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Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation announces appointment of Sharon Lee Cook to Board of Directors

FARMINGDALE, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation (NYSE: CHMI) is pleased to announce the appointment, effective as of March 8, 2023, of Sharon Lee Cook to the Board of Directors to serve out the term of Ms. Regina Lowrie, who passed away on January 1, 2023.

 

Ms. Cook is independent in accordance with NYSE listing standards, has been appointed to serve on the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees of the Board and will participate in the same compensation programs as the other non-management directors.

 

“We are excited to welcome Ms. Cook to our Board,” said Jay Lown, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation.

 

“We are thrilled to have someone of her caliber and wealth of experience to further strengthen our Board, and I have the utmost respect for Ms. Cook both personally and professionally. We expect her insights and perspective will provide us with considerable value as we navigate through the current environment.”

 

Ms. Cook is the founder and president of OLE Three Consulting, Inc., a management advisory firm that she founded in March 2022.

 

Previously, she was a managing director at securities firm Incapital LLC, a managing director at investment banking firm D.A. Davidson & Co., and a managing director at Sterne, Agee & Leach Inc. Before that, Ms. Cook was a senior economic and policy advisor to the deputy director of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Thrift Supervision where she participated in the resolution of failing banks, and the development of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) and the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).

 

Earlier in her career, Ms. Cook spent 12 years as a managing director at investment management firm Legg Mason Wood Walker Inc. and was the deputy assistant director at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for five years. She is a member of the board of directors of the Prevent Cancer Foundation, where she serves on the Finance Committee, and she is a member of the National Association for Corporate Directors. She is a graduate of The George Washington University.

 

About Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation

Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation is a real estate finance company that acquires, invests in and manages residential mortgage assets in the United States. For additional information, visit www.chmireit.com.

Contacts

Investor Relations

(877) 870 –7005

InvestorRelations@CHMIreit.com

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Wee-Wee® Eco Pads named among the Best Eco-Friendly Puppy Training Pads of 2023

NEPTUNE CITY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $CENT #FourPaws — Four Paws®, a leading pet brand in the Central Garden & Pet portfolio (Nasdaq: CENT) (Nasdaq: CENTA), and their Wee-Wee® Eco Pads were listed among The 7 Best Eco-Friendly Puppy Training Pads of 2023” by Treehugger, an award-winning sustainability website that provides information centered on eco-friendly lifestyles.


“Our Wee-Wee products provide a worry-free housetraining and waste management experience to help keep pets comfortable and give pet parents peace of mind with a cleaner home and cleaner environment,” said Glen S. Axelrod, President and CEO of Four Paws. “That’s why it’s our ongoing mission and responsibility to continue creating innovative solutions with a focus on sustainability that pet parents can trust.”

 

All products in Treehugger’s list were evaluated based on criteria including environmental impact, effectiveness, ease of use, design, and function. The website’s writers and editors independently research, test, review, and recommend products that are deemed the best.

 

Wee-Wee Superior Performance Eco Pads combine Earth-friendly materials with the proven dependability that the Four Paws brand has delivered for over 50 years. Featuring a leak-proof liner made of 50% recycled materials, each pad offers absorbent bleach-free & dye-free layers and 24-hour protection for a cleaner home—and a cleaner planet! As with all Wee-Wee branded pads, satisfaction is guaranteed or your money back.

 

Supporting the Four Paws Earth-friendly mission, these eco-centric pads are made with ethically sourced and sustainable materials. All Wee-Wee branded pads come in smarter, compact packaging to help minimize waste, improve transportation efficiency, and reduce pollution. In addition, Wee-Wee Pads are manufactured in facilities that utilize partial solar energy, partially recycled water, and operational efficiencies to help reduce waste, energy, and emissions.

 

Wee-Wee Eco Pads are available at select in-store retailers and online at Amazon, Petco, Chewy, and Walmart.com.

 

About Four Paws

Four Paws, a leader in innovative pet solutions for more than 50 years, offers products that simplify pet parenting. The brand’s dog & cat products make nose-to-tail care easy and include training pads, supplements, grooming tools, and beyond. For more information, visit www.fourpaws.com. Four Paws is a subsidiary of California-based Central Garden & Pet Company.

 

About Central Garden & Pet

Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) understands that home is central to life and has proudly nurtured happy and healthy homes for over 40 years. With fiscal 2022 net sales of $3.3 billion, Central is on a mission to lead the future of the Pet and Garden industries. The Company’s innovative and trusted products are dedicated to helping lawns grow greener, gardens bloom bigger, pets live healthier, and communities grow stronger. Central is home to a leading portfolio of more than 65 high-quality brands including Amdro®, Aqueon®, Cadet®, Farnam®, Ferry-Morse®, Four Paws®, Kaytee®, K&H®, Nylabone® and Pennington®, strong manufacturing and distribution capabilities and a passionate, entrepreneurial growth culture. Central Garden & Pet is based in Walnut Creek, California and has over 7,000 employees across North America and Europe. Visit www.central.com to learn more.

Contacts

PR Contact

Liz Nunan

Phone: (925) 878-9465

Email: Lnunan@central.com

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Oticon celebrates winners of the Annual Oticon Focus on People Awards

12 inspiring individuals recognized for empowering and advocating for people with hearing loss

 

SOMERSET, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #FOPOticon, Inc. announced the winners of the 2022 Oticon Focus on People Awards, a national program dedicated to honoring outstanding individuals who have made a positive impact on the hearing loss community. Thousands of people from around the world voted during Fall 2022 to determine this year’s winners in four categories.

 

The 2022 first place winners are:

  • Student: Erin Cembrale of Dunedin, Florida views her hearing loss as a strength that motivates her to try harder and never give up. This commitment has fueled a successful soccer career. Since age 3, Erin has played for a variety of club, high school and college teams, including the U.S. Deaf Women’s National Team (USDWNT), with whom she won gold in the 2022 Deaflympics in Brazil. This year, she will travel to Korea with the USDWNT to compete in the World Cup. Off the field, Erin inspires and mentors young soccer players with disabilities.
  • Adult: Zina Jawadi of Los Altos Hills, California is an advocate for people with hearing loss among medical professionals. She believes accommodations are essential in establishing trust, formulating a diagnosis, creating an effective treatment plan, and ensuring patients play an active role in their health. A medical student herself, Zina is the youngest ever member of the Hearing Loss Association of America’s Board of Directors. Her long-term goal is to increase representation of people with hearing loss in medicine and to address accessibility barriers for people with hearing loss and with disabilities more broadly. Zina plans to donate all prizes, including the hearing aids, from this award to the Hearing Loss Association of America.
  • Advocacy: Gregory Scott of New York, New York drew on his personal experiences with hearing loss to create SoundPrint, a crowdsourcing app that enables anyone to measure and report the sound levels in bars and restaurants. SoundPrint serves as an important free resource for people with and without hearing loss who are looking for quieter venues that make conversation easier. Additionally, the SoundPrint database is shared with venue managers, public health researchers, and hearing health advocates to let them know people care about noise.
  • Practitioner: Jamie Marotto of Fairfield, Connecticut is the Director of the Sacred Heart University (SHU) Undergraduate Program in Communication Disorders and Director of the Audiology Clinic. She knows the value of integrating classroom teachings with clinical experience, especially when caring for patients in underserved communities. In the clinic, students learn how evaluating and treating hearing loss across a lifespan can improve a patient’s ability to work, interact socially and minimize health risks associated with hearing loss. To further drive home the importance of using their knowledge and skills to give back, Dr. Marotto leads students on an annual service-learning trip to Guatemala to provide hearing-related services and hearing aid fittings to in-need children and adults.

 

“From the youngest students to accomplished professionals and global brands, the winners of this year’s Oticon Focus on People Awards are redefining perceptions of hearing loss, encouraging inclusivity, and empowering others around them,” said Nancy Palmere Mucha, Director of Consumer Marketing and Public Relations for Oticon, Inc. “Through their leadership, advocacy, and resilience, they are inspiring change and making the world a better place for people with hearing loss.”

 

As part of this year’s program, Oticon has also recognized Barbie with Hearing Aids and leading toy manufacturer Mattel with a special award for the brand’s commitment to creating dolls with a variety of looks to represent everyone. The brand unveiled Barbie with Hearing Aids in 2022 as part of their ongoing efforts to amplify diversity and inclusion.

 

“The Barbie brand believes in the power of representation, and we are committed to continuing to introduce dolls, like Barbie with Hearing Aids, that reflect the diversity children see in the world around them,” said Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls, Mattel. “It’s important for young people to see themselves reflected in our products. And it’s equally important to encourage children to play with dolls that may not resemble them to help them understand and celebrate the importance of inclusion.”

 

The 2022 Oticon Focus on People Award winners were revealed on February 25 during the Oticon Next Conference, a gathering of hearing care professionals from around the country. As part of the event, Mattel donated more than 950 Barbie with Hearing Aids dolls to the hearing care professionals in attendance, equipping them with a valuable tool to connect with patients.

 

Established in 1997, the Oticon Focus on People Awards program has honored more than 300 outstanding individuals throughout the United States. This year’s second and third place winners are:

  • Student — Lauren Harris of Knoxville, Tennessee; Mercy Botchway of Everett, Massachusetts
  • Adult — Meaghan Thomas of Nashville, Tennessee; Shirley Forpe of Palatine, Illinois
  • Advocacy — Renee Polanco Lucerno of Culver City, California; Shanna Groves of Olathe, Kansas
  • Practitioner — Dawn Heiman of Woodridge, Illinois; Mary Frintner of Burbank, California

 

First place winners received a $1,000 prize as well as a $1,000 donation from Oticon to the non-profit organization of their choice. In addition, first place winners in the Student, Adult, and Advocacy categories received a pair of Oticon hearing aids.

 

To read the stories of all the Oticon Focus on People Awards finalists, visit Oticon.com/FOP.

Photos and videos from each of the 2022 Oticon Focus on People Award winners are available here.

 

Oticon, Inc. – Life-Changing Technology

Oticon is one of the world’s most innovative hearing device manufacturers, with more than 115 years’ experience in the design and development of hearing aids for adults and children. Our comprehensive portfolio of life-changing technology improves not only the quality of hearing but the overall quality of life for people with hearing loss. Oticon challenges conventions and pushes the limits of technology to bring to market hearing solutions that exceed the needs and expectations of people with hearing loss, so that they can live their lives without limit. Our groundbreaking BrainHearing™ technology is helping to provide better hearing with less effort by giving the brain the clearest, purest sound signals to decode. For more information visit oticon.com.

Contacts

Media
Allie Carroll

Gregory FCA

alliec@gregoryfca.com
267-294-7735

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Annual Mercer Bike Drive will support Boys & Girls Clubs

Mercer County and the Park Commission will host their third annual Bike Drive on Saturday, April 8, County Exec. Brian M. Hughes announced.

 

The County takes your old bikes — no matter the condition — and gives them to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County Bike Exchange, a volunteer-run organization that repairs donated bikes and sells them at modest prices at its Ewing location at Capitol Plaza, with proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs directly. Donations are tax-deductible.

 

“Our first two Bike Drives were a big success,” Mr. Hughes said, “and we’re happy to help promote bike-riding for both transportation and pleasure while helping in the efforts to make low-cost bicycles available to low- and moderate-income families.”

 

To donate a bike, drop it off on Saturday, April 8, between 12 noon and 4 p.m. at one of two locations: Ranger Headquarters at Mercer County Park in West Windsor, or the Historic Hunt House at 197 Blackwell Road in Hopewell Township. The rain date is April 15.

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Business Perks

Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation announces fourth quarter and full year 2022 results

FARMINGDALE, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation (NYSE: CHMI) “(Cherry Hill” or the “Company)” reported results for the fourth quarter and full year 2022 Tuesday.

 

Fourth Quarter 2022 Highlights

  • GAAP net loss applicable to common stockholders of $34.5 million, or $1.59 per share
  • Earnings available for distribution (“EAD”) attributable to common stockholders of $5.3 million, or $0.24 per share
  • Common book value per share of $6.06 at December 31, 2022
  • Declared regular common dividend of $0.27 per share, annualized common dividend yield at market close was 16.2% on March 6, 2023
  • Aggregate portfolio leverage stood at 3.8x at December 31, 2022
  • As of December 31, 2022, the Company had unrestricted cash of $57.3 million

 

“Our efforts to protect book value the past few quarters have been effective,” said Jay Lown, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation. “Looking forward, we believe we remain thoughtfully leveraged given the challenging macro environment and will continue to be opportunistic in deploying capital in 2023.”

 

Operating Results

Cherry Hill reported GAAP net loss applicable to common stockholders for the fourth quarter of 2022 of $34.5 million, or $1.59 per diluted weighted average common share outstanding. Reported GAAP net loss was determined based primarily on the following: $1.4 million of net interest income, $10.4 million of net servicing income, a net realized loss of $30.7 million on RMBS, a net realized gain of $8.5 million on derivatives, a net unrealized loss of $13.5 million on derivatives, a net unrealized loss of $7.2 million on Servicing Related Assets, and general administrative expenses and management fee paid to Cherry Hill’s external manager in the aggregate amount of $3.2 million.

 

Earnings available for distribution attributable to common stockholders for the fourth quarter of 2022 were $5.3 million, or $0.24 per basic and diluted weighted average common share outstanding. For a reconciliation of GAAP net income to non-GAAP earnings available for distribution, please refer to the reconciliation table accompanying this release.

 

Three Months Ended
December 31, 2022 September 30, 2022
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Income
Interest income $

9,906

$

8,213

Interest expense

8,539

4,882

Net interest income

1,367

3,331

Servicing fee income

13,700

13,426

Servicing costs

3,304

2,725

Net servicing income

10,396

10,701

Other income (loss)
Realized loss on RMBS, available-for-sale, net

(30,701

)

(9,735

)

Realized gain on derivatives, net

8,521

6,210

Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives, net

(13,526

)

33,321

Unrealized gain (loss) on investments in Servicing Related Assets

(7,198

)

2,293

Total Income (Loss)

(31,141

)

46,121

Expenses
General and administrative expense

1,587

1,475

Management fee to affiliate

1,597

1,625

Total Expenses

3,184

3,100

Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes

(34,325

)

43,021

Provision for (Benefit from) corporate business taxes

(1,572

)

1,344

Net Income (Loss)

(32,753

)

41,677

Net (income) loss allocated to noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership

702

(866

)

Dividends on preferred stock

2,463

2,462

Net Income (Loss) Applicable to Common Stockholders $

(34,514

)

$

38,349

Net Income (Loss) Per Share of Common Stock
Basic $

(1.59

)

$

1.91

Diluted $

(1.59

)

$

1.90

Weighted Average Number of Shares of Common Stock Outstanding
Basic

21,648,846

20,123,165

Diluted

21,682,287

20,156,606

_______________

Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts.

Net unrealized gain on the Company’s RMBS portfolio for the fourth quarter 2022 was approximately $41.7 million.

 

Three Months Ended
December 31, 2022 September 30, 2022
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Net Income (Loss) $

(32,753

)

$

41,677

Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gain (loss) on RMBS, available-for-sale, net

41,655

(46,592

)

Net other comprehensive income (loss)

41,655

(46,592

)

Comprehensive income (loss) $

8,902

$

(4,915

)

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership

197

(92

)

Dividends on preferred stock

2,463

2,462

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common stockholders $

6,242

$

(7,285

)

______________

Dollar amounts in thousands.

Portfolio Highlights for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2022

The Company realized net servicing fee income of $10.4 million and net interest income of $1.4 million, offset by other loss of $42.9 million, primarily related to realized losses on RMBS, as well as unrealized losses on derivatives and investments in Servicing Related Assets. The unpaid principal balance for the MSR portfolio stood at $21.7 billion as of December 31, 2022 and the carrying value of the MSR portfolio ended the quarter at $279.7 million. Net interest spread for the RMBS portfolio stood at 3.77% and the debt-to-equity ratio on the aggregate portfolio ended the quarter at 3.8x.

 

The RMBS portfolio had a book value of approximately $960 million and carrying value of approximately $931 million at quarter-end December 31, 2022. The portfolio had a weighted average coupon of 4.23% and weighted average maturity of 29 years.

 

In order to mitigate duration risk and interest rate risk associated with the Company’s RMBS and MSRs, Cherry Hill used interest rate swaps, TBAs Treasury futures and options on Treasury futures. At quarter end December 31, 2022, the Company held interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $1.3 billion, TBAs with a notional amount of ($306.1) million, Treasury futures with a notional amount of ($88.7) million and options on Treasury futures with a notional amount of $20.0 million.

 

As of December 31, 2022, Cherry Hill’s GAAP book value was $6.06 per diluted share, net of the fourth quarter dividend.

 

Dividends

On December 16, 2022, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.27 per share of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2022. The dividend was paid in cash on January 31, 2023 to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 30, 2022. Additionally, Cherry Hill announced that its Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.5125 per share on the Company’s 8.20% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and $0.515625 per share on the Company’s 8.250% Series B Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock for the fourth quarter 2022. The dividends were paid in cash on January 17, 2023 to Series A and B Preferred stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 30, 2022.

 

Earnings Available for Distribution

Earnings available for distribution (“EAD”) is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company defines as GAAP net income (loss), excluding realized gain (loss) on RMBS, realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives, realized gain (loss) on acquired assets, realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments in MSRs (net of any estimated MSR amortization) and any tax (benefit) expense on realized and unrealized gain (loss) on MSRs. MSR amortization refers to the portion of the change in fair value of the MSR that is primarily due to the realization of cashflows, runoff resulting from prepayments and an adjustment for any gain or loss on the capital used to purchase the MSR. EAD also includes interest rate swap periodic interest income (expense) and drop income on TBA dollar roll transactions, which are included in “Realized loss on derivatives, net” on the consolidated statements of income (loss). EAD is adjusted to exclude outstanding LTIP-OP Units in the Company’s Operating Partnership and dividends paid on the Company’s preferred stock.

 

EAD is provided for purposes of potential comparability to other issuers that invest in residential mortgage-related assets. The Company believes providing investors with EAD, in addition to related GAAP financial measures, may provide investors some insight into the Company’s ongoing operational performance. However, the concept of EAD does have significant limitations, including the exclusion of realized and unrealized gains (losses), and given the apparent lack of a consistent methodology among issuers for defining EAD, it may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other issuers, which define EAD differently from us and each other. As a result, EAD should not be considered a substitute for the Company’s GAAP net income (loss) or as a measure of the Company’s liquidity. While EAD is one indicia of the Company’s earnings capacity, it is not the only factor considered in setting a dividend and is not the same as REIT taxable income which is calculated in accordance with the rules of the IRS.

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to EAD for the three months ended December 31, 2022 and September 30, 2022:

 

Three Months Ended
December 31, 2022 September 30, 2022
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Net Income (Loss) $

(32,753

)

$

41,677

Realized loss on RMBS, net

30,701

9,735

Realized gain on derivatives, net ¹

(2,180

)

(2,143

)

Unrealized loss (gain) on derivatives, net

13,526

(33,321

)

Unrealized gain on investments in MSRs, net of estimated MSR amortization

(1,206

)

(10,590

)

Tax (benefit) expense on realized and unrealized (loss) gain on MSRs

(217

)

2,404

Total EAD: $

7,871

$

7,762

EAD attributable to noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership

(143

)

(153

)

Dividends on preferred stock

2,463

2,462

EAD Attributable to Common Stockholders $

5,265

$

5,147

EAD Attributable to Common Stockholders, per Diluted Share $

0.24

$

0.26

GAAP Net Income (Loss) Per Share of Common Stock, per Diluted Share $

(1.59

)

$

1.90

_________

Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts.

  1. Excludes drop income on TBA dollar rolls of $0.7 million and interest rate swap periodic interest income of $5.6 million for the three-month period ended December 31, 2022. Excludes drop income on TBA dollar rolls of $0.8 million and interest rate swap periodic interest income of $3.2 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2022.

Additional Information

Additional information regarding Cherry Hill’s financial condition and results of operations can be found in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2023. In addition, an investor presentation with supplemental information regarding Cherry Hill, its business and its financial condition as of December 31, 2022 and its results of operations for the full year 2022 has been posted to the Investor Relations section of Cherry Hill’s website, www.chmireit.com. Cherry Hill will discuss the investor presentation on the conference call referenced below.

 

Fourth Quarter 2022 Earnings Release and Conference Call

The Company’s management will host a conference call today at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. A copy of this earnings release and the investor presentation referenced above will be posted to the Investor Relations section of Cherry Hill’s website, www.chmireit.com. All interested parties are welcome to participate on the live call.

 

A live webcast of the conference call will be available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.chmireit.com. To listen to the live broadcast, go to the site at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time in order to register, download and install any necessary audio software. An online archive of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website for 1 year following the call.

 

Participants may register for the conference call here. Once registered, dial-in information for the call will be made available.

 

About Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation

Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation is a real estate finance company that acquires, invests in and manages residential mortgage assets in the United States. For additional information, visit www.chmireit.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws, including, among others, statements relating to the Company’s long-term growth opportunities and strategies, expand its market opportunities and create its own Excess MSRs and its ability to generate sustainable and attractive risk-adjusted returns for stockholders. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company’s present expectations, but these statements are not guaranteed to occur. For a description of factors that may cause the Company’s actual results or performance to differ from its forward-looking statements, please review the information under the heading “Risk Factors” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts

Investor Relations

(877) 870 –7005

InvestorRelations@CHMIreit.com

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NICE and Cognizant announce strategic partnership for digital customer experience transformation

Latest collaboration between NICE and Cognizant opens up growth opportunities in CX, WFM, and digital transformation

 

HOBOKEN, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #NICE NICE (Nasdaq: NICE) and Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) today announced the launch of a global strategic go-to-market partnership to accelerate customer experience (CX) transformation. This partnership leverages Cognizant’s deep consulting and business transformation capabilities along with NICE CXone’s industry-leading complete, integrated cloud platform to accelerate customer adoption of advanced CX solutions such as digital, analytics, and conversational AI. For both companies, this partnership will enable growth opportunities in their respective customer bases.

This partnership offers a comprehensive approach to bridge the gap between today’s consumer expectations and organizations’ delivery of extraordinary experiences. It is a step forward in transforming customer and agent experiences with a unified CCaaS suite encompassing omnichannel routing, AI, Analytics, WFO and Digital Self-Service offerings to redefine the way organizations engage and interact with customers. Previous collaboration between Cognizant and NICE has yielded impactful business outcomes, such as dramatically reduced answer and wait times as well as significantly accelerated platform deployments. This strategic partnership will further evolve our collaborative work.

 

Barry Cooper, President, CX Division, NICE, said, “As the CX landscape continues to demand a more consolidated collection of solutions built on a scalable cloud-native AI platform, NICE CXone emerges as a clear leader for digital transformation of the contact center and beyond. Teaming with Cognizant to leverage their Contact Center Advisory and Transformation services will bring more rapid, compelling business outcomes to our joint customers.”

 

Cognizant’s digital customer experience experts draw on strategy and research to link data to design, systems to stories, and insights to outcomes. Cognizant’s experience-led offerings span the entire customer life cycle and drive value across vertical markets. These solutions include customer and employee experience, content, and marketing services and omnichannel solutions.

 

“We are delighted to partner with NICE and integrate their Cloud Native Customer Experience Platform, CXone, AI-powered contact center software into our offering,” said Robert Vatter, Executive Vice President of Cognizant’s Enterprise Platform Services. “Together with NICE and our decades of expertise in the contact center market, we are now redefining customer experience by bringing hyper-personalized and intelligent ways for enterprises to engage with their users.”

 

About NICE

With NICE (Nasdaq: NICE), it’s never been easier for organizations of all sizes around the globe to create extraordinary customer experiences while meeting key business metrics. Featuring the world’s #1 cloud native customer experience platform, CXone, NICE is a worldwide leader in AI-powered self-service and agent-assisted CX software for the contact center – and beyond. Over 25,000 organizations in more than 150 countries, including over 85 of the Fortune 100 companies, partner with NICE to transform – and elevate – every customer interaction. www.nice.com

 

About Cognizant

Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) engineers modern businesses. We help our clients modernize technology, reimagine processes and transform experiences so they can stay ahead in our fast-changing world. Together, we’re improving everyday life. See how at https://www.cognizant.com/us/en.

 

Trademark Note: NICE and the NICE logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NICE Ltd. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners. For a full list of NICE’s marks, please see: www.nice.com/nice-trademarks.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including the statements by Mr. Cooper are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of NICE Ltd. (the “Company”). In some cases, such forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “seek,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “project,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results or performance of the Company to differ materially from those described herein, including but not limited to the impact of changes in economic and business conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; competition; successful execution of the Company’s growth strategy; success and growth of the Company’s cloud Software-as-a-Service business; changes in technology and market requirements; decline in demand for the Company’s products; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; difficulties or delays in absorbing and integrating acquired operations, products, technologies and personnel; loss of market share; an inability to maintain certain marketing and distribution arrangements; the Company’s dependency on third-party cloud computing platform providers, hosting facilities and service partners;, cyber security attacks or other security breaches against the Company; the effect of newly enacted or modified laws, regulation or standards on the Company and our products and various other factors and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, refer to the Company’s reports filed from time to time with the SEC, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise them, except as required by law.

Contacts

Corporate Media Contact
Christopher Irwin-Dudek

media@nice.com

Investors
Marty Cohen, +1 551 256 5354, ET

ir@nice.com

Omri Arens, +972 3 763 0127, CET

ir@nice.com

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Business Culture Perks

Campbell appoints Carrie Anderson Chief Financial Officer

CAMDEN, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) today announced the appointment of Carrie L. Anderson as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective Feb. 6.

 

Anderson will lead Campbell’s finance function, including controllership, corporate financial planning and analysis, corporate strategy and development, tax, treasury, internal audit, investor relations, transactional services and financial systems. She will report to Campbell’s President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Clouse and become a member of the company’s Operating Committee and a Corporate Officer. Anderson succeeds Mick Beekhuizen, who was appointed President of Campbell’s Meals & Beverages division in November 2022.

 

I am delighted to welcome Carrie to our leadership team. She brings a wide range of diverse, strategic experience and financial discipline, and her expertise in capital management and deployment will help us continue to drive our growth plans and enhance our performance,” said Clouse.

 

Her collaborative approach combined with a track record of driving transformation, delivering results and developing strong finance teams will be invaluable as we continue to build momentum in the business.”

 

Anderson brings a wealth of financial experience working in a variety of complex industries, as well as a background in manufacturing and engineering. She joins Campbell from Integra LifeSciences (NASDAQ:IART), a leading global medical technology company, where she has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 2019. Before Integra, Anderson spent seven years with Dover Corporation in several leadership roles, including Chief Accounting Officer/Corporate Controller, and Vice President and CFO for the company’s engineered systems and printing and identification businesses. Previously, Anderson spent six years as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Delphi Product & Service Solutions, a division of Delphi Corporation. While at Delphi, she also held leadership positions in finance, treasury and investor relations. Anderson started her career with General Motors.

 

Anderson earned her B.S. in chemical engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Ball State University. She serves on the board of directors of Embecta Corp. (NASDAQ:EMBC) and is a member of its Audit and Nominating & Governance committees.

 

About Campbell Soup Company

For more than 150 years, Campbell (NYSE: CPB) has been connecting people through food they love. Generations of consumers have trusted Campbell to provide delicious and affordable food and beverages. Headquartered in Camden, N.J. since 1869, Campbell generated fiscal 2022 net sales of nearly $8.6 billion. Our portfolio includes iconic brands such as Campbell’s, Cape Cod, Goldfish, Kettle Brand, Lance, Late July, Milano, Pace, Pacific Foods, Pepperidge Farm, Prego, Snyder’s of Hanover, Swanson and V8. Campbell has a heritage of giving back and acting as a good steward of the environment. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 as well as the FTSE4Good and Bloomberg Gender-Equality Indices. For more information, visit www.campbellsoupcompany.com or follow company news on Twitter via @CampbellSoupCo.

Contacts

Investor:
Rebecca Gardy

(856) 342-6081

Rebecca_Gardy@campbells.com

Media:
James Regan

(856) 219-6409

James_Regan@campbells.com

Categories
Business Culture Lifestyle Local News Perks

Hughes announces investment program for small businesses

The American Rescue Plan Act permits counties to provide relief to small businesses, many of which were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

To address those losses, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes advanced a resolution to the Board of Commissioners that enables the county to hire a consultant to manage the county’s new ARPA-funded Small Business Investment Program. The resolution was approved by the board on Dec. 20.

The county has set aside up to a half-million dollars for the program, which is geared to provide direct aid to local small businesses that are likely to have experienced difficulties in obtaining capital through conventional methods, such as small business loans, revenue through creation of stock and traditional investors.

Read more.

Categories
Culture Environment Perks Science

American Water Charitable Foundation provides $40,000 donation to Center for Aquatic Sciences

CAMDEN, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — The American Water Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization established by American Water, the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, today announced a $40,000 donation to the Center for Aquatic Sciences in support of their 2023 Community and Urban Science Enrichment (“CAUSE”) Program.

 

“The American Water Charitable Foundation is proud to continue our partnership with the Center for Aquatic Sciences by funding the CAUSE program for a fourth year,” said Carrie Williams, President of the American Water Charitable Foundation. “As neighbors on the Camden Waterfront, we remain committed to strengthening and improving educational opportunities for Camden’s youth and supporting the next generation of environmental leaders.”

 

CAUSE, the Center for Aquatic Sciences’ flagship program, has served youth in Camden, N.J. since 1993. It’s a community-focused development model that:

  • Strengthens STEM academic preparedness for Camden teens
  • Increases diversity in STEM career fields
  • Creates employment opportunities for Camden youth
  • Provides no-cost STEM enrichment experiences for Camden youth in grades K-12

 

“Our partnership with American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation has been critical to the continued success of the CAUSE program and the Center’s goal to support Camden youth as environmental leaders. We are deeply grateful for their continued support and proud to be celebrating the 30th anniversary of CAUSE with American Water as our partner,” said Nicole M. Gillespie Ph.D., President & CEO, Center for Aquatic Sciences.

 

Since its inception, CAUSE has provided opportunities for more than 400 Camden teens as interns and 3,000 Camden children as campers.

 

About the Center for Aquatic Sciences

The Center for Aquatic Sciences is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 1989 and has since been advancing the understanding of and concern for aquatic animals and their habitats. The Center’s mission is: “education and youth development through promoting the understanding, appreciation and protection of aquatic life and habitats.” In performing this mission, the Center strives to be a responsible member of the community, assisting in its economic and social redevelopment by providing opportunities for education, enrichment, and employment. For more information, visit www.aquaticsciences.org.

 

About American Water Charitable Foundation

The American Water Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a formal way to demonstrate the company’s ongoing commitment to be a good neighbor, citizen, and contributor to the communities where American Water and its employees live, work and operate. For more information, visit amwater.com/awcf and follow the American Water Charitable Foundation on Facebook.

 

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and diversityataw.com. Follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Contacts

Media
Alicia Barbieri

Manager, Corporate Communications

(856) 676-8103

alicia.barbieri@amwater.com

Categories
Business Entertainment News Lifestyle Perks

Parx Casino® launches cashless payment options

Sightline, Light & Wonder Partner to Deliver Cashless Gaming to Parx Guests

 

LAS VEGAS & BENSALEM, Pa. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Parx Casino® today announced the launch of cashless gaming throughout the casino floor via a partnership between Sightline Payments and cross-platform global games leader Light & Wonder, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNW) (“Light & Wonder,” “L&W”). Sightline’s Play+ is the funding solution for the new Parx Wallet, enabling cashless play throughout the Parx Casino® floor. The Parx Wallet app connects into the Light & Wonder casino management system (CMS) deployed across the property.

Parx Casino® in Bensalem, Pennsylvania is a 260,000 square-foot gaming and entertainment destination. The property features more than 3,000 slot machines, nearly 200 table games, and a 50-table poker room, alongside restaurants, retail, and entertainment venues. In addition to being the leading casino in the Philadelphia market, Parx also operates betPARX, an online casino and mobile sports betting platform, which includes Parx Play+ payments solution.

 

“The Parx Wallet will provide tremendous benefits for our loyal customer base, enhancing their safety and security,” said Marc Oppenheimer, Chief Marketing Officer at Parx Casino®. “The ability to play cashless across our more than 3,000 slot machines with the Parx Wallet and Play+ will provide our customers with easy access to their funds both on and off property.”

 

Customers can download the Parx Wallet app, powered by Light & Wonder, on their smart phone. Once enrolled in Parx’s X-Club casino loyalty program, guests can set up a Parx Play+ account to fund their cashless gaming account through multiple sources, such as a debit card. Parx Play+ patrons will receive the Parx-branded Play+ Discover card in the mail, allowing them to spend their winnings wherever Discover is accepted.

 

Sightline is a leader in cashless payments technology and implements its proprietary, best-in-class security features in its solutions to protect a player’s funds.

 

“We’re thrilled to announce the launch of cashless at Parx Casino®,” said Mandi Hart, Chief Client Solutions Officer at Sightline. “Play+ has proven to be the most convenient, safe, and secure cashless solution on the market. We couldn’t be more ecstatic about what we’ve been able to accomplish alongside Parx and Light & Wonder to improve the customer experience and further the digital transformation of the gaming industry.”

 

“Light & Wonder is committed to exceeding player expectations,” said Jon Wolfe, Light & Wonder Senior Vice President, President of Global Systems & Service, Gaming. “Enabling new technologies by working with companies like Sightline is a way for us to provide the best possible digital experience and remain one of the industry’s leaders.”

 

This launch at Parx Casino® furthers the partnership between Light & Wonder and Sightline to deliver innovative cashless gaming technologies at casinos across North America.

 

© Light & Wonder, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

About Parx Casino®

Parx Casino® is owned and operated by Greenwood Racing Inc. and is the #1 revenue generating casino property in Pennsylvania. Parx Casino® is conveniently located 20 minutes north of center city Philadelphia on Street Road in Bensalem, Bucks County. Parx features over 180,000 square feet of gaming and sports wagering space with 3,000 slot machines, 148 live table games and 48 poker tables in a private room; live thoroughbred horse racing and simulcast action; Xcite Center, a 1,500 seat live entertainment venue; nine restaurants and bars; and complimentary parking for over 5,000 cars. In 2019, Parx Casino® launched sports betting with a $10 million world-class sportsbook and online sports betting. Greenwood Racing Inc. currently conducts online casino gaming and sports wagering operations in New Jersey and Michigan as well as in Pennsylvania under the betPARX brand.

 

About Sightline Payments

Sightline Payments is the U.S. sports betting and casino gaming market’s leading digital payments provider and mobile app developer. Sightline leverages cutting-edge technology to apply modern solutions to a traditionally cash-based industry projected to grow to more than $150 billion in the next few years. Sightline’s suite of mobile solutions gives consumers a safe, secure, and responsible way to fund their online and in-person gaming activities and enables casinos to offer cashless wagering and personalized loyalty options across the entire property. With more than 1.5 million Play+ accounts, 3 million mobile loyalty platform downloads, and 80+ partners across the sports betting, lottery, racing, and online and brick-and-mortar casino markets, Sightline is uniquely positioned to transform the traditional gaming landscape. Learn more at SightlinePayments.com.

 

About Light & Wonder, Inc.

Light & Wonder, Inc. (formerly known as Scientific Games Corporation), is the global leader in cross-platform games and entertainment. Light & Wonder brings together approximately 6,000 employees from six continents to connect content between land-based and digital channels with unmatched technology and distribution. Guided by a culture that values daring teamwork and creativity, Light & Wonder builds new worlds of play, developing game experiences loved by players around the globe. Its OPENGAMING™ platform powers the largest digital-gaming network in the industry. Light & Wonder is committed to the highest standards of integrity, from promoting player responsibility to implementing sustainable practices. To learn more, visit lnw.com.

Contacts

Press

Sightline

Caroline Ponseti

cponseti@theheraldgroup.com

Parx Casino

Carrie Nork Minelli

cnorkminelli@parxcasino.com

Light & Wonder

Media@lnw.com