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Mazda North America Launches Second Installment of FEEL ALIVE® Brand Campaign

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Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com. (PRNewsFoto/Mazda North American Operations) (PRNewsfoto/MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS)

IRVINE, Calif., April 8, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) solidifies its path to premium, debuting the next phase of its brand campaign, FEEL ALIVE®. Aiming to evoke feelings of wonder and inspiration, the new spot titled, “Dream Bigger,” will officially launch the all-new 2019 Mazda3, the brand’s next generation product. The spot will begin airing on April 8, 2019 during the NCAA Championship game.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com. (PRNewsFoto/Mazda North American Operations) (PRNewsfoto/MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS)

“Dream Bigger” was conceived by Mazda North American Operations and Garage Team Mazda. The team took a refined and humanistic approach to the campaign, differentiating it from traditional auto commercials. Adding to the inspirational tone, musical artist Haley Reinhardt artfully covered ‘Dreams’ by The Cranberries, bringing the song to life in a new and modern way.

“The team and Haley truly helped us tap into the rich and deep emotional feelings that the driver experiences about their Mazda,” said Dino Bernacchi, Chief Marketing Officer for Mazda North American Operations. “By literally transcending the conventional rubber to the road experience, the ad connects with our consumers’ desire to push their limits—to go beyond the ordinary.”

In 2018, Mazda launched its initial brand-focused campaign, FEEL ALIVE®, which was a major departure in a category of sameness best known for deal marketing. The FEEL ALIVE® campaign appeals to the Independent Achiever, a new target customer for Mazda that is more creative, ambitious and imaginative.  The Independent Achiever is also a more discerning customer that shares two important values with the Mazda brand – high expectations and a constant drive for improvement.

“FEEL ALIVE® directed the brand on a new course with our newly defined Independent Achiever target,” said Dino Bernacchi, Chief Marketing Officer for Mazda North American Operations. “While the campaign has resulted in achieving our goals of increasing brand opinion, interest and consideration, we knew that for our next generation product, we had to evolve our message to signify this new era for the brand.”

“Dream Bigger” builds on the FEEL ALIVE® foundation by demonstrating how Mazda helps customers achieve their goals by being a source of inspiration and enrichment, and uplifting them to feel alive. The “Dream Bigger” initial launch film features the all-new Mazda3, a vehicle that will attract younger, more premium-minded buyers looking for a means to express their professional and personal aspirations.

“Dream Bigger”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrWyLIlNrGE&feature=youtu.be 

CREDITS

Advertising Agency: The Garage

Chief Executive Officer: Michael Buttlar

General Manager: Brad Audet

Chief Creative Officer: Erich Funke

SVP Creative Director: Renato Braga

Copywriter: Evan Brown

Art Director: Vidur Raswant/Marcus Moore                                                                 

Executive Producer: Jeff Perino

SVP, Group Account Director: Santiago Andrade-Marin

VP, Account Director: Dave Brown

Account Supervisor: Tessa Rogers

Business Affairs Director: Bart Kias

Production Company: Serial Pictures

Director of Photography: Philippe Le Sourd

Founding Partner/Executive Producer: Violaine Etienne

Head of Production: Jennifer Gee

Producer: Malachy McAnenny

Editorial Company: Exile Editorial

Editor: Conor Oneil

Assistant Editor: Rex Lowry

Executive Producer: Carol Lynn Weaver

Senior Producer: Michael Miller

Color: Company 3

Colorist: Siggy Ferstyl

Senior Producer: Matt Moran

Finish/VFX: A52

Senior Executive Producer: Patrick Nugent

Visual Effects Supervisor: Andy McKenna

Producer: Stacy Kessler

Audio Post: Lime Studios

Mixer: Joel Waters/Mark Meyuhas

Executive Producer: Susie Boyajan

Music Company: Shindig

Head of Production: Caroline O’Sullivan

Executive Producer: Debbi Landon

Creative Director: Scott Glenn

Composer: Austin Shupe

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

Follow MNAO’s social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/53154/mazda_north_american_operations_logo.jpg

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

Cal/OSHA Cites Construction Company after Two Workers Hospitalized for Valley Fever

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State of California Department of Industrial Relations

MODESTO, Calif., March 28, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Cal/OSHA has issued serious health and safety citations to Underground Construction Co., Inc. of Benicia after two of its employees contracted Valley Fever. The workers were exposed to the fungal disease while using hand tools to dig trenches in Kings, Fresno and Merced counties—areas where the soil is known to contain harmful spores that cause the infection.  

State of California Department of Industrial Relations

“When soil is disturbed by activities such as digging, driving, or high winds, Valley Fever spores can become airborne and potentially be inhaled,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “Without the proper training, protection and mitigation procedures, workers are likely to be exposed and get sick.”

Cal/OSHA was notified in September 2018 that the employees were hospitalized after being diagnosed with Valley Fever, also known as Coccidioidomycosis. Symptoms of the disease are similar to the flu and include fatigue, shortness of breath and fever. Severe cases can cause serious lung problems.  

The workers were tasked with digging trenches up to 5½ feet deep to allow access to gas pipelines for maintenance. Dust was not controlled, and the workers did not wear any respiratory protection. Exposure to the disease could have occurred in any one of the three counties where the fungal spores are known to be endemic.

Cal/OSHA’s investigation found that Underground Construction Co., Inc. did not evaluate the hazard of performing digging work in areas known to contain the coccidioides fungal spores. The employer did not suppress or control harmful dusts and failed to provide employees with respiratory protection. Cal/OSHA issued three citations to the employer with $27,000 in proposed penalties.

Since 2017, Cal/OSHA has cited 12 businesses for work-related Valley Fever.

Valley Fever is caused by a microscopic fungus known as Coccidioides immitis, which lives in the top two to 12 inches of soil in many parts of the state. When soil is disturbed by digging, driving or high winds, fungal spores can become airborne and may be inhaled by workers who are not protected. While the fungal spores are most likely to be present in the soils of the Central Valley, they may also be present in other areas of California. Cal/OSHA’s Valley Fever informational page provides detailed information including resources for workers and employers.

Tips for reducing the risk of Valley Fever exposure include:

  • Determine if a worksite is in an area where fungal spores are likely to be present.
  • Adopt site plans and work practices that minimize the disturbance of soil and maximize ground cover.
  • Use water, appropriate soil stabilizers, and/or re-vegetation to reduce airborne dust.
  • Limit workers’ exposure to outdoor dust in disease-endemic areas by (1) providing air-conditioned cabs for vehicles that generate dust and making sure workers keep windows and vents closed, (2) suspending work during heavy winds, and (3) providing sleeping quarters, if applicable, away from sources of dust.
  • When exposure to dust is unavoidable, provide approved respiratory protection to filter particles.
  • Train supervisors and workers in how to recognize symptoms of Valley Fever and minimize exposure.

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to employers to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734). The California Workers’ Information line at 866-924-9757 provides recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics. Complaints can also be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.

Members of the press may contact Peter Melton or Paola Laverde at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR’s press releases or other departmental updates.

https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR  
https://twitter.com/CA_DIR
http://www.youtube.com/CaliforniaDIR
http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR’s Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/818968/DIR_Logo.jpg

 

SOURCE California Department of Industrial Relations; Cal/OSHA

Gaby Natale makes history with 4th consecutive Daytime EMMY nomination

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Natale won 3 Daytime EMMYs in the past three years

LOS ANGELES, April 9, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Triple Daytime EMMY® winner Gaby Natale made history on March 20 when the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences nominated the SuperLatina host to a fourth consecutive Daytime EMMY® Award in the Outstanding Daytime Talent in a Spanish Language Program category.

Natale won 3 Daytime EMMYs in the past three years

“When I launched SuperLatina from a carpet warehouse in Odessa, Texas almost 12 years ago, the media business was very different, but one thing has remained constant throughout all these years: my commitment to creating content that embraces diversity and represents minorities, and especially women of color, without stereotypes. Receiving this recognition from my peers, year after year, is proof that no matter how difficult this business gets, a job made with purpose and love will never go unnoticed,” said Natale.

Natale is the only TV host to have won the Outstanding Spanish TV Talent multiple times regardless of gender. On top of her three back-to-back wins in 2016 and 2017, this is the seventh consecutive Daytime EMMY nomination for Natale and her company, AGANARmedia. “What this recognition means is that we made the right choice at AGANARmedia when we decided to embrace the concept of entertainment with a purpose in a way that is culturally-relevant for diverse audiences, not only for our TV show but for our marketing clients as well. We tell stories that challenge ingrained stereotypes; that is our secret sauce,” said Andres O. Suarez, Head of Content and Marketing for AGANARmedia.

Competing in the same category with Gaby Natale are fellow nominees Raul De Molina (Univision), Elizabeth Hernandez Curiel (Univision), Guillermo Arduino (CNN) and Alejandra Oraa (CNN). The Daytime EMMY Awards will take place May 5th at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, CA.

ABOUT GABY NATALE AND AGANARMEDIA

Gaby Natale is a triple Daytime EMMY® winner, TV personality, bestselling author and motivational speaker. She is the executive producer and host of the nationally-syndicated TV show SuperLatina on PBS’ Vme network.

One of the most prestigious media personalities in Spanish-language television, Natale is among a few women in the entertainment industry who owns not only the rights to her TV show but also a television studio. This unique situation has allowed her to combine her passion for media and her entrepreneurial spirit.

People magazine named Natale one of 2018’s “25 Most Powerful Latinas,” highlighting the inspirational story of how she went from a local TV show that started out of a carpet warehouse to becoming the only Latina in US history to win triple back-to-back Daytime EMMYs. Her popularity grew even further when her first book, “The Virtuous Circle” by HarperCollins, became an instant bestseller, topping Amazon’s New Releases charts in 3 different categories (Business, Inspiration and Self-Help).

Natale is also the founder of AGANARmedia, a marketing company with a focus on Hispanic audiences that serves Fortune 500 companies such as Hilton Worldwide, Sprint, AT&T, eBay and Amazon. In the digital world, she has a thriving fan base with over 52 million views on YouTube and 250K+ followers on Social Media.

A tireless advocate of gender and diversity issues, Natale is a sought-after bilingual speaker and a frequent collaborator with nonprofits such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Phenomenal Woman Action Campaign and Voto Latino. She has keynoted conferences from the United Nations to tech shows and trade gatherings across the US and Latin America. Natale has been featured in Forbes, CNN, Buzzfeed, NBC News, Univision and Latino Leaders magazine. She is the recipient of NALIP’s Digital Trailblazer Award and of a GLAAD Media Award nomination for her portrayal of Latino LGBTQ youth in media.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/848251/AGANAR_Media_Gaby_Natale.jpg 
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/740690/AGANAR_Media_Logo.jpg

SOURCE AGANAR Media

Corona Estéreo Beach Returns With Bad Bunny X100PRE Tour

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CORONA ESTÉREO BEACH x BAD BUNNY X100PRE TOUR DATES

CHICAGO, April 9, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today Corona Extra announces the return of the Corona Estéreo Beach tour with Latin music star Bad Bunny, GRAMMY-nominated rapper-songwriter, whose crossover hits are part of top playlists everywhere.  

CORONA ESTÉREO BEACH x BAD BUNNY X100PRE TOUR DATES

Following their successful inaugural sponsorship of global Latin icon Wisin’s tour last year, Corona Estéreo Beach is back – this time, as the presenting sponsor for the second leg of Bad Bunny’s X100PRE tour produced by CMN Entertainment.

In its second year, the Corona Estéreo Beach tour will travel with Bad Bunny to 20 cities including Newark, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Houston. Fans will have a chance to win tickets and possibly even meet the Latin music’s “King of Trap” at any of the tour stops.

Corona Estéreo Beach was created by Corona Extra as a platform to engage music lovers. The concerts will be a sensory experience – building a vibe around the mindset of relaxing with friends and creating an energetic environment alongside Bad Bunny’s vibrant sounds that will get everyone moving. The upbeat atmosphere will offer exclusive access to custom Corona branded experiences for fans across the country, with shareable moments not to be missed. 

“Corona Extra is proud to continue Corona Estéreo Beach this year, bringing together beach vibes and great music for fans across the U.S.,” said Ann Legan, Vice President of Brand Marketing, Corona. “It’s always been a priority for Corona to support Latin artists, and this sponsorship with Bad Bunny will bring an authentic voice and immersive experience for consumers looking to unwind and move to the music.”

“I’m thrilled to have Corona join me on my X100PRE Tour to give my fans a taste of Corona Estéreo Beach and showcase their support of Latin music,” It’s not solely about the music – it’s about the culture, creativity, and contributing to the movement that connects us all together,” says Bad Bunny.

Bad Bunny has had a remarkable start to 2019, from releasing his chart-topping debut LP “X100PRE” in late December to kicking off his highly-praised X100PRE tour in March with sold out shows in Miami, Chicago, Portland and Seattle. The high-energy tour has received praise from critics offering a deeper view into his journey in becoming Bad Bunny, and surprise performances from some of Latin music’s hottest artists like J Balvin, Becky G, Farruko and Zion of Zion y Lennox and more.

Pre-Sale Tickets on Sale April 11 at 10AM EDT and General Public Tickets on Sale April 12 at 10AM EDT at CMNEvents.com

ABOUT BAD BUNNY:
Bad Bunny, originally from Puerto Rico, is most recognized for his explosive and infectious trap songs. Rolling Stone magazine has named him “The Four-Billion-Stream Man leading the Latin Trap Explosion.” This talented artist has demonstrated his already overwhelming power, influence and demand with completely sold-out concerts for his “La Nueva Religión Tour” (The New Religion Tour) all over Europe, Latin America and the U.S. His unmistakable voice and rhythm have led him to transition to the general market, where he is already creating waves of revolution with his participation in “I Like It” alongside Cardi B and J Balvin, which reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and has continued to dominate the chart in the top 3 position. He has been nominated to the iHeart Radio Music Award, MTV VMA’s, Latin AMAs, Latin GRAMMYs, and E! People Choice Awards. Earlier this fall, Bad Bunny celebrated being the face of the cover of FADER magazine where the artist boasts a feature story that perfectly recaps his story and properly introduces him to the American market as the Latin trap superstar he has become.

About the Corona Brand Family
Corona has been helping consumers “Find their Beach” in the U.S. since 1981.The Corona brand family is home to Corona Extra, Corona Light, Corona Premier, Corona Familiar, and in 2019, the national launch of Corona Refresca- the first FMB to join the lineup. Corona Extra is a pilsner-style lager with a golden hue that was first brewed in Mexico in 1925. Corona Extra continues to be the No. 1 most loved brand among Hispanic and total population drinkers ages 21-54. The entire Corona portfolio is brewed in Mexico by Constellation Brands and imported and marketed exclusively to the U.S. by the company.

Corona Media Contact:
Nikole Flores
[email protected]

Stephanie McGuane
Constellation Brands
[email protected]

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/858691/Bad_Bunny.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/858692/corona_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Corona

Iconic Latin Bands Enanitos Verdes And Hombres G Make Highly Anticipated Return To The Road On Huevos Revueltos Tour 2019

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Enanitos_Verdes_and_Hombres_G

LOS ANGELES, April 9, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Enanitos Verdes and Hombres G, two of the most well-known Latin bands from recent decades, will return to the road for a limited run of dates together this summer on their Huevos Revueltos Tour 2019. Produced by Live Nation, the eight-city trek will kick off June 7th in Las Vegas, NV and make stops in Denver, Los Angeles, Atlanta and more before wrapping June 19th in Silver Springs, MD. Please see full itinerary below.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, April 12th at 10am local time at LiveNation.com.

ENANITOS VERDES & HOMBRES G ‘HUEVOS REVUELTOS TOUR’ 2019 DATES:

DATE

CITY

VENUE

Friday, June 7, 2019

Las Vegas, NV

The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas

Saturday, June 8, 2019

San Diego, CA

Viejas Arena

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

San Antonio, TX

Majestic Theatre

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Denver, CO

Paramount Theatre

Friday, June 14, 2019

Los Angeles, CA

STAPLES Center

Saturday, June 15, 2019

San Jose, CA

SAP Center at San Jose

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Atlanta, GA

Coca-Cola Roxy

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Silver Spring, MD

The Fillmore Silver Spring

Originally from Mendoza, Argentina, Enanitos Verdes is a legendary pop-rock group for generations of fans throughout Latin America, with a great musical history full of awards, nominations and prestigious recognitions in multiple countries throughout their career. The group’s discography, currently formed by Marciano Cantero, Felipe Staiti and Jota Morelli, consists of 15 albums, an EP and countless compilations released by their previous record companies (CBS, BMG, EMI, Universal, Sony.)

Hombres G is a Spanish band formed in 1983 and is undoubtedly one of the most prominent groups of the 80’s and 90’s in Ibero-America. Influenced by the English new wave and the first albums of The Beatles, Hombres G, as well as Enanitos Verdes, experienced massive popularity in their era that led them to sell millions of records and perform for thousands of fans at their concerts, filling up stadiums and disrupting cities when making appearances.

About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/858754/Enanitos_Verdes_and_Hombres_G.jpg

SOURCE Live Nation Entertainment

Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) New York Chapter Announces 2019 Board of Directors, Upcoming Programs and Focus on Diversity in Communications

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Hispanic Public Relations Association Logo

NEW YORK, April 9, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The New York Chapter of the Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA), an organization serving the Hispanic communications and public relations community in New York, is proud to announce its Board of Directors and chapter initiatives for 2019.

Hispanic Public Relations Association Logo

HPRA-NY is developing programs throughout the year including networking events and industry insights for Hispanic PR professionals. As the only non-profit association dedicated to Hispanic marketing & communications professionals and those seeking insights into the Hispanic market, HPRA provides tools and resources on the latest trends, issues and best practices in the field. Programming for this year includes networking events, industry panels and greater partnerships with other communications organizations in NYC.

“As a long-time member and supporter of HPRA, I am honored to lead and continue to grow the New York chapter,” said Erika Sanchez, HPRA-NY president. “We have an amazing team this year, committed to presenting a wide range of programs that will deliver value to the Hispanic PR community. In addition, we are committed to HPRA’s overall commitment to address diversity and inclusion via strategic partnerships with industry partners.”

With several returning members and a few new faces, the HPRA-NY board will be dedicating their time in 2019 to help make an impact on the world of Hispanic marketing. This year’s board includes:

  • President: Erika Sanchez, Braid Communications
  • Vice President: Loren Antonio Duran, Finn Partners
  • Treasurer: Chantal Gomez, Finn Partners
  • Secretary: Nicholas Aguilar Mendoza, NYC Administration for Children’s Services
  • PR/Marketing Co-Chair: Berenice Gonzales, Havas Formula
  • PR/Marketing Co-Chair: Paola Cuevas, Carolyn Izzo Integrated Communications

HPRA-NY will be bringing members and PR professionals plenty of amazing events to attend kicking off with a Podcast and PR panel in May 2019. In addition, HPRA-NY is developing a summer networking event, a panel discussion with the PR Museum, Meet the Media event, and event partnerships with PRSA-NY and other communications organizations in NYC.

The 2019 board is working diligently to resurrect the HPRA-NY scholarship program for 2020, restructuring the program and connecting with companies dedicated to our mission of assisting students of Hispanic descent and aid in the advancement of their careers in communications.

Join the virtual conversation with the New York Chapter on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Be on the lookout for upcoming Twitter Chats, Behind the Scenes, Thought Leadership pieces and Professional Profiles on our social pages. For more information on HPRA, please visit www.hpra-usa.org.

About the Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA)
Founded in 1984, the Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) is the foremost organization of Hispanic public relations practitioners in the U.S. HPRA is a resource for communications professionals and for individuals seeking Hispanic market expertise. It is dedicated to the recognition and advancement of Hispanics in public relations through year-round programs, professional development seminars and networking. HPRA hosts one of the most anticipated annual events and industry awards: the HPRA Bravo Awards, recognizing the most outstanding campaigns in the marketplace. The national organization aims to meet the professional needs of the growing number of Hispanic PR practitioners, independents and agencies throughout the U.S. HPRA National, its Chapters and those Chapters in formation are paving the way for the next phase of growth and evolution in the PR industry, especially in the Hispanic market space. For more information please visit www.hpra-usa.org.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/848336/Hispanic_Public_Relations_Association_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA)

Why You Should Pay Attention to Your Tax Preparer’s Signature

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SACRAMENTO, California, April 9, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — It happens every tax season. Fly-by-night tax preparers who set up tables in shopping centers or rent offices spaces between February and April. They crank out countless tax returns, often touting “big and fast” tax refunds.

“We call them ghost tax preparers because they vanish after tax season. They never stay in one place or sign tax returns making them difficult to track down,” said Susie DiMaggio, chair of the California Tax Education Council (CTEC), a state-mandated nonprofit organization that manages the registration of more than 40,000 unlicensed tax preparers. 

Paid tax preparers are required by law to sign (typed or handwritten) federal and state tax returns they prepare as proof they were retained for work – a detail ghost tax preparers bank on taxpayers overlooking.

“It seems small, yet it is one of the most important details,” said Esperanza Escobedo, CRTP and CTEC board member. “The validity of your tax return is really wrapped around their signature.”

Here’s how ghost tax preparers work. They print out tax returns for clients, tell them to sign and mail it out. What many taxpayers fail to notice is that instead of a name, the tax return is listed as “self prepared.” For electronically filed tax returns, their name is also left out.   

Other typical scams include…

  • Stick a business label on the tax return instead of signing it by name. Clients get the “label” copy so it looks as though they “signed” it; however, a blank copy without a business label is often filed.
  • Claim they “forgot” to sign the tax return and promise to sign it after payment is received.

California taxpayers should always verify the tax preparer is legally qualified. State law requires anyone who prepares tax returns for a fee to be either an attorney, certified public accountant (CPA)CTEC-registered tax preparer (CRTP) or enrolled agent (EA).

Taxpayers can report ghost tax preparers at ctec.org. CTEC is a nonprofit organization established in 1997 by the California State Legislature to protect taxpayers against fraud and incompetent tax preparers.

SOURCE California Tax Education Council

Nuestra Vision Continues to Expand Premium Programming With Addition of Mexican Male Soccer League Tournament Following One Year on Air Celebration

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Nuestra Vision Logo

MIAMI, April 8, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Nuestra Vision, continues to increase its offering and diversity of premium and excellent content. Since January, the network has featured the Mexican Soccer League Tournament providing exclusive access to the Futbol de Ascenso del Torneo de Clausura 2019. As well as the most important Mexican films of all eras, together with a blend of Newscasts, Sportscasts, and children programming, directly from Mexico.

One of the most important things about this excellent addition to our channel is that it continues to give vision about our seriousness and commitment to the network to continue adding premium content, investing, and growing to become a staple within our target audience,” said Victor Herrera, CEO of Nuestra Vision.

Nuestra Vision, who specializes in offering Mexican programming to Mexican, Mexican-American and Hispanic audiences living in the U.S., also recently celebrated its first-year broadcasting anniversary and will be present at NAB Show in Las Vegas, on April 7 – 10, 2019.

NAB Show brings together the entire digital ecosystem and is represented by professionals within the fields of television, cable, broadcasting, streaming, advertising, technology, communications, and many more, who will converge in Las Vegas for six days to further their careers, gain knowledge, experience cutting-edge training, get hands-on with the latest technology, and connect with industry trailblazers advancing the art, science and business of content.

About Nuestra Vision: Nuestra Vision debuted on November 2017. It is a part of América Móvil, a Forbes Global 2000 Mexican Telecommunications Corporation. Nuestra Vision, which translates to “Our Vision,” shows original programming featuring Movies, News provided by UNO TV and Sports News provided by Claro Sports, as well as Live Sporting events which will be broadcasted directly from Mexico. To learn more about Nuestra Vision and its offerings, visit https://NuestraVision.tv/.

It’s no secret that Hispanic Americans make up one of the largest, fastest growing demographics in the U.S. market. Now, as a television station representative, you have a new, highly personalized way to reach this sought-after audience. Become a Nuestra Vision affiliate, and gain access to thousands of titles and unique programming for Mexicans, Mexican-Americans and Hispanics living in your DMA. Contact Nuestra Vision today to learn more at [email protected].

Nuestra Vision Logo

Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/848211/Nuestra_Vision_2019.mp4
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/848210/Nuestra_Vision_Logo.jpg  

SOURCE Nuestra Vision

Match.com, Southwest Airlines & ULTA Among Brands Sharing Culture-Driven Best Practices At CMC Annual Summit

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AHAA: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing is rebranding as Culture Marketing Council: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing, which will continue to elevate the quality and effectiveness of U.S. marketing by harnessing the power of cultural expertise and impact to drive business results.

FAIRFAX, Va., April 8, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Advanced Auto Parts, Google, Match.com, Pollo Campero, Southwest Airlines and ULTA are among the brands to share their culture-driven best practices that are innovating and inspiring the marketing world at the CMC Annual Summit taking place June 10-12 at the Statler Hotel in Dallas. The summit, which brings together the best strategic and creative minds in the multicultural marketing industry, will focus on the theme Culture-Driven Marketing with thought-provoking content to arm a new generation of culture creators with proven strategies to make an impact in today’s complex marketplace.

AHAA: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing is rebranding as Culture Marketing Council: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing, which will continue to elevate the quality and effectiveness of U.S. marketing by harnessing the power of cultural expertise and impact to drive business results.

“The CMC Annual Summit is the only conference for multicultural marketing experts created by multicultural marketing experts,” said CMC Chair Isaac Mizrahi, co-president/COO of Alma. “This year, we are curating cutting-edge content delivered by different speakers and representing diverse perspectives to drive more conversations.”

  • Shelley Haus, SVP of brand marketing for ULTA, will kick off the summit with the opening keynote on June 11 at 9am CT where she will discuss how the brand incorporated culture-driven strategies focusing on the diversity in beauty to not only grow its membership base but also gain market share in the beauty category.
  • Cecelia Wogan-Silva, director of creative agency development at Google, will cover how brand growth strategies are evolving in a world of shifting attention spans and demand for authenticity. Summit attendees will learn how technology and creative connect purpose-driven brands with audiences in all industries.
  • Julie Estacolchic, director of brand marketing & affinity for Match.com, will share how the Match Group has taken segmentation hyper segmentation to the core of their business growth and leveraged authentic cultural opportunities to boost their results.
  • Moderated by Audrey Ponzio, CEO of APC Collective, dynamic panel featuring Wendy Blume, vice president of advertising for Advance Auto Parts, Federico Valiente, senior director of marketing for Pollo Campero, and Isaac Muñoz, director of insights at Southwest Airlines will discuss their recent culture marketing efforts and best practices for brands to adopt when entering this complex market.

Don’t miss the ultimate top-level, idea-driven multicultural conference, where brands, agencies, media companies and content creators have their voice and share the stage. The all-inclusive registration fee covers sessions, awards gala, meals and cocktail hours. Early bird registration is available through April 19: register here!

For more information, visit culturemarketingcouncil.org and follow the CMC on Facebook and Twitter at @cmchispanic using the conference hashtag #culturedriven.

About CMC: Founded in 1996 as the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies, the Culture Marketing Council: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing is the national trade organization of all marketing, communications and media firms with trusted Hispanic expertise.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/635930/Culture_Marketing_Council_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Culture Marketing Council: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing

Sato Reigns Supreme at Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

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Takuma Sato led a 1-2-3 Honda Sweep of Sunday's Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, April 7, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Takuma Sato dominated today’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, with the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver starting from the pole and leading 74 of 90 laps at Barber Motorsports Park to claim his fourth career IndyCar Series Victory.  The win is the second for Honda in the opening three races of the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series championship, and vaults Sato to third in the drivers’ championship standings.

Takuma Sato led a 1-2-3 Honda Sweep of Sunday's Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park.

What started as a contest of strategy – with several teams electing to complete the race on just two pit stops versus the usual three – became a more straightforward race to the finish following a caution flag on Lap 60, when Max Chilton went off course at the pit entrance and made contact with the safety barrier.

But no matter the strategy, Sato was in command through most of the day after starting from the pole for the eighth time in his career.  At 42, Sato is the second-oldest series regular competing in the 2019 season, and his win comes just two weeks after fellow Honda driver Colton Herta became the youngest winner in series history (aged 18), at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX.

Behind the leader, Sebastien Bourdais – the quickest of the two-stoppers – battled Scott Dixon for second, with the duel becoming particularly intense in the final 10 laps.  At the checkers, it was Dixon finishing second at Barber for the sixth time in 10 races here, and moving up to second in the drivers’ title chase.  Bourdais, meanwhile, completed a 1-2-3 sweep of the podium for Honda drivers and teams.

Running well in the closing laps, Alexander Rossi edged fellow Honda driver James Hinchcliffe for fifth at the checkers. Hinchcliffe’s Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports teammate, Marcus Ericsson, claimed seventh just ahead of Rossi’s Andretti Autosport teammate, Ryan Hunter-ReayFelix Rosenqvist rounded out the top 10 in his Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, giving the manufacturer eight of the top 10 finishing positions.

Next
The NTT IndyCar Series now heads directly to Southern California for next weekend’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.  The fourth round of the 17-race championship will be televised live on the NBC Sports Network, April 14, starting at 4 p.m. EDT.

Social media content and video links from this weekend’s Honda IndyCar Series action from the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama are available on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD) channels.  Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, YouTube video packages can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV

Quotes
Takuma Sato (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) Started first, finished first, fourth career Indy car win, first victory of 2019: “This is for the team, for their fantastic effort.  Our car was superb, you know. I mean, red tire, black tire, I never had to worry about anything. So full credit to the team.  It’s a great result. A really big ‘thank you’ to Bobby [Rahal] and Mike Lanigan to make this possible for me. And big ‘thank you’ to Graham Rahal.  He found a very good setup and I installed it on my car as well. We were working so closely together. I mean today, either of us was going to be competitive. It was very unfortunate what happened to him [Rahal did not finish due to an electrical issue], but this is great for the team.”

Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) Started fourth, finished second: “We had a lot of tire degradation [speed falling off as tires wear during a run]. We started off where we could push really hard and be really quick and close the gap [to leader Takuma Sato], early on in the race. But the last 10 laps were just miserable. On that last run, I just tried to hold a steady gap to Sato, and from there, I have to thank the team. The PNC Bank guys were very strong in the pits and we jumped Sebastien [Bourdais] in the pits. He drove a hell of a race and went really far on that first stint.  Bourdais was good on tire degradation. Another second [place finish at Barber], and now second in points. Hopefully, we can try and get a win here one day.” 

Ted Klaus (President, Honda Performance Development) on today’s race win and podium sweep for Honda, his first race as president of HPD: “What was special this weekend, to my eyes, was just how difficult this series is – even for these pinnacle-level teams.  Every race circuit offers its own challenges, but it’s encouraging to see the capabilities from all of our teams and drivers.  It was a dominant weekend for our entire IndyCar Series program, after several challenging years here.  It’s always extra sweet to win at a Honda-sponsored event, and I love how Honda Manufacturing of Alabama [a manufacturing facility located in nearby Lincoln, AL] has embraced this event. We’re proud to be the title sponsor of the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, and to support HMA’s efforts.  All of us at Honda will go home with our heads held high tonight, but the celebration will be brief, as it will be time to do it all over again next weekend at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.”

NTT IndyCar Series Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
Circuit:                        Barber Motorsports Park (2.3-mile road course) Birmingham, Ala.
2018 Winner:              Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) 93.335 mph average [rain]
Weather:
                     Partly cloudy, warm, 80 degrees F

Top-10 Race Results:

Fn.

St.

Driver    

Team

Manufacturer

Laps

Notes

1.

1.

Takuma Sato

Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Honda

90

107.272 mph average

2.

4.

Scott Dixon

Chip Ganassi Racing

Honda

90

+2.3874

3.

5.

Sebastien Bourdais

DCR with Vasser-Sullivan

Honda  

90

4.

16.

Josef Newgarden

Team Penske

Chevrolet

90

5.

8.

Alexander Rossi

Andretti Autosport

Honda  

90

6.

5.

James Hinchcliffe

Arrow Schmidt Peterson

Honda

90

7.

20.

Marcus Ericsson-R

Arrow Schmidt Peterson

Honda

90

8.

11.

Ryan Hunter-Reay

Andretti Autosport

Honda  

90

9.

14.

Simon Pagenaud

Team Penske

Chevrolet

90

10.

17.

Felix Rosenqvist-R

Chip Ganassi Racing

Honda

90

Other Honda Results

12.

23.

Zach Veach

Andretti Autosport

Honda  

90

Running

13.

11.

Jack Harvey

Meyer Shank Racing

Honda

90

Running

14.

13.

Marco Andretti

Andretti Autosport

Honda  

90

Running

15.

10.

Santino Ferrucci-R

Dale Coyne Racing

Honda  

90

Running

23.

2.

Graham Rahal

Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Honda

55

Did not finish – electronics  

24.

9.

Colton Herta-R

Harding Steinbrenner Rcg

Honda  

31

Did not finish – fuel pressure

 

Honda Racing HPD Logo.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/847890/lepage_190406_bhm_22567.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/83597/honda_performance_development__inc__honda_racing_logo.jpg

SOURCE Honda Racing/HPD