Category: Culture

Ethnic cultures as newsmakers

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New Jersey Transit Innovation Team named winner in Second Annual IDC Best in Future of Digital Innovation Awards

NEEDHAM, Mass. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #DigitalInnovation–International Data Corporation (IDC) today announced winners of the second annual IDC Future Enterprise Best in Future of Digital Innovation North America Awards. Winning projects successfully showcased the ability to source, augment, develop, and/or distribute software IP (intellectual property) to deliver differentiation, disrupt the market through external products or services, or have a significant positive impact on internal operations. Winners will be recognized during a live, virtual event on November 2nd at 2 pm U.S. Eastern Time. To register, please visit HERE.

 

  • Check out our Future of Digital Innovation eBook HERE.

The Best in Future of Digital Innovation North America Award winners for 2022 include:

 

 

Overall Winner

New Jersey Transit – Innovation Train: NJ TRANSIT’s Innovation Train project is a multi-phase initiative spanning R&D, implementation, and specification development that overhauls outdated technologies used in the transit industry to connect all NJ Transit Assets (vehicles, stations, track) to provide situational awareness, command, control, financial, and communications operations. No current single product can fulfill NJT’s goals. As a result, NJT “invented” the future — a “single stack” configuration of hardware, software, and standard operating procedures. The team-built technology delivers: a private mesh network that integrates NJT assets; 10G/s backbone providing internet access to the mesh; edge computing for video upload and analytics; onboard and station Wi-Fi; automated passenger analytics; UWB-based wayfinding; and IoT-based elevator/escalator monitoring. To accomplish this goal, NJ Transit built a laboratory at NJT headquarters and deployed the technologies for integration and testing. After confirming the technology, the Innovation Team installed the configured objects in four train stations and two trains. As a result, the time to offload video from vehicles dropped from 48 hours to 10 minutes – a reduction of 99.65%, which increased video storage length by 333%, allowing NJT to reduce false insurance claims by up to $4-5 million annually.

 

Edge Innovation Category Winner

PCL Constructors Inc. – Job Site Access: Job Site Access (JSA) is a cloud-based access control tracking platform designed and built in 2021 by PCL’s Business Technology department specifically to support the tracking, management, and control of workforce access on job sites promoting site security, safety, and efficient operations management. JSA is designed to scale to meet the demands of varying project sizes and configurations and provides flexible options based on specific construction, regional, security, or operational requirements. Projects can choose the type of monitoring access method from cost effective QR printed badges to innovative facial recognition biometric authentication methods as well as various hardware integration options from industrial grade turnstile gate structures, guard operated checkpoints, or self-service reader stations. The JSA solution enables field operations teams to be connected through remote mobile functions with the JSA Site Mobile app for iOS or Android devices. From simple worker tracking to complex authorization and security, Job Site Access is the security solution for smart connected construction sites providing a safer work environment by restricting unauthorized access, reducing opportunities for job site theft, and tracking time on site as a source to verify payroll or labor costs.

 

Innovation in Information Management Winner

National Fire Protection Association – NFPA LiNK: Developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), NFPA LiNK is an application-based platform containing real-time code information and situational content. Subscribers can add personalized notes in addition to bookmarking and sharing specific sections of code. With the flexibility to be used online or offline via mobile, tablet, laptop, or desktop devices, NFPA LiNK provides quicker access to crucial content while transforming the way information is delivered and used in the codes and standards industry. People around the world have turned to NFPA codes and standards to do their jobs efficiently and effectively for more than a century, but in recent years NFPA has seen a shift in the ways that people learn and do their jobs. Today’s workers do not find a physical book or a static digital version of a book to be the best means to help solve problems on a real-time basis. Instead, they want to connect the dots on safety and glean real-world, real-time understanding. With 54% of NFPA LiNK subscribers being first time NFPA customers, the platform has successfully reached a broad range of customers. Not only does NFPA LiNK support individuals, but the application also supports the differing needs of small businesses and large organizations.

 

“Winners in our annual Best in Future of Digital Innovation Awards represent those modern organizations that have successfully transformed from digital technology consumers to large-scale digital innovators,” said Nancy Gohring, research director, Future of Digital Innovation at IDC. “We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the organizations operating as digital innovation factories, building differentiating products and services to create greater value for customers and the business.”

 

For more information on the IDC Future Enterprise Awards Program, please contact Heather Ball at hball@idc.com.

 

About IDC’s Future of Digital Innovation Research Practice

Leveraging a framework that illustrates the interdependencies among three core components of digital innovation – defined business outcomes, an innovation foundation, and a flywheel of innovation, IDC’s Future of Digital Innovation research practice helps organizations generate the sustainable momentum necessary for the continued development of innovative digital products and services.

To learn more about IDC’s Future of X research practices, please visit https://www.idc.com/FoX

 

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC’s analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world’s leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights.

Contacts

Sarah Murray

Attune Communications

781-378-2674

sarah@attunecommunications.com

Mary Conroy

IDC

508-935-6964

mconroy@idc.com

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Culture Lifestyle Local News

Annual NJ Senior Citizen Art Show now open

The public is invited to enjoy the 56th annual New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show now on display in the hall galleries of the main building at Meadow Lakes Senior Living, 300 Meadow Lakes, East Windsor.

 

The exhibit, featuring more than 270 works of art created by New Jersey artists over the age of 60, will remain on display through Thursday, Oct. 27. Artists from 18 of New Jersey’s 21 counties have work on display in this year’s exhibit, the first in-person show since 2019.

 

The exhibit, with artwork by both professional and non-professional artists in 11 categories (acrylic, craft, digital imagery, mixed media, oil, pastels, photography, print, sculpture, watercolor, and works on paper), was juried by a three-person judges panel of professional artists who selected first-, second- and third-place winners and honorable mentions in each category. This year, exhibiting artists range in age from 60 to 101.

 

This year, Lisa Hendrickson’s (Burlington County) mixed media, Wary: Living with Scarcity, was named Best in Show/Professional, and Susan Lauricella’s (Middlesex County) watercolor, She is Fragile and Beautiful, was selected as Best in Show/ Non-Professional.

 

The annual exhibit, a co-sponsored project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Mercer County’s Division of Culture & Heritage, caps a year of county-based Senior Citizen Art Shows throughout the state.

 

All work on display represents first-place winners from the county shows. Work may also be viewed on the New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show website at www.njseniorarts.com

 

The show is open to the public Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of six or more are asked to contact Meadow Lakes in advance by calling 609-448-4100. For more information, contact Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage, 609-278-2712 or tfagan@mercercounty.org

 

The New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show is a project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Mercer County Division of Culture and Heritage. It receives additional support from the County of Mercer, Meadow Lakes (a Springpoint Senior Living Community) and the New Jersey Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

Categories
Business Culture

AM Best to participate at Insurance Internal Audit Group’s Fall Conference

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — AM Best will join the general session of the Insurance Internal Audit Group (IIAG) Fall Conference, which takes place Oct. 5-7, 2022, in Boston.

Anthony Molinaro, senior financial analyst, AM Best, will participate in the presentation that opens the conference at 3:00 pm (EDT). The session is titled, “ESG and AM Best Perspectives: What Internal Auditors Should Know and Do Now, Next and Later,” and is sponsored by Baker Tilly. Molinaro, who has been at AM Best since 2019, works in the property/casualty ratings division of AM Best, covering a diverse portfolio of companies. He also spent time at Prudential Financial in its financial reporting area, with a similar role at American International Group.

 

The Insurance Internal Audit Group is a non-profit organization founded over 50 years ago to provide its members with the tools to expand their knowledge and skills in the field of insurance Internal Auditing. For more information about the conference, which is taking place at the Boston Sheraton Hotel, please go to the event page and agenda.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Communications Specialist
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5098
al.slavin@ambest.com

Categories
Business Culture

Best’s Review explores auto manufacturers’ initiatives to offer insurance

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — The October issue ofBest’s Review covers auto manufacturers’ initiatives to offer insurance for their vehicles.

 

Also included in the October issue:

 

Best’s Review is AM Best’s monthly insurance magazine, covering emerging issues and trends and evaluating their impact on the marketplace. Access to the complete content of Best’s Review is available here.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Patricia Vowinkel
Executive Editor, Best’s Review®
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5540
patricia.vowinkel@ambest.com

Categories
Business Culture Entertainment News International & World

Prudential powers inclusion and economic growth in New York City and across the globe through support of Curtain Up Broadway Festival

  • Leads title sponsorship of the free Curtain Up Broadway Festival for the second year in a row
  • Donates $110K to power inclusion and economic growth for Broadway and local theater communities
  • Partners with acclaimed actress Brittney Johnson to shine a spotlight on access and inclusion

 

NEWARK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — For the second year in a row, Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), in collaboration with Playbill, Times Square Alliance, and The Broadway League, is proud to be the title sponsor of the Curtain Up Broadway Festival. The free, three-day outdoor event will take place Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 in the heart of Times Square and celebrates Broadway, a cultural icon that drives inclusion and economic growth in New York City and beyond.


Through this sponsorship, Prudential is reaffirming its commitment to Broadway, which serves as a foundation for the New York City arts community. Prior to the pandemic, Broadway contributed $15 billion to the larger $110 billion culture sector across the city, and Prudential is proud to be a rock of support for this event celebrating the iconic institution. Beyond New York City, Broadway’s economic reach extends far and wide through touring shows that infuse almost $4 billion into nearly 200 cities across the U.S. and Canada.

 

As part of the Curtain Up event, Prudential is also expanding access to the arts, theater community, and education programs, creating opportunities for more inclusion on Broadway. Since last year’s festival, Prudential has given away 2,400 tickets to Broadway shows at local theaters across the country through the Prudential Standing Ovations Ticket Giveaway. This year, thanks to Prudential’s support, the festival hopes to double the number of in-person guests to Times Square for the event. In addition, Curtain Up has partnered with WABC-TV to broadcast the finale concert throughout the tri-state area and with Playbill to livestream the event on its website.

 

“We know that Broadway and local theaters help to drive inclusion and economic growth in New York City and around the world. That’s why we are so proud to bring the Curtain Up Broadway Festival back again this year and to be a rock that helps fuel the industry and welcomes more people from more places to experience it,” said Susan Somersille Johnson, Prudential’s chief marketing officer. “I’m also pleased to announce Prudential is donating a total of $110,000 to the Entertainment Community Fund and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, two cultural institutions that support performing arts and entertainment professionals.”

 

As part of its sponsorship, Prudential has partnered with Brittney Johnson, an accomplished actress and the first Black woman to play the role of “Glinda” in the Broadway musical Wicked, to shine a spotlight on the need and opportunity for more inclusion in Broadway.

 

“The arts are unique in that they allow us to really see each other. To me, there is no greater vulnerability than to share something you have created with another person. Theater teaches and requires us to have empathy for each other and for ourselves in real time,” said Johnson. “To walk with a character, a person unlike yourself, through a pivotal moment in their lives, and learn something about yourself in the process — that is the power of theater. To watch other people around you feel empathy for a person onstage and feel valued as a result — that is the power of inclusion.”

 

In partnership with Johnson, Prudential will donate $50,000 to a nonprofit of her choosing, the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly known as The Actors Fund), an organization that embraces diversity and seeks equity and inclusion as it helps provide stability for performing arts and entertainment professionals throughout their lifetime. This effort builds on last year’s $50,000 donation that supported the organization’s critical programs that address unique needs of those working in the entertainment industry, including financial wellness workshops, support groups, online resources, and emergency financial assistance. Prudential’s financial wellness portal will be accessible to the arts community through the fund, and financial advisors will be on-site at the festival to provide information.

 

“We’re thrilled to be back with Curtain Up in the heart of Times Square, celebrating everyone onstage and off who works so hard to bring the magic of Broadway to life,” said Entertainment Community Fund President and CEO Joe Benincasa. “And we’re so grateful to Brittney Johnson and Prudential for this incredible donation that will help us continue to support our community when they need us the most, now and in the years to come.”

 

Prudential is also making a $60,000 donation to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which is helping transform the arts landscape in the company’s hometown of Newark, New Jersey, and plays a crucial social role, using the beauty and humanity of the African American heritage and the modern dance tradition to unite people of all races, ages and backgrounds. This donation is in addition to the financial support the organization has received from Prudential for over 30 years.

 

“Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performances uplift, enlighten and unite. Like the organization’s various education programs, they illuminate the human spirit, unlock potential, and spark change,” stated Robert Battle, the organization’s artistic director. “We’re thrilled to be in the heart of Times Square to invite new audiences to join in a dance workshop inspired by Alvin Ailey’s must-see masterpiece Revelations. Thank you to Prudential for this generous gift, and for a legacy of extending Ailey’s reach to connect with so many communities in meaningful ways.”

 

Throughout the Curtain Up festival, Broadway fans can enjoy free live performances featuring marquee talent, a block party and more, culminating in the finale concert featuring a host of Broadway favorites. More information about Prudential’s on-site activities is featured below.

 

INTERACTIVE ON-SITE EXPERIENCES, COURTESY OF PRUDENTIAL

Be a STAR on Broadway – An in-person, augmented reality experience where participants can see themselves on a Times Square billboard in costumes from some of their Broadway shows such as Dear Evan Hansen, The Phantom of the Opera, Beetlejuice, and Into the Woods.

Light the Way for Broadway – Curtain Up participants will be able to see their name in lights on Prudential’s Broadway marquee in Times Square.

Dueling Piano Bar Experiences – Prudential will be hosting Broadway stars in dueling piano sing-along moments throughout the course of the event.

ADDITIONAL ON-SITE ACTIVITIES FEATURING PRUDENTIAL

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

2:00–3:00 p.m. – Official Curtain Up Kickoff

Curtain Up Broadway Festival kicks off with guest speakers from title sponsor Prudential, Playbill, The Broadway League, and the Times Square Alliance. In addition, Broadway stars, including Brittney Johnson (Wicked) and Norm Lewis (The Phantom of the Opera), will deliver onstage performances.

5:00–6:30 p.m. – The Broadway Block Party

Prudential, Playbill, and the Times Square Alliance will “ignite the night” with The Broadway Block Party — a large-scale street party that invites revelers to dance and sing to classic and contemporary Broadway songs.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1

10:30–11:15 a.m. – Ailey’s Revelations Dance Workshop

Event-goers can join a processional of Ailey’s West African drummers and dancers from Duffy Square to the Curtain Up mainstage, where they’ll learn modified excerpts of Alvin Ailey’s masterwork Revelations taught by former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater members Renee Robinson and Amos Machanic.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. – Curtain Up! LIVE from Broadway Concert

Hosted by Amber Ruffin and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Curtain Up LIVE from Broadway will spotlight marquee talent and showcase Broadway musicals and plays, marking the culmination of Curtain Up Broadway Festival. This concert will also air live on WABC-TV and be livestreamed at Playbill.com/CurtainUp.

 

For more information about Prudential’s Curtain Up sponsorship, please visit www.Prudential.com/landing/CurtainUp.

 

ABOUT PRUDENTIAL

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with more than $1.5 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2022, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees help make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people by expanding access to investing, insurance, and retirement security. Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise, and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

Contacts

MEDIA: Marisa Amador

973-802-8969

marisa.amador@prudential.com

Categories
Business Culture Lifestyle

CoreLogic: US mortgage delinquencies decline for 16th consecutive month year over year in July

Foreclosures rose slightly from July 2021 in about two-thirds of metro areas, but the national rate remains near an all-time low

 

IRVINE, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #Foreclosure–CoreLogic, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today released its monthly Loan Performance Insights Report for July 2022.


For the month of July, 3% of all mortgages in the U.S. were in some stage of delinquency (30 days or more past due, including those in foreclosure), representing a 1.2 percentage point decrease compared to 4.2% in July 2021.

 

To gain a complete view of the mortgage market and loan performance health, CoreLogic examines all stages of delinquency. In July 2022, the U.S. delinquency and transition rates, and their year-over-year changes, were as follows:

 

  • Early-Stage Delinquencies (30 to 59 days past due): 1.3%, up from 1.1% in July 2021.
  • Adverse Delinquency (60 to 89 days past due): 0.4%, up from 0.3% in July 2021.
  • Serious Delinquency (90 days or more past due, including loans in foreclosure): 1.3%, down from 2.8% in July 2021 and a high of 4.3% in August 2020.
  • Foreclosure Inventory Rate (the share of mortgages in some stage of the foreclosure process): 0.3%, up from 0.2% in July 2021.
  • Transition Rate (the share of mortgages that transitioned from current to 30 days past due): 0.7%, up from 0.6% in July 2021.

 

Although overall U.S. mortgage delinquencies crept up again in July from earlier in 2022, they declined for the 16th straight month year over year and remained near historic lows. The national foreclosure rate has held steady at 0.3% since March but rose by 0.1 percentage point from July 2021. This slight bump mirrors metro-level trends, with almost two-thirds of areas that CoreLogic tracks posting small annual foreclosure gains. The minor uptick in foreclosures may be due to mortgage forbearance periods and moratoriums ending for some homeowners, while the increase in delinquencies could indicate that inflation is negatively impacting others’ abilities to make monthly payments.

 

“Early-stage delinquencies are showing a small but clear increasing trend on a month-over-month and year-over-year basis,” said Molly Boesel, principal economist at CoreLogic. “While the share of mortgages that are 30 to 89 days past due remains below the pre-pandemic level, the slight increase is occurring in most areas of the country and could indicate that more borrowers are having trouble making their monthly payments.”

 

State and Metro Takeaways:

  • In July, all states posted annual declines in their overall delinquency rates. The states with the largest declines were Hawaii and Nevada (both down 2.3 percentage points), New Jersey (down 2.1 percentage points) and New York (down 2.0 percentage points), the third consecutive month that these states have led the country for delinquency declines. The remaining states, including the District of Columbia, registered annual delinquency rate drops between 1.9 percentage points and 0.2 percentage points.
  • All but eight U.S. metro areas posted at least a small annual decrease in overall delinquency rates, with increases in those metros ranging from 0.1 percentage points to 0.4 percentage points.
  • All U.S. metro areas posted at least a small annual decrease in serious delinquency rates, with Odessa, Texas (down 4.7 percentage points), Laredo, Texas (down 3.7 percentage points) and Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Hawaii (down 3.6 percentage points) posting the largest decreases.

 

The next CoreLogic Loan Performance Insights Report will be released on October 27, 2022, featuring data for August 2022. For ongoing housing trends and data, visit the CoreLogic Intelligence Blog: www.corelogic.com/intelligence.

 

Methodology

The data in The CoreLogic LPI report represents foreclosure and delinquency activity reported through July 2022. The data in this report accounts for only first liens against a property and does not include secondary liens. The delinquency, transition and foreclosure rates are measured only against homes that have an outstanding mortgage. Homes without mortgage liens are not subject to foreclosure and are, therefore, excluded from the analysis. CoreLogic has approximately 75% coverage of U.S. foreclosure data.

 

Source: CoreLogic

The data provided is for use only by the primary recipient or the primary recipient’s publication or broadcast. This data may not be re-sold, republished or licensed to any other source, including publications and sources owned by the primary recipient’s parent company without prior written permission from CoreLogic. Any CoreLogic data used for publication or broadcast, in whole or in part, must be sourced as coming from CoreLogic, a data and analytics company. For use with broadcast or web content, the citation must directly accompany first reference of the data. If the data is illustrated with maps, charts, graphs or other visual elements, the CoreLogic logo must be included on screen or website. For questions, analysis or interpretation of the data, contact Robin Wachner at newsmedia@corelogic.com. For sales inquiries, contact sales@corelogic.com. Data provided may not be modified without the prior written permission of CoreLogic. Do not use the data in any unlawful manner. This data is compiled from public records, contributory databases and proprietary analytics, and its accuracy is dependent upon these sources.

 

About CoreLogic

CoreLogic is a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider. The company’s combined data from public, contributory and proprietary sources includes over 4.5 billion records spanning more than 50 years, providing detailed coverage of property, mortgages and other encumbrances, consumer credit, tenancy, location, hazard risk and related performance information. The markets CoreLogic serves include real estate and mortgage finance, insurance, capital markets, and the public sector. CoreLogic delivers value to clients through unique data, analytics, workflow technology, advisory and managed services. Clients rely on CoreLogic to help identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., CoreLogic operates in North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com.

 

CORELOGIC and the CoreLogic logo are trademarks of CoreLogic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts

Robin Wachner

CoreLogic

newsmedia@corelogic.com

Categories
Business Culture

Lev Peker joins the PARTS iD, Inc. board of directors

CRANBURY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — PARTS iD, Inc. (NYSE American: ID) (“PARTS iD” or “the Company”) the owner and operator of, among other verticals, “CARiD.com,” a leading digital commerce platform for the automotive aftermarket, today announced the appointment of Lev Peker to its board of directors effective September 28, 2022.

 

“Lev’s experience building and bringing to profitability disruptive online businesses, particularly in the automotive and automotive parts industry, makes him a valuable addition to our board,” said Prashant Pathak, Chairman of PARTS iD. “We’re pleased to welcome Lev and know that the Company and its shareholders will benefit from his industry expertise and track record of value creation.”

 

Mr. Peker served as Chief Executive Officer of CarParts.com, an e-commerce provider of automotive parts and accessories from 2019 to 2022. During his tenure, he returned the business to growth and delivered the highest annual profitability in the history of CarParts.com. In April 2022, Mr. Peker was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Carlotz, Inc., a leading consignment-to-retail used vehicle marketplace. Earlier in his career, he served as Chief Marketing Officer at Adorama, a leading electronics retailer and also held senior positions at Sears Holdings Corporation and US Auto Parts.

 

“I’ve long admired PARTS iD’s differentiated, technology driven business model and the opportunity it presents for transforming the $400 billion automotive aftermarket industry,” said Peker. “It’s an honor to join the board and I look forward to contributing to the strategy and direction of the company as we progress on delivering profitable growth and increasing long-term shareholder value.”

 

Mr. Peker, who will serve as chairperson of the audit committee, replaces Ann Schwister who stepped down from the board for personal reasons.

 

Pathak continued, “Ann was a key member of our Board and her contributions are truly appreciated. We wish her the very best as she steps down to take time to attend to her personal matters”

 

About PARTS iD, Inc.

PARTS iD is a technology-driven, digital commerce company focused on creating custom infrastructure and unique user experiences within niche markets. Founded in 2008 with a vision of creating a one-stop eCommerce destination for the automotive parts and accessories market, we believe that PARTS iD has since become a market leader and proven brand-builder, fueled by its commitment to delivering a revolutionary shopping experience; comprehensive, accurate and varied product offerings; and continued digital commerce innovation.

Contacts

Investors:

Brendon Frey

ICR

ir@partsidinc.com

Media:
Erin Hadden

FischTank PR

partsid@fischtankpr.com

Categories
Art & Life Culture Lifestyle

Union County HEART Grant recipient makes presentation on local history

Nancy J. Ori of Berkeley Heights, well-known photographer, author, and educator received a 2022 HEART GRANT from the Union County Board of County Commissioners to do photography at approximately 35 local historical sites and to create a digital presentation.

 

She has spent months researching and photographing the numerous exteriors and interiors. Her artistic selection of subject matter was determined by the best summary of images to depict the lifestyle of the people who lived throughout the County during the different time periods in our history from the early farms, through the Revolutionary War, and to the present.

 

This new project (History, Education and Arts, Reaching Thousands) will be presented online through a Zoom lecture on Oct. 13th at 7-8:30pm.

It will be an introduction to the Four Centuries in a Weekend events taking place from Oct. 15-16 2022, and will include images to highlight the important story of Union County in chronological order. This online lecture will be live and offer the viewers an opportunity to ask questions about the sites and details about the photography. Contact the Plainfield Library or Nancy Ori to get the Zoom link. The online presentation is free and open to the public.

 

In 2000, Ori received a similar grant to create an exhibition of photography from the Four Centuries locations. Those images will be featured at the Plainfield Library gallery from Oct. 15, 2022 – March 11, 2023. The 2022 grant is an update to this previous project and includes new locations that have been added to the list of Four Centuries in a Weekend sites since 2000.

 

This large body of work provides a balance of images between the architecture, furniture, costumes, and artifacts of by-gone eras to reflect those who lived, worked, and played in Union County at earlier times. Ori refers to these images as “portraits” of architecture and artifacts. Some images are romantic in style and provide a contrast to the playful depictions of antique dolls and toys, some are bold forms of tools and objects presented almost as sculptures, and some are composed room set ups or still lifes done by Nancy to provide more formal and artistic imagery. There will be a ‘meet-the-artist’ lecture with Nancy on March 4, 2023, at the library, 800 Park Ave in Plainfield, NJ 908-757-1111 (details TBD).

 

“Since 1970, I have traveled throughout the world working on various photographic and video projects which has given me the opportunity to explore many popular and cherished places. It didn’t take long for me to see that right here in my own back yard are wonderful sites to photograph and images to share. I proposed both grant projects in order to best volunteer my skills to benefit my community and have since been inspired by not only the interesting subject matter and history of New Jersey, but also by the many dedicated volunteers I have met while doing my research and photographing the sites over the years.”

 

Popular locations such as Liberty Hall in Union, the Ashbrook Reservation and Nature Trail in Scotch Plains, and the Drake House Museum in Plainfield, as well as the smaller historical sites of the Woodruff House/Eaton Store Museum in Hillside and the Carter House in Summit are only a few of the locations featured in Ori’s exhibit as well as the Zoom presentation.

 

Nancy Ori enjoys teaching photography classes and workshops each year throughout the United States and Europe. In 1995, she founded the New Jersey Photography Forum, a group of professional and very serious amateur photographers who get together monthly to critique each other’s work and exhibit together, both online and at the art center in Summit. Under Nancy’s direction, the NJPF has grown to be the largest group of fine art exhibiting photographers in the Metro Area. (www.njphotoforum.com)

Categories
Culture Local News

Howell Farm’s ‘carousel’ corn maze opens Sept. 17

HOPEWELL TWP., N.J. — Howell Living History Farm continues its 26-year run as New Jersey’s longest-running corn maze with the grand opening of the all-new 2022 “carousel” maze on Saturday, Sept. 17.

Photo: A corn maze pathway.

 

The maze is open Saturdays and Sundays through the end of September, then Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October.

 

Visitors are invited to “get lost” in a 4-acre cornfield with pathways cut in the shape of an old-fashioned carousel — and find eight “puzzle pieces” located in hidden mailboxes to complete their personal map of the maze. Also hidden in the pathways are answers to trivia and crossword games about the history of carousels and other retro amusement park rides in New Jersey, New York and countries across the world. The maze design is inspired by a circa-1930s traveling carousel that was recently donated to Howell Farm.

 

Friends and families are encouraged to split into groups and compete for the best time from the maze entrance to “Victory Bridge,” which is calculated using “in” and “out” time stamps, with time penalties added for missing puzzle pieces and bonuses awarded for finding crossword answers.

 

The maze courtyard also features a pumpkin patch, hayrides, food tent and kids’ hay-bale maze.

 Photo: An aerial view of the 2022 “Carousel” corn maze.

 

Admission to the maze is $12 for visitors ages 13 and up, $10 for ages 5-12, and free for ages 4 and under. The maze is located at 17 Valley Road, Hopewell Township 08530, and is open on the dates below. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit www.howellfarm.org/corn-maze.

 

SEPTEMBER
Saturday, Sept. 17 and 24: entry 12 to 4 p.m.; last exit 5 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 18 and 25: entry 12 to 4 p.m.; last exit 5 p.m.

 

OCTOBER
Friday, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28: entry 5 to 8 p.m.; last exit 9 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: entry 12 to 8 p.m.; last exit 9 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: entry 12 to 4 p.m.; last exit 5 p.m.

 

The Howell Farm Corn Maze is operated by the Friends of Howell Farm, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Proceeds from the maze are used to support restoration projects and public programs at Howell Living History Farm, a facility of the Mercer County Park Commission.

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Culture Education Local News

MCCC recently names Dr. Preston 7th prez of the college

Recently the board had the great pleasure of sitting down with newly named President of Mercer County Community College, Dr. Deborah Preston.  Preston is the 7th president in the school’s history.

 

When did you know you wanted to be a professor and an administrator? 

I knew I wanted to be a professor when I taught my first college class at age 21. I was working on a master’s degree in English while I tried to decide whether to continue my studies in theater, which was my bachelor’s degree.  After about two weeks of teaching a freshman writing course, I realized that I loved working with students and was drawn to academic life.

 

My interest in being an administrator really solidified when my mentor, my Ph.D. advisor, pointed out to me that “there is more than one way to change the world.”  As much as I enjoyed teaching, I became convinced that I could have a greater positive impact as an academic leader.

 

As you leave Raritan Valley Community College what are some accomplishments are you most proud of?

My work with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was very important to me at RVCC and will continue to be at MCCC. I launched an initiative called Access2Success, which aimed to remove barriers and close the equity gap for students of color, low-income students, and first-generation students through support services, inclusive teaching, strategic faculty hiring, and professional development for everyone on campus. While at RVCC I began a three-year term as an appointee to the American Association of Community College’s Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

 

I am also proud of a partnership we developed with LabCorp, whereby they provided the start-up funds for RVCC to begin a Medical Lab Technician program to fulfill a growing need in the industry.

 

What about MCCC drew you to this position?

When I did my research, I heard over and over that the MCCC community was filled with smart, caring people who put the needs of students first. I also learned that the external community is deeply invested in the success of the College and that there is a tremendous opportunity for growth and partnerships at both campuses, especially at the James Kerney Campus

 

What’s your philosophy for leading a college?

The only good reason to lead a college, in my opinion, is to try to make the world a better place.  To me, this means putting the needs of the students and the community first and empowering faculty, staff, and administrators to do their best work.

 

A college president should be a servant leader who leads from a place of compassion and optimism.  I also believe that planning and change management is key to the strategic implementation of any initiative.

 

What are your goals during your first year at MCCC?

I look forward to guiding the College through a successful reaccreditation visit in April 2023. With the help of the leadership team and colleagues across the College, I will be exploring short-term and long-term solutions to the national enrollment decline that is affecting MCCC as well as many other community colleges. I am also excited about opportunities to bolster programming at the James Kerney Campus, and I am eager to collaborate with the College community to ensure that Mercer is a place where people love to study and work.

 

What specific vision do you have for the Trenton Campus?

The James Kerney Campus should be a hub for Trenton, providing education, training, community services, economic development, and more. I have already begun meeting with the community, business, and elected leaders to understand the wants and needs of the students and residents so that we can find ways to fulfill those needs through grants, partnerships, and innovation.

 

What advice do you have for graduates entering the job market?

Make sure that you have some training and/or education before you begin a career in earnest; that credential could be anything from a certificate that takes six weeks to a degree that takes four years to complete.  Don’t be surprised if you need to come back to school to learn new skills, because changes in technology make this a reality for almost every kind of job. Finally, keep in mind your long-term goals even as you start your career.

 

What objects will you bring into your new office?

Pictures of my family. Two worn Shakespeare movie posters that I have been moving from office to office since I was a junior faculty member.  Books. A tapestry I bought in India while I was riding an elephant.