NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts
from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues
in your coverage area.
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EXPERT ALERTS
- Homeowners 40% More Likely to Experience Water Damage This
Winter
- How to Talk to Your Children About Terrorism
- 10 Simple Ways to Reduce Chronic Stress for Improved
Fitness
- Family-Run Businesses and Holiday Stress
- 5 Tips to Spark Connection Between Grandparents and
Grandkids
EXPERT ROUNDUP
- New Year's Resolutions (56 experts)
MEDIA JOBS
- Supervisory Content Editor – Voice of America (DC/NY/CA)
- Deputy Editor – Celebrity Weekly (Dubai)
- Writer/Editor – LRP Publications (FL)
OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES
- 6 Practices to Weave Into Your Writing Process in 2018
- Blogger Conferences: Top Events to Attend in 2018
- How to Find Evergreen Content
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EXPERT ALERTS:
Homeowners 40% More Likely to Experience Water Damage This
Winter
Jim Magliaro
Risk Consulting Technical Leader
Chubb
"A water leak can do major damage to your home in as little as 20
minutes, and even a small one can drain your wallet. We surveyed
homeowners who've had a leak in the past few years and half of them
spent $5,000 or more on clean up and
repairs. With our data indicating that homeowners are 40% more
likely to experience water damage during the cold winter months
ahead than any other time of the year, the best and simplest step
every homeowner should take is installing a water leak detection
device to protect their home and wallet."
Magliaro can speak to why homeowners face a heighted risk of water
leaks in the winter, the actions they can take around their home to
prevent a leak from occurring, the potential financial implications
of a water leak and how to ensure homeowners have sufficient levels
of insurance protection in place. Magliaro was recently featured on
the "Today" show discussing these very topics (see link below) and
is available to connect live and provide written responses to
questions or appear on camera.
"Today" clip:
https://www.today.com/home/how-avoid-bursting-pipes-costly-repairs-winter-t119612
Contact: Morgan Fine,
morgan@blissintegrated.com
How to Talk to Your Children About Terrorism
Dr. John Huber
Chairman
Mainstream Mental Health
Dr. Huber, a clinical forensic psychologist, is available to share
advice for parents on how to talk to your children about terrorism:
"Avoid showing fear around kids and talking about terrorist attacks
in front of them. Have children express how they feel and not allow
them to keep their emotions bottled up inside. Tell children that
the police and authorities will work to keep us safe. When you see
a police-car passing by with your children, point out there's a
police officer and authorities trying to keep us safe."
Based in Texas, Dr. Huber is the
chairman for Mainstream Mental Health, a non-profit organization
that brings lasting and positive change to the lives of individuals
that suffer from mental health issues. A mental health
professional for more than 20 years, Dr. Huber is a clinical
forensic psychologist, and a practitioner with privileges at two
long-term acute care hospitals.
Website: www.mainstreammentalhealth.org
TV Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE5d3daJnAQ
Contact: Ryan McCormick,
ryan@goldmanmccormick.com
10 Simple Ways to Reduce Chronic Stress for Improved Fitness
Jonathan Jordan
Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, Massage Therapist and Fitness
Blogger
Jonathan Jordan Fitness
Jordan is available to share 10 practical, scientifically proven
methods for reducing stress that can take as little as one minute a
day: "Thanks to today's fast-paced, technology-centric world,
coupled with sedentary lifestyles, we are bombarded constantly with
low and high levels of mental, physical, emotional and
physiological stress. These chronic stresses are inhibiting our
body's natural self-repair mechanisms that fix broken proteins,
kill cancer cells, retard aging and fight infections. We are the
most overweight, under-active generation in history, existing on
diets of processed foods and suffering from damaging mindsets.
We're walking around under-slept like zombies and are beating the
$@#!*% out of our adrenal glands."
As a Tier 3+ personal trainer and group fitness instructor at
Equinox in San Francisco's
Financial District, Jordan has helped hundreds of busy
professionals achieve healthy and sustainable fitness goals.
Formerly a partner at a top consulting firm, Jordan understands the
physical and mental challenges that his clients experience on a
daily basis, and he takes each client's unique lifestyle demands
into consideration when creating their fitness programs.
ProfNet Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/jonathan_jordan/
Website: www.jj-fit.com
Expert Contact: jj@jj-fit.com
Family-Run Businesses and Holiday Stress
Michael Klein, PsyD
Psychologist
MK Insights LLC
During the holiday season, gathering with family brings joy – and,
often, stress -- and that is typically compounded when working in a
family-run/owned business. Says Dr. Klein: "When you work in, or
own, a family business, holiday gatherings can be filled with
stress not only based on family dynamics, but from various
business-related issues. To have a joyous and successful family
gathering, it is critical for individuals in family-owned
businesses to keep work topics at work."
Based in Massachusetts, Dr. Klein
is the author of "Trapped in the Family Business."
Expert Contact: mklein@mkinsights.com
5 Tips to Spark Connection Between Grandparents and
Grandkids
Robert Martin
Founder
Bridge to a Cure
"Grandparents can be an emotional rock, a wise friend and a playful
elder -- the 'go-to person' when parents aren't available. Here are
some tips for grandparents to build closer relationships with their
grandkids: 1) Be in touch regularly: That might mean Skyping or
calling once a week, however you can connect with your grandkids.
Don't just visit over the holidays. 2) Surprise them with outings:
Pick them up early in the day and take them on surprise outings;
only the kids' parents know where they are going, such as to a
baseball game, a kayak or fishing trip, or a visit to a kids'
museum or animal shelter. It could be something they've never done
before. 3) Use terms of endearment: I call my granddaughter Keira
'Gumdrop' and I called my granddaughter Clara 'Cupcake.' My two
young grandsons are 'Scooter' and 'Slugger.' When I say goodbye in
person, in notes or on the phone, I always use the same phrase: 'I
love you -- big time!' 4) Encourage them to think outside the box:
I like to brainstorm ideas for solving problems like city traffic.
There is a right answer that is safe, and there is a home run that
has risks. I ask them, what is the home run? What does it look
like? 5) Do things they wouldn't expect grandparents to do: When I
ran the New York City Marathon, my grandchildren couldn't stop
talking to their friends about it."
Martin, a children's advocate and author, writes books with his
granddaughter Keira Ely, including
the bestsellers "The Case of the Missing Crown Jewels," and
"SuperClara -- A Young Girl's Story of Cancer, Bravery and
Courage." He founded the nonprofit Bridge to a Cure Foundation to
tear down the deadly barriers impeding the timely development of
pediatric cancer treatments and cures.
Online Press
Kit: http://robertmartin.onlinepresskit247.com
Website: www.RobertMartinAuthor.com
Contact: Jennifer
Thomas, jennifer.wasabi10@gmail.com
EXPERT ROUNDUP: New Year's Resolutions (56 experts)
Following are experts from the ProfNet network who are available
to share tips for making and keeping New Year's resolutions:
Behavior/Making Resolutions:
Making Resolutions
Dr. Christopher Wolfe
Associate Professor of Psychology
Saint Leo University
"At their core, most New Year's resolutions seek to create a
positive change in some aspect of life, most often an area that has
caused worry, shame, regret. We make resolutions to create the
chance to change these foibles and missteps in the next year."
Saint Leo University Polling Institute recently asked several
questions surrounding New Year's Resolutions for 2018. In all, 29.8
percent of respondents plan to make resolutions. The most typical
responses were: lose weight (55.7 percent), save more money (56
percent), travel more (29.5 percent) and spend more time with
family (26.5 percent). Another 23.2 percent resolved to vacation
more and 20.2 percent said they would look for a new job. Said Dr.
Wolfe: "The desire to lose weight remains a top goal for more than
half of respondents. Good health is a necessary base level, in this
theory, for achieving all other rungs on the ladder toward a better
self, and therefore makes sense as a top resolution across the last
several polls."
Poll results:
http://polls.saintleo.edu/americans-still-say-they-will-make-new-years-resolutions-newly-released-saint-leo-university-poll-shows/
Contact: Mary McCoy,
mary.mccoy02@saintleo.edu
Goal-Oriented Questions to Stop Sabotaging Yourself
Dr. Bradley Nelson
Dr. Nelson is available to discuss goal-oriented questions to stop
self-sabotage: "Are you unable to reach goals you've set for
yourself? Does it seem that there are always obstacles in your
path, keeping you from becoming the person you want to be? You
could be your own worst enemy, unknowingly sabotaging yourself with
behaviors that you might not even suspect could be causing harm.
Self-sabotage can show up in surprising places and may seem
impossible to overcome." The most common culprit in unconscious
self-sabotage is emotional baggage -- unresolved negative emotions
(Dr. Nelson calls them trapped emotions) that cause us to act in
ways that prevent us from achieving goals we say we want to
achieve. Dr. Nelson can share questions from The Body Code system
he created to help people identify and resolve emotions that are
blocking them from achieving their goals, including: What
needs to be released for (me to accomplish this goal)? Am
I OK with achieving (my goal)? Do I deserve to (achieve my
goal)? Am I blocked from (achieving my goal)? Is anything
negative related to (me accomplishing my goal), such as more work,
potential negative effect on others, etc.? When people are able to
recognize and release themselves from emotional baggage, it frees
them to achieve their goals.
A holistic chiropractic physician and medical intuitive, Dr. Nelson
is one of the world's foremost experts in the emerging fields of
bioenergetic medicine and energy psychology. He has certified
thousands of practitioners worldwide in helping people overcome
unresolved anger, depression, anxiety, loneliness and other
negative emotions and the physical symptoms associated them. His
bestselling book, "The Emotion Code," provides step-by-step
instructions for working with the body's healing power. He is based
in St. George, Utah.
Book: www.EmotionCodeGift.com
Online press kit: http://drbradleynelson.onlinepresskit247.com
Websites: www.DrBradleyNelson.com and www.theemotioncode.com
Contact: Jennifer Thomas,
jennifer.wasabi10@gmail.com
Crafting Goals and Resolutions
Dean Lindsay
Motivational Speaker
Lindsay is available to discuss goals and resolutions across the
board -- business, fitness, health, career, etc. He says it's
about crafting goals and resolutions, not making them: "The
decision to be motivated to progress towards a goal is a personal
choice."
Lindsay, a popular consultant and motivational keynote speaker, is
the author of "How to Achieve Big Phat Goals." Solid,
well-thought-out goals make it easier for people to achieve
them. By setting PHAT (Pretty Hot And Tempting) goals,
personal goals that are attractive and alluring, individuals are
compelled to progress, and continually move forward with
purpose.
Contact: Lori Ames,
lori@theprfreelancer.com
Tips for Achieving Your Resolutions
Allison Johnsen
Manager of Business and Program Development for Behavioral
Health
Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, Ill.
Johnsen, a licensed psychotherapist and certified professional
coach, shares the following tips for achieving your resolutions:
"1) Make them doable, reasonable, one small chunk at a time. For
example, if your goal is to lose weight, start with a smaller
number. You can re-up for more when hitting the
goal. Resolutions that are very challenging often get dropped
because we 'fail' and give up. 2) Accountability: Seek the
goal with some support, someone to cheer you on, a buddy who is
trying to achieve the same or similar. 3) Pick just one, not
several -- set yourself up for success, not failure. Maybe
choose a series of smaller goals. Achieve one, then start on
the next. 4) When you 'blow it,' like smoke a cigarette or eat a
cheesecake or skip the gym for days, don't give up; just re-up your
goal and get going again. 'Relapsing' is normal, not failure.
5) Mindset and attitude are keys. We chastise ourselves and
give up. Rather, expect to fall; get up again and keep
going."
Contact: Kim Waterman,
Kimberly.waterman@nm.org
Self-Control
Dr. Marco Palma
Director of the Human Behavior Lab
Texas A&M University
In his recent research article published in the January 2018 edition of the Journal of Economic
Behavior & Organization (see link below), Dr. Palma uses
biometrics to resolve the two competing models of decision-making
as it relates to self-control. One model suggests that
self-control is a finite resource that is depleted, like a battery
that loses its charge over time. The other model suggests that it
is like a light switch that is turned on and off. Says Dr. Palma:
"Our new understanding of self-control provides lessons for
sticking with our New Year's resolutions. First, remember that slow
and steady progress is best. If you want to get fit, start by
walking a quarter mile, not running five miles. Achieve enough to
stay motivated, but don't overdo it to the point of frustration.
Second, remember that small acts of self-control build over time.
Instead of cutting all carbs or sugar out of your diet, consider
giving up just one piece of bread (about 70 calories), and one can
of soda (about 130 calories), per day. Over time, consuming 200
fewer calories per day will result in weight loss. And finally,
realize that little acts of self-control in one area will improve
your self-control in other areas. Getting traction with a healthier
diet, for example, will increase your confidence and motivation to
achieve another goal."
Research article: https://tinyurl.com/y75qqhrr
Website: https://agrilife.org/hbl/
Expert Contact: mapalma@tamu.edu
PR Contact: jeff.pool@ag.tamu.edu
Breaking Bad Habits/Creating New Empowering Habits
Joe Campo
Co-Founder
Daft Trunk
Campo, an entrepreneur, lifestyle visionary and music enthusiast,
shares these tips for breaking bad habits and creating new,
empowering habits: "Create a soundtrack of songs that you
connect with and make you smile. I enjoy an intense series of
Hans Zimmer tracks followed with
'Meridian,' Odesza's new and super-uplifting release. For the
first 30 minutes of every day, before looking at your phone, take
time for yourself. Sit or stand in one place and listen to your
soundtrack. In this time, breathe deep and think of beautiful
moments in your life, big and small, to be grateful for. I
find recalling the smallest moments give me the most
joy. Throughout the day, pull up a song listened to in the
morning session and get back to those happy memories that were
making you feel grateful. Doing this forces us to smile,
helps that hamster wheel running in our minds to slow, and
allows us to be more aware of the little bits of greatness in our
life that happen every day, all day long."
Website: www.dafttrunk.com
Expert Contact: Joe@dafttrunk.com
Setting Goals
Heather Sadowski
Wellness Director
University of Richmond
"It's important to focus on why we set these goals in order to
succeed in achieving them. Some of those reasons may be: to see
positive changes; to be better versions of ourselves; to challenge
ourselves; to prevent boredom; to prepare for big events; to learn
and grow; to inspire others. We also need to focus on SMART goals,
which includes making them Specific, Measurable, Attainable,
Realistic and Time-based. This assists with accountability and
decreases the vagueness of a general statement. I have found that
keeping in mind seven key phases has been beneficial to
goal-setting success and tackling challenges that may have to be
overcome along the journey of reaching a goal: 1) Set goals you are
passionate about. 2) Break up larger goals into more manageable,
short-term goals. 3) Do something daily to work towards your goals.
4) Adapt and adjust. 5) Acknowledge and accept boredom. 6) Schedule
break time. 7) Reward yourself along the way."
Bio: https://recreation.richmond.edu/contact/staff/hsadowk/
Contact: Pryor Green,
pryor.green@richmond.edu
Creating Resolutions With a Positive Mindset
Karen Brown
CEO
Velocity Leadership Consulting
"Many people create resolutions with an 'I should' mentality.
'Should' is a powerful word in the unconscious mind, and it causes
feelings of disappointment, failure, lack of energy and
resentment. A positive mindset is all about optimization for
desired results. Instead of 'I should,' use 'I will' or 'I desire'
to optimize your mindset and stay focused on your goals. Then, keep
a running list of daily accomplishments toward your goals --
personal and professional. Seeing them on paper creates feelings of
victory, achievement, energy and inclusivity. Limiting beliefs live
in the unconscious mind. We decide we can do it and we go for it,
or we decide we can't do it and we don't go for it. It's that fast
and simple. And it's continuous -- the process is repeated hundreds
of times every day, with personal and professional things. Setting
resolutions doesn't change the unconscious mind, but learning how
to change your unconscious limiting beliefs allows you to stretch
beyond your comfort zone and achieve your resolutions."
Brown is a business psychology coach, IRONMAN World Championship
finisher, and the author of "Unlimiting Your Beliefs: 7 Keys to
Greater Success in Your Personal and Professional Life," where she
shares tips and examples of how anyone can discover their true
potential. She can discuss: personal goals including fitness,
changing habits, etc.; four motivational styles and recommendations
for each style; overcoming limiting beliefs to achieve personal and
professional goals; understanding the role that the unconscious
mind plays in keeping resolutions.
Websites: www.velocityleadershipconsulting.com and
www.karenbrownauthor.com
Contact: Denise Bonniwell.
denise@dcbcomm.com
Career/Workplace:
Career-Related Resolutions
Amanda Augustine
Career Advice Expert
TopResume
Augustine, a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) and
Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), is available to
discuss any career-related resolutions for the new year, including:
how to land a new job in 2018; how to get hired for your dream job
in 2018; whether it will be easier to find a job in 2018; how to
make/take more vacation time in 2018; how to ask for a raise; how
to negotiate a title change; how to overhaul your resume; how to
get your resume new-year ready; etc. She has more than 17,000
Twitter followers and has been quoted in hundreds of media
outlets.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jobsearchamanda/
Website: https://www.topresume.com
Contact: Lisa Hagendorf,
lisa@centerpiecepr.com
Office Wellness-Related Resolutions
Betsey Banker, CWWS, CWWPM
Wellness Manager
Ergotron
Banker has over a decade of experience working for a leading
manufacturer of ergonomic and sit-stand display mount solutions and
has experienced firsthand the transformative impact that movement
can have on worker wellbeing. She is a catalyst and coach,
helping others to understand and embrace the importance of movement
within their own lives and those they influence. Her
responsibilities include raising awareness of the harmful impacts
of a sedentary workstyle, creating tools to aid organizations in
the adoption and implementation of movement-friendly workstations
and helping them achieve measurable results.
Website: https://www.ergotron.com/en-us/
Contact: Taylor Paglia,
ergotron@inkhouse.com
Being More Productive at Work
Emily Hunter, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Management, Hankamer School of Business
Baylor University
Hunter has conducted numerous studies on workplace productivity.
One study on "how to take better workday breaks," co-authored with
Cindy Wu, Ph.D., associate professor
of management, showed that taking mid-morning, frequent, short
breaks – during which employees engage in activities they prefer –
result in boosts in energy, concentration and motivation (see
https://tinyurl.com/y8sjo798). Another study looked at the
consequences and benefits of interruptions during work and family
time (https://tinyurl.com/ybkajgvs).
"When you give to one domain, you must take from the other. There
are only so many hours in the day," Hunter said. "Interruptions
from family 'take' from work in the form of work goal obstructions,
negative emotions and lower satisfaction with investment in work."
Hunter said that proper planning could turn these interruptions
into benefits that help employees meet work and family goals.
Bio:
https://www.baylor.edu/mediacommunications/index.php?id=941665&expert=emily.hunterphd
Contact: Eric Eckert,
eric_m_eckert@baylor.edu
Financial:
Five Keys to Making Your Financial Resolutions Stick
Pamela Yellen
President
Bank On Yourself
Yellen, a bestselling author and financial investigator, is
available to discuss five keys to making your financial resolutions
stick." They are: 1) Understand that real, permanent change is
usually driven by your own desire, rather than outside pressure; 2)
Enlist allies to help you stay on track. An ally -- whether a
professional for hire, a friend or other mentor -- can help you
reinforce your commitment; 3) Set incentives and
consequences for sticking to or breaking your commitments; 4)
Skip the pity party when you fall short -- those who rebound
the fastest set aside emotional thinking and formulate a plan to
get back on track; and 5) Don't set yourself up for
failure by insisting on an all-or-nothing change. Instead,
keep your focus on where you are going and your long-term savings
goals. "Don't let past failures sabotage future efforts," says
Yellen. "While about 45 percent of us usually make reservations,
only 8 percent achieve them, research shows. A less well-known
fact: Most successful New Year's goal-setters faltered for five
consecutive years, or even more, before they ever succeeded."
Based in Santa Fe, N.M., Yellen is
author of the New York Times
best-selling book, "The Bank On Yourself Revolution: Fire Your
Banker, Bypass Wall Street, and Take Control of Your Own Financial
Future." She investigated more than 450 financial strategies
seeking an alternative to the risk and volatility of stocks and
other investments, which led her to a time-tested, predictable
method of growing wealth now used by more than 500,000
Americans.
Online press kit: http://pamelayellen.onlinepresskit247.com
Website: www.BankOnYourself.com
Contact: Jennifer Thomas,
jennifer.wasabi10@gmail.com
Financial Resolutions
Altair Gobo, CFP
Partner
U.S. Financial Services, LLC, Fairfield,
N.J.
Gobo, a media-savvy financial expert, offers these tips to begin
your new year's financial resolution: "1) Plan: Whether it's losing
weight, saving for a home, providing for a child's education or
your retirement, they all require an examination on the
quantitative and qualitative aspects – or, simply put, dollars and
sense. How can you measure your success (or failure) if you don't
have a plan to look back at? 2) Write it down: The easiest way is
to put your goals in writing, then assess if they are realistic or
not (don't expect to have $1 million
in two years if you make $50,000 a
year). 3) Discipline: Once you've agreed that your goal is doable,
the key is discipline. Put together a plan of action and stick to
it! 4) Set goals: If I planned on losing 20 lbs. but only lost 19,
I could say I failed or I could say that, without trying, I would
have never lost the 19 lbs. Without setting goals, you can never
reach them. It would be great if we met or exceeded every goal we
ever set, but that's not life. Again, an old saying: 'If at first
you don't succeed, try, try again.' 5) Take the good with the bad:
It's human nature to get discouraged, but it's important that we
deal with it, get up and move on. 6) Assess and be honest with
yourself: How much do you owe? How much do you have? How much do
you earn? 7) Analyze your cash flow: How much is coming in/how much
is going out. If there's money left over, don't spend it -- save
it. Depending on your situation, maybe increase IRA/401(k) contributions, or develop a
systematic investment plan that automatically withdraws that extra
money and puts it in a portfolio that you've set up. 8) Make more:
If there's no money left over, you have only two options: make more
or spend less. If you can't earn more, take a real hard look at
your expenses. 9) Spend less: Try to cut some costs. Do you really
need that $5 cup of latte every
morning? You'd be surprised at how much you could save every month
by making a few adjustments in your spending habits."
Gobo is an adjunct faculty member, faculty coordinator and academic
advisor at Farleigh Dickinson University's financial planning
program and on the advisory board at Montclair State
University. He has served as president and chairman of the
board of directors at the Northern New Jersey Chapter of the
International Association for Financial Planning. He is media-savvy
and has been a guest on CNBC, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, Fox News, Fox
Business News, Bloomberg and CNN. He's also author of
"Getting to the Green: Golf, Financial Planning and Life, Not
Necessarily in That Order."
Contact: Tracy G. Minsky,
tracy@merylmossmedia.com
Retirement Planning
David Freitag
Financial Planning Consultant
MassMutual
"The most important takeaway for retirement planning in 2018 is
getting it right. A startling finding from a recent MassMutual
survey revealed that 62 percent of people nearing retirement age
failed a basic true/false quiz about Social Security filing
options. Lacking the proper knowledge and information about
Social Security may put retirement planning in jeopardy. In
fact, many may be leaving Social Security retirement benefits they
are entitled to on the table, by incorrectly assuming what benefits
may be available in retirement. Depending on their age, a
couple planning to retire at age 62 in 2018 has at least 81
different filing strategy options available to them. Some
older couples will have well over 100 ways to take their
benefits. This makes 'getting it right' challenging.
Additionally, if you are under age 60, the only way you can access
your Social Security statement is online, and the information needs
to be accurate to ensure that you receive the right level of Social
Security retirement benefits when the time comes. If nothing
else in 2018, set up access to your information and ensure it is
accurate at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/."
Contact: Paula M. Tremblay,
ptremblay@massmutual.com
Evaluating Your Financial Plan
Kevin Brauer
CFO
Affinity Federal Credit Union
With 2018 around the corner, it's time for families to begin
evaluating their financial plan for the new year. Brauer is
available to discuss: why your family financial plan must be more
than just a spending budget; what you'll need to consider when
developing your family financial plan (e.g., age of your parents,
where you are in your life cycle, college tuition, retirement
planning, the age of your car, if you'd like to buy a house, and
more); why and how every family needs to put an emergency fund in
place, even if you don't think you can or need to do so. Says
Brauer: "Though putting a spending budget in place seems like the
right place to start, most families stop there, which can be a
crucial error. Families often look at their finances too narrowly,
failing to consider possible emergencies and other major life
occurrences down the road."
Based in Basking Ridge, N.J.,
Brauer has been interviewed in outlets including Forbes and
NJBIZ.
Website: www.affinityfcu.com
Contact: Brian Hyland,
bhyland@sternstrategy.com
Personal Finance
Thomas Walsh
Certified Financial Planner, Client Service and Portfolio
Manager
Palisades Hudson Financial Group
"Find the strategy that you can live with both financially and
psychologically, and then stick to it. The best time to act is now.
Focus on reducing high-interest debts and building an emergency
fund with six to 12 months of expenses. Organize your debts by
interest rate so you know where to focus. Don't accept the notion
that all debt must be cleared from your personal balance sheet
before you can begin to focus efforts on saving for
retirement."
Website: http://www.palisadeshudson.com
Contact: Henry Stimpson,
Henry@StimpsonCommunications.com
Personal Finance Resolutions
Kyle Winkfield
Managing Partner
O'Dell, Winkfield, Roseman and Shipp, Washington, D.C.
Winkfield educates and empowers his audiences, including viewers,
his clients, listeners, readers, and anyone else that wants to join
the journey of understanding financial freedom and lifestyle
security. In a world where most professionals lead with industry
jargon, complex formulas and "what if" catastrophes, Winkfield
speaks from the heart and experience. As a best-selling
author, a regular guest financial and retirement expert on Fox
Baltimore, and a contributor to publications including TIME,
Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, and Nasdaq, Winkfield
shares his insight, and knowledge on a weekly basis with audiences
across the country. Winkfield is proud member of the Million
Dollar Roundtable, an organization that acknowledges the elite
professionals of the financial industry. He is also an active
member of the Independence Excellence Group, a think tank composed
of financial professionals across the nation who meet quarterly to
share new retirement ideas and strategies.
Website: http://www.owrsfirm.com
Contact: Nick Vecore,
nick.vecore@mandomarketing.com
Personal Finance Resolutions
Melissa Fort
Financial Consultant
Fort Wealth Management, Austin,
Texas
Fort is a Certified Senior Advisor and serves as a
financial consultant and client concierge. She strives to help
Austin area residents map out and
implement a successful plan for retirement. She owned and managed a
successful business in the investment world for more than 20 years
and has also worked for two Fortune 500 companies. She holds a life
and health insurance license in the State
of Texas.
Website: https://www.fortwm.com
Contact: Nick Vecore,
nick.vecore@mandomarketing.com
Personal Finance Resolutions
Ryan Moore
Ryan the IRA Guy, Corpus Christi,
Texas
After the big economic downturn of 2008, Moore started looking for
way to help the retired people in his community stop making very
costly mistakes with their IRAs and 401(k)s and help them avoid
outliving their retirement savings. Moore is very knowledgeable and
passionate about helping Americans avoid making IRA mistakes and finding ways to guarantee
their income for the rest of their lifetime.
Website: http://www.ryantheiraguy.com
Contact: Nick Vecore,
nick.vecore@mandomarketing.com
Personal Finance Resolutions
Steve Yager
Owner
Steve Yager & Associates,
Livonia, Mich.
Yager is a detail-minded professional with more than 30 years of
experience in the financial service industry. He has created a
different all-inclusive approach to retirement planning that takes
into consideration all aspects of one's goals and needs.
Website: https://www.ygr.org
Contact: Nick Vecore,
nick.vecore@mandomarketing.com
Personal Finance Resolutions
Michael Windle
Retirement Planning Specialist
C. Curtis Financial, Plymouth,
Mich.
Windle is a retirement planning specialist for C. Curtis Financial
Group, and is a financial advisor and Registered Representative
with Kalos Capital, Inc. Windle holds a Series 7 License and is
responsible for staying up-to-date on the various investment
options available to clients.
Website: http://www.ccurtisfinancial.com
Contact: Nick Vecore,
nick.vecore@mandomarketing.com
Personal Finance: Making Better 'Money Moves'
Kyle Nakatsuji
CEO and Founder
Clearcover
As a personal finance expert, Nakatsuji can discuss how
consumers can make a conscious effort to be more aware of how much
they spend on required monthly expenses (like auto insurance,
gas/electric bills, etc.). While people make unnecessary purchases,
they also overpay for things they're forced to have and pay for
every month. Nakatsuji can weigh in on how people can make the
resolution to save money on compulsory services to create the
financial freedom to rationally buy other things they really want
-- and make better "money moves" as a result.
Website: www.clearcover.com
Contact: Kellie Flaherty,
clearcoverpr@walkersands.com
Personal Finance Resolutions
Uri Pomerantz
CEO
Twine
Pomerantz is available to provide insight/tips on personal finance
resolutions like saving and investing money, setting your goals,
etc. He is the CEO of Twine, a new smart savings app that enables
couples to manage their finances collaboratively, overcome
behavioral barriers to saving, and reach financial goals faster via
automated personalized portfolios. Twine is part of John Hancock
Digital, a digital innovation group within John Hancock that is focused on scaling the
company's technology to improve the financial lives of consumers.
Prior to joining John Hancock Digital, Pomerantz was co-founder and
CEO of Guide Financial, and founder of Bright Frontier Financial
before that. He holds an MBA from the Graduate School of Business
at Stanford University.
Website: https://twine.com
Contact: Alex Merriweather,
amerriweather@inkhouse.com
Retirement Planning and IRAs
Ed Slott, CPA
Founder, Ed Slott & Company
Creator, IRAhelp.com
Slott is a New York-based nationally recognized IRA expert, television personality,
and best-selling author who has dedicated his life to
educating Americans on saving for retirement and the
intricacies of IRAs. He was named "The Best Source for
IRA Advice" by The Wall
Street Journal, and USA Today wrote, "It would
be tough to find anyone who knows more about IRAs than CPA
Slott." He is the author of "The Retirement Savings Time
Bomb … And How to Defuse It" and "Parlay Your
IRA into a Family Fortune."
His most recent books include "Fund Your Future: A
Tax-Smart Savings Plan in Your 20s and 30s" and "The
Retirement Decisions Guide: 125 Ways to Save and Stretch
Your Wealth." He is the host of the 2015 public television show
"Ed Slott's Retirement Road Map,"
which airs in markets nationwide. He is a
frequent columnist and resource for national media and has
hosted many best-selling public television specials.
Through his firm, Slott provides the highest level of IRA
training to financial professionals, CPAs and attorneys; and
through his website, he offers free resources
to consumers.
Website: http://irahelp.com
Contact: Mindy Eras, mindy@advisorpr.com
Retirement Planning
Greg Hammer
Tax and Wealth Advisor
Hammer Financial Group, Inc.
Hammer specializes in coordinated, holistic financial planning for
Lake County, Ind., and
Chicago-area residents who are
approaching retirement or currently retired. Bringing tax
preparation and planning, Medicare supplements, estate planning,
insurance and investments all under one roof, he aims to provide
complete and convenient financial solutions for the best interest
of the clients he serves. Hammer trains and coaches independent
financial advisors nationwide on how to build their business to
better serve the holistic financial needs of American families. In
particular, he has helped develop and refine processes to integrate
tax preparation and Medicare supplement services into a financial
advisory practice -- a unique addition within the financial
industry designed for the ultimate convenience and benefit of
clients at and near retirement. He earned a B.A. in Applied
Mathematics with a focus in economics from Yale University and has more than 23 years of
experience in the financial services industry. In addition to his
series 6, 63, 65 and 26 and life and health licenses, Hammer
maintains Master Elite Membership with Ed
Slott's Elite IRA Advisor
Group for continued study and mastery of IRAs and applicable tax
laws.
Contact: Mindy Eras, mindy@advisorpr.com
Retirement Planning and Wealth Management
Nancy Coutu, CFP, CLU, ChFC
Co-founder
Money Managers Financial Group
Money Managers Financial Group (MMFG) is an Oak Brook-based
independent financial planning firm that has been helping
Chicagoland residents achieve financial independence for their
retirement years since 1987. Coutu has more than XX years of
combined experience in the financial services
industry and works to build, manage and protect her
clients' assets through investment, retirement, income and
estate planning strategies. Dedicated to financial literacy
and providing straightforward advice, Coutu regularly
speaks on financial and retirement planning topics
throughout Chicago and has
been called upon by Fortune 500 companies to create and
implement custom financial programs for corporate
employees. Coutu is a Registered Representative
and licensed life and health professional. She is also
a member of the Ed Slott Master Elite IRA Advisory Group and DuPage
Estate Planning Council.
Contact: Mindy Eras,
mindy@advisorpr.com
Retirement Planning and Wealth Management
John Gajkowski, CFP, CLU, ChFC,
CMFC, CRPC, RICP
Co-founder
Money Managers Financial Group
Money Managers Financial Group (MMFG) is an Oak Brook-based
independent financial planning firm that has been helping
Chicagoland residents achieve financial independence for their
retirement years since 1987. Gajkowski has more than XX years of
experience in the financial services industry and works
to build, manage and protect his clients' assets through
investment, retirement, income and estate planning
strategies. Dedicated to financial literacy
and providing straightforward advice, Gajkowski regularly
speaks on financial and retirement planning topics
throughout Chicago and has
been called upon by Fortune 500 companies to create and
implement custom financial programs for corporate
employees. Gajkowski is a Registered Representative
and licensed life and health professional. He is also a
Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP).
Contact: Mindy Eras,
mindy@advisorpr.com
Retirement and Long-term Care Planning
Hans E. Scheil, CFP
Cardinal Advisors
Scheil is the author of "The Complete Cardinal Guide to
Planning for and Living in Retirement," which has reached
number one in Amazon's Retirement Planning category, and
the CEO of North
Carolina-based Cardinal Advisors. He is also the author
of "The Complete Cardinal Guide to Planning for and
Living in Retirement Workbook," a supplement to his
original book that includes additional examples and guidance
on retirement planning issues. Throughout his 40 years in
the financial services industry, Scheil has worked with
clients age 65+ to help provide them with the financial
solutions they need to live a long and successful
retirement. In his book, Scheil addresses the major
problems retirees can face and provides strategies for
overcoming them. Scheil is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP),
as well as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered
Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Advisor for Senior
Living (CASL). He also holds Life and Health insurance
licenses in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and is an investment
advisor representative.
Contact: Mindy Eras,
mindy@advisorpr.com
Retirement Planning and Wealth Management
Skip Johnson
Great Waters Financial
Great Waters Financial, a financial planning firm located
throughout the Minnesota with
offices in Minneapolis, Richfield, Plymouth, White Bear
Lake and Duluth,
specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning and
strategic retirement solutions to pre-retirees and retirees.
Dedicated to consumer education, the firm has reached thousands of
Minnesotans through its courses at local colleges and universities,
as well as frequent contributions on local television news shows on
a wide variety of financial planning topics. Johnson is life
insurance and securities licensed and is a member of Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor Group.
Contact: Mindy
Eras, mindy@advisorpr.com
Retirement Planning and Wealth Management
Elijah Kovar
Great Waters Financial
Great Waters Financial, a financial planning firm located
throughout the Minnesota with
offices in Minneapolis, Richfield, Plymouth, White Bear
Lake and Duluth,
specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning and
strategic retirement solutions to pre-retirees and retirees.
Dedicated to consumer education, the firm has reached
thousands of Minnesotans through its courses at local colleges and
universities as well as frequent contributions on local
television news shows on a wide variety of financial planning
topics. Kovar is life insurance and securities licensed and is a
member of Ed Slott's Elite
IRA Advisor Group.
Contact: Mindy Eras, mindy@advisorpr.com
Retirement Planning and Wealth Management
Justin Halverson, RICP
Great Waters Financial
Great Waters Financial, a financial planning firm located
throughout the Minnesota with
offices in Minneapolis, Richfield, Plymouth, White Bear
Lake and Duluth,
specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning and
strategic retirement solutions to pre-retirees and retirees.
Dedicated to consumer education, the firm has reached
thousands of Minnesotans through its courses at local colleges and
universities as well as frequent contributions on local
television news shows on a wide variety of financial planning
topics. Halverson is life insurance and securities licensed and is
a member of Ed Slott's Elite
IRA Advisor Group.
Contact: Mindy Eras, mindy@advisorpr.com
Financial Resolutions
Andy Smith
Certified Financial Planner
Financial Engines
Smith is a Certified Financial Planner with Financial Engines,
America's largest independent investment advisor, and host of the
nationally syndicated "Investing Sense" radio show. He brings
unique insights and real-life anecdotes from his years of
experiences helping investors set and achieve their financial
goals, both in-person and on-air. He can share financial
resolutions around topics such as: evaluating your goals and
sticking to a budget; optimizing your 401(k); the importance of
retirement income planning; and how to analyze your debt.
Radio show: https://www.investingsense.com
Website: https://financialengines.com
Contact: Caroline Roers,
financialengines@allisonpr.com
Retirement-Saving Resolution
Nick Holeman, CFP
Financial Planning and Retirement Expert
Betterment for Business
Holeman, certified financial planner at technology-led 401(k)
provider Betterment for Business, can provide specific New Year's
resolutions around ensuring people are meeting their overall
financial goals while still saving enough for retirement. The new
year marks a time to assess your whole financial picture, and
retirement must be a part of that planning process. Holeman can
offer resolutions that Americans should be making to ensure they
are retirement-ready, such as turning on auto-escalation, funding
your IRA, setting up an emergency
fund and turning on auto-deposits. In his role at Betterment for
Business, Holeman is responsible for training all new advisors,
working with high-net-worth customers and improving the quality of
automated advice Betterment gives to its more than 300,000
customers. Prior to Betterment, Holeman built tax and retirement
plans for Pure Financial Advisors and received his Master's in
Financial & Tax Planning and his BA in International Business,
both from San Diego State
University.
Website: https://www.bettermentforbusiness.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickholeman/
Contact: Megan Enright,
betterment@v2comms.com
Fitness/Weight Loss:
Resolve to Move More
Katy Bowman, MS
Biomechanist/Author
Nutritious Movement
"Resolve to move more in the new year instead of exercising more.
While an hour-long workout can feel great, it only accounts for 4%
of your 24 hours! Focus on the other 96% of your time by choosing
to walk to work, take the stairs, even grind your coffee by hand.
All these seemingly small movements add up to big health
benefits."
A biomechanist by training and a problem-solver at heart, Bowman
has the ability to blend a scientific approach with straight talk
about sensible solutions and an unwavering sense of humor. Her
award-winning blog and podcast, "Katy Says," reach hundreds of
thousands of people every month. Her books, the bestselling "Move
Your DNA," "Diastasis Recti," "Don't Just Sit There," "Dynamic
Aging," "Movement Matters," and more, have been critically
acclaimed and translated worldwide. In between her book-writing
efforts, Bowman directs and teaches at the Nutritious Movement
Center Northwest, travels the globe to teach the Nutritious
Movement courses in person, and spends as much time outside as
possible with her husband and two young children. She is a regular
source for national health publications and is regularly featured
on radio, television talk shows and news segments. IDEA named
her one of their "Top 14 Rising Stars in Fitness."
Website: https://nutritiousmovement.com
Contact: Melissa McNeese,
melissa-fitpr@verizon.net
Retrofit Your Weight-Loss Resolution
Jennifer Plotnek, LCSW-C
Lead Behavior Coach
Retrofit, Inc.
"After the last bit of eggnog has been sipped and Christmas cookies
have been eaten, we often vow to live healthier in the new year.
But New Year's resolutions fail, because we set unrealistic goals,
fail to track our progress or simply forget about them in the midst
of our busy lives."
Plotnek is the lead behavior coach for Retrofit, a leading provider
of weight-management and disease-prevention programs. She can offer
tips on how to retrofit your weight-loss resolutions, create
lasting healthy lifestyle changes and make the New Year feel like
an exciting time for self-improvement.
Contact: Nora Dudley,
nora@retrofitme.com
Fitness Resolution: Joining a Gym
Justin Sydnor
Associate Professor, Risk and Insurance
Leslie P. Schultz Professor in Risk Management and Insurance
University of Wisconsin
Somehow, at the beginning of the New Year, deciding to join a gym
is easy, especially if great deals and financial incentives are
being offered. A new study from the Wisconsin School of Business
finds that even financial incentives can't help us break the cycle
of signing up for a new gym membership, then failing to maintain
our exercise habits. The additional incentives offered early during
the new gym membership did not lead to increased visit rates. One
key finding was that those people who attended infrequently over
their first months of membership believed that they were likely to
visit often and did not believe their likelihood of visiting often
would be influenced by the incentive. Says Sydnor: "When it comes
to going to the gym, there's a real gap between what people think
they will do and what they actually end up doing. We found that new
members are wildly overoptimistic about how often they will visit
the gym and that most experience a steep decline in trips to the
gym within the first few weeks of joining. Recognizing that fact
and helping people set realistic and reasonable goals for
themselves from the outset, may be more effective."
Bio: https://bus.wisc.edu/faculty/justin-sydnor
Contact: Justin Sydnor,
justin.sydnor@wisc.edu
Eight Tips for Fitness Resolutions
Brian Babka, MD
Sports and Exercise Medicine Physician
Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, Ill.
Dr. Babka offers eight tips for fitness resolutions: 1) Start slow,
with smaller realistic goals on way to bigger goals. If you haven't
been off the couch in a while, resolving to run a marathon will set
you up for failure. Try a smaller obtainable goal, such as walking
three times a week, to help you get to the bigger goal. 2) Be
specific in both small exercise/activity and diet changes. A vague
"eat healthy" goal may leave you floundering. Instead, set some
specific healthy eating goals, such as "don't skip breakfast." 3)
Find ways to double dip with family, friends and pets – it can make
healthy resolutions fun and keep you more accountable. Have
fun family competitions, include the kids in healthy meal prep, or
commit to daily dog walks. 4) Remember rest and recovery. Allow
your body, and mind, to repair and strengthen in between workouts.
However, this isn't an excuse to lay in bed all day. "Use light
active rest/recovery rather than a 'zero' day," says Dr. Babka. 5)
Do not check weight daily. Your weight will fluctuate, which can
become frustrating. "A daily weigh-in is chasing a number instead
of creating a better lifestyle," says Dr. Babka. "Checking weight
every couple of weeks to once per month can be more rewarding."
Focus on how you feel instead of the numbers of the scale. 6) Do
not get frustrated, as the consistency will lead to adaptation.
Keep a log of your accomplishments and review them when you are
feeling frustrated. "Stay positive and visualize success.
Eventually the fitness, strength, speed will come," says Dr. Babka.
7) Recognize change. "It will become apparent when healthy
decisions start to grow off each other, and it will eventually
become a new life habit," says Dr. Babka. "Recognize and
celebrate change. You will not want to undo previous decisions and
hard work." 8) Find the inner athlete within yourself. Find your
sport, your passion, an activity you love that will keep you
motivated. "We are all athletes," says Dr. Babka. "Remember
the active you will always be faster and stronger than the 'on the
couch' you."
Contact: Kim Waterman,
Kimberly.waterman@nm.org
Fitness Resolution: Injuries and Pain Management
Dr. Theodore Price
Neuroscientist
University of Texas
Forty-two percent of Americans made New Year's resolutions for
2017, and the #1 resolution was "lose weight/healthier eating."
With a weight-loss resolution, an exercise injury is typically
involved -- it could be simply working out too hard at the gym
after a vigorous routine. Sixty-four percent of all fitness-related
injuries are soft-tissue injuries, and New Year's resolutions can
quickly turn to pain relief goals. Price is available to discuss
how to avoid getting addicted to medications. He can also discuss
how to stop long-term chronic pain without opioids.
Full bio: https://tedsbrainscience.com/pages/the-brains
Contact: Holly Rosen Fink,
holly@getsocu.com
A New Approach to Dieting
Meredith David, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Marketing, Hankamer School of Business
Baylor University
David has researched successful dieters and how they were different
from others. The results of her dieting research have received
national attention. Says David: "Our research shows that instead of
creating rules to avoid one's favorite treats, dieters should focus
on eating healthy foods that they enjoy. Dieters who restrict
themselves from consuming the foods they love most may be setting
themselves up for failure. Instead, they may be better off by
allowing occasional 'treats' and focusing attention on healthy
foods that they enjoy and making it a point to include those tasty
but healthy foods in their diet."
Bio:
https://www.baylor.edu/mediacommunications/index.php?id=941665&expert=meredith.davidphd
Contact: Eric Eckert,
eric_m_eckert@baylor.edu
Weight Loss
Susan L. Besser, M.D., MBA, FAAFP,
CIME, Diplomate American Board of Obesity Medicine
Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore
Dr. Besser, a primary care provider specializing in family medicine
with Mercy Personal Physicians at Overlea, is board certified by the American
Board of Family Medicine. She provides comprehensive primary care
for the entire family. Her practice is focused on ongoing,
patient-physician relationships. She works together with patients
over time to achieve their health goals and develop long-standing
lifestyle choices. She treats common and acute primary conditions,
such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cough and cold. Her
continued, ongoing care and approach allows Dr. Besser the
opportunity to provide accurate and critical diagnosis of more
complex conditions and disorders. In those cases, Dr. Besser offers
patients access to Mercy's wide-ranging team of specialists and
works in coordination with those physicians to develop and monitor
treatment plans.
Expert Contact: sbesser@mdmercy.com
PR Contact: Dan Collins,
dcollins@mdmercy.com
Weight Loss
Nancy Courduff
Clinical Dietitian
Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore
Courduff sees patients at Stella Maris, Central Maryland's largest geriatric/long-term
care facility and part of Mercy since 1997.
Expert Contact: ncourduff@stellamaris.org
PR Contact: Dan Collins,
dcollins@mdmercy.com
Fitness and Weight Loss
Shannon "The Cannon" Hudson
Founder and CEO
9Round Kickboxing
Hudson is the former IKF Light Middleweight Kickboxing Champion of
the World. He won his title on Oct. 1,
2011 with a sixth-round TKO victory. He trained under
legendary boxing trainer Xavier
Biggs, brother of 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist Tyrell Biggs. Hudson began martial arts at the
age of 7 and has continued training ever since then. He has a 5th
Degree Black Belt in Japanese Shotokan Karate and a 4th Degree
Black Belt under Joe Lewis's
Fighting System JLFS. After more than 70 bouts inside the ring,
competing in Canada and
Europe, Hudson could not find a
place where the average person could be exposed to the "top secret"
training of some of the best fighters in the world. That is where
his vision for 9Round began. He knew that if he could take the
grueling workouts he did in the ring, and create a
non-intimidating, convenient circuit workout format, then the
average person could enjoy the benefits of boxing and
kickboxing without getting hit. Hudson is a family man himself with
two children, so keeping the workout short but still effective was
key when creating the 9Round concept. Hudson released a business
book entitled "Zero to 100" in early 2016, which is a candid memoir
of the journey from one 9Round location to the first 100 location
being opened. This book made Hudson a best-selling author on
Amazon. Shannon enjoys public speaking and motivating others by
thinking outside the box.
Website: https://www.9round.com
Contact: Heather McClain,
hmclain@onideas.com
Wellness/Lifestyle:
Setting New Year's Resolutions that Positively Impact the
World
Daisy Freund
Director, Farm Animal Welfare Strategies
ASPCA
As people begin setting New Year's resolutions to improve
themselves and their lifestyles, how can we instead set more
mindful resolutions to also improve the world we live in? Improving
yourself or bettering your lifestyle is about more than adjusting
eating habits or working out; it's also about making decisions in
your day-to-day life that will directly have a positive impact on
the world. Freund says: "The rapid industrialization of our food
system has led to widespread problems such as foodborne illnesses,
worker exploitation, animal abuse, and environmental degradation.
Making more mindful food choices in your day-to-day life
drastically improves the environment, the economy, farming
conditions and your overall wellbeing, and with every purchase of
more sustainably produced food, consumers are contributing to the
movement to make our food supply healthier for people, animals and
the planet."
Freund can discuss examples of resolutions people can make to take
action and create positive changes in 2018, including learning to
differentiate between meaningful and meaningless food labels to
take a stand against factory farms, buying locally grown and raised
seasonal foods, purchasing higher-welfare or plant-based food,
learning how to purchase the right portion sizes to prevent food
waste, and choosing organic groceries that don't pollute our air
and water.
Contact: Rachael Lewis,
rachael.lewis@aspca.org
Healthy Bedtime Resolutions
Dr. Sujay Kansagra
Sleep Health Consultant, Mattress Firm
Director, Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine, Duke University
At the start of a new year, people generally focus on being more
active and having a healthy diet, but most forget that sleep is
also an important pillar for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. With
this in mind, Dr. Kansagra can share some sleepy-time tips and
resolutions: "1) We all could use more Zzzs. According to a recent
survey by Mattress Firm, 67% of Americans wish they got more sleep.
A solid snooze of 7-9 hours is not just a suggestion; sleep helps
our bodies recover from a stressful day and prepare for the morning
ahead. 2) Screens and sleep don't mix: The technology we often use
before bed (computer, TV, phone, etc.) emits a harmful blue light
that can actually keep us awake. Watching TV or surfing the web
until you feel sleepy can disrupt the secretion of a natural sleep
hormone called melatonin, leaving you to a night of restless
sleeping. 3) Create a regular bedtime routine: Having a consistent
nighttime routine helps get our bodies in the mindset that it's
time for bed, which makes catching some Zzzs a breeze. Not only
should we aim for eight hours, but going to bed and waking up at
the same time each day can help synchronize your sleep time with
your internal clock."
Dr. Kansagra is the director of Duke
University's Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program and
author of four books, including "My Child Won't Sleep." He has been
featured on HLN, NPR, Thrillist, POPSUGAR, CNN and Reader's Digest,
among others, and can be found regularly discussing sleep, medicine
and education with his 120,000 Twitter followers.
Article:
https://blog.mattressfirm.com/sleep-health/sleep-like-expert/
Twitter: @medschooladvice
Contact: Brownlee Fielder,
bfielder@jacksonspalding.com
Resolve to Stand Taller: Posture Affects Confidence, Image,
Weight Loss and Health
Dr. Tom Carpenter
Corrective Exercise Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer and
Chiropractor
"It's mind boggling to realize the effect that poor posture has not
only on one's physical appearance, but one's mental state as well.
Most obviously, proper posture alleviates neck, back and shoulder
pain. But slouching can also affect digestion and breathing,
inhibit circulation, increase risk of developing diabetes
cardiovascular disease and cause fatigue and tension
headaches. Moreover, studies have shown that slouching is
associated with increased feelings of depression, lower energy,
stress and negative perception. (Someone 'with a backbone' sitting
straight and tall at the desk is perceived far more positively than
a 'spineless' employee hunched over the computer.) And being
hunched over makes one look heavier than if they stood straight and
tall, which elongates the body. When you look better, you feel
better."
Website: www.standcorrected.co
Contact: Linda Parry Murphy,
linda@productlaunchers.co
Getting Organized
Chris Wong
CEO
LifeSite
"Get organized" is a leading resolution annually, and Wong has
written/been interviewed extensively regarding digital record
keeping: "While everyone may have their own type of filing system
at home for important documents and information, it may not be
organized or secure. Common methods such as boxes of hardcopy
files, safe deposit boxes, or home computers and mainstream
file-sharing apps are simply not designed for organization or to
keep sensitive information secure. Digital record keeping can help
families work together to finally 'get organized' in the new
year."
Website: http://www.lifesite.co
Expert Contact: Chris@LifeSite.co
PR Contact: Sheri Wachenheim,
swachenheim@mintadv.com
Meditating in the New Year
Dr. Pilar Jennings
Dr. Jennings is available to explain how to make meditation an
everyday practice in the new year, and why it's significant. She
has a private practice in NYC,
where she integrates traditional therapy with Buddhist meditation
and practices. Says Dr. Jennings: "Even a simple mindfulness
meditation for five minutes each day can help reduce anxiety, clear
the mind, and increase feelings of wellness. This is a doable
and sustainable resolution with far-reaching rewards."
Website: http://drpilarjennings.com
Contact: Beth Grossman,
BethGrossman555@gmail.com
Create Action Lists Instead of Goals
Tim Elmore
President
Growing Leaders
"Don't simply create a list of goals. View it as an 'action' list
and a 'standard' list. What are the actions you plan to take and
what are the standards you plan to live by over the next year? You
want to be better in January 2018
than you were in January 2017. To do
this, don't prioritize your schedule -- schedule your priorities.
This means you must put into your calendar those things you say are
the most important habits and attitudes you can embrace. Our
character is simply made up of the habits and attitudes we possess
daily."
Elmore recommends addressing these questions to create the goals,
actions and standards for 2018: 1) What is your greatest dream for
2018? What daily actions must you engage in to fulfill them? 2)
What standards will you live by throughout the next year: health
standards, family standards, financial standards, friendship
standards, personal/spiritual standards? 3) In what areas of your
life do you most want to grow in 2018? 4) What
books/magazines/podcasts will you read/listen to next year to
achieve those growth goals? 5) What mentors will you seek out to
achieve those growth goals? 6) What events will you attend to
achieve those growth goals? 7) What will you do Monday through
Friday to be intentional about your growth?
Growing Leaders is a nonprofit leadership training and development
organization that equips young people with the skills to be leaders
in their schools, communities and careers.
Website: www.growingleaders.com
Contact: Berry Brady,
berry@fulltiltconsulting.com
Clearing out Clutter at Home
Elise King
Assistant Professor in Family and Consumer Sciences | Interior
Design
Baylor University
King, who is herself streamlined when it comes to knickknacks and
the clothes closet, says there is "an ebb and flow over time" of
non-essential vs. busy when it comes to architectural styles and
interior design -- including "stuff." These days, what is
increasingly emerging is not only digital clutter, but "digital
debris" that spills over into the physical, she says. This can
include Amazon's "dash buttons," tangled cords and printer paper,
digital art, DVRs, etc. She is available to offer six tips to
organize your home (see https://tinyurl.com/yabuvr8z).
Bio:
https://www.baylor.edu/mediacommunications/index.php?id=941665&expert=elise.kingmidm
Contact: Eric Eckert,
eric_m_eckert@baylor.edu
Breaking Away From the Smartphone
James Roberts
Director, Centre for Nonprofit Leadership and Service; Professor –
Marketing
Baylor University
Roberts is available to offer nine
tips to help you break away from your smartphone (see
https://tinyurl.com/ybpxch33). Says Roberts: "Although the stated purpose of
technology like smartphones is to help us connect with others, it
does not. Ironically, the very technology that was designed to
bring humans closer together has isolated us from these very same
people."
Along with his colleague Meredith
David, Roberts has
conducted numerous studies on the effects of smartphone technology
on relationships. The studies on "phubbing" -- phone snubbing --
have garnered national and international interest, given the
pervasiveness of smartphone technology.
Bio:
https://www.baylor.edu/mediacommunications/index.php?id=941665&expert=james.robertsphd
Contact: Eric Eckert,
eric_m_eckert@baylor.edu
Resolving to Be More Generous
Andy Hogue, Ph.D.
Director, Philanthropy and Public Service Program; Senior Lecturer,
Honors Program
Baylor University
Hogue advises Americans to resolve to be more generous in the new
year: "One of the things we've talked about a lot in the course
with 21- and 22-year-olds, who have very limited incomes
themselves, is what generosity means. What does it mean to be a
generous person? Whatever our station, however much money or
resources we have, we all have something to share and something to
give. I like the idea of thinking in terms of a New Year's
resolution, sort of resolving to be more generous and helping
people to think in those ways."
Bio: https://expertfile.com/experts/andy.hogue
Contact: Eric Eckert,
eric_m_eckert@baylor.edu
Stress Management and Relaxation
Alexandra Janelli
Clinical Hypnotherapist and Life Coach
Modrn Sanctuary
Janelli is considered one of New
York City's premier hypnotherapists and life coaches. She
has worked with Academy Award nominees, world-renowned
photographers, singers, top-level executives, and professionals
across many sectors of business, as well as students and children.
She has been featured on MTV; Elle; O, The Oprah Magazine; Men's
Fitness; Swell City Guide; Dossier Journal; The New Yorker; Time
Out Chicago, and various other publications for her hypnotherapy
and creativity. She helps clients push through and past their
blocks to achieve their goals with the power of her
hypnotherapeutic-based approach. Her luxury wellness center, Modrn
Sanctuary, is an integrative holistic health and wellness center
that offers hypnotherapy, nutritional, craniosacral, acupuncture,
cupping, physical therapy, chiropractics, reiki, skincare,
past-life regression, Ayurveda, yoga, crystal light therapy,
halotherapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. She is a graduate
of the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, the first nationally
accredited hypnosis program, where she received an Advanced
Training Graduate Diploma in Hypnotherapy and Handwriting Analysis.
She is also a Certified Life Coach from the iPEC Coach Training
Program, which is accredited by the International Coach Federation
(IFC), the governing organization that sets and monitors standards
for professional coaching ethics, training, and practices. In 2010,
Janelli founded Theta Spring Hypnosis in Chicago and then moved her practice to
New York City. A born-and-raised
New Yorker, Janelli can cater to a wide variety of clientele
through her caring and attentive listening. She specializes in the
treatment of anxiety with a variety of clients, and has been called
"an expert in stress management and relaxation."
Website: www.modrnsanctuary.com
Contact: Sydney Masters,
Sydney@RCouriHayCPR.com
Resolutions for Families With Special Needs Children
Kelly Piacenti
Head of SpecialCare
MassMutual
Piacenti, a mom of a child with special needs, says: "Without
proper planning, a well-intentioned parent or relative could
interfere with a child with special needs eligibility for benefits
like Social Security income benefits or Medicaid. Also without
proper planning, assets intended to cover care expenses for your
special needs child could end up in the hands of third-party
creditors. If you have a child with special needs, if you do
nothing else in 2018, check your beneficiary information to ensure
you are not putting your child's financial future at risk, and if
you have not drafted a Letter of Intent and set up a Special Needs
Trust or/or ABLE account, please consider doing so, especially if
your child may require some level of life-long care."
Contact: Paula M. Tremblay,
ptremblay@massmutual.com
Helping Your Child Do Better in School
David Lord
CEO
JumpStart Games
Lord is the CEO of JumpStart Games, the leader in
learning-based games for kids and a trusted brand by millions of
parents and teachers for more than 20 years, and is on a
mission to use technology to make education accessible and fun for
all global learners. Lord and his team know that keeping kids
engaged in learning is the best pathway to success. He and his team
are experts in game-based learning in the classroom space to create
a 360-degree educational experience for all learners on complex
topics and with an emphasis on the individualized learning
experience.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlord/
Website: http://www.jumpstart.com
Contact: Chloe Schwartz,
chloe@kelandpartners.com
Resolving to Sell Your Home
Sumant Sridharan
COO
HomeLight
Sridharan is a real estate tech expert available to provide
commentary for those making a resolution to buy or sell their home
in the new year. Sridharan can provide insights on the best ways to
follow through on this resolution, from finding the best agent, to
prepping their home and marketing a property, to finding the right
time to sell based on where they live.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumantsridharan/
Website: www.homelight.com
Contact: Megan Enright,
homelight@v2comms.com
Getting Better Sleep
Mike Schmidt
President
The new wave in the consumerization of home health care and
personal health data, specifically when it comes to the sleep
industry, will grow even more in 2018. Schmidt and his team
are committed to raising awareness around sleep apnea and keeping
patients compliant with their life-saving CPAP therapy. SoClean is
the first and only automated CPAP sanitizing device currently on
the market, and uses safe and natural ozone technology to kill
99.9% of CPAP germs, bacteria and other pathogens that
can be found in a CPAP device. Since its creation, SoClean has
grown to become a leader in the sleep apnea and CPAP space.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-schmidt-18a49620/
Website: https://www.soclean.com
Contact: Chloe Schwartz,
chloe@kelandpartners.com
****************
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*****************
OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:
Following are links to other news and resources we think you
might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters
would be interested in and would like us to include in a future
alert, please drop us a line at profnetalerts@cision.com
- 6 practices to weave into your writing process for 2018. With
2017 coming to a close, we came up with six habits to weave into
your writing process to help set you up for success in the new
year: http://prn.to/writinghabits
- Blogger Conferences: Top Events to Attend in 2018. This a
monthly column of what's happening in the blog world. Here are top
events to attend in the 2018: http://prn.to/2018events
- HOW TO FIND EVERGREEN CONTENT. Holiday deadlines don't always
lead to your most creative writing. Keep these five things in mind
when readying your news site for the holidays:
http://prn.to/PRNJevergreen
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