Ohio Cycling Classic Celebrates America's 250th

XENIA, Ohio, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyclists, families and community supporters are invited to celebrate America's 250th anniversary this fall at the United Way Americana 250 Cycling Classic, set for Sunday, Oct. 11, at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center. Watch the video.

The event combines cycling, local history and family fun while raising money for the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area, serving Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties. Registration is now open, with four routes designed for everyone from casual family riders to experienced cyclists seeking a metric century challenge.

The rides will begin and end at the fairgrounds, located at 120 Fairground Road in Xenia, and are part of the well-known Tour de Gem Cycling Series. Greene County serves as the centerpiece of the event because of its extensive paved trail network, the largest in the nation.

Participants can choose from the 10-mile Liberty Ride for families, the 25-mile Pioneer Expedition, the 40-mile Heritage Quest, or the 64-mile Patriot Tour, a metric century route connecting several Greene County communities. But organizers emphasize that the event is about more than cycling.

While riders pay a registration fee, the on-site fairgrounds festivities, known as the Heritage Hub, will be free and open to the public. Visitors can enjoy food trucks, vendor displays, demonstrations and the Young Explorer Zone, featuring a bike course designed especially for small children.

"This event is a celebration of community, history and healthy living," said Tom Kelley, President and CEO of the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area. "Whether you ride 10 miles or 64, volunteer, sponsor the event or simply bring your family out to enjoy the Heritage Hub, you're helping us strengthen our community while celebrating this important milestone in our nation's history."

Businesses and organizations still have time to get involved. Sponsorship opportunities and vendor booths remain available, giving companies a chance to showcase their products and services while supporting a regional cause. Sponsorship levels range from major corporate partnerships to rest stop sponsorships, while vendor spaces are available in multiple sizes.

Community participation will be key to making the inaugural event a success. Kelley said "United Way really wants this to become a signature event for Greene County and the Miami Valley because it's an opportunity to bring people together, celebrate our shared heritage and invest in programs that improve lives throughout our region."

All proceeds from the Americana 250 Cycling Classic will benefit programs and services of the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area, supporting initiatives focused on youth opportunity, financial security, health and community resiliency throughout Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties.

Event organizers say they hope the day will bring together cyclists, families, local businesses and history enthusiasts alike for a celebration that honors the past while investing in the future. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia. Registration, sponsorship information and vendor applications are now available.

Sponsors include The Dayton Foundation, Wagner Subaru, Kettering Health Network, Trek Dayton, CareSource, Greene County Convention and Visitors Bureau, GLD Communications, Warriors On Wheels, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission. For more information, visit https://www.dayton-unitedway.org/americana-250-cycling-classic.

Media Contact:

Rebecca Cantrell

937.825.5554

SOURCE United Way of Greater Dayton Area

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The article outlines practical steps homeowners can take to improve presentation, pricing, and marketing before listing a property.

HARTSVILLE, S.C., Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- What steps can homeowners take to prepare a property for sale and achieve stronger offers in Hartsville, South Carolina? HelloNation has published the answer in an article featuring Real Estate Expert Deborah Gandy that examines how preparation, presentation, and pricing strategies can influence sales success.

The article explains that selling a home involves more than listing a property and waiting for offers. In the Darlington County housing market, factors such as condition, cleanliness, staging, and marketing can influence how quickly a property sells and the price it ultimately commands.

One of the first steps discussed is completing necessary repairs and maintenance before listing the home. Buyers often notice small issues that signal whether a property has been well cared for. Minor concerns such as dripping faucets, chipped paint, or worn flooring can affect a buyer's perception of value. Addressing these items ahead of time helps prevent them from becoming negotiation points during the sales process.

The HelloNation article also notes that modest updates can improve how a home is perceived. Replacing cabinet hardware, updating light fixtures, or installing new doorknobs can give a home a more polished appearance. Homes that demonstrate clear upkeep often attract buyers who feel more confident in the overall condition of the property.

Deep cleaning is another important preparation step highlighted in the article. Carpets, windows, kitchens, and bathrooms should be thoroughly cleaned to create a fresh and welcoming environment. Removing clutter from closets, storage areas, and living spaces allows potential buyers to better visualize how the home might function for their own needs.

The article explains that presentation also plays a key role during showings. Neutral wall colors and minimal personal décor help buyers focus on the home itself rather than the seller's personal style. A neutral setting can make rooms feel more open while allowing visitors to imagine themselves living in the space.

Home staging is another strategy discussed as part of preparing a Hartsville home for sale. Thoughtful furniture placement, lighting adjustments, and simple decorative touches can highlight the strengths of a property. In many cases, staging helps rooms appear larger and more inviting, which can improve the overall impression buyers form during tours or online listings.

Pricing strategy is equally important. The article notes that setting the right price requires reviewing recent sales of comparable homes in Hartsville. Factors such as square footage, age, features, and neighborhood amenities all influence a property's market value. A carefully considered pricing strategy helps attract serious buyers while avoiding the risks associated with overpricing.

The article also highlights the value of pre-sale inspections and full disclosure. Identifying potential concerns before listing allows sellers to address issues early or communicate them clearly to buyers. This approach can reduce surprises during negotiations and help transactions proceed more smoothly.

Marketing plays a final but essential role in the selling process. High-quality photographs, detailed descriptions, and well-designed online listings help draw attention to a property. The article explains that targeted marketing helps reach buyers who are actively searching for homes in Hartsville and across Darlington County.

Understanding local market trends can further support effective marketing. Highlighting neighborhood amenities, nearby schools, and outdoor features helps buyers see the lifestyle benefits associated with the property and its location.

Overall, the article explains that thoughtful preparation can significantly influence both buyer interest and final sale price. Addressing repairs, improving presentation, staging rooms effectively, setting the right price, and implementing strong marketing strategies can help homeowners position their property successfully within the local market.

How to Prepare Your Hartsville Home for Sale and Maximize Value features insights from Deborah Gandy, Real Estate Expert of Hartsville, South Carolina, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America's Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative "edvertising" approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation

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Chonnam University Researchers Discover How a Century-Old Solvent Can Solve Efficient Amide Synthesis

Researchers develop an efficient and scalable approach to amide synthesis using the commonly used solvent dichloromethane

JEOLLANAM-DO, South Korea, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Amide bonds are chemical linkages that are essential in biology, medicine and materials chemistry. Peptide bonds, a class of amide bonds, link amino acids together to form proteins. They are also important for medicines and making polymers. Efficient synthesis of amide bonds remains a major focus in green chemistry.

Most practical approaches for amide synthesis involve activation of carboxylic acids through suitable coupling reagents before they can react with amines to form amides. However, many commonly used reagents can be corrosive or toxic, can release hazardous byproducts, and generate substantial waste, creating challenges for large-scale synthesis. An ideal coupling reagent should be cost-effective, stable and produce only benign byproducts that can be easily eliminated.

In a breakthrough, a research team led by Professor Sunwoo Lee from the Department of Chemistry at Chonnam National University in South Korea, utilized dichloromethane as an effective coupling reagent for direct amide bond synthesis using carboxylic acids and amines. "Dichloromethane is a commonly used solvent in many chemical processes," explains Prof. Lee. "In this study, we present the successful application of this common solvent to facilitate efficient and scalable amide bond formation." The study was published online on July 6, 2026, and subsequently appeared in Volume 148, Issue 27 of the Journal of the American Chemical Society on July 15, 2026.

The researchers found that under basic conditions, carboxylates can attack dichloromethane through an SN2 reaction to generate reactive chloromethyl ester intermediates. These intermediates can then undergo acyl substitution with amines to produce amides. Using benzoic acid and benzylamine as model substrates, the researchers optimized the reaction conditions.

Initial results showed that using sodium carbonate as the base, dichloromethane as the coupling reagent, and dimethyl sulfoxide as the solvent enabled the desired amide formation in good yield. Optimal efficiency and reproducibility required a combination of 80 °C, a 12-hour reaction time, and an excess of amine.

Further experiments demonstrated a broad substrate scope across a range of carboxylic acids and amines. Notably, the researchers were able to synthesize two key pharmaceutical amides using this approach, namely an antiarrhythmic agent called procainamide with 92% yield and an antidepressant called moclobemide with 76% yield. The team also achieved direct single-step amide synthesis using carboxylic acids and ammonium bicarbonate using this approach.

The researchers further demonstrated the scalability of the method in a 100 millimole level reaction of 4-chlorobenzoic acid and 2-morpholinoethanamine, producing more than 20 grams of moclobemide with greater than 99% purity.

Mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction primarily occurs when the intermediate carboxylate attacks dichloromethane, which produces an activated ester via SN2 substitution. A competing pathway generates a methylene bis(carboxylate) intermediate, which can also undergo aminolysis and participate in further acyl transfer.

"By avoiding many conventional stoichiometric coupling reagents and reducing coupling-reagent-derived waste, our approach demonstrates that dichloromethane can provide a practical and scalable alternative for amide synthesis ," concludes Prof. Lee.

Reference

About the institute

Website: https://global.jnu.ac.kr/jnumain_en.aspx

Media Contact:

Minji Son

82-62-530-5191

[email protected] 

SOURCE Chonnam University

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The Association of Financial Counseling, Planning, and Education (AFCPE) Receives 2026 Power of Associations Summit Award for the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association of Financial Counseling, Planning, and Education® (AFCPE®) has been honored with a 2026 ASAE Power of Associations Summit Award by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). The ASAE Power of Associations Awards recognize associations that leverage their unique ability to convene stakeholders, inspire collaboration, and drive meaningful change. Through innovative programs, partnerships, and advocacy efforts, award recipients exemplify how associations create lasting impact that extends well beyond the members they serve. The Summit Award celebrates AFCPE for their impact in providing workforce mobility for military spouses while strengthening financial readiness in the communities they serve through the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship.

Funded by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation and administered by AFCPE, the Fellowship addresses two military spouse challenges: persistent financial stress driven by frequent relocations, deployments, and life transitions, and chronic underemployment caused by barriers to portable, credentialed work.

AFCPE selects up to 30 qualified military spouses annually providing a structured, fully funded pathway to the Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®) certification. Funding covers education and exam costs, which supports Fellows through coursework, a proctored certification exam, and the AFC experience hours requirement. Fellows are connected to an active alumni network, the Society of FINRA Foundation Fellows, and to volunteer-led regional ambassadors who strengthen peer support, leadership, and ongoing service delivery within military-facing settings.

Since 2006, 743 Fellows have earned the AFC, providing education and support to more than 288,000 military families as part of their required experience hours. Many Fellows go on to build meaningful careers serving military families and communities domestically and internationally, extending the Fellowship's impact beyond the numbers.

"ASAE's Power of Associations Awards recognize the very best of what our community can accomplish," said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, AAiP. "This recognition honors organizations that don't simply advance their own missions - they bring people together to solve complex challenges, strengthen industries and professions, and create lasting benefits for society. AFCPE has demonstrated the vision, leadership, and commitment to make a meaningful difference, and we are proud to recognize the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship as one of this year's outstanding achievements."

"This Fellowship is a powerful example of what becomes possible when associations and partners come together around a shared purpose," said AFCPE Executive Director Rachael DeLeon. "We saw a real challenge — military spouses needed portable, credentialed career pathways, and military families needed greater access to trusted financial guidance — and we worked together to build a solution. We are deeply grateful to the FINRA Investor Education Foundation for over two decades of partnership and impact. Together, we have helped create economic opportunity for military spouses, strengthen financial readiness for military families, and expand access to trusted financial guidance."

Learn more about AFCPE's FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship: https://www.afcpe.org/education/finra-foundation-fellowship/.

MEDIA CONTACT: Tara Meehan, [email protected], 614-368-1499

About AFCPE

AFCPE educates and equips financial professionals to serve their communities with a vision of financial well-being for all. The Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®) credential is accredited by The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), and nationally recognized by the Department of Defense and the CFPB. Please visit www.afcpe.org.

About The Power of Associations Awards

ASAE's Power of Associations Awards recognize the association community's economic and societal contributions locally, nationally and globally. ASAE will celebrate The Power of Associations Award recipients during its annual Summit Awards Dinner on September 22, 2026, at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.

SOURCE AFCPE

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The article outlines how unusual furnace noises may signal airflow problems, worn components, or heating system issues.

PORTAGE, Wis., Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Why do some furnaces suddenly begin making loud or unusual sounds during the winter months? The answer is explored in a HelloNation article featuring insights from Bob Marquardt of Johnson Mechanical LLC in Portage, Wisconsin.

The article explains that while some furnace noises are normal during startup or shutdown, louder or unexpected sounds often indicate that part of the heating system requires attention. During colder weather, furnaces operate more frequently and under greater strain, making it important for homeowners to recognize warning signs before larger repairs develop.

According to the HelloNation article, different furnace noises may point to different mechanical or airflow problems inside the system. One commonly reported issue is a loud banging sound when the furnace begins a heating cycle. The article explains that this may result from delayed ignition, which occurs when gas builds up before the burners ignite properly. Over time, repeated delayed ignition can place additional stress on furnace components and potentially damage the heat exchanger.

The article also discusses rattling sounds that may occur while the heating system operates. Loose screws, unsecured panels, or shifting internal parts can create vibrations that become louder during operation. While some rattling issues may appear minor at first, the article notes that continued movement inside the furnace can gradually increase wear on important components if the problem is not addressed.

Screeching or squealing sounds are another concern highlighted in the article. These furnace noises are often linked to moving parts such as the blower motor, fan belts, or motor bearings. As these components wear down, they may begin producing high-pitched sounds during operation. The article explains that ignoring these warning signs may eventually contribute to airflow problems or motor failure if repairs are delayed.

The HelloNation article also notes that homeowners may hear popping noises from ductwork as heated air moves through the home. Soft popping sounds are sometimes caused by the natural expansion and contraction of metal ducts as temperatures change. However, louder or repeated noises may indicate airflow problems, dirty filters, or ductwork restrictions that place unnecessary strain on the heating system.

Dirty air filters are another common source of furnace noises discussed in the article. Restricted airflow can force the furnace to work harder to maintain indoor temperatures, increasing operating noise while reducing heating efficiency. Replacing air filters regularly helps support smoother airflow and may reduce strain on important furnace components throughout the winter season.

The article further explains that problems involving the blower assembly may create humming, grinding, or vibrating sounds. The blower motor plays a central role in circulating warm air throughout the home. If blower components become loose, damaged, or unbalanced, homeowners may notice increasing noise levels along with reduced heating performance.

In addition to unusual sounds, the article encourages homeowners to watch for other signs of heating system trouble. Weak airflow, uneven heating, rising utility bills, or short cycling may appear alongside furnace noises when internal parts begin wearing down. According to the article, these combined warning signs often indicate that professional inspection or furnace maintenance may be needed.

The article also highlights how cold winter temperatures place additional pressure on heating systems during periods of continuous operation. Mechanical issues that appear manageable during mild weather may worsen quickly once outdoor temperatures drop significantly. Scheduling a professional inspection after hearing unusual furnace noises may help homeowners avoid emergency heating repairs during the coldest parts of the season.

The article concludes by explaining that while not every noise signals a major repair, homeowners should avoid assuming loud furnace noises are harmless. Heating systems are designed to operate relatively smoothly under normal conditions. Addressing unusual sounds early may help improve heating efficiency, support system reliability, and reduce the likelihood of more extensive repairs later.

Why Is My Furnace Making Loud Noises features insights from Bob Marquardt, HVAC Expert of Portage, Wisconsin, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America's Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused digital publications and innovative "edvertising" approach, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation

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New Book From AAPL Challenges The "Wait Your Turn" Culture in Medicine

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) announces the publication of Quiet Leadership in Medicine: An Early-Career Clinician's Guide to Building Programs That Change Care, by Kardie Tobb, DO, MS, CPE, FACC, FASPC, FACOI. The book arrives at a pivotal moment in healthcare, when health systems are urgently seeking clinicians who can not only deliver exceptional care but also build the programs and structures that make better care possible for everyone.

Quiet Leadership in Medicine is the first guide of its kind: a practical, actionable framework written explicitly for clinicians at the beginning of their careers, not the middle. It bridges the longstanding gap between clinical training, which prepares physicians to treat patients, and organizational leadership, which requires a different and largely untaught set of skills.

"There is an entire generation of clinicians who see exactly what needs to change in their institutions and have no idea how to make it happen," Tobb says. "This book is for them. You do not need a title or a decade of seniority to build something meaningful. You need a framework, the right relationships, and the willingness to start."

Dr. Tobb writes with hard-won authority. Within the first five years of her attending career, she founded the Cone Health Cardio-Obstetrics Clinic — now a highly rated program providing preconception cardiovascular counseling, pregnancy cardiac care, and postpartum follow-up — and took on system-wide leadership of Cone Health's Center for Health Equity. She leads teams that have secured competitive grants from the NC Department of Health and Human Services, the NC Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, and the CDC Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program, and has published more than 20 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

In Quiet Leadership in Medicine, Dr. Tobb distills those experiences into a framework any clinician can apply, regardless of specialty, title, or institution. The book covers the mechanics of building stakeholder coalitions, the art of framing clinical initiatives for administrative audiences, the discipline of sustaining programs after launch, and the often-overlooked power of everyday professional moments — a well-timed question on rounds, a follow-up email, a conversation in a hallway — as the raw material of organizational change.

The book is explicitly inclusive in its scope. While written from the perspective of a physician, its frameworks apply to nurses, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, and allied health professionals — any clinician who wants to move from delivering care to designing it.

From the manuscript reviews: "Dr. Tobb represents exactly the kind of physician leader our field needs — clinically excellent, deeply committed to equity, and determined to build systems worthy of the patients she serves. This book makes her approach teachable and transferable. That is an enormous gift to the next generation."

About the American Association for Physician Leadership

The core philosophy of the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) is that leadership is learned. AAPL is focused on the personal transformation of all physicians, and through them the organizations they serve. With the goal of improving patient outcomes, workforce wellness, and a refinement of all healthcare delivery, AAPL has remained the only association solely focused on providing professional development, leadership education, and management training exclusively for physicians. Since its founding in 1975, AAPL has empowered more than 300,000 physicians across 35 countries—including CEOs, chief medical officers, and physicians at all levels of healthcare. www.physicianleaders.org

Contact:

Elliot Jones

[email protected]

813-636-2842

SOURCE American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL)

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National campaign highlights advances in care, patient education, survivorship and support for people affected by blood cancers and serious blood disorders

NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mediaplanet's Blood Cancers & Disorders campaign launches nationally this Friday, September 25, within USA TODAY and online through Mediaplanet's Future of Personal Health digital content hub. The campaign brings together leading clinical organizations, patient advocates, survivors and influential voices to increase awareness and provide trusted information about blood cancers and serious blood disorders.

Featuring perspectives from across the hematology community, the campaign explores the evolving landscape of blood cancer care, advances in treatment, the importance of patient education and support, survivorship, and the experiences of individuals and families navigating a diagnosis. The editorial coverage spans both adult and pediatric hematology and also addresses sickle cell disease.

The campaign's cover story features Evan Handler, actor and longtime leukemia survivor, who shares his personal experience with blood cancer and offers perspective on the realities of survivorship. His story provides a firsthand look at the journey beyond diagnosis and treatment and the importance of continued awareness and support for survivors.

Mediaplanet's campaign also features leading organizations in the blood cancer and hematology communities, including Blood Cancer United, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the American Society of Hematology (ASH), and the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO).

Blood Cancer United contributes its patient and advocacy perspective to the campaign and will extend its reach directly into blood cancer communities by distributing copies at multiple Light The Night walks across the country. The grassroots distribution provides an additional opportunity for patients, survivors, caregivers and advocates to access educational resources and connect with the broader blood cancer community.

The campaign also features Siri Lindley, world champion triathlete and cancer survivor, whose story highlights resilience, advocacy and the experience of navigating a cancer diagnosis. Her perspective adds a personal dimension to the campaign's broader focus on survivorship and empowering individuals throughout their cancer journeys.

Through a combination of national print distribution, digital storytelling and community outreach, the Blood Cancers & Disorders campaign aims to make credible health information more accessible to those affected by blood cancers and disorders.

The campaign's editorial coverage focuses on:

- Blood cancer awareness and understanding different types of blood cancers and disorders

- Advances in care and treatment, highlighting progress across the hematology field

- Patient education and support, helping individuals and families navigate complex diagnoses

- Survivorship, including the experiences and needs of people living beyond treatment

- Sickle cell disease and the importance of awareness, education and ongoing care

- Adult and pediatric hematology, providing perspectives across different patient populations

- Advocacy and resilience, featuring voices from patients, survivors and leaders in the field

The campaign will reach audiences nationally through USA TODAY, with additional digital storytelling and amplification through Future of Personal Health, as well as community-based distribution through Blood Cancer United's Light The Night events.

By bringing together patients, survivors, advocates and leading hematology organizations, Mediaplanet's Blood Cancers & Disorders campaign seeks to help more people understand blood cancers and serious blood disorders, recognize the progress being made in diagnosis and treatment, and connect with trusted information and support.

The Blood Cancers & Disorders campaign will be available nationally in USA TODAY and online beginning September 25, 2026, at Future of Personal Health.

Media Contact:

Joelle Hernandez

[email protected]

SOURCE Mediaplanet

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COCOLAB® NAMES GAYLE TAIT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO LEAD NEXT PHASE OF GROWTH

Former L'Oréal and Google Executive, Current e.l.f. Beauty Board Director Joins COCOLAB® Following Nearly 200% Three-Year Growth Amid Major Retail Expansion

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- COCOLAB®, the dentist-designed oral wellness brand behind Cocofloss®, today announced the appointment of Gayle Tait as Chief Executive Officer, effective Aug. 31, 2026. Tait joins as the brand expands across national retail, grows its product portfolio, and brings dentist-level clean to more people than ever.

Tait will work alongside COCOLAB® co-founders Catherine Cu and Dr. Chrystle Cu to lead the company's next phase of growth, with a focus on expanding COCOLAB's leadership in oral care, growing its retail footprint, raising brand awareness, continuing to innovate, and bringing joy to the category.

The appointment follows a period of significant momentum for COCOLAB®. The company landed on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies — with three-year revenue growth of nearly 200% — and expanded its national retail footprint through Target and Walmart.com. Cocofloss® continues to lead the way. It's a four-time Allure Best of Beauty Award winner, most recently for Best Floss in 2026, and what the company says is the most-awarded dental floss on the market.

"When Chrystle and I started COCOLAB®, the vision was bigger than floss. We're here to transform people's relationship with oral care — because great habits start with joy, not dread. Gayle shares that ambition, and together we're building COCOLAB® into a company that improves millions of lives for decades to come," says Catherine Cu, co-founder of COCOLAB®. Dr. Chrystle Cu adds, "Gayle has led and scaled businesses in wildly different environments — including Silicon Valley, where Cat and I grew up and where COCOLAB® was born. She understands the brand, the customer, and our reason for being. She is also the rare leader who brings her whole self to the room, and who makes everyone around her better. She gets us, and she's going to help us scale the magic."

Tait brings more than two decades of leadership experience spanning consumer products, technology and high-growth companies. She spent 15 years at L'Oréal, ultimately serving as Managing Director of its $400 million UK consumer products division, where she delivered market-beating growth. She later joined Google to oversee Google Play's multi-billion-dollar branded payments business across 35 markets. During her tenure, she drove 10x growth in emerging markets and built a digital channel from the ground up.

Most recently, Tait served as CEO of circular commerce technology company Trove, where she transformed the business from a logistics player into a B2B SaaS platform. She currently serves as an independent director on the board of e.l.f. Beauty, where she has provided strategic oversight during a period of significant growth, international expansion and M&A, and on the board of Jamieson Wellness, a leader in the Canadian supplements market.

"I'm thrilled to join COCOLAB® at this moment in its journey," said Gayle Tait, CEO of COCOLAB®. "COCOLAB® has built impressive brand love through its professional expertise, high-performing products and a sense of joy, in a way that makes people want to take better care of their mouths. The opportunity to partner with two visionary founders like Cat and Chrystle to bring COCOLAB® to millions more people and create an enduring company is enormously exciting to me."

The appointment comes as consumers increasingly view oral care as part of their wellness routine. COCOLAB® pioneered that shift, founded on the belief that great oral care habits start with joy, not dread. COCOLAB® is a performance lab, a joy lab, and an eco lab all rolled into one — dentist-designed oral care that works better, feels better, and does better by the planet.

ABOUT COCOLAB®

Founded by sisters Dr. Chrystle Cu, a dentist, and Catherine Cu, an artist and designer, COCOLAB® is an oral wellness brand reimagining oral care as a joyful, sensory experience. With clinically backed formulas, bold flavors, and eco-conscious packaging, the brand blends professional performance with vibrant design. COCOLAB® products are available online and at select retailers nationwide.

For more, visit www.cocolab.com or follow @meetcocolab on Instagram and TikTok.

SOURCE COCOLAB

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Combining Cellid's Technological Expertise with Megane Top's Product Development and Sales Capabilities to Bring AR Glasses to Market

TOKYO, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellid Inc., a developer of displays and spatial recognition engines for next-generation augmented reality (AR) glasses, announced today that it has entered into a business partnership with Megane Top Co., Ltd. ("Megane Top"), headquartered in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, to collaborate on the commercialization and market expansion of AR glasses to be developed and offered under Megane Top's own brand.

Megane Top is working to expand the AR glasses market. Through this collaboration, Cellid will lead development, leveraging its extensive expertise in AR glasses technologies, while Megane Top will contribute its expertise in product development and sales, as well as its established sales network. Together, the two companies will work across the entire process, from AR glasses product development through market expansion.

The companies will begin accepting preorders for the jointly developed product through the crowdfunding platform GREEN FUNDING on October 23, 2026. Following the crowdfunding campaign, the product will be sold through Megane Top's nationwide network of stores, including its "Megane Ichiba" chain, to reach a broad range of customers.

Cellid will provide expertise in optical and hardware technologies required for AR glasses, as well as product design, while Megane Top will leverage its longstanding expertise in eyeglass product development and sales, together with its established sales infrastructure. By combining the strengths of both companies, the partners aim to make AR glasses more accessible as everyday eyewear and promote their widespread adoption.

The widespread adoption of AR glasses requires the integration of multiple elements—not only fundamental technologies such as displays and optical systems, but also comfort and wearability as eyeglasses, design that appeals to everyday users, product structures that are easy to use in daily life, and a mass-production system capable of maintaining stable quality and continuous supply.

To date, Cellid has conducted research and development, as well as hardware development, for AR glasses displays and complete AR glasses systems, centered on its proprietary optical technologies. Through this collaboration, Cellid's development capabilities and technological expertise will be combined with Megane Top's expertise in product development and its nationwide sales infrastructure, enabling the commercialization of AR glasses by an established eyewear brand.

Eyeglasses have long been an integral part of people's everyday lives. Cellid believes that combining AR technology with expertise from the eyewear industry is essential for AR glasses to become everyday eyewear used by a broad range of people, rather than remaining a product limited to early adopters.

Future Development

Cellid will continue to advance research and development aimed at making AR glasses smaller, more capable, and more comfortable to wear, while further enhancing the technologies required for mass production. Through collaboration with partner companies, Cellid will also work to expand the use of AR glasses across a variety of markets.

Through its collaboration with Megane Top, Cellid aims to make AR glasses more accessible as everyday eyewear, help expand the AR glasses market and accelerate broader adoption.

Comment from Satoshi Shiraga, CEO, Cellid, Inc.

"For AR glasses to become widely adopted, it is important not only to develop excellent technologies, but also to bring those technologies to market as actual products that people can use in their daily lives. We are very pleased that Megane Top will be able to leverage Cellid's extensive development capabilities and comprehensive technological expertise in entering the AR glasses market.

By combining Megane Top's extensive experience in the eyewear industry and its sales infrastructure supporting mass production with Cellid's AR glasses technologies, we believe we can take another step forward in bringing AR glasses into society. As a technology partner working to bring AR glasses to market, Cellid will continue to contribute to broader adoption through collaboration with a wide range of companies."

Comment from Masahiro Tomizawa, President, Megane Top Co., Ltd.

"We believe that our business partnership with Cellid represents an important step toward making AR glasses more accessible to a broader range of people as everyday eyewear and further expanding their potential. By combining Cellid's optical and hardware technologies for AR glasses with our longstanding expertise in eyeglass product development and sales, we aim to create products that offer both the functionality unique to AR glasses and the comfort and design expected of everyday eyewear.

AR glasses have the potential to significantly transform the future of eyewear. Together with Cellid, we will work to evolve AR glasses beyond a product for early adopters and into eyewear that can be used by a broader range of people in their everyday lives, while contributing to the creation of the next-generation eyewear market."

About Cellid

Cellid focuses on developing displays and spatial recognition engines for next-generation AR glasses. For AR glasses displays, we manufacture cutting-edge optical see-through displays using the waveguide (DOE) method. Leveraging Cellid's proprietary optical simulation and production technology, we offer display module products that achieve the world's widest viewing angle in waveguide technology, while maintaining the thinness, lightness, and sharp image quality equivalent to standard eyeglass lenses. Additionally, Cellid develops and provides industry-specific solutions utilizing spatial recognition software technologies such as Cellid SLAM. By integrating AR display hardware technology with real-world spatial recognition software technology, Cellid promotes the fusion of the physical and digital worlds ("Blending the Physical and Digital Worlds") and leads the realization of information tools that are more human-centric and dramatically more convenient. Visit: https://cellid.com/en

About MEGANE TOP Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: 8-6 Tenmacho, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, Japan

Representative: Masahiro Tomizawa, President

Established: May 1980

Capital: JPY 100 million (as of March 31, 2026)

Business: Sales of eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and related products

Number of Stores: 1,036 in Japan; 35 overseas (as of March 31, 2026)

Employees: 5,500 (as of March 31, 2026)

Corporate website: https://www.meganetop.co.jp

Megane Ichiba website: https://www.meganeichiba.jp

SOURCE Cellid Inc.

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JACKSON, Tenn., Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- What should buyers and sellers know before deciding whether a virtual closing fits their needs?

That question is answered in a HelloNation article featuring insights from Realtor Amy McLemore of Jackson, TN. The feature explains how a virtual closing works, when it offers meaningful advantages, and why electronic signatures, remote notarization, and digital signing must be handled carefully to keep the real estate transaction secure and legally valid.

The HelloNation article begins by describing how a virtual closing allows parties to complete a real estate transaction without meeting in person. This model has become more common as buyers and sellers look for efficient ways to manage paperwork and scheduling. For out of state buyers or clients with limited availability, a virtual closing can reduce travel and speed up the process. Even though the idea is simple, it still depends on precise steps to ensure accuracy and compliance.

A virtual closing begins with digital preparation. Title companies and attorneys use secure systems that organize documents for digital signing. The article explains that these platforms verify identity, track timestamps, and guide clients through each step. Buyers and sellers can review the full packet privately or ask questions during a video call. This flexibility supports clarity and reduces stress. The reliability of electronic signatures plays a central role in the process, though some documents still require special handling based on lender rules.

Electronic signatures remain widely accepted, and the article highlights their importance in a virtual closing. Still, certain loan documents may require a more formal process, such as remote notarization. Many states allow remote notarization through video, where a notary verifies identity and confirms each signature. Rules vary by location, and not every real estate transaction qualifies for this method. More complex loans or specialty property types may still require at least one in person step. Understanding these requirements early helps clients plan for a smoother experience.

Convenience stands out as one of the strongest benefits of a virtual closing. According to the HelloNation article, out of state buyers often rely on this option because it prevents unnecessary travel. The flexibility of digital signing allows clients to complete documents during breaks, evenings, or any time that fits their schedule. The process can move faster because coordinating schedules online is simpler than arranging in person meetings. Title companies also benefit because digital workflows reduce clerical work and make the transaction easier to manage.

Security remains a key consideration. A virtual closing involves sensitive financial information, and the article explains how encryption and identity verification protect electronic signatures. Clients may need to upload identification or complete extra verification steps before signing. These measures ensure that digital signing carries the same validity as traditional paperwork. Confidence in the security process is essential for clients who rely on a virtual closing to keep their information safe.

The article also outlines situations where a virtual closing may not make sense. Some lenders require in person signings for certain documents, and state laws vary on remote notarization. Even when digital signing is allowed, not every client prefers it. A real estate transaction carries emotional weight, and some buyers or sellers feel more comfortable closing in person. For them, sitting with a professional and reviewing documents face to face offers clarity and reassurance that digital tools cannot always match.

Personal preference becomes another factor in the decision. While many people enjoy the convenience of signing online, others prefer the formality and familiarity of a traditional closing table. The HelloNation article notes that realtors recognize these differences and help clients choose the setting that feels most comfortable. A virtual closing offers efficiency, but a traditional meeting can offer a sense of ceremony and personal connection.

Technology requirements also shape the choice. A virtual closing depends on stable internet access and comfort with digital tools. Slow connections or difficulty uploading identification can interrupt the workflow. Title companies provide support when possible, although the process still relies on basic technical readiness. Clients who prefer paper documents may find digital signing less intuitive.

Overall, the HelloNation article explains that a virtual closing can provide speed, flexibility, and convenience when circumstances align. It supports out of state buyers, reduces scheduling challenges, and keeps transactions moving when travel is difficult. A traditional approach may still feel more personal and more comfortable for some clients. The best fit depends on the type of real estate transaction, lender requirements, state laws, and the expectations of the parties involved. When used thoughtfully, a virtual closing becomes a smooth and secure way to finalize a home purchase or sale.

The article, Understanding Virtual Closings and When They Make Sense, features insights from Amy McLemore, Residential Real Estate Expert of Jackson, TN, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America's Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative "edvertising" approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation

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