Hampton University and Liberty University Join to Propose Two U.S. Senate Debates in the Fall

June 20, 2018, 12:00 pm

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Hampton, Virginia, June 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hampton University and Liberty University are pleased to announce that they have issued a joint invitation to the major-party candidates seeking election to the U.S. Senate to participate in two debates in the fall. The first proposed debate would be held in Hampton at Hampton University’s historic Ogden Hall, and the second proposed debate would be held in Lynchburg at Liberty’s new state-of-the-art Center for Music and the Worship Arts concert hall.

In addition, the Virginia Association of Broadcasters has agreed to partner with the two universities in promoting, producing, and broadcasting both debates on live statewide television. Students from Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications will also assist in the production of the debate on Hampton’s campus.

Earlier this year, the two schools met to discuss their mutual interest in looking for ways to work together to advance their shared goals of providing the best educational opportunities for their students and promoting the public good by offering a statewide platform for robust civic discourse. The two schools’ shared commitment to Jefferson’s idea that only a well-educated citizenry can preserve the promise of the American republic led them to offer to host these two debates during this important U.S. Senate election.

Hampton University is located in one of the most populous regions in the Commonwealth and has an unparalleled history of leadership as one of the top historically black universities in the world. Liberty University is located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Central Virginia and is the largest Christian university in the world.

Kelly Harvey-Viney, the Director for Hampton University’s Center for Public Policy, said: “The partnership between Hampton and Liberty is an example of institutional civic engagement at its best. As our schools have connected across regional and ideological lines, so should our state and congressional officials in order to carry out what is in the best interest of the Commonwealth of Virginia. We need to have an honest conversation. Our children’s future depends on it, and these debates are critical in allowing that to happen.”

“We are very excited about the prospect of hosting these two important debates with Hampton University and the Virginia Association of Broadcasters,” said Robert Hurt, a former U.S. Representative and the Director of Liberty’s Center for Law and Government. “The race for U.S. Senate in Virginia will be one of the important elections to follow in the fall, and we hope that our students and the public will benefit from what promises to be a lively and informative exchange of ideas at a critical time in the history of our nation."

"We hope our collaborative partnership with Liberty University showcases what wonderful things can be achieved when institutions with different educational missions and leaders with open minds work together to promote broader civic objectives,” added Paul C. Harris, a former Virginia delegate and Hampton University’s senior vice president. “What binds Hampton and Liberty in this unlikely endeavor is our shared passion for the value that rigorous political debate plays in the proper function of an educated citizenry.”

*Attachments*

· hampton word mark
· liberty

CONTACT: B. Da'Vida Plummer
Hampton University
757-727-5405
davida.plummer@hamptonu.edu Reported by GlobeNewswire 3 hours ago.

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Smile Brands CEO Steven C. Bilt Named a Glassdoor Top CEO in 2018

June 20, 2018, 11:58 am

≫ Next: West Virginia Justice Indicted for Fraud and Witness Tampering

≪ Previous: Hampton University and Liberty University Join to Propose Two U.S. Senate Debates in the Fall

Steven C. Bilt has an impressive 97% approval rating on Glassdoor.

IRVINE, Calif. (PRWEB) June 20, 2018

CEO of Smile Brands Inc. Steven C. Bilt has won a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award honoring the Top CEOs in 2018. Glassdoor, one of the world’s largest job and recruiting sites, released its annual report recognizing the Top CEOs, which highlights top leaders employees love working for in countries throughout North America and parts of Europe.

Smile Brands, a leading dental support organization with over 350 affiliated practices across 15 states, has a deeply rooted culture founded on the company’s mission to deliver Smiles for Everyone®. CEO Bilt received an impressive 97% approval rating based on the anonymous and voluntary reviews Smile Brands employees and affiliated dental providers shared on Glassdoor throughout the past year.

“Our Smiles for Everyone mantra was developed from the belief that happy employees and providers leads to happy patients,” explains Bilt. “To be named one of Glassdoor’s Top CEOs is a humbling honor. I believe deeply that culture should be on top of every CEO’s agenda and this recognition is the result of my personal rating being brought along by the gravitational pull of the incredible work that our entire team does every day to live and breathe our vision.”

“Winning a Glassdoor Top CEO award is a true acknowledgement of exceptional leadership, since it reflects the opinions of the employees who work with a chief executive every day. I congratulate all of this year’s winners on this significant achievement,” said Robert Hohman, Glassdoor co-founder and CEO. “It can be a real recruiting advantage to have a top-rated CEO at the helm of a company who has strong support from his or her employees. The best CEOs are inspiring, trustworthy, innovative and can be great motivators for people to bring their best selves to work.”

When employees submit reviews about their company on Glassdoor, they are asked to rate various factors about their employment experience, including their overall satisfaction and other workplace attributes such as senior management. As part of these ratings, employees are also asked to rate whether they approve, disapprove or are neutral about the job their CEO is doing.

Among the 770,000 companies reviewed on Glassdoor, the average CEO approval rating is 69 percent.

See the complete list of all Top CEOs in 2018: https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/Top-CEOs-LST_KQ0,8.htm

About Smile Brands
Based in Irvine, California, Smile Brands Inc. is one of the largest providers of support services to dental groups in the United States. Smile Brands Inc. provides comprehensive business support services through exclusive long-term agreements with affiliate dental groups, so dentists can spend more time caring for their patients and less time on the administrative, marketing and financial aspects of operating a dental practice. Smile Brands supports 360+ Bright Now!® Dental, Monarch Dental®, Castle Dental®, A+ Dental Care, OneSmile Dental, and Johnson Family Dental offices in 15 states, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Smile Brands is a portfolio company of Gryphon Investors (“Gryphon”), a leading middle-market private equity firm based in San Francisco, CA. For more information, visit smilebrands.com.

About Glassdoor
Glassdoor is one of the largest job and recruiting sites in the world today. Set apart by the tens of millions of reviews and insights provided by employees and candidates, Glassdoor combines all the jobs with this valuable data to make it easy for people to find a job that is uniquely right for them. As a result, Glassdoor helps employers hire truly informed candidates at scale through effective recruiting solutions like job advertising and employer branding products. Launched in 2008, Glassdoor now has reviews and insights for more than 770,000 companies in more than 190 countries. For labor market trends and analysis, visit Glassdoor Economic Research. For company news and career advice and tips, visit the Glassdoor Blog and for employer-related news and insights to help employers hire, visit the Glassdoor for Employers Blog. Visit Glassdoor.com or download our apps on iOS and Android platforms.

Smile Brands Contact:
Jody Martin
Press(at)smilebrands(dot)com

Glassdoor Media Contact:
Amelia Green-Vamos, pr(at)glassdoor(dot)com Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.

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West Virginia Justice Indicted for Fraud and Witness Tampering

June 20, 2018, 2:59 pm

≫ Next: Giant weed that causes blindness spotted in Virginia

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Federal prosecutors indicted a West Virginia justice on 22 counts, including mail fraud and witness tampering, related to his alleged misuse of state vehicles and a historic desk. Reported by Wall Street Journal 19 minutes ago.

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Giant weed that causes blindness spotted in Virginia

June 20, 2018, 2:19 pm

≫ Next: DigitalOcean Appoints Mark Templeton as Chief Executive Officer

≪ Previous: West Virginia Justice Indicted for Fraud and Witness Tampering

For the first time in Virginia, a hazardous plant that can cause blindness and burns has been confirmed.

Reported by USATODAY.com 59 minutes ago.

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DigitalOcean Appoints Mark Templeton as Chief Executive Officer

June 20, 2018, 12:00 pm

≫ Next: Poll Shows Manchin Leading In West Virginia Senate Race

≪ Previous: Giant weed that causes blindness spotted in Virginia

Former Citrix CEO will bring new leadership to help company achieve its vision of simplifying the cloud for developers and teams

NEW YORK, June 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DigitalOcean, the cloud platform for developers and their teams, today announced that it has appointed accomplished technology leader Mark Templeton as chief executive officer, effective July 1. He will also join the company’s board of directors.“When we first founded DigitalOcean, we did so with a single focus: to make the lives of developers easier,” said Ben Uretsky, founding CEO, DigitalOcean. “With this vision, we’ve become one of the largest and fastest-growing cloud providers in the world, with a $200 million run rate and a community that is more than 3.5 million developers strong. As we enter into our next chapter, I am confident Mark is the right leader to inspire and scale our team, accelerate and grow our business, and most importantly, uphold our commitment to our customers and the developer community at large.”

As the former president and CEO of Citrix Systems, Templeton helped grow the business from a $15 million organization with one product, one customer segment and one go-to-market path, to a global industry leader with more than 100 million users and annual revenue of over $3 billion. Templeton joined the company prior to its initial public offering and served in a leadership capacity throughout his 20 plus years with the organization. Over that time, he created a design-centric culture based on the values of respect, integrity and humility. Under his leadership, Citrix also earned multiple “best places to work” awards, and Templeton himself was honored with several awards including a coveted spot on Glassdoor’s Highest Rated CEOs list in 2013.

“Ben and his team have carved out a unique position in the $153.5 billion public cloud services market^1 by delivering the industry’s simplest cloud computing platform and building one of the world’s largest developer communities,” said Templeton, incoming CEO, DigitalOcean. “I am inspired by the team’s passion and innovative culture, and by the enthusiasm of the developers and teams who rely on DigitalOcean’s products. It is an honor to join DigitalOcean as CEO to help lead the company during this next phase of growth.”

Templeton is a CEO mentor and an early-stage investor in a variety of new technology areas. He is chairman of the board of both Instart Logic and Adaptive Insights, and serves on the board of directors for Equifax, Keysight Technologies and Arista Networks. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in product design from North Carolina State University’s College of Design, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

^1https://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3871416

**About DigitalOcean**

Founded in 2012, DigitalOcean provides the easiest cloud platform to deploy, manage and scale applications of any size, removing infrastructure friction and providing predictability so developers and their teams can spend more time building software that customers love. DigitalOcean has a $200 million run rate and a community of 3.5 million developers with 12 data centers across the globe. In addition to its headquarters in New York, DigitalOcean has an office in Cambridge, Mass. and remote employees around the world. For more information, simply visit https://www.digitalocean.com or follow @digitalocean on Twitter.

CONTACT: Media Contacts
Kwabena Stefan
Bateman Group for DigitalOcean
digitalocean@bateman-group.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 3 hours ago.

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Poll Shows Manchin Leading In West Virginia Senate Race

June 20, 2018, 2:54 pm

≫ Next: CB Financial Services, Inc. Long-Serving Chief Executive Officer, Barron P. McCune, Jr., Retires and New Corporate Center Named in McCune’s Honor; CB Financial Appoints Patrick G. O’Brien as Chief Executive Officer and Announces Results of Annual Shar

≪ Previous: DigitalOcean Appoints Mark Templeton as Chief Executive Officer

President Donald Trump remains widely popular in West Virginia, but the results of a new Monmouth University Poll still show Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.V., leading his race for re-election in the state. Reported by RTTNews 24 minutes ago.

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CB Financial Services, Inc. Long-Serving Chief Executive Officer, Barron P. McCune, Jr., Retires and New Corporate Center Named in McCune’s Honor; CB Financial Appoints Patrick G. O’Brien as Chief Executive Officer and Announces Results of Annual Shar

June 20, 2018, 1:08 pm

≫ Next: Bonnie Stone Sellers Appointed to the Board of Directors of Hovnanian Enterprises

≪ Previous: Poll Shows Manchin Leading In West Virginia Senate Race

CARMICHAELS, Pa., June 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CB Financial Services, Inc. (“CB Financial” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:CBFV), the holding company of Community Bank and Exchange Underwriters, Inc., a wholly-owned insurance subsidiary of Community Bank, today announced that Karl G. Baily, Barron P. (“Pat”) McCune, Jr., Roberta Robinson Olejasz, Ralph J. Sommers, Jr. and John M. Swiatek were elected as Directors, each to a three-year term, at the annual shareholders’ meeting held today. Shareholders also ratified the appointment of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accountants.At the shareholders’ meeting, Mr. McCune announced his retirement as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of CB Financial and Community Bank. He will continue to serve both organizations as an Executive Consultant and a Director. Patrick G. “Pat” O’Brien, President of CB Financial and Community Bank, gave an emotional tribute to Mr. McCune and revealed that the new Community Bank corporate center is to be named the “Barron P. “Pat” McCune, Jr. Corporate Center” (“BPMCC”).

At the annual re-organization meetings of the Boards of Directors which followed the annual shareholders’ meeting, Mr. O’Brien was appointed CEO of both CB Financial and Community Bank. He is a lifelong resident of Washington County and is well known for his banking talent and numerous leadership positions in the community.

The BPMCC is a 22,000-square foot, two story commercial office building located at 2111 North Franklin Drive, Washington, PA, near the Washington Wild Things baseball stadium. The first floor is occupied by Exchange Underwriters, a subsidiary of Community Bank and one of the area’s largest insurance agencies. The second floor is about to be occupied by Community Bank’s executive officers, lenders, retail management, HR department, collections staff, and audit employees. The building, which was entirely remodeled both inside and outside, features fiber optic communications, a porte cochere, a balcony, a gazebo and 150 parking spaces. A whole building back-up generator is designed to allow Exchange Underwriters and Community Bank to seamlessly serve their customers in any situation.

Mr. O’Brien noted that CB Financial was recently added to the prestigious “Russell 2000” Index. CB Financial’s stock price has appreciated some 36% over the last 18 months while its market capitalization recently topped $194 million. CB Financial now has approximately $1.2 billion in assets, and Community Bank operates 24 offices in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.

Mr. O’Brien commented that Mr. McCune had overseen a dramatic increase in the size, strength and valuation of CB Financial and Community Bank, and added, “I am honored to name our new Corporate Center after Pat McCune, as a tribute to his talented leadership of Community Bank and his dedication to our community.”

*About CB Financial Services, Inc.*

CB Financial Services, Inc. is the bank holding company for Community Bank, a Pennsylvania-chartered commercial bank. Community Bank operates sixteen offices in Greene, Allegheny, Washington, Fayette, and Westmoreland Counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, seven offices in Brooke, Marshall, Ohio, Upshur and Wetzel Counties in West Virginia, and one office in Belmont County in Ohio. Community Bank offers a broad array of retail and commercial lending and deposit services and provides commercial and personal insurance brokerage services through Exchange Underwriters, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary. For more information about CB Financial and Community Bank, visit our website at www.communitybank.tv.

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions contained in the Act. The Company’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the operations and future prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, changes in market interest rates, general economic conditions, changes in federal and state regulation, actions by our competitors, loan delinquency rates, our ability to control costs and expenses, and other factors that may be described in the Company’s periodic reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by applicable law or regulation.

CONTACT: Contact:
Patrick G. O’Brien
President and Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (724) 225-2400
Fax: (724) 225-4903 Reported by GlobeNewswire 2 hours ago.

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Bonnie Stone Sellers Appointed to the Board of Directors of Hovnanian Enterprises

June 20, 2018, 1:18 pm

≫ Next: Remains of Civil War soldiers found in pit of severed limbs

≪ Previous: CB Financial Services, Inc. Long-Serving Chief Executive Officer, Barron P. McCune, Jr., Retires and New Corporate Center Named in McCune’s Honor; CB Financial Appoints Patrick G. O’Brien as Chief Executive Officer and Announces Results of Annual Shar

MATAWAN, N.J., June 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:HOV), a leading national homebuilder, announced today that Bonnie Stone Sellers has been appointed to its Board of Directors effective immediately. The addition of Ms. Sellers expands Hovnanian’s Board of Directors to eight members, six of whom are independent directors. Ms. Sellers, who brings considerable expertise and over 35 years of global real estate experience, will also serve on the Board of Director’s Audit Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.“We are pleased to welcome Bonnie to Hovnanian’s Board of Directors,” stated Ara K. Hovnanian, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Her extensive experience in the global real estate market will provide valuable insight as we execute our plan to grow our community count, revenues and ultimately our profitability. We believe that Bonnie’s broad real estate knowledge and sharp business acumen will further enhance the oversight and counsel that we receive from our Board of Directors.”

Ms. Sellers most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Christie’s International Real Estate. As CEO of Christie’s, Ms. Sellers was responsible for all aspects of the company’s business, including its global sales, marketing strategy, new development projects and finance groups. Her ability to recognize lucrative synergies and add key affiliates, in 18 international cities in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, helped pave the way for the company’s growth during her tenure. Before that, Ms. Sellers was a partner and head of real estate at McKinsey & Company. During her 14 years as a partner at McKinsey, Ms. Sellers was responsible for launching and building the firm’s real estate group. Earlier in her career, Ms. Sellers practiced law in the real estate departments of two major New York City law firms, representing clients on sales and acquisitions, leases, construction agreements, joint ventures, urban renewal projects, and financings.

Ms. Sellers holds a JD from Columbia Law School, an MLA in landscape architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design, and a BA in architecture and landscape architecture from University of Pennsylvania. She serves on the Board of Overseers for University of Pennsylvania School of Design, and the Dean's Campaign Committee at Harvard Graduate School of Design.

*About Hovnanian Enterprises®*
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., founded in 1959 by Kevork S. Hovnanian, is headquartered in Matawan, New Jersey and, through its subsidiaries, is one of the nation’s largest homebuilders with operations in Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia. The Company’s homes are marketed and sold under the trade names K. Hovnanian^® Homes, Brighton Homes^® and Parkwood Builders. Additionally, the Company’s subsidiaries, as developers of K. Hovnanian’s^® Four Seasons communities, make the Company one of the nation’s largest builders of active lifestyle communities.

Additional information on Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., including a summary investment profile and the Company’s 2017 annual report, can be accessed through the “Investor Relations” section of Hovnanian Enterprises’ website at http://www.khov.com. To be added to Hovnanian's investor e-mail or fax lists, please send an e-mail to IR@khov.com or sign up at http://www.khov.com.

*FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS*

*All statements in this press release that are not historical facts should be considered as “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements related to the Company’s goals and expectations with respect to its financial results for future financial periods. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in, or suggested by, such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. By their nature, forward-looking statements: (i) speak only as of the date they are made, (ii) are not guarantees of future performance or results and (iii) are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict or quantify. Therefore, actual results could differ materially and adversely from those forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, (1) changes in general and local economic, industry and business conditions and impacts of a sustained homebuilding downturn; (2) adverse weather and other environmental conditions and natural disasters; (3) levels of indebtedness and restrictions on the Company’s operations and activities imposed by the agreements governing the Company’s outstanding indebtedness; (4) the Company's sources of liquidity; (5) changes in credit ratings; (6) changes in market conditions and seasonality of the Company’s business; (7) the availability and cost of suitable land and improved lots; (8) shortages in, and price fluctuations of, raw materials and labor; (9) regional and local economic factors, including dependency on certain sectors of the economy, and employment levels affecting home prices and sales activity in the markets where the Company builds homes; (10) fluctuations in interest rates and the availability of mortgage financing; (11) changes in tax laws affecting the after-tax costs of owning a home; (12) operations through joint ventures with third parties; (13) government regulation, including regulations concerning development of land, the home building, sales and customer financing processes, tax laws and the environment; (14) product liability litigation, warranty claims and claims made by mortgage investors; (15) levels of competition; (16) availability and terms of financing to the Company; (17) successful identification and integration of acquisitions; (18) significant influence of the Company’s controlling stockholders; (19) availability of net operating loss carryforwards; (20) utility shortages and outages or rate fluctuations; (21) geopolitical risks, terrorist acts and other acts of war; (22) increases in cancellations of agreements of sale; (23) loss of key management personnel or failure to attract qualified personnel; (24) information technology failures and data security breaches; (25) legal claims brought against us and not resolved in our favor; and (26) certain risks, uncertainties and other factors described in detail in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.*

*Contact:         *

J. Larry Sorsby
Executive Vice President & CFO
732-747-7800

Jeffrey T. O’Keefe
Vice President of Investor Relations
732-747-7800   Reported by GlobeNewswire 2 hours ago.

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Remains of Civil War soldiers found in pit of severed limbs

June 20, 2018, 2:04 pm

≫ Next: Ex-CIA employee pleads not guilty to hacking tool leak

≪ Previous: Bonnie Stone Sellers Appointed to the Board of Directors of Hovnanian Enterprises

McLEAN, Va. (AP) — Researchers have discovered the remains of two Civil War soldiers buried among a batch of severed limbs on a northern Virginia battlefield.The National Park Service on Wednesday announced the discoveries at Manassas... Reported by New Zealand Herald 1 hour ago.

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Ex-CIA employee pleads not guilty to hacking tool leak

June 20, 2018, 2:11 pm

≫ Next: Certiport Names Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Champions

≪ Previous: Remains of Civil War soldiers found in pit of severed limbs

NEW YORK (AP) — A former CIA employee has pleaded not guilty to charges he was behind a damaging leak about the agency’s secret hacking abilities. Joshua Adam Schulte entered the plea on Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan. Court papers accuse Schulte of stealing the classified information at the CIA’s Virginia headquarters in 2016. […] Reported by Seattle Times 1 hour ago.

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Certiport Names Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Champions

June 20, 2018, 2:18 pm

≫ Next: TMS Announces Settlement of Virginia Litigation

≪ Previous: Ex-CIA employee pleads not guilty to hacking tool leak

Students demonstrate superior Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint skills to advance to Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship

ATLANTA, GA (PRWEB) June 20, 2018

The winners of the 2018 Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Championship have been announced by Certiport, the leading provider of performance-based IT certification exams that accelerate academic and career opportunities for learners.

The champions topped 147 finalists at the event in Atlanta, Georgia. The first-place winners will now head to Orlando, Florida for the MOS World Championship from July 29 – August 1, 2018.

Students from 13 to 22 years old participated in one of six competition tracks by submitting a qualified, passing score on any of the following exams: Microsoft Office Specialist Word (2016 or 2013), Microsoft Office Specialist Excel (2016 or 2013), and Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint (2016 or 2013). First place winners received a $3,000 cash prize, second place $1500 and third place $750.

The MOS U.S. National Champions are as follows:

MOS Word 2016

First place, Aydan Soto, Osceola Fundamental High School, Florida
Second place, Alexis Deynes, Princess Anne High School, Virginia
Third place, Elizabeth Sandlin, Walton-Verona High School, Kentucky

MOS Excel 2016

First place, Kevin Dimaculangan, Dunbar High School, Florida
Second place, Stephanie Chudy, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Third place, Forrest Liu, Green Hope High School, North Carolina

MOS PowerPoint 2016

First place, Linh Nguyen, Auburn Mountainview High School, Washington
Second place, Ethan Gilmore, Pine View Middle School, Utah
Third place, Ashwin Prasad, Green Hope High School, North Carolina

MOS Word 2013

First place, Jesse Ssengonzi, Green Hope High School, North Carolina
Second place, Landon Laviolette, Breaux Bridge High School, Louisiana
Third place, Bailey Griffin, Lake Stevens High School, Washington

MOS Excel 2013

First place, Jason Benda, Sun Prarie High School, Wisconsin
Second place, Joseph Litz, Princess Anne High School, Virginia
Third place, Edward John Legaspi, Georgia Southern University, Georgia

MOS PowerPoint 2013

First place, Cameron Pillatsch, Princess Anne High School, Virginia
Second place, Cole Stranahan, Sanford Middle School, Florida
Third place, Haley Grace Boan, Bleckley County High School, Georgia

Scoring higher than more than 350,000 students from all over the U.S. who entered a passing score on an eligible MOS Exam in the qualifying round, 147 finalists were given a printed copy of a document, spreadsheet or presentation to recreate along with printed instructions and digital assets. They were then scored according to the accuracy of the recreation compared to the original. The champions in each program, along with a chaperone, have won a trip to participate in the 2018 MOS World Championship in Orlando, Florida.

"We’re so impressed by all of these students – they’ve proven they can use Microsoft Office tools effectively which will be a key to successful academic and career pursuits,” said Raymond Murray, Vice President, Business Development, Pearson VUE. “Our goal is to turn these students from learners to earners, and many of them go on to win internships and jobs as a result of proving their skills in Microsoft Office.”

Certiport anticipates more than 150 finalists from more than 30 countries will compete at the MOS World Championship where students will again participate in a unique competition exam in their track. Six winners will receive cash prizes, medals and the title of Microsoft Office Specialist Word, Excel or PowerPoint World Champion.

Professional photos of the event can be found here. Links to download winner interviews can be found here.

About Certiport

Certiport is the leading provider of learning curriculum, practice tests, and performance-based IT certification exams that accelerate academic and career opportunities for learners. Certiport provides certification development, delivery, and program management services through an expansive network of more than 14,000 Certiport Authorized Testing Centers worldwide. More than 3 million Certiport exams are delivered in 26 languages across 148 countries each year throughout the academic, workforce, and corporate technology markets. Certiport is a Pearson VUE business, and is a part of the world’s leading learning company, Pearson. To learn more, go to http://www.certiport.com.

"Certiport" and "IC3" are registered trademarks of NCS Pearson, Inc. in the United States and other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.

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TMS Announces Settlement of Virginia Litigation

June 20, 2018, 2:35 pm

≫ Next: Liberty University Trains Junior Air Force Cadets to Meet National Pilot Shortage

≪ Previous: Certiport Names Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Champions

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Targeted Microwave Solutions Inc. (“*TMS*” or the “*Company*”) announced today that it has entered into a comprehensive release agreement (the “*Consulting Release Agreement*”) with Broz & Robinson LLC (“BRC”) relating to a dispute arising from the Company’s previous consulting agreement with BRC. Additionally, the Company announced today that it has entered into a comprehensive settlement and release agreement (the “*Virginia Lease Settlement Agreement*”) with David S. Robinson Jr. and Mike Broz (the “*Virginia Landlords*”), relating to several disputes arising from the Company’s previous land lease in King William, Virginia.Under the terms of the Consulting Release Agreement, BRC and the Company released each other from any and all obligations and liabilities relating to TMS’s previous consulting agreement with BRC, including past claims by BRC against TMS for fees and expense reimbursements.

Under the terms of the Virginia Lease Settlement Agreement, the Company agreed to transfer title of its King William research plant and equipment to the Virginia Landlords in exchange for a comprehensive release of any claims, demands, and liabilities arising from the Company’s previous activities on the leased lands, including but not limited to claims relating to alleged environmental contamination.

*On behalf of the Board of Directors**,*

"Dr. James Young"
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACT: Contact:
(778) 995 5833
office@tmsenergy.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 43 minutes ago.

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Liberty University Trains Junior Air Force Cadets to Meet National Pilot Shortage

June 20, 2018, 3:03 pm

≫ Next: Young immigrants detained in Virginia center say they were beaten, left handcuffed and nude

≪ Previous: TMS Announces Settlement of Virginia Litigation

This summer, 54 high school students in the U.S. Air Force Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps are training to become pilots at Liberty University. The training is part of a nationwide, $2.4 million USAF effort to address the pilot shortage and to increase diversity in the aviation industry.

LYNCHBURG, Va. (PRWEB) June 20, 2018

While many of their peers are just starting to drive cars, 54 high school students in the U.S. Air Force Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (AFJROTC) are training to become pilots in a summer program at Liberty University School of Aeronautics (SOA).

The cadets (mostly rising juniors and seniors) have been awarded scholarships by the Air Force to earn their private pilot license. All expenses, including housing, food, equipment, and flight training costs, are covered by the Air Force. The scholarships are part of a nationwide $2.4 million USAF effort to address the pilot shortage (over 500,000 pilots will be needed over the next 20 years, according to a report by Boeing) and to help increase diversity in the aviation industry. Liberty was one of just six partner universities chosen to train the selected applicants this summer. More cadets are training at Liberty than any other institution. This year, the Air Force approved 120 scholarships and plans to grow the program to 250 scholarships next year, with 1,200 annually in the future.

“We will take them from zero flight time to having their private pilot’s license,” explained Tony Cihak, the SOA’s chair of flight science. “It’s a very aggressive, intense program where our students are flying as much as four times a day, twice in the front seat of a (Cessna) Skyhawk and twice in the back observing, as well as a lot of ground and simulator time with our instructor corps here. As a junior or senior in high school, (the cadets) are beginning to see the passion they may have for aviation.”

The Air Force hopes to attract high achieving cadets from the program to become its next generation of pilots and help fill its share of the national pilot shortage, about 2,000 pilots.

“A university-based pilot training program provides more than just flight training to earn a private pilot license,” said Jim Molloy, dean of the SOA. “Our program focuses on leadership development, character development, and other needed skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. The Air Force JROTC leadership recognized these attributes in our aviation program, which is why they recruited us to be a part of the JROTC flight academy program.”

The 54 cadets came to campus for six-to-eight weeks of training, with the first group arriving May 28. Cadets will be training through August. While on campus, they are enrolled as Liberty students and take four academic courses (12 university credit hours) in the Private Pilot Certificate program.

Cihak said this gives them a head start in college with a year’s worth of flight training completed.

As part of the program, Liberty is preparing the cadets for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) practical evaluation — required to obtain a license — and will schedule FAA evaluators to administer both the oral and flight tests.

Interested in a future military career, Elijah Seals, a cadet from Phoenix, Ariz., knew an Air Force scholarship and a private pilot license were too valuable to his résumé to pass up.

“This is an opportunity I just could not miss,” he said. “It’s once in a lifetime. It gives you that jump-start in your career to push you forward.”

Seals, who at 16 is one of the youngest cadets, plans to stay an extra week in Lynchburg so that he will be eligible to take the FAA evaluations on his 17th birthday on July 24, a few days after the first session wraps up.

“Flying a plane is just a wild experience,” Seals said. “It’s truly enjoyable.”

But the community aspect is what has made the time at Liberty truly memorable.

“I’ve met people from all over the U.S. — there are some from Colorado, Utah, Ohio — and everybody is just great,” he said.

Sadie Schindler, 16, of Springboro, Ohio, agrees.

“I like meeting new people from all over; that is amazing to me,” she said. “Everyone has different experiences, and all of the ROTC programs are different so it is giving me ideas to bring back.”

She said she’s always wanted to go into the Air Force and that the program has encouraged her to consider a career in aviation.

“The entire experience is amazing,” Schindler said. “I love flying, and my favorite thing is doing the landings because there are different landings that you can do, which I didn’t know about. It’s really fun; it’s all just really great.”

About Liberty University
Liberty University, founded in 1971, is the largest private, nonprofit university in the nation and the largest university in Virginia. Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains on more than 7,000 acres in Lynchburg, Va., Liberty offers more than 550 unique programs of study from the certificate to the doctoral level. More than 250 programs are offered online. Liberty’s mission is to train Champions for Christ with the values, knowledge, and skills essential for impacting tomorrow’s world. Reported by PRWeb 16 minutes ago.

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Young immigrants detained in Virginia center say they were beaten, left handcuffed and nude

June 21, 2018, 8:53 am

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Reported by DallasNews 6 hours ago.

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Special Issue of School Psychology Review Highlights New Approaches to Close the Discipline Gap in US Schools

June 21, 2018, 7:47 am

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Researchers from the Curry School of Education Lead the Call for Culturally-Responsive Teaching and Student Engagement Models

Charlottesville, Va., June 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amid the release earlier this spring of the Government Accountability Report and the Trump administration’s decision to revoke Obama-era guidelines around school discipline, there is national concern around the disproportionate punishment of minority students in schools, which contributes to higher rates of school dropout and court involvement.

School Psychology Review released a special issue this month entitled “Closing in on Discipline Disproportionality,” featuring perspectives from three researchers at the University of Virginia Curry School of Education around how to bridge the discipline gap in US schools. Each of the five studies in the issue offer promising approaches and critical issues related to the ongoing challenge of closing racial and ethnic gaps in schools’ use of exclusionary and punitive discipline practices.

Together, the papers highlight the need to train and equip our educators with training in culturally responsive and behavior management practices. This is at the forefront of a new generation of promising, evidence-based approaches that not only nudge toward bridging the discipline gap between white students and students of color--but can close it altogether.

“For decades, researchers and policymakers have been concerned about the growing gap between white students and students of color when it comes to outcomes like academic performance and discipline problems,” said Dr. Catherine Bradshaw, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development at the University of Virginia Curry School of Education. “While we have a lot still to learn about the complex set of factors that contribute to these gaps, it is imperative that we work in concert to close these gaps. This special issue features some of the first empirical evidence of research-based approaches for addressing this pressing issue.”

Dr. Catherine Bradshaw presents findings regarding the effectiveness of Double Check, an innovative approach to coaching elementary and middle school teachers in cultural responsiveness and student engagement. Ultimately, Double Check seeks to reduce the disproportionality in teachers’ use of exclusionary discipline for African-American students. And the findings from a federally funded randomized controlled trial show the approach yields a high return on investment, as such a program results in significantly lower rates of discipline referrals for black students from teachers receiving the coaching.

While a promising solution to close the gap, additional research is needed to determine the effects of the entire Double Check model, as well as the extent to which these findings apply to other school levels, like high schools, or extend beyond this particular school district.

Additionally, a paper by Dr. Dewey Cornell explores the impact of threat assessment practice on racial disparities in schools’ disciplinary practices in Virginia schools. School psychologists and support staff are frequently called upon to assess students who have made verbal or behavioral threats of violence against others. Cornell’s study found that threat assessment teams, mandated by the Virginia state legislature in 2013 across all public schools, resulted in a lack of disparity among black, Hispanic and white students for out of school suspension rates, transfers, or legal action, offering a potential solution to parity in school discipline.

“Our research shows that schools using a threat assessment approach are not making disciplinary decisions that punish minority students at a disproportionate rate even though racial disparities in school discipline are a concern nationwide and in Virginia, where black students are often suspended at twice the rate of white students,” Cornell said.

Other studies in the special issue highlight the potential promise of classroom behavior management strategies, professional development focused on culturally responsive practices, and restorative justice programs to close the discipline gap.

Previous studies have confirmed the existence of this problem but not made much progress in identifying ways to ameliorate it. This special issue brings attention to several promising strategies. The authors of the papers in this special issue emphasize the need to build the science of discipline disparities through more research focused on effective intervention and prevention strategies. In doing so, these new directions can serve as the foundation for an evidence-based, next-generation approach to fully closing the discipline gap, rather than just nudging it.

*About Curry School of Education*
The University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education located in Charlottesville, Va., is ranked America’s 16^th best graduate schools of education. To its 2,300 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the school offers nationally-ranked degree programs in education and health centered around human development. Through 3 research centers, nearly 20 labs, and dozens of individual projects, faculty and students at Curry conduct rigorous, practical research that supports both the quality of teaching, learning and clinical practices and the decision-making of district, state and national leaders.

*About the National Association of School Psychologists
*The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) represents 25,000 school psychologists throughout the United States and abroad. NASP promotes children’s healthy development and learning through programs and services that prevent academic, social-emotional, and mental and behavioral health problems. School psychologists work with families, educators, and community partners to create safe and healthy learning environments, promote wellness and positive skills development, provide direct supports to students, improve access to school-based mental health services, and promote equity and social justice for all students. School Psychology Review is NASP’s premier peer-reviewed journal and one of the largest in field of psychology.

CONTACT: Audrey Breen
University of Virginia
434.924.0809
aed2f@virginia.edu Reported by GlobeNewswire 8 hours ago.

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Sources: Christmas Day slay suspect in custody in Virginia

June 21, 2018, 9:18 am

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A reputed gang member suspected of firing the shot that killed a man in Hempstead on Christmas Day is in custody in Virginia, sources said Thursday. Reported by Newsday 6 hours ago.

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Park Service gives initial OK to “Unite the Right” rally

June 21, 2018, 9:09 am

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WASHINGTON (AP) — An organizer of last year’s deadly white supremacist rally in Virginia has been granted initial approval to host another rally in August, this time in the heart of the nation’s capital. The National Park Service says it has approved an application for a “Unite the Right” anniversary rally to be held in […] Reported by Seattle Times 6 hours ago.

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Park Service gives initial OK to "Unite the Right" rally

June 21, 2018, 8:28 am

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WASHINGTON (AP) — An organizer of last year's deadly white supremacist rally in Virginia has been granted initial approval to host another rally in August, this time in the heart of the nation's capital.The National Park Service... Reported by New Zealand Herald 7 hours ago.

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FREE FLOW, Inc (FFLO) Unveils its Business Plan, Signed Agreement on Facility & Received LOI on $1,046,000 Funding

June 21, 2018, 8:54 am

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HERNDON, Va., June 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Free Flow, Inc. (OTCPINK:FFLO) announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Accurate Auto Parts, Inc. (“AAP”), signed a Commercial Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with CCC Real Estate Holdings, LLC. The Agreement calls for the purchase of 19.39 acres of land, with all improvements thereon, located in the City/County of King George, Virginia, addressed as 6269 Caledon Road, King George, VA-22485 (the “Property”) for a total purchase price of $700,000.00. AAP had leased the Property for 26 years. Purchasing the Property allows FFLO to move forward with its expansion plan, now owning the property instead of just leasing it.Funding for the purchase will be in the form of a commercial bank loan. AAP has been pre-qualified by Evolve Bank & Trust to borrow $1,046,000. The proposed loan will be for a term of 25 years and will accrue interest at an annual rate of WSJP + 2.25%. The remaining funds will be used to build inventory and improvements.

The Property is currently zoned as a recycling facility. FFLO’s expansion plan includes the construction of a warehouse on the Property so that the Company can grow its auto parts business. FFLO retained an architect to design the warehouse.

In addition, FFLO has conducted a feasibility study to set up a plant to extract crude oil from shredded tires and refine it at the property. A new subsidiary will be formed for this operation.

FFLO has incorporated another subsidiary named Citi Autos, Corp. (“Citi Autos”) and will apply for a used auto dealer license to sell used autos. Citi Autos plans to re-furbish automobiles primarily for export at this property.

FFLO expects $18 million in total revenues with pre-tax net profits of $7,000,000 by the year 2022. The following table depicts our year-by-year projected income from 2018 through 2022.

*Free Flow, Inc. and subsidiaries*
Projected Income Statement

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Total
Revenues:
Total Revenues $340,000 $3,316,722 $3,699,259 $5,128,956 $6,507,633 $18,992,571
Cost of Goods Sold
Total Cost of Goods Sold $66,000 $1,161,959 $1,272,703 $1,535,507 $1,798,311 $5,834,479
Gross Profit on Sales
Total Gross Profit on Sales $274,000 $2,154,763 $2,426,557 $3,593,449 $4,709,322 $13,158,092
Operating Expenses - G & A
Total Operating Expenses - G & A $159,000 $1,107,733 $1,127,770 $1,594,229 $2,066,208 $6,054,939
Net Profits before Income Tax
Total Net Profits before Income Tax $115,000 $1,047,031 $1,298,787 $1,999,220 $2,643,115 $7,103,152

Disclaimer*For further details, visit website at www.FreeFlowPLC.com*.

For further information about this release, contact Mr. Sabir Saleem, Free Flow, Inc. 703-789-3344, www.FreeFlowPLC.com.

*ABOUT** FREE FLOW, INC.*

Free Flow, Inc. (FLLO) is a Delaware company that creates and acquires operating subsidiaries with the goal of manufacturing and selling products and services. Through its current subsidiaries, Accurate Auto Parts, Inc. [formerly, JK Sales Corp.], Motor & Metals, Inc., and Citi Autos, Corp. the Company provides OEM recycled auto parts and supplies from a warehousing and shipping facility on its 19+ acre facility in King George, Virginia, USA. Every year approximately 11,000,0000 cars are scrapped and end up in salvage yards for reprocessing. FFLO is committed to providing the sales of recycled auto parts and supplies, helping to reduce the carbon footprint resulting from the production of new parts and steel products.

*Safe Harbor Statement: *
*
*This press release may include predictions, estimates, opinions or statements that might be considered "forward-looking" under the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements generally can be identified by phrases such as the Company or its management "believes,""expects,""anticipates,""foresees,""forecasts,""estimates," or other, similar words or phrases.

Contact:
Sabir Saleem,
Free Flow, Inc
703-789-3344

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a1027777-aecd-4df4-beff-96be4c6e72d9 Reported by GlobeNewswire 6 hours ago.

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Grover Gaming buys assets from 2 distributors

June 21, 2018, 9:49 am

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Greenville-based gaming company, Grover Gaming, has acquired the assets of two of its distributors in Virginia: V-Tabs LLC and Newmarket Entertainment LLC. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Grover Gaming was founded in 2013 by owner Garrett Blackwelder. The company makes electronic, totable gaming software and games that are popular in states with legalized charitable gaming. "We've been supplying electronic pull tabs to those states for years and we decided to go direct to… Reported by bizjournals 6 hours ago.

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