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Employer Demand for Health Benefits Insights Fuels Springbuk’s Record Year in Customer Growth

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Springbuk, a health data analytics software company whose mission is to «prevent disease with data™,» announced remarkable growth metrics in 2020 as it worked with a record number of employers and brokers in providing health and benefits insights that…

In 2020, Springbuk added over 1,000 new customers, including a significant number of enterprise employers — growth that shatters previous years’ gains.

«We saw an increased demand for Springbuk’s Health Intelligence™ platform as employers urgently needed data-informed insights to adapt to market chaos and uncertainty in planning for 2021 and beyond,» said Rod Reasen, CEO of Springbuk. «We continued to invest in the depth and breadth of our application around data science to deliver actionable insights within our platform, solving the largest needs of our customers.»

Not only is Springbuk growing at a torrid pace, but it also boasted a 96% retention rate of business in 2020 — in a year when many other technology solutions struggled in the economic downturn.

As Springbuk continues to grow its customer base, the amount of insights increases with the sheer volume of health data being brought into its platform — which is used to evaluate employee population health, health plan effectiveness, and efficacy of third-party solutions to guide data-informed employee benefit decisions. Springbuk’s platform is consuming over 10,000 data files monthly from over 350 health plans, PBMs, and other employee benefits vendors.

«We know HR and business leaders are trying to innovate and make better decisions for the health of their employees and to find the best value in doing so,» Reasen said. «Springbuk is putting the data and insights into the hands of decision-makers faster, providing the needed direction that’s often missing, and giving them greater confidence than ever in their future.»

While the growth in clients and subsequent data into its Health Intelligence platform has fueled company growth, Springbuk continues to innovate and bring new product features to market. In 2020, Springbuk:

Released over 30 proprietary Springbuk Insights™ to provide timely, reliable, and actionable insights into cost-saving opportunities for diseases and across all employees or segments.
Introduced Springbuk Answers™ — a first-of-its-kind self-service tool leveraging natural language processing for real-time search queries, based on what users need most when responding to timely events.
Anchored the intuitive Springbuk Timeline™ as the go-to tool to address employers’ need to evaluate the clinical impact and financial savings of benefits programs.
Fueled innovation through customer input, adding 89 new features from Springbuk’s Idea Portal, one-third of which were based on customer suggestions.
Enhanced analytics and visual reports for employers to efficiently drive deep understanding and improvements.

Springbuk, more than doubling its client base in the past two years, boasts some of the world’s largest and most respected household brands in the world and added three of its largest five deals ever in 2020. Springbuk plans to announce new enterprise deals in the coming months.

«We are proud of our team and the growth we’ve experienced amid a very difficult year,» Reasen said. «But when you have a great team, superior technology, and a mission like ours — to Prevent Disease With Data — it’s easy to understand why there is so much growing demand for what we bring to the market.»

About Springbuk
Imagine a world where every healthcare decision is backed and guided by data. Springbuk is the health data analytics solution that equips you with the insights and expertise you need to sharpen your benefits strategy, advance employee health, and contain costs. Unlike legacy data warehouses, we simplify data-driven decision-making with an intuitive user experience, predictive modeling, and curated action steps. Springbuk — a world of actionable health intelligence insight, at your fingertips. Visit springbuk.com to learn more.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/employer-demand-for-health-benefits-insights-fuels-springbuks-record-year-in-customer-growth-301214939.html

SOURCE Springbuk

VinSolutions’ Virtual Assistant Vinessa Uses AI to Help Salespeople Pursue and Convert More Leads In A Tight Market

MISSION, Kan., Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As dealerships look for new ways to connect with customers outside of the showroom and pursue leads in today’s digital world, technology is becoming an increasingly useful addition to sales teams. Vinessa™, VinSolutions’ AI-powered, CRM-integrated virtual assistant, allows salespeople to prioritize their time more efficiently thanks to the ability to vet leads by providing human-like customer engagement at the early stages of the sales process. With Vinessa’s help, salespeople can guide more customers through their unique paths to purchase, increase conversion rates and ultimately boost profits for the entire business.

«Dealership staff are tasked with filtering through massive volumes of online leads–-and dedicating the necessary resources to vetting and communicating with every customer can get in the way of salespeople doing what they do best—selling vehicles and closing deals,» said Tracy Fred, vice president of operations for Cox Automotive brands VinSolutions, Xtime and Dealertrack DMS. «As the consumer path to purchase continues to evolve and default to digital, it also means a 24/7 sales cycle. Dealerships need to be ready to engage with prospects around the clock in a scalable and cost-effective way.»

Using CRM artificial intelligence, machine learning and data provided by the dealership, Vinessa can answer questions from online and showroom sales leads about inventory availability, vehicle features and more, as well as schedule follow-up tasks for staff. Vinessa provides more qualified leads and ensures that no sales opportunity falls through the cracks whether an early-stage lead or one submitted after hours. With data provided by the dealership, Vinessa is also supported by VinSolutions Performance Managers who will help ensure the dealer gets the most out of the tool so partners can be confident that Vinessa is effectively guiding customers through their unique paths to purchase and delivering sales conversions.

Vinessa’s key features include:

CRM Integration that captures all customer communication from Vinessa directly within the customer record, with in-CRM alerts to ensure preparedness when meeting the customer where they are in the car buying process.
Appointment Setting that enables salespeople to stay focused on advanced selling tasks with Vinessa’s ability to schedule showroom appointments with customers on a salesperson’s behalf.
Lead Nurturing to engage customers 24/7, Vinessa can respond to leads after hours and follow up on conversations when salespeople are unavailable.
Smart Conversations using powerful artificial intelligence and natural language processing Vinessa can understand customer questions and provide real-time answers about inventory and schedule follow-up appointments to keep customers moving through the journey to purchase.
Reporting Features record and detail all of Vinessa’s customer interactions in a dashboard to help dealership staff better understand and measure Vinessa’s contribution to sales.
Customizable Engagement Settings allow dealers to control how and when Vinessa responds to leads, including who to assign appointments to and if Vinessa should automatically turn off when a salesperson takes over customer communication directly.
Connect Automotive Intelligence Integration enables Sentiment Analysis on customer interactions with Vinessa when the products are combined, which allows dealers to identify trends in customer communication and quickly resolve issues in the event of dissatisfaction.

«Vinessa is not only a backstop for missed communications; it’s also a strong driver for two-way communications. I strongly believe our two-way connections, appointment set rate, and customer satisfaction will all continue to improve,» said Chad Humm, Digital Performance Manager at D-Patrick Auto Group in Evansville, Indiana. «We chose Vinessa over other virtual assistant tools based on its integrations with all of our Cox Automotive tools especially with Connect CRM. Vinessa’s conversations live in the CRM.»

To learn more about Vinessa, the VinSolutions Virtual Assistant, visit www.VinSolutions.com.

About VinSolutions
As the provider of Connect CRM, Connect Automotive Intelligence, and the supporting suite of Connect solutions, VinSolutions helps more than 6,000 dealers make every connection count. VinSolutions’ industry-leading tools—including customizable customer relationship management, artificial intelligence, and desking—help dealerships drive more leads, increase profits, and accelerate the path to purchase. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Mission, Kansas, VinSolutions fosters dealership success by providing a fully customizable suite of solutions, including equity mining, market pricing and desking tools, combined with the continuous, personal support of a designated Performance Manager. VinSolutions is OEM certified by every major manufacturer and is Autosoft, CDK, Reynolds & Reynolds and Dealertrack DMS certified. www.vinsolutions.com

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using vehicles easier for everyone. The global company’s more than 27,000 team members and family of brands, including Autotrader^®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com^®, Dealertrack^®, Kelley Blue Book^®, Manheim^®, NextGear Capital^®, VinSolutions^®, vAuto^® and Xtime^®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with annual revenues of nearly $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

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SOURCE VinSolutions

MPOWER Financing raises a $25M investment round to increase educational access for International and DACA students

Funds will support platform automation and team growth as MPOWER finances thousands of additional international and DACA students at over 350 universities across North America

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — MPOWER Financing, an innovative fintech…

Funds will support platform automation and team growth as MPOWER finances thousands of additional international and DACA students at over 350 universities across North America

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — MPOWER Financing, an innovative fintech platform and the leading provider of educational loans to high-promise international and DACA students, announced that it recently raised $25M from Tilden Park Capital Management LP, a New York-based investment management firm.

MPOWER is honored to support international students at this critical time in history

«We’re humbled to be working with Tilden Park, and will substantially benefit from their capital markets and credit expertise, as well as their global investment experience,» said Manu Smadja, MPOWER Financing’s CEO and co-founder. «Tilden Park was attracted to MPOWER’s strong credit quality and social mission,» added Manu.

The funds come in addition to $9 million that MPOWER raised last year and will be invested in further automating MPOWER’s digital loan platform, which leverages proprietary underwriting technology to provide a loan decision to students within minutes. The funds will also help MPOWER grow its team in Washington, DC, and Bangalore, India where it plans to hire 50 + employees this year across Engineering, Marketing, Operations, Underwriting, Analytics, HR, and Finance.

MPOWER was named one of the best places to work in Washington DC, one of the best tech workplaces for diversity, and one of American Banker’s top fintech firms to work for the third year in a row. Predominantly ex-international students themselves, the MPOWER team directly relates to the challenges that international students face due to Covid and fast-changing immigration policies, and the company is honored to support international students at this critical time in history.

MPOWER Financing, headquartered in Washington, D.C., and with offices worldwide, is a mission-driven fintech company and provider of global educational loans. It is the only student lender in the world that leverages both overseas and domestic credit data, as well as future earning potential, to serve high-promise international and DACA students. MPOWER Financing works with over 350 top universities and colleges across the U.S. and Canada to provide financing to students from over 200 countries. Since 2014, it has received over $2B in loan application volume on its platform. MPOWER Financing helps students build their credit histories and provides them with personal finance education and career support to help prepare for life after school.

Tilden Park Capital Management LP is a multi-strategy fixed-income-focused alternative asset manager headquartered in New York City. The firm concentrates primarily on structured products and mortgages, fixed income relative value and related corporate credit and equity strategies. Tilden Park is led by Chief Investment Officer Josh Birnbaum, who previously co-managed trading at Goldman Sachs’ Structured Products Group.

Media Contact:
Sasha Ramani
202-417-3800
sasha.ramani@mpowerfinancing.com

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SOURCE MPOWER Financing

Bbot Increases Funding to $7.3 Million with New Seed Investment from Rally Ventures

NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Bbot Inc., a restaurant and hospitality tech startup dedicated to simplifying and improving the ordering and payment process, today announced the closing of a $4 million seed extension funding round. Rally Ventures, a national leader in early-stage business technology investing, led the round, with participation from existing investor Craft Ventures, an early-stage venture fund. With this latest seed extension round, the company’s total funding is now $7.3 million.

The financing will allow Bbot to hire new talent, accelerate its product development and deepen its focus on providing exceptional service to its hundreds of hospitality customers. In 2021, the company will deliver a new feature that reinvents the traditional bar tab by allowing guests and servers to both add to and place orders on a joint tab. Additionally, this year Bbot plans to release its own API, to give hospitality tech partners the ability to build on the Bbot infrastructure.

«We are proud to partner with restaurants, bars and hotels to provide technology solutions that help them make their operations more efficient, convenient and safer for guests, as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for what’s next,» said Steven Simoni, CEO of Bbot. «Making our robust and configurable platform available to other industry partners through our own API was a natural next step and opportunity to deepen our exposure within the industry. With this additional funding in place, we will be able to continue to grow Bbot’s reach and deliver a more seamless experience to all of our hospitality customers.»

Founded in 2017, Bbot helps restaurants, bars, hotels, food halls and other hospitality organizations create digital menus and enable guest-controlled ordering and payment. With Bbot, guests can easily access menus and pay through any smartphone by using QR or location codes right from their tables at the venue. No sign up or app download is required. The company recently won the Hotel Tech Report Award for best in mobile ordering & room service.

«Bbot has a truly impressive infrastructure and has out-built other, more seasoned tech companies in their category by a long shot, with a fraction of the resources,» said Justin Kaufenberg, managing director of Rally Ventures. «In the wake of COVID-19, the hospitality industry has a bigger need than ever for seamless technology solutions that can help them streamline operations and increase their margins. Bbot is well-positioned and proven to help them achieve both.»

«We’re excited to work with Rally Ventures and Bbot to support the evolution of the hospitality industry,» said Jeff Fluhr, general partner at Craft Ventures. «Our continued investment in Bbot reflects our confidence in the company’s ability to expand their footprint, develop exciting technology, and serve as a valuable partner to the hospitality industry as they navigate a new normal.»

Bbot Inc. Press Contact:
Cara Morgan, Tandem Marketing Communications
caramorgan@tandemcomms.com

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bbot-increases-funding-to-7-3-million-with-new-seed-investment-from-rally-ventures-301214471.html

SOURCE Bbot Inc.

MPOWER Financing raises a $25M investment round to increase educational access for International and DACA students

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — MPOWER Financing, an innovative fintech platform and <a target="_blank"…

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — MPOWER Financing, an innovative fintech platform and the leading provider of educational loans to high-promise international and DACA students, announced that it recently raised $25M from Tilden Park Capital Management LP, a New York-based investment management firm.

Funds will support platform automation and team growth as MPOWER finances thousands of additional international and DACA students at over 350 universities across North America

Media Contact:
Sasha Ramani
202-417-3800
sasha.ramani@mpowerfinancing.com

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1426042/MPOWER_Financing.jpg

SOURCE MPOWER Financing

50 Prominent Women Run Full Page Ad in The New York Times Calling on President Biden to Implement Marshall Plan for Moms in First 100 Days

NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Fifty women today signed a letter in the New York Times, led by Girls Who Code founder and CEO Reshma Saujani, calling on the Biden Administration to create a task force dedicated to implementing a «Marshall Plan for Moms,» to pay mothers for their unpaid, unseen labor and to pass policies addressing parental leave, affordable childcare, and pay equity.

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«This is not an isolated incident—it is a national crisis.»

«This pandemic has absolutely decimated the careers of working moms across the country,» said Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code. «This is not an isolated incident—it is a national crisis, and we can start to address it within the first 100 days of this Administration.»

According to a report from the National Women’s Law Center, more than 2 million women have left the U.S. workforce since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. A December 2020 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that women were leaving the workforce at four times the rate of men.

«In December, all the jobs lost in the U.S. economy were lost by women,» said Saujani. «And the situation is particularly bad for Black women, 154,000 of whom left the workforce entirely. We need to put in place a plan for moms, and we need it now.»

«Sound crazy? It’s not,» says the letter—which ran as a full page ad in The New York Times today. «It’s time to put a dollar figure on our labor. Motherhood isn’t a favor and it’s not a luxury. It’s a job. The first 100 days are an opportunity to define our values. So let’s start by valuing moms.»

The women who signed onto the letter are as follows: Toyin Ajayi, Cityblock Health; Katia Beauchamp, Birchbox; Katie Bethell, Paid Leave for the US (PL + US); Connie Britton; Jean Brownhill, Sweeten; Tarana Burke, ‘me too.’ Movement; Melissa Butler, The Lip Bar; Claudia Chan, S.H.E. Summit; Julia Collins, Planet FWD; Dr. Dara Kass; Tiffany Dufu, The Cru; Anu Duggal, Female Founders Fund; Sarah Eagle Heart, Eagle Heart Collectiv; Crystal Echo Hawk, Executive Director, IllumiNative; Sarah Sophie Flicker, Artist and Activist; Liuba Grechen Shirley, Vote Mama; Mindy Grossman, WW International, Inc.; Desiree Gruber, Full Picture; Sarah Harden, Hello Sunshine; Naomi Hirabayashi, Shine; Chelsea Hirschhorn, Frida Mom; Jennifer Hyman, Rent the Runway; Payal Kadakia, Classpass; Sallie Krawcheck, Ellevest; Maria Teresa Kumar, VotoLatino; Marisa Renee Lee, Beacon Advisors; Cindi Leive, The Meteor; Marah Lidey, Shine; Eva Longoria; Alexis McGill Johnson, Planned Parenthood; Paola Mendoza, Artist, Filmmaker and Activist; Alyssa Milano; Julianne Moore; Ana Ortiz; Hitha Palepu, #5SmartReads; Dee Poku, The WIE Suite; Mónica Ramirez, Activist and Organizer; Geena Rocero, Transgender Advocate; Eve Rodsky, Author, Fair Play; Katherine Ryder, Maven; Reshma Saujani, Girls Who Code; Amy Schumer; Rachel Sklar, TheLuckiest.com; Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs; Women’s March, Amber Tamblyn; Charlize Theron; Salamishah Tillet, A Long Walk Home; Gabrielle Union; Alexa von Tobel, Inspired Capital; Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble.

For more information, visit www.marshallplanformoms.com.

The full text of the full page ad in The New York Times reads as follows:

Dear President Biden:

You know this well: moms are the bedrock of society. And we’re tired of working for free.

We need a Marshall Plan for Moms — now.

Like the original Marshall Plan of 1948, this plan would be a financial investment in rebuilding from the ground up.

COVID has decimated so many of our careers. Two million of us have left the workforce, at a rate of four times that of men in September alone. Millions more have been forced to cut back our hours or work around the clock to keep our jobs and be full-time caregivers.

This is not an isolated incident — it is a national crisis. You didn’t create this problem, but your administration has an opportunity to fix it. In your first 100 days, we’re asking you to:

Establish a task force to create a Marshall Plan for Moms.

Implement a short-term monthly payment to moms depending on needs and resources.

Pass long overdue policies like paid family leave, affordable childcare and pay equity.

Sound crazy? It’s not.

It’s time to put a dollar figure on our labor. Motherhood isn’t a favor and it’s not a luxury. It’s a job.

The first 100 days are an opportunity to define our values. So let’s start by valuing moms.

About Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code is an international non-profit organization working to close the gender gap in technology and change the image of what a programmer looks like and does. With their 7-week Summer Immersion Program, after school Clubs, and College Loops program, they are leading the movement to inspire, educate, and equip young women with the computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities. Girls Who Code has reached 300,000 girls to date through its programs and 500 million people through campaigns, advocacy work, and New York Times best-selling series. To join the movement or learn more, visit girlswhocode.com. Follow the organization on social media @GirlsWhoCode.

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SOURCE Girls Who Code

2020 U.S. Housing Market Gains Were Biggest in 15 Years

SEATTLE, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — U.S. housing gained nearly $2.5 trillion in value in 2020 — the most in a single year since 2005, according to a new Zillow® analysis. The full stock of U.S. housing is now worth <span…

2020 was a remarkable year for the housing market. Strong demand drove intense competition among buyers, causing homes to fly off the market at the fastest pace Zillow has recorded and pushing prices higher. Housing demand was already strong coming into the year with the large Millennial generation aging into prime first-time home-buying age and mortgage rates hovering near record lows. The widespread shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many to reevaluate their housing options and supercharged demand.

Zillow expects 2021 to be even stronger, possibly exceeding last year’s $2.5 trillion gain. With mortgage rates also likely to rise from today’s near-record low levels, buyers considering a move may want to do so soon before their potential monthly payments rise.

«2020 was a record-breaking year for the housing market with intense competition among buyers driving up home prices,» said Zillow economist Treh Manhertz. «While many faced financial hardships because of the pandemic, others fortunate enough to maintain stable income took a step back to contemplate what they wanted their home to be and hopped on Zillow to help find a place that filled their wish list. Builder confidence, perhaps in reaction to the boosted demand, hit record highs and more homes are being built as a result. Add that together and you see why the housing market gained more than in any year since the Great Recession.»

More than a fifth (21.4%) of the nation’s housing value resides in California. Homes in California are worth a cumulative $7.8 trillion, more than the next three states combined, and the state boasts four of the 10 metro areas with the highest total housing value — Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego.

North Dakota ($64 billion), Wyoming ($70 billion) and South Dakota ($72 billion), three of the least-populous states, have the smallest shares of the U.S. housing market. Alaska was the only state where the housing stock lost value in 2020, down 1.8% or about $1.5 billion. That was caused by relatively low levels of new construction and declining values among homes in Alaska’s top tier.

Over the past decade, the total value of the housing stock has more than doubled in six states. Idaho leads the way, gaining 149% since 2011. Most of that growth comes from the Boise metro, where the total housing stock has more than tripled in value during that time, most of any of the 100 largest U.S. metros. Nevada (146.3%), Utah (126.2%), Arizona (116.5%), Colorado (111.6%) and Washington (108%) also saw their total housing market value double over the past decade.

At a local level, the New York metro area continues to hold the most housing value, though its lead is shrinking. New York metro homes are worth $3.1 trillion in total, with Los Angeles ($2.8 trillion) and San Francisco ($1.7 trillion) homes also exceeding $1 trillion. Seven metros gained more value than New York in 2020, reducing the gap at the top of the list. The value of Los Angeles’ housing stock grew the most last year, up $262 billion — that’s more than the total value of homes in Las Vegas, Orlando and Nashville, to name a few.

Total Housing Market Value by Metro
Metro Area*	Total Housing Market Value (Billions)	Total Housing Market Value Growth: 2020 (Billions)	Total Housing Market Value Growth: 2011-2020 (Billions)
New York, NY	$3,132	$57	$639
Los Angeles, CA	$2,813	$262	$1,358
Chicago, IL	$849	$44	$195
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	$625	$38	$333
Philadelphia, PA	$622	$49	$143
Houston, TX	$533	$42	$272
Washington, DC	$978	$75	$334
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL	$698	$35	$327
Atlanta, GA	$570	$50	$287
Boston, MA	$955	$79	$398
San Francisco, CA	$1,712	$90	$913
Detroit, MI	$354	$32	$189
Riverside, CA	$551	$45	$285
Phoenix, AZ	$563	$67	$328
Seattle, WA	$791	$73	$433
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN	$399	$29	$167
San Diego, CA	$713	$90	$360
St. Louis, MO	$230	$16	$63
Tampa, FL	$310	$34	$164
Baltimore, MD	$313	$20	$56
Denver, CO	$497	$48	$283
Pittsburgh, PA	$184	$8	$60
Portland, OR	$382	$34	$194
Charlotte, NC	$263	$28	$158
Sacramento, CA	$377	$38	$202
San Antonio, TX	$167	$9	$74
Orlando, FL	$230	$15	$127
Cincinnati, OH	$187	$23	$74
Cleveland, OH	$149	$12	$43
Kansas City, MO	$189	$18	$79
Las Vegas, NV	$233	$18	$140
Columbus, OH	$186	$20	$90
Indianapolis, IN	$166	$18	$80
San Jose, CA	$747	$53	$418
Austin, TX	$264	$27	$152
Virginia Beach, VA	$181	$18	$48
Nashville, TN	$213	$12	$114
Providence, RI	$218	$18	$67
Milwaukee, WI	$134	$8	$42
Jacksonville, FL	$149	$15	$73
Memphis, TN	$92	$11	$39
Oklahoma City, OK	$88	$7	$33
Louisville, KY	$94	$4	$29
Hartford, CT	$112	$7	$15
Richmond, VA	$126	$8	$35
New Orleans, LA	$127	$5	$40
Buffalo, NY	$97	$9	$37
Raleigh, NC	$149	$14	$71
Birmingham, AL	$76	$5	$23
Salt Lake City, UT	$164	$19	$85

*Table ordered by market size

About Zillow Group
Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make it easier to unlock life’s next chapter.

As the most-visited real estate website in the U.S., Zillow® and its affiliates offer customers an on-demand experience for selling, buying, renting or financing with transparency and nearly seamless end-to-end service. Zillow Offers® buys and sells homes directly in dozens of markets across the country, allowing sellers control over their timeline. Zillow Home Loans™, our affiliate lender, provides our customers with an easy option to get pre-approved and secure financing for their next home purchase. Zillow recently launched Zillow Homes, Inc., a licensed brokerage entity, to streamline Zillow Offers transactions.

Zillow Group’s affiliates and subsidiaries include Zillow®, Zillow Offers®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans™, Zillow Closing Services™, Zillow Homes, Inc., Trulia®, Out East®, StreetEasy® and HotPads®. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2020-us-housing-market-gains-were-biggest-in-15-years-301214718.html

SOURCE Zillow

In Honor of National Plan for Vacation Day, Discover Puerto Rico and JetBlue Invite You to Block Time Off for a Future Vacation

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Discover Puerto Rico, the Island’s non-profit Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), JetBlue and San Juan Marriott invite travelers to pick any week of 2021 and block their calendars to vacation in Puerto Rico and enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win round-trip travel certificates and lodging to Puerto Rico. Studies show that taking the simple first step of blocking the time for a future vacation will increase chances of following through with plans, while also increasing happiness levels.

Starting today on National Plan for Vacation Day, through February 10, travelers are encouraged to simply block time off for an upcoming trip. Participants itching for an escape to Puerto Rico can then enter the sweepstakes by following three easy steps after reading the official rules:

Pick any week in 2021 to block on a digital calendar as vacation
Include «Fly JetBlue to Puerto Rico» as the subject line
Include Vacation@DiscoverPuertoRico.com as a participant on the calendar entry and press send

Three (3) Grand Prize winners will be selected to win two roundtrip JetBlue travel certificates to Puerto Rico (not inclusive of government taxes and fees), plus a 6 day/5 night stay at the San Juan Marriott, a beachside resort in the heart of Condado, with easy access to explore the city or spend time on the beach. Additionally, one hundred (100) participants will receive a goodie bag with travel swag to use once they take a vacation.

«Puerto Rico is a great option for travelers seeking warm temperatures, rich history, abundant natural attractions, delectable cuisine and an international flair,» said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico. «The Island is an ideal place to visit when responsible travelers are ready, given the prioritization of health and safety measures and entry requirements in place to ensure a safe vacation.»

«As the largest airline in Puerto Rico, we’re excited to launch a partnership with Discover Puerto Rico encouraging travelers to choose days for a future vacation to the island,» said Elizabeth Windram, vice president of marketing, JetBlue. «With so much pent up travel demand, we look forward to welcoming customers whenever they are ready to Fly JetBlue to Puerto Rico, knowing they can count on us to deliver a safe travel experience and an award-winning service.»

For more information about Puerto Rico and travel inspiration, visit DiscoverPuertoRico.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About Discover Puerto Rico
Discover Puerto Rico is a newly established private, not for-profit Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) whose mission is to make Puerto Rico visible to the world as a premier travel destination. The DMO brings prosperity to the people of Puerto Rico by collaboratively promoting the Island’s diversity and uniqueness for leisure and business travel, and events. It is responsible for all global marketing, sales and promotion of the destination and works collaboratively with key local governmental and non-governmental players throughout Puerto Rico’s visitor economy and community at large, to empower economic growth. To discover all the beauty the Island has to offer, visit DiscoverPuertoRico.com.

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SOURCE Discover Puerto Rico

WSSA Cautions Against Poor Choices That Can Spread Invasive Weeds

WESTMINSTER, Colo., Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Last year many people across the U.S. and Canada received unsolicited packets of seed believed to originate in China. Scientists with the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) were among those to raise the alarm and say the seeds shouldn’t be planted. Authorities had discovered some packets contained noxious weed seeds that could threaten both agricultural and natural…

Jacob Barney, Ph.D., an associate professor at Virginia Tech who specializes in invasive plants, says the caution is well warranted.

«The decisions each of us make can have long-lasting results that impact future generations,» he says. «When we intentionally or unintentionally plant species that originate outside the region where we live, we run the risk of introducing weedy invaders that can harm our environment, our economy and even human health.»

In fact, some of North America’s most troublesome invasive weeds owe their origins to poor decisions, inattention, or a lack of understanding of the potential risks that non-native plants can represent. Even public organizations haven’t been immune – embarking on ill-informed planting initiatives that have triggered new invasions.

Here are a few examples of the many ways new invaders can become established:

Bradford pear trees are a variant of the callery pear, a species that originated in China. They were introduced to the U.S. in the 1960s through the horticultural industry, and millions were planted. Unfortunately, they’ve proved to be a real pest when growing outside their native environment. The trees can crowd out native species and create dense thickets that are virtually impassable. Many cities and states are fighting back by banning the trees and by offering bounties or buy-back incentives to residents who cut them down.
Japanese knotweed was introduced to North America in the late 1860s when a nursery owner in New York received a specimen as a gift from his brother working in Japan. Once planted and shared, knotweed went on to become an aggressive invader that has spread widely across the U.S. It has roots strong enough to grow through foundations, roads, walls, and other structures, and it is also hard to eliminate. The New York City Parks Department, for example, has spent more than $1 million over the past decade battling knotweed on city property, but says it is still «out of control.»
Cheatgrass, also known as downy brome in the eastern U.S., is believed to have been introduced to the United States from Europe in the 1800s via contaminated grain and packing materials made from its dense thatch. It then traveled across the country by railway as a contaminant in grain, straw and manure. At one point it was even purposefully planted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to remediate degraded rangelands. Today cheatgrass infests every region of the U.S. It overtakes native plant species and wildlife habitats, and it is a common pest in crop fields, nurseries, and orchards. It also contributes to the spread of wildfires by creating an abundant fuel source that wouldn’t be present in a native sage brush habitat.
Hydrilla made its way to the U.S. a half century ago when a Missouri tropical fish dealer imported the plant from Sri Lanka for use in aquariums. It is now one of the most aggressive aquatic weeds in the South. A separate biotype introduced in the 1980s has now spread across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Today hydrilla is among the most widespread of the 112 weeds on the Federal Noxious Weed list. It can form dense mats of vegetation that grow rapidly and quickly take over a body of water. Hydrilla is known to clog waterways, displace native vegetation, promote fish kills by depleting oxygen, and contribute to harmful algal blooms by disrupting waterflow. It also negatively impacts tourism.

Think Before You Act

To protect against new invasive species and to avoid spreading those that are already entrenched, it is important to think before you act. Here are six tips to help.

1. Don’t bring it back. You may fall in love with the exotic plants you spot during a cruise or a tour of a foreign country. But take photos and resist the temptation to bring specimens home with you. Federal regulations place strict limits on ANY non-native plant or plant parts you hope to grow back at home. You’ll need a special certification that the plant is safe for import.

2. Go native. Select plant species native to the region where you live. Unlike non-native plants, you will find they are well behaved and won’t crowd out other beneficial native species. They also provide food and habitat for native butterflies, insects, birds and other animals. Have questions about which plants are native to your region? Consult the resources below:

The Native Plant Society serving your province, state, city or region
U.S. Forest Service List of Native Plant Alternatives
Native Plant Finder, recommended by the National Wildlife Federation
Audubon Society Native Plants Database
Cooperative Extension Service specialists affiliated with the land grant university in your area

3. Make smart purchases. If you are planting from seed, buy local seeds certified to contain minimal contaminants. Read the label carefully to see what’s included so you don’t plant non-native invaders that can overrun your garden.

4. Be careful outdoors. Take commonsense measures to make certain you aren’t transporting invasive weeds as you travel and enjoy camping, boating, hiking, or other outdoor activities. Carefully inspect and wash your boat, vehicle, ATV, hiking boots or other equipment to remove any plant fragments or seeds you’ve picked up along the way. And avoid carrying firewood with you from one location to another. For additional tips, visit:

5. Become a «spotter.» Early detection of new invasive weed outbreaks can help authorities take swift action to prevent further spread. Familiarize yourself with the invasive weeds most prevalent in your area – information that is available through the Invasive Plant Council covering your state or region.

These same organizations typically have reporting protocols for new infestations you might discover. If you snap a photo, the GPS coordinates on your phone can help authorities locate and eliminate the invaders you find. EDDMapS can be used across the U.S. to report these weeds from the web or your phone.

Another useful resource is Wild Spotter, a program devoted to engaging and empowering the public to help find, map and prevent invasive species in America’s wilderness areas, wild rivers and other natural areas. WSSA and its regional affiliates are partners in the initiative.

6. Stay informed. Take advantage of webinars and information resources available during National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW), scheduled for February 22-26, and May 15-22, 2021.

About the Weed Science Society of America

The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Society promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, fosters awareness of weeds and their impact on managed and natural ecosystems, and promotes cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world. For more information, visit http://www.wssa.net.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Photos of the invasive weeds mentioned in this release are available at https://wssa.net/13440-2. Simply click on the image(s) you select and then right click to save to your computer. Credit lines for each image are on the download page.

Media Contact

Lee Van Wychen, National & Regional Weed Science Societies, 202-746-4686, lee.vanwychen@wssa.net

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SOURCE National & Regional Weed Science Societies

Jubilados chinos cantan al son latinoamericano

BEIJING, 26 de enero de 2021 /PRNewswire/ — En 2018, varios diplomáticos, reporteros y maestros retirados de la sección latinoamericana de la Asociación de Becarios Retornados de Occidente formaron el Coro de Amigos de América Latina y se convirtieron en el único en China de música latinoamericana en español, portugués y chino. El grupo atrajo a muchos interesados y su número alcanzó los 50. Sus muchas actuaciones le han valido el reconocimiento del público chino y extranjero. El…

Muchos de sus miembros aprendieron desde cero español, canto e instrumentos musicales. A fin de lograr una buena interpretación de las melodías originales, los ensayos son muy duros y el aprendizaje continuo, lo que les permite una mejora constante de sus habilidades.

«Mente positiva»y «vitalidad» caracterizan al adulto mayor en la China de hoy y su vida se ve enriquecida de distintas formas. Envejecer ya no es sinónimo de soledad y atraso, sino de vigor y encanto.

Contacto: Zhang Qi
Tel.: +86-17810287643
E-mail: 1326564755@qq.com
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