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SIR IVAN’s “Imagine” Ranks Top 10 In The World 45 Years After John Lennon’s Original

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Recording Artist Sir Ivan

NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Music history was made this month as pop star and philanthropist SIR IVAN went Top 10 with an all new uptempo version of John Lennon’s “Imagine”, on three significant industry charts, 45 years after the original release in 1971.  

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150303/179367

In the U.K. where John Lennon was born, “Imagine” by SIR IVAN ranks # 9 on Music Week’s Commercial Pop Chart. SIR IVAN entered the radio chart in August along with Selena Gomez, Bob Sinclar, Usher and Calvin Harris.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402267

In the U.S., John Lennon’s adopted home, “Imagine” by SIR IVAN coincidentally also ranks # 9 on the DJ Times National Dance/Crossover Top 40 Chart. The DJ Times is the oldest and most respected magazine for professional DJs in America. SIR IVAN entered the club chart along with Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Sia, Sean Paul and Rihanna.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402268

New Zealand based SERATO’S promotion division, Serato White Label, ranks “Imagine” by SIR lVAN # 1 for the greatest amount of DJ downloads during the month of July. SERATO is the leading DJ equipment and software manufacturer in the world. Although SIR IVAN sits on the top of the chart, he was also joined by Gwen Stefani, M.I.A. and Imany.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402269

SIR IVAN’s new electronic dance music (EDM) version of “Imagine” (http://bit.ly/2bzzO9D) spent weeks on the Billboard Dance Club Chart. The song was co-produced by Grammy Award winner Omar Akram and legendary music arranger Peter Rafelson. It has been praised globally and fans of both the original and the new are dancing and working out to the most iconic peace song ever written. “Imagine” is the first single released off SIR IVAN’s new 10 song album called “Peaceman Shines” (http://bit.ly/2c9Yryf). Each of the 10 songs, created by 10 different producers, are well known anti-war or peace songs from the 60s and early 70s, except for two original songs, co-written by SIR IVAN, that share the same theme.

This is not the first time SIR IVAN has released an uptempo version of “Imagine.” He did so on September 4th, 2001, exactly one week before September 11th, when he launched his music career and became the first recording artist in history to turn any slow ballad of the Beatles or John Lennon into an uptempo dance record. Personally signed to the Tommy Boy label by its owner, Tom Silverman, SIR IVAN’s revolutionary fast paced version of “Imagine” became an instant Top 40 hit on the Billboard Dance Club Chart. This proved that even thirty years after the original was released by John Lennon in 1971, the lyrics of “Imagine” were just as relevant to a whole new generation. Now, 15 years after SIR IVAN first turned the ballad into a dance record, and because terrorist attacks are occurring all over the world, he is once again giving the planet an opportunity to heal itself through the therapeutic power of music. He urges us to come together as one, while raising money for a worthy cause.

In 2005, SIR IVAN, son of Auschwitz survivor Siggi B. Wilzig, created The Peaceman Foundation, a charity that donates funds to other non-profit organizations that help people suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a debilitating mental condition that often results from exposure to severe acts of violence, such as physical attacks against members of the LGBT community, atrocities of war and terrorism. SIR IVAN has seen firsthand what survivors go through. His own father suffered from classic PTSD symptoms; fierce headaches, flashbacks, nightmares and depression, as a result of brutal beatings in the concentration camps and the murder of 59 members of his family during the Holocaust. All of SIR IVAN’s recording artist royalties from the single “Imagine” and the album “Peaceman Shines” will be donated to The Peaceman Foundation to battle PTSD and provide treatment for the psychological wounds caused by hatred and violence. Both are available on iTunes, Amazon MP3, and many other top digital music stores. Physical CDs can be purchased at CD baby.  

SIR IVAN’s “Imagine” on iTunes: https://itun.es/us/U99Tcb 
SIR IVAN’s album “Peaceman Shines” on iTunes: https://itun.es/us/D-pXcb

For information on SIR IVAN and The Peaceman Foundation – please follow the below links:
www.SirIvan.com and www.SirIvan.com/The-Peaceman-Foundation

ROKA Releases Performance Eyewear Collection

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ROKA Phantom sunglasses

DALLAS, Aug. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — ROKA Sports, Inc. a Dallas-based performance multisport brand, has announced the upcoming release of its first collection of premium performance eyewear. Rendered in a range of frame hues and lens color options, the three premiere designs showcase a heritage of classic optical style, while packing under-the-hood technical innovations that deliver the ultimate in performance and comfort.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160830/402630
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160830/402628
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160830/402629

Rob Canales, Co-Founder and CEO of ROKA said, “We created a bold new category of eyewear that proves performance optics don’t always have to take styling cues from science fiction. This is true performance, concealed by vintage style that takes you anywhere. Athletes can finally get the look they want, and still have all the technology they need to push themselves to the limit with zero compromise.”

Combining unmatched performance with uncompromising style, the three debut designs — the Phantom, Kona, and Vendée — are a showcase of technology. Their patent-pending nose and temple GEKO Pads were inspired by biomimicry of gecko foot geometry. Crafted with a proprietary elastomer, the pads provide a no-bounce, ultra-secure fit that maintains retention even during the sweatiest, most strenuous activity. Lenses from Carl Zeiss Vision deliver razor-sharp optical performance, as well as remarkable shatter resistance. Even with the ultra-light weight of titanium and other leading materials, the frames maintain rock-solid durability. With precisely balanced weight distribution and the luxurious feel of GEKO Pad technology, they offer a “forget you’re wearing them” experience.

ROKA plans to stagger the release dates for the three designs. The Phantom will become available during the week of August 29. The releases of Kona and Vendée are currently slated for mid-September.

ROKA’s first pro athlete, Jesse Thomas, inspired the Phantom. He won his breakthrough triathlon in gas station aviators, and made a name for himself racing in that classic style. However, he had to settle for underperforming sunglasses with poor optics that fell off his face and could not be worn comfortably for extended periods. Inspired by Thomas’s demand for a solution that would provide market-beating performance, ROKA accepted the challenge to build the ultimate performance aviator. After more than a year of intense R&D with some of the world’s most advanced factories and material suppliers, the Phantom was born.

Thomas recalled his victory in the grueling IRONMAN® Lanzarote in Spain, a race in which he ran a blistering 2:46 marathon while wearing the Phantom for the first time: “They were the ultimate upgrade, crazy lightweight and super comfortable. They never bounced or slipped, despite buckets of sweat. I was 100% focused on my race, not my equipment. Plus, I thought they looked badass.”

The second design in ROKA’s debut collection, the Kona was inspired by the ultimate endurance test in triathlon on Hawaii’s big island, an annual proving ground for the latest in performance technology. The performance sunglass has a modern, square lens that echoes iconic American style of the ’50s and ’60s. To combat fogging, the frame is engineered for channeled airflow with architecture that is reinforced with carbon fiber for torsional rigidity and strength.

The Vendée is the third debut design. It is shaped with classic wayfarer styling and named after the launch point for the grueling, round-the-world, single-handed yacht race that attracts the most daring and accomplished yachtsmen. Like the Kona, the Vendée features channeled airflow, hidden spring hinges that contribute shock absorption and optimal fit for any head size or shape, and the comfort of a lightweight yet durable nylon frame.

All designs in the collection feature premium lenses by Carl Zeiss Vision, and they exceed ANSI Z87.1 standards for optical performance and impact resistance. Polarized editions block 99% of reflected glare, and all lenses filter out 100% of all harmful UV.

The lenses are enhanced with a superior hard coating for abrasion resistance, a hydrophobic/oleophobic coating that reduces fog buildup and resists smudging, and an AR coating that mitigates distracting reflections and glare.

Canales added, “ROKA’s mission is to unlock human potential — to equip, empower, inspire, and ignite. When we see an opportunity to innovate, to challenge the status quo, to disrupt a complacent or monopolistic market, we go all in. These debut eyewear designs are a glimpse of what’s to come.”

Visit www.roka.co to learn more about the company’s growing lines of premium performance apparel and equipment. Follow ROKA on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About ROKA Sports, Inc.

ROKA is a premium multisport brand dedicated to empowering athletes with the performance technologies they need to realize and redefine their potential. Like the athletes it serves, ROKA believes reaching one’s best is not a destination but the first step on the next journey of greatness, and the company continually strives to achieve the most innovative, premium products available for those who demand the best.

ROKA was founded by two former Stanford All-American swimmers who, after being frustrated by the offerings on the market, set out to make the fastest wetsuits on the planet. After launching in 2013, ROKA has seen tremendous growth, and its products are now relied upon by numerous world-class athletes including ITU World Champions, IRONMAN® Champions and Olympic medalists. Today, ROKA continues to make a difference for athletes who share its passion for excellence, and the company is building on its reputation for quality, performance and unsurpassed customer experience as it expands into new product categories. For more information, visit www.roka.co.

(Español) Pablo Soria de Lachica – Acoge la inversión de Uruguay en infraestructura

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablo-soria-de-lachica-82460411b

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort Starts Sept. 9, as Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror Begins its Final Check-out Celebration

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TWILIGHT ZONE(TM) TOWER OF TERROR FINAL CHECK-OUT CELEBRATION (ANAHEIM, Calif.) - Guests will enjoy the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror(TM) and its eerie adventure during the final "check-out" celebration, throughout Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. The spooky Halloween season returns to the Disneyland Resort in 2016 from Sept. 9 through Oct. 31. The final chance for guests to check in at the spooky attraction is Jan. 2, 2017, at Disney California Adventure Park. (Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland)

ANAHEIM, California, Aug. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort offers two new reasons for guests to visit this year­­––a special celebration at The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror with a chance to “drop in” like never before, and the debut of the “Frightfully Fun Parade” at Mickey’s Halloween Party, a separate-ticket event. The parade features some popular Disney villains and a procession of grim, grinning ghosts, while The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow appears for the first time at Mickey’s Halloween Party.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160830/402664

Those treats add to the family-friendly thrills, popular seasonal attractions and spooky decor that make Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort so magical. The season runs from Friday, Sept. 9, through Monday, Oct. 31, offering the popular Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy attractions, themed foods and merchandise, plus spirited decor that features a giant Mickey Mouse jack-‘o-lantern on Main Street, U.S.A.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Final Check-out Celebration at Disney California Adventure Park

The invitation to check into the Hollywood Tower Hotel is even more urgent now as The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror approaches its final check-out date, Jan. 2, 2017. A special tribute begins Sept. 9 to salute the haunted hotel’s eerie story and exciting adventure at Disney California Adventure Park. During the celebration, guests who arrive after twilight will enjoy “Late Check-Out”–-a chance to venture beyond the fifth dimension into complete darkness.  It’s something guests have never experienced before: free-falling in the attraction’s haunted elevator shaft with all the lights out.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror celebration also includes special musical performances, commemorative merchandise and specialty food and beverage items. Performing at the Hollywood Tower Hotel are the Silver Lake Sisters, characters from the story of this famous hotel who once performed at its rooftop lounge. The sisters make their return to the Hollywood Hotel during Halloween season.

Spooky Halloween Traditions at Disneyland Park

Throughout the Halloween season, guests will find special treats and thrilling traditions.  Haunted Mansion Holiday returns to celebrate the collision between Halloween and Christmas, and a familiar guest moves into the Mansion: Jack Skellington from the Walt Disney Pictures classic “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

  • Jack Skellington brings a unique spark to the season and, for the first time, his friend Sally joins him in the Mansion graveyard.
  • The annual Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house is back with a new theme. This year’s version appears to have been stitched together from pieces of other gingerbread houses and treats. In fact, the ghoulish architect has stitched himself inside the house, and one green arm still may be spotted, sewing the walls together around him.
  • Another Halloween favorite is Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, a Halloween-themed reimagining of the popular thrill ride in Tomorrowland, at Disneyland. Guests on board the speeding Space Mountain vehicles are thrust into a ghostly galaxy where they are bombarded with eerie screams, sound effects and music. Spine-chilling spirits pop out of the darkness, appearing to reach out to menace the space travelers.
  • The traditional Mexican celebration, Dia de los Muertos,” is observed with a skeleton display in Frontierland, near Rancho del Zocalo restaurant.
  • As a special, after-dark treat during the Halloween season, guests visiting Disneyland on select nights will enjoy the “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks spectacular.
  • During the day, the dynamic “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” marches down Main Street, U.S.A., throughout Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort.

Mickey’s Halloween Party

New this year at Mickey’s Halloween Party is the premiere of the “Frightfully Fun Parade,” seen exclusively on the 17 nights of this separately ticketed event at Disneyland.

  • The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow (from the Disney animated classic “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad”) brings a warning to guests, riding through the park on his ghostly black steed with a flickering jack-‘o-lantern.
  • Shortly afterward, the parade begins with greetings from Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King from Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
  • Grim, grinning (and hitchhiking) ghosts follow along in the procession, joined by other spirits from the iconic Haunted Mansion attraction.
  • Inspired by Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” the creepy Dr. Facilier calls on mystical powers, summoning his Shadow Men from the bayou to loom large over his strange and twisted Voodoo parlor.
  • Mischievous Disney villains appear out of the darkness, ready to stir up some trouble, and their wicked gathering includes the Evil Queen, Jafar and Cruella.

Mickey’s Halloween Party guests are invited to visit in costume and trick-or-treat throughout Disneyland for candy and healthy snacks. An extra special treat is the Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular, presented exclusively for guests of Mickey’s Halloween Party and hosted by “Master of Scare-omonies” Jack Skellington.

Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party* may be purchased online and on mobile devices at Disneyland.com/party, as well as at the Disneyland Resort main gate and by phone at 714-781-4400. Guests may check for availability for the 17 nights: Friday, Sept. 23; Monday, Sept. 26, Wednesday, Sept. 28; Friday, Sept. 30; Monday, Oct. 3; Wednesday, Oct. 5; Friday, Oct. 7; Monday, Oct. 10;Wednesday, Oct. 12; Friday, Oct. 14; Monday, Oct. 17; Wednesday, Oct. 19; Friday, Oct. 21; Monday, Oct. 24; Wednesday, Oct. 26; Saturday, Oct. 29; and Monday, Oct. 31, Halloween night. Online and mobile purchases are not available the day of the event. Parking is not included in the ticket price, and parking fees will apply.

Tickets purchased in advance are available at a discount for select nights. Tickets purchased on the day of the event are $89 each. All tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 29, and Monday, Oct. 31, are $99 each. Mickey’s Halloween Party is a non-smoking event. Smoking is permitted only in the Esplanade outside the Disneyland main entrance.

For more information about Halloween events at the Disneyland Resort, please visit http://www.Disneyland.com/Halloween. Entertainment and attractions are subject to change without notice.

*Mickey’s Halloween Party tickets are subject to availability and are valid only for specific event dates and hours. Space is limited and event dates may sell out. Limit eight (8) tickets per person, per event date. Tickets are nonrefundable and may not be resold. May not be combined with other discounts. Costumes subject to Disney guidelines and should not be obstructive or offensive; please check guidelines for all restrictions. Ages 2 and under: no ticket required. Entertainment may be cancelled due to inclement weather or otherwise. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

The Twilight Zone® is a registered trademark of CBS, Inc. and is used with permission pursuant to a license from CBS, Inc.
Haunted Mansion Holiday inspired by “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

About the Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprising unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which also features 50 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club units; the magical, 973-room Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties – and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” theme. For information on attractions and vacations at the Disneyland Resort, visit Disneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents. Located in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort opened July 17, 1955. Open daily, year-round.

Rideshare Company Partners with Longhorn Legends to Promote Safe Rides in and Around Austin, Texas

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Fare Logotype

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — From August 15 through November 15, 2016, rideshare company, Fare and 7 Longhorn Legends; Fozzy Whittaker, Aaron Williams, Kwame Cavil, Cedric Griffin, Ricky Williams, Kasey Studdard, and Jaxon Shipley, in cooperation with BAM! PR and Marketing, will be working together to promote safe transportation in and around the Austin metropolitan area.

Fare Logotype

Fare will be providing unique codes for each player to use to promote the rideshare platform. In return for their endorsement, each player will receive 10% of all their referrals’ time and mileage spending, which will be given to their favorite charity. Fare and Ricky Williams will be picking up a few lucky riders and taking them to the first University of Texas home game VS. Notre Dame, to promote safe & sober rides.

“Not only do we want to provide a reliable and convenient service, but one that is safe, trustworthy and transparent,” said Fare Co-founder Michael Leto. “We want to take a leadership role when it comes to rider and driver safety.”

Fare currently has over 7,000 drivers in the Austin area and has successfully completed nearly 230,000 trips since they opened for business on May 20, 2016. Visit the App Store or Google Play to download the Fare app. For more information, visit ridefare.com.

BAM! PR and Marketing is a global, brand management group providing Marketing & PR services to pro athletes www.bamprandmarketing.com.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160830/402596LOGO

National Education Sunday To Be Celebrated September 4, 2016

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National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference logo.

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC/CONEL), the nation’s leading organization for 16 million Hispanic American Evangelicals, invites churches across the nation to celebrate Education Sunday on September 4, 2016. Thousands of churches have set aside time on the first Sunday of September to pray for and encourage students and teachers in their communities, including those in home, private and public schools. Education Sunday equips parents to take an active role in their children’s education and empowers church members to support high academic achievement for all children in their community.

National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference logo.

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, founder and president of NHCLC/CONEL is a pastor and a former public school educator. He encourages pastors and parents to seize this opportunity to be light for those held in bondage by ignorance or low standards: “As individuals we are called to shine our light, but when we do so in the heavenly community of Christ’s church, our light combines into an influencing agent. I invite you to celebrate Education Sunday this September as we focus a laser on the value of education for every child in our communities.”

Education Sunday is a dedicated time for congregations to pray for their students and teachers, affirm the value of education, and invite the congregation to support local schools and students. Dr. Andrea Ramirez, Executive Director of the Faith and Education Coalition – NHCLC, comments on the creativity churches bring to Education Sunday: “Each church creates its own unique expression of Education Sunday, and it is a deep blessing to hear about the creativity they employ! We provide resources to every church that registers, yet they celebrate in tailor-made ways that encourage both their specific congregations and communities. There are photo ops with graduation regalia in some churches, college fairs held in others, and additional creative approaches include presentations of reports cards at the altar, praying over children, and disseminating scholarship information. We encourage churches to share their experience with one another as we unite to support student achievement.” Dr. Ramirez also notes that Education Sunday is an ideal time to invite a principal, teacher, or district leader to share ways the church can support local students and schools.

The NHCLC hosts a resource page at www.FaithandEducation.com for churches participating in Education Sunday. Tools provided include bilingual resources and information for parents and church leaders, including:

  • Parent Toolkit: parents can plan for a successful school year with tips for student success, parent-teacher conference guides, suggestions for homework help, help discovering local afterschool care, and links to academic standards by grade level.
  • Education Sunday Support: information and ideas include a sample sermon, a new Scholastic/NHCLC bilingual handout with “Back to School” tips, Bible studies for a variety of age groups (for children, youth, and parents), and more.
  • Scholarship Information: By participating in Education Sunday, churches and their students become eligible and are kept informed about scholarship opportunities throughout the year.
  • Additional Tools: churches receive other resources throughout the year, including a monthly education e-newsletter and an electronic bilingual College Guide produced via a partnership between Christianity Today and the NHCLC. Church leaders will learn how they can participate in state-based conversations such as school accountability and guaranteeing parents of English language learners have access to vital information for student success.

Dr. Antipas Harris, both a member of the NHCLC Board and the Faith and Education Coalition leadership advisory council, encourages African-American churches to seize the Education Sunday opportunity: “This school year we can dedicate and equip our children to rise to the call the Lord has placed on each individual life. Dedicating one Sunday to the value of education will help students answer the call to love the Lord with the fullness of our minds (Luke 10:27).”

“The Lord made our minds as well as our bodies and souls,” comments Dr. Andrea Ramirez. “So it is an act of worship for us to submit our minds to Him and ask how we can connect our earthly assignments to our eternal purpose. We can help our students understand that every time they walk into a classroom, write an assignment, study, or take a test, they have an opportunity to worship the Lord with the totality of their minds. All classrooms have the potential to be sacred ground.”

The NHCLC, which values Education as one of its core directives, advocates for Hispanic student success including education equity and high academic standards for all students as a part of its mission as a Christian organization.

The NHCLC serves as a representative voice for the more than 100 million Hispanic Evangelicals worldwide, assembled in over 40,000 U.S. churches and hundreds of thousands of congregations throughout the Spanish-speaking diaspora. Seeking to reconcile evangelist Billy Graham’s message of salvation with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s march of prophetic activism, the NHCLC emphasizes “7 Directives” of Life, Family, Compassionate Evangelism, Stewardship, Justice, Education and Youth. For additional information, visit http://www.nhclc.org.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120912/CL72800LOGO

Medula and Microsoft tell Portada how their Collaboration Boosts their Global Reaches

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NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Latin American publisher-owned multiplatform media company Medula has been managing Microsoft’s commercial representations in LatAm for almost a year now. That is why Portada, the leading Source on Latin Marketing and media, spoke to Kenneth Andrew, General Manager, Advertising & Online Emerging Markets at Microsoft, and Alejandro Mondrzak, Corporate SVP & CEO of the Digital Business Unit at Grupo Clarin (a Medula shareholder), to discuss why this kind of collaboration is so important in today’s global economy.

Medula Positions Itself as Rep for Premium Global Publishers

Medula offers media buying, content, programmatic, mobile and video services, with a special focus on the premium audiences and content that make Latin America unique. Javier Chanfreau was appointed CEO of Medula in July 2015, and among other deals, he immediately secured a partnership with Microsoft to manage its ad sales in the region. Medula’s properties include Grupo Clarin from Argentina, Grupo Copesa from Chile, Grupo Opsa from Honduras, and PAL (Periodicos Asociados de Latinoamérica).

Gaining Microsoft as a client helped secure the company’s place as a top representative company for premium worldwide publishers.

As Latin America has become increasingly attractive to dynamic businesses looking to expand their global reach, Medula’s goal is to become their go-to media partner in the region, leveraging its local expertise and longstanding relationships with local commercial ventures. Microsoft has its own impressive set of properties and brands (Skype, Bing, MSN and Xbox, to name a few), and is ambitiously pursuing opportunities to reach global audiences as it develops its business model.

Microsoft Turns to Medula for Support in New Ad-Driven Revenue Model

One would be hard-pressed to think of a more global or dynamic company than Microsoft. The company has recently switched from a business model focused on selling its products and operating system, Windows, to offering those products for free, working with a revenue model based on advertising to subsidize its users’ free experiences.

“Microsoft Advertising has free consumer assets that millions of people use every day, but the principal revenue stream is through advertising. We are constantly evolving how we provide those to agencies and brands, and have a longstanding relationship with Medula in Latin America,” says Kenneth Andrew, General Manager, Advertising & Online Emerging Markets at Microsoft.

Microsoft has been partnering with AppNexus to run its programmatic operations for a year now, and getting Medula in on the action meant that Medula and AppNexus could form a symbiotic relationship, the former making use of its tight relationships with agency trading desks, buying from an audience perspective, and the latter working with big advertisers on sponsorships and branding opportunities in the region to reach mass audiences.

Microsoft is happy to leave this hard work in such capable hands, freeing up its own resources for other aspects of its business in the region that do not require such local expertise.

Medula Eyeing U.S. Hispanic Market

On top of its impressive performance in Latin America, Medula has also a strong focus on the US-Hispanic market, and Alejandro Mondrzak, Corporate SVP & CEO of the Digital Business Unit at Grupo Clarin says that Microsoft is giving the company the scale that it needs to succeed in this venture.

Mondrzak asserts that Medula knows how different Latin American and US Hispanic markets are, and that there are practically two companies, one dedicated to each market. “The US-Hispanic market is truly a huge opportunity, and as much as it is different from Latin America, we have unique abilities and capabilities and a regional reach that we can adapt to the US market,” he says. “It’s a learning process with a curve, but we are doing our best to understand it.”

Microsoft Properties Offer High Visibility, Flexibility

In terms of specific properties, “MSN is seeing a strong level of engagement with the content experience, and Skype is hugely relevant in the communications space. We want to make more native advertising opportunities there to immerse people in advertising while they are reading content,” Andrew says. Bing is also a key property, as search has become “so ubiquitous throughout the user experience, evolving from allowing you to find information to enabling you to take action and gain knowledge at the same time,” says Andrews. Search is also very profitable, and serves as a platform through which many applications can be integrated.

Companies like Microsoft are ultimately looking for “the best in breed, with local insight and knowledge and excellent sales people,” Andrews explains. “Medula shows and demonstrate the values that are important to Microsoft. We invest in these partnerships and hold them to high quality. Medula is adapting and learning to reinvent their business as programmatic grows as a way of buying, because we need to capture the traditional reserve demand as well as programmatic.”

About Portada

Portada, www.portada-online.com, is the leading source of news and analysis on the Latin Marketing and Media space. We offer world-class news and intelligence through audited online, print and conference vehicles to highly targeted audiences. Portada’s mission is to help professionals in Business and Media understand and reach Hispanic consumers in the U.S. Credibility is our biggest asset: The Portada team is very passionate about producing high-quality independent content that helps drive forward the Latin Marketing and Media space.

CONTACT: Kelley Eberhardt, [email protected]

Peak Hurricane Season Is Here; Don’t Delay Reviewing Insurance Coverage

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Insurance Information Institute logo

NEW YORK, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Summer may be winding down, but historically, the worst part of hurricane season is just beginning. Fortunately, there are simple steps that you can take to protect your wallet, your property and even your life, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

Video – https://youtu.be/bJylB2JAlBI  

September is the most common month for hurricanes making landfall in the U.S., followed by August and October, according to an analysis of weather data ranging from 1851 to 2011 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Eight of the most catastrophic and costly hurricanes in the United States occurred in September and October,” said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and chief communications officer at the I.I.I. The other two both occurred at the very end of August, she noted.

These five actions can help you stay ready for whatever the remainder of hurricane season has in store.

  1. Review Your Insurance Coverage: Homeowners insurance provides financial protection against disasters. It insures the home itself and the things you keep in it. Because homes get upgrades and possessions get added and replaced, your insurance must reflect these ever-changing improvements. Make sure you understand what is covered and what is not covered. You need to have enough insurance to rebuild your home and replace all of your personal belongings. Contact your insurance professional and ask questions. Understand your deductibles. If you have a hurricane or windstorm deductible, make sure you understand how it works.

    “The time to review your insurance is before you need to file a claim,” said Salvatore. “You don’t want to find out after a disaster that you could have purchased additional coverage. For instance, many people should consider adding coverage for backup of sewers and drains or law and ordinance, which would pay to rebuild your home to current and more stringent building code standards.

  2. Consider Flood Insurance: A standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is not only for those living in high-risk flood zones. More than 20 percent of flood insurance claims are paid to those living in low- to moderate-risk flood zones. While hurricanes do bring catastrophic flooding, rain can, too. As the current disastrous flooding in Louisiana demonstrates, heavy rain might also result in destructive and deadly flooding.
     
    Flood insurance is available from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or from a private insurance company. Excess flood insurance may also be obtained from private insurance companies if more coverage is needed than the limits available from the NFIP.
  3. Conduct a Home Inventory: If a hurricane or tropical storm strikes your home, insurance companies may ask for an itemized list of what was damaged or destroyed. An up-to-date home inventory will make it much easier to file a claim. This also helps you purchase the right amount of coverage, and the documentation also may be required if you need to apply for aid after a disaster. The I.I.I. has a free home inventory app, available at https://KnowYourStuff.org/.
  4. Make Your Home More Disaster Resistant. The Insurance Information Institute for Business and Home Safety has information on things you can do to strengthen your home against a hurricane or other disaster.
  5. Know Where You Will Go and What You Need to Take If You Have to Evacuate. Advanced planning can make things much easier if you need to leave your home. This is especially important if you have children, pets, elderly relatives or anyone with special needs. The I.I.I. has KnowYour Plan software and other resources to help keep you safe.

It’s always a good time of year to talk to your insurance provider. Now may be the best of times, considering that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) revised its 2016 Atlantic hurricane outlook, calling for the higher likelihood of a near-normal or above-normal season.

RELATED LINKS
Article: What Is Covered by a Standard Homeowners Policy?
Article: Does My Homeowners Insurance Cover Flooding?
Article: Understanding Your Insurance Deductible
Article: How to Create a Home Inventory
Video: Renters Insurance

The I.I.I. has a full library of educational videos on its YouTube channel. Information about I.I.I. mobile apps can be found here.

THE I.I.I. IS A NONPROFIT COMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

Insurance Information Institute, 110 William Street, New York, NY 10038; (212) 346-5500; www.iii.org

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Ismael Cala films a series in Puerto Rico, on its history and culture

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Aug. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Inspirational author, lecturer and communicator Ismael Cala is in Puerto Rico to film the series “Ismael Cala en Puerto Rico,” his first television project after finishing his work with CNN en Español.

Puerto Rico will be the setting of several projects in which Cala will make the island’s potential known.

Ismael Cala en Puerto Rico” is a series that will consist of five 1 hour episodes. It will be broadcasted in Latin America, the United States and locally. The series aims to highlight the history, culture and attributes of the country through interviews with personalities who have made a lasting impact from the island of enchantment to the world. The interviewees will include artists, actors, designers, athletes, writers, historians and businessmen.

The filming will take place at locations of symbolic and tourist interest such as El Yunque, Luquillo, Viejo San Juan, Ponce, museums, and others such as Vieques and Culebra.

“I am very excited about my return to Puerto Rico for this project, which is the first of many that will mark this new phase in my working life,” Ismael Cala remarked. “This program will be a great opportunity to make known the wide range of things that this island has to offer, and especially, to be able to work with a production whose talent is 100% boricua,” he added.

Among the personalities he will be interviewing are Mayra Santos-Febres, Nick Quijano, Antonio Martorell, Pablo Rubio, Santiago Villar, the Cortes y Serralles family, Ednita Nazario, Nidia Caro, Chayanne, Jose Feliciano, Victor Manuelle, Lucecita Benitez, Yolandita Monge, Andy Montañez, Siete, Tito “El Bambino,” Gilberto Santa Rosa, Rafael Ithier, Danny Rivera, Stella Nolasco, Modesto Lacen, Jacobo Morales, Carlos Delgado and Monica Puig.

ABOUT ISMAEL CALA

Ismael Cala is an inspirational author, lecturer and communicator.  For more than five years he was host of the prime time interview show CALA on CNN en Español. He is currently an official contributor on the show Despierta América (‘Wake up America’) on Univisión network, and writes a weekly column for more than 50 publications in Latin America and the United States.

He is author of the bestsellers La vida es una piñata (‘Life is a piñata’) (2016), El analfabeto emocional (‘The emotional illiterate’) (2016),  El poder de escuchar (‘The power of listening’) (2013), Un buen hijo de P (‘A real S.O.B.’) (2014), and El secreto del bambú (‘The secret of the bamboo’) (2015). Cala was born in Santiago de Cuba in 1969, and has a degree in Art History from Universidad de Oriente. He graduated from the School of Communication at York University in Toronto and has a degree from Seneca in Television Production.

(Español) No existe muro que detenga el paso de un buen taco

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