How To Make Your Business Look More Professional

Gloucestercitynews.net(January 28, 2020)–Running a business is not an easy task, and it is down to every business owner to make choices that are going to benefit the company in the long term. Some of these choices will be about how to make the business look more professional to the outside world – to customers, suppliers, and investors – in order to make more sales and increase profits.

It can be hard to determine just what is going to help do this, especially when you are working in the business and are close to what is happening. Ideally, you will want to take a step back and reassess what you are doing to ensure that your business is as professional as possible. Here are some ways to achieve this.

A Good Website

When a potential customer comes across a new company and thinks about buying from it, the first thing they are going to do is check its website.

It is expected that all businesses would have a website

(if there are no results when a name is searched, it will look highly suspicious), but that website also needs to look professional in order to win business.

image courtesy of unsplash.com

There are no excuses for a poor looking website; there are many web designers who will be able to help you decide what you are looking for and create something that works perfectly for your business. Even if you choose to do the job yourself, intuitive programs such as

WordPress

mean that you don’t have to understand coding to have a great looking and user-friendly website. This is essential if you want to look professional.

Your Premises

Some people choose to

work from home

, but others would prefer not to, or they don’t have a choice; if they own and operate a customer-facing business, then working from home is not going to work for them. If this is the case and you need premises to sell items from or to meet customers in, then you need to ensure it looks good and is well maintained. A shoddy-looking building is not going to inspire confidence in any potential customer, and an investor might not want to give you any money either if you can’t look after your office or warehouse space properly.

Installing a brand new building in place of an old one, such as

a steel building from Armstrong Steel

, will help you to look more professional. Everything will look clean and well maintained, and you will be able to specify exactly what you want, ensuring that your employees are comfortable too. This will give a great first impression to anyone who visits your business.

Have Business Cards

Ordering business cards

may seem like an unnecessary expense, especially when you are just starting out, but they can show your business in a much more professional light.

Networking

is an essential part of business, and if you don’t have business cards to hand out, what will you do when you are meeting new people who might be able to help you? You will either miss the opportunity or write your details on a scrap of paper – both ideas are unprofessional, and a business card would solve these problems.

What Microsoft 98-349 Exam Objectives Should You Master to Become a Certified Specialist? Practice Tests Know the Answer!

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 27, 2020)–Microsoft offers a wide range of certifications and exams for the IT professionals. By doing so, it contributes tremendously to the growth of the IT industry. Actually, Microsoft is a giant in it. This is evident from the fact that about 80 percent of computers all over the world are running on its operating system. That is why a specialist with the credential of this vendor will be in-demand in many organizations worldwide.

Microsoft 98-349, or Windows OS Fundamentals, is the recommended starting point in the IT-sphere. This article focuses on this exam and everything else that it entails, including its topics, recertification policy, prerequisites, preparation options, and so on. Let’s start with the basic information.

What is the Microsoft 98-349 exam?

The

Exam-labs.com

98-349 certification exam was published on April 13, 2011. All this time, this test has been very popular among employers and IT professionals, particularly those who manage application folders, files, and devices. Going by the look of things, this exam will continue to be a highly sought-after test for a long time. It is intended for home PC users, developers, academic information workers, and IT specialists. The 98-349 exam is also designed for those who are looking to be recognized as system analysts and system administrators. It is meant to certify one’s competency to understand, manage, and install the Windows operating system.

The Microsoft 98-349 certification exam consists of about 40-60 questions in total, and the time limit is 2 hours. The questions are of various types. Precisely, there are scenario-based and multiple-choice questions that are included in this test. The maximum score for this Windows OS

Fundamentals exam is 1000 points, and the passing score is 700

. The available languages: Russian, German, Spanish, Spanish (Latin America), English, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Korean, Japanese, and Chinese (Simplified/Traditional).

What are the prerequisites for Microsoft 98-349 exam?

There are no official prerequisites for Microsoft 98-349. Although this gives anyone the opportunity to take this exam, it would be almost impossible to do well and achieve even the passing score without having prior knowledge of Windows fundamentals. Microsoft has stated it very clear on its website that the individuals considering this certification test should know the concepts of Windows OS.

The candidates are also advised to use study materials that Microsoft offers on its webpage. The resources are as follows: training courses, practice tests, study guides, videos. Apart from these official prep tools, there are also other verified resources such as braindumps and video tutorials that can be found on exam-Labs. This platform is one of the best places that provide students with up-to-date study materials.

What topics do you need to cover in Microsoft 98-349 exam?

The exam is based on 6 main knowledge domains, and each of them will cover about 15-20% of the whole test. So, all the topics are usually given the same prominence in the exam. These objectives should always act as the general guidelines for the applicants about what content the examiners are most likely to include in Microsoft 98-349. Let’s take a quick look at each topic. You can check the whole list with the details by visiting the certification webpage.

Understanding the operating system configuration

This is the first topic that is included in the Microsoft 98-349 certification exam. The questions from this objective test the students’ knowledge of a number of concepts, but the main ones include the usage and configuration of Control Panel options, desktop settings, native tools and applications, mobility settings, and management tools. It also covers administrative tools, profiles and display settings, file explorer settings, start menu, taskbar, notifications, Microsoft Edge, Hyper-V, MSCONFIG, Windows PowerShell, Sync Center, and more.

Installing and upgrading client systems

This is the second topic from which the questions are taken in the certification exam. This objective measures one’s ability to identify editions of Windows OS, understand installation types, identify the appropriate upgrade paths, and understand OS architecture, and so on. You should know how to identify and understand hardware and compatibility requirements, apps compatibility, kernel mode, user mode, 32-bit vs. 64-bit architecture, perform a clean install and upgrade via Windows Update.

Managing applications

Various concepts are being tested on this objective. The questions evaluate the candidates’ knowledge of configuring and understanding applications, antivirus settings, UAC, services start-up types, service dependencies, and service accounts. You should also know a thing or two about local and network apps, desktop apps, Windows SmartScreen and Store apps, standard user and administrative ones, Malicious Software Removal Tool and Windows Defender.

Managing folders and files

The questions on this topic cover various concepts. They basically verify the ability of the test takers to understand file systems, print and file sharing, encrypting files systems and BitLocker, and libraries. To master the skills, you need to understand NTFS, FAT32, and ReFS, and can be able to configure share permissions, file system permissions, HomeGroup settings, effective permissions, and print drivers.

Managing devices

The questions on this objective are designed to measure the individuals\’ ability in connecting devices, understanding storage, printing devices, and system devices, such as device management, video, devices, infrared input devices, and audio devices. You should master your knowledge of plug-and-play and Bluetooth devices, printers, device drivers, third-party software, disk types, OneDrive, and Device Manager.

Understanding operating system maintenance

The last topic area majorly tests if the candidates understand backup and recovery methods, maintenance tools, and know-how to configure updates. You need to learn about recovery drive, recovery boot options, system restore, safe mode options, task scheduler, disk cleanup, disk defragmenter, system information, Windows update options, roll back updates, and more.

Conclusion

The Microsoft 98-349 certification exam is an important step for your career growth. With the relevant credential, which is earned after clearing this test, you will be a highly sought-after IT professional. Remember that Exam-Labs will always partner with you on your journey to achieving high results. You can always rely on its training materials to help you prepare for your exams in two ticks.

NEST Integrated Facilities Management Names Shannon Puckett Chief Operating Officer

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ—January 27, 2020

—NEST, the leader in integrated facilities management and technology solutions serving enterprises in the United States and Canada, has announced the addition of Shannon Puckett to their executive suite as

Chief Operating Officer.

In her new role, Puckett will oversee NEST’s network of over 26,000 independent service providers (ISPs), ensure their compliance to local and national requirements and manage quality assurance, product sourcing and service execution.

“We’re thrilled to have a veteran leader like Shannon joining the NEST family,” said Rob Almond, CEO at NEST. “After a year of continued growth and expansion of our services, 2020 felt like the perfect time to grow our executive team.”

Puckett draws on over two decades’ experience in the facilities management space where her leadership fostered growth internally and externally by implementing innovative techniques to meet organizational goals and process improvements.

She previously served as SVP of Strategy at Amazon for C&W Services and Managing Director at CBRE. She has also held roles at The Home Depot and Toyota Motor Corporation.

“I’m excited to hit the ground running with the NEST team in 2020,” said Puckett. “It’s great to be joining a company that has seen so much growth over the last few years, even as the industry becomes more consolidated than ever. I’m looking forward to seeing us maintain that upward trend.”

###

About NEST Integrated Facilities Management

Since 1994, NEST has been transforming the way modern, multi-site businesses manage their facilities and construction programs by pairing financial acumen and business analytics with a strategic consultative approach.

Real-time data, reporting and analytics technology empower business leaders with the informed insights they need to make smarter decisions. And with access to an extensive network of vetted independent service providers (ISPs) across the country, multi-site organizations with a national footprint experience exceptional service, regardless of where they are located. With NEST, businesses are equipped to address the full range

of their facilities maintenance

and management needs.

Nominations Open for 2020 New Good Neighbor Awards

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association and

New Jersey Business

magazine are seeking nominations for the 60

Annual New Good Neighbor Awards that honor outstanding economic development projects in New Jersey.

\”New Good Neighbor Awards recognize the visionary architects, builders and financing professionals who turn exciting ideas into reality and make New Jersey a better place to live and do business,\” said NJBIA President & CEO Michele N. Siekerka, Esq. \”This competition showcases the best of the best who invest in communities, create jobs, and improve lives.\”

Projects can be nominated in any of these three categories: New Construction, Community Enhancement (parks/streetscapes), and Renovation/Expansion. Eligible projects must have been completed (construction or capital expenditures) within the past two years (Jan. 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2019) and can be nominated using the

online form

on NJBIA\’s website.

The deadline for submitting nominations is

Feb. 14

NJBIA will contact eligible nominees and ask them to provide details about their projects. Judging will be based on projects\’ economic benefits, job creation, architectural merit and community involvement. Winners will be profiled in

New Jersey Business

magazine\’s July issue, as well as on NJBIA\’s website.

The 2020 New Good Neighbor Awards will be presented on July 14.

Last year, New Good Neighbor Awards were given to

13 winning development projects

that collectively represented $488 million in capital investments and provided 5,124 construction and 2,900 permanent jobs. Press releases and short videos about the winners produced by NJBIA yielded reports from media outlets throughout the state.

For further information about the New Good Neighbor Awards program, contact

events@njbia.org

. Information about last year\’s winners can be found

here

and short NJBIA videos about their projects can be viewed

here

The Cleanup of Gloucester City\’s Superfund Sites Continues; $384 Million Spent So Far

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (January 26, 2020)–The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is continuing the cleanup of contaminants in Gloucester City that came from the defunct Welsbach Factory located at King and Essex Streets and the Delaware River. Presently the property is the home of the Gloucester Marine Terminal/Holt property.

The same area was also the home of Armstrong Cork for many years.

The EPA is preparing the plans to remove contaminants from the Gloucester Marine Terminal/Holt property at King And Essex Streets (gloucestercitynews.net photo)

The Welsbach factory manufactured gas mantles in Gloucester City from the 1890s to the 1940s. Using state-of-the-art technology at the time, the wicks for the gas lamps were dipped into radioactive thorium so they would “glow in the dark.”

The company, not knowing the thorium was radioactive, discarded the wicks throughout Gloucester City. A similar manufacturing company, General Gas Mantle, located in Camden City did the same with the waste coming from their plant.

Since 1999 the EPA has been removing the thorium at various sites such as the baseball and football fields on Johnson Blvd. The same cleanup process has been ongoing in Camden.

In 1980, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sponsored a flyover radiological survey in Gloucester City and Camden City. Based on the survey, the EPA investigated more than 1,000 properties surrounding the two former gas mantle facilities – Welsbach in Gloucester City and General Gas Mantle (GGM) in Camden City.

As for the upcoming work at the Gloucester Marine Terminal, a source told us that an above ground tank 42 feet in diameter and 16 foot tall was going to be erected at the site.

Elias Rodríguez,

Public Information Officer, Region 2, New York, was asked to explain the purpose of such a large structure.

A similar tank like this one will be erected on Gloucester Marine Terminal/Holt property (Gloucestercitynews.net files)

\”

You are likely referring to the tank for the groundwater treatment system. Groundwater treatment will be conducted using physical and chemical treatment processes. The final design of the groundwater treatment facility including the treatment equipment/tanks has not been completed. However, one of the tanks to be designed/constructed is expected to be an open tank and would be used as an emergency back-up storage tank. So, it would not regularly contain impacted groundwater. In addition, the contaminants of concern are not ones where movement from the water to air is a concern,\” said Rodriquez.

\”

Construction of a groundwater treatment facility has been initiated and is part of existing work addressing excavation of radiologically contaminated soil at the port facility. Water encountered during the soil excavations will require treatment/disposal and that necessitates the design/construction of the groundwater treatment facility,\” he said.

\”

The Holt Cargo/Gloucester Marine Terminal parking lot is the location of the groundwater treatment facility. The port is the location of the former Welsbach facility. The former Welsbach facility operated from the turn of the century to roughly the 1940s and a waste by-product from their manufacture of gas lanterns contained low levels of radioactive material that was used as fill material in areas of Gloucester City and Camden City. One of the remaining buildings on-site at the port facility is the Armstrong Building.\”

Rodriquez said

the Welsbach Company (Gloucester City) and GGM (Camden City) produced gas mantles from the late 1890s to 1941. The companies used radioactive elements in the production of the mantles to help them glow brighter when heated. In the early 1990s, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection found elevated levels of radiation at the site and in many residential areas. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in June 1996.

Cleanup activities completed to date include:

¨ Excavation/disposal of contaminated soil and waste materials from numerous properties in Gloucester City and Camden;

¨ The demolition/off-site disposal of the former GGM building in Camden;

¨ Cleanup of radiologically contaminated building surfaces in the Armstrong Building, the last standing building associated with the former Welsbach Company at the port in Gloucester City;

¨ Cleanup/restoration of the William Flynn Veterans Complex, which included rebuilding three baseball fields, a football practice field, and a parking area; and

¨ Cleanup/restoration of the Nicholson Road Sports Complex, which included restoration of three softball fields, a Little League baseball field, bathroom facilities, and a concession stand. Current cleanup activities include:

¨ Excavation/disposal of radiologically contaminated soil at fifteen locations at the port facility; and

¨ Relocation of utilities (e.g. electrical, gas, telecommunication) within the port facility to facilitate subsequent large excavation of radiologically contaminated soil.

The prime contractor for the groundwater treatment facility is APTIM Corp.

APTIM specializes in engineering, program management, environmental services, disaster recovery, complex facility maintenance, and construction services. They have offices in Philadelphia and New York City and throughout the United States and Canada.

https://www.aptim.com

The value of the groundwater treatment facility project being built at the marine terminal is estimated to be $7 million Rodriquez said.

According to Rodriquez a

n estimated $384 million has been spent for investigations and clean-up and that includes work in Camden and Gloucester City.

When asked how much longer will it take to finish the projects in Camden and Gloucester Cities Rodriquez said, \”The current projection for the complete cleanup of these two communities is 10 years.\”

From the EPA\’s

WELSBACH & GENERAL GAS MANTLE Superfund website;

To address long-term site risks, EPA has investigated close to 950 properties in Camden and Gloucester City and has completed the cleanup on 163 of the nearly 175 properties identified as contaminated. To date, EPA has excavated and disposed of more than 350,000 tons of radiologically contaminated soils and waste materials. These cleanups included removing about 105,000 tons of contaminated soil from Gloucester City Swim Club and adjacent residential properties; about 23,000 tons from the site of a Gloucester City middle school; 35,000 tons from residential properties along Highland Avenue and Klemm Boulevard in Gloucester City; more than 55,000 tons from the General Gas Mantle area in Camden, more than 16,000 tons from residential properties and wetlands areas along Temple Avenue in Gloucester City, and about 130,000 tons from the recreational properties along Johnson Boulevard in Gloucester City.

(See More)

Video (s): $25 Million Spent on EPA Cleanup of Johnson Blvd. Sports Complex

www.gloucestercitynews.net › clearysnotebook › 2009/08 › epa-to-ho…

GLOUCESTER CITY: EPA to Hold Meeting On Welsbach …

Aug 18, 2009 –

Road

. To better understand how the community uses these ball

fields

, EPA … EPA plans to begin the

cleanup

at the

Gloucester City

Land Preserve by early fall 2009. … be working on, plug in

Johnson

Boulevard,

Gloucester City

, NJ 08030. … and Common Council of

Gloucester City

(

gloucestercitynews

net

) …

source of graphics EPA

Ocean County Attorney George Gilmore Sentenced, Failed to Pay Taxes/Lied on Loan App

TRENTON, N.J. – George Gilmore, a partner at an Ocean County law firm, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for his conviction on two counts of failing to pay over payroll taxes withheld from employees to the IRS and one count of making false statements on a bank loan application submitted to Ocean First Bank N.A., First Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

On April 17, 2019, Gilmore, 70, of Toms River, New Jersey, was acquitted of two counts of filing false tax returns for calendar years 2013 and 2014; the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on one count of income tax evasion for calendar years 2013, 2014, and 2015. The verdicts were returned following a trial that began April 1, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson, who imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

Gilmore worked as an equity partner and shareholder at Gilmore & Monahan P.A., a law firm in Toms River, where he exercised primary control over the firm’s financial affairs. Because he exercised significant control over the law firm’s financial affairs, Gilmore was responsible for withholding payroll taxes from the gross salary and wages of the law firm’s employees to cover individual income, Social Security and Medicare tax obligations. For the tax quarters ending March 31, 2016, and June 30, 2016, the law firm withheld tax payments from its employees’ checks, but Gilmore failed to pay over in full the payroll taxes due to the IRS.

Gilmore also submitted a loan application to Ocean First Bank containing false statements. On Nov. 21, 2014, Gilmore reviewed, signed, and submitted to Ocean First Bank a Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA) to obtain refinancing of a mortgage loan for $1.5 million with a “cash out” provision that provided Gilmore would obtain cash from the loan. On Jan. 22, 2015, Gilmore submitted another URLA updating the initial application. Gilmore failed to disclose his outstanding 2013 tax liabilities and personal loans that he had obtained from others on the URLAs. Gilmore received $572,000 from the cash out portion of the loan.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Thompson sentenced Gilmore to three years of supervised release.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John R. Tafur, special agents with U.S. Attorney’s Office under the direction of Supervisory Special Agent Thomas Mahoney, and special agents of the FBI Red Bank Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

The government is represented by Deputy U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Skahill; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jihee G. Suh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division; and Trial Attorney Thomas F. Koelbl of the U.S. Department of Justice – Tax Division.

Defense counsel: Kevin H. Marino Esq., Chatham, New Jersey

Pennsylvania ranks 37th best in new economic outlook analysis

The Center Square

Pennsylvania finished 37th

in a study

by the website Rich States, Poor States that examined the 50 states’ economic outlooks based on 15 weighted policy measures.

The economic outlook ranking for Pennsylvania examined such variables as top marginal personal income tax rate (6.95) and top marginal corporate income tax rate (16.88). Other measures examined include property and sales tax burdens, existence of estate or inheritance taxes, debt service as a percentage of tax revenue, and the number of public employees per 10,000 people.

RichStatesPoorStates.org

also ranked states based on their economic performances from 2007 to 2017. In that assessment, Pennsylvania ranked 33rd.

The state’s cumulative gross domestic product from 2007 to 2017, its overall loss of population to other states between 2008 and 2017, and nonagricultural job growth from 2007 to 2017 determined how it fared in the economic performance ranking.

—

State Rankings on Economic Outlook and Performance

State

2019 Economic Performance Ranking

2019 Economic Outlook Ranking

Top Marginal Personal Income Tax Rate

Top Marginal Corporate Tax Rate

Utah

4.95%

Idaho

6.93%

North Dakota

2.9%

4.31%

Nevada

4.95%

Indiana

5.25%

5.75%

North Carolina

5.25%

2.5%

Tennessee

6.5%

Florida

5.5%

South Dakota

Arizona

4.54%

4.9%

Wyoming

Michigan

6.65%

Oklahoma

Virginia

5.75%

7.62%

Texas

2.62%

New Hampshire

7.7%

Colorado

4.63%

Georgia

5.75%

6.38%

Mississippi

Wisconsin

7.65%

7.9%

Alabama

4.15%

6.03%

Missouri

6.4%

6.59%

Arkansas

6.9%

6.5%

Ohio

7.5%

3.67%

Iowa

5.37%

11.64%

Louisiana

3.78%

6.32%

Kansas

5.7%

Massachusetts

5.05%

South Carolina

New Mexico

4.9%

5.9%

Alaska

9.4%

Kentucky

6.5%

Nebraska

6.84%

7.81%

Maryland

8.95%

8.25%

West Virginia

6.5%

Delaware

7.85%

11.74%

Pennsylvania

6.95%

16.88%

Montana

6.9%

6.75%

Washington

6.75%

Minnesota

9.85%

9.8%

Connecticut

6.99%

7.5%

Rhode Island

5.99%

Maine

7.15%

8.93%

Oregon

10.66%

11.65%

Hawaii

11%

6.4%

New Jersey

11.75%

11.5%

California

13.3%

8.84%

Illinois

4.95%

9.5%

Vermont

8.75%

8.5%

New York

12.7%

17.23%

Source:

RichStatesPoorStates.org

/ American Legislative Exchange Council

published here with permission of The Center Square

Mind, Body, and Bubbly Wellness Event Returns with Double the Attendees and Vendors

Unwind and Shop Local at Philly PR Girl’s Third Annual Wellness and Beauty Fair

PHILADELPHIA, PA (January 2020)

– Returning for the third year in a row,

Philly PR Girl

is hosting their annual

Mind, Body, and Bubbly

wellness fair, a special day of connection and self-care! Attendees can experience the best of Philadelphia’s beauty and wellness communities on

April 19, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

, with an additional

VIP hour from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

, at

Location 215

, this year’s stunning location once again. With our exclusive VIP hour, more interactive vendors, a wellness speaker, and so much more, Mind, Body, and Bubbly 2020 will give attendees a day of rejuvenation they won’t forget.

Mind, Body, and Bubbly’s marketplace

will show attendees Philly’s

top wellness and beauty brands

in a fun and relaxed setting in Location 215, a state-of-the–art studio that opened in Spring 2020. This large, bright, airy, and centrally located studio and event space in the Spring Arts district hosted MBB 2019. Sample treats, try interactive services, and get to know the movers and shakers turning Philadelphia into a full-blown wellness destination. Guests will receive a

complimentary bubbly libation

before both attendees and vendors get to know each other in the intimate space.

A vendor table at MBB 2019.

Each year, MBB honors a charity that supports women in the Philadelphia area. For 2020, we are proud to be collecting purses and women\’s toiletries and beauty products for

Purses Full of Hope

. The purses go to women in shelters that may have been affected by domestic abuse, homelessness, substance abuse and other traumatic situations. These women often flee their homes with no belongings and are not only in need of various personal hygiene products but of something that can empower them and remind them of their resilience when they arrive at a shelter. These purses are often handed to these women upon their arrival to offer them the basic tools they need.

Returning this year is the

special VIP hour

for attendees who want to turn MBB 2020 into a mini-retreat. A light yoga and meditation class titled

Breathe in Before the Bubbly

will be held from

9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The yoga class and meditation will set a positive vibe for the rest of the day with breathing and setting intentions. Afterwards, VIP guests will have an exclusive half hour to explore the marketplace and get first dibs on the incredible local businesses and interactive services it will feature. VIP guests will also receive a goody bag filled with amazing items hand-picked by the MBB team.

Guests enjoying the Bootcamp and Marketplace at MBB 2019.

To add to the marketplace, Mind, Body, and Bubbly is seeking vendors in the health, wellness, and beauty industries who can provide an uplifting and positive experience to participants. This is a great opportunity to showcase your brand while mingling with attendees and expanding your audience. This year, MBB is doubling the space in Location215 from one to two rooms for the marketplace. This will be perfect to accommodate the increasing number of attendees of the event with an expected attendance of 200 guests. In order to become a vendor at MBB 2020, please complete and submit the Vendor Form

here

. The cost to reserve a table is $160 through March 1.

“Philly PR Girl is beyond excited for the third installment of Mind, Body, and Bubbly,”

says Kate Marlys

, owner of Philly PR Girl. “We wanted to bring back the inclusive, good-vibes experience for this annual event and make it the best one yet! We’re especially looking forward to partnering with Location 215 once again, because they believe in our vision for the growth of MBB.”

Does your business align with the values of this event? Do you believe wellness should be approachable and accessible for people of all backgrounds? Consider supporting this event as a sponsor. This wellness fair is the perfect chance to showcase your products to the event attendees, including social media influencers, lifestyle bloggers, and health, wellness, and beauty enthusiasts, as well as residents from in and around the Philadelphia area! In order to become a sponsor for MBB, please complete and submit the Sponsorship Form

here

by March 31.

Tickets to Mind, Body, and Bubbly are

available for purchase here

. Limited VIP tickets are available for $45 per person. Early Bird tickets are $20 per person, and the ticket price increases to $30 per person on March 2. Don’t wait to get your tickets to engage with the top wellness and beauty brands in Philadelphia!

Follow Mind, Body, and Bubbly on

Instagram

and

Facebook

to stay in the loop and be the first to know of updates! Follow Location 215 on

Instagram

Facebook

, and

For media inquiries and/or interview requests, please contact

molly@phillyprgirl.com

About Philly PR Girl:

Philly PR Girl is a full-time public relations firm for event planning, social media management, marketing, and promotions. Our company was built on the foundation of networking and relationship-building. Owner Kate Marlys has planned, facilitated and attended hundreds of networking events, resulting in a strong and dynamic network of contacts in digital, print, TV, and radio throughout the United States.

###

The Philly PR Girl team that made the event happen!

HRC Scores New Jersey Companies’ LGBTQ-Inclusive Workplace Policies

WASHINGTON DC (January, 2020)—

America’s leading companies and law firms are stepping up in record numbers to adopt increasingly forward-looking policies and practices to meet the needs of their lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) workers in the U.S. and abroad, according to the

2020

Corporate Equality Index

(CEI) released today by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization.

In the most rigorous assessment of LGBTQ-inclusive workplace policies and practices to date, a record of more than 680 companies have been designated a

Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality

by the HRC Foundation for their efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria results, earning them a 100 percent rating.

Top-scoring companies include 23 in New Jersey.

In total, 1059 companies and law firms were officially rated in the new CEI, up from 1028 in last year’s survey. The report also unofficially rated 122 Fortune 500 companies, which have yet to respond to an invitation to participate in the CEI survey assessing their LGBTQ policies and practices.

The average score for companies and law firms based in New Jersey is 86 percent. Of the 46 companies ranked, 23 earned 100 points, 31 earned 90 points and above, and 38 earned 80 points and above.

For the first time, HRC this year is giving special recognition to the 11 companies that earned top marks on all three of HRC’s workplace equality assessments: the CEI, as well as

Equidad MX

and

Equidad CL

. HRC’s groundbreaking Equidad program recognizes Latin American companies and U.S. multinational companies for their work in Mexico and Chile.

“These companies know that protecting their LGBTQ employees and customers from discrimination is not just the right thing to do — it is also the best business decision. In addition, many of these leaders are also advocating for the LGBTQ community and equality under the law in the public square,” said

HRC President Alphonso David

. “From supporting LGBTQ civil rights protections in the U.S. through HRC’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act, to featuring transgender and non-binary people in an ad in Argentina, to advocating for marriage equality in Taiwan — businesses understand their LGBTQ employees and customers deserve to be seen, valued and respected not only at work, but in every aspect of daily life.”

Employer

Headquarters Location

State

2020 CEI Rating

ADP

Roseland

100

American Express Global Business Travel

Jersey City

100

BASF Corp.

Florham Park

100

Bayer U.S. LLC

Whippany

100

Becton, Dickinson and Co.

Franklin Lakes

100

Celgene Corp.

Summit

100

Day Pitney LLP

Parsippany

100

Dun & Bradstreet Corp., The

Short Hills

100

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Newark

100

Johnson & Johnson

New Brunswick

100

Mathematica Policy Research

Princeton

100

Merck

Kenilworth

100

Nestle Health Science

Bridgewater

100

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.

East Hanover

100

Pearson Inc.

Hoboken

100

Prudential Financial Inc.

Newark

100

Quest Diagnostics Inc.

Secaucus

100

Samsung Electronics America Inc.

Ridgefield Park

100

Sanofi

Bridgewater

100

Subaru of America Inc.

Cherry Hill

100

TD Bank, N.A.

Cherry Hill

100

Unilever

Englewood Cliffs

100

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc.

Parsippany

100

Avis Budget Group Inc.

Parsippany

Novo Nordisk Inc.

Plainsboro

Aero OpCo LLC

Lyndhurst

Ascena Retail Group Inc.

Mahwah

Mars Inc.

Mt. Olive

Realogy Holdings Corp.

Madison

Wipro Ltd.

East Brunswick

Campbell Soup Co.

Camden

John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Hoboken

Public Service Enterprise Group

Newark

Burlington Stores Inc.

Burlington

Conduent Inc.

Florham Park

Firmenich Inc.

Plainsboro

Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC

Jersey City

McCarter & English LLP

Newark

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.

Teaneck

NRG Energy Inc.

Princeton

Honeywell International Inc.

Morris Plains

Newell Brands Inc.

Hoboken

Selective Insurance Group

Branchville

Software House International

Somerset

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.

Union

PBF Energy

Parsippany

More than 260 top businesses — including 191 that earned top scores on the CEI — are also

corporate supporters on the Equality Act

, critically important bipartisan legislation that would finally add clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people to our nation\’s civil rights laws. While the Supreme Court decides whether LGBTQ people are protected by federal employment non-discrimination law, these companies are holding the line for their employees and their families.

Other key findings revealed in the 2020 CEI:

The more than 680 companies who earned a 100 on the CEI represent 12.4 million employees nationally, 11.9 million globally and earn a combined estimate of $12.9 trillion in revenue.

Eighty-three companies participated in the CEI for the first time in 2020 with 36 debuting at a score of 100 — including Etsy Inc., Peloton Interactive Inc. and Stop & Shop, and Warner Music Group.

Of all Fortune 500 companies, 93% have sexual orientaiton in their U.S. non-discrimination policy, and 91% have gender identity.

The average CEI score for all Fortune 500 companies increased from 67 to 71 in the past year — with actively participating Fortune 500 companies having an average score of 90, up from 88 last year.

Over the last several years, CEI-rated companies have dramatically expanded their support for transgender workers. This year 89% percent of companies participating in the CEI offer at least one health care policy that is inclusive of their transgender workers, and 85% percent met stringent criteria that requires all blanket exclusions of medically-necessary care for transgender workers be removed from all health policies the company offers — up from 73% last year.

The CEI rates companies and top law firms on detailed criteria in four broad categories:

Non-discrimination policies

Employment benefits

Supporting an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility including public commitment to LGBTQ equality

Responsible citizenship

The full report is available online at

www.hrc.org/cei.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America\’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

Go visual with a new outdoor LED sign for your business

It’s all about being visual

Gloucestercitynews.net(January 20, 2020)–It is usually said that an image is worth more than a thousand words and nowhere is this truer than when it comes to advertisement. Then it is all about the visual!

If you hope to grow your business, regardless of what that business is, you need a good marketing strategy to make sure you are being noticed by potential customers. There is currently a multitude of options when it comes to marketing platforms as well as strategies and that’s why you need to conduct some marketing research before you get going.

One such platform, that usually is a sure-fire way of drawing attention to whatever marketing message you are trying to convey, are

outdoor led signs for busines

. Opting for an outdoor LED sign as a part of your digital marketing strategy will increase your chances of reaching new potential customers.

By choosing a strategic placement of your LED sign or banner you have the opportunity to really engage with the public. Perhaps your business is located inside a mall or you are targeting commuters on their way to work. Revert back to your marketing strategy and then let your ambitions for the future lead the way.

Don’t get distracted when creating a distraction

A good marketing plan should contain different elements, all with the same goal, i.e. increase your ROI as well as creating a strong brand for your business. A strong brand, often also including a catchphrase which embodies the core of your business is key to being successful.

Unless you have this competence yourself you are wise to bring in the services of professionals. Creating a marketing strategy that will promote your brand and business in the most favorable way is not as easy as it sounds and often you need the input from someone with experience.

Of course, you should be heavily involved in the process but one of the hardest things to do is to “kill your darlings” and that is where someone with less of an emotional attachment serves a purpose. It’s also easy to get distracted in these processes, ultimately focusing on things that are not relevant. Enlisting the help of a marketing professional will be one of the soundest business decisions you will ever make.

Once you have the outline of a marketing strategy in place it’s time to start looking more closely at some of the different elements it should entail.

Go digital or go home

This might sound like a harsh statement to make but it is in fact truer than not. All contemporary marketing strategies need to entail a section covering digital marketing efforts and platforms.

Today almost everyone has access to and uses some sort of social media for instance and that is why it is critical that your marketing strategy contains targeted efforts in this arena. By knowing where your potential costumers go to find information, you are one step ahead in the game of advertisement.

However, a digital marketing strategy can also include for instance LED signs and banners. Online sites such as

VisualLED

as an example provides easy to use LED signs and banners perfect for getting noticed. By opting for the usage of such high technological alternatives you stay relevant and in touch with potential customers.

Investing in an LED sign or banner is not complicated and thanks to advancements made in this field there are options available that allow you to effectively assemble and operate as well as carry out smaller maintenance services on your own. This might sound like a tall order but it really isn’t and you have several alternatives available as well in terms of sizes and features.

It all really depends on what your needs are and how you envision your business conveying its message. Once you have created your brand as well as your catchphrase it’s all about making sure it reaches the public in the best way possible. You want to make an impact and you want to make sure your potential costumers feel that there is value in your message. Outdoor LED signs and banners can be placed strategically depending upon your needs and thanks to features such as being weather resilient there really are no end to the possibilities.

Stay relevant by staying visual

LED signs and a digital signage software from

Rise Vision

really are the perfect way for you to display your marketing message for your business. Make digital advertisement part of your overall marketing strategy and you will be amazed at the difference it makes for your ROI.

Use the knowledge of professionals and let them guide you when you are creating your brand. By staying visual you stay relevant, effectively encouraging potential customers to engage with your business.

The LED signs and banners that are available today will make your next marketing campaign a breeze and since you are able to update them easily yourself, you also have the possibility of being flexible when it comes to promoting new and exciting messages.