!

!

Justine Mrsich Portfolio

A!Compilation!of!Professional!Works!

!

The!following!set!of!materials!showcases!a!wide!breadth!of!experience!in!producing!high<quality,!error<free!written!and!designed!deliverables.!

!

!

!

Writing Samples Included!in!this!section!are:!

• Press!Release!• Expert!Source!Sheet!• Key!Messages!• Media!Pitch!• Calendar!Announcement!• Media!Invite!• Final!Promo!Item!Recommendation!List!• Intro!Pages!to!a!Media!Briefing!Book!(appointment*list*&*media*summary*included)!• Interview!Confirmation!Memo!• University!News!Article!• University!Feature!Article!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Justine Mrsich

Echo Media Group 714-573-0899 ext. 237

justine@echomediapr.com

NINTH ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE RETAIL EQUATION SHEDS LIGHT ON GROWTH IN RETURN FRAUD; IMPACT ON SALES, JOBS AND SHRINK

Study Shows Merchandise Returns Account for Nearly $270 Billion in Lost Sales;

Ranking it Third on the Fortune 500 if it were a Company

IRVINE, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2014)—The Retail Equation, the industry leader in retail transaction

optimization solutions, today released its 2013 Consumer Returns in the Retail Industry report, which

analyzes results from the National Retail Federation’s annual survey on merchandise returns and the

2012 Canadian Retail Security Survey from The Retail Council of Canada (RCC) to provide insights for

North American retailers to minimize the effect of return fraud and abuse on their business.

According to the NRF, merchandise returns in 2013 cost U.S. retailers more than $267 billion in

lost sales. In fact, as a company, this would rank third on the Fortune 500 and higher than household

names such as Chevron, General Motors and General Electric. Retail fraud and abuse accounted for $9.1

billion to $16.3 billion in the United States, an increase of 2.6 percent from last year.

“In the competitive world of retail, it is critical to understand how returns and return fraud

reduce net sales and contribute to shrink – clear causes of lost profits,” said Mark Hammond, chairman

and CEO of The Retail Equation. “The results within this report offer the industry’s best look at

merchandise return policies and procedures, as well as potential fraud and abuse. This information can

be used by loss prevention professionals to compare and contrast their own program results to those

reported here, with an eye toward reducing losses.”

The extreme loss of profit has the potential to cause retailers to offset the negative business

impact by raising prices and reducing costs, which often means a loss of jobs. Last year alone, return

fraud cost retailers and workers between 331,000 and 595,000 jobs. And the cost to each state is steep.

Retail revenue losses are costing states a total of $549 million to $989 billion in lost sales taxes.

Using figures from the RCC, TRE estimates that annual merchandise return fraud and abuse

accounted for $1.1 to $1.6 billion in the Canadian retail industry. Because of the significant retail

revenue losses caused by return fraud and abuse, federal and provincial governments are losing a total of

$144 to $205 million in sales tax revenues and costing retailers and Canadian workers between 29,000

and 42,000 jobs.

In addition to the figures listed above, The Retail Equation’s report provided a number of key

findings, including:

• Examples of Return Fraud—The report showed a 15 percent increase in employee collusion versus last year—from 80.7 percent to 93.1 percent. This implies that exception reporting systems are not sufficiently preventing this type of fraud.

• Impact of Return Fraud and Abuse vs. Shrink—It also revealed that retailers are putting more importance on the issue of return fraud during the past four years. There is growing evidence that return fraud and shrink are highly correlated and LP teams are beginning to pay close attention to this connection and find ways to reduce returns and return fraud.

• Analysis of Return Fraud by Receipt, Channel and Tender—Four out of five main tender types (e.g., cash, gift card/merchandise credit, credit card, debit card and check) showed increased fraud. In fact, fraud increases outpaced decreases by 42 percent.

Preventing fraud and abuse is a major challenge, but retailers are also looking to improve the

shopping experience and differentiate the consumer experience during the return process. The ability to

offer more flexible and lenient returns, while still mitigating the risk of fraud and abuse is critical. The

Retail Equation can help address such challenges through a return optimization solution called Verify-

3®. It is designed to distinguish and deter the one percent of consumers that are fraudulent and abusive,

allowing the remaining good 99 percent to shop and return as usual.

For a complete copy of the report, please go to

www.theretailequation.com/Retailers/IndustryReports.aspx.

About The Retail Equation

The Retail Equation, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., optimizes retailers’ revenue and margin by

shaping behavior in every customer transaction. The company’s solutions use predictive analytics to

turn each individual shopper visit into a more profitable experience. This yields immediate financial

payback, increasing store comps by as much as two percent, with significant return on investment. The

Software-as-a-Service applications operate in more than 27,000 stores in North America, supporting a

diverse retail base of specialty apparel, footwear, hard goods, department, big box, auto parts and more.

To see complete results from the NRF survey or to learn more, visit www.nrf.com. For a

copy of the 2012 Canadian Retail Security Survey, please contact the RCC at

www.retailcouncil.org. Details on The Retail Equation’s return optimization solutions for retailers

can be found at www.theretailequation.com.

# # #

EXPERT SOURCE SHEET CONTACT: Justine Mrsich (714) 573-0899 x 237 justine@echomediapr.com

EFFECTS OF THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE ON CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS IN 2014

Leading Labor Law Experts at Fisher & Phillips LLP Offer Insight into How Minimum Wage Increases Affect Wage and Hour Laws According to a study by Heart Research Associates, 80 percent of Americans support raising the minimum wage and adjusting it for the cost of living in future years. The recent two-phased increase in the state of California approved by Gov. Jerry Brown will take effect beginning July 1, 2014 and again in January 2016, when the minimum wage for employees will rise from the current $8 per hour to $9, and ultimately to $10 per hour. The changes provide a good opportunity for California employers to audit their pay practices and ensure that they are in compliance with all wage and hour laws. Employment law attorney, John K. Skousen, a partner with the Irvine, Calif. office of Fisher & Phillips LLP, can provide insight into how employers can take preventive steps to avoid costly litigation after the increase.

“It is important for employers to be cognizant of the legal liabilities they could face if company wage and hour policies

are not in compliance prior to the increase. This new law will make California the state with the highest minimum wage in the country, and employers must be aware of how the new law will affect exemptions as well.”

― John K. Skousen

Skousen recommends business owners ensure compliance especially with recent court decisions holding that piece-rate and commission-paid employees must be paid at least minimum wage for all hours. Top-line wage and hour considerations that will be impacted by the increases include:

• Commissioned Salesperson Exemptions: Under Wage Orders 4 and 7, the exemption requires that commissions must make up more than half the employee’s compensation and the employee must earn more than one and one-half the state minimum wage for all hours worked. As such, to be exempt from overtime, commissioned salespersons will need to earn more than $13.50 per hour in July 2014, and more than $15.00 per hour by January 2016.

• “White Collar” Overtime Exemptions: Increases in the minimum wage will impact whether employees will qualify for one of the “white collar” overtime exemptions (executive, administrative, or professional) under California law. One requirement to apply is that the employee receive a monthly salary that is no less than two times the California minimum wage for full-time employment totaling 40 hours per week. The current minimum monthly salary is $2,774. The minimum salary will increase to $3,120 in July 2014 and $3,467 in January 2016.

In addition, to ensure wage and hour issues are in compliance, take the following steps:

• Conduct an Internal Wage Hour Audit: By conducting an internal audit to ensure compliance with wage and hour laws, companies can evaluate their policies and make revisions as necessary, ensuring that their timekeeping practices are bulletproof. In addition, updating employee handbooks to clearly outline the meal and rest period requirements can prove invaluable.

• Restructure Pay Agreements: Recent decisions in California address the issue of whether all hours worked on the clock have been fully compensated under the pay agreements in place, including but not limited to ruling that piece-rate compensation does not compensate for downtime, rest periods, or other idle “non-productive” periods. Consequently, such working periods deemed to be unpaid will result in claims for minimum wage violations unless pay agreements are revised and restructured to provide compensation for productive and non-productive periods.

• Have Employees Review Their Timecards Each Pay Period: Employees should verify and correct their own timecards each pay period, and initial them in their own handwriting. Employees should also sign a statement each pay period verifying that all meal and rest periods were provided or made available to them. By having employees sign and initial their timecards it becomes more difficult for them to challenge company timekeeping and engage in future litigation.

• Write Job Descriptions That Clearly Identify Employees’ Exempt Functions: Without job descriptions that specifically itemize employee duties and, if possible, assign or approximate percentages of work time for each defined job function, employees who are classified as salaried exempt may later challenge their exempt status claiming they were not primarily engaged in exempt functions as part of their job — and without a timecard tracking their actual hours worked, salaried employees can claim almost any amount of overtime they want. For example, to classify as exempt, managers must spend more than 50 percent of their time performing management duties. Clearly outlined and itemized job descriptions can ensure accuracy for the classification of exempt and non-exempt employees, preventing employees from suing for overtime in the future.

Fisher & Phillips LLP is a law firm committed to taking a practical, businesslike approach to solving labor and employment problems for employers. Labor and employment law is all we do, offering deep and broad knowledge and experience in the area of the law we know best. We help clients avoid legal problems, we are dedicated to providing exceptional client service, and we are there when you need us. The firm has 300 attorneys in 31 offices. To learn more about Fisher & Phillips LLP, visit www.laborlawyers.com. �

To schedule an interview with John K. Skousen of Fisher & Phillips’ Irvine, Calif. office, contact Justine Mrsich (714) 573-

0899 x 237or justine@echomediapr.com.

!!

Optivest!Key!Messages!!

Below!are!a!series!of!key!messages!related!to!Optivest.!This!is!an!internal!document!created!for!the!purposes!of!identifying!and!describing!the!company!and!its!offerings.!These!messages!will!be!refined!collectively!and,!in!turn,!will!be!used!to!support!content!development!for!press!materials,!interview!talking!points!and!more.!!Optivest(Inc.(!

• Optivest,!Inc.!provides!the!following!advisory!services:!portfolio!management,!investment!supervisory!services,!investment!advice,!tax!and!or!financial!planning,!tax!reporting!and!compliance,!business!exit!and!estate!planning.!!!

• Optivest,!Inc.!provides!a!holistic!approach!to!wealth!management.!They!serve!ultra@high!worth!clients!with!a!minimum!of!five!million!investable!cash.!The!team!personally!manages!the!investments!of!70!individuals!and!families.!!

• The!Optivest!team!takes!the!time!to!fully!understand!each!client’s!unique!background,!financial!situation!and!objectives!before!coming!up!with!an!investment!strategy!to!meet!financial!goals.!After!a!complete!understanding!of!the!client’s!situation,!the!process!of!creating!an!optimum!recommendation!for!a!portfolio!allocation!begins.!!!

• The!Optivest!client!base!includes!individuals,!trusts,!estates,!charitable!organizations,!corporations!or!other!business!entities,!IRA’s,!as!well!as!pension!and!profit!sharing!plans.!

!Optivest(Management(

!• Mark!Van!Mourick!is!the!Chief!Executive!Officer!of!Optivest,!Inc.,!and!personally!manages!the!investment!

portfolios!of!several!of!the!nation’s!wealthiest!families.!He!and!his!team!have!grown!the!firm’s!managed!portfolios!to!approximately!70!wealthy!families!through!building!strategic,!diversified!portfolios!resulting!in!stable,!less!volatile!growth!and!personal!referrals.!!!

• Van!Mourick!has!nearly!35!years’!experience!as!a!Money!Manager!and!Registered!Investment!Advisor.!Prior!to!opening!his!own!firm,!he!was!one!of!the!leading!retail!stockbrokers!with!Smith!Barney/Orange!County,!Calif.!He!is!a!substantial!investor!himself;!Van!Mourick!frequently!invests!with!his!clients!in!a!wide!variety!of!investments!including!stocks,!real!estate!and!venture!capital.!

!(Optivest(Wealth(Management((

• Optivest!is!a!high@touch!boutique!investment!firm!founded!on!the!premise!that!no!two!clients!are!the!same!and!every!investment!is!customized!to!the!particular!priorities!and!concerns!of!the!client.!!

• Since!1987,!Optivest!has!been!serving!high!net!worth!families!with!a!clear!vision!of!providing!peace!of!mind!and!optimum!returns!on!investments.!!

• Optivest’s!proven!portfolio!process!looks!beyond!standard!portfolio!metrics!and!offers!coordinated!guidance!across!every!area!of!asset!management;!including!investment,!taxation,!estate!and!business!needs.!

!• Optivest!strives!for!superior!returns!and!low!volatility!through!a!strategic!blend!of!securities,!fixed!income!

and!real!estate.!!

• Optivest!utilizes!sophisticated!forecasting!tools!through!SageView!Advisory!Group!to!audit!investment!cycles,!current!vs.!historical!valuations!and!statistical!probabilities!of!return.!Optivest!and!SageView!Advisory!Group!are!perpetually!evaluating!the!general!economy,!inflation,!interest!rates,!U.S.!and!foreign!stock!markets,!broad!commodity!prices!as!well!as!real!estate.!

!SageView(Advisory(Group((!

In!2012,!Optivest!formed!a!unique!partnership!with!SageView!Advisory!Group.!They!are!an!independent!CFA@designated!financial!service!firm!offering!proprietary!analytics!and!dedicated!research!teams,!primarily!to!institutional!retirement!plans.!!

!o Led!by!CEO!Randy!Long,!SageView!Advisory!Group!is!responsible!for!over!$19!billion!in!

investment!funds.!!

o By!partnering!with!SageView,!Optivest!is!able!to!diversify!individual!and!family!portfolios!over!26!“stress!tested”!categories!(thirteen!stocks!and!thirteen!fixed@incomes)!such!as!U.S.!and!foreign!bonds!in!U.S.!and!foreign!currencies,!hedged!fixed@income!and!allocations!to!commodities!and!managed!futures.!Not!only!are!these!new!portfolios!more!diversified,!the!separate!managers!are!all!highly!ranked!institutional!funds,!thoroughly!researched!by!SageView.!!!

• After!an!initial!Optivest!portfolio!is!created,!it!is!continually!refined!as!the!financial!markets!change,!new!products!emerge!and!the!client’s!objectives!change!and!mature.!!

• Optivest!provides!specialized!services!to!women!that!are!experiencing!a!tough!transitional!period!surrounding!a!death!or!divorce.!The!financial!ramifications!can!be!complicated,!and!Optivest!aids!in!negotiating!major!purchases,!offers!assistance!with!bookkeeping!as!well!as!provides!aid!in!setting!up!a!financial!plan!and!budget.!!

(Family(Office(Services((

• Optivest!provides!Multi@Family!Office!Services!for!families!and!individuals!who!desire!in@house,!full!integration!of!their!investments,!including!accounting,!taxes,!estate!plans,!real!estate,!philanthropy!and!lifestyle!needs.!

!• Clients!that!use!the!Multi@Family!Office!Services!will!have!access!to!a!highly!experienced!team!of!

professionals!that!can!provide!estate!and!business!sales!tax!planning,!private!business!pre@sale!advice,!philanthropic!and!foundation!planning,!research!and!management!of!charitable!giving,!family!legacy!planning!and!concierge!services.!!

• Optivest’s!Client!Concierge!is!dedicated!to!providing!exclusive,!personalized!lifestyle!services!through!a!network!of!experts!and!luxury!partnership!alliances.!They!are!capable!of!managing!art!collections,!coordinating!travel!and!leisure!plans,!appointing!house!managers!and!personal!assistants!and!even!wedding!planning.!

(Optivest(Investment(Banking((

• A!new!division!of!Optivest!is!led!by!Paul!Donnelly,!who!founded!Optivest!Investment!Banking!with!Mark!Van!Mourick!in!January!2013.!Donnelly!has!17!years!of!experience!as!an!investment!banking!professional!and!managing!director!collectively!with!B.!Riley!&!Co.,!which!merged!in!2003!with!his!previous!firm,!L.H.!Friend,!Weinress,!Frankson!&!Presson.!!

• Donnelly!has!more!than!30!years!of!corporate!finance!experience!and!has!a!successful!track!record!of!working!with!emerging!growth!and!middle!market!companies!to!enhance!shareholder!value!through!various!corporate!finance!initiatives.!!

• The!Optivest!Investment!Banking!division!provides!corporate!finance!advisory!and!transaction@based!investment!banking!services!for!emerging!growth!and!middle@market!companies.!!

• The!principals!of!Optivest!Investment!Banking!consist!of!highly!experienced!investment!banking!professionals!that!have!directly!advised!business!owners,!management!teams!and!board!of!directors!on!client!engagements!across!broad!industry!verticals!and!stages!of!development.!!

• The!Optivest!Investment!Banking!principals!have!originated!over!85!transactions!representing!more!than!$3.5!billion!in!value!delivered!to!clients!and!shareholders.!

!Optivest(Properties,(LLC((

• Optivest!Properties!is!a!fully!integrated!property!acquisition!and!management!company!specializing!in!mini@warehouse!and!multi@tenant!properties.!!

!• Optivest!Properties!acquires!and!manages!solely@owned!individual!properties!for!its!largest!clients.!

Optivest!Properties!and!its!principals!are!affiliated!with!43!locations!nationwide!comprising!of!over!24,000!units!and!over!3,500,000!square!feet!of!mini!storage,!RV!and!commercial!storefront/warehouse!storage!space.!!

• Founded!in!2007,!Optivest!Properties!was!formed!by!Mark!Van!Mourick,!Warren!Allan,!Debi!Lerma.!!

Optivest(Foundation((

• Founded!in!2007,!The!Optivest!Foundation!is!a!private!organization!funded!by!10!percent!of!the!gross!revenue!of!Optivest,!Inc.,!Optivest!Investment!Banking!and!Optivest!Properties,!LLC.!The!Foundation!has!invested!more!than!$1.3!million!in!people,!projects!and!causes!in!both!local!and!international!areas.!!

• The!Optivest!Foundation!focuses!on!investing!in!people,!projects!and!initiatives!that!make!a!difference!in!transforming!lives.!The!Foundation!funds!strategic!opportunities!that!are!holistic,!collaborative!and!Christ!honoring.!This!approach!enables!projects!to!fully!address!the!needs!of!communities!and!individuals!and!empower!sustainable!change.!!!

• The!Optivest!Foundation!is!passionate!about!giving.!Optivest,!Inc.,!Optivest!Investment!Banking!and!Optivest!Properties,!LLC!staff!members!are!regularly!sponsored!by!the!Foundation!to!participate!in!projects!and!trips.!Many!clients!participate!in!the!mission!trips!as!well!as!contribute!toward!projects!in!various!corners!of!the!world.!Both!staff!and!clients!have!become!partners!in!various!transformations!through!the!giving!of!their!time!and!investments.!!

• The!Foundation!has!funded!a!variety!of!initiatives!from!individual!scholarships!to!single!family!assistance!and!transformative!community!projects.!

!• The!Optivest!Foundation!specifically!gives!to!Christian!ministries,!defined!as!such!by!their!service,!

outreach!and!mission.!The!vision!is!to!make!an!impact!through!financial!investments!that!change!lives.!!(Orange(County(Exit(Planning(Roundtable(!

• Mark!Van!Mourick,!CEO!of!Optivest,!is!also!the!founder!of!the!Orange!County!Exit!Planning!Roundtable.!!

• The!Orange!County!Exit!Planning!Roundtable!helps!mid@market!business!owners!($20!million@$200!million!in!annual!sales)!formulate!and!optimize!their!exit!planning!goals!including:!succession,!maximum!sale!value,!minimum!taxation,!risk!management!and!retirement!investing!!

• The!Orange!County!Exit!Planning!Roundtable!is!comprised!of!a!coalition!of!business!leaders,!who!are!principals!of!their!own!companies,!with!complimentary!disciplines,!who!specialize!in!working!with!owners!of!privately!held,!middle!market!companies!that!intend!to!exit!their!companies!within!the!next!few!years.!!

!(

Book:(“Cash(Out,(Cash(In(–(The(After(Success(Investment(Guide”(By(Mark(Van(Mourick(!

• “Cash!Out,!Cash!In”!is!an!after@success!book!aimed!at!the!demanding!needs!of!families!and!business!owners!with!one!million!to!one!billion!dollars!of!capital!to!invest.!!

• “Cash!Out,!Cash!In”!offers!business!owners!the!following!insights:!!o Part!1:!“Getting!Liquid”!offers!business!owners!advice!on!pre@sale!estate!strategies!and!how!to!

capitalize!on!their!business!sale;!o Part!2:!“Building!an!Optimum!Investment!Portfolio”!helps!business!owners!complete!a!thorough!

investment!planning!process!to!determine!investment!risk!tolerance,!return!targets!and!economic!assumptions;!and!

o Part!3:!“Managing!for!Optimum!Satisfaction”!provides!guidance!on!building!a!dream!team!of!professional!advisors,!explores!the!topic!of!family!offices!and!advanced!estate!designs!and!offers!advice!on!becoming!a!confident!private!investor.!

!###!

Media&Pitch&& & & & & & & & & &&&&Media&Contact:&Justine(Mrsich&&&&(714)(57340899(ext.(237(

(((((((((justine@echomediapr.com(&

THE&PASSIONATE&HEART&OF&AN&ENTREPRENEUR&&Family&Lesson&Inspires&Unique&Model&for&Corporate&Giving;&Changing&the&Lives&and&Hearts&of&Employees&and&Charities&

Around&the&World&&(

Unlike(most(financial(advisors(Mark(Van(Mourick(did(not(earn(his(stripes(on(the(back(of(a(client’s(portfolio.(He(lost(both(parents(in(a(plane(crash(at(the(age(of(12(and(bounced(around(several(foster(homes.(When(he(turned(18,(his(boot(camp(in(investing(began(as(he(made(his(first(purchases(in(real(estate(and(the(stock(market(with(the(inheritance(from(his(parents.(Mature(decision4making,(forward(thinking(and(strategic(purchases(in(real(estate(and(the(stock(market(at(the(age(of(18(laid(

the(groundwork(for(his(career.(Today,(Van(Mourick(sits(at(the(helm(of(Optivest(Inc.(as(Chief(Executive(Officer,(but(his(greatest(source(of(pride(is(his(ability(to(transform(lives(–(both(for(his(employees(and(charities(around(the(world(with(a(highly(unique(model(for(corporate(giving;(a(model(he(hopes(will(become(emulated(by(other(corporations.((Very(committed(to(the(idea(of(giving(back,(Mark(and(his(wife(Trish(taught(their(three(growing(children(how(to(make(a(difference(in(the(world.(In(family(meetings,(they(would(

encourage(their(children(to(take(10(percent(of(their(money(and(give(to(a(worthy(cause.(That(very(basic(model(became(the(impetus(for(what(is(now(known(as(the(Optivest(Foundation.((10%&of&Every&PreLTaxed&Dollar&Dispersed&to&Charities&Around&the&World&&The(Optivest(Foundation(model(is(considered(by(some(to(be(aggressive.(While(The(Center(on(Philanthropy(reports(that(corporate(donations(usually(hover(around(1(percent(of(pretax(profits,((the(Optivest(Foundation(generously(takes(10(percent(of(every(single(dollar(—pre4taxed(revenue(—and(earmarks(it(for(charities(in(need.(The(common(denominator(for(consideration(is(that(the(cause(in(need(empowers(sustainable(change(through(education(programs,(health(services(and(is(faith(based.((((Since(the(Foundation’s(origination(in(2007,(more(than(1.3(million(dollars(have(been(dispersed(to(people,(projects(and(initiatives(around(the(world.(Last(year(alone,(48(charities(were(supported(through(contributions(of(the(Optivest(Foundation.((And(although(the(financial(contributions(are(significant(to(the(changes(imparted(by(the(efforts(of(the(Optivest(Foundation,(the(greater(impact(as(noted(by(Trish(and(Mark(is(the(fact(that,(“working(hands(change(a(heart.”(Participation(is(company4wide(with(active(involvement(at(every(level.((The(desire(to(participate(trickles(down(into(employees,(vendors,(clients(and(partners(as(they(take(turns(participating(in(trips(around(the(world.((&From&Building&Wells&to&Creating&Maize&Mills&–&Foundation’s&Formula&Makes&an&International&Difference&(The(Optivest(Foundation(makes(an(impact(through(financial(investments(that(change(lives.(Below(are(a(few(of(the(groups(they(work(with.((

• The(Sumba(Foundation(is(a(private,(non4profit,(non4governmental(organization(dedicated(to(helping(the(indigenous(people(of(Sumba,(Indonesia.(The(Van(Mourick’s((travel(to(Indonesia(every(other(year(to(build(wells(and(irrigation(systems(for(clean(water(systems,(while(also(fostering(education(programs,(providing(health(services(and(sharing(the(love(of(Christ(to(the(local(community.(((

• This(past(June,(the(Van(Mourick’s(visited(Lilongwe,(Malawi(where(Y4Malawi,a(partnership(organization(working(with(Christian(organizations(to(provide(community4wide,(sustainable(development(and(transformation,(is(providing(a(multi4dimensional(approach(to(lift(up(one(African(village(at(a(time(and(rise(above(

poverty.(While(there,(they(visited(the(maize(mill,(which(the(Optivest(Foundation(provided(funds(to(build(last(year.((This(has(enabled(locals(to(more(efficiently(grind(the(local(grain,(have(a(community(center(for(fellowship(and(has(also(provided(a(revenue(stream(for(the(local(village(leader(to(use(for(ministry(and(evangelical(purposes.(((

((Corporate&Giving&Model&Not&En&Vogue&–&But&a&Model&for&Emulation&(The(successes(of(the(Foundation(model(are(so(powerful,(that(the(Van(Mouricks(want(to(share(this(structure(with(other(business(leaders(and(validate(that(social(responsibility(is(no(longer(a(business(practice(reserved(exclusively(for(large(corporations.(It’s(being(embraced(by(companies(of(all(sizes(and(producing(remarkable(results(—(not(just(for(stockholders(but(all(stakeholders.(The(potential(exists(for(the(Optivest(Foundation(to(become(an(example(of(how(a(corporation(can(structure(a(charitable(division.(The(Van(Mourick’s(hope(is(to(inspire(other(companies(to(consider(and/or(potentially(adopt(the(Optivest(foundation(model.((Interview&Opportunities:&(

• Founder(and(CEO(of(Optivest,(Mark(Van(Mourick(and(his(wife(Trish,(executive(director(of(Optivest(Foundation(• Employees(of(Optivest(who(have(participated(in(life4changing(mission(trips(• Clients(and(business(partners(available(to(discuss(the(impact(of(the(Optivest(Foundation(• Leaders(from(prominent(charities(that(the(Optivest(Foundation(supports((• Photos(and(videos(documenting(recent(mission(trips(to(Sumba,(Haiti(and(Mexico(

((

For$interviews,$photos$or$more$information,$contact$Sabrina$Suarez$at$714:573:0899$x227$or$email$sabrina@echomediapr.com.$

(((

#(##(((((((((((((( !

CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT/NEWS BRIEF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Justine Mrsich

714-573-0899 x 237 justine@echomediapr.com

Event Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2014

“One Day, Many Solutions, Employment Law Coast to Coast” IRVINE, Calif. (April XX, 2014) – Fisher & Phillips LLP, one of the largest national law firms

in the field of labor and employment law, will present a seminar titled, “One Day, Many

Solutions, Employment Law Coast to Coast,” on Tuesday, May 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the

Hilton Irvine/Orange County Airport Hotel, located at 18800 MacArthur Blvd. Irvine, CA

92612.

The seminar will cover practical solutions for workplace issues, including the Affordable

Care Act, qualifying independent contractors, stopping harassment before it becomes illegal,

using medical marijuana during work hours, avoiding performance management mistakes,

conducting background checks, and local labor and employment issues as well as how to

understand recent employment law developments. Attendees will receive practical advice, which

they will be able to put into effect at their organizations.

Labor and employment attorneys from the Irvine office of Fisher and Phillips will

conduct the seminar. Registration and complimentary continental breakfast begins at 8 a.m. and

the cost to attend the event is $165 per person. If an organization sends multiples attendees, the

cost is $125 per person. This program is eligible for HRCI credit and Continuing Legal

Education Credit is available. To register for the seminar or for more information, visit

www.laborlawyers.com/2014seminars.

Fisher & Phillips LLP is a law firm committed to taking a practical, businesslike approach to

solving labor and employment problems for employers. Labor and employment law is all we do,

offering deep and broad knowledge and experience in the area of the law we know best. We help

clients avoid legal problems, we are dedicated to providing exceptional client service, and we are

there when you need us. The firm has 300 attorneys in 31 offices. To learn more about Fisher &

Phillips LLP, visit www.laborlawyers.com.

MEDIA&INVITE:& & & & &&&&&&&&&&&&& & & &&&&&&&&&&&&&Media&Contact:&Justine&Mrsich,&Echo&Media&Group&&Interview&Opportunity& && & & & & &&&&&&&&&(714)&573G0899&ext.&238;&justine@echomediapr.com&&

&GLOBAL&GENES&HOSTS&SECOND&ANNUAL&TRIBUTE&TO&CHAMPIONS&OF&HOPE&GALA&

Event&to&Honor&Advocates&of&Rare&Genetic&Disease;&Local&Family&to&Highlight&Personal&Struggle&!

WHAT:&& Global!Genes,!a!leading!rare!and!genetic!disease!patient!advocacy!organization,!will!host!the!2nd!Annual!Tribute!to!Champions!of!Hope!Gala!on!Sept.!21!in!celebration!of!the!pioneering!achievements!of!individuals!and!corporations!in!the!rare!and!genetic!disease!community.!!Currently,!there!are!7,000!identified!rare!diseases!and!350!million!people!worldwide!who!are!affected!by!a!rare!genetic!disease.!!

!The!gala!will!feature!EmmyGnominated!recording!artist,!Andrew!McMahon,!a!singer!and!songwriter!best!known!for!his!vocals,!piano!and!lyrics!for!the!bands!Something!Corporate!and!Jack’s!Mannequin.!McMahon’s!diagnosis!of!Acute!Lymphocytic!Leukemia!in!2005,!allows!him!to!personally!attest!to!the!struggles!faced!by!patients!with!rare!disease.!!

!More!than!500!patients,!advocacy!leaders,!biotech!and!pharmaceutical!executives,!healthcare!philanthropists!will!gather!in!Newport!Beach!for!the!soldGout!benefit.!Many!celebrity!guests!will!also!be!in!attendance,!including!Eileen!Grubba!(Hung,&The&Closer,&Cold&Case,&Sons&of&Anarchy,&Monk,&CSI&and&The&Five&Year&Engagement)!and!Carmen!Argenziano!(House,&Young&and&the&Restless&and&CSI).!!The!gala!will!fund!tools!and!resources!to!support!the!global!rare!and!genetic!disease!community,!and!will!also!support!efforts!by!Global!Genes!|!RARE!Project’s!partners!in!the!area!of!diagnosis!and!research.!!From!live!performances!to!celebrity!appearances,!the!evening’s!attendees!have!the!common!goal!of!helping!the!millions!of!families!affected!by!rare!genetic!disease.!The!Spooners!are!one!such!family.!

!WHO:&& For!Rick!and!Cristy!Spooner,!the!struggle!with!rare!genetic!disease!weighs!heavily!on!their!daughters,!Cali,!14,!

and!Ryann,!4,!severely!limiting!their!ability!to!walk,!talk!and!take!care!of!themselves.!Unfortunately,!The!Spooners!are!not!alone.!The!National!Institutes!of!Health!estimates!that!50%!of!people!affected!by!rare!diseases!are!children,!and!95%!of!all!rare!diseases!do!not!have!a!single!FDA!approved!drug!treatment,!making!the!work!of!researchers!and!innovators!critical!in!finding!treatments!and!cures!for!all!affected!patients.!

!! The!Global!Genes!mission!is!to!unify!the!international!rare!and!genetic!disease!community!by!providing!

connections!and!resources!to!ease!the!burdens!of!affected!patients.!!Having!helped!countless!families!in!their!fight!against!rare!diseases,!the!organization!will!honor!the!key!innovators!of!the!rare!disease!community.!Awards!will!be!given!to!recipients!who!are!moving!research!forward!and!developing!new!and!cuttingGedge!therapies.!!!

INTERVIEWS:&! Nicole&Boice,&President&and&Founder&of&Global&Genes/RARE&Project&can!share!how!her!Aliso!ViejoGbased!organization!has!become!one!of!the!leading!rare!and!genetic!disease!patient!advocacy!organizations!in!the!world.!She!can!also!provide!insight!into!this!year’s!winner!of!The!Henri!Teermeer!Lifetime!Achievement!Award,!Dr.!Stephen!Groft,!director,!National!Institutes!of!Health,!Office!of!Rare!Diseases!Research. Rick&and&Cristy&Spooner&will!speak!about!“The!Life!We!Live,”!a!heartGfelt!documentary!chronicling!their!family’s!14Gyear!struggle!with!rare!genetic!disease!and!the!treatment!for!their!two!daughters!brought!on!by!exome!sequencing!testing.!They!can!also!address!recent!changes!associated!with!healthcare!and!insurance!covering!the!breakthrough!testing.

ABOUT&&GLOBAL&&GENES:&& Global!Genes!|!RARE!Project!is!a!leading!rare!and!genetic!disease!patient!advocacy!organization.!The!

Foundation's!mission!is!to!unify!the!international!rare!and!genetic!disease!community!by!providing!connections!and!resources!to!ease!the!burdens!of!affected!patients!and!their!families.!!Recognized!worldwide!by!the!Blue!Denim!Genes!Ribbon™,!Global!Genes!|!RARE!Project!unites!experts,!advocates!and!patients!of!all!ages!to!stand!together!in!hope!for!treatments!and!cures!for!the!estimated!7,000!rare!and!genetic!diseases!that!impact!approximately!30!million!Americans!and!over!250!million!people!worldwide.!For!more!information,!visit!http://globalgenes.org/.&

&WHEN:! !Saturday,!September!21,!2013,!5:30!p.m.!to!10!p.m.!!WHERE:& The!Balboa!Bay!Club!&!Resort!& 1221!West!Coast!Hwy,!Newport!Beach,!CA!92663!& !MEDIA:& To!attend!this!event,!or!for!interviews,!please!contact!Justine!Mrsich!at!714G573G0899!ext.!238!or!

justine@echomediapr.com.!###!

1"

"

!

! !"

Great"Park"Neighborhoods"Promo"Item"Recommendations"for"the"2013"Solar"Decathlon"

June"2013""

"House'shaped!hand!fans,!custom" " " " " " " "http://www.recycledproducts.com/product/08912/""Content:""100%"recycled"paperboard"with"a"minimum"of"35%"postJconsumer"waste."Printed"with"soy"ink."Handle"sticks"are"natural"wood"made"from"sustainable"harvests;"affixed"by"glue.""Lead!Time:!60J80"days""Cost:"$.22"J"$.50"*exact"unit"quantity"order"may"lower"cost.!"""

""

Drawstring!Bags,!custom" " " " " " " "http://www.bagmasters.com/Promotional/AllJPromotionalJProducts/TheJEvergreenJDrawstringJBackpack"!Content:""80"to"110Jgram"nonJwoven"polypropylene;"Drawstring"rope"closure;"Reusable"and"recyclable;"Colors"available"include"Black,"Green,"Red,"Royal"Blue."!Lead!Time:!60J80"days""Cost:"$.90J.98"*exact"unit"quantity"order"may"lower"cost.!"

""

Recycled!!Visors!http://www.goldmarkpromotions.com/item_information.cfm?SupplierItemGUID=652B21E8J332EJ4121JBA74J118DB0DD81BC&catalogGUID=18f2680eJ6d0fJ4d9fJbe23Ja5777cd3112d""Content:""Made"from"recyclable"materials."!Lead!Time:!TBD""Cost:"$1.05"each"for"an"order"of"2,500."Exact"estimate"has"not"been"provided."

Media Briefing Book

Created by:

Architectural Digest Show 2014 Briefing Book

2

Architectural Digest Show - March 20-23. 2014

Time Appointment Publication Phone E-mail

Thursday 3/20/2014

1:00 PM Tina Ramchandani Life in Sketch n/a lifeinsketch@gmail.com

1:00 PM Sarah Sarna Live the Life you Dream About (212) 960-8912 sarah@sarahsarna.com

1:30 PM Lisa Kahn About.com n/a elbo1333@gmail.com

1:30 PM Michele Alfano Mod Design Guru n/a moddesignguru@gmail.com

2:00 PM Shani Gilchrist Freelance Writer (803) 445-6926 Shani@camillemaurice.com

3:30 PM Ren Miller DesignNJ (908) 489-1608 rmiller@designnewjersey.com

4:00 PM Lauren Busser The House Designers n/a lbusser@gm.slc.edu

No Time Given Rosemary Nadrone NYC Style and a

Little Cannoli n/a mardy103@gmail.com

No Time Given

Yerelyn Cortez Hidalgo LuxxeLiving (917) 945-8641 yerelyn@luxxeliving.com

Friday 3/21/2014 Pending Time Confirmation

Karen LeBlanc The Design Tourist n/a karenleblanc@cfl.rr.com

No time provided Samantha Brooks Robb Report

Home & Style (310) 691-9138 samanthab@robbreport.com

Stop  By’s:  No  Date  or  Time  Given *Please note that the below contacts can stop by during any show day including Saturday and Sunday.

Thursday Sharon McHugh World Architecture News n/a sharon.mchugh@wantoday.com

Either Thurs. or Fri. Andrew Conway Ocean Home

Magazine (978) 824-2812 aconway@oceanhomemag.com

No date provided Paige Alexus

New York Cottages & Gardens

(212) 774-6103 ext. 202 palexus@cottagesgardens.com

No date provided Nicole Haddad NY Spaces (212) 551-1193 nhaddad@dalvermedia.com

No date provided Katherine Ettienne Blacklines of

Design (347) 392-1674 *No e-mail. Kathleen provided her cell phone number (left) in case Lisa needs to reach out. Echo provided her with Lisa's cell as well.

No date provided Leslie Clagett

The  Architect’s  Newspaper/KB Culture

n/a lclagett@gmail.com

Architectural Digest Show 2014 Briefing Book

5

Tina Ramchandani, Life in Sketch (interested in sponsored post) Blogger Appointment: Thursday, March 20 @ 1 p.m.

http://lifeinsketch.com Outlet/Writer Profile: Ramchandani is the Blogger at Life in Sketch and covers Interior Design. Covers interior design. Features design products and inspirations for various spaces, as well as notable design ideas from around the world.

Article Example: Design Spotlights: Highlights at Hooker Furniture – November 2013 This post was written in collaboration with Hooker Furniture. Hooker Furniture has been offering high-quality, innovative home furnishings since 1924. I spent quite a lot of time at Hooker Furniture while I was at High Point. The showroom is so large and there is so much to see! I visited the showroom with Sarah and we spent about 3 hours walking around and learning about the new lines. I visited again for lunch the next day and walked through again! During High Point Fall Market Hooker was launching three new lines, Solana, Sanctuary and Corsica. In addition to seeing the

pieces  and  learning  about  their  stories,  we  saw  the  rest  of  Hooker’s  offerings,  which  is  immense.  I  took several  pictures  that  I’m  still  sorting  through,  but  I  wanted  to  share  a  few  of  my  favorite  pieces  as  soon  as  possible!  Here  are  this  week’s Design Spotlights, highlights at Hooker Furniture. The attention to detail on Hooker’s pieces is astonishing. The scroll detail, the mirror application and the hardware details are stunning. Solana is very new, so the console pictured is not online yet but you can contact your local Hooker Dealer. Here’s where you can find the details about the rest of pieces:

Mirror Tufted Bed

Four-Door mirrored console

DaValle scroll console

Chest with detailed hardware

Mirrored nightstand

Which of these pieces are you most attracted to?

PHONE&INTERVIEW&CONFIRMATION&MEMORANDUM&

&TO:! Mayor&Pro&Tem&Stephen&Mensinger,&City&of&Costa&Mesa&!& & (714)!914(1962!Cell!&

Ryah&Cooley,&Reporter,&The&Current&(805)!878(1399!Cell!

FROM:! ! Christine!Welch,!Echo!Media!Group!! ! Phone:!714(573(0899!x225!/!E(mail:!christine@echomediapr.com!!!

Justine!Mrsich,!Echo!Media!Group!! ! Phone:!714(573(0899!x237!/!E(mail:!justine@echomediapr.com!!!&DATE:& & January!15,!2014!!RE:! ! Interview!with!Mayor!Pro!Tem!RE:!Simon!Scholar!Program!Expansion!into!Newport(Mesa!Unified&&Thank&you&for&your&interest&in&an&interview&with&Mayor&Pro&Tem&Stephen&Mensinger&of&The&City&of&Costa&Mesa,&regarding&the&Simon&Scholar&Program&expansion&into&Newport?Mesa&Unified&School&District.&Below&please&find&information&confirming&the&details&of&the&interview.&&&!FORMAT:& & Phone!interview;!Ryah!Cooley!will!call!Mayor!Pro!Tem!Mensinger!direct.!!!!SUBJECT:!& !Simon!Scholar!Program!Expansion!into!Newport(Mesa!Unified!School!District!!!INTERVIEWEE:! Mayor!Pro!Tem!Mensinger!will!address!topics!regarding!the!expansion!including,!but!not!limited!to:!

• How!the!Newport(Mesa!Unified!School!District/Simon!Scholar!Program!relationship!developed;!

• How!the!program!will!serve!the!needs!of!students!in!the!District!!ABOUT&SIMON&SCHOLARS:&The!Newport(Mesa!Unified!School!District!joins!the!growing!list!of!high!schools!which!offer!the!!

Program!including:!15!high!schools!in!Santa!Ana,!Garden!Grove,!Oceanside!and!San!Marcos,!Calif;!Santa!Fe!and!Albuquerque,!N.M.;!Atlanta,!Ga.;!and!Washington,!D.C.&

!!ABOUT&SIMON&SCHOLARS!Understanding!that!it!takes!much!more!than!money!to!change!a!life,!Newport!Beach!entrepreneur!Ronald!M.!Simon!founded!the!Program!in!2003!to!change!the!lives!of!students!who!face!the!most!challenging!life!and!economic!circumstances.!Through!the!Simon!Scholars!Program,!students!are!provided!with!practical!life!skills!training,!academic!tools,!leadership!development,!college!readiness!instruction,!and!funding!assistance!to!succeed!in!college!and!life.!!Last!year,!the!Simon!Scholars!celebrated!a!“Decade!of!Success,”!its!10(year!milestone!of!guiding!students!from!adversity!to!accomplishment.!!Since!originating,!more!than!$23!million!in!scholarships!have!been!invested!and!more!than!700!students!have!entered!and/or!completed!the!program.!The!Program’s!college!graduation!success!ratio!is!outstanding.!Of!the!students!who!enter!a!four!year!college,!90!percent!will!graduate;!statistics!which!outpace!the!national!average!considering!these!students!come!from!the!most!disadvantaged,!troubling!and!challenging!circumstances.!For!additional!information,!visit!www.simonscholars.org.!

!OUTLET&&&REPORTER:&& Ryah!Cooley!is!an!education!and!general!assignment!reporter!for!The!Current,!the!Orange!County!

Register's!weekly!community!paper!that!covers!Costa!Mesa!and!Newport!Beach.!!

CONTACT:&& Please!contact!Justine!Mrsich!at!714(573(0899!x237!for!any!questions!or!additional!information.!

!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!

!

!

!

!

!

Social Media Included!in!this!section!are:!

• Facebook!Social!Media!Calendar!• Twitter!Social!Media!Calendar!• Instagram!Social!Media!Calendar!

! ! ! ! !!

!

!

!

!

Graphic Design Included!in!this!section!are:!

• Two!Sets!of!Designed!Social!Media!Sweepstakes!Collaterals!

• Outstanding!Founder!Advertisement!

• Greeting!Card!(exterior!&!interior)!

• Large!Congratulatory!Advertisement!

• Wahoo’s!Media!Invitation!

• Business!Card!Design!

• Wahoo’s!25th!Anniversary!Timeline!!

Kyocera'Mob

ile'–'Social'M

edia'Sweepstakes'D

esign'

Featured

%below

:%Fan

%Gate;%Sweepstakes%E

ntry%Pag

e;%And

%PostEEn

try%Pa

ge%

%

Kyocera'Mob

ile'–'Social'M

edia'Sweepstakes'D

esign'Pt.'2'

Featured

%below

:%Fan

%Gate;%Sweepstakes%E

ntry%Pag

e;%And

%PostEEn

try%Pa

ge!

12711 Newport Ave. Tustin, CA 92780 | (714) 573-­0899 | echomediapr.com

"At  Chapman,  we  strive  to  find  opportunities  that  will  expand  not  only  the  borders  of  our  campus,  but  also  the  borders  of  our  minds.  Candidates  who  have  completed  the  Simon  Scholars  Program  warrant  our  special  consideration  andfinancial  support  because  of  the  commitment,  dedication  and  perseverance  they  have  already  demonstrated  by  being  selected  for  and  successfully  completing  the  program  as  graduates."                                                                             -­  James  L.  Doti,  President,  Chapman  University

The   Simon   Foundation   for   Education   and  Housing   thanks   Chapman  University   for   being   the  Foundation’s  first  Collegiate  Partner.  Our  Simon  Scholars  will  go  on  to  graduate  and  achieve  the  greatness   they   were   destined   for   with   the   continued   support   of   Chapman   University.

2012 American Celebrationon your

Congratulations to Chapman University

with

us

on W

edne

sday

, JAN.9

from

10

a.m

. to

noon

. Lu

nch

will

be

prov

ided

.COME H

ANG

Cost

a M

esa

#1 L

ocat

ion

1862

Pla

cent

ia

Cost

a M

esa,

CA

9262

7PARTY A

T:

RSVP:

Vivi

an S

late

r | v

ivia

n@ec

hom

edia

pr.co

m

(7

14) 5

73-‐‑0

899

ext.

235

Be th

e fir

st to

hea

r abo

ut th

e 2013 Y

EAR-‐LONG C

ELEBRATIO

N, w

here

SPECIA

L P

ROMOTIO

NS w

ill b

egin

on

the 25th

of e

very

mon

th a

nd le

arn

mor

eab

out n

ew fo

od c

reat

ions

and

com

pany

gro

wth

.

WAHOO'S F

ISH T

ACO

invi

tes

you

to a

tten

d a

spec

ial PREss E

vEnT

of th

e co

mpa

nyʼ’s

MILESTONE A

NNIV

ERSARY o

f 25

year

s.in

cel

ebra

tion

You b

ring the c

ork

, w

e b

ring the p

arty...

dro

p in. have fun. eat w

ell.