Friday, December 14, 2012
Live Style Launches, Changing Siebold's Life Style and Building Individual Style's For Life
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Chase Announces Additional $1.3 Million Grant to Financial Literacy Organizations
"Knowing how to manage your finances is an important skill throughout your life, but especially during times of economic uncertainty," said Jeff Courtney, senior vice president, Customer Support Division, Chase Card Services. "Fortunately, there are a variety of qualified organizations to provide assistance, and our Financial Literacy Grant Program is intended to improve awareness of those resources. We hope these grants will help people across the country get the information they need to increase their financial literacy, improve their financial situations and, as a result, their overall economic stability."
According to a recent survey by Freddie Mac and Roper Public Affairs and Media, 57 percent of late-paying borrowers still do not know lenders may offer workout options to help avoid foreclosure. However, borrower confusion is not limited to mortgages, but can extend across the financial industry.
"We are grateful for Chase's commitment to financial literacy through their Financial Literacy Grant Program," said Susan C. Keating, president and CEO of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). "By supporting NFCC Member Agencies across the country, these grants will directly help the many consumers who are in need of quality financial education and counseling services."
Chase's Financial Literacy Grant Program, now in its third year, gives consumers greater access to information, credit counseling services and the support resources that they need to take control of their finances and improve their financial health and stability. With its donation this year, Chase has provided $3.9 million in the past three years to more than 90 organizations. The nationwide program is part of the ongoing commitment by Chase to support financial education and literacy for people of all ages, so they can keep their finances in check while pursuing what really matters in their lives.
This year's grants will be sent to more than 30 organizations, including credit counseling agencies and consumer financial research groups. Chase grant recipients, such as the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Buffalo, Inc., the Young Women's Christian Association in El Paso, TX, and the Consumer Credit and Budgeting Counseling in Marmora, NJ, will use the grants directly for consumer education, community outreach and awareness programs, and for conducting research to design more effective financial literacy programs. There are also grant recipients like Take Charge America in Phoenix, AZ, a program that provides basic financial and budgeting education to high school students.
Each grant recipient is selected based on criteria that distinguish them among qualified credit counseling agencies that are providing valuable service and education to consumers both within their communities and throughout the country.
Chase Offers Long-term Support to Financial Literacy and Smart Credit Use
In addition to the Financial Literacy Grant Program and other financial literacy contributions, Chase offers a variety of resources for consumers on its Chase Clear & Simple Web site to help them better manage their personal finances and use credit wisely. For custo Tips: Find Street Fashion Online(may be you can find what you want on the oasap.com) mers, Chase provides a number of tools, policies and account management options to help customers gain greater control of their accounts, avoid fees and maintain their best interest rates, including:
-- Clear pricing practices: Chase will not increase interest rates for cardholders solely based on credit-bureau information.
-- Over-limit Controls: Customers can protect their accounts against over-limit fees by adding customized "controls" to their accounts that contain their spending within their credit limit.
-- Customized Payment Due Date: Chase customers can select their own payment due date, choosing the date that is most convenient for them
-- Free Account Alerts: To help customers avoid fees, Chase will send free reminders by e-mail, telephone or text message when a payment due date is approaching or when spending is nearing a credit limit.
Consumer Tips for Dealing with Financial Stress
Chase encourages consumers who are experiencing financial stress to reach out to their creditors or a certified credit counselor for solutions. The NFCC offers some basic tips to help customers avoid and better manage their debt:
-- Track your expenses. To find money available for savings, first determine where you are currently spending your money. Write down every cent you spend. At the end of the month, take a look at where your hard-earned cash really goes.
-- Create a budget and customize it to fit your lifestyle. A well-designed spending plan considers all sources of income, living expenses, debt obligations, and savings. Be sure to incorporate all three expense categories - fixed expenses (e.g., mortgage, auto loans and rent), variable expenses (e.g., credit cards, groceries, entertainment, clothes and gasoline) and periodic expenses (e.g., property taxes, home repair, and car maintenance).
-- DON'T start charging when there is no money. If you have no money left after paying your bills, you may be headed for trouble. It is not a good idea to routinely rely on your credit card to pay for living expenses when you don't have the cash available. As a general rule, you should not be spending more than 20 percent of your take-home income on credit card bills or loans, and this includes your car payment.
-- DON'T apply for new credit cards simply because you've reached the credit limit on existing cards. When your cards are taken to the limit, it is time to pay off the balance and adjust your spending habits - not apply for more cards.
-- DO make more than the minimum credit card payment. The NFCC recommends paying at least double the minimum required payment.
-- DO reduce expenses wherever possible. Look for no or low-cost entertainment and cut back on other day-to-day spending. Small reductions in daily spending quickly add up to big savings. Trimming $5 from your daily expenses adds up to more than $1,800 over the course of a year!
-- DO work with your creditors. If you encounter any problems repaying your debts, contact the creditor immediately and explain the situation. Creditors often will work with you to come up with an alternate payment arrangement.
-- Get to know your credit report better. Dedicate spring cleaning time as the annual time to review your credit report, which you can get for free at http://www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228. A credit report contains information about your credit and loan history, including amounts and payment history and is used extensively by potential lenders to evaluate your credit worthiness. Read each report carefully as there may be discrepancies between the three credit bureaus. If you find errors, file a dispute with the credit bureau.
-- DO seek help from a credit counselor. If you have been unable to resolve your finances on your own, consider working with an NFCC certified credit counselor to create a plan you can live with, one that helps you budget your money and repay your debt. An NFCC member agency can customize a spending plan that fits your lifestyle. Contact an NFCC member agency near you, call 1-800-388-2227, or log onto http://www.nfcc.org.
As a leader in the financial community, Chase offers customers what matters most to their financial well-being. Chase pledges advocacy, access, protection, recognition, and value for its customers' financial needs.
About JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $1.6 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management, and private equity. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase serves millions of consumers and businesses in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its JPMorgan and Chase brands. Information about the firm is available at http://www.jpmorganchase.com.
**Please see the following addendum for 2008 grant recipients.
Addendum A - Chase Card Services 2008 Financial Literacy Grant Recipients
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
DA' Right Entertainment's Inaugural Launch Party Event Will Be Held on April 14, 2011 at Iguana New York
DA' Right Entertainment is pleased to announce its inaugural Launch Party Event to be held on April 14, 2011 from 7:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. at Iguana New York Restaurant and Dance Lounge, located at 240 West 54th Street New York, NY, between Broadway and 8th Avenue. General Admission is $10.00. Tickets can be purchased in advance at http://www.darightentertainment.com. The night will include a Fashion Showcase, Live Musical Performances, and much more. Come be apart of what is sure to be an exciting evening of fashion, dancing, meeting and greeting industry artists and professionals, so dress to impress!!
Featuring Fashion by:
Sarfarcity is a clothing line designed by Chi Chi J Couture a New York based company dedicated to the revitalization of high-end fashion for the everyday woman. Chi Chi J is creating authentic Women's Contemporary Ready to Wear, Couture designs and styles that produce a high-end look without emptying your bank account!!
C.L.E.V.A. or Classy Lady's Endear Visible Attraction by Latasha "Miss Cleva" Anderson was inspired by R&B soul singer Erykah Badu's song Cleva and is a perfect mixture of urban appeal, class, and nature.
Scrolln Artz Clothing Co. was founded by President & CEO, Joey "JFresh" Green and Vice President & Designer Jordon "the Mad Scientist" Blake. Scroll means paper which has been written, drawn, or painted upon for transmitting information, or the slang expression meaning to engrave an expression. Jordon took this definition and discovered it was the perfect word for the clothing line, a line in which the garments are handmade making them each unique and collectable.
Featuring Live performances by:
Delano Barbosa has been singing since the age of 12. He performed with Boston area music group N2U for many years before stepping out on his own. He is in the process of finishing his solo debut album with an international flare blended with R&B, ZOUK sounds, and house music. Delano has performed some of his new music at the Akon Concert in the Cape Verde Islands off the west coast of Africa. Showing his skills as an actor, Delano can be seen in a hit music video Far Away by Marsha Ambrosius which has over 4.6 mil Tips: Find Street Fashion Online(may be you can find what you want on the oasap.com) lion views on http://www.worldstarhiphop.com and is currently on B.E.T, VH1, and more. He is a cast member of the hit Off-Broadway production of Black Angels Over Tuskegee by Layon Gray. Delano was also featured in the Disney film The Game Plan starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Anaya Armstead is a singer, actor, and model from Harlem, New York and has performed live at BB Kings, The Sugar Bar, and Club Nell's. Among her credits, Anaya has modeled with Darkfame Entertainment, performed on stage in productions by Diversity Players of Harlem, and sang the National Anthem at Newark Stadium. Anaya is currently working with music producer Mr. J. Tarrell. Her new single My Baby can be found on youtube.com.
C. Barbosa first appeared on the scene as a member of one of Boston's hottest R&B groups Image. The group opened for artists such as Cassidy, Rupee, and Jagged Edge. Image was all the rage in the New England area for over 4 years. After Image disbanded, C. Barbosa formed one of New England's hottest writing groups, FinePrint Music. Along with members Mykel & RJ, he has written over 50 songs and counting. With such hits as "So Fine", "Hear That Sound", and "Dance with You", this Cape Verdian native is determined to put out popular music! C. Barbosa has opened for Akon in the Cape Verde Islands off the West Coast of Africa. He has also worked with artist Kim Davis. Mr. Barbosa is determined to be a new breed in the R&B/Hip Hop/Pop culture.
Rasheeda Wallace got her big break in 1995 while performing at the world famous Apollo Theater, where she brought audiences to their feet with standing ovations three weeks in a row. Ms. Wallace has performed on FOX 5's Good Day New York. She has been sought after by some of music industries' finest, such as Chaka Khan, Kymani Marley, The Pussycat Dolls and Roc-a-Fella records to perform, as well as write and arrange. She is also a dedicated supporter of the Sanctuary House, a shelter for women who are victims of Domestic Violence. She has committed a great deal of her time and effort in raising awareness and funding for the Anti-Domestic Violence Campaign. Ms. Wallace received a Proclamation from the City of New York by Governor David Patterson for her service. As a singer and performer, Rasheeda's fan base has grown to be quite diverse since her big break in 1995. She hopes to one day be a household name.
Featuring music by:
DJ Versastyle has a love for various styles of music from Culture and Soca music to Alternative and Techno to Hip-Hop, R&B and Reggae, hence the name DJ VersaStyle. He has been a DJ for over 5 years and works with a group which he helped form called Hits International. DJ has also had the great pleasure of working with reggae artists Movado and Tony Matterhorn. When not in the DJ booth, you can find him modeling or promoting events. DJ Versastyle says "Music makes me happy and it defines who I am. As a DJ, I would love to spin music all over the world, to feel and understand different cultures through their music."
Hosted by:
Reginald L. Barnes is a Theatre, Film, and Television actor, as well as host/emcee, and part-time funnyman. He is currently featured in an Off-Broadway production of Layon Gray's award winning play "Black Angels Over Tuskegee". Reginald received glowing reviews for his portrayal of Ghost Henderson in the Stepping Stone Theatre Company's original work Reflections of the Heart. Some other theater credits include: Die Laughing the Stage Play, A Soldiers' Play", The Wiz, Medea, Godspell, Fences and Freddie's Big Deal. His film works include The Skeleptica Effect, Read On, Inhibitions, and Tales From The Players' Manual, Vol. 1--which made waves around the festival circuit and are now available thru indie retailers online.
For More Information contact:
DA' Right Entertainment
750 Third Avenue Suite 900
New York, NY 10017
212-519-7423
http://www.darightentertainment.com
http://www.facebook.com/da.right.ent
http://www.twitter.com/darightent
DA' Right Entertainment seeks to bring joy, foster hope, and evoke emotions as it endeavors to provide World Changing Entertainment.
Media Contact:
Dwight Ali Williams
(212) 519 – 7423
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Nebraska Photographer's First Exhibition Just Happens to be in Europe
Beginning September 22 and continuing through October 12, Patricia Saldana-Neumann of Lincoln, Neb., will be among four internation Tips: Find Street Fashion Online(may be you can find what you want on the oasap.com) al artists whose work will be displayed in an exhibition at the Colorida Art Gallery in Lisbon, Portugal. Her seven fine art photographic prints on display at the Gallery explore the alternative world of infrared photography in portraits of women and children dressed in Victorian costume.
Founded in 2007, the Colorida Art Gallery is located by the Castle of S?o Jorge in the highest hill of the historic center of Lisbon, in a building more than 150 years old. Its principal focus is the representation of an international group of contemporary artists whose diverse practices include painting, photography, sculpture and drawing.
"I know it sounds bizarre," said Saldana-Neumann. "People dressed in period clothing photographed in infrared, is not how you typically see portraits. Yet, it seemed to work. I am fascinated with recording the invisible light known as near-infrared in all of its surrealistic and odd beauty."
Saldana-Neumann shot the photographs on display with an older model Canon digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera converted to an infrared camera. The modified camera she used to shot her infrared photographs has a super-blue infrared filter located inside the camera in front of the digital sensor.
"By modifying a regular camera to one with an internal infrared filter, you can take a lot of the trail and error out of shooting in infrared and simplify the process," said Saldana-Neumann.
Saldana-Neumann listed several advantages to converting her camera to infrared versus mounting an infrared filter on the lens. "I don't necessarily have to use a tripod with my converted camera. I can hand-hold the camera. I can see the scene in front of me through the viewfinder as I would see the scene through a regular camera. Since the infrared filter is inside the camera, I can use any lens I want to shot a scene. And exposure times are very much shortened with a converted camera compared to using an infrared filter on the lens.
Aside from being fascinated with infrared photography, Saldana-Neumann is even more fascinated that her display in Portugal will be her very first exhibit anywhere. Jose Robert Moreira, director of the Colorida Art Gallery, contacted Saldana-Neumann in June after finding one of her photographs on an online gallery published by the Photo Review Journal. The Photo Review Journal is a critical journal of national scope and international readership. The magazine has earned a reputation as one of the best serious photography publications being produced today. The photograph seen by Morieira was one of her night shot taken in Lincoln.
Saldana-Neumann said Moreia contacted her via email and explained that he had seen her work online. He suggested that she submit recent photographs for review by Gallery staff for possible inclusion in a future exhibition at the Gallery.
"I was very skeptical at first and feared that this may be a some sort of scam," she said. "However, I checked out their Website and contacted several American artists who had exhibited there previously," she said. "The Gallery proved to be legitimate and has a great reputation for promoting emerging talent."
"He made no guarantees," said Saldana-Neumann. "I took a risk. Instead of submitting images of my night photography, I sent him my most recent images of infrared photograph," she said. Two months later, he contacted her again and offered her the opportunity to display her infrared photographs at the Gallery.
"I am so incredibly excited," said Saldana-Neumann. "I'm a relative newcomer to digital photography, so to be exhibited internationally is a huge honor," she said.
Saldana-Neumann recalls her experience with photography as an undergraduate journalism student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Back then, she said, manual focus and 35mm film-based cameras were the norm. For photography classes, she bought a Minolta SR-T201 SLR, her first film camera, a classic by anybody's standards. She still has it and says it works beautifully, especially for black and white images.
Over time, she set down her camera, had a family, went back to school for a graduate degree in journalism at UN-L. Four years ago, after many years sans camera, she took up photography again, taking classes at Southeast Community College.
"Nearly everything I know about photography today, I learned from my photography instructor at Southeast Community College, a fantastic teacher by the name of Barbara Hagan," said Saldana-Neumann. "I started with the beginner's class, learning the features of my first digital camera and continued to take Barbara's more advanced photography classes. She helped shape my perception of photography, gave me a solid foundation of technique and provided me with an appreciation for fine art photography. Through her, I rediscovered the absolute joy of photography."
Today, fine art photography is Saldana-Neumann's passion and her obsession. "I love telling a visual story, creating a mood and illustrating a scene that may at times leave the viewer questioning its existence," she said. Night photography and color infrared photography are her focus. "I enjoy capturing light that people are too busy to notice or just cannot see," Saldana-Neumann said.
Her night work has been published in Photography Forum's 2011 Best of Photography Annual and an online gallery of the Photo Review Journal. In January and February 2013, she will be exhibiting more infrared photos in a group show with several other photographic artists in Lincoln at A-Z Printing.
Website News Page at the Colorida Art Gallery: http://www.colorida.biz
Invitation to the Gallery Show: http://www.colorida.biz/saldana.jpg
To Contact the Gallery: Rosemary Esteter, Gallery Curator, rosemary(at)colorida(dot)pt or galleria(dot)colorida(at)gmail(dot)com
General Gallery Website: http://www.colorida.pt
Barbara Hagan, SECC Instructor: 402-327-8006 (Home) 402-416-7584 (Cell)
To learn more about infrared camera conversion go to: http://www.lifepixel.com
IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Friday, December 7, 2012
Leftyslefthanded.com Makes the Case for the Advantages of Having a Left-Handed Mother, Just in Time for Mother's Day
What do left-handed mothers have in common with Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Charlemagne, and Napoleon? As Mother's Day approaches, consider the following parallels.
Great military leaders have to plan and strategize long and complex campaigns involving numbers of people who must be housed, clothed, equipped, and fed. They have a clear understanding of their own army's strengths and weaknesses, as well as their enemy's. They must be able to inspire their troops and citizens to undertake difficult and potentially deadly battles for political reasons not entirely clear to the ordinary soldier.
The leaders listed above were ALL left-handed. In fact, a surprisingly high percentage of history's legendary military strategists were lefties, and it's no accident. Neurological studies have shown clearly that left-handers use both hemispheres of the brain for certain types of thinking, though right-handers primarily use the left hemisphere for similar tasks. This structural difference gives lefties an advantage in spatio-temporal projection - in planning complex campaigns in far-away places over long periods of time, for example. Lefties can read plans and maps, and understand how things will work out in three dimensions as well as in time. Not surprisingly, a high percentage of both architects and chess players are left-handers.
Now consider the tasks a mother must manage in the campaign of family life, and the relationship is clear women's coats . It's no wonder mothers are frequently compared to generals (though they are usually more subtle about it)! Mothers have to manage, plan, strategize, evaluate, and, especially, inspire.
The best generals are those who can turn unpredicted events to advantage, who are themselves unpredictable and creative, and who can capture the imaginations of their troops so well that soldiers will risk their lives. Imagine how useful these skills would be for mothers - especially the talent for getting people to do what they want to avoid. Again, these are traits often shared by lefties - creativity, unpredictability, resilience, and an ability to engage and lead people.
Left-handedness is considerably more prevalent among men than women.
Because left-handed mothers are a relatively rare group, their children are both fortunate and well-equipped to handle whatever life brings.
For Mother's Day, Birthdays, Christmas, or any special event, left-handers are touched when they receive gifts designed especially for left-handed use. With retail stores at San Francisco's Pier 39 and Downtown Disney in Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL, leftyslefthanded.com has the world's biggest selection of left-handed gifts and tools. From left-handed chef's sets, to left-handed sewing and gardening sets, lefty's has terrific ideas for gifts for left-handed mothers with almost any interest or hobby. Lefties are so used to having to adapt that they can hardly believe there are left-handed products designed especially for them.
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New Next Chester Store Goes Pink for Charity
A new Next store in Chester opened on Thursday 9th June 2011.
On the opening day, Next invited customers to come to the new store located on Coliseum Retail Park, wearing a pink top or t-shirt to be in with a chance of winning a fab pair of jeans! 20 lucky customers who wore pink and made a minimum donation of ?3 to Cancer Research UK were then entered into a prize draw to win a pair of Next denim jeans.
At three times bigger than the previous space, this newly designed store has replaced the old store that was on the same retail park following increased demand for more space and products.
The new store holds everything Next has to offer and more. In fact, the home department is an enormous 10 times bigger than the old home department! For those looking for something for their home, there are some fantastic accessories ranging from floral appliqué cushions to beach hut chalkboards - Next certainly has something to inspire your own home style.
If your focus is fashion, you'll love shopping for the latest trends in the fabulous new surroundings. With collections for women, men and children there is something for everyone.
To celebrate the exciting new store Next also challenged customers to 'Guess the Room Set Values'. The winner who guessed the correct (or closest) value received a ?150 Next gift card, with two runners up receiving ?100 and ?50 Next gift cards.
A new addition to the store women's jackets is the Next sports department offering Next's NX sport clothing range and top branded sportswear. If all of this is too much to handle, Chester Coliseum offers customers a chance to grab a coffee, fruit cooler or a snack in the in-store Costa coffee shop.
The opening hours of the store are Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 8.30pm, Saturday 9am to 7pm and Sunday 10.30am to 5pm. Customers can also order by 9pm for next day delivery at Next.co.uk
Cancer Research UK funds world-class research and clinical trials throughout the North West and last year spent over ?19 million supporting the work of doctors, nurses and scientists at hospitals and major universities in the region.
Issued June 2011, Matt King, Next Public Relations on Tel 0116 284 3185
Notes to the Editor:
About Cancer Research UK
- Cancer Research UK is the world's leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research
- The charity's groundbreaking work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives. This work is funded entirely by the public.
- Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates double in the last forty years.
- Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
- Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to beat cancer.
For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 3469 6699 or visit http://www.cancerresearchuk.org
Next.co.uk offers exciting, beautifully designed and excellent quality clothing, including dresses, jeans and shoes, presented in collections that reflect the aspirations and means of our customers. Shop now for key season pieces such as prom dresses, maxi dresses and evening dresses.
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
New Neat Containers Stackable Shoe Boxes and Clear Shoe Storage Systems Make an Easy-to-Use Closet Organizer for Any Size Space
Finding the perfect closet organizer can be hard, but now Neat Containers – http://www.neatcontainers.com – new stackable shoe boxes and clear shoe storage systems make getting and staying organized easy. The high quality plastic shoe organizers consist of several clear shoe boxes that come in different stacking sizes to fit any size space. Unlike other container systems, Neat Containers is the only clear shoe storage system that lets users remove and open individual pods from each stack without disturbing or collapsing nearby stacks or rows. Neat Containers' stackable shoe boxes and clear shoe storage systems can be used for Mom's shoes, as a closet organizer, in the kitchen or pantry, college dorm room or to organize kids' toys in a play room. The stackable shoe boxes are clear for easily locating stored objects, durable (not affected by freezing), can be washed with simple soap, water and cloth, and will not grow mold like canvas or cloth closet organizers. Best of all, they can be set up in minutes because unlike other closet organizers, the Neat Containers plastic shoe organizer does not require tools for assembly, shelving, hardwood, nuts and bolts or wire racks.
"Our high quality stackable shoe boxes and clear shoe storage system are the types of product every household needs - as a closet organizer, in the kids' play room, or even in the kitchen," said Ron Ptaszek, President of Neat Containers. "Our 100% Made in America durable plastic shoe organizers can be set up in minutes, are easy to clean, won't grow mold, and will last for years to come. They're perfect for the busy Mom, fashionista, or even the student's dorm room. We have a size to meet every need – from the smallest apartment to the most opule fashion coats nt walk-in closet," concluded Ptaszek.
Neat Containers' stackable shoe boxes and clear shoe storage system comes in a wide variety of sizes and can be arranged to fit every space. The plastic shoe organizer can be stacked as wide as the space that is available and the height depends on the object placed inside. Many women stack their shoes 12 units high or more.
Visit http://www.neatcontainers.com for more information or to purchase Neat Containers' stackable shoe boxes and clear shoe storage system.
Media Contact
Ria Romano, Partner
RPR Public Relations, Inc.
786-290-6413
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