Phaidra Knight Levels the Playing Field with Launch of New Activewear Line ‘PSK Collective’

Legendary World Rugby Hall of Famer Teams Up with The Powell Companies Real, LLC for Mission-Driven Collection

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Legendary World Rugby Hall of Famer, Phaidra Knight, in partnership with

Legendary World Rugby Hall of Famer Teams Up with The Powell Companies Real, LLC for Mission-Driven Collection

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Legendary World Rugby Hall of Famer, Phaidra Knight, in partnership with The Powell Companies Real, LLC (TPCR), today unveiled a functional, size-inclusive activewear line intended to bring recognition, equity and unity to women’s sports, fashion and lifestyles – introducing the PSK Collective.

As a lifelong athlete, Knight was often forced to turn to custom clothing to fit her strong and athletic build. Recognizing that other women also faced this issue, Knight was inspired to create the PSK Collective – inclusive, affordable athleisure that caters to athletic-bodied girls, women and other individuals alike. The new collection not only fills a significant void in the fashion marketplace, but along with the brand’s team of Ambassadors – strong, successful, professional female athletes – pushes the boundaries of style and equality, while bringing well-deserved recognition to women in sports and life.

«In addition to my obsession with sports, I have always been a lover of fashion,» Phaidra Knight explained. «I was fortunate to be able to marry the two with custom clothing options to showcase my unique, streetwear-inspired look, but I knew that wasn’t a realistic option for everyone. I was motivated to create a line of clothing that both caters to those with athletic figures and that goes far beyond style by giving back to a greater cause. Through my passion for fashion, sports, and women’s rights, the PSK Collective was born. My hope is that it will create opportunity and inspiration for fellow female athletes everywhere.»

The PSK Collective is a fusion of activewear and streetwear. It is designed to push the boundaries of today’s fashion offerings, combining top trends with functional details to empower, inspire and unleash the inner athlete. It is also designed to shift existing attitudes around fashion, expression and equality. Standing apart from the competition, the brand is launching a full court press for the greater good of social justice, and offers inclusive sizing and accessible price points so that all women can enjoy the shopping experience together, regardless of their age, size or background. The collection features stylish, comfortable apparel across all categories, along with contemporary fashion items including face masks and other PPE, all thoughtfully designed with notions of flawless, confidence-inspiring fits and real women in mind.

TPCR is one of the premier diversified apparel and accessories designers and manufacturers. Their executives’ decades of experience, coupled with the sporting diversity of the Champion Athlete Ambassadors, highlight the brand’s core values of perseverance, strength and inclusivity. These qualities position the PSK Collective to forever change the way in which female athletes are viewed, and opens up the very important and long-overdue conversation about equality for women in sports.

«Phaidra is a phenomenal woman and an inspiring athlete whose fans look up to her as much as we do,» said Zahra Bahari, CEO of TPCR. «PSK Collective stands for the same notions that TPCR does: boundless strength, extensive inclusivity and the notion of women’s infinite possibilities. Partnering with Phaidra has been a terrific way for us to further carry out our mission of creating inspiring and meaningful designs, and we’re so excited about what’s to come for PSK and women as a ‘Collective.'»

The collection is being launched to bring much needed exposure to female athletes worldwide, and in beneficiary partnership with the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) – a sport- and equity-based nonprofit organization with which Knight has been associated for years. Knight’s role in WSF has advanced during that time from an advocacy internship responsibility to a WSF Athlete Ambassador and member of the Board of Trustees. Knight joins many other notable international Collective athletes committed to empowering the next generation of female athletes, and are doing so in many ways, including donating 15% of all PSK Collective net profits to WSF’s efforts.

«We are honored that PSK Collective has designated the Women’s Sports Foundation as the beneficiary of this groundbreaking new collection – what a great fit with our mission,» said WSF CEO, Deborah Antoine. «The Women’s Sports Foundation exists to enable girls and women to reach their potential in sport and life. Phaidra Knight has been our ally, advocate, colleague and friend for many years, and we are thrilled for her and this much-needed, inclusive activewear line. We are grateful to Phaidra and PSK Collective for their donation, and we are excited to join others and get shopping!»

The PSK Collective line features sustainably sourced, trend-focused apparel items including tops, bottoms, dresses, sweat suits, accessories, outerwear and PPE products. Prices range from $39$129, with inclusive size options that cater to a variety of body types ranging from XS to 3XL. Product is available for purchase at PSK-Collective.com.

For more information on PSK Collective, visit www.psk-collective.com, and for the latest news follow along on the #YouCanDoAnything hashtag and at @PSK_Collective on Instagram and Twitter, and @PSKcollective on Facebook. For more information about The Powell Companies Real, LLC, visit www.thepowellcompaniesreal.com. For more information on Women’s Sports Foundation, visit www.womenssportsfoundation.org and follow @womenssportsfoundation on Facebook and Instagram, and @womenssportsfdn on Twitter.

About The Powell Companies Real, LLC
The Powell Companies Real, LLC is a diversified designer, manufacturer and distributor of a broad range of apparel and accessories in both the North American and international markets. Principals of TPCR have been involved for decades in the launch of private label and celebrity brands.  Current brands include numerous private label brands. TPCR partners with factories throughout the world, including the USA, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and India, enabling TPCR to source the finest products globally.

About Phaidra Knight
Phaidra Knight is a former international athlete, a sports media talent, motivational speaker, lawyer, and business entrepreneur. For nearly 18 years, Phaidra traveled the globe as a professional rugby player, establishing herself as the one of the premiere players in the sport. She made three appearances in the Rugby World Cup and was selected as the top player in the world in her position in 2002 and 2006. In 2010, she was named the US Rugby Player of the Decade. In November 2017, she was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. In 2019, Phaidra founded PeaK Unleashed, a non-profit dedicated to bringing bright futures through rugby and yoga to marginalized youth. She is currently training to be an MMA fighter. 

About the Women’s Sports Foundation
The Women’s Sports Foundation exists to enable girls and women to reach their potential in sport and life. We are an ally, an advocate and a catalyst. Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, we strengthen and expand participation and leadership opportunities through research, advocacy, community programming and a wide variety of collaborative partnerships. The Women’s Sports Foundation has positively shaped the lives of millions of youth, high school and collegiate student-athletes, elite athletes and coaches. We’re building a future where every girl and woman can #KeepPlaying and unlock the lifelong benefits of sport participation. All girls. All women. All sports. To learn more about the Women’s Sports Foundation, please visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org

 

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SOURCE The Powell Companies Real, LLC

New Report: Governments Should Address Devastating Impact of COVID-19 on Communities of Color with Focused Contact Tracing Campaigns, Community Engagement

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — As the United States surpasses four million confirmed COVID-19 cases, data show that Black and Latinx communities are much harder hit, with higher rates of infection and Black and Latinx people are more than twice as likely to die from the virus as white people. This inequity and the ongoing racial justice crisis may leave these same communities with significant trust gaps that lead to lower participation in government-led…

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — As the United States surpasses four million confirmed COVID-19 cases, data show that Black and Latinx communities are much harder hit, with higher rates of infection and Black and Latinx people are more than twice as likely to die from the virus as white people. This inequity and the ongoing racial justice crisis may leave these same communities with significant trust gaps that lead to lower participation in government-led mitigation strategies such as contact tracing. Today, Vital Strategies released research findings from dozens of interviews with Black and Latinx people and community leaders on what types of messages are most likely to engage communities of color, meet their needs and address their concerns.

«Contact tracing is one of the key components to reduce the spread of COVID-19 but Black and Latinx people, who are among the hardest hit communities may be least likely to participate if efforts to engage them aren’t grounded in their experiences,» said Sandra Mullin, Senior Vice President, Policy, Advocacy and Communication with Vital Strategies. «It won’t matter how many contact tracers we have if no one answers the phone, disregards their message, or responds with skepticism. Our research suggests that people are more likely to answer the call if the effort has been promoted, endorsed and reinforced by trusted community leaders and if the messages are empowering and engender a sense of agency and self-determination.»

Seeking to understand which media messages and messengers would promote participation in contact tracing, Vital Strategies conducted focus groups with African Americans, other people of African descent, and Latinx people in New York and Philadelphia. Key findings suggested that to successfully engage these audiences in contact tracing:

  • Contact tracers must be local, culturally competent, and empathetic.
  • Contact tracing needs to be better explained.
  • Local organizations can engender community buy-in.
  • People need to be reassured about their confidentiality.

‘BE THE ONE’ was the concept that resonated most with the focus groups as it centers on the individual’s participation in contact tracing as the key to helping their communities. By taking specific actions, such as answering the call from a contact tracing, people can help stop the spread of the virus.

«The Black and Latinx people we interviewed were all too familiar with COVID-19,» said Denene Rodney, President and CEO of Zebra Strategies, a private research company that conducted the focus groups. «We heard stories of lost loved ones, distrust in the government and marginalization in the COVID-19 response. But we also saw that messages that highlight how contact tracing is rooted in neighborhoods generated a lot of enthusiasm for participating. We hope this data encourages governments to mount community engagement efforts grounded in these messages.»

Twelve focus groups with a total of 88 people participated.  The groups consisted of African American, English and Spanish-speaking Latinx, and Black immigrant communities in New York City and Philadelphia.

To learn more about Vital Strategies’ Resolve to Save Lives Contact Tracing work and to read the complete findings of these focus groups, click here

About Resolve to Save Lives

Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies, aims to prevent at least 100 million deaths from cardiovascular disease and epidemics. Through its Prevent Epidemics program, Resolve to Save Lives has rapidly leveraged existing networks to partner with countries throughout Africa and beyond to combat COVID-19. Resolve is led by Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is part of the global health organization Vital Strategies. To find out more visit: www.resolvetosavelives.org or Twitter @ResolveTSL.

Resolve to Save Lives created a website called PreventEpidemics.org that shows how prepared each country is for an epidemic, including COVID-19, and how many flights are coming and going from infected countries. This site is also a resource for current coronavirus statistics and resources.

Resolve to Save Lives’ US COVID-19 Response Program works with public health officials and health department staff to strengthen their efforts on prevention strategies, testing, isolation and quarantine, contact tracing and community engagement in order to meet the goals of protecting public health and safely reopening communities and economies.

About Vital Strategies: 

Vital Strategies is a global health organization that believes every person should be protected by a strong public health system. We work with governments and civil society in 73 countries to design and implement evidence-based strategies that tackle their most pressing public health problems. Our goal is to see governments adopt promising interventions at scale as rapidly as possible. To find out more, please visit www.vitalstrategies.org or Twitter @VitalStrat.

Stay in the know:  Follow #KnowCOVID or subscribe to Vital Strategies’ Twitter, Facebook or Instagram accounts.

 

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SOURCE Vital Strategies

Public Relations Leader Propulsion PR Announces Vegan/Plant-Based Specialty Practice

CHICAGO, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Propulsion PR, a fast-growing strategic communications agency headquartered in Chicago, announces the expansion of its practice areas with the launch of its vegan/plant-based team, directly aligning with the firm’s commitment to…

CHICAGO, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Propulsion PR, a fast-growing strategic communications agency headquartered in Chicago, announces the expansion of its practice areas with the launch of its vegan/plant-based team, directly aligning with the firm’s commitment to representing businesses that work to reduce environmental risks and aim for sustainable growth.

The announcement comes amid a continued plant-based food boom and increase in demand for vegan products as more people begin to recognize the realities of cruelty against animals, the health benefits of embracing a vegan lifestyle, and the current state of the environment.

Propulsion PR’s founder, Lucas Seiler, has been vegan for several years and does not publicize non-vegan products in the food and beverage space. 

«We’ve reached a point where we can no longer ignore the negative implications the meat industry and factory farming have on climate change,» said Seiler. «Shifting toward plant-based agriculture is a huge step in the right direction for a green economy and a sustainable future. And as a communications company, we have an incredible opportunity to help brands make this a part of their message that unites people and centers around benefits – for our own bodies and the planet.» 

PR services offered to vegan clients include messaging and positioning, media relations, initial public offering media strategy, market expansion and visibility campaigns, content creation, sponsorships and partnerships, event planning, digital media, thought leadership and speaking opportunities.

About Propulsion PR

Propulsion PR is a full-service PR agency in Chicago known for executing innovative campaigns with businesses, issues and initiatives. It represents clients in a variety of industries like Technology, Food & Beverage, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle & Destinations, Legal & Professional Services, Public Affairs, Nonprofit & Social Impact, Crisis Communications and digital strategy.

Media Contact
Vanessa Jacobs
312-340-8576
244805@email4pr.com

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SOURCE Propulsion PR

500+ High School Educators Gather Virtually For Free Continuing Ed Classes

CHICAGO, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — More than 500 high school educators took part in a two-day, virtual educator workshop recently, designed to hone culinary skills, lesson planning and distance learning strategies for teaching Gen Z.

CHICAGO, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — More than 500 high school educators took part in a two-day, virtual educator workshop recently, designed to hone culinary skills, lesson planning and distance learning strategies for teaching Gen Z.

Offered free of charge by Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts‘ chef instructors and moderators, the workshop incorporated a lively mix of culinary demonstrations, lesson planning and use of engaging teaching tools and apps. The two-day workshop included lessons on: chicken fabrication, tempering chocolate (making a candy bar), culinary math with recipe costing exercises and steps for making focaccia and poaching.

«We curated workshop lessons and discussions for high school educators to enhance their students’ experiences, whether they are teaching virtually or in the classroom,» said Kirk Bachmann, Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Boulder campus president.

«This was an enthusiastic group of high school teachers from all parts of the country and they were engaged, asking questions and wanted ideas and strategies for the upcoming year. We’re thrilled we were able to provide this two-day workshop to them for free and they were anxious to participate and interact with each other,» added Marcus McMellon, Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Austin campus president.

Participants also earned continuing education credits, refreshed cooking skills and shared ideas on lesson planning and effective classroom design and social distancing in the classroom.

For more information on upcoming events and workshops, https://www.escoffier.edu/events/.

More about Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts is a leading accredited provider of online and campus-based culinary training and education. The school’s professional programs offer the proven combination of a classic and contemporary approach to modern industry skills training as well as a sustainability-centered and business-focused curriculum. Professional programs in Culinary Arts and Pastry Arts are available online and on ground through Escoffier’s Boulder, Colorado campus and on ground through its Austin, Texas campus. Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Austin, Texas is nationally accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE). Learn more at escoffier.edu.

CONTACT:

Patti Thomas

312.919.0898

 

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SOURCE Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

Survey: Workplace Rivalries On The Rise

MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — While many teams may be dispersed right now, a sense of workplace competition is alive and well, new research from global staffing firm Robert Half shows. More than one-quarter of professionals surveyed (28%) said the level of competition among employees at their company is higher than a year ago. About 6 in 10 (61%) reported no change, and 11% noted a decline.

Additional findings:

  • More professionals ages 18 to 24…

MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — While many teams may be dispersed right now, a sense of workplace competition is alive and well, new research from global staffing firm Robert Half shows. More than one-quarter of professionals surveyed (28%) said the level of competition among employees at their company is higher than a year ago. About 6 in 10 (61%) reported no change, and 11% noted a decline.

Additional findings:

  • More professionals ages 18 to 24 (35%) and 25 to 40 (37%) than those ages 41 to 54 (23%) and 55 and older (14%) said workplace rivalries have increased in the past year.
  • Men (32%) were more likely than women (24%) to report a rise in competition levels.
  • A greater percentage of respondents with children (37%) than those without (18%) felt employees are more competitive with each other today than they were a year ago.
  • Among the 28 U.S. cities in the survey, Austin (42%), Houston (40%) and Miami (38%) have the most workers who noted heightened competition with their colleagues.

«Teams have been rallying to help their companies pull through the pandemic,» said Paul McDonald, senior executive director of Robert Half. «At the same time, workers may feel more pressure and less connection with their colleagues since transitioning from the office to a remote setup.»

McDonald added, «Fostering a healthy level of competition can increase engagement and motivation among employees — no matter where they’re located. But too much can have the opposite effect, so managers and their staff must do their part to cultivate a collaborative versus cutthroat workplace culture.»

Robert Half offers three tips for encouraging healthy competition among dispersed teams:

  1. Create a virtual challenge. Organize a friendly contest where employees can win bragging rights or a small prize, such as a gift certificate or donation to a charity of their choice. Determine the goal to decide if it will be tied to performance or mainly recreational.
  2. Make time to celebrate. Host a video call to recognize team and individual achievements, and consider arranging for treats to be delivered to star performers. Rewarding employee wins can boost morale and inspire continued growth.
  3. Watch for foul play. Workers may feel more pressure to prove themselves in the current environment, but it should never be at the expense of themselves or others. Negative behaviors — such as failing to communicate and taking credit for others’ work — are signs competition may have gotten out of hand.

About the Research

The online survey was developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm from July 7-30, 2020. It includes responses from 2,800 workers 18 years of age or older and typically employed in office environments in 28 major U.S. cities.

About Robert Half

Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm. The company has more than 300 staffing locations worldwide and offers hiring and job search services at roberthalf.com. For additional management and career advice, visit the Robert Half blog at roberthalf.com/blog.

 

 

 

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SOURCE Robert Half

Brightflag Named a Major Player in Legal Spend Management & Matter Management IDC MarketScape Reports

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Brightflag, the AI-powered legal spend management platform, has been named a Major Player in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Legal Spend Management 2020 Vendor Assessment (Doc #US45943920, July 2020) and IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Matter Management 2020 Vendor Assessment (Doc #US45943820, July 2020).

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Brightflag, the AI-powered legal spend management platform, has been named a Major Player in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Legal Spend Management 2020 Vendor Assessment (Doc #US45943920, July 2020) and IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Matter Management 2020 Vendor Assessment (Doc #US45943820, July 2020).

These expert reports combine publicly available information, detailed vendor interviews, and end user experiences to offer an objective perspective of the most prominent providers in each market segment.

«Receiving this recognition at a comparatively early stage in our company history is extremely validating,» said Ian Nolan, CEO of Brightflag. «We see this as further confirmation that Brightflag is ready to serve the largest and most sophisticated corporate legal departments in the world.»

As more organizations see an urgent need to take control of their legal costs, many are recognizing the limitations of traditional e-billing tools and seeking more proactive, strategic spend management solutions. Brightflag’s cloud-based, AI-powered platform is at the heart of this trend.

With sales doubling year-over-year, Brightflag now plans to aggressively expand its team and accelerate its product development efforts. But the company also remains committed to upholding the reputation for responsive and consultative customer service that has been central to its success. 

For personalized recommendations on how to enhance the effectiveness of your legal operations, follow the link below to Brightflag’s Legal Spend Management Health Check.

https://brightflag.com/legal-spend-management-health-check/

About IDC MarketScape

IDC MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.

About Brightflag

Brightflag enables organizations to take control of their legal spend with AI-powered software that’s easy to use and backed by proactive customer support. Brightflag processes billions of dollars of legal spend annually on behalf of its customers, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in savings and tens of thousands of hours in avoided administrative work. Founded in 2014, Brightflag serves a global community of in-house legal teams and their vendors from its offices in Dublin, New York, and Sydney.

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SOURCE Brightflag Inc.

Brookdale Senior Living Sales Manager Receives Argentum 2020 Hero Award for Leadership in the Face of a Natural Disaster

TEQUESTA, Fla., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Steve McLaurin, sales manager at Brookdale Tequesta, has been honored with a 2020 Hero Award from Argentum, a national senior living trade association. The Hero Awards recognize ideal representatives of people serving in the senior living field. A special category, Hero Award for Leadership in the Face of a Natural Disaster, was introduced in 2018 and recognizes an individual who demonstrated courage, valor and clear thinking…

TEQUESTA, Fla., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Steve McLaurin, sales manager at Brookdale Tequesta, has been honored with a 2020 Hero Award from Argentum, a national senior living trade association. The Hero Awards recognize ideal representatives of people serving in the senior living field. A special category, Hero Award for Leadership in the Face of a Natural Disaster, was introduced in 2018 and recognizes an individual who demonstrated courage, valor and clear thinking during a natural disaster.

McLaurin showed his dedication to Brookdale residents when Hurricane Dorian struck Florida in September 2019. Brookdale Tequesta, an assisted living and memory care community, had just moved residents out of the projected storm path when the hurricane took a sudden turn. Residents and associates had to evacuate a second time. McLaurin, who typically focuses on sales efforts and bringing new residents into the community, played an instrumental role in providing comfort and care to residents during a stressful time.

«Steve stepped out of these boundaries voluntarily and did so with the passion to serve his residents and help ensure their safety,» said Kaitlyn Oteri, executive director at Brookdale Tequesta. «He wore many, many hats and never said ‘no’ to any of my requests for help or assignments. All of his efforts during Hurricane Dorian, and frankly every day here in the community, prove he’s a hero to our residents.»

McLaurin pitched in to help serve residents meals, and even helped make sandwiches for residents to eat on a bus that was bringing them to another location. He helped perform headcounts on the bus and was asked to act as «lead manager» over assisted living residents during their time away from the community while sheltering from the storm. He led several engagement programs with residents during their stay at a hotel and participated in exercise classes. McLaurin helped with other administrative duties and once accompanied a resident to a local hospital, staying with her for six hours to ensure she had an advocate and felt comfortable.

«As a sales manager I was just moving people in, but now I’ve seen and lived what role everyone has here,» McLaurin said.

«Steve is a great example of the compassionate and caring associates who serve our residents and patients,» said Cindy Kent, Brookdale’s executive vice president and president of senior living. «In challenging times, like a hurricane evacuation, we are often tested. Steve rose to the occasion. He showed great leadership and dedication, and for that I’m so thankful. It’s people like Steve who strengthen the Brookdale family. I’m proud to call him a hero.»

Oteri provides more details in a video about McLaurin.

All 2020 honorees are profiled in the July/August issue of Senior Living Executive magazine.

About Brookdale
Brookdale Senior Living Inc. is the leading operator of senior living communities throughout the United States.  The Company is committed to providing senior living solutions primarily within properties that are designed, purpose-built and operated to provide the highest-quality service, care and living accommodations for residents.  Brookdale operates and manages independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care retirement centers, with 737 communities in 44 states and the ability to serve approximately 65,000 residents as of June 30, 2020.  The Company also offers a range of home health, hospice and outpatient therapy services to over 17,000 patients as of that date. For more Brookdale news, go to brookdalenews.com

Contact: Mitch Kline, 615-564-8788, mkline2@brookdale.com

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SOURCE Brookdale Senior Living

WCG Leaders Honored Among PharmaVOICE 100 Most Inspiring People

PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — WCG, the world’s leading provider of solutions that measurably improve the quality and efficiency of clinical trials, is pleased to announce that two company leaders have been featured in PharmaVOICE magazine’s annual July/August issue showcasing the 100 most inspiring individuals in…

PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — WCG, the world’s leading provider of solutions that measurably improve the quality and efficiency of clinical trials, is pleased to announce that two company leaders have been featured in PharmaVOICE magazine’s annual July/August issue showcasing the 100 most inspiring individuals in the global life sciences industry. Donald A. Deieso, PhD, WCG’s Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Dawn Flitcraft, President of WCG’s Ethical Review Division, were recognized for the transformational work they are doing to drive a new era of clinical trials that enables collaboration across the research community, improves the patient experience and accelerates drug development.

«Dr. Donald Deieso’s mission is to ensure his company, WCG, and his colleagues, are consistently focused on saving lives,» says Taren Grom, editor, PharmaVOICE. «This dedication to a higher purpose epitomizes Dr. Deieso’s spirit as a human being and as a leader in the life-sciences industry. His courageous commitment to changing the status quo of the conduct of clinical trials is inspiring, not only to his teams, but to the entire industry. PharmaVOICE is honored to recognize his legacy of innovation on behalf of patients and caregivers as well as for his vision in creating a better tomorrow.»

Dr. Deieso is the recipient of a 2020 Red Jacket Award, which honors individuals who have been recognized multiple times throughout the years as a PharmaVOICE 100 inspiring leader and who continue to demonstrate a commitment to leadership, innovation, mentoring and philanthropy. In both 2016 and 2019, Dr. Deieso was named to the prestigious PharmaVOICE 100 in recognition of his integrity, vision, and ability to influence change across the global life sciences industry with his relentless commitment to doing what’s right for patients and their caregivers, while addressing opportunities to meaningfully reduce the burden on clinical trial participants and improve clinical trial programs. Under his leadership, WCG has grown across its two divisions – WIRB-Copernicus IRB, the oldest and largest commercial IRB, and WCG Clinical Services, the first clinical services organization (CSO) focused on improving the conduct of trials for the benefit of patient participants, sponsors, CROs, and investigative sites. Through the evolution of WCG, the company has never lost its focus on the primary mission – setting the highest standards of human participant protection. 

Among hundreds of nominees, PharmaVOICE also selected Dawn Flitcraft, President of WCG’s Ethical Review Division, as one of 2020’s 100 most inspiring leaders. She drives the strategic direction and overall operations for the five institutional review boards (IRBs) that comprise the WCG IRBs – WIRB, Copernicus, Aspire, New England, and Midlands; as well as its Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs), which provide oversight for human gene therapy and human gene transfer; and for IRBNet, the leading compliance and research oversight technology for institutions and VA Medical Centers. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020, she has led the mobilization of WCG’s IRBs to support clinical trial sponsors and the industry more broadly in navigating uncharted waters through the pandemic. Flitcraft spearheaded efforts to bring thought leaders and operational staff together to provide needed guidance for researchers who were challenged by the many scientific uncertainties of COVID-19.   Recognizing the need for WCG to join the growing collaboration among those clients advancing coronavirus interventions, Dawn waived WCG’s initial protocol review fees assuring that administrative burdens would not stand in the way of prompt industry responses to the global crisis.  Most important, she emphasized WCG’s commitment to the highest standards of scientific rigor and ethical values in the ethical reviews.

«When the world faces a crisis, especially one of the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic, true leaders rise to the challenge and achieve remarkable results, and Dawn is undoubtedly among them and incredibly deserving of this honor,» said Dr. Deieso. «Dawn’s deep clinical trial expertise, dedication to patients and exceptional leadership skills have long been valued within WCG and throughout our industry.  What has been especially noteworthy in the COVID-19 crisis, is her ability to inspire people with her passion to see challenges as an opportunity to innovate.»

Taren Grom of PharmaVOICE went on to add, «Dawn has demonstrated inspired leadership in the face of the current pandemic, remaining steadfast in her commitment to the IRB community and doing what’s right for patients. PharmaVOICE is proud to honor her as one of the most inspiring individuals in the life-sciences industry.»

Dr. Deieso commented: «Recognitions such as these from PharmaVOICE and industry peers are a direct reflection of the WCG team’s steadfast determination and commitment to the research community and the patients we all serve. I’m honored to work alongside such a mission-driven team and colleagues who are passionate about finding better, smarter ways to do things. The opportunity to profoundly benefit patients, both individually and at the population level, inspires the work we do every day and a tremendous sense of urgency to achieve our goals.»

To learn more about Dr. Deieso and Flitcraft’s inspiring leadership and their work at WCG, read their profiles in PharmaVOICE’s July/August 2020 digital edition of the magazine: https://www.pharmavoice.com/digital-edition/july-august-2020#1.

About WCG

WCG is the world’s leading provider of solutions that measurably improve the quality and efficiency of clinical research. Comprised of two divisions – the industry’s first central IRB – WIRB-Copernicus IRB, and first clinical services organization (CSO) – WCG enables biopharmaceutical companies, CROs, and institutions to accelerate the delivery of new treatments and therapies to patients, while maintaining the highest standards of human subject protection. For more information, please visit www.wcgclinical.com or follow us on Twitter @WCGClinical or LinkedIn.

About PharmaVOICE

PharmaVOICE is expressly written and designed to deliver the views, opinions, and insights of executives who are shaping the direction of the dynamic life-sciences industry. PharmaVOICE reaches more than 46,000 BPA qualified subscribers and is distributed to 60,000 industry executives with its digital edition. Our circulation includes executives from pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotechnology, drug discovery, research & development, contract research, drug delivery, and device/diagnostic companies. The publication also targets decision makers at healthcare advertising, marketing, medical education, public relations, information technology, contract sales, traditional and nontraditional media, and other service support companies and organizations. The publication also reaches more than 60,000 users with its digital edition, which contains original exclusive bonus content. For more information, please visit www.pharmavoice.com.

For more than 15 years, PharmaVOICE magazine has recognized the most inspirational, motivational, and transformative individuals across the global life sciences industry in its annual July/August PharmaVOICE 100 issue. Among the thousands of executives nominated, PharmaVOICE selects 100 leaders based on substantive accounts that demonstrate how they have inspired or motivated their colleagues, peers, and competitors; have positively contributed to their own companies; and have given back to their communities and supported philanthropic causes. Honorees represent a broad cross-section of the global life sciences industry – from pharmaceutical and biotechnology, to contract research and technology, to academia and nonprofit organizations – and a wide variety of functional areas ranging from the clinic to the C-suite.

 

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SOURCE WCG

Leanpath Achieves B Corp Certification

BEAVERTON, Ore., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Leanpath, the world’s leading food waste prevention technology provider, is pleased to announce we are now a Certified B Corporation – joining only 3,400 other companies around the globe that are committed to balancing purpose and profit. B Corps face a rigorous review process and are legally required to consider stakeholders as well as shareholders in their business model.

Leanpath has been on a mission for 16 years to effect social and…

BEAVERTON, Ore., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Leanpath, the world’s leading food waste prevention technology provider, is pleased to announce we are now a Certified B Corporation – joining only 3,400 other companies around the globe that are committed to balancing purpose and profit. B Corps face a rigorous review process and are legally required to consider stakeholders as well as shareholders in their business model.

Leanpath has been on a mission for 16 years to effect social and environmental change along with providing measurable financial benefits to customers. In addition to educating the foodservice industry on the pressing need to prevent food waste, we recently announced ongoing donations to nonprofits under the Leanpath 12.3 Initiative. Since 2014 alone, we’ve helped foodservice organizations prevent over 55 million pounds of food from going to waste.

«At Leanpath we know that if you’re totally focused on driving meaningful and positive change, good business will follow,» states Leanpath co-founder and CEO Andrew Shakman. «It was that core belief that enabled us to build Leanpath into a global organization fighting food waste in over 40 countries. Becoming a Certified B Corp represents a natural progression as it formalizes our core beliefs and commitments in an enduring structure.»

Leanpath is responding to the needs of a changing industry, because the importance of controlling food waste hasn’t changed. This certification comes at a time when the pandemic has pushed the public to ask more of the private sector – and food and beverage companies in particular. 

According to the 2020 Global Food Trends Report conducted by communications firm Edelman, «Doing good for society is becoming an expectation for F&B companies.» Food waste ranked as the most pressing issue of concern for food and beverage companies among consumers in the survey.

Leanpath’s B Corp certification assures foodservice organizations and their clients that working with Leanpath is a way to further their sustainability and societal goals with a trusted and committed partner.

This week Leanpath also announced the launch of Leanpath Go, a new food waste tracking platform specifically addressing new industry realities brought on by the pandemic. Look for more innovations soon.

About Leanpath
Leanpath is a mission-driven technology company making food waste prevention and measurement everyday practice in the world’s kitchens. Offices are located in the U.S., U.K., Spain, and Australia. Find us at www.leanpath.com

Contact:
Sam Smith
9712798228
244798@email4pr.com

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SOURCE Leanpath

World Teacher and Happy Science Founder Ryuho Okawa Introduces Four Principles of Happiness that Transcends Race and Religion in His New Book «The Laws of Happiness»

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — «The Laws of Happiness,» first published in Japan in 2004, the new edited English version will be published on August 28, 2020 by World Teacher and Happy Science founder Ryuho Okawa. «The Laws of Happiness»…

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — «The Laws of Happiness,» first published in Japan in 2004, the new edited English version will be published on August 28, 2020 by World Teacher and Happy Science founder Ryuho Okawa. «The Laws of Happiness» represents the «Four Principles of Happiness» which Okawa suggests that all people regardless of their religious or spiritual background should practice in order to pursue true happiness which continues from this world to the next. It is a work in which, as the title suggests, the nature of human happiness is explored at length in a practical and spiritual manner.

Okawa states outright at the beginning of the book that happiness is a decision rather than a quality dependent upon environmental factors. No objective or fixed circumstances can guarantee happiness, and instead happiness is a feeling that is innately generated. Part of the process of learning to be happy exists in accordance with learning from one’s experiences and embracing the reality that each person is given their own «workbook» of problems to which they alone have the answers.

The balance of maintaining happiness along the path of progress in life is explored at length in this work. Okawa states that the seed of unhappiness exists in moments of happiness; in other words, where there are good and successful times, challenging times will inevitably follow as life proceeds onwards. To become aware of this fact during the happy moments is a key to self-improvement whereby one’s weaknesses can be recognized and strengthened in preparation for the future as a means to preventing future unhappiness; all of this requires that one be willing to shed their old self as life progresses. Shortcomings are a positive indication that there is still room for growth all throughout the lifespan.

There are inevitable changes that will occur for all people throughout their life, and adaptations must be made. For example, while younger people benefit from having high energy, they also may suffer from a lack of knowledge and wisdom; as a person ages, they will have less energy but more knowledge, and it is such that changes need not be a source of unhappiness provided one can embrace the opposite strengths that come with ageing. Another example is that a person who is very spiritual benefits from developing practical and worldly insights: whatever the greatest strength a person possesses, they can benefit from developing that which is the opposite of it, and such can be a source of happiness.

Okawa provides a teaching that throughout life each person will gradually see the world through two different eyes: the differentiating eye and the eye of equality. The differentiating eye learns to distinguish the differences between all people and other living things, while the eye of equality learns to see the beauty in that which is common to all things. The former of these allows for the recognition of the individual purposes and roles of all things in the world, while the latter of these allows for the development of compassion and empathy; the continuous development and refinement of these two forms of vision, which Okawa states are the manner in which God views the world, are a key to the path of enlightenment.

There is an extensive discussion in the book concerning finding happiness in work, which is something that many people struggle with. While it is ideal that one works in the area that one is most passionate about, such is not always possible, and when it is not, a change of attitude can bring about happiness even in less than ideal work situations. It is possible, given the limitless potential of humans, to always be working towards improvement in the area of one’s work. Such is accomplished by a combination of factors, and Okawa provides the practical advice of reading to obtain new information, writing one’s thoughts to sort them out, listening to other people in order to learn their thoughts, and thinking in such a manner that one’s thoughts become increasingly developed. Okawa likewise provides several excellent methods for generating and developing new ideas into realities, and emphasizes that ideas which endeavor to contribute toward the collective tend to manifest greater success.

Okawa presents «The Four Principles of Human Happiness,» which are the practice of overcoming suffering through love, wisdom, self-reflection and progress; these may be understood as a contemporary version of Buddhist teachings on enlightenment that are suitable for all modern people. These are explored at depth and with considerable insight that touches upon a combination of spiritual, psychological and environmental factors that impact all people in some way. Some key points include all people want to be loved, no person is 100% perfect, self-reflection is the easiest method to combat negative spiritual influences, and that because one’s thoughts become one’s reality, it is beneficial to concentrate upon positive thoughts in order to manifest a happy life. Ultimately, it is stated that humans benefit the most from seeking the kind of happiness that leads to the happiness of others.

An extensive introduction to Happy Science is provided toward the end of «The Laws of Happiness» and provides an overview of the history and progress of this new religion. It may be stated that «The Laws of Happiness» as a whole is an introduction to the type of limitless, positive and happy thinking that is characteristic of Happy Science. Many of the teachings provided in this work are akin to a modern approach to Buddhist, Christian and other spiritual teachings, and are accessible to all people in the world regardless of their religious background. In a world where all humans desire to be happy and most people struggle to achieve or maintain a state of happiness, «The Laws of Happiness» provides the answers that many are looking for.

«The Laws of Happiness» is available for pre-order at all major bookstores nationwide and online retailers, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

IRH Press USA

 

SOURCE Ryuho Okawa