AJC’s Latino Jewish Leadership Council to Visit Puerto Rico

May 1, 2018

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — AJC’s Latino Jewish Leadership Council (LJLC) will visit Puerto Rico this week on a fact-finding and solidarity mission. The May 2-5 visit, cohosted by the Jewish Community of Puerto Rico, will allow Jewish and Latino leaders from across the United States to witness first-hand the status of aid delivery and rebuilding.

“The enormous challenges Puerto Ricans are confronting nearly seven months after Hurricane Maria devastated the American island compels us to ensure that Washington takes substantive action to address the urgent needs of our fellow citizens,” said Dina Siegel Vann, Director of AJC’s Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs (BILLA).

The LJLC is comprised of a prominent group of U.S. Jews and Latinos. Convened by AJC, the Council works to further strengthen Latino-Jewish cooperation in advocating for issues of shared concern and values cherished by both communities. At its January meeting in Washington, D.C., the Council discussed extensively the Puerto Rico crisis and visited Capitol Hill to advocate for more concerted and urgent action.

During the visit to Puerto Rico, LJlC members, as well as other prominent Latino and Jewish leaders participating in the mission, will meet with Governor Ricardo Rosselló, Puerto Rico Secretary of State Luis Gerardo Rivera Marin, Speaker of the House of Representatives Carlos Johnny Mendez Núñez, as well as members of the Senate, the business community and civil society.

“Our visit will further empower us, Jews and Puerto Ricans, to more strenuously advocate for a longterm response to the dire situation on the island,” said Siegel Vann.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

American Honda Reports April Sales Results

May 1, 2018

0

Honda reported April 2018 sales results today, noting the Honda Odyssey gained 21.2% for the month and continues to lead the minivan segment for 2018.

TORRANCE, California, May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —

American Honda			Honda			Acura
Total	Cars	Trucks	Total	Cars	Trucks	Total	Cars	Trucks
125,701	59,456	66,245	113,813	55,354	58,459	11,888	4,102	7,786
-9.2%	-14.4%	-3.9	-8.4%	-12.3%	-4.3%	-15.9%	-34.8%	-0.8%

“Even as we increase our sales of light trucks to record levels, we remain committed to delivering a balanced lineup of cars and light-truck offerings for our customers,” said Henio Arcangeli Jr., senior vice president of the Automobile Division & general manager of Honda sales. “Our flexible manufacturing capabilities allow us to evolve our production mix in real-time to meet these continued shifts in consumer demand. Moreover, we recognize not all customers in the market want a truck or SUV, so growth opportunities still exist within the passenger car side of our business.”

Honda	BRAND REPORT
Sales Highlights		Model Notes
Two fewer selling days and one less weekend in April 2018 vs. a year ago, impacted Honda car & truck sales like the rest of the auto industry. However, the brand’s core models performed strongly while Odyssey and Pilot were standouts for the month. Odyssey posted a robust gain of 21.2% on sales of 8,464 units in April, further strengthening its 2018 sales leadership. Pilot sales increased for the 8th straight month, rising 22% on sales of 11,891 units for the month. Civic and CR-V sales topped 28,000 in April and Accord crested 21,000, to post strong results for Honda’s core models.		Odyssey is the #1 retail-selling minivan in America in 2018, leading with the lowest incentive spending as well.
		The Honda Electrification Initiative just gained another player – the all-new 2018 Accord Hybrid, made in Marysville, Ohio, where the hybrid battery unit also is assembled.

Acura	BRAND REPORT
Sales Highlights		Model Notes
Looking forward to the upcoming launch of the all-new 2019 RDX, Acura displayed the still considerable strength of the current RDX as it made a solid gain in April. ILX and RLX also enjoyed sales increases for the month. RDX gained 10.8 percent in April on sales of 4,201 units. The Acura ILX and RLX sedans also gained sales ground, with ILX up 21.6% and RLX up 61.3% in April.		Acura is strengthening its performance story with A-Spec grades for all core models, including the just-launched 2.4-liter TLX A-Spec, and upcoming RDX and MDX A-Spec models launching this summer.
		Since its 2007 debut, the Acura RDX has outsold every compact luxury SUV in America, and is the only one to top 50K sales in each of the past three years.

	American Honda Vehicle Sales for April 2018
			Month-to-Date				Year-to-Date
			April 2018	April 2017	DSR** % Change	MoM % Change	April 2018	April 2017	DSR** % Change	YoY % Change
	American Honda Total		125,701	138,386	-1.6%	-9.2%	488,192	503,679	-3.1%	-3.1%
	Total Car Sales		59,456	69,427	-7.2%	-14.4%	229,804	243,033	-5.4%	-5.4%
	Total Truck Sales		66,245	68,959	4.1%	-3.9%	258,388	260,646	-0.9%	-0.9%
	Honda	Total Car Sales	55,354	63,140	-5.0%	-12.3%	213,737	226,940	-5.8%	-5.8%
	Honda	Total Truck Sales	58,459	61,114	3.6%	-4.3%	229,153	230,845	-0.7%	-0.7%
	Acura	Total Car Sales	4,102	6,287	-29.3%	-34.8%	16,067	16,093	-0.2%	-0.2%
	Acura	Total Truck Sales	7,786	7,845	7.5%	-0.8%	29,235	29,801	-1.9%	-1.9%
	Total Domestic Car Sales		50,390	56,421	-3.2%	-10.7%	199,280	196,420	1.5%	1.5%
		Honda Division	46,459	50,240	0.2%	-7.5%	183,847	180,726	1.7%	1.7%
		Acura Division	3,931	6,181	-31.1%	-36.4%	15,433	15,694	-1.7%	-1.7%
	Total Domestic Truck Sales		66,245	68,959	4.1%	-3.9%	258,388	260,646	-0.9%	-0.9%
		Honda Division	58,459	61,114	3.6%	-4.3%	229,153	230,845	-0.7%	-0.7%
		Acura Division	7,786	7,845	7.5%	-0.8%	29,235	29,801	-1.9%	-1.9%
	Total Import Car Sales		9,066	13,006	-24.5%	-30.3%	30,524	46,613	-34.5%	-34.5%
		Honda Division	8,895	12,900	-25.3%	-31.0%	29,890	46,214	-35.3%	-35.3%
		Acura Division	171	106	74.8%	61.3%	634	399	58.9%	58.9%
	Total Import Truck Sales		0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
		Honda Division	0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
		Acura Division	0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
MODEL BREAKOUT BY DIVISION
	Honda Division Total		113,813	124,254	-0.8%	-8.4%	442,890	457,785	-3.3%	-3.3%
		* ACCORD	21,751	26,938	-12.5%	-19.3%	83,352	96,753	-13.9%	-13.9%
		* CIVIC	28,399	31,211	-1.4%	-9.0%	110,548	112,865	-2.1%	-2.1%
		CLARITY	1,212	34	3,761.8%	3,464.7%	4,529	126	3,494.4%	3,494.4%
		CR-Z	5	85	-93.6%	-94.1%	30	421	-92.9%	-92.9%
		* FIT	3,987	4,871	-11.3%	-18.1%	15,278	16,773	-8.9%	-8.9%
		INSIGHT	0	1	-100.0%	-100.0%	0	2	-100.0%	-100.0%

		CROSSTOUR	0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	3	-100.0%	-100.0%
		* CR-V	28,323	32,671	-6.1%	-13.3%	110,369	126,728	-12.9%	-12.9%
		HR-V	7,322	8,527	-7.0%	-14.1%	28,125	28,223	-0.3%	-0.3%
		ODYSSEY	8,464	6,984	31.3%	21.2%	31,471	28,011	12.4%	12.4%
		PILOT	11,891	9,746	32.2%	22.0%	49,724	34,970	42.2%	42.2%
		RIDGELINE	2,459	3,186	-16.4%	-22.8%	9,464	12,910	-26.7%	-26.7%

	Acura Division Total		11,888	14,132	-8.9%	-15.9%	45,302	45,894	-1.3%	-1.3%
		ILX	1,012	832	31.8%	21.6%	3,484	3,088	12.8%	12.8%
		NSX	5	91	-94.0%	-94.5%	72	224	-67.9%	-67.9%
		RLX / RL	171	106	74.8%	61.3%	634	399	58.9%	58.9%
		TLX	2,914	5,258	-40.0%	-44.6%	11,877	12,382	-4.1%	-4.1%

		MDX	3,585	4,052	-4.2%	-11.5%	13,909	15,008	-7.3%	-7.3%
		RDX	4,201	3,793	20.0%	10.8%	15,326	14,793	3.6%	3.6%

	Selling Days		24	26			101	101


	* Honda and Acura vehicles are made of domestic & global sourced parts
	** Daily Selling Rate

PDF – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/685200/Honda_April_2018_Sales_Release_FINAL_5_1_18.pdf?p=original

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/685137/2019_Honda_Odyssey.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/477245/HONDALOGO_Logo.jpg

SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

American Honda Reports April Sales Results

May 1, 2018

0

TORRANCE, California, May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —

American Honda			Honda			Acura
Total	Cars	Trucks	Total	Cars	Trucks	Total	Cars	Trucks
125,701	59,456	66,245	113,813	55,354	58,459	11,888	4,102	7,786
-9.2%	-14.4%	-3.9	-8.4%	-12.3%	-4.3%	-15.9%	-34.8%	-0.8%

“Even as we increase our sales of light trucks to record levels, we remain committed to delivering a balanced lineup of cars and light-truck offerings for our customers,” said Henio Arcangeli Jr., senior vice president of the Automobile Division & general manager of Honda sales. “Our flexible manufacturing capabilities allow us to evolve our production mix in real-time to meet these continued shifts in consumer demand. Moreover, we recognize not all customers in the market want a truck or SUV, so growth opportunities still exist within the passenger car side of our business.”

Honda	BRAND REPORT
Sales Highlights		Model Notes
Two fewer selling days and one less weekend in April 2018 vs. a year ago, impacted Honda car & truck sales like the rest of the auto industry. However, the brand’s core models performed strongly while Odyssey and Pilot were standouts for the month. Odyssey posted a robust gain of 21.2% on sales of 8,464 units in April, further strengthening its 2018 sales leadership. Pilot sales increased for the 8th straight month, rising 22% on sales of 11,891 units for the month. Civic and CR-V sales topped 28,000 in April and Accord crested 21,000, to post strong results for Honda’s core models.		Odyssey is the #1 retail-selling minivan in America in 2018, leading with the lowest incentive spending as well.
		The Honda Electrification Initiative just gained another player – the all-new 2018 Accord Hybrid, made in Marysville, Ohio, where the hybrid battery unit also is assembled.

Acura	BRAND REPORT
Sales Highlights		Model Notes
Looking forward to the upcoming launch of the all-new 2019 RDX, Acura displayed the still considerable strength of the current RDX as it made a solid gain in April. ILX and RLX also enjoyed sales increases for the month. RDX gained 10.8 percent in April on sales of 4,201 units. The Acura ILX and RLX sedans also gained sales ground, with ILX up 21.6% and RLX up 61.3% in April.		Acura is strengthening its performance story with A-Spec grades for all core models, including the just-launched 2.4-liter TLX A-Spec, and upcoming RDX and MDX A-Spec models launching this summer.
		Since its 2007 debut, the Acura RDX has outsold every compact luxury SUV in America, and is the only one to top 50K sales in each of the past three years.

	American Honda Vehicle Sales for April 2018
			Month-to-Date				Year-to-Date
			April 2018	April 2017	DSR** % Change	MoM % Change	April 2018	April 2017	DSR** % Change	YoY % Change
	American Honda Total		125,701	138,386	-1.6%	-9.2%	488,192	503,679	-3.1%	-3.1%
	Total Car Sales		59,456	69,427	-7.2%	-14.4%	229,804	243,033	-5.4%	-5.4%
	Total Truck Sales		66,245	68,959	4.1%	-3.9%	258,388	260,646	-0.9%	-0.9%
	Honda	Total Car Sales	55,354	63,140	-5.0%	-12.3%	213,737	226,940	-5.8%	-5.8%
	Honda	Total Truck Sales	58,459	61,114	3.6%	-4.3%	229,153	230,845	-0.7%	-0.7%
	Acura	Total Car Sales	4,102	6,287	-29.3%	-34.8%	16,067	16,093	-0.2%	-0.2%
	Acura	Total Truck Sales	7,786	7,845	7.5%	-0.8%	29,235	29,801	-1.9%	-1.9%
	Total Domestic Car Sales		50,390	56,421	-3.2%	-10.7%	199,280	196,420	1.5%	1.5%
		Honda Division	46,459	50,240	0.2%	-7.5%	183,847	180,726	1.7%	1.7%
		Acura Division	3,931	6,181	-31.1%	-36.4%	15,433	15,694	-1.7%	-1.7%
	Total Domestic Truck Sales		66,245	68,959	4.1%	-3.9%	258,388	260,646	-0.9%	-0.9%
		Honda Division	58,459	61,114	3.6%	-4.3%	229,153	230,845	-0.7%	-0.7%
		Acura Division	7,786	7,845	7.5%	-0.8%	29,235	29,801	-1.9%	-1.9%
	Total Import Car Sales		9,066	13,006	-24.5%	-30.3%	30,524	46,613	-34.5%	-34.5%
		Honda Division	8,895	12,900	-25.3%	-31.0%	29,890	46,214	-35.3%	-35.3%
		Acura Division	171	106	74.8%	61.3%	634	399	58.9%	58.9%
	Total Import Truck Sales		0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
		Honda Division	0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
		Acura Division	0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
MODEL BREAKOUT BY DIVISION
	Honda Division Total		113,813	124,254	-0.8%	-8.4%	442,890	457,785	-3.3%	-3.3%
		* ACCORD	21,751	26,938	-12.5%	-19.3%	83,352	96,753	-13.9%	-13.9%
		* CIVIC	28,399	31,211	-1.4%	-9.0%	110,548	112,865	-2.1%	-2.1%
		CLARITY	1,212	34	3,761.8%	3,464.7%	4,529	126	3,494.4%	3,494.4%
		CR-Z	5	85	-93.6%	-94.1%	30	421	-92.9%	-92.9%
		* FIT	3,987	4,871	-11.3%	-18.1%	15,278	16,773	-8.9%	-8.9%
		INSIGHT	0	1	-100.0%	-100.0%	0	2	-100.0%	-100.0%

		CROSSTOUR	0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	3	-100.0%	-100.0%
		* CR-V	28,323	32,671	-6.1%	-13.3%	110,369	126,728	-12.9%	-12.9%
		HR-V	7,322	8,527	-7.0%	-14.1%	28,125	28,223	-0.3%	-0.3%
		ODYSSEY	8,464	6,984	31.3%	21.2%	31,471	28,011	12.4%	12.4%
		PILOT	11,891	9,746	32.2%	22.0%	49,724	34,970	42.2%	42.2%
		RIDGELINE	2,459	3,186	-16.4%	-22.8%	9,464	12,910	-26.7%	-26.7%

	Acura Division Total		11,888	14,132	-8.9%	-15.9%	45,302	45,894	-1.3%	-1.3%
		ILX	1,012	832	31.8%	21.6%	3,484	3,088	12.8%	12.8%
		NSX	5	91	-94.0%	-94.5%	72	224	-67.9%	-67.9%
		RLX / RL	171	106	74.8%	61.3%	634	399	58.9%	58.9%
		TLX	2,914	5,258	-40.0%	-44.6%	11,877	12,382	-4.1%	-4.1%

		MDX	3,585	4,052	-4.2%	-11.5%	13,909	15,008	-7.3%	-7.3%
		RDX	4,201	3,793	20.0%	10.8%	15,326	14,793	3.6%	3.6%

	Selling Days		24	26			101	101


	* Honda and Acura vehicles are made of domestic & global sourced parts
	** Daily Selling Rate

PDF – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/685200/Honda_April_2018_Sales_Release_FINAL_5_1_18.pdf?p=original

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/685137/2019_Honda_Odyssey.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/477245/HONDALOGO_Logo.jpg

SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Mazda Reports April Sales Results

May 1, 2018

0

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.

IRVINE, Calif., May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total April U.S. sales of 23,056 vehicles, representing a decrease of 4.6 percent versus April of last year. Year-to-date (YTD) sales through April are up 14.8 percent versus last year, with 107,051 vehicles sold. With 24 selling days in April 2018, versus 26 the year prior, the company posted an increase of 3.4 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

Key April sales notes:

A mix of the new 2018 Mazda6, now with the option of the SKYACTIV-G 2.5T gasoline turbo engine, and the previous-generation model led to a sales increase of 29.3 percent year-over-year (YOY), with 2,909 vehicles sold in the month of April.
Mazda CX-9, Mazda’s seven-passenger crossover SUV, finished the month up 0.2 percent YOY, with 2,138 vehicles sold. Sales of the Mazda CX-9 are up 8.5 percent YTD.
Sales of Mazda’s CX-line remain strong, with CX-3, CX-5 and CX-9 collectively reaching 14,585 vehicles sold in the month of April. This number represents a decrease of 0.2 percent YOY, and an increase of 8.1 percent YTD.
Among Mazda CX-line buyers, Mazda’s i-ACTIV All-Wheel Drive option continues to be a favorite, with 63.0 percent of customers choosing the AWD option in April.
Mazda reported Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales of 4,090 vehicles in April, marking an increase of 14.7 percent YOY.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported April sales of 4,190 vehicles, up 9.0 percent versus April of last year.

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.

	Month-To-Date				Year-To-Date

	April	April	%	% MTD	April	April	%	% YTD
	2018	2017	Change	DSR	2018	2017	Change	DSR

Mazda3	4,725	5,980	(21.0)%	(14.4)%	24,380	26,586	(8.3)%	(8.3)%
Mazda5	–	1	–	–	–	6	(100.0)%	(100.0)%
Mazda6	2,909	2,249	29.3%	40.1%	10,441	12,941	(19.3)%	(19.3)%
MX-5 Miata	837	1,319	(36.5)%	(31.3)%	2,803	4,701	(40.4)%	(40.4)%
CX-3	1,135	1,147	(1.0)%	7.2%	5,472	4,861	12.6%	12.6%
CX-5	11,312	11,334	(0.2)%	8.1%	54,129	35,708	51.6%	51.6%
CX-9	2,138	2,134	0.2%	8.5%	9,826	8,432	16.5%	16.5%

Total Vehicles

CARS	8,471	9,549	(11.3)%	(3.9)%	37,624	44,234	(14.9)%	(14.9)%
TRUCKS	14,585	14,615	(0.2)%	8.1%	69,427	49,001	41.7%	41.7%

TOTAL	23,056	24,164	(4.6)%	3.4%	107,051	93,235	14.8%	14.8%


Selling Days	24	26			101	101

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

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

Vallarta Supermarkets Contributes $110,000 To Local Education Organizations To Support Higher Education For California Latino Students

May 1, 2018

0

SYLMAR, Calif., May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Vallarta Supermarkets, one of the nation’s largest Hispanic supermarket chains has announced it is contributing $110,000 to local education organizations to support Latino students seeking a university or college education in markets the company serves.

With Vallarta Supermarkets’ roots founded upon an immigrant family success story, the company values its customers and is proud to serve as a beacon for all, immigrant and non-immigrant, seeking quality grocery products and services. That beacon extends to our team members as well, many who like the founders, have strong immigrant roots and depend on their employment with Vallarta Supermarkets to provide for their families.

“Given our company’s immigrant roots, we recognize the importance of family, hard work and education. Consequently, we made a decision to contribute $110,000 toward scholarships for Latino students,” said Rick Castillo, Marketing Director of Vallarta Supermarkets. “Many of our customers came to this country seeking the American Dream of a better life for themselves and their families. We want to help our customers obtain that dream.”

Vallarta Supermarkets will contribute a total of $110,000 to the following organizations:

The Hispanic Education Foundation – $10,000
Fresno Unified School District – $10,000
Oxnard Community College – $10,000
Youth Leaders Education Foundation – $10,000
Hancock College – $10,000
Southwestern Community College – $10,000
Antelope Valley College – $15,000
Victor Valley College – $10,000
TELACU Education Foundation – $25,000

“We will be using multiple platforms to inform our customers of our scholarship contributions in local markets including: Vallarta Supermarket’s website, social media, and employee briefings,” Castillo continued. “We hope our customers will take advantage of this wonderful educational opportunity.”

About Vallarta Supermarkets: Since 1985, Vallarta Supermarkets has grown to a total of 50 stores throughout different counties in California (Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Kern, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Orange and Fresno). The Gonzalez family has adhered to their strong work ethic and has made it part of their company culture ensuring that all their team members, more than 8,000, strive for excellence.

Contact: Rick Castillo
(818) 966-6942

SOURCE Vallarta Supermarkets

The Home Depot to Host First Quarter 2018 Earnings Conference Call on May 15

May 1, 2018

0

ATLANTA, May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, announced today that it will hold its First Quarter 2018 Earnings Conference Call on Tuesday, May 15, at 9 a.m. ET.

A webcast will be available by logging onto http://ir.homedepot.com/events-and-presentations and selecting the First Quarter Earnings Conference Call icon. The webcast will be archived and available beginning at approximately noon on May 15.

The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,285 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.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/118058/the_home_depot_logo.jpg

SOURCE The Home Depot

In Constant Evolution, Advertising Entrepreneur Seeks to Provide Greater Support for Small Businesses

May 1, 2018

0

CHICAGO, May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — La Kart Marketing is pleased to announce the release of economic promotional packages with the aim of integrating social networks, content and advertising. These modular packages were designed to adapt to the needs and budget of small businesses that, just like corporate executives, are seeking ways to develop their personal brand and promote a successful career: whether by publishing a book, being part of a corporate council or offering a series of seminars.

Founder and strategist Paula Otero shares that the packages were inspired after meeting hundreds of entrepreneurs and business owners over a 4-year period and discovering that their greatest obstacle was promoting their business or themselves as professionals in a comprehensive fashion and with a consistent image.

La Kart Marketing has successfully launched campaigns of this kind for companies and executives. There was an “aha!” moment when Paula realized that there was no one actually providing such professional help for small businesses and executives seeking to raise their profile. What was missing on the market were modular packages that are easy to understand and put to use, at prices that are affordable for this substantial market segment. “There are lots of companies and professionals that get stuck at a certain level because they don’t know how to keep on promoting themselves due to limited resources.”

“There’s a whole market that isn’t being served, waiting for skillful companies like La Kart Marketing that can integrate executives’ needs with the advanced strategies that today’s technologies can provide,” Otero notes.

There are now more than 3.3 million Latin businesses, and despite the fact that they’re growing at a higher rate than the national average, they have a tendency to be on the smaller side, many of them generating less than $100,000 in annual income.

“My goal is to get resources to reach these small businesses so they can compete in a world where the quality of the message, content and positioning are keys to keeping on growing,” Otero concludes.

La Kart, a boutique advertising firm, was founded in 2014 by the renowned marketing and advertising executive Paula Otero, a proud native of the beautiful port city of Acapulco in the state of Guerrero, Mexico.

Contact:	Paula Otero
	[email protected]
	www.lakartnet.com

SOURCE La Kart Marketing

New Cigna Study Reveals Loneliness at Epidemic Levels in America

May 1, 2018

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BLOOMFIELD, Connecticut, May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, global health service company Cigna (NYSE: CI) released results from a national survey exploring the impact of loneliness in the United States. The survey, conducted in partnership with market research firm, Ipsos, revealed that most American adults are considered lonely.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8294451-cigna-us-loneliness-survey/

The evaluation of loneliness was measured by a score of 43 or higher on the UCLA Loneliness Scale, a 20-item questionnaire developed to assess subjective feelings of loneliness, as well as social isolation. The UCLA Loneliness Scale is a frequently referenced and acknowledged academic measure used to gauge loneliness.

The survey of more than 20,000 U.S. adults ages 18 years and older revealed some alarming findings:

Nearly half of Americans report sometimes or always feeling alone (46 percent) or left out (47 percent).

One in four Americans (27 percent) rarely or never feel as though there are people who really understand them.
Two in five Americans sometimes or always feel that their relationships are not meaningful (43 percent) and that they are isolated from others (43 percent).
One in five people report they rarely or never feel close to people (20 percent) or feel like there are people they can talk to (18 percent).
Americans who live with others are less likely to be lonely (average loneliness score of 43.5) compared to those who live alone (46.4). However, this does not apply to single parents/guardians (average loneliness score of 48.2) – even though they live with children, they are more likely to be lonely.
Only around half of Americans (53 percent) have meaningful in-person social interactions, such as having an extended conversation with a friend or spending quality time with family, on a daily basis.
Generation Z (adults ages 18-22) is the loneliest generation and claims to be in worse health than older generations.
Social media use alone is not a predictor of loneliness; respondents defined as very heavy users of social media have a loneliness score (43.5) that is not markedly different from the score of those who never use social media (41.7).

“We view a person’s physical, mental and social health as being entirely connected,” said David M. Cordani, president and chief executive officer of Cigna. “It’s for this reason that we regularly examine the physical, mental and social needs of our people and the communities they live in. In analyzing this closely, we’re seeing a lack of human connection, which ultimately leads to a lack of vitality – or a disconnect between mind and body. We must change this trend by reframing the conversation to be about ‘mental wellness’ and ‘vitality’ to speak to our mental-physical connection. When the mind and body are treated as one, we see powerful results.”

The survey also revealed several important bright spots. The findings reinforce the social nature of humans and the importance of having communities. People who are less lonely are more likely to have regular, meaningful, in-person interactions; are in good overall physical and mental health; have achieved balance in daily activities; and are employed and have good relationships with their coworkers. More specifically, the survey showed:

People who engage in frequent meaningful in-person interactions have much lower loneliness scores and report better health than those who rarely interact with others face-to-face.
Getting the right balance of sleep, work, socializing with friends, family and “me time” is connected to lower loneliness scores. However, balance is critical, as those who get too little or too much of these activities have higher loneliness scores.

Sleep: Those who say they sleep just the right amount have lower loneliness scores, falling four points behind those who sleep less than desired and 7.3 points behind those who sleep more than desired. They are significantly less likely to feel as though they lack companionship (37 percent vs. 62 percent of those who oversleep) and are significantly more likely to feel like they have someone they can turn to (85 percent vs. 71 percent).
Spending time with family: Those who spend more time than desired with their family and those who spend less time than desired are on par with one another when it comes to experiencing feelings of loneliness. Those who report spending too much time with family stand out as being more likely than those who don’t to say that they feel as though they are part of a group of friends (73 percent vs. 64 percent) and they can find companionship when they need it (74 percent vs. 67 percent).
Physical activity: People who say they get just the right amount of exercise are considerably less likely to be lonely. The loneliness score of those who exercise more than desired increases by 3.5 points, while a similar uptick is seen for those who exercise less than desired (3.7 points). Those who exercise more than desired and those exercising for just the right amount are on par when it comes to feeling as though they are part of a group of friends (79 percent, each), have a lot in common with others (75 percent of those who exercise more vs. 79 percent who exercise just right), and can find companionship when they want it (76 percent vs. 80 percent).
The workplace: Those who say they work just the right amount are least likely to be lonely – the loneliness score of those who work more than desired increases by just over three points, while those who work less than desired showed a 6-point increase in loneliness. Not surprisingly, those who report working less than desired are less likely to report having feelings associated with being less lonely (e.g., feeling outgoing and friendly, there are people you can talk to, etc.), compared to those who work more than desired.

“There is an inherent link between loneliness and the workplace, with employers in a unique position to be a critical part of the solution,” said Douglas Nemecek, M.D., chief medical officer for Behavioral Health at Cigna. “Fortunately, these results clearly point to the benefits meaningful in-person connections can have on loneliness, including those in the workplace and the one that takes place in your doctor’s office as a part of the annual checkup. While one solution won’t stop this growing public health issue, we’ve started to make changes to our business to help our clients and others to tackle loneliness and realize their vitality.”

Cigna is launching an effort to help address the loneliness epidemic and improve Americans’ overall mental wellness and vitality. As a first step, the company is calling on other like-minded organizations to join in the fight against the epidemic. By working together, the hope is that a group of companies and organizations can develop solutions that help improve vitality and reduce feelings of loneliness for Americans.

Cigna has several programs already in place to help address loneliness:

Cigna’s Health Advisor program connects customers with health coaches who provide real connections and live advice to help customers understand what is going on in their lives and encourage them to make healthier decisions when it comes to exercise, healthy eating, stress management and tobacco use.
The company’s Health Information Line^SM is always available, so customers can speak with a clinician directly to get advice on confidential health issues or listen to pre-recorded audio on a wide range of health topics.
Last year, Cigna opened its counseling helpline to all veterans and their caregivers as well.
Cigna’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides live telephone advice and practical solutions on a wide range of issues that can cause stress and isolation, including parenting and childcare, senior care, pet care, identity theft, legal and financial advice, and much more. Cigna’s EAP also provides referrals to licensed behavioral health professionals to improve customers’ mental wellness.
Cigna’s CLIMB (Changing Lives by Integrating Mind and Body) is a program taught in groups or one-on-one that is designed to help people manage chronic health issues that affect their day-to-day functioning and improve quality of life. The program also helps reduce the isolation that often comes with chronic health conditions.
In Korea, Cigna’s business has a program where employees call senior customers and their caregivers to provide a human check-in and alleviate potential feelings of loneliness or isolation.
To highlight the importance of mental wellness as a part of regular medical care, Cigna is piloting a new initiative to better integrate behavioral health services into its collaborative care arrangements. The program will ensure that patients get the integrated care they need for their physical and mental wellness – as opposed to keeping physical and mental care separate.

Additionally, loneliness has a profound impact on the workplace in terms of productivity. To help employers address this pressing issue, Cigna will convene a group of its clients to discuss steps that can be taken and potential solutions to improve vitality and address loneliness in the workplace.

For more information on the comprehensive survey results and how Cigna is working to address loneliness and mental wellness across the country, please visit www.cigna.com.

About Cigna
Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products including group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in over 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 95 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit https://www.cigna.com. For more information about Cigna’s proposed acquisition of Express Scripts, please visit http://www.makinghealthcaresimple.com.

About the Study
These are the findings from an Ipsos poll conducted February 21 – March 6, 2018 on behalf of Cigna. For the survey, a sample of 20,096 adults ages 18 and over from the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii was interviewed online, in English. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of ±0.8 percentage points for all respondents surveyed.

The study’s questionnaire is based on the UCLA Loneliness Scale, a 20-item questionnaire developed to assess subjective feelings of loneliness or social isolation. An index was created based on these 20 statements, which include a balanced mix of positive (e.g., How often do you feel outgoing and friendly?) and negative (e.g., How often do you feel alone?) statements, and respondents were assigned a loneliness score based on their responses to these questions. Higher scores indicate increased loneliness. Individual respondent scores were combined to obtain a total average loneliness score both nationally and across different cities throughout the U.S.

About Ipsos
Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks fourth in the global research industry. With offices in 88 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across five research specializations: brand, advertising and media; customer loyalty; marketing; public affairs research; and survey management. Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe. Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of €1,780.5 million in 2017.

MEDIA CONTACT:	Ellie Polack
	Ph. 860.902.4906
	[email protected]

SOURCE Cigna

FIBRA Prologis Declares Quarterly Distribution

April 30, 2018

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MEXICO CITY, April 30, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — FIBRA Prologis (BMV: FIBRAPL 14), one of the leading owners of Class-A logistics real estate in Mexico, today declared a cash distribution of Ps. 357.1 million (US$ 19.8 million), or Ps. 0.5589 per Certificado Bursátil Fiduciario Inmobiliario (“CBFI”) (US$ 0.0310 per CBFI) related to the results of the quarter ending March 31, 2018.

The distribution is payable May 2, 2018, to CBFI holders with an ex-dividend date of April 27, 2018, and a record date of April 30, 2018.

ABOUT FIBRA PROLOGIS

FIBRA Prologis is one of the leading owners and operator of Class-A industrial real estate in Mexico. As of March 31, 2018, FIBRA Prologis comprised 196 logistics and manufacturing facilities in six industrial markets in Mexico totaling 34.6 million square feet (3.2 million square meters) of gross leasable area.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which FIBRA Prologis operates, management’s beliefs and assumptions made by management. Such statements involve uncertainties that could significantly impact FIBRA Prologis financial results. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to rent and occupancy growth, acquisition activity, development activity, disposition activity, general conditions in the geographic areas where we operate, our debt and financial position, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may affect outcomes and results include, but are not limited to: (i) national, international, regional and local economic climates, (ii) changes in financial markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, (iii) increased or unanticipated competition for our properties, (iv) risks associated with acquisitions, dispositions and development of properties, (v) maintenance of real estate investment trust (“FIBRA”) status and tax structuring, (vi) availability of financing and capital, the levels of debt that we maintain and our credit ratings, (vii) risks related to our investments (viii) environmental uncertainties, including risks of natural disasters, and (ix) those additional factors discussed in reports filed with the “Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores” and the Mexican Stock Exchange by FIBRA Prologis under the heading “Risk Factors.” FIBRA Prologis undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements appearing in this release.

Non-Solicitation – Any securities discussed herein or in the accompanying presentations, if any, have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. Any such announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities discussed herein or in the presentations, if and as applicable.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/528012/FIBRA__Logo.jpg

SOURCE FIBRA Prologis

The National Hispanic Corporate Council to Host its 2018 Annual Corporate Member Summit in Milwaukee, WI

April 30, 2018

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WASHINGTON, April 30, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The National Hispanic Corporate Council (NHCC), the premiere resource for corporate America on maximizing the Hispanic market opportunity, announces the 2018 NHCC Annual Member Summit, to be held Wednesday, May 16 and Thursday, May 17 in Milwaukee, WI.

The 2018 NHCC Annual Member Summit is centered on the theme of “Advancing Hispanic Talent & Driving Consumer Growth: Trends Impacting a $2 Trillion Market.” Senior corporate executive attendees will gain valuable insights from nationally recognized subject-matter experts who will share latest corporate best practices on human resources, supplier diversity, marketing, community relations, and executive leadership within the Hispanic, diversity and inclusion space. Today, more than ever, the U.S. Hispanic consumer market is a key talent and consumer growth.

Keynote Speakers and subject-matter experts includes, but not limited to the following:

Rolando B. Rodriguez, President & CEO, Marcus Theatres.
Peter Villegas, Vice President, Head of Latin Affairs, The Coca-Cola Company & Chairman, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC).
Dr. Robert Rodriguez & Andres Tapia, “Auténtico: The Definitive Guide to Latino Career Success.”
Dr. Mickey Quinones, Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business Professor –Corporate Executive Development Program Seminar on “Latino in Corporate America.”
David Wellish, Co-founder & CEO of Collage Group – “Cultural Fluency: A Framework for Winning in Today’s America.
Northwestern Mutual Executives , The Hispanic Marketing Opportunity: A Look at Northwestern Mutual Hispanic Market Strategy.
NBCUniversal and Minor League Baseball (MiLB), “Engaging Hispanic Markets via Sport Marketing/Sponsorships.”
TJX Companies & Froedtert Health, “How Today’s Employees are Driving the Conversations of D&I from Diversity to Inclusion.”
GlaxoSmithKline, Choice Hotels International & LifeWork Systems, “Building a Mentoring Culture.”
Northwestern Mutual, TJX Companies, Association of ERG & Councils, “Transforming Employee Resource Group into Business Resource Group: Aligning the Group with the Business’ Goals.”

“We are delighted to offer these educational sessions to help our corporate members and guests better understand and maximize the Hispanic markets for their respective companies,” said Octavio Hinojosa, Executive Director, NHCC.

Fortune 1000 sponsors include host company, Northwestern Mutual, as well as Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo, Marriott International, Shell, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®, Herman Miller, Marcus Hotels & Resorts, and Froedtert Health & Medical College of Wisconsin.

NHCC corporate lineup includes: Ahold Delhaize, AIG, America Red Cross, BB&T, Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo, COUNTRY Financial, Cox Enterprises, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®, Darden, ESPN, GSK, Hallmark Cards, Herman Miller, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International, Northwestern Mutual, PR Newswire, Shell, SMU, State Farm®, The Boeing Company, The Coca-Cola Company, The TJX Companies, Wells Fargo, Williams, and other Fortune 1000 corporations.

About NHCC:

NHCC brings together leading Fortune 1000 companies who strongly support our mission to “provide our corporate members access to a collaborative community that shares resources, knowledge, best practices, and innovative solutions to grow talent, customers, and suppliers.”

Media Contact: Octavio Hinojosa, 202-528-7229, [email protected]

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/10591/national_hispanic_corporate_council_nhcc_logo1444.jpg

SOURCE National Hispanic Corporate Council