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Latinos Feel the American Dream Could Be Disappearing

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MassMutual (PRNewsfoto/MassMutual)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Sept. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Financial security and homeownership are at the heart of the American Dream, but many Latinos feel the idea of the American Dream could be disappearing, according to the latest State of the American Family Study by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual).   

MassMutual (PRNewsfoto/MassMutual)

The new study examines American family attitudes towards finances and financial planning, and found that one-third (38 percent) of Latinos believe the American Dream is disappearing. When asked about the definition of the American Dream, not living paycheck to paycheck is more likely to be part of the American Dream for Latinos. Latino households are more likely to have a broader definition of family that includes extended family, and one in four (24 percent) worry about being able to care for their parents as well as their own nuclear family.

“With strong family and cultural values, Latino families are juggling multiple financial priorities, such as a future caregiver role for elderly parents,” says David Hufnagel, Latino market director at MassMutual. “We want to empower families with resources to help them achieve their long-term financial goals and prepare them to protect their loved ones from unexpected events.”

Juggling Financial Priorities

Latinos face some big challenges, including having the lowest household income of all segments surveyed and being among the least prepared for a financial emergency. With an average household income of $107,801 of those surveyed, it appears that Latinos have relatively lower accumulated wealth. Latinos have diverse financial priorities:

  • Having an emergency fund (81 percent)
  • Ensuring stable income for the family in case of an unexpected event (76 percent)
  • Not becoming a financial burden for family (74 percent)
  • Developing a comprehensive financial plan (65 percent)
  • Paying for college education (61 percent)

Interestingly, 75 percent of those who selected homeownership as part of their American Dream are confident that they will one day own a home if they do not already. However, although short-term needs such as building an emergency fund and ensuring stable family income if the unexpected happens are top priorities, they worry about meeting competing long-term goals as well as issues beyond their control.

Paying Down Debt

Paying for higher education and wanting to play an active role in preparing children for future success through financial education are especially important for Latinos. But as student debt levels continue to rise in the U.S., many families are worried about managing both day-to-day expenses and paying down debt. The majority of Latinos carry some type of debt in the form of mortgages, credit cards and student loans:

  • 63% have a mortgage. The average mortgage debt is $181,292.
  • 64% have credit card debt. The average credit card debt is $9,652.
  • 27% have student loan debt. The average student loan debt is $32,650.

Preparing for Financial Emergencies

Latinos are less prepared than other consumer populations surveyed for a financial emergency with 19 percent having less than a month of monthly expenses saved.

  • 28% of Latinos have 1-3 months of expenses saved if there was an emergency.
  • 23% of Latinos have 3-6 months of expenses saved if there was an emergency.
  • 21% of Latinos have more than 6 months of their monthly expenses if there was an emergency.

“We want to help mitigate worry and build confidence in attaining the American Dream,” says Hufnagel. Our financial advisors, many whom are bilingual, are committed to providing practical action steps to help families in their local communities meet both short-term financial goals and long-term financial security.”

MassMutual offers the following three financial tips to help address top financial concerns of Latinos:

  1. Pay down debt: The key is to find the proper balance between debt, income, savings, and retirement as part of an overall financial strategy. Start to find that balance by viewing the elimination of your debt as a long-term financial goal — one that is planned for, reviewed, and assessed regularly. Consider creating a debt management plan, or use MassMutual’s 5-10-15-20 calculator, which can help address your financial goals and concerns: income, savings, retirement and debt.
  2. Establish an emergency fund: An emergency fund is a reserve devoted to unplanned financial disasters such as sudden job loss, a house fire or a trip to the hospital. To play it safe, financial professionals recommend couples sock away between six to 12 months’ worth of living expenses in a liquid, interest bearing account – more if your job security is in question or you are self-employed.
  3. Save for college:  Start saving as early as you can, even at birth for a child’s education. Remember that time is on your side to have your money work for you through interest earned and compounded over the years.  With a comprehensive savings strategy, you can help reduce – or possibly eliminate – your child’s need for student loans.  To help you figure out how much you need to save, visit the MassMutual college savings calculator.

Other helpful financial tips and an overview of research findings from Latino families and other groups can be found at massmutual.com/familystudy

To find a local financial advisor near you, visit www.MassMutual.com.

Methodology

The State of the American Family survey was conducted for MassMutual by Isobar between January 19 and February 7, 2018 via a 20-minute online questionnaire. The survey comprised 3,235 total interviews with Americans, including 562 Americans who identified themselves as Hispanic. The vast majority of these interviews (2,730) were conducted with men and women aged 25-64, with household incomes equal to or greater than $50,000 and with dependents under age 26 for whom they are financially responsible. Respondents had to contribute at least 40% to decisions regarding financial matters in their household to qualify. Results were weighted to the March 2017 Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) of the Current Population Survey for age, income, gender, income, ethnicity, region, and weighted to the 2016 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample for same sex married/partnered couples, to be representative of American families in this age and income bracket. This study includes trending data for the previous survey wave conducted in 2013. The sampling margin of error for this study is +/- 1. 88 percentage points at the 95% confidence level when looking at the results for the 2,730 interviews at a total level.

About MassMutual

MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. MassMutual offers a wide range of financial products and services, including life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, annuities, retirement plans and other employee benefits. For more information, visit www.massmutual.com.

Media
Maria Fernanda Trochimezuk
Phone: (310) 696-9585
Email: [email protected]

CRN202008-235023

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SOURCE MassMutual

Ismael Cala presents ‘The business of being you’, a lecture-workshop on the strategy of entrepreneurship in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz

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MIAMI, Sept. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Ismael Cala, life and business strategist, communicator and author of eight bestsellers on leadership and emotional intelligence, will be presenting his lecture-workshop “El negocio de ser tú (‘The business of being you’)” in the Bolivian cities of Cochabamba (October 6th) and Santa Cruz de la Sierra (October 8th).

“In this new lecture, we’ll be addressing the tools to create a high-impact personal brand, with the aim of developing a strategy and a mentality of entrepreneurship to make ourselves into leaders,” Cala explained. 

He added that ‘The business of being you’ is an action plan that enables people to multiply their productivity and generate greater balance in their personal lives, because it is only by constructing an inner domain that we can build one in the world around us.” 

Seminar-Workshop “The business of being you”:

Cochabamba – Saturday, October 6, 2018 – 6: 00 p.m. Coliseo Alemán Santa María. Tickets: http://superticket.bo/detalle/ismaelcala/

Santa Cruz – Monday, October 8 – 7:00 p.m. – Salón Chiquitano. Centro de Convenciones Fexpocruz. Tickets: http://www.ticketeg.com/eventos/45

Information: [email protected]

In this seminar-experience, Cala shares ideas about the changes we human beings face in the world, both personal as well as professional. There are now new threats and also a change of paradigm: until recently, we exchanged our work for hours and money, but now the world economy is based on experience and how we live. We need to establish a different kind of exchange, that takes certain issues into account: 

  • How to be original and create material and spiritual wealth
  • How to invest in our inner domain
  • What we need to learn in a VUCA world.
  • How to break the paradigm of traditional education
  • What is the difference between incremental and exponential growth

ABOUT ISMAEL CALA

A life and business strategist, businessman, social entrepreneur and communicator.  Author of eight bestsellers on themes of leadership, entrepreneurship and personal development, including El poder de escuchar (‘The power of listening’), and El analfabeto emocional (‘The emotional illiterate’). Ambassador of the concept of Corporate Happiness in Latin America.  Cala was born in Santiago de Cuba in 1969, and holds a degree in Art History from Oriente University.  He is the co-author of the book “Beat the Curve,” with Brian Tracy.  He graduated from the School of Communication at York University in Toronto, and has a degree in Television Production from Seneca College. He is President and founder of the Cala Enterprises Corporation and the Ismael Cala Foundation.

SOURCE Cala Enterprises

Dove and Dunkin’ Celebrate Women Who are “Running on Coffee and Dry Shampoo” this National Coffee Day

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ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, New Jersey, Sept. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The pairing of coffee and dry shampoo is the ultimate life hack women everywhere are embracing to help them get through their hectic mornings and busy days, all while rocking beautiful, instantly refreshed hair. To celebrate ladies who are running on coffee and dry shampoo and to let others in on the secret, Dove Hair and Dunkin’ are teaming up around National Coffee Day (September 29) to offer the chance to win* a year’s supply of Dunkin’ coffee and Dove Dry Shampoo and host a pop-up styling café in New York City on Monday, October 1.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8412051-dove-hair-dunkin-coffee-dry-shampoo-dovexdunkin/

“Social media has exploded with women sharing how coffee and dry shampoo are their secrets to getting up, out and on with their day… taking them from the gym, to the carpool, to the board room,” says Piyush Jain, Vice President of Haircare for Unilever. “We’re excited to bring together this unlikely but perfect pairing in a surprising collaboration between Dunkin’ and Dove Dry Shampoo.”

Dove and Dunkin’ are encouraging women to share why they run on coffee and dry shampoo for the chance to win* the ultimate life hack – a year’s supply of Dunkin’ coffee and Dove Dry Shampoo! To enter the sweepstakes, submit a photo of your busy morning and tell us why you run on Dunkin’ coffee and Dove dry shampoo using hashtags #DoveXDunkin and #DxDSweepstakes on Instagram and Twitter or by visiting www.DoveXDunkin.com. Entries are open now through November 8.

Additionally, commuters rushing through Flatiron Plaza in New York City from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday, October 1, will be surprised with the Dove x Dunkin’ Styling Café. This pop-up will offer on-the-go gals the opportunity to grab a free† small Dunkin’ coffee (iced or hot) and enjoy a complimentary mini-styling appointment using their favorite Dove Dry Shampoo to first cleanse and refresh their hair. Event attendees will also have exclusive access to free† giveaways of Dove x Dunkin’ merchandise, including tote bags, hair ties and travel cups.

“This National Coffee Day, we’re excited to be running with Dove as we show our appreciation for busy, on-the-go women who turn to coffee and dry shampoo to fuel their days and save time,” said Patricia Healy, Senior Director of Integrated Marketing for Dunkin’. “As a brand that’s all about unparalleled convenience, we celebrate life hacks like this that get and keep people running each and every day.”

Finally, on National Coffee Day, Saturday, September 29, any Dunkin’ guest who purchases a hot coffee will get one free (of equal or lesser value) as a gift to share with their friends, family, colleagues and collaborators who also count on coffee to take on the day.

For more information, people can visit www.DoveXDunkin.com and follow @Dove on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Dove Hair & Dunkin’ Ultimate Life Hack Giveaway is sponsored by Conopco, Inc., d/b/a Unilever. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18 & older. Begins 9:00 a.m. ET on 9/27/18 & ends 11:59 p.m. ET on 11/8/18. For official rules, visit DovexDunkin.com.

†While supplies last

About Unilever United States, Inc.

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2.5 billion consumers a day. In the United States, the portfolio includes brand icons such as Axe, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Dove, Good Humor, Hellmann’s, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Love Beauty and Planet, Magnum, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond’s, Popsicle, Promise, Pure Leaf, Q-tips, Schmidt’s Naturals, Seventh Generation, Simple, Sir Kensington’s, St. Ives, Suave, Sundial Brands, Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto, TAZO, TIGI, TONI&GUY, TRESemmé and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies.

Unilever employs approximately 8,000 people in the United States – generating more than $9 billion in sales in 2017.

Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan underpins the company’s strategy and commits to:

  • Helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being by 2020.
  • Halving the environmental impact of our products by 2030.
  • Enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people by 2020.

The USLP creates value by driving growth and trust, eliminating costs and reducing risks. Globally, the company’s sustainable living brands are growing 50% faster than the rest of the business and delivered more than 60% of the company’s growth in 2016.

For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: www.unileverusa.com

To connect with Unilever U.S. via Facebook visit: www.facebook.com/unileverusa

To connect with Unilever U.S. via Twitter follow: @unileverusa

About Dunkin’
Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ is America’s favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin’ is a market leader in the hot regular/decaf/flavored coffee, iced regular/decaf/flavored coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin’ has earned a No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for 12 years running. The company has more than 12,600 restaurants in 46 countries worldwide. Based in Canton, Mass., Dunkin’ is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

Contact:
Emily Africk
Edelman
212-279-2164
[email protected]

Justin Drake
Dunkin’ Brands
781-737-5200
[email protected]

 

SOURCE Dove

Swiftmile Unveils World’s First Charging and Parking Platform for Dockless Scooters

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MT. VIEW, California, Sept. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Swiftmile, a pioneer in light electric vehicle (LEV) charging systems, today unveiled the Oasis, the world’s first solar-powered scooter charging platform that can easily scale to support thousands of vehicles from any dockless scooter operator. Launching soon in a major US city with a national scooter operator, the company’s new solar-powered charging and parking system for dockless electric scooters aims to encourage more convenient, efficient and environmentally-friendly commuter behavior.

Shared electric scooters are popping up in major metropolitan areas all over the world as many find they are a great transportation option. As adoption increases, cities everywhere are now finding scooters scattered all over blocking sidewalks, driveways and public rights of way angering many in communities nationwide. Swiftmile’s “Oasis” provides cities with an environmentally-friendly, universal and modular solution for organizing the scooter chaos. Plus, the company’s new in-field charging platform can support thousands of scooters in need of a charge while fostering mass adoption of these non-carbon-emitting vehicles that’s large enough to make a dent in commuter traffic.

“Shared electric scooters and bikes add great new transportation options for cities,” said former Palo Alto Mayor, Pat Burt. “But they have created a big problem – they are being left everywhere as hazards and litter. A parking and charging system for these dockless vehicles is a solution cities are looking for.”

Specifications
Swiftmile’s platform is designed to easily scale with little alteration. Swiftmile’s proprietary charge-management back-end can integrate with any third-party scooter app, allowing riders and operators to seamlessly find charging and parking locations for scooters, while cities will find that installation is easy and inexpensive. The platform is offered with the following:

  • Adaptors for each electric scooter that makes them Swiftmile compatible
  • Autonomous smart charging that plays nice with the grid
  • LED lighting for easy viewing of vehicle availability
  • Solar and battery storage so there’s always power even when there’s no sun
  • An integrated lock and charging system
  • Ready built APIs for back-end mobile app integration
  • Lifetime service, maintenance and upgrades  

“Swiftmile’s vision is to be what the first gas stations were to the auto industry, but for the fast growing micro-mobility revolution,” said Colin Roche, CEO Swiftmile. “We like to think of ourselves as the peacemakers between the public, cities and scooter operators. We developed the first in-field eScooter charging system that allows scooters to be parked and charged in convenient locations, then show back up on any scooter operator’s app ready to ‘roll’ again.”

About Swiftmile
Swiftmile, the leading provider of scalable turnkey eBike and eScooter transit systems, provides alternative transportation solutions for short city distances, reducing harmful carbon emissions.  The company solves the pollution pain point caused by single-rider commuter vehicles on the road through scalable charging systems for riders of eBikes and eScooters. Swiftmile’s turnkey systems can scale to support any number of fleet sizes, efficiently reducing parking, traffic, and solving transportation challenges the world over.  For more information, visit swiftmile.com.

SOURCE Swiftmile

New AARP Report Offers Solutions to Help NY’s Unpaid – but Over-Stressed – Family Caregivers

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AARP_NY_Logo

NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — As the number of older New Yorkers explodes with the aging of the Baby Boomer generation and as New Yorkers live longer with more chronic conditions, unpaid family caregivers need help – and a new report from AARP outlines a host of potential solutions ranging from a middle class tax credit for out-of-pocket caregiving expenses to an expansion of “telehealth.”

The Future of Family Caregiving: Leading the Change resulted from a summit AARP convened with the New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) and the state Health Department and Office for the Aging with family caregivers, aging-service organizations and advocacy groups. The summit and report were funded by the New York State Health Foundation and AARP Foundation, the charitable affiliate of AARP, which works to end senior poverty by helping vulnerable older adults build economic opportunity and social connectedness.

“We now have a great roadmap for how to better support New York’s nearly 2.6 million family caregivers – the backbone of our long-term care system who provide unpaid care valued at over $31 billion a year,” said AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel. “This report should serve as a blueprint for our elected officials and policymakers as we face an aging population that will put more and more stress on caregivers.”

“Caregivers play a critical role in the health care system—providing vital unpaid care to family members or loved ones,” said David Sandman, Ph.D., President and CEO of NYSHealth. “The physical, financial, and emotional impact of caregiving can take a big toll. This report offers solutions that can help alleviate some of that burden and ensure that New Yorkers have the support they need to remain effective in their caregiving roles.”

“As life expectancies among New Yorkers continues to increase, we remain committed to working with AARP and our partners in government and communities throughout the state to make it easier for family caregivers to not only provide care to their aging relatives, but to also improve the health and wellbeing of these vital caregivers,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker. “The findings from the AARP’s The Future of Caregiving: Leading The Change summit will go a long way towards identifying additional resources and solutions to support family members who care for aging loved ones.”

“Family caregivers make a profound difference in the lives of those they care for, and are integral to helping loved ones remain at home,” said Greg Olsen, Acting Director of the New York State Office for the Aging. “As New York State continues to create more age-friendly, livable communities for people of all ages to grow up, thrive, and grow older, we must ensure that family caregivers have the necessary resources to allow them to focus on their own wellbeing.”

Unpaid family caregivers help loved ones with everyday tasks like cooking, traveling to doctor appointments, and managing multiple medications, as well as bathing, dressing, and feeding – and ever-more complex medical tasks like wound care that used to be handled by nurses or hospitals.

The new report shows caregivers face a lack of respite and other challenges that include:

  • Lost time at work, which can reduce income and retirement earnings and deny potential promotions;
  • Balancing caring for a parent with working and raising young children in many cases;
  • Fear of strangers and financial concerns in hiring outside help – and the inability of finding someone qualified, affordable, and available;
  • Out of pocket caregiving costs that average nearly $7,000 a year – and over $10,600 if caring for a loved one with dementia – and eat up 20 percent of income on average but a whopping 44 percent for Hispanic caregivers and 34 percent for African American caregivers;
  • Wait lists for home- and community-based services, which support caregivers in helping their loved ones avoid unwanted moves to costlier and mostly taxpayer-funded nursing homes;
  • Social isolation and other mental health issues.

The needs of family caregivers are growing; by 2050 the number of Americans 85 and older will more than triple, and as many as 34 percent of older adults could experience functional limitations and need full or part-time help to avoid or delay institutional care. Yet the availability of family members to provide unpaid care will dwindle.

Building on New York’s strong paid family leave law and the CARE Act, which requires hospitals to better prepare caregivers to care for their loved ones after discharge, the report includes these potential solutions:

  • A state tax credit for out-of-pocket caregiving costs such as wheelchair ramps, food and medical supplies.
  • Expanding the CARE Act to include skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities.
  • Expanding telehealth and tele-mental health to allow doctors to monitor an older adult’s vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar remotely via smartphone and alerting family caregivers whether medication has been taken, if the stove was left on, or if there’s been a fall – building on a 2018 state initiative to broaden the use of telehealth under Medicaid.
  • More “age-friendly” hospital emergency departments with non-glare lighting, non-skid flooring, large print information, handrails, warmer room temperatures, improved sound-proofing, room for family caregivers and specially trained staff.
  • An accessible, streamlined, and culturally appropriate compendium of statewide and local services that includes eligibility requirements, cost, and paid and volunteer assistance for transportation to medical appointments, minor home repairs and visits that allow caregivers respite.
  • More caregiver respite centers like those at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and Northern Westchester Hospital.
  • “Virtual” support groups and online chats and hangouts for family caregivers lacking the time or energy to attend in-person groups.
  • Expanding the reach of broadband services to underserved areas of the state.
  • An in-home services provider registry that allows consumers to connect with qualified, local long-term services and support workers.

Nationwide, 44 million Americans –including nearly 2.6 million across New York state—provide care and support to some­one because of a limitation in their physical, emotional, or cognitive functioning. This unpaid care is worth $31.3 billion annually in New York and $470 billion across the country.

AARP is urging 50+ Americans to “Be the Difference” and vote in the upcoming midterm elections – and to consider candidates’ positions on supporting family caregivers.

An AARP New York/Siena College survey of New York Baby Boomers and Generation Xers released last fall found strong support for in-home services, with two-thirds or more of respondents saying transportation services, respite for family caregivers and assistance providing meals and managing household chores would be helpful.

Follow us on Twitter:  @AARPNY and Facebook: AARP New York

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name.  As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.

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SOURCE AARP New York

Texas Association of REALTORS® installs officers, provides outlook and goals for 2019

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Texas Association of Realtors logo.

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Texas Association of REALTORS® (TAR) installed its 2019 officers during the Texas REALTORS® Conference in San Antonio. Incoming officers include Chairman Tray Bates of Corpus Christi, Chairman-Elect Cindi Bulla of Amarillo, Secretary/Treasurer Marvin Jolly of Collin County, and Immediate Past Chairman Kaki Lybbert of Denton.

Texas Association of Realtors logo.

“It’s a great time to be a Texas Realtor. The state economy is thriving, job growth continues to increase and overall quality of life spurs demand for property ownership in the Lone Star State,” said incoming Chairman Bates. “I’m honored to serve as the 2019 Chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors alongside my colleagues, Cindi, Marvin and Kaki to lead our fellow Realtors, be a resource for housing decisions in our communities and advocate on issues concerning property rights in Texas.”

Since 1993, incoming Chairman Tray Bates has provided real estate services from Dallas-Fort Worth to South Texas and in this time, he has dedicated himself to his profession to better serve consumers and his fellow REALTORS®. Bates is President and Broker/Owner of Bates Commercial LLC and has held key leadership roles in numerous positions at the local, state and national levels. In 2011, he served as Chairman of the Corpus Christi Association of REALTORS® and is also a founding member of the South Texas Commercial Association. Most recently he was appointed by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) as the 2019 REALTOR® Party Fundraising Liaison.

Cindi Bulla, Broker/Owner of Realty Central in Amarillo, is the incoming Chairman-Elect for the association. Bulla has more than 20 years of experience as a Texas REALTOR® and a background in banking and construction. She has served the REALTOR® organization on the local, state, and national level in many capacities. Bulla served as a chairman of the Amarillo Association of REALTORS® in 2012, was named Amarillo REALTOR® of the Year in 2013, and has represented TAR as an NAR Director since 2013. She currently serves as the NAR federal political coordinator to Congressman Mac Thornberry.

Real estate broker, trainer, consultant and business coach, Marvin Jolly is the 2019 Secretary/Treasurer of the Texas Association of REALTORS®. In this position, he is one of the top officers on the association’s Leadership Team and oversees the Budget & Finance Committee and budgeting process. Marvin currently serves on the NAR state and local Issues Mobilization Committee and Board of Directors. He served as President of the Collin County Association of REALTORS® in 2014 and was named REALTORS® of the Year by the association in 2005.

Immediate Past Chairman Kaki Lybbert is an agent with Century 21 Judge Fite in Denton. A fifth-generation Texan, Lybbert has served as a Texas REALTOR® at the local, statewide and national levels.  Lybbert obtained her real estate license in 1995 and has been an associate of Century 21 since 1998. Lybbert has also served as chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors Political Action Committee (TREPAC) in 2012 and as 2017 Chairman of NAR Major Investor Council.

The installation ceremony took place on Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Hyatt Regency in San Antonio with Texas REALTORS® and industry leaders from across the country in attendance. Conference attendees also participated in forums on public school finance, political updates, as well as continuing education courses.

About the Texas Association of Realtors

With more than 114,000 members, the Texas Association of REALTORS® is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We are the advocate for REALTORS® and private property rights in Texas. Visit texasrealestate.com to learn more.

CONTACT:
Hunter Dodson
Pierpont Communications
+1-512-448-4950
[email protected]

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SOURCE Texas Association of Realtors

(Español) Invitamos a hispanos/latinos a disfrutar la aventura de los bosques en Washington y Oregón

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Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

The Home Depot Brings Express Delivery To 35 Major U.S. Markets

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The Home Depot logo.

ATLANTA, Sept. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot® has rolled out express same-day and next-day local delivery for more than 20,000 of its most popular items to 35 major metros across the U.S. The new service is part of the company’s overall five-year expansion of its delivery offerings for DIY and Pro customers.

The Home Depot logo.

Qualifying products for the new express delivery option include everything from power tools to décor to garden supplies, with delivery options starting at $8.99.

“This is just the beginning of our expansion of improved delivery options, but it’s a significant milestone in the way we’re serving customers,” said Mark Holifield, executive vice president of supply chain and product development.

To use the service, customers simply choose “Express Delivery from Store” through homedepot.com or The Home Depot app, where available.

The company is partnering with car and van providers like Roadie and Deliv to offer the new delivery options for smaller items, while continuing to expand its supply chain network for faster shipments of large bulk deliveries. The ongoing investment calls for additional direct fulfillment centers and more than 100 new distribution sites to further extend delivery speed and reach.

Holifield discusses The Home Depot’s supply chain investments on the company’s Give Me an H podcast.

Check out all of The Home Depot’s delivery options at homedepot.com/delivery.        

About The Home Depot
The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,286 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. In fiscal 2017, The Home Depot had sales of $100.9 billion and earnings of $8.6 billion. The Company employs more than 400,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

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SOURCE The Home Depot

Dionisio Gutiérrez Returns To Television With “Razón De Estado”

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Fundacion_Libertad_y_Desarrollo_Editorial_Dionisio_Gutie_rrez

GUATEMALA CITY, Sept. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — After an 18 year hiatus, Guatemalan sociologist, Dionisio Gutiérrez, debuted his new television program, “Razon de Estado.” In 2010, Gutiérrez announced the end of his long-running show “Libre Encuentro” after 20 years on the air in the U.S. and Guatemala. Gutiérrez’s show helped create an opening for discussions on the welfare of Guatemala at a time when many Latin American countries struggled with similar sociopolitical issues. On September 19, “Razón de Estado” premiered through Guatevisión, marking Gutiérrez’s return to television with his non-profit organization, Fundacion Libertad y Desarollo.

In the first segment of the inaugural episode, Gutiérrez addressed the causes that have prevented Guatemala’s government from solving the most pressing problems affecting its citizens: “Today we are facing the failure of one more government, a government that was unable to see the signs of the times,” Gutiérrez explained, “Instead of strengthening the State, improving the justice system, instilling confidence in the economy… [the President] dedicated himself to hiding his faults and protecting his own interests. “

Gutiérrez also claimed that corruption and impunity have impeded the development of Guatemalan society. “Oblivion has been the traveling companion of corruption; and corruption without justice is impunity; impunity is a source of backwardness and poverty…The moral bankruptcy of delinquents who call themselves politicians are just some of the symptoms of Guatemala’s true tragedy: political underdevelopment.”

In the second segment of the program, Gutiérrez interviewed the former president of Colombia, Andres Pastrana, who spoke about the political context and the problems faced by Colombia before launching “Plan Colombia” and explained that creating an alliance with the United States was key in combating drug trafficking at that time. “The U.S. used the drug and we produced it,” said Pastrana. “We spoke with the U.S. President and asked for the financial support we needed…Plan Colombia became policy there and in the U.S.”

In the final segment, Gutiérrez diagnosed the situation in Guatemala, showing alarming figures of poverty, chronic malnutrition, illiteracy, inequality and high levels of violence. He also mentioned low economic growth, the lack of employment and the consequent migration of millions to the United States in recent decades. He reflected a corruption index that places Guatemala as the fourth most corrupt country in the continent.

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C2hBEiod2U  
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/750269/Fundacion_Libertad_y_Desarrollo_Editorial_Dionisio_Gutie_rrez.jpg

 

SOURCE Fundación Libertad y Desarrollo

Crowdfense Launches Vulnerability Research Hub for Top Security Researchers

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NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, Crowdfense officially launches the Vulnerability Research Hub out of beta. After being internally developed and fine-tuned for several months, Crowdfense is now opening their process-oriented platform to a wider audience of researchers and brokers interested in trading 0day cyber capabilities, which can be both within the scope of Crowdfense public Bug Bounty Program or freely proposed (for a specific set of key targets).

“This is our next step in standardizing and supporting the development of what has now become a strategic industry,” said Andrea Zapparoli Manzoni, Director of Crowdfense. “This is not a “dark market” anymore. Our platform helps the best researchers in the world to professionally and securely submit, discuss, test, contract and receive enticing payments for their 0day findings, in an ordered and secure way. Early testers have been extremely satisfied by the unique partnership, testing and payment opportunities we provide.”

The platform allows researchers to submit 0day capabilities which are then reviewed together with the Crowdfense team. Once a submission is substantiated, Crowdfense works with the researcher to contract for final deliverable, test the code and award the bounty.

This process-centric approach ensures a faster time-to-market for sellers and higher quality products for customers, since all assets are delivered with the Crowdfense stamp of approval and are fully tested, documented and vetted in advance.

Technically, the platform is organized into a streamlined set of workflows, with maximum OpSec for all participants. It is based on a zero-trust model and offers a reduced attack surface, anonymity (if desired), full E2E encryption and several other advanced security features, both client and server side.

The VRH 1.0 features include account and keys management and step-by-step workflows for the submission, technical evaluation and discussion of vulnerabilities, contracting and pricing definition, follow-up and maintenance of 0day capabilities over time.

The Vulnerability Research Hub launch comes just five months after Crowdfense announced their $10 Million Public Bug Bounty program, which is the largest in the world. Their Bug Bounty Program has received a substantial number of responses and the company has paid out over $5M in a short time.

According to its mission, Crowdfense is only interested in evaluating exploits that allow government agencies to lawfully find and extract information from specific targets and is not purchasing 0days which can be deployed to disrupt or damage critical systems. This applies equally to the Bug Bounty Program and the VRH.

For more on the VRH, please visit https://vrh.crowdfense.com/.

Crowdfense evaluates, tests and improves state-of-the-art active cyber-defense capabilities from the most talented Researchers in the world and offers them to a carefully selected group of global institutional Customers. (www.crowdfense.com)

SOURCE Crowdfense

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