov. Newsom announces historic land return effort on 5th anniversary of California apology to Native Americans
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ -- Today, on the 5th anniversary of the state’s apology to California Native American peoples, Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the state’s support for the return of over 2,800 acres of ancestral land to the Shasta Indian Nation. This return is one of the largest in state history and part of the state’s ongoing efforts to right the historical wrongs committed against the Native communities of California.
Remote Online Notarization Innovator, Secured Signing, Scales Up with Strategic Leadership & Global Expansion
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Secured Signing, a leading provider of secure Digital Signatures and Remote Online Notarization platform, today announced a significant growth, fueled by a visionary leadership change and strategic team expansion.
Culver City hosts their 4th Annual PRIDE celebration 2024 with signature PRIDE RIDE and PRIDE RALLY
CULVER CITY, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ -- Culver City’s 4th Annual PRIDE celebration and party will take place on Saturday, June 29, 2024. The PRIDE RIDE will take place at Syd Kronenthal Park, while the PRIDE RALLY will happen on Main Street, Culver City. According to the city press release, "This event is known throughout the city for bringing our community together to celebrate what makes us unique and the values that unite us."
MCT and Lender Price announce partnership to Improve Mortgage Pricing with Loan-Level MSR Values
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, and Lender Price, the first cloud-native provider of mortgage pricing technology, have partnered to provide mortgage lenders using the Lender Price product and pricing engine (PPE) with loan-level MCT MSR values. MCT's industry-leading mortgage servicing rights (MSR) grids allow Lender Price PPE clients to be more granular, profitable, and efficient when generating their front-end borrower pricing and managing their MSR portfolio.
LA METRO Announces New Improvements to Bus Service Frequency and Reliability Starting June 23
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ -- Effective Sunday, June 23, 2024, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will offer more frequent and reliable bus service and an improved travel experience on multiple routes based on direct feedback from customers and bus operators, and review of ridership and travel time data. Bus service improvements will update travel times so riders will wait less at stops.
Calif. Governor Newsom announced appointments for June 7, 2024 including to District Agricultural Associations
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ -- This past week, on June 7, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments: First, Jeremy Kirk, of Hidden Valley Lake, has been Appointed Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Home of California, Yountville.
MCT Reports A 7% Mortgage Lock Volume Increase In Latest May 2024 Indices Report
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, announced today an increase of 6.78% in mortgage lock volume compared to the previous month. To gain comprehensive insights into the market dynamics, industry professionals and enthusiasts are invited to download the complete report.
Newly Launched CapitalW Collective is Educating, Elevating, and Empowering Women in Mortgage
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- CapitalW Collective (CapitalW), the glass shattering non-profit benefiting women and their allies in mortgage capital markets, today announced its successful debut within the mortgage industry. Officially launched on May 1, 2024, CapitalW made its first appearance at the Mortgage Bankers Association Secondary and Capital Markets Conference in New York May 19-21, 2024.
Author Sharon Gillenwater’s New Memoir ‘Scaling with Soul’ Goes Behind the Scenes on Scaling, Selling Her $25 Million Business
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Building a company out of nothing and selling it for $25 million is a dream for many-but not for Sharon K. Gillenwater. Legacy Launch Pad Publishing is delighted to announce the release of "Scaling with Soul" (ISBN: 978-1964377001 [ebook]; 978-1964377018 [paperback]; 978-1964377025 [hardback]; 978-1964377032 [audiobook]), the author's debut memoir detailing her journey to success.
Remote notarization is streamlined with Secured Signing’s new features
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Secured Signing, a leader in remote online notarization (RON) solutions, announces a suite of innovative features designed to streamline the online document signing and notarization process. These enhancements empower both notaries and singers to experience a smoother, more secure, and efficient experience.
Jacqui Pitman Makes TV Casting Golden in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- For several decades now, casting director Jacqui Pitman, owner/CEO of Pitman Casting Inc. and PartyPit Productions Inc., has played a crucial role in the success of numerous long-standing TV shows. With her creative insight, Pitman has contributed to over 500 shows, including iconic staples like "America's Most Wanted," "Price is Right," "Let's Make a Deal," "Face Off," and "Big Brother 2." Pitman served as the casting director for ABC's "The Golden Bachelor" and is now casting for the highly anticipated spinoff series, "The Golden Bachelorette."
Glancy Wine Education Foundation Welcomes New Board Members, Achieves Platinum Charity Rating
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Glancy Wine Education Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of several new members to its all-volunteer board, as well as its achievement of Platinum Transparency, the highest rating possible from Candid's Guidestar charity ratings system. Established in 2020, The Glancy Wine Education Foundation is a registered a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization.
California Accelerates Effort to Transform Mental Health System for All, with Urgent Focus on the Seriously Ill and Homeless
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ – On Tuesday (May 14), while visiting a behavioral health treatment center under ongoing expansion in San Mateo County, Governor Newsom announced the state is accelerating – in record time – the first round of funding, made available by Prop 1, to boost California’s ongoing transformation of the statewide Behavioral Health system.
Financial Women of San Francisco Announces its 2024 Scholarship Winners, Advancing the Careers of Women
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Financial Women of San Francisco (FWSF), an organization dedicated for more than 60 years to advancing the careers of women, names ten students from Bay Area colleges and universities as its 2024 scholarship recipients. FWSF has awarded over $3 million in scholarships over the past 35 years to more than 325 Bay Area women.
Robert J. Shearer’s Memoir ‘We Were Better Together’ Is a Sensitive Guide to Couples with Cancer and Elegy to His Late...
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- A hybrid memoir and cancer guide, "We Were Better Together: Navigating Cancer as a Couple with Love, Practical Advice and Expert Guidance" (ISBN: 978-1-956955-99-6 [ebook]; 978-1-956955-98-9 [paperback]; 978-1-964377-04-9 [hardcover]), is full of expert guidance on navigating insurance, hospice, cancer treatment and intimacy - alongside Bob and Melissa's profound love story, told through heartfelt letters.
New Fintech Solution Connects API-Driven Back-End to Front-End Pricing with Industry-First Features
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, today announced the release of the Base Rate Generator, an industry-changing solution that allows mortgage lenders to directly inform their front-end rate sheet pricing with their back-end capital markets executions. By combining live agency API connections, co-issue executions, aggregator pricing, and custom TBA indications, the MCT Base Rate Generator allows mortgage lenders to improve margin management and competitive performance.
California Ferret Activist Pat Wright Files Lawsuit Against Calif. Fish & Game Commission President Eric Sklar
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Pat Wright, a resident of La Mesa, California, has filed a lawsuit against Eric Sklar, President of the California Fish and Game Commission in San Diego Superior Court, challenging the arbitrary classification of domestic ferrets as wild animals. The lawsuit, titled Wright v. Sklar, was filed in the San Diego Superior Court and seeks a writ of mandate and declaratory relief. Wright is the founder of LegalizeFerrets.org.
Lisa Pantages of the San Francisco Giants, a Top Sports Exec, Named FWSF 2024 Financial Woman of the Year
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Financial Women of San Francisco (FWSF) today named Lisa Pantages as the FWSF 2024 Financial Woman of the Year. Ms. Pantages is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the San Francisco Giants. FWSF is particularly excited to award the organization's highest honor to a female sports executive, a sector which FWSF has not previously recognized.
Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. Reports A 2% Lock Volume Increase Despite Rising Rates
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, today reported a 1.87% increase in mortgage lock volume compared to the previous month. To gain comprehensive insights into the market dynamics, industry professionals and enthusiasts are invited to download the complete report.
California State Soccer Association Strengthens Partnership with Stack Sports, Adding CaptainU as Official College Recruiting Software
ANAHEIM, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Stack Sports and Cal South have strengthened their ongoing partnership, adding CaptainU as its Official College Recruiting Software to Cal South and its youth soccer community. This continued Stack Sports partnership will further Cal South's mission of advancing and empowering its youth athletes and families through soccer. Cal South and Stack Sports have a longstanding relationship that spans over 20 years via Stack Sports' 'Sports Connect' solution, and have together played an integral role in bringing soccer to local youth.
Informative Research Adds Mortgage Finance Expert Kurt Raymond CMB as SVP
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Informative Research, a leading technology platform that delivers data-driven solutions to the lending community, announced it has expanded its team to add mortgage industry veteran Kurt Raymond, CMB as Senior Vice President and Borrower Journey Engineer. The move reflects Informative Research's commitment to helping lenders streamline origination costs and enhance the borrower experience.
California IVF Fertility Center in Sacramento Awarded on America’s Best Fertility Clinics 2024 List from Newsweek
SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- California IVF Fertility Center has been awarded on the Newsweek list of America's Best Fertility Clinics 2024. This prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The award list was announced on April 17, 2024, and can be viewed on Newsweek's website. In honor of Fertility Awareness, California IVF will give away a free IVF package.
California Safe Schools Honors 2024 Earth Day Champions, Celebrates its 26th Anniversary of Environmental Protection
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- California Safe Schools (CSS) celebrates 7 Earth Day Champions for their extraordinary achievements and mindfulness of future generations. "California Safe Schools proudly honors these individuals whose dedication and resolve make the world a better place and inspire others," affirms Robina Suwol, Executive Director of California Safe Schools.
MCT Launches Complete Best Execution with Fully Integrated Retain vs. Release MSR Decisioning
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, proudly introduces a game-changing advancement: a Best Ex for Released and Retained all in one platform!
Domaine Carneros Celebrates Earth Day Every Day – Releases first ‘Powered by the Sun’ Rosé
NAPA, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Adding to its multi-decade legacy of environmental stewardship, Domaine Carneros is pleased to share new initiatives that build upon its commitment to producing outstanding wine while continuously striving for best practices in sustainability. Installation of groundbreaking new microgrid technology in 2023 increased Domaine Carneros' commitment to renewable energy. In celebration, the winery is proud to release its first microgrid-powered wine, the 2023 Avant Garde Pinot Noir Rose, "Powered by The Sun."
Soberlink releases its new Cellular 2 Device, its latest advancement in remote alcohol monitoring
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Introducing the new Cellular 2 Device, the latest addition to Soberlink's line of remote alcohol monitoring solutions. Designed with user convenience and global accessibility in mind, the Cellular 2 Device seamlessly combines a sleek design with comprehensive functionality, offering a dependable tool for individuals and professionals in Family Law, Addiction Recovery, and Workplace Compliance.
Secured Signing for Bullhorn now uses AI to automatically send documents for digital signatures
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Secured Signing, a pioneer in digital signatures and remote online notarization solutions, is thrilled to announce the release of a revolutionary new feature designed exclusively for Bullhorn users. Secured Signing integrates with Bullhorn and provides a one stop Digital Signature solution that delivers a full range of form completion and eSigning capabilities.
MCT Reports A 15% Lock Volume Increase Heading Into 2024 Home Buying Season
SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, announced today an increase of 15.36% in mortgage lock volume compared to the previous month. To gain comprehensive insights into the market dynamics, industry professionals and enthusiasts are invited to download the complete report.
