Cosmo DeNicola Companies News


Monday, December 5, 2016

Temple beats Navy, wins AAC title

ANNAPOLIS, Md. _ Alternating between methodical and quick-striking, Temple got off to a stunning start that paved the way for its first conference football title in nearly five decades.
Scoring on their first three possessions while allowing their defense to flex its considerable muscle, the Owls defeated Navy, 34-10, in the American Athletic Conference championship game Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

A team that went 2-10 in coach Matt Rhule's first season in 2013 is now 10-3. The Owls tied a single-season school record for wins while gaining their seventh consecutive victory. This was Temple's first conference championship since it earned the Middle Atlantic Conference title in 1967.

"We played like champions," Rhule said.

The talk during the past week was that Navy had Temple's kryptonite, the triple-option offense. Temple was slashed by Army's triple-option in a season-opening 28-13 loss. Navy was second nationally with 342.2 yards rushing per game.

In the Army game, the Owls were simply out-toughed, as the coaches like to say.

This time it was Temple that applied the beating, limiting Navy to 168 rushing yards, or 3.8 per carry.

"We were physical against their physicality," Temple defensive coordinator Phil Snow said.

The talk before the game was that a Navy win could have given the Midshipmen (9-3) a chance at the Cotton Bowl.

Yet Western Michigan (13-0) seems to have a grip on the Group of Five berth, despite an underwhelming 29-23 win over Ohio University in the Mid-American Conference title game Friday night.

Now the Owls will await a bowl game, and they could possibly return to this same venue for the Military Bowl on Dec. 27, when the AAC plays the ACC. A person familiar with the situation said Saturday night that Temple wasn't sure yet but that the choice was almost assuredly between the Military Bowl and the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 29, which has the AAC against the SEC.

The caliber of opponent will reportedly play a big role in Temple's bowl decision.

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Owls quarterback Phillip Walker, who was in a walking boot with an ankle injury during the week, didn't seem bothered by the injury.

Walker completed 16 of 25 passes for 199 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He was named the game's most outstanding player.

"I was ready," said Walker, who earned his 28th win as a starting quarterback. "I got a lot of treatment, four times a day."

Walker's toughness has been among his best traits.

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"He is so tough and he didn't want anything to get in the way of us winning this championship," all-conference left tackle Dion Dawkins said.

Linebacker Jarred Alwan led the defense with 13 tackles while free safety Sean Chandler added eight plus a forced fumble.

The key for Temple was one of the basic fundamentals of football: tackling.

"We knew we had to tackle them," Chandler said. "They make big play and if you miss a tackle you are in trouble and we definitely focused on it this week."

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Owls linebacker Avery Williams was ejected for targeting in the second quarter. Since it occurred in the first half, he will be eligible to play in Temple's bowl game.

Jahad Thomas' 15-yard touchdown run from the slot opened the scoring, ending a 12-play 75-yard drive. The Owls then got a 22-yard touchdown reception from Ventell Bryant, and they increased the lead to 21-0 when Walker found Keith Kirkwood in stride on a deep post for a 56-yard scoring pass with 13 minutes, 44 seconds left in the first half.

Up 21-0, with the way the defense was playing, the Owls had essentially put this one away.

Compounding matters, Navy quarterback Will Worth, who leads FBS players with 25 rushing touchdowns, left the game for good with an injury early in the second quarter as did slotbacks Toneo Gulley and Darryl Bonner.

The Owls hit their way to the title, one that eluded them last year, when they lost at Houston, 24-13, in the inaugural AAC championship game.

This one was redemption, bouncing back from last year and this year as well, when the Owl started 3-3 and few figured they'd be lifting a trophy in the first weekend of December.

Story by Marc Narducci. Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

mnarducci@phillynews.com

@sjnard

Monday, November 14, 2016

HGE and Temple Doc among global leaders in COPD research

On Wednesday, international experts on a devastating lung disease will gather in Philadelphia to discuss the latest research on prevention and treatment.

 

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, better known as COPD, is the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Lung Association.

 

The meeting is part of a global initiative to raise awareness about COPD, heighten prevention efforts, promote better treatments, and improve outcomes for those who have it.

 

Despite how common the condition is, there is still much to learn. For example, long-term oxygen therapy has been a standard treatment for patients with severely low blood-oxygen levels. A long-standing question has been whether oxygen therapy would also benefit those whose levels are a bit higher. In a study published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers at Temple University and other centers found that it neither improved survival or reduced hospitalizations for these patients. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and Medicare.

 

The Temple portion of the study was led by Gerard Criner, chair of the department of thoracic medicine and surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. Criner also is the director of Wednesday's conference.

 

He spoke to us recently about COPD.

 

What causes COPD? How many people have it? About 90 percent of cases are related to cigarette smoking, but there are other things that contribute. These include childhood asthma, childhood respiratory infections, poor lung development, occupational exposures. All people who develop this disease have different trajectories for arriving at chronic air flow obstruction, which is the sine qua non of COPD. Some have normal lung function and then smoke. Some have an occupational exposure and lose lung function. Others have poor lung growth, either from asthma or from other factors we don't know.

 

One patient dies from COPD every four minutes - about 150,000 to 160,000 deaths per year. About 12 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with COPD, but we estimate that the disease is underdiagnosed by 50 percent.

 

What is life like for people with COPD? They are breathless, mainly with exertion. But when it advances, they are breathless at rest. There are episodes that are escalations of their chronic symptoms of cough, mucus and fatigue. These can be related to environmental changes - the changing seasons, or times when air quality is bad. Patients can have flare-ups with viral or bacterial infections.

 

What does some of the latest research show? We used to think there wasn't much we could do for this disease, but we now know this isn't true. A lot of different therapies have been developed, and fortunately the number of therapies is increasing drastically.

 

In the past year, multiple publications have looked at things like the endobronchial valve, a small device that is implanted in the airway. The valves block the air from going into a part of the lung and, instead, let it come out. Imagine that a part of your lung functions like a big distended balloon that won't deflate. If you take a big breath and let a little out and then try to take another breath, it's harder. But if you could empty the balloon with these devices, that will help the person breathe better.

 

Another example is that for people who are more prone to flare-ups, there are now a variety of medications that can be used to reduce their risk by providing better lung function or reducing inflammation. Recent research has shown the potential for using preventive therapies such as inhalers, antibiotics or other drugs.

 

Oxygen therapy is beneficial for some patients, but as the study published last month showed, not all.

 

Rehabilitation is another new area. Exercise doesn't make the lung stronger, but it makes the rest of the body stronger.

 

We also know now that comorbidities are prevalent. People who have COPD often also have diabetes or hypertension or sleep apnea or asthma. If we look at them all together, we can treat people in a more holistic way and make patients' lives better.

 

Why is Wednesday's event important? This global initiative, close to 25 years old now, was started by the National Institutes of Health and major international respiratory societies to bring awareness to COPD, to escalate research and treatment and to give some uniformity to care across the world. It's the deliberations of this nonprofit that look at all the important data for all stages of the disease, from assessment to diagnosis to treatment.

 

A report is published worldwide and is updated every year. But this year, we are releasing the first major revision since 2011. The event in Philadelphia will be the public announcement of the new revisions. The report will be simultaneously published in four major international journals.

 

What would you say to people with COPD? I've been doing this for 33 years, and the research has moved faster in the last three to five years than it's ever moved. Although, if you talked to any COPD patient, that's not fast enough.

 

There's still no cure. That should be foremost in everyone's mind at the moment. We know the best prevention is to not smoke or to stop smoking. But trying to reverse the lung abnormality? That doesn't exist now.

 

A lot of people I see have gone through a couple different doctors and have been told there's nothing they can do. No patient should ever be told that by anyone, regardless. There's always something you can do to improve a patient's outcome. People should know that there are many things that could be done, and they should seek help to improve their outcome and to achieve their goals of improved care.

- About HGE http://www.hge.healthcare

- by Sandy Bauers in The Philadelphia Inquirer

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Beijing Wins CAFL China Bowl on Final Play

Patrick Clarke III kicked a game winning 17 yard field goal with no time on the clock to give the Beijing Lions a 35-34 win over the Qingdao Clipper to capture the first ever China Bowl and the China Arena Football League championship. Just two seconds before however he had missed an 18 yarder and the Clipper thought they had pulled off an upset of the league’s only undefeated team. Clarke’s kick was wide right, but Qingdao was called for an illegal corner blitz, rushing the kicker, which gave Clarke a second chance with no time on the clock. The try after the penalty was straight and true ending a game that saw eight lead changes.
The game was a low scoring affair by arena standards which may have favored the Clipper. The Lions also played without the leagues “Man of Steel” award winner in James Romain. The wide out, defensive back and kick returner missed the game due to a hand injury which forced Beijing coach Clint Dolezel to shift players around to make up for Romain's absence. 

The Lions scored on their opening drive that covered 45 yards in nine plays. Quarterback Luke Collis connected with Collin Taylor on a nine yard touchdown for a 6-0 lead. The Beijing Defense, which stopped opponents at a rate of 48 percent this season, flexed early as Torez Jones intercepted a Bryan Randall pass in the end zone and the first quarter ended with just one score.
The Lions opened the second quarter looking at a fourth and ten at the 14 yard line, but pressure from Qingdao defensive linemen Matt Moss and Jake Metz forced Collis to throw four straight incompletions giving Randall and the offense a short field. Four plays later Xavier Boyce had a 12 yard catch and his first TD reception of the game. The Clipper led 7-6. The scoring continued on the next possession as Collis found Taylor for his second score of the game with a 25 yard strike and a 13-7 advantage. Taylor also shared time at defensive back with Chris Dieker with the injury to Romain. The Lions then attempted an onside kick that was not successful. The Clipper recovered on the nine. Randall used a short eight yard toss to Reggie Gray to regain the lead, 14-13. The fourth lead change of the half took place on the final Beijing possession as Collis targeted Dieker three times in five plays, with the final pass covering 15 yards for a score. Dieker led all receivers in the game with 9 receptions for 107 yards. The second missed extra point left the score at 19 to 14 with Beijing leading at the half.
The Beijing defense then caused its seventeenth turnover of the season with Jones intercepting Randall for the second time in the game. For Jones, the CAFL’s defensive MVP, it was his league leading eighth interception of the season. The Lions then turned that into points as Taylor, who had seven receptions for 80 yards, would catch his third TD pass of the game and twelfth of the season. Beijing has its largest lead at 25 to 14. Qingdao’s Gray then took the kickoff down to the seven yard line to set up a quick score. Randall hit Gray with a seven yard throw and the Clipper trailed by four. Gray finished with seven catches for 94 yards. 
The final quarter began with Qingdao’s Rayshaun Kizer getting his second pick of the season as he jumped Taylor’s route in the end zone and he returned the ball to the Beijing 20 yard line. Then on first and goal from the four Randall used a play action fake to freeze the defense and he entered the end zone untouched to give the Clipper a 28-25 lead. The seventh lead change was only seconds away. Jones almost returned the kickoff for a score as he was stopped on the six yard line. Dieker then came on to play quarterback. He kept it himself the next two plays, the second covering two yards which was good for a score and a Lions 32-28 lead. On what would be the final offensive series for the Clipper, Randall worked a two man game with Boyce to retake the lead. The former Virginia Tech standouts teamed up four times on a six play drive that covered 38 yards for a score. Boyce, who had seven receptions for 77 yards, caught a 12 yard pass to put the Clipper up 34 to 32.
Beijing took over after the kick on its own nine yard line. On second and eight from the 23, Collis was pressured by Moss and was called for intentional grounding. Beijing then caught a break as on third and 20 the Clipper was Beijing took over after the kick on its own nine yard line. On second and eight from the 23, Collis was pressured by Moss and was called for intentional grounding. Beijing then caught a break as on third and 20 the Clipper was called for an illegal defense and Beijing gained an automatic first down. As time ran down Collis hit Taylor three straight times. The last reception by Taylor was to the four yard line with two second remaining.
Clarke came on for his first field goal attempt of the season and pulled the 21 yard kick right, but an illegal corner blitz gave the Lions a second chance with no time on the clock. Clarke took advantage and drove the ball through the uprights giving Beijing a 35-34 victory, the CAFL title and a perfect 6-0 season.

Stats:
Qingdao Passing:
Randall, 14 of 19 for 171 yards, 4TD, 2 Int
Qingdao Receiving:
Gray, 7 for 49 yards, 2TD
Boyce, 7 for 77 yards, 2TD
Qingdao Rushing:
Randall, 4 for 10 yards, 1TD

Beijing Passing:
Collis, 10 of 40 for 203 yards, 4TD 1 Int
Dieker, 0 for 1
Beijing Receiving:
Erwin Sennett Wu, 2 for 16 yards
Dieker, 9 for 107 yards, 1TD
Taylor, 7 for 80 yards, 3TD
Beijing Rushing:
Collis, 4 for 10 yards
Dieker, 5 for 7 yards, 1TD
Rustin Mayorga, 1 for 3 yards

 

By Mick Moninghoff
Shanghai, China (Nov. 6, 2016)

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Cosmo DeNicola Companies Software Conference Returns to Atlantic City in 2018

After 9 consecutive conferences over 16 years Amtech Software (Philadelphia) has moved their customer conference from Las Vegas Nevada to Atlantic City NJ, which will take place September 29. 2018 to October 4, 2018. CD Companies Chairman Cosmo DeNicola is a native Philadelphian with long term ties to the Jersey Shore. The Amtech Conference draws hundreds of packaging companies over a 6-day conference comprised of Educational sessions and Technology presentations.

“I am so happy to bring our Conference back east to Atlantic City, home of our first conference 25 years ago,” Stated Cosmo. “Recent years have been very challenging for Atlantic City and I hope our conference can create positive momentum for the city’s conference business and economic development.”

Caesars Palace will be home base for the conference attendees who will be comprised of manufacturers throughout North America.

“Caesars will be an amazing hotel for our customers. The dining and gaming options will keep them active, while the Atlantic Ocean and the Boardwalk will keep them moving”, stated Amtech’s Director of Finance Steve Hirsh.

“We look forward to welcoming the attendees of Amtech Software to Caesars Atlantic City in 2018. There are so many new investments in Atlantic City, including updated rooms at Caesars Atlantic City and exciting new signature restaurants as dining options and nightlife.  All of these upgrades are intended to create the right atmosphere and environment for our meeting attendees to eat, work and play in their favorite Ocean Destination-Atlantic City!  We look forward to seeing you soon,” Shelley Williams, Director of Sales for Caesars Entertainment.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Cosmo DeNicola Companies NAMED ONE OF THE “BEST ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPANIES IN AMERICA”

COSMO DENICOLA COMPANIES NAMED ONE OF THE “BEST ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPANIES IN AMERICA” BY ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE’S 2016 ENTREPRENEUR 360™ LIST

 

 

 

Fort Washington, PA – Cosmo DeNicola Companies (CD Companies) was ranked in the Top 50 (43rd) in the “Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America” by Entrepreneur Magazine’s Entrepreneur 360™ List, the most comprehensive analysis of private companies in America. Based on this study forged by Entrepreneur, CD Companies is recognized as a well-rounded company that has mastered a balance of impact, innovation, growth and leadership.

 

 

 

“I am very proud to be recognized for our growth and diversification. Our businesses range from healthcare, technology and professional football to Hollywood entertainment. It’s personally fulfilling to know that we entertain people, enhance productivity and improve healthcare outcomes,” stated Cosmo DeNicola, Chairman of CD Companies.

 

 

 

“Our annual evaluation offers a 360-degree analysis of the current private-business landscape,” explains Lisa Murray, Chief Insights Officer of Entrepreneur Media, Inc. “Top performers are determined by how well-rounded they are in these four key operative areas. Entrepreneurship is a complex endeavor—this listing recognizes those who have mastered the challenge and are thriving this year.”

 

 

 

2016 has been a banner year for CD Companies. Their technology and healthcare practices have continued to inspire their respected industries, with Transformational Innovations. On the Professional Football front, their Philadelphia Soul team gained national recognition when they won the 2016 Arena Bowl Championship, which was televised on ESPN. Finally, MKS&D, their Talent Management division, has eleven clients with reoccurring roles in weekly television series. Q4 2016 expansion includes the launch of their Sports and Entertainment Sponsorship Practice.

 

 

 

Honorees were identified based on the results from a comprehensive study of independently-owned companies, using a proprietary algorithm and other advanced analytics. The algorithm was built on a balanced scorecard designed to measure four metrics reflecting major pillars of entrepreneurship—innovation, growth, leadership and impact.

 

 

 

To learn more about Cosmo DeNicola Companies, visit www.cosmodenicola.com.

 

 

 

For additional details on the Entrepreneur 360 List and the companies recognized, visit: entrepreneur.com/360companies

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment Announces New TV Series "Project Dad"

COS COB, Conn., Oct. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment announces a new television series Project Dad, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Original, which follows three celebrity dads as they step out of the spotlight and into the role of "mom" for 48 hours. The series premieres on Discovery Life on November 1 at 7:00 p.m.

Project Dad follows Donnell Rawlings (comedian, Chappelle's Show), Daniel Cosgrove (actor, Days of Our Lives), and DJ Skribble (world-ranked disc jockey, MTV's TRL) as they're left alone with their kids while their partners leave home for a few days. The series turns the camera on these three busy celebrity dads as they try to put their careers to the side and get to know their children. The dads struggle to balance caring for a home, parenting and pursuing a full-time career — on their own.

"Project Dad will have viewers laughing, crying and relishing in the real life moments these dads have with their children," said William J. Rouhana, Jr., executive chairman of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. "The show adds to our library of inspirational and entertaining content, and we expect the show to resonate with all audiences. This is our second television series to air on a cable network in just two years, and we expect more to follow."

The series will also air next year on TLC on January 5 at 5 p.m.

Project Dad is based on the hit international series Return of Superman that was originally broadcast and owned by Korean Broadcasting System. The hit series in South Korea has won more than 13 awards. Derek Britt and Ricky Paull Goldin of DB Goldline, William J. Rouhana, Jr. of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, and EunHui Jong of Critical Density Media, LLC are the series Executive Producers. Populus Brands manages the network agreement with Discovery Communications and oversees partnerships, media sponsorships, and trade out sales for the series.

ABOUT CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ENTERTAINMENT
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. is a fast-growing provider of high-quality video content consistent with the 23-year-old widely recognized Chicken Soup for the Soul brand. The company aims to grow its video business and expand its library of positive, high-quality and entertaining video content through production and acquisition. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment is expanding its relationships with sponsors, television networks and independent producers to create new, brand-consistent video content in a variety of formats. The company will make its video content available to billions of consumers globally through any television or internet-delivered networks, including social media, "over-the-top" and "direct-to-consumer" networks, on any device at any time.

ABOUT DB GOLDLINE
DB Goldline Entertainment is a New York City-based production and entertainment company lead by its Emmy and Peabody award winning founders Derek Britt and Ricky Paull Goldin. DB Goldline is focused on the creation of innovative unscripted and scripted content telling stories that challenge the imagination, open the world's eyes, and embody the meaning of entertainment. Derek Britt and Ricky Paull Goldin's passion for great storytelling spans over 25 years in network television, live television, feature film, documentary, commercial and advertising production for clients HBO, CBS, ABC, FOX, TBS, MTV, TLC, PBS, HGTV, The Design Network, Viacom, and Discovery

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

The Untouchables starring Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart to begin filming in Philadelphia

Two of Hollywood's most bankable names star in feature film based on popular French film.

Philadelphia, PA - (October 25, 2016) - Philadelphia will be the primary filming location early next year for The Weinstein Company's The Untouchables, directed by Neil Burger, who also directed Limitless in Philadelphia, written by Jon Hartmere and executive produced by Bob and Harvey Weinstein.  The Untouchables stars Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston and Philadelphia native, powerhouse comedian Kevin Hart in the US remake of the French comedy, The Intouchables.  The movie follows an aristocrat who, after becoming a paraplegic following a paragliding accident, hires an unemployed man with a criminal record to be his caregiver.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

HGE and Temple Lung Dr. Gerard Criner Honored for Medical Research Excellence

The Philadelphia Business Journal Healthcare awards acknowledged Temple Lung Center Director and chairman of the department of thoracic medicine and surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple university Dr. Gerard Criner as a Doctor of distinction.

What Makes Him a Doctor of Distinction:

Dr. Gerard J. Criner is an internationally recognized researcher who, as principal investigator and project leader of several multimillion-dollar NIH grants, has overseen numerous advances in pulmonary medicine and critical care research during the last two decades.  He is recognized worldwide as an expert on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the management of intensive-care unit patients.  As director of the newly expanded Temple Lung Center, he leads one of the largest pulmonary surgery centers in the nation.  In recent years, he has led Temple's participation in numerous clinical research trials testing novel methods to improve breathing and activity levels and quality of life for patients with emphysema.  Criner is also founder and chairman of a Temple spin-off copay, HGE Health Care Solutions, that has created a digital health application for COPD that allows patients to report daily symptoms directly to their health care team and receive rapid feedback and treatment recommendations.

Monday, October 24, 2016

BizEquity Named for the Second Year in a Row One of the Top Companies in the United States

BizEquity, the world's leading provider of online business valuation and performance big data, is delighted to announce its being named by Entrepreneur Media as one of the "Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America."

 

Having been awarded the accolade last year, this is the second time BizEquity has won a place on this prestigious list, which is the most comprehensive analysis of private companies in America. Based on this study forged by Entrepreneur, BizEquity is recognized as a well-rounded company that has mastered a balance of impact, innovation, growth and leadership. The award is recognition of BizEquity as a leader worthy of note to its competitors, customers and the entrepreneur community.

 

This recent award illustrates how BizEquity continues to lead the way in distinguishing itself within the Big Data and FinTech marketplace and executes on it's mission within the wider entrepreneur community.   BizEquity's innovative big data platform harnesses sophisticated algorithms which help enable private business owners and entrepreneurs globally to access vital company valuation knowledge about how much their business is worth - a process traditionally too time and cost intensive for many SMEs and entrepreneurs to undertake.

 

Michael M. Carter, CEO & Founder of BizEquity commented, " We are delighted having won this award for the second year in a row as we help to democratize this essential knowledge for the global business owner and the financial institutions and advisors that serve them."

 

About BizEquity 

 

Founded in 2010, BizEquity is the world's first and leading online provider of business valuation knowledge and big data. The company vision is to value every private business in the world and in doing so democratize the business valuation process for all businesses and financial institutions.

 

Headquartered in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, but with worldwide market leadership, BizEquity has offices in key global markets including Canary Wharf in London, Singapore and India.

 

BizEquity has valued over 33.1 million private businesses to date, and has over 160 financial institutions distributing its patented cloud-based service offering.

 

The company has won the Bank Director's FinTech growth and innovation award. In addition, BizEquity's CEO Michael Carter has been named one of the top 100 Fintech leaders.

 

For more information, please visit: www.bizequity.com.

Friday, October 21, 2016

Amtech Software Unveils its Digital Transformation, iNEXT at iThink Conference in Las Vegas

More than 150 industry professionals from corrugator, folding carton and rigid box plants throughout the country met at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, from September 25-29 for Amtech Software’s 15th User Conference and the unveiling of iNext, the next generation of Amtech’s Imaginera system that leverages the Cloud and web-based technology to create powerful new tools for its users.

 

            The five-day conference gave both experienced users and those new to Amtech’s Imaginera system an opportunity to enhance their knowledge base and improve their use of the software and its integration into their company’s many business operations.

 

            Cosmo DeNicola welcomed his customers on Monday morning with unbridled enthusiasm and shared details of Amtech’s investment and commitment to iNext, as well as an ambitious 15-year plan for the future of the company.

 

            Why 15 years? “We wanted to create a platform that would span two business cycles,” said DeNicola. “We wanted to make sure we incorporated the latest technology and had a way to enable new technologies in the future. And we had to do things in a way that would engage a new generation of packaging employers and software users.”

 

            DeNicola also shared how Amtech upgraded all the company’s internal systems so it could be “faster at solving problems, faster at delivering information and faster at improving the quality of outcomes.”

 

iNext Is iNow

 

            iNext, the next generation of Amtech’s Imaginera System, leverages the power of the Cloud to empower box plant employees to work anywhere at anytime. “iNext will open new doors,” said DeNicola. “All of a company’s employees can have access to all information all of the time using the power of the Cloud. It is truly a platform for the future. Tomorrow is today and the future is now.”

 

            For users who are not ready to make the immediate leap to the Cloud, DeNicola pointed out that iNext works with Amtech’s current Imaginera platform.

 

Educational Sessions

 

            Amtech’s iThink Conference featured more than 20 educational sessions that were presented on Monday and Tuesday of the conferences and focused on virtually every element of the company’s comprehensive portfolio of software modules.

 

            The session “Complex Product Structures” was presented by Tina Lampus, who instructed attendees on how to manage complex product structures, from estimating to order entry to shipping.

 

            “Disaster Recovery” was presented by Mark Handzlik and Vince Fornito, who raised the questions,“What happens when disaster strikes? And “Is your system and data safe?” Attendees learned how to prepare for the worst so their company is fully protected.

 

            Stephanie Sneed presented “Optimizing Release 4.0,” where attendees were introduced to the latest release of Imaginera in order to prepare for their update.

 

            “Inventory Management” was presented by Michael DeNicola and Sue Hahn, who provided attendees with strategies and best practices for leveraging barcoding to automate and streamline inventory management.

 

            Vince Fornito and Eric Nolan presented “Reducing IT Costs,” which focused on ways users could reduce infrastructure costs and the day-to-day management of their IT environment.

 

            “Troubleshooting Tips, Tricks and New Fields,” a highly interactive session led by Tina Lampus, informed attendees of multiple techniques used by Amtech customers to make their daily work faster and easier.

 

            “Analyzing Waste and Quality” was presented by John Clark and focused on ways companies could improve quality management and waste tracking and analysis.

 

            Sue Hahn presented “High Velocity Closing Books,” which focused on ways companies can speed up month-end and year-end accounting processes.

 

            “Real-time Production,” led by Darren Artillio, showed attendees how to eliminate manual errors and make waste reconciliation mandatory.

 

            Eric Nolan presented the “Imaginera Network Tuneup,” which detailed ways in which attendees could improve their utilization of the system and fine tune their implementation.

 

            In “iServe: Amtech & Futura’s New User Platform,” Dominic Sambucci gave attendees a first-hand look at the new platform.

 

            “Interfaces and Integrations” was presented by Glenn Poyner, who taught users the best ways to request customizations and personalizations for their Imaginera system.

 

            In the new session named “Speed Dating,” Darren Artillio, Mike Cruz, Tina Lampus and John Clark answered attendees questions, one after the other, in a new and exciting learning format.

 

            Cosmo DeNicola and Eric Nolan led the session on “Business Intelligence and Analytics,” where users learned how to leverage their dashboard to get a bird’s eye view of their operation.

 

            “SELF Service,” led by Michael DeNicola and Darren Artillio, introduced attendees to Amtech’s Customer Care Portal and all the tools they need to “self-service.”

 

            Eric Nolan presented “In-Plant Signage,” in which attendees learned how to leverage Amtech’s business analytics modules to visually engage their employees and managers.

 

            In “Go Paperless,” Darren Artillio taught attendees how to reduce paper usage by leveraging the power of document storage to improve workflow and customer service.

 

Individual Attention

 

            Concurrently, Amtech Software employees were available for One on One conferences with users to discuss users’ individual issues, concerns and ways in which they could optimize Amtech’s many modules and the new iNext platform at their respective plants.

 

            A new feature at this year’s conference were interactive “Lunch and Learn” sessions, where attendees shared their concerns and asked questions of Amtech specialists over an informal lunch. Topics included Cloud, Costing, iNext, iServe, Mobility Sales & Logistics, Product Structures, Programming RFE, Public Relations, Reporting, and Top Gun.

 

            The third day of Amtech’s iNext Conference featured “Mobile Wednesday,” a three-hour session that showcased Amtech’s innovative mobile solutions, which included software and technology designed to streamline a box plant’s operations.

 

            John Clark led Amtech’s “Fall 2016 Continuing Education Course” on Wednesday afternoon, during which he taught attendees how to analyze cost margins in order to determine account strategies for making decisions on existing and future business

 

Users Respond

 

            Users and attendees representing a variety of roles and responsibilities at plants expressed their satisfaction with their investment of time and money in Amtech.

 

   “I came to learn about the iNext rollout and what it’s going to mean for our plant,” said Bob Wilcox, Controller at Ontario, Canada based McLeish Corr-A-Box Packaging and Design. “We’ve been Imaginera users since 1993 and it was great to get an overall understanding of the new system now that we’re ready to upgrade.”

 

            “The one-on-one sessions were valuable and actually helped solve some of my problems,” said Gabriel Teodor, also of McLeish.

 

   Nicholas Pablonis, IT Manager at U.S. Corrugated, was also impressed. “It’s been amazing. I got to see the new technology coming down the pipe and I’m excited about the tighter integration with the sequel server. iNext is truly the future,” he said. “I also need to say that my experience with Darren Artillio here has been nothing but stellar. He is one of the best technology salespeople I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with in my 30 years in the industry.”

 

            Chris Scallan, Plant Superintendent at Newark, New Jersey based Kampack, said, “This conference was interesting because Amtech is taking the next step in moving to the Cloud with a web-based platform. I’m really excited about iNext and we’re going to start using it soon.”

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