“My NICU Baby” App Supports Parents Of Babies Born Sick Or Too Soon

May 15, 2018

March of Dimes Foundation Logo (PRNewsfoto/March of Dimes Foundation)

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., May 15, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — For the families of critically ill and premature babies, the hospital newborn intensive care unit (NICU) can be a confusing blur of equipment, sounds, and terminology. Now March of Dimes is helping to change that by providing a one-stop shop of information and support for families with its new My NICU Baby app. The app is free and available for both iOS and Android devices.

“My NICU Baby empowers moms and dads with the knowledge and tools they need at an overwhelming and scary time in their lives,” says Stacey D. Stewart, president of March of Dimes.

Using the My NICU Baby app, families will have the resources they need in their hand to help them cope with the NICU experience as well as the transition to home. Unique features will allow families to:

Watch educational videos on various parenting topics;
Learn the vocabulary of the baby’s care;
Use a checklist and questionnaire to help keep track of questions for health care providers, make to-do lists, or take notes;
Track feedings and breast milk pumping for their baby;
Track weight gain/loss for their baby;
Use a fun “Photo booth” feature to put photo filters on new or existing photos;
Participate in Share Your Story, the March of Dimes online community of parents;
Give feedback to March of Dimes and receive notifications.

“No other app has all these features in one place for parents,” says Denise Zahui Gboignon, whose son Orion, born prematurely at 24 weeks in February 2018, is still in a Massachusetts hospital NICU. Denise began using My NICU Baby a week after Orion’s birth. “It was so helpful to find all the education videos right there. I learned the medical terms used in the NICU, and what questions to ask the doctors. My sister-in-law also downloaded the app and it helped her understand the baby’s care, too. She came with me to meet with the doctors and was able to support me more because of that.”

“Right now I’m using the app to track my son’s weight; it gives me peace of mind to know that he’s on the right track in his development,” Denise says. “I’m also taking pictures to share with family and friends, and learning about kangaroo care. The app also gives me confidence about our transition to home,” she says.

Denise finds the ability to connect with other parents of preemies in the Share Your Story community uniquely valuable. “Other parents understand what you’re going through, and it’s so nice to share experiences with them and know you’re not alone,” she says.

My NICU Baby is part of March of Dimes’ investment in the health of all moms and babies. Content in the app is written in plain language and reviewed by medical experts and NICU families. Printed versions of the information are available to families through the March of Dimes NICU Family Support® program, a partnership between March of Dimes and hospitals across the country that offers information and comfort to families experiencing the NICU hospitalization of their baby and provides training for NICU staff.

March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy of impact and innovation, we stand up for every mom and every baby. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Logo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/513643/March_of_Dimes_Foundation_Logo.jpg

SOURCE March of Dimes

The Home Depot Announces First Quarter Results; Reaffirms Fiscal Year 2018 Guidance

May 15, 2018

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The Home Depot logo. (PRNewsFoto/The Home Depot) (PRNewsFoto/)

ATLANTA, May 15, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today reported sales of $24.9 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2018, a 4.4 percent increase from the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Comparable sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 were positive 4.2 percent, and comp sales in the U.S. were positive 3.9 percent.

Net earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 were $2.4 billion, or $2.08 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $2.0 billion, or $1.67 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2017. For the first quarter of fiscal 2018, diluted earnings per share increased 24.6 percent from the same period in the prior year.

“We are pleased by the strength of our business despite a slow start to the spring selling season,” said Craig Menear, chairman, CEO and president. “Outside of our seasonal business, we had solid results in all markets and categories and are seeing strong momentum in all lines of business during these first few weeks of May. These trends, as well as a favorable housing and macroeconomic backdrop, give us confidence to reaffirm our sales and earnings guidance for fiscal 2018. I would like to thank our associates for their hard work and continued dedication to our customers.”

Fiscal 2018 Guidance

Including the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 discussed below, the Company expects its fiscal 2018 sales to grow by approximately 6.7 percent and comp sales to be up approximately 5.0 percent. The Company also reaffirmed its diluted earnings-per-share growth guidance for the year and expects diluted earnings-per-share growth of approximately 28.0 percent from fiscal 2017 to $9.31.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement – Revenue Recognition

During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2014-09, which pertains to revenue recognition. The adoption of this standard will not materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements or related disclosures. Under ASU No. 2014-09, the Company has changed the presentation of certain expenses and cost reimbursements associated with its private label credit card program, certain expenses related to the sale of gift cards to customers, and gift card breakage income. The Company also has changed its recognition of gift card breakage income to be recognized proportionately as redemption occurs, rather than based on historical redemption patterns.

The Company has adopted this standard on a modified retrospective basis. In accordance therewith, financial information prior to fiscal 2018 will not be recast. The consolidated statement of earnings and balance sheet for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 reflect the effect of this accounting policy adoption. The impact of adoption was an increase of $33 million to net sales, a decrease of $98 million to cost of sales, and a corresponding increase of $131 million to operating expenses for the first quarter of fiscal 2018. There is no impact from the Company’s adoption on operating income, net earnings or earnings per share. The balance sheet reflects the cumulative impact of adoption using the modified retrospective method as well as the impact of recording the sales return allowance on a gross basis rather than as a net liability. Additional information about the impact of the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 is available at http://ir.homedepot.com/financial-reports/quarterly-earnings/2018.

The Home Depot will conduct a conference call today at 9 a.m. ET to discuss information included in this news release and related matters. The conference call will be available in its entirety through a webcast and replay at http://ir.homedepot.com/events-and-presentations.

At the end of the first quarter, the Company operated a total of 2,285 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. 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.

###

Certain statements contained herein constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, the demand for our products and services; net sales growth; comparable sales; effects of competition; implementation of store, interconnected retail, supply chain and technology initiatives; issues related to the payment methods we accept; state of the economy; state of the residential construction, housing and home improvement markets; state of the credit markets, including mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit; demand for credit offerings; inventory and in-stock positions; management of relationships with our suppliers and vendors; continuation of share repurchase programs; net earnings performance; earnings per share; dividend targets; capital allocation and expenditures; liquidity; return on invested capital; expense leverage; stock-based compensation expense; commodity price inflation and deflation; the ability to issue debt on terms and at rates acceptable to us; the impact and expected outcome of investigations, inquiries, claims and litigation; the effect of accounting charges; the effect of adopting certain accounting standards; the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017; store openings and closures; guidance for fiscal 2018 and beyond; financial outlook; and the integration of acquired companies into our organization and the ability to recognize the anticipated synergies and benefits of those acquisitions. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to future events, risks and uncertainties – many of which are beyond our control or are currently unknown to us – as well as potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations and projections. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended January 28, 2018 and in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements other than as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

THE HOME DEPOT, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
*in millions, except per share data*	April 29, 2018		April 30, 2017		% Change
Net sales	$	24,947	$	23,887	4.4	%
Cost of sales	16,330		15,733		3.8
Gross profit	8,617		8,154		5.7
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	4,779		4,361		9.6
Depreciation and amortization	457		444		2.9
Total operating expenses	5,236		4,805		9.0
Operating income	3,381		3,349		1.0
Interest and other (income) expense:
Interest and investment income	(22)		(13)		69.2
Interest expense	261		254		2.8
Interest and other, net	239		241		(0.8)
Earnings before provision for income taxes	3,142		3,108		1.1
Provision for income taxes	738		1,094		(32.5)
Net earnings	$	2,404	$	2,014	19.4	%

Basic weighted average common shares	1,152		1,198		(3.8)	%
Basic earnings per share	$	2.09	$	1.68	24.4

Diluted weighted average common shares	1,158		1,204		(3.8)	%
Diluted earnings per share	$	2.08	$	1.67	24.6

	Three Months Ended
Selected Sales Data ⁽¹⁾	April 29, 2018		April 30, 2017		% Change
Customer transactions (in millions)	375.9		380.8		(1.3)	%
Average ticket	$	66.02	$	62.39	5.8
Sales per square foot	412.03		394.17		4.5

—————

(1)

Selected Sales Data does not include results for Interline Brands, Inc., which was acquired in fiscal 2015.

THE HOME DEPOT, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

*in millions*	April 29, 2018		April 30, 2017		January 28, 2018
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,599	$	3,565	$	3,595
Receivables, net	2,296		2,164		1,952
Merchandise inventories	14,432		13,609		12,748
Other current assets	887		558		638
Total current assets	21,214		19,896		18,933
Net property and equipment	21,928		21,789		22,075
Goodwill	2,281		2,095		2,275
Other assets	1,227		1,164		1,246
Total assets	$	46,650	$	44,944	$	44,529

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Short-term debt	$	350	$	—	$	1,559
Accounts payable	9,726		9,138		7,244
Accrued salaries and related expenses	1,413		1,353		1,640
Current installments of long-term debt	1,199		544		1,202
Other current liabilities	5,445		5,403		4,549
Total current liabilities	18,133		16,438		16,194
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	24,244		22,393		24,267
Other liabilities	2,586		2,151		2,614
Total liabilities	44,963		40,982		43,075
Total stockholders’ equity	1,687		3,962		1,454
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	46,650	$	44,944	$	44,529

THE HOME DEPOT, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
*in millions*	April 29, 2018		April 30, 2017
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net earnings	$	2,404	$	2,014
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	532		505
Stock-based compensation expense	84		81
Changes in working capital and other, net of acquisition effects	961		1,964
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,981		4,564

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures, net of non-cash capital expenditures	(556)		(458)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment	8		13
Net cash used in investing activities	(548)		(445)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repayments of short-term debt, net	(1,209)		(710)
Repayments of long-term debt	(10)		(11)
Repurchases of common stock	(1,121)		(1,289)
Proceeds from sales of common stock	14		31
Cash dividends	(1,189)		(1,069)
Other financing activities	115		(33)
Net cash used in financing activities	(3,400)		(3,081)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	33		1,038
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(29)		(11)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	3,595		2,538
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	3,599	$	3,565

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
ASU NO. 2014-09 IMPACT OF ADOPTION
(Unaudited)

The Company adopted ASU No. 2014-09, which pertains to revenue recognition, in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The following table shows the impact of adopting ASU No. 2014-09 on the consolidated statement of earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The implementation of this accounting standard resulted in an increase in net sales, gross profit, selling, general and administrative, and total operating expenses and a decrease in cost of sales. There was no impact on operating income, net earnings, or earnings per share.

	Three Months Ended April 29, 2018
*in millions*	As Reported		*% of* *Net Sales*		ASU No. 2014-09 Impact		Excluding ASU No. 2014-09 Impact		*% of* *Net Sales*
Net sales	$	24,947	100.0	%	$	33	$	24,914	100.0	%
Cost of sales	16,330		65.5		(98)		16,428		65.9
Gross profit	8,617		34.5		131		8,486		34.1
Selling, general and administrative	4,779		19.2		131		4,648		18.7
Total operating expenses	5,236		21.0		131		5,105		20.5

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
ASU NO. 2014-09 IMPACT OF ADOPTION
(Unaudited)

The Company adopted ASU No. 2014-09, which pertains to revenue recognition, in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The following table shows the impact of adopting ASU No. 2014-09 on the consolidated balance sheet as of April 29, 2018.

	April 29, 2018
*in millions*	As Reported		ASU No. 2014-09 Effect		Excluding ASU No. 2014-09 Effect
Assets
Receivables, net	$	2,296	$	(46)	$	2,342
Other current assets	887		269		618
Total current assets	21,214		223		20,991
Total assets	46,650		223		46,427

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Other current liabilities	$	5,445	$	124	$	5,321
Total current liabilities	18,133		124		18,009
Other liabilities	2,586		24		2,562
Total liabilities	44,963		148		44,815
Total stockholders’ equity	1,687		75		1,612
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	46,650		223		46,427

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
PRO FORMA EFFECT OF ASU NO. 2014-09
(Unaudited)

The Company adopted ASU No. 2014-09, which pertains to revenue recognition, in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 using the modified retrospective method. In accordance therewith, financial information prior to fiscal 2018 will not be recast as the modified retrospective method does not permit recasting pre-adoption financial information. The following tables present selected as-reported financial results and the pro forma effect of ASU No. 2014-09 as if the recognition and presentation guidance in the accounting standard had been applied in fiscal 2017. There was no impact on operating income, net earnings, or earnings per share. The fiscal 2017 pro forma financial information included in the tables below is presented for informational purposes only.

	Three Months Ended April 30, 2017
*in millions*	As Reported		*% of* *Net Sales*		ASU No. 2014-09 Effect		Including ASU No. 2014-09 Effect		*% of* *Net Sales*
Net sales	$	23,887	100.0	%	$	48	$	23,935	100.0	%
Cost of sales	15,733		65.9		(90)		15,643		65.4
Gross profit	8,154		34.1		138		8,292		34.6
Selling, general and administrative	4,361		18.3		138		4,499		18.8
Total operating expenses	4,805		20.1		138		4,943		20.7

	Three Months Ended July 30, 2017
*in millions*	As Reported		*% of* *Net Sales*		ASU No. 2014-09 Effect		Including ASU No. 2014-09 Effect		*% of* *Net Sales*
Net sales	$	28,108	100.0	%	$	33	$	28,141	100.0	%
Cost of sales	18,647		66.3		(114)		18,533		65.9
Gross profit	9,461		33.7		147		9,608		34.1
Selling, general and administrative	4,549		16.2		147		4,696		16.7
Total operating expenses	4,998		17.8		147		5,145		18.3

	Three Months Ended October 29, 2017
*in millions*	As Reported		*% of* *Net Sales*		ASU No. 2014-09 Effect		Including ASU No. 2014-09 Effect		*% of* *Net Sales*
Net sales	$	25,026	100.0	%	$	44	$	25,070	100.0	%
Cost of sales	16,378		65.4		(85)		16,293		65.0
Gross profit	8,648		34.6		129		8,777		35.0
Selling, general and administrative	4,514		18.0		129		4,643		18.5
Total operating expenses	4,968		19.9		129		5,097		20.3

	Three Months Ended January 28, 2018
*in millions*	As Reported		*% of* *Net Sales*		ASU No. 2014-09 Effect		Including ASU No. 2014-09 Effect		*% of* *Net Sales*
Net sales	$	23,883	100.0	%	$	41	$	23,924	100.0	%
Cost of sales	15,790		66.1		(85)		15,705		65.6
Gross profit	8,093		33.9		126		8,219		34.4
Selling, general and administrative	4,440		18.6		126		4,566		19.1
Total operating expenses	4,904		20.5		126		5,030		21.0

	Fiscal Year Ended January 28, 2018
*in millions*	As Reported		*% of* *Net Sales*		ASU No. 2014-09 Effect		Including ASU No. 2014-09 Effect		*% of* *Net Sales*
Net sales	$	100,904	100.0	%	$	166	$	101,070	100.0	%
Cost of sales	66,548		66.0		(374)		66,174		65.5
Gross profit	34,356		34.0		540		34,896		34.5
Selling, general and administrative	17,864		17.7		540		18,404		18.2
Total operating expenses	19,675		19.5		540		20,215		20.0

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

SOURCE The Home Depot

People En Español Releases Findings On Latina Professional Tipping Point From 2018 Hispanic Opinion Tracker Study

May 14, 2018

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NEW YORK, May 14, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Meredith Corporation’s People en Español has released A Cultural Re: Evolution, the newest insights from its Hispanic Opinion Tracker (HOT) Study – the longest-running nationally representative study of Latinas in the U.S. In 2014, the HOT study looked at the millennial Latina with an emphasis on beauty. In 2016, with Latinas@Work, professional Latinas shared their experiences in the workplace. For the eighteenth year of the study, A Cultural Re:Evolution surveyed nearly 1,000 Latinas age 18-64 representing a broader slice of the Latina spectrum across age and acculturations with a focus on mothers, millennials and working women.

“With this study we wanted to examine how the current socio-political climate – with conversations around DACA, immigration reform, #MeToo, #TimesUp and other important movements – has impacted the modern Latina’s perception of her place in American society,” said People en Español Brand Sales Director Monique Manso. “This study illustrates just how significant career has become in her overall set of priorities, as she’s become more than ever a confident, career-minded woman, and represents a demographic of young leaders who don’t want to be bound by overwhelming stereotypes and pre-conceived notions.”

A Cultural Re:Evolution reveals that U.S. Latinas have reached the tipping point where professional identity takes precedence over other roles in Latinas’ lives and represent a new chapter in the evolution of a complex woman who is at the forefront of a cultural, political and generational shift.

Key findings from A Cultural Re:Evolution are as follows:

86% of Latina millennials feel good about work and that in their career, her culture is an asset versus a potential hindrance as seen past studies.
53% of Latinas are the first to go to college in families with a long history of change (immigration, etc.). Their entire family supports their success as part of a widespread belief that education in the key to success.
38% of Latinas see financial worry as a top stressor, as the Latina is the main breadwinner in the household that’s often multigenerational.
71% of Latina Moms and 74% of millennial Moms believe that raising their children to be bicultural gives them an advantage.

PEOPLE Chica, the People en Español English language digital platform aimed at U.S. Hispanic millennials and Gen Z Latinas, released a video roundtable addressing the Cultural Re-Evolution study. The roundtable, moderated by People En Español and People Chica Digital Executive Editor Shirley Velasquez, features three millennial Latina professionals discussing the key pillars highlighted in the overall study: culture, identity, career, education, motherhood and finance. The participants included: Frances Solá-Santiago, a 23-year-old Puerto Rican writer and video producer; Thatiana Diaz, a 25-year-old Dominican-American digital writer; and Brenda Barrientos, a 23-year-old Peruvian-American social media editor.

Watch the full, 20-minute discussion here: http://people.com/chica/what-latina-millennials-want-today/

“The study’s findings resonated with me and inspired me to bring together my colleagues to dive deeper into how the results mirror our own experiences and current personal and professional day-to-day lives,” said People En Español and People Chica Digital Executive Editor Shirley Velasquez. “It’s important for us to use this research as an opportunity to voice our truths and initiate important conversations.”

A Cultural Re:Evolution was commissioned by People en Español in partnership with Stephen Palacios, Partner & Principal at Ahzul with Lieberman Research Worldwide. People en Español aims to use this industry-leading research to help inform its content and marketing strategies and to support its brand partners across industries to better understand the behaviors, needs, and mindset of today’s Latina in their efforts to design strategic marketing campaigns that can reach this valuable target audience.

ABOUT MEREDITH CORPORATION
Meredith has been committed to service journalism for more than 115 years. Today, Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms — including broadcast television, print, digital, mobile and video — to provide consumers with content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners. Meredith’s National Media Group reaches 175 million unduplicated American consumers every month, including 80 percent of U.S. Millennial women. Meredith’s Local Media Group includes 17 television stations reaching more than 11 percent of U.S. households.

ABOUT PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL
PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL was launched in 1996 as a special issue and today has become the top-selling Hispanic magazine in the United States. Published 11 times a year, PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL reaches an audience of 7 million every month with its editorial mix of Hispanic and popular entertainment, fashion and beauty trends and compelling human interest stories. PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL delivers original editorial content that captures the values, contributions and impact of today’s Hispanics in the United States. The brand’s social media footprint includes 1,400,000 followers on Twitter, over 4,300,000 “Likes” on Facebook and 1,800,000 followers on Instagram. For daily news, photos, exclusive behind-the-scenes video and celebrity scoops, visit www.peopleenespanol.com and follow PEOPLE EN ESPAÑOL on Twitter at @peopleenespanol.

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SOURCE People en Español

(Español) Harbor Freight Tools retira del mercado motosierras debido a riesgo de lesión grave

May 14, 2018

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1973 and charged with protecting the American public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772, or visit http://www.saferproducts.gov. Further recall information is available at http://www.cpsc.gov.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Global Standards Leader ASTM International Launches “Caribbean Roadshow” in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana

May 14, 2018

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WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pennsylvania, May 14, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — ASTM International, one of the world’s leading standards organizations, announced today that it will host several events in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana as part of the “Caribbean Roadshow,” June 4-8.

The roadshow includes outreach, training, and education focused on the growing use of ASTM International standards and International Code Council (ICC) codes. The team will highlight longstanding Caribbean partnerships and focus on how standards and codes are the foundation for quality and safety in construction projects.

Activities also include industry workshops and meetings with high-profile groups in Kingston (June 4-5), Port of Spain (June 6), and Georgetown (June 7-8). Speakers will include Mark Johnson, executive vice president of ICC, and R. Christopher Mathis, ASTM International board member and president of MC2 Mathis Consulting.

“This partnership involves unprecedented outreach and networking aimed at finding solutions to sustainable construction challenges,” said ASTM International director of external relations, James Olshefsky. “We look forward to highlighting the many members and dozens of partners who increasingly use ASTM’s high-quality standards throughout the region.”

In addition, the roadshow will include student forums during which students will learn about ASTM’s academic offerings, and laboratory roundtables, where ASTM staff will present information about ASTM’s laboratory services.

ASTM International has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) as well as all of its member states including Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana. These agreements encourage participation of technical experts worldwide in the standards development process, while also broadening the global acceptance of ASTM International standards.

The “Caribbean Roadshow” follows a similar roadshow in September 2017 to El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Over the past 17 years, ASTM International has signed 109 MOUs with national standards bodies worldwide. As a result, its standards have been referenced more than 7,500 times outside the United States in laws, regulations, codes, and elsewhere. For more information on this program, visit www.astm.org/GLOBAL/mou.html.

Follow the Road Show on Facebook and Twitter (#ASTMRoadShow).

About ASTM International

Committed to serving global societal needs, ASTM International positively impacts public health and safety, consumer confidence, and overall quality of life. We integrate consensus standards – developed with our international membership of volunteer technical experts – and innovate services to improve lives… Helping our world work better.

Media Inquiries: Dan Bergels, tel +1.610.832.9602; [email protected]
Roadshow Contact: James Olshefsky, tel +1.610.832.9714; [email protected]

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SOURCE ASTM International

2018 Honda Civic Tour Presents Charlie Puth ‘Voicenotes’ This Summer

May 14, 2018

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2018 Honda Civic Tour Presents Charlie Puth ‘Voicenotes’ This Summer

TORRANCE, California, May 11, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Honda Civic Tour, a summer staple for music fans, returns this July headlined by multi-GRAMMY nominated singer, songwriter, producer Charlie Puth – with his biggest North American tour to date. The Civic Tour also will feature multiplatinum recording artist and actress Hailee Steinfeld, as a special guest on all tour dates. The 2018 Honda Civic Tour is produced by Live Nation. Now in its 17^th year, the Honda Civic Tour officially gets underway July 13 in Boston, MA at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, and travels the nation through the summer landing in 30 cities. Due to overwhelming demand, Radio City Music Hall is sold out and a second NY area show in Farmingville, NY has been added on July 14. Tickets for the Farmingville, NY show go on-sale Thursday, May 17. See full tour schedule below.

Customized Honda Civic Tour Vehicles

Continuing in the Honda Civic Tour tradition, Charlie Puth will custom design the exterior of a new Honda Civic Type R and Honda Rebel 300 motorcycle that will be displayed for fans at each stop of the 2018 Honda Civic Tour.

Fans also can get behind the scenes access to Charlie Puth through Honda Backstage, a unique behind-the-scenes video series looking at the fascinating stories of up-and-coming artists. Hosted on UPROXX.com and UPROXX’s Facebook page, Honda Backstage includes interviews with the artists sharing their inspirations, obstacles in pursuit of their dreams as they ascend into careers in music. Honda Stage (www.YouTube.com/HondaStage) offers music fans access to custom live and online music programming and performances, artist interviews and more.

2018 Honda Civic Tour Tickets

Tickets for the 2018 Honda Civic Tour are on sale now. Starting at 10am on May 11 through 10pm on May 18, a special buy one, get one ticket offer will be available at HondaCivicTour.com. A limited number of tickets at all price levels are available while supplies last. For complete details, and ticket information, please see HondaCivicTour.com.

Today also marks the release of Charlie’s highly anticipated second album, Voicenotes, which is available now at all music retailers and streaming services. Download or stream here.

Every track on Voicenotes was produced and written by Charlie himself. Charlie celebrated the arrival of Voicenotes with a number of release week, national television appearances, performing his current single “Done For Me” on NBC’s “The Voice” and “TODAY.” Charlie continues his media blitz with a performance of the track on the nationally syndicated “Live with Kelly and Ryan” on May 14. “Done For Me (feat. Kehlani)” – the third single off of Voicenotes – is currently climbing the top 25 at Top 40 radio and the top 15 at Hot AC. The album already boasts back-to-back smashes in its now 3x-Platinum certified lead single “Attention” and Platinum certified follow-up “How Long.” “Attention” marked Charlie’s fifth RIAA-certified platinum selling single, third Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 (peaking at #5), second solo #1 on Hot AC radio, and first solo #1 on Top 40 radio.

In addition to his continued commercial success, Charlie’s new music has found critical acclaim, with The New York Times calling “Attention” one of the best songs of 2017. The song also proved to be a worldwide smash, receiving a remarkable 47 Platinum certifications as well as a Diamond certification in France. In addition to hitting #1 on the European airplay chart, the song went #1 on the airplay charts in France, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. “How Long” went Top 5 at both Top 40 and Hot AC radio, and was named one of “The 17 Best Pop Songs of 2017″ by Vanity Fair. Together, the companion videos for “Attention” and “How Long” have logged over 1 billion views on YouTube alone, and can be seen at Charlie’s official YouTube channel – watch HERE.

Tour Schedule: Honda Civic Tour presents Charlie Puth

Voicenotes with very special guest Hailee Steinfeld:

JULY
12 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage**
13 – Boston, MA – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
14 – Farmingville, NY– BMH Amphitheater at Bald Hill – On Sale Thu May 17 @ 10am
16 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall — SOLD OUT
19 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun
21 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
22 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
24 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion
25 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap**
27 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
28 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park @ Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
31 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion

AUGUST
2 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
3 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
5 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
6 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
8 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
9 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
11 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
12 – Las Vegas, NV – The Pearl Concert Theater
14 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
15 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre
17 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
18 – Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Harvey’s Outdoor Arena
20 – Chula Vista, CA – Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
21 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
23 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory**
24 – The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
26 – Rogers, AR – Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion
28 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
29 – Alpharetta, GA – Verizon Amphitheatre
31 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

SEPTEMBER
1 – West Palm Beach, FL – Coral Sky Amphitheatre at the S. Florida Fairgrounds

**Not part of the Honda Civic Tour

For complete details, and ticket information, please see HondaCivicTour.com.

About Honda Civic Tour

With 4.95 million fans having attending Honda Civic Tour concert events since 2001, Civic Tour has established itself as one of the nation’s most compelling, successful music concert tour franchises. Civic Tour offers concert-goers with an exclusive, interactive and engaging concert experience featuring up-close and personal access to their favorite music performers and has done so for over 17 years. Past Civic Tour artists have included One Republic, Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas, One Direction, Maroon 5, and Kelly Clarkson, Linkin Park, Incubus, blink-182 and My Chemical Romance, Paramore, The Black Eyed Peas, Fall Out Boy, Everclear, Good Charlotte and New Found Glory, Dashboard Confessional, and Panic! at the Disco. For news, music, and additional info, please visit HondaCivicTour.com, facebook.com/HondaStage, twitter.com/HondaStage, instagram.com/HondaStage, youtube.com/HondaStage.

About Honda

Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic, Accord and Clarity series passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2017 more than 90 percent of all Honda brand vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

About Honda Stage

Building on its deep foundation of bringing music to fans, Honda has brought together an unprecedented group of entertainment and technology leaders, including iHeartMedia, UPROXX, Vevo, Snapchat and Valence Media to produce and distribute some of the best original, high-quality music content available. Honda Stage is a unique combination of live events – including the Honda Civic Tour and premier music festival partnerships with Austin City Limits and Governor’s Ball – and exclusive digital content, offering music fans access to custom live and online music programming and performances, artist interviews and more. For more go to www.YouTube.com/HondaStage.

About Charlie Puth

New Jersey-born multi-platinum and multiple GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist, songwriter, and producer Charlie Puth catapulted to superstardom in 2016 at light speed. He maintained this perpetual motion in 2017 with hits “Attention” and “How Long,” the first two singles released from Puth’s highly-anticipated sophomore album, Voicenotes. The album’s first single “Attention” – now 3x-Platinum certified – marked Puth’s third Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 and first #1 on pop radio, cracking 3 million Spotify streams in just a week, with its sexy music video racking up over 3 million views in under 24 hours. The New York Times praised the track as one of “The Best Songs of 2017” while noting upon the release of platinum-certified follow-up “How Long”‘ that “the once tightly controlled pop-soul singer is maturing with a robust second act full of bruises.” The album’s latest single, “Done For Me (feat. Kehlani)” is already beginning its ascent up the pop radio charts. Puth’s RIAA platinum-certified first album NINE TRACK MIND made a remarkable chart debut upon its 2016 release, hitting #5 on Billboard’s Top Current Albums Chart, fueled by the 2x RIAA platinum-certified top 40 smashes, “One Call Away” and “Marvin Gaye (featuring Meghan Trainor),” as well as the 3x RIAA platinum-certified “We Don’t Talk Anymore (featuring Selena Gomez).” A worldwide phenomenon, the debut album reached #1 on iTunes charts in 28 countries around the globe. Puth fully exploded onto the music scene as a songwriter, producer and vocalist on Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again,” the emotional tribute to Paul Walker in “FURIOUS 7.” The song has officially entered the history books as one of the decade’s biggest singles, topping Billboard’s Hot 100 for a stunning 12 weeks and has become YouTube’s “second most popular video of all-time.” It won two Billboard Music Awards, a Critic’s Choice Award for “Best Song,” a Hollywood Film Award, 2 Teen Choice Awards, a Golden Globe® Award nomination in the category of “Best Original Song” and three GRAMMY® Award nods, including the prestigious “Song of the Year.”

For complete details and ticket information, visit www.charlieputh.com/tour. For news, music, and additional information, please visit www.charlieputh.com.

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 Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com

About Marketing Factory

Marketing Factory is an award-winning ad agency that makes music work for brands. The Venice, California-based company’s groundbreaking campaigns bring brands and music together, creating compelling brand narratives as American Honda Motor Co.’s lead agency for music experiences over the past 17 years.

About Atlantic Records

Atlantic Records celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2018. Founded in New York City, the label literally grew from a one-room operation into one of the world’s preeminent music companies. Atlantic has released a string of recordings that have had a profound impact on the course of modern music, its rich history including such musical icons as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, John Coltrane, and Led Zeppelin. The Atlantic Records Group roster today includes many of the world’s most popular recording artists, among them Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars, Sia, Ed Sheeran, Death Cab for Cutie, Cardi B, Lil Uzi Vert, Flo Rida, Kevin Gates, David Guetta, Matchbox Twenty, Melanie Martinez, Janelle Monáe, Jason Mraz, Panic! At the Disco, Paramore, Christina Perri, Charlie Puth, Coldplay, Skrillex, Trey Songz, Twenty One Pilots, Rob Thomas, Wiz Khalifa, and many more.

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SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Leaders From Top Brands & Agencies Discuss The Power Of Creativity, Community & Culture At The 2018 CMC Annual Conference

May 11, 2018

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FAIRFAX, Virginia, May 11, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — From June 4-6, the Culture Marketing Council: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing (CMC) will bring together C-suite executives and top leaders from agencies and brands including AutoZone, Comcast, Domino’s Pizza, Intuit, Nestlé, NFL, Pepsi, Sprint, Target, Twitter, and Verizon to showcase the latest strategies and brand-new research that leverages creativity, community and culture. Taking place at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, the 2018 CMC Annual Conference features a powerful agenda that helps marketers take a proactive approach to this Power of C³ and amp up their multicultural marketing innovation.

“With rapidly changing demographics and digitalization at hyper speed, culture now plays the leading role in marketing strategies,” said CMC Chair Isaac Mizrahi, co-president & COO of Alma. “If brands think they can reach today’s mainstream without factoring in culture, they will surely see their market share drop and their competitors pass them by.”

With keynote speeches to start each morning by Nestlé CMO Alicia Enciso, Target CMO Rick Gomez and Sprint Multicultural Marketing Director Alberto Lorente, the CMC Annual Conference will tackle different business-building topics—from diversity in corporate America with Luke Visconti, CEO of DiversityInc, Dr. Robert Rodriguez, president of DRR Advisors LLC, Cristian Camilo Zarta, recruitment/client manager & multicultural specialist at De Forest Search to diversity in TV and film with actor Danny Trejo and the Hispanic Brand in the Trump Era, featuring a panel with author, news anchor and broadcast journalist Maria Elena Salinas and Lilly Gil Valleta, Co-Founder & CEO, CIEN+.

No CMC Annual Conference is complete without a panel of high-level brands discussing the hottest marketing trends of the year, the impact of the multicultural consumer and multicultural marketing models and structures that work. Marissa Solis, vice president/general manager – Hispanic marketing of PepsiCo Beverages; Jose Velez Silva, vice president of multicultural communications at Comcast; and Alex Tokatlian, program leader of Hispanic marketing & advertising at Domino’s Pizza, Ida Chacon, vice president of custom solutions at the Collage Group, Margie Bravo, marketing multicultural champion for Coffee-mate at Nestlé, Alejandra Barron, director of merchandise & integrated marketing at AutoZone, Ricardo Aspiazu, director of promotions & device marketing at Verizon, and John Sandoval, senior brand & Latino marketing manager at Intuit, will form part of the client roundtables.

The conference also features expert panels on sports and digital influencers. Antonio Briceño, managing director at beIN SPORTS, Juan Pablo Convers, VP of business development at Univision Digital, and Marissa Fernandez, senior director of marketing strategy and fan development for the National Football League, will examine the importance of live television in a DVR-era, nuanced marketing campaigns to draw Hispanic ratings and the emergence of “American” sports competing with soccer for viewer attention. Gaby Natale, president and co-founder of AGANAR Media, and Marla Skiko, executive vice president and director of digital innovation at Starcom MediaVest Group‘s multicultural division, about measuring engagement, ROI, pay-to-play, celebrities vs. thought leaders and the ethical boundaries of payment disclosure.

When it comes to creativity, the CMC Annual Conference will feature an Excellence in Creativity: The Road to Cannes, showcasing a preview of agency submissions for the world’s most prestigious creative competition the Cannes Lions Festival. In addition, PJ Pereira, founder and creative chairman of the award-winning agency Pereira O’Dell, will provide a glimpse into the future of advertising agencies.

In addition to sharing its recent study Digital Lives 2018: A World of Digital ‘Everything’ through a Cultural Lens, the CMC will unveil new research from Magna Global on how advertisers should create and deploy ads for Hispanic audiences in both TV and digital and Nielsen on the state of the Hispanic market, including an analysis on 2017 CPG spending.

Finally, the CMC Annual Conference is the premiere forum to induct multicultural marketing luminaries into the Hall of Fame and acknowledge up-and-coming marketing talent with its Rising Star Recognition during an awards gala on Tuesday, June 5. In addition, the CMC will honor Sprint with its prestigious 2018 Marketer of the Year Award and announce the recipients of the Culture Account Planning Excelencia (CAPE) Awards.

For more information, visit culturemarketingcouncil.org and follow the CMC on Facebook and Twitter at @cmchispanic using the conference hashtag #CMCpowerof3.

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.

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SOURCE Culture Marketing Council: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing

(Español) Univision Communications, el Principal Destino del Mejor Entretenimiento Adaptado a la Cultura Hispana, Presenta Contenido de 2018-19 Basado en Programación Dinámica en Vivo de Noticias, Deportes, Música y Entretenimiento sin Guion

May 11, 2018

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Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Boxing Legend Oscar De La Hoya Helps To Honor Teachers At Green Dot Public Schools Sixth Annual Golden Dot Awards

May 11, 2018

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LOS ANGELES, May 10, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Boxing legend, Olympic Gold Medalist and 10-time world champion in six different weight classes Oscar De La Hoya gave the keynote Green Dot Public School’s Sixth Annual Golden Dot Awards on Saturday, May 5 at the California Science Center in recognition of the organization’s most outstanding teachers and staff from the last year. The Golden Dot Awards represent Green Dot’s annual teacher and staff appreciation event recognizing Principal of the Year; Teacher of the Year; Rising Star Teacher of the Year. Green Dot teachers, staff and administrators serve more than 15,000 students across the country each year.

De La Hoya has been involved with Green Dot’s commitment to excellence in public school education since 2003 when the Oscar De La Hoya Animo Charter High School opened in Boyle Heights. The school bearing the boxing legend’s name was among the first five charter schools Green Dot opened with the goal to provide enhanced learning opportunities for young people in disadvantaged communities.

The Oscar De La Hoya Animo Charter High School was the first public high school to be built in Boyle Heights in 80 years. Today, the Oscar De La Hoya Animo Charter High School is one of the top performing high schools in the country, thanks to the dedication of Green Dot’s excellent teachers, administrators and staff.

“I’ve witnessed firsthand the difference Green Dot educators make through their devoted commitment to our students at the Oscar De La Hoya Animo Charter High School, not far from the neighborhood where I grew up,” De La Hoya remarked at Saturday’s event. “The level of dedication that Green Dot teachers, administrators and staff bring to their schools every day is truly inspiring. I’m in awe of the work they do and so thankful they are guiding the leaders of tomorrow and showing them what it looks like to work hard and succeed.”

Green Dot Public Schools’ Golden Dot Awards recognizes educators and staff who are transforming the landscape of public education. Golden Dot Awards (aka “The Dotties”) are given to staff who exemplify Green Dot’s Core Values. As a result of the dedicated work of the entire team and their commitment to excellence in education, Green Dot graduated more than 1,600 students last year, the most of any charter management organization in the country, for the fourth year in a row.

For more information, visit http://greendot.org/.

About Green Dot Public Schools
Green Dot Public Schools is a non-profit network of 30 Title I public charter schools, free and open to all, with a mission to help transform public education so that all students graduate prepared for college, leadership, and life. Purposefully locating its schools in historically underserved communities lacking in high-quality educational opportunities, Green Dot seeks to close discrepancies in access and opportunity between students from low-income backgrounds and their more affluent peers. Learn more at greendot.org and follow us @greendotschools.

SOURCE Green Dot Public Schools

New research shows that Latino business owners are making significant strides compared to a national average

May 11, 2018

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SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts, May 11, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Latino business community has made significant strides over the past three years in their business and financial planning compared to a national sample according to the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) refreshed Business Owner Perspectives Study, which provides a look at the changes in the Latino small business owners’ mindset over the last three years (from 2015 to 2018).

As an example, findings indicate that Latino business owners are notably more likely than in the past, and more likely than the national sample, to have a succession plan in place. Sixty nine percent of Latino owners have a written succession plan and 59 percent have a buy-sell agreement in case of death (and 52 percent in case of disability). Also, Latino owners are significantly (48 percent) more likely than the national sample to report funding their buy-sell agreements with cash flow from their business.

“Our research found that Latino entrepreneurs are generally taking significant steps in their business and financial planning and are more likely to be motivated by family and community,” said David Hufnagel, Latino Market Director, MassMutual. “The study shows significant progress for the next generation of Latino business owners. Many indicated that they have the necessary resources in place to help protect their company in case of unforeseen events, and that there is still room for improvement.”

Key Business Issues

The MassMutual research showed that employee loyalty and valuation remain the top issues for Latino business owners and are in line with the national sample.

Interestingly, however, Latino business owners today are much more likely to be thinking about key business issues than they were in 2015 – and much more frequently than the national sample.

More good news: Nearly all survey respondents reported having gone through the financial planning process and the majority of respondents do it every year. Additionally, Latino business owners are also more likely to have had their business valued (73 percent) in the past three years than the national sample (63 percent). In terms of employee benefits, they are also more likely to offer financial planning benefits to their top employees.

Latina owners in particular are more likely than other women owners to have buy sell agreements in the event of death and disability, valuation, and a business succession plan.

Retirement

When it comes to their future and retirement, Latino business owners are more likely than the national sample to say they will retire but haven’t given it much thought (31 percent vs. 25 percent of the national sample). Only 24 percent say they plan to retire in the next five years, likely driven by the younger average age of Latino business owners.

Latino business owners are also less likely planning to fund retirement through personal savings, a retirement account or Social Security but are more confident of their estimates. Furthermore, 63 percent of Latinos are very or extremely confident regarding their estimates on sources of retirement income, significantly higher than the national sample (53 percent).

Latina business owners are less likely to have gone into business for a lifestyle of independence, and prioritize financial planning for personal over business. They are also more likely to offer benefits to key employees than other women owners.

Exit Strategy

Overall, Latino business owners’ exit strategy and plans to pass on the business are similar to the national sample. When it comes to their ideal exit strategy, 34 percent of Latinos plan to leave business to family member (vs. 30 percent of the national sample), 21 percent would like to sell business to key employee (vs. 21percent of national sample), and 14 percent would like the business sold to an outside buyer (vs. 17 percent of the national sample).

To learn more about planning for your business or to locate a financial professional near you, visit massmutual.com/businessownerperspective.

Methodology

The 2018 MassMutual Business Owners research was conducted by Hawk Partners for MassMutual via an online survey of 284 Latino and 801 general population business owners from December 13th – January 15, 2018. The sampling margin of error for this study is +/– 4.9% percentage points when looking at the results for the total small business population. These are at a 90% confidence 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]

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SOURCE MassMutual