19, Apr 2024
Ease.io Announces 2023 Champions for Quality Winners
San Clemente, CA, April 18, 2024 — Ease, Inc., operating as Ease.io, a global leader in audit and inspection software for manufacturers around the world, today announced its 2023 Champions for Quality Award winners. In this sixth year of the awards, the company received record nominations from across multiple countries and continents.
The Champions for Quality Awards are designed to acknowledge those dedicated to cultivating a strong culture of quality and implementing durable quality processes that prevent defects, scrap or re-work, major quality escapes, customer complaints, and ultimately contribute to bottom line growth and customer satisfaction.
The 2024 awards feature eight distinctions, honoring individuals, specific production sites, and whole organizations in various categories. Half of the awards were determined through public nominations from manufacturers worldwide. The remainder was based on various data points derived from the EASE platform over the previous year.
This year’s recognitions spotlight contributors to quality initiatives, including layered process audits, operational excellence, and Lean implementations.
“At Ease.io, we understand the critical role quality professionals play in manufacturing; their unwavering commitment and passion are the driving forces behind our customers’ success,” said Eric Stoop, CEO of Ease.io. “It’s a privilege to acknowledge their efforts with these awards. The stories of this year’s winners, who have turned quality challenges into opportunities, are a testament to the power of their dedication. Congratulations to all our winners. Continue leading the way with your exceptional work!”
Public Nominated Awards
The following award winners and honorable mentions were all nominated by the public and selected by a panel of Ease.io employees based on the stories and information provided.
Leadership
Leadership nominees are strong advocates for quality and operations programs with organization-wide benefits. Congratulations to the Leadership Award recipients.
Winner:
– Ram Sukumar – HEXPOL (Marietta, GA)
– Abdulmajid Patel – IAC International Automotive India Pvt. Ltd. (Maharashtra, India)
Honorable Mentions:
– John Sedgwick – HEXPOL (McKenzie, TN)
Trailblazer
Trailblazers earn recognition for using the EASE plant floor audit software well beyong layered process audits, leveraging the platform for other audit types including safety audits, 5S, and more.
Winner:
– Fabián A. Medina – Grammer Automotive Puebla S.A. of C.V. Queretaro Plant (Santiago de Querétaro, Qro)
Honorable Mentions:
– Charles Green – AeroTEC Inc. (Moses Lake, WA)
– Caitlyn Hillman – OPmobility (Windsor, ON)
Ambassador
Ambassadors are known for fostering a culture of quality at their manufacturing plants with layered process audits and other quality initiatives. This year, one team rose above an incredibly competitive field and was selected as co-winners of our Ambassador Award.
Winners:
– Thais Nishimura – Magna International (Telford, UK)
– Marcelo Rodolfo – Magna International (Joinville, Brazil)
– Fabio Adad – Magna International (São José dos Pinhais, Brazil)
– Jose Filipe – Magna International (Ibirite, Brazil)
– Adriano Castro – Magna International (Santo Antônio da Patrulha, Brazil)
Honorable Mention:
– Andrew A. Horton – Gestamp Mason LLC (Mason, MI)
Influencer
Influencers have dedicated their careers to training leaders and influencing quality on a global scale.
Winners:
– Shaunak Anant Chandwadkar – Valeo Lighting Systems, NA. (Seymour, IN)
– Mariana Alionte – OPmobility (Windsor, ON)
Honorable Mentions:
– Davide Cecchinato – Molex Zetronic S.r.l. (Padova, Italy)
Categories Based On EASE Data
The following category winners and honorable mentions were determined leveraging data from the EASE plant floor platform, recognizing individuals, specific manufacturing facilities, and entire organizations for their commitment to quality excellence.
Plant of the Year
The Winner of this award was required to conduct a minimum of 2,500 plant floor audits per year and create at least 500 findings in the same period.
To choose the winner, the Ease.io team assessed a combination of weighted audit insights including the percentage of on-time completed plant floor audits and on-time completed findings.
Winner:
– DANA Off-Highway (Yancheng) Drive Systems Co.,Ltd. — DANA, Inc. (Yancheng – Jiangsu – PRC)
Honorable Mentions:
– CpK Interiors Products Port Hope — CpK Interiors Products (Port Hope, CAN)
– GATES ATLACOMULCO — GATES DE MEXICO (Atlacomulco, Méx., Mexico)
Auditor of the Year
A plant floor auditor is not a dedicated position within a manufacturing plant, but a role carried out by employees across the plant – including those that may not be part of quality or operations.
To keep auditors engaged, EASE awards achievement badges to auditors based on performance. The winner of this category was required to already hold an EASE Guru badge and was chosen based on audit completion rate, total number of audits completed, and audit findings with the majority of their audits being focused on quality audits such as layered process audits.
Winners:
– Bruce Chubb – MRP Solutions (Plattsburgh, NY)
– Francis “Frenchie” Neri – MRP Solutions (Plattsburgh, NY)
Honorable mention:
– Paul Townsend – New South (Tampa, FL)
Best Implementation
The Ease.io Customer Success Team implements EASE at hundreds of plants every year. The honorees in this category were chosen based on their engagement throughout the implementation from pilot to final deployment, their advocacy throughout the process, as well as the team’s audit activity and completion rates in the weeks and months following their go-live date.
Winner:
– American Woodmark Team– American Woodmark (Winchester, VA)
Honorable mention:
– ABC Technologies Team — ABC Technologies (Canton, OH)
– Cleveland Site Team – FREUDENBERG-NOK Sealing Technologies (Cleveland, GA)
Quality Transformation
The winner of this award is the manufacturer that has shown the most significant improvement in performance within the EASE platform over a 12-month period across all their facilities. During this period, the winner had to meet several minimum benchmark data points and have the highest percentage increase in on-time audits and mitigations.
Winner:
– Camaco-Amvian Team – Camaco Automotive (Farmington Hills, MI)
Honorable Mention:
– American Woodmark Team — American Woodmark (Winchester, VA)
The Ease.io team wholeheartedly congratulates all winners and applauds its customers for their commitment and dedication to excellence.
About Ease
Ease.io’s cloud-based SaaS solution for manufacturers, EASE, digitally connects and automates critical plant floor work processes, including audits, inspections, scheduling, task assignments, data collection, and more. Dana, Tenneco, Eaton, and other leading manufacturers in 40+ countries, use EASE to drive quality, safety, productivity, and compliance. Founded in 1986, Ease.io is headquartered in San Clemente, California.
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- By Rabindra
19, Apr 2024
Mirror Biologics, Inc. Appoints Elizabeth Czerepak as Chief Financial Officer
Wesley Chapel, FL, April 19, 2024 — Mirror Biologics, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company announces the appointment of Elizabeth Adkins Czerepak as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Vice President of Corporate Development effective April 15, 2024.
Ms. Czerepak has served as CFO of several biotechnology companies over the last 13 years. She has also led teams that successfully launched public offerings over this time. In addition, she has 10 years of venture capital investment experience as a former Managing Director at Bear Stearns and JPMorgan, and was Founding General Partner of Bear Stearns Health Innoventures L.P. Ms. Czerepak began her career in senior management positions at big pharma, managing finance, strategic planning, business development and commercial launch teams. Notably, she led the global search to partner D2E7 (Humira®), which culminated in BASF Pharma’s sale to Abbott for $6.9 billion and also played a key role in Roche’s acquisition of Syntex for $5.4 billion.
Dr. Michael Har-Noy, Founder and acting CEO stated, “We warmly welcome Elizabeth to the Mirror Biologics team. Her extensive experience in financial and strategic operations in biotech and big pharma brings valuable expertise to our C-Suite, as we work to develop and execute strategies for advancing our clinical and manufacturing programs to late stage clinical development. Her previous experience with big pharma and venture capital and with executing complex financial transactions bring us valuable insights for negotiating and structuring future investment and partnering transactions. Elizabeth has developed a reputation and track record for creating value for investors in biotech companies and we are honored she has agreed to join us at this critical stage of our development.”
Elizabeth Czerepak stated: “I am excited to join Mirror Biologics, with its combination of true innovation, top talent and late stage clinical assets supported by a broadly patented technology platform. The lead AlloStim® product candidate has the potential to transform the standard of care in very difficult to treat metastatic solid tumor cancers and to bring a novel approach to treating infectious diseases and for possibly reversing the devastating effects that aging has on our immune systems. I believe that the Mirror Biologics’ team has the vision, expertise and passion needed to build a successful biopharmaceutical company that can elevate the standard of care and improve patients’ lives. I am happy for the opportunity to support the team in bringing these next generation of immunotherapy solutions to the market in a manner that is both accessible and affordable.”
19, Apr 2024
Author Kimberly Moffitt’s New Book Therapy Sessions
Everett, WA, April 19, 2024 — Kimberly Moffitt, who has been a stay-at-home parent to four neurodivergent kids for the past nine years, has completed her new book, “Therapy Sessions”: a compelling work that shares the exploration of difficult questions and emotions.
Author Kimberly Moffitt has been writing poems since high school. Her background is in history and anthropology. She is a Southern transplant living in the Pacific Northwest. A dyed-in-the-wool geek, she and her family enjoy various fandoms and live with two spoiled cats and two snakes.
“Therapy Sessions” features poems including “Contemplation of Love,” “Masque of Death,” “So Much to Ask,” “The Screamer,” “Visit from the End,” “Were It So Simple,” “Wooden Beauty,” “Empty Heart,” and many more.
19, Apr 2024
Katie’s Pizza Will Donate to Burns Recovered, Cardinals Care
St. Louis, MO, April 19, 2024 –Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria’s next Giveback Tuesday event will take place on Tuesday, April 23, at all three locations. Funds raised from the day will be donated to local nonprofits Burns Recovered, Cardinals Care, and Gateway to Hope. The funds will help these charities fulfill their missions of helping burn survivors, children in our community, and breast cancer patients, respectively.
Once a month, Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria hosts Giveback Tuesday, where the restaurant donates 100% of the day’s profits from each of its three locations in Ballpark Village, Rock Hill, and Town and Country to three local nonprofit organizations. So far, Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria has donated $426,709 to local nonprofit organizations.
Burns Recovered, founded in 1983, helps burn survivors live without limitations, fear, or insecurities. Funds from Giveback Tuesday will go toward the annual Summit for Seventy campaign, which raises money to send 70+ children to summer camp. Their Midwest Children’s Burn Camp, available free of charge, is a safe and supportive environment for children ages 6 to 17 who survived severe burns and smoke inhalation.
19, Apr 2024
Author Gary Rothlein’s New Book Me and the Mental
Aurora, CO, April 19, 2024 — Gary Rothlein, who holds an associate of science in business administration degree from Colorado Technical University, has completed his new book, “Me and the Mental”: a poignant and deeply personal autobiographical account of the struggles the author was forced to endure, and how each of these experiences influenced the person he is today.
In “Me and the Mental,” author Gary Rothlein details each of these traumatic experiences documenting how they happened, insights, such as criticisms and personal evaluation, and how those experiences shaped his present. In certainty, there are different setting layouts from where these situations had taken place and, geographically, they occur in the states of California and Colorado. His writings are very descriptive and try to share his message that conflict can happen, and only personal strength can move one forward.
Rothlein shares, “From my later adolescent years to earlier adult years, I had to undergo major breakdown episodes relating to life alterations. These episodes occurred in the years 2015, 2016, and 2018. In every way I can think of, the situations changed a major form of my life.”
19, Apr 2024
Thunder-Rode Motorcycle Accessories Hosts 2nd Annual Thunder-Rode BikeFest
Kingman, AZ, April 19, 2024 — Thunder-Rode Motorcycle Accessories will be hosting the 2nd annual “Thunder-Rode BikeFest” from April 26th-28th, 2024 at 102 E. Beale Street, Kingman, Arizona. Thunder-Rode BikeFest will feature three days of motorcycle rally activities, including: a motorcycle street market, Miss Thunder-Rode search, motorcycle contest, and live music. Admittance is free for the entire weekend to all guests. Full details can be found on the Thunder-Rode BikeFest website at https://thunderrodebikefest.com.
The fun-filled three day event kicks off Friday morning, April 26 at 9:00 a.m. The daily schedule for visitors to Thunder-Rode BikeFest is 9am – 7pm, for all three days of the event. Live music can be enjoyed from 1pm – 5pm. The featured musical line-up is Karaoke Hosted by Scojo on Friday, April 26; 8-Kilo Cat on Saturday, April 27; and Whiskey Throttle on Sunday, April 28.
Food vendors will be available to all attendees throughout the three day event. Thunder-Rode Motorcycle Accessories is also within walking distance to several delectable restaurants in the downtown Kingman area. Free ice and water, clean restrooms, and an air conditioned shop to cool off inside will also be available to all attendees. This year’s event includes a large shade tent with misters.
40+ Street Market Vendors will have booths and tables set up for shoppers to browse local, handmade, and motorcycle related items. Vendor Alley is a unique shopping experience for the motorcycle enthusiast. Vendors interested in selling their goods at Thunder-Rode BikeFest can contact Sherry at 928-377-3608 or sherry@thunder-rode.com. Vendor investment is $100 per table without electricity for all three days or $150 per table with electricity for all three days.
Thunder-Rode Motorcycle Accessories will crown Miss Thunder-Rode during Thunder-Rode BikeFest. Miss Thunder-Rode will adorn the cover of the 2025 Thunder-Rode Bike Calendar which supports homeless veterans through the efforts of Veterans United Arizona. Miss Thunder-Rode will also serve as a representative of Thunder-Rode during events and promotions throughout the year. She will receive free biker related gifts on a monthly basis during her reign. The Miss Thunder-Rode Semi-Finals will be held Saturday, April 27th. The Finals and crowning of Miss Thunder-Rode will be held Sunday, April 28. Miss Kylee, the 2023 Miss Thunder-Rode winner, will be on-site to crown the new 2024 Miss Thunder-Rode. To participate in the Miss Thunder-Rode search, ladies should contact Sherry at 928-377-3608 or sherry@thunder-rode.com.
Thunder-Rode BikeFest will also feature a motorcycle contest, biker games, and fellowship with brothers and sisters of the motorcycle community from across the United States. The highly sought after Thunder-Rode BikeFest t-shirts are available and on the website for purchase. This year’s event will also feature beer and liquor sales with proceeds benefiting the American Legion Post, which supports veterans and other charities throughout Kingman and Mohave County all year long.
Thunder-Rode BikeFest is sponsored by Full Throttle Law. The motorcycle injury lawyers at Full Throttle Law have years of experience in the court, on the streets, showing up to events, and even championing the cause of riders’ rights in state and national politics. Learn more at https://www.fullthrottlelaw.com. Thunder-Rode BikeFest is also sponsored by Denny’s of Kingman. For over 65 years, as America’s Diner, Denny’s has been bringing people together over classic American comfort food 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Denny’s brings joy and comfort in many ways, with the common thread being their dedication to giving back to the communities in which they serve.
19, Apr 2024
Comcast Launches NOW in FL a New Low-Cost Brand
Miami, FL, April 19, 2024 –Today, Comcast introduced NOW, a new brand of quality, low-cost Internet, mobile and streaming TV products that consumers can purchase month-to-month. NOW Internet is a prepaid service that provides more reliability than fixed wireless options for a better price. NOW Mobile is a new prepaid service that includes unlimited 5G data combined with access to more than 23 million WiFi hotspots, unlike any other provider in the prepaid category.
Backed by the powerful Xfinity network and the most reliable 5G, NOW delivers a connection customers can rely on for Internet, mobile or streaming in their homes or on the go. NOW products are designed to be incredibly simple with all-in pricing, no contracts or credit checks. Customers can sign up, pause, or cancel online, anytime.
“You spoke. We listened. NOW Internet, Mobile and TV are designed specifically for budget-conscious consumers who know what features they want and only want to pay for what they use. We want to make sure consumers know we deliver NOW over our Xfinity network, which includes more than 23 million WiFi hotspots nationwide and is 99.9% reliable,” said Jeff Buzzelli, Comcast Regional Senior Vice President, Florida.
Unveiling the Full NOW Portfolio & Pricing
NOW Internet and Mobile join NOW TV and NOW WiFi Pass to create a comprehensive portfolio of quality, low-cost products that consumers can purchase month-to-month, whenever they want.
– NOW Internet customers will be able to choose between two prepaid options: 100 Mbps for $30/month, or 200 Mbps for $45/month. Each tier includes unlimited data and an Xfinity gateway.
– NOW Mobile will provide unlimited 5G data, talk and text for $25/line and will be the only prepaid wireless option that seamlessly connects customers to more than 23 million Xfinity hotspots.
– NOW TV is a streaming offering for Xfinity Internet customers that includes live and on-demand programming from 40+ networks, more than two dozen integrated FAST channels, and Peacock Premium, all for $20/month.
– NOW WiFi Pass gives customers unlimited access to more than 23 million Xfinity WiFi hotspots for $20 for 30 days.
A New Option for Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Customers
The NOW portfolio is poised to be particularly impactful for Americans looking for cost-effective connectivity. The federal government recently announced that April is the last full month of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) if it does not receive additional funding. NOW Internet and Mobile will provide customers enrolled in ACP with another option for affordable, reliable connectivity – supplementing Comcast’s longstanding low-income broadband adoption options internet Essentials and Internet Essentials Plus and Xfinity’s current suite of offerings.
19, Apr 2024
Engel & Volkers Sixth Year as Tampa Bay Top Workplace
Tampa, FL, April 19, 2024 –– Engel & Völkers South Tampa, Engel & Völkers Belleair, and Engel & Völkers Madeira Beach ranked, for the sixth consecutive year, one of Tampa Bay’s Top Workplaces 2024 by the Tampa Bay Times.
This program was created by the Tampa Bay Times and Energage. Energage is an employee engagement platform which enables users to learn, understand and leverage employee ideas to align and equip leaders, and empower employees to participate and take actions that make a difference in their workplace. Multiple leading companies within the Tampa Bay region were evaluated by their employees and were ranked by the Tampa Bay Times based on leadership, compensation and training, workplace flexibility, and diversity. To be considered for participation, companies or government entities had to employ at least 50 workers in Florida and be at least one year in business.
Employees from hundreds of local Tampa Bay area businesses were surveyed about several topics, including practices and policies that make these companies the top places to work. “We are honored to have been recognized as a top workplace for six consecutive years, a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence and the dedication of our exceptional team,” states Cherie Pattishall, Broker and License Partner for both Engel & Völkers Madeira Beach and Engel & Völkers South Tampa. “This prestigious award reflects our enduring success in fostering a workplace culture defined by achievement, collaboration, and unparalleled service.” Pattishall is also a member of the Luxury Home Marketing Institute and holds several designations including Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), e-Pro, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), and Professional Property Management Certificate (PPMC).
19, Apr 2024
Author Lorine Sutherland’s New Book The Sweetest Music
New York, NY, April 19, 2024 — Lorine Sutherland, a loving mother and grandmother who appreciates family togetherness and is passionate about music, has completed her new book, “The Sweetest Music”: a gripping novel that follows the journey of Misty McAnn, a young girl who must deals with the outcome of her choice between her father and her family or the chance to live out her dreams.
“‘The Sweetest Music’ takes you back to your childhood in a world of discipline and judgment,” shares Sutherland. “Through the ages of growth, determination and self-recognition become a main focus as you mature into an adult. There will be trials, disappointments, and regrets we learn to accept and accommodate through our youth into adulthood. In a time when we want to please our family and make them proud of our every decision and endeavor comes misunderstanding and lack of patience and trust; all the while, we must stay focused on our dreams. The dreams we want to live in that also comes with sacrifice. We will experience childhood happiness.
“A father’s pride to a teenager focused on her hopes and dreams to falling in love with the wrong family and betraying a father’s pride and trust led to making her own way without the support of her family; she lives her dream before she realizes what has happened to find a new meaning of family and support to supplement the pain of being without her family and her love. Through all the sacrifices will came great reward of dreams come true and learning to trust.”
19, Apr 2024
Tiny Stars Creative Achieves Certification as a Women-Owned Business
Mukilteo, WA, April 19, 2024 — Tiny Stars Creative, a leading design agency based in Mukilteo, Washington, is proud to announce its official certification as a Women-Owned Business in Washington. This certification highlights the agency’s commitment to diversity, equality, and the advancement of women in the business community.
Led by Dawn Anderson, Tiny Stars Creative has established itself as a premier destination for web design, graphic design, and branding solutions. With a dedication to creativity, innovation, and client satisfaction, the agency has earned recognition for its exceptional work and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Becoming certified as a Women-Owned Business is a significant milestone for Tiny Stars Creative. It underscores the agency’s ongoing efforts to foster inclusivity and empower women in design and entrepreneurship. This certification reflects the agency’s values and opens up new opportunities for growth and collaboration in the local community and beyond.
“We are thrilled to receive certification as a Women-Owned Business in Washington State,” said Dawn Anderson, Founder and Creative Director of Tiny Stars Creative. “This achievement represents a significant milestone for our agency and reinforces our commitment to diversity, equality, and women’s empowerment. We look forward to continuing to serve our clients excellently while contributing to women’s advancement in the business world.”
As a certified Women-Owned Business, Tiny Stars Creative is poised to expand its reach, strengthen its partnerships, and positively impact the design industry and beyond. With a talented team of designers, developers, and strategists, the agency remains dedicated to delivering outstanding results and exceeding client expectations.
