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dipulb3 · 4 years ago

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The man behind Fortnite is making the riskiest bet of his career. The payoff could be huge

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/the-man-behind-fortnite-is-making-the-riskiest-bet-of-his-career-the-payoff-could-be-huge/

The man behind Fortnite is making the riskiest bet of his career. The payoff could be huge

The CEO and founder of Epic Games has had a knack for picking the right battles while also shoring up his company’s independence. Fortnite, the company’s blockbuster battle royale game, recently topped more than 15 million concurrent players and has spawned a universe of fandom. Epic challenged established platforms by launching its own digital video game storefront. And the multi-billion dollar company developed the Unreal Engine, a proprietary software for making its own video games that it licenses out to other developers and animators.

Now Sweeney, 50, is embarking on the biggest battle in his company’s 30-year history: Epic is suing Apple and Google in a legal challenge that could remake the future of the digital economy.

“Epic’s frustration with Apple especially, and Google to some extent, had been building up for at least three years. Ever since Fortnite grew to have a large audience, we felt stifled by several things,” Sweeney told Appradab Business during a December interview.

Launched in 2017, Fortnite quickly became a phenomenon. When it first debuted, Epic charged $40 to download the game — a typical price. But the company quickly pivoted to a riskier business model, betting that offering Fortnite as a free-to-play game with in-app purchases of digital items like outfits would generate more overall revenue.

The bet paid off. Though Epic has raked in billions off Fortnite’s in-game purchases — about $1.3 billion in 2020 and $1.8 billion in 2019, according to Nielsen’s gaming division SuperData — the company balked at paying a chunk of that revenue to app store owners like Apple and Google. If a player downloaded Fortnite from Apple’s App Store, for example, Apple would receive a 30% cut of all in-app purchases.

Sweeney believed that requirement violated antitrust laws because it forced developers to use Apple and Google’s payment systems.

So Epic spent months developing its battle plan to fight Apple, which it codenamed “Project Liberty,” he said.

The company prepped a 60-page lawsuit and created a video that parodied Apple’s classic “1984” commercial, for good measure.

On August 13, Project Liberty was sprung into action — a plan that sought to force the tech giants into response.

In a blog post, Epic encouraged Fortnite users to pay the company directly for in-app purchases. Both Google and Apple promptly removed Fortnite from their stores, alleging the company violated their terms of service. Epic then filed lawsuits against each of the companies, in which Epic argued the courts should intervene and order Apple and Google to allow developers to sell in-app purchases without the 30% revenue cut.

“Epic’s problem is entirely self-inflicted and is in their power to resolve,” Apple said in a statement. “Epic has been one of the most successful developers on the App Store, growing into a multibillion dollar business that reaches millions of iOS customers around the world. We very much want to keep the company as part of the Apple Developer Program and their apps on the Store.”

Google responded that it had “consistent policies that are fair to developers” and that Fortnite had violated those rules. “However, we welcome the opportunity to continue our discussions with Epic and bring Fortnite back to Google Play,” it added.

For Sweeney, who spoke to Appradab Business via video call from his home, the battle against Apple and Google is about more than just a 30% cut of its revenue.

“I grew up in a time in which anybody could make software. This is my first computer, an Apple II,” said Sweeney, gesturing towards the iconic blocky, grey machine on the desk behind him. “You turn it on and it comes up with a programming language prompt,” he continued. “So I felt all along that open platforms are the key to free markets and the future of computing.”

Early dreams

In 1991, a young, 20-something Sweeney founded Epic, then known as Potomac Computer Systems, as a way to sell copies of a video game he made himself. He ran the company out of his parents’ house in Maryland.

While Epic produced its own shooter games like Fire Fight and Unreal, it also began licensing its game development technology to other game makers in the late 1990s. This became the Unreal Engine, a ubiquitous game software which is now an essential part of Epic’s business. Between 2012 and 2017, Epic survived mostly on revenue generated from the Unreal Engine’s licensing fees, said Sweeney. Today, the Unreal Engine is also used in animation, such as creating scenes for Disney’s “The Mandalorian.”

Sweeney said he always envisioned Epic as a multi-faceted business. He wanted Epic to both make and sell games — and create and license the tools used to make them.

One part of that equation was, of course, Fortnite.

From the outset, Epic has always has always had outsized ambitions for Fortnite. The game has dozens of crossovers each year, from Marvel’s Avengers to Star Wars. It hosts massive virtual concerts and gives gamers endless shiny features, with the aim that there’s something new each time a player logs on. But the breakneck speed of development allegedly had a real cost for its workers, some of whom told gaming publication Polygon in 2019 that they regularly worked 70-hour weeks. Since then, Epic has made changes including hiring more people, soliciting more employee feedback, offering unlimited paid time off and mandating company-wide vacations, according to the company.

Epic’s decision in 2018 to expand into selling third-party games created yet another business opportunity, and yet another fight against the establishment. By launching its own games store, and cutting out the middleman, Epic was attempting to break into an already thriving market for PC games that was, at the time, dominated by Steam, a popular games store.

“We had to move mountains in order to have any chance of gaining traction at all,” said Sweeney. Epic’s store attracted attention for splashy stunts like giving away Grand Theft Auto V, which is the best-selling game in the US in the last decade, according to NPD Group.

While the Epic Games Store has gained momentum, attracting over 160 million PC users and generating over $700 million in purchases last year according to the company, critics object to its exclusive deals that keep certain games out of other stores. Sweeney has defended his position, saying the store exclusives are a reasonable strategy that helps Epic compete against Steam.

In 2019, Epic acquired social media app Houseparty and later announced it would add voice chat to Fortnite through the app.

The company was valued at $17.3 billion as of 2020, making Sweeney a billionaire.

Uniquely positioned

While investors of Epic include Tencent, which has a 39% stake, and Sony, which purchased a 1.4% stake in 2020 for $250 million, Sweeney remains the CEO and controlling shareholder.

Competitor Roblox has announced its plans for a direct listing and Unity — a rival to Unreal — went public in 2020. But Epic Games has little interest in an IPO.

“We’re still a highly independent company who’s not beholden to public markets in which we have to show ever-increasing profits,” said Sweeney. “And anything like a fight like this [with Apple and Google], which loses us money for a year or more, would never be tolerated. So we have the financial independence to do that.”

Epic’s business model gives it a flexibility that other tech companies don’t necessarily have.

“Unlike Facebook, iOS doesn’t drive the majority of Epic’s revenues. Unlike Spotify or Netflix, Epic is highly profitable,” said Matthew Ball, a former Amazon Studios executive and strategist who has penned over 20,000 words on Fortnite and Epic. “And unlike almost all other large companies, Epic is private and majority controlled by one person.”

Ball added that the fight with Apple and Google didn’t come without sacrifices for Epic, which might see avid iPhone users find other games to replace Fortnite as the app spends months if not years in legal purgatory. “But Epic is uniquely able to push back,” he said.

What’s at stake

Sweeney declined to say how much the company is spending on legal fees, but he said that the fight to take on Apple and Google is costing “lots and lots” of senior leadership time.

And the ban on Fortnite in app stores is costing the company plenty in lost revenue. Fortnite users have spent about $1.2 billion globally on the game on iOS since its launch, according to mobile app tracker Sensor Tower.

Epic’s case against Apple is expected to go to trial in May. Google is seeking to have Epic��s suit dismissed in a hearing scheduled on February 18.

Such a public fray has unnerved some developers, who fear that Apple might go a step further and remove apps from its store simply for being built using the Unreal Engine, which it briefly threatened to do last August.

“We were legitimately planning to switch to Unreal for our next VR project but after Tim decided to poke the bear we decided it wasn’t [worth] the risk,” game developer Ryan Engle tweeted in December. “I love Epic and Unreal, but business is business and the real-world consequences of Apple banning Epic is too much risk for us.”

Sweeney responded saying that Engle’s “fear of retaliation by Apple” was shared by many developers, but Epic would “fight on just the same!”

Epic is also risking Fortnite’s market share on iOS and Android platforms, as fans may turn to other games during the legal battle. On Android devices, Fortnite can be downloaded from Epic’s website and app stores other than Google’s Play Store, so while access is hindered, it’s not eliminated. However on Apple devices, the game can no longer be downloaded at all.

Sweeney also faced backlash in November for controversially comparing Fortnite’s legal battle to the civil rights movement.

“The point is if you really want to make a difference, you have to buck the system,” Sweeney said in response to the criticism. “I think there’s a lot we can learn from any of the past struggles in humanity and I think it’s perfectly healthy to apply struggles from vital causes in the history of the world to struggles over smaller issues like software platforms.”

Returning to court

For Epic Games and Sweeney, the risks are worthwhile. Sweeney fears a dystopian future where tech platforms are dominated by a few companies and the most successful apps are cloned by those companies to maximize profits.

“[The companies] will just do that industry by industry and app category by app category until they’ve gobbled up everything that matters. And who will be left?” said Sweeney. “A million indie developers who collectively together make a small percentage of revenues on the app store because these businesses are too small to be attractive to steal.”

In what Epic’s best case scenario, the court could rule that Apple and Google are prohibited from bundling payment services with their app stores, allowing developers to be paid directly, according to legal experts.

But if Epic loses, it will at least make clear what the limits of antitrust law are, so people with similar grievances can look to appeal Congress for antitrust reform, according to John Bergmayer, legal director of consumer rights group Public Knowledge.

“I think [Epic winning the lawsuits] would be pretty good for the markets overall,” said Mitch Stoltz, senior staff attorney of the nonprofit digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation, in an August interview. “You’d see more experimentation. You’d see more business models. You’d see more innovation.”

As for Sweeney, he’s optimistic Epic can change the industry.

“It’s Epic fighting or pressing for change and succeeding, and it’s not that unusual,” he said. “We’ve done it many times and everybody in the industry has benefited often.”

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mikemortgage · 6 years ago

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Amazon’s New National Landing HQ Located Across the Street from Kimco Realty’s Pentagon Centre

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. — Kimco Realty Corp. (NYSE:KIM) today announced that its Pentagon Centre Signature Series mixed-use redevelopment is extremely well positioned to capitalize on the economic growth expected to follow Amazon’s selection of National Landing in Arlington, Virginia as one of two sites for its next headquarters. Located just a short walk across the street from the new Amazon headquarters, completion of Pentagon Centre’s 26-story, 440-unit residential tower will be optimally timed to capture the significant additional demand anticipated in Northern Virginia and the surrounding area. Furthermore, future phase entitlements already secured for Pentagon Centre allow for additional residential, retail, office and hotel space.

Pentagon Centre is a multi-phase mixed-use redevelopment of an existing 329,000-square-foot retail center located directly above the Pentagon City Metro Station, diagonally across from Amazon’s planned headquarters and in close proximity to The Pentagon, Downtown DC, and Reagan National Airport. The project is owned in a joint venture in which Kimco holds a 55% interest.

Phase I of the center’s redevelopment, now under construction and close to 70% funded, includes The Witmer, a 26-story residential tower with 440 luxury apartment units and 7,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor. Residential leasing for Phase I is expected to begin in the spring of 2019, with move-ins to commence in the second half of 2019.

Phase II, which is already entitled with permits in progress, will include an additional 11-story residential tower with 253 units along with approximately 16,000 square feet of new retail.

Beyond Phase II, Kimco has also secured entitlements for future phases which would result in a fully developed site to include 346,000 square feet of retail; 705,000 square feet of office space; and a 200-room hotel in addition to the 693 residential units, which would combine to bring the total project size to nearly two million square feet.

The positive economic impact of Amazon’s National Landing headquarters is also expected to extend beyond the immediate neighborhood, into greater Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Kimco owns 42 shopping centers in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. market, totaling just under 8 million square feet and generating 11.8% of its annualized base rent. This cluster represents the second-highest concentration of properties within any core major metro market in Kimco’s portfolio.

“Our Pentagon Centre Signature Series redevelopment is in excellent position to take advantage of the incredible growth Amazon’s National Landing headquarters will bring to the area,” said Conor Flynn, Kimco’s Chief Executive Officer. “With The Witmer’s location directly above the Metro Station and its stunning views of the Pentagon, Potomac River and Washington Mall, it will be at the heart of this new center of gravity. The entitlements we’ve secured for additional density will enable us to fully realize the highest and best use and create the ultimate live/work/play environment. Amazon’s decision to split its new headquarters between National Landing, Virginia and Long Island City, New York is an immediate boon to the DC and New York metros, and our sizeable clusters of properties in both markets are well positioned to benefit.”

Kimco’s significant portfolio in the New York metropolitan statistical area (MSA) can also expect to capitalize on Amazon’s planned Long Island City presence. This MSA is the largest contributor to the company’s annualized base rent at 13.2%. Kimco owns 64 sites in the region totaling nearly 7.3 million square feet, with a substantial portfolio on Long Island plus several key redevelopments including The Boulevard, the company’s 460,000-square-foot Signature Series redevelopment on Staten Island now under construction, and future mixed-use opportunities in the Bronx and in Flushing, Queens, where additional density could be added.

About Kimco

Kimco Realty Corp. (NYSE: KIM) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in New Hyde Park, N.Y., that is one of North America’s largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers. As of September 30, 2018, the company owned interests in 450 U.S. shopping centers comprising 78 million square feet of leasable space primarily concentrated in the top major metropolitan markets. Publicly traded on the NYSE since 1991, and included in the S&P 500 Index, the company has specialized in shopping center acquisitions, development and management for 60 years. For further information, please visit www.kimcorealty.com, the company’s blog at blog.kimcorealty.com, or follow Kimco on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kimcorealty.

The company announces material information to its investors using the company’s investor relations website (investors.kimcorealty.com), SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls, and webcasts. The company also uses social media to communicate with its investors and the public, and the information the company posts on social media may be deemed material information. Therefore, the company encourages investors, the media, and others interested in the company to review the information that it posts on the company’s blog (blog.kimcorealty.com) and social media channels, including Facebook (www.facebook.com/kimcorealty), Twitter (www.twitter.com/kimcorealty), YouTube (www.youtube.com/kimcorealty) and LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/kimco-realty-corporation). The list of social media channels that the company uses may be updated on its investor relations website from time to time.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with the safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe the company’s and management’s intentions, beliefs, expectations or projections of the future, are generally identifiable by use of the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “will,” “would,” “could” or similar expressions. It is important to note that the company’s actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, (i) developments in general economic and local real estate conditions that are adverse or that differ from the company’s expectations, including conditions in and around the areas of Crystal City, Virginia, and Long Island City, New York, (ii) the availability of suitable acquisition, disposition, development and redevelopment opportunities, and risks related to the company’s acquisition, disposition, development and redevelopment activities, (iii) financing risks, such as the inability to obtain equity, debt or other sources of financing or refinancing on favorable terms to the company, (iv) the company’s ability to raise capital by selling its assets, (v) changes in governmental laws and regulations and management’s ability to estimate the impact of such changes, (vi) the level and volatility of interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates and management’s ability to estimate the impact thereof, (vii) competition with other commercial developers and real estate companies, (viii) valuation of marketable securities and other investments and (ix) increases in operating costs. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the company’s SEC filings. Copies of each filing may be obtained from the company or the SEC.

The company refers you to the documents filed by the company from time to time with the SEC, specifically the section titled “Risk Factors” in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as may be updated or supplemented in the company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the company’s other filings with the SEC, which discuss these and other factors that could adversely affect the company’s results. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

David F. Bujnicki Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategy Kimco Realty Corp. 1-866-831-4297 [email protected]

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stevefergusonsearch · 6 years ago

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Potomac SEO | Best Affordable SEO Advertising Agency Near Potomac MD

SEO Potomac | Best Affordable SEO Advertising Agency In Potomac Maryland

Hey, I’m Steve Ferguson, owner of Potomac SEO. You are here because your business needs more customers. As a business owner, you are aware that your competitors are harvesting all the internet traffic for the simple reason they are at the top of the search engines and your business is not. This is like a brick and mortar business the relies on foot traffic being located on an obscure side street. And, to make matters worse, a high percentage of business owners have no idea how potential clients are searching for their business on the web. And with more and more internet users using mobile and voice search, this becomes even more complicated. However, with Potomac search engine optimization, you let our company handle all the difficult and arcane details. We use a proprietary system that has propelled thousands of search terms to page one of Google, Bing, and Yahoo. Watch the video below to see one of my associates describe in minute detail how search engine optimization, or SEO for short works.

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What Is Search Engine Optimization And Why Does My Business Need It?

SEO is a combination of both on page and off page factors. First of all you need a decent amount of content on your website that describes your business and what it does. In this content are keywords, words that describe your business and at the same time, it’s locality. For instance, prospective clients for my business search for “Potomac SEO”, not Steve Ferguson Search Engine Marketing. Your business is the same. I’ve had many business owners tell me that they are on the first page of the search engines and get no traffic. On further investigation it is found that they rank for their business name, not for locality and what they do. Unless you have been in business for years, nobody knows who you are. Off page is how many “referrals” you get from other websites and social media accounts. This is a very intricate process that over time is highly effective. That’s why we are here for all your Potomac, Maryland digital marketing needs! Are you interested in seeing how Potomac internet marketing can help your business? Call today at 508-475-9112 or fill out the discovery application . Within a short time, we will get back to you with a plan to take you to page one on Google, Bing and Yahoo.

Potomac SEO Free Website Audit

Place your website URL in the application listed below and see the strengths and weaknesses of your website. It gives you an in depth analysis of both on page and off page factors and overall health of your website. This is how we determine an action plan to get your business listed on page one of the search engines. Click here for SEO Potomac free website audit.

Do You Want To See Proof Potomac SEO Is Your Best Choice For Your Potomac Maryland Digital Marketing Needs?

Carefully look at the screen shot below. It shows how our business ranks in Google. This is an extremely difficult niche to rank in as our competition is exclusively SEO experts. Let us help you get your business on the first page of Google. Call today 508-475-9112 or fill out the discovery application.

Business is booming in the Potomac and in the whole Potomac Maryland area. Don’t get left behind. Call today at 508-475-9112

Steve Ferguson Search Engine Marketing

Potomac SEO

The post Potomac SEO | Best Affordable SEO Advertising Agency Near Potomac MD appeared first on Steve Ferguson Search Engine Marketing.

source http://stevefergusonsearchenginemarketing.com/search-engine-optimization-locations/potomac-seo-best-affordable-seo-advertising-agency-near-potomac-md/

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juliaabramovaresume · 7 years ago

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Skills

Organized, self-motivated, can meet deadlines: graduated with a bachelor’s degree in three years

Technologically proficient: Freelance experience with running a creative writing blog & editing travel video (material available upon request), previous experience with Microsoft Office + Adobe Premiere + iMovie

Clear communicator, natural collaborator, and team and result driven: 5 years of work experience at a company with a high customer satisfaction rating, interacting with many different types of people since 2012

Trustworthy with confidential material & professional: worked on a government contract requiring confidentiality & professionalism at all times

Bi-lingual and multicultural: fluent in both English and Russian

Education

University of Maryland

College Park, MD | Aug 2013 – May 2015

Relevant coursework: Social Psychology, Evolutionary Neuropsychology, Philosophy of Neuroscience (200 + 400 level), Professional Writing, Sustainability & Grant Writing, Business Current Events, Bayesian Epistemology, Political Communication, Macro-economics, Statistics + Research, Human Factors Engineering (with focus on self-driving cars)

Psychology BA, May 2015

Montgomery College

Rockville, MD | Sept 2012 – May 2013

Relevant coursework: Child & Developmental Psychology, English

- Dean’s List

Coursera.org

Online | Spring / Summer 2014

Relevant coursework: A Beginner’s Guide to Irrational Behavior, an online course taught by Dan Ariely of Duke University that discusses behavioral economics and human consumption behavior.

Professional Experience

Unnamed Austin Startup

Partner | Austin, TX | June 2017 – Current (Part-time)

-Creating company and product names, logo, and company social media accounts

-Product development – providing feedback based on user and market research

-Creating marketing materials and marketing campaign

-Seeking out real-life users to test product in exchange for complimentary product

-Collecting real-user feedback on product

Roundtop Mountain Resort

Ski Technician | Lewisberry, PA | March 2017

-Provided the highest level of customer service to both local and international guests

-Set skis in appropriately designated ways adhering to safety and company standards

-Ensured legal accuracy and organization of paperwork

Liberty Mountain Resort

Ski Technician | Carroll Valley, PA | November 2012 – February 2017

-Provided the highest level of customer service to both local and international guests

-Addressed concerns or re-directed concerns when appropriate

-Set skis in appropriately designated ways adhering to safety and company standards

-Dealt with a high volume and a wide variety of requests at once

-Guided children & parents through the process of their first lesson

-Communicated with children about their learning needs & adults about equipment needs

Department of Homeland Security

Independent Contractor | Alexandria, VA | April 2016 – May 2016

-Scheduled and set up meetings, sometimes coordinating and communicating with multiple departments simultaneously

-Assisted students in training course enrollment and rescheduling

-Assisted in preparing materials for training courses, meetings, and special events

-Maintained confidentiality of information

-Took messages, transferred phone calls using multiple extensions

-Upheld building protocol

Russian School Olympus

1st grade assistant teacher | Potomac, MD | September 2012 – June 2013

-Helped teach lessons on Russian language, history, and art

-Organized lesson plans and distributed paperwork

-Graded work

-Provided feedback to parents

-Motivated students who were originally unenthusiastic

Volunteer

ArtStream

Volunteer / Mentor / Photographer | Gaithersburg, MD | November 2010 – April 2016

-Met weekly to guide adult actors with disabilities through improvisation

-Communicated with actors and family members

-Rehearsed lines with actors

-Assisted in painting theater set pieces

-Photographed cast photos

References available upon request~

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clarencenicholsonata · 7 years ago

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Washington DC’s Top Real Estate Agents Using Contactually

Today, Washingtonian Magazine released the District of Columbian, Maryland, and Virginia [DMV] region’s Top Agents for 2017! We would like to personally congratulate some of these awesome agents this year who use Contactually! Here’s a little bit about each one:

Check out this year’s Top Agents Who Use Contactually…

59 of the DC Area’s finest agents:

Adam Isaacson, Ai Realty Group

A DC native, Adam was the 2016 Best of Washingtonian Magazine Winner out of 30,000 realtors in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Prior to his real estate career, he founded a school textbook supply company. Additionally, he was #1 producing realtor out of 175 realtors in the Keller Williams Bethesda office.

Allison Goodhart DuShuttle, Goodhart Group

Born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, Allison runs a family realty business with her mother, Sue Goodhart. Recognized in 2015’s Realtor Magazine as one of the “30 Under 30,” she has spoken as a real estate advisor at many real estate conferences as well as on CNN, Good Morning Washington and Let’s Talk Live.

Andres Serafini, Washington Group

A native Bethesda, Maryland resident, Andres prides himself as a prime realtor for domestic and international clients. He currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors (GCAAR) Public Policy legislative committee.

Andrew Nelson, Trent & Company Group

Born in the heart of Washington, DC, Andrew spent a lot of his childhood living abroad, including countries like Italy and Germany, as well as in the Middle East. A George Washington University alum, he started his real estate career at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty.

Andy Peers, Individual Agent

Having lived all over DC, including Chevy Chase, Georgetown, Wesley Heights, and Eckington, Andy has over 13 years of real estate experience. He has worked in many of the Associations of Realtors in the DMV area, as well as the National group. Andy has helped hundreds of clients find over 200 homes.

Anh Boesch, Individual Agent

A current Chevy Chase resident, Anh says “Understanding my client’s goals is not a buzzword for me, it’s an experience I want to provide.”

Avery Boyce, Individual Agent

After a multitude of experience in various careers, including theater in Los Angeles, brain research at John Hopkins, running an ecommerce company, Avery is now a real estate agent, completing over 100 transactions in her first 6 years with clients in the DMV area. The Washingtonian named her a Top Producer in their 2015 Real Estate Issue.

Bethany Ellis, Individual Agent

A realtor in McLean, Virginia, Bethany’s real estate philosophy is simple: clients come first. She specializes in first-time home buying, relocation, and upgrading.

Brad Rozansky, Rozansky Group

Principal of the Rozansky Group, Brad has been a licensed agent since 1977. He has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal, Washingtonian, and was among Long & Foster’s Elite 100 professionals.

Casey Aboulafia, Individual Agent

Recognized as a Top-Selling Agent in the Washingtonian in both 2015 and 2016, Casey has been in the industry since 2004. Before pursuing her real estate career, she worked in international health and development for a few years, earning her MPH in Epidemiology from George Washington University. She now lives in Cleveland Park, DC.

Cassidy Burns, Trent & Company Group

Growing up in a small town in southwest Virginia, Cassidy has a growing appreciation for historic colonial architecture. A former football player and graduate from Bridgewater College, he recognizes the importance of Trent & Company Group’s motto “the power of a team.”

Colleen Pavlick, Individual Agent

A Northern Virginia native, Colleen has over 12 years of real estate experience. As a military spouse, she understands the specific needs within the military community. She is also a Lifetime Top Producer and award winning agent withing C21 Redwood Realty.

Coral Gundlach, Individual Agent

A Lifetime Top Producer, Coral sells homes in Northern Virginia counties and cities. Prior to being a real estate agent, she earned her Bachelor’s in Journalism and has 7 years experience in advertising client management in a variety of cities across the country, including Little Rock, Detroit, San Francisco and DC.

Craig Brown, Individual Agent

Licensed in Maryland and Virginia, Craig has over 16 years of realtor experience. He is also a member of the RE/Max Hall of Fame, Executive Club, Plantinum Club, and RE/Max 100% Club.

Dana Rice, Individual Agent, Best Agent

Current Bethesda resident, Dana has over 20 years of marketing and advertising skills to the real estate industry. She currently serves as a board member with the B-CC Educational Foundation, with experience as President of the Friends of Westbrook School Foundation and as Ambassador for the Lab School of Washington Annual Fund, among many others.

David Shotwell, Individual Agent

Before starting his career in real estate, David worked at AARP for 13 years, where he led national efforts to promote livable communities. He is recognized as a Senior Real Estate Specialist as well as a Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist [CAPS].

Donna Kerr, Donna Kerr Group

With over 20 years of experience, Donna has sold over 475 homes in the DMV area. She leads a team of talented individuals that have been featured on Stage This House in 2008. Donna has 10 years experience as a CPA and Director of Finance as well as 11 years experience in building and remodeling homes.

Eli Tucker, Arbour Group

Business graduate from University of Maryland, Eli is licensed in the DMV area. He specializes in first-time home buyers, condominiums, and the Arlington neighborhoods of Rosslyn and Courthouse.

Heather Davenport, Matt McHugh & Heather Davenport Team, Best Agent

Now a Chevy Chase resident, Heather was born and raised in Boston. As a mother of three children, she specializes in preparing families for the obstacles they specifically face when moving in and out of homes.

Irina Tyszko, Bediz Group

Born and raised in Russia, Irina has lived in many places, including South Carolina and Illinois, before calling Logan Circle, DC home. She graduate Volgograd State University in Russia with a focus in Document Management.

James Kastner, Individual Agent

Named “Best of 2016 Real Estate Agent” in the Washingtonian, James has brought 15 years of sales and marketing skills to the industry. He founded and then later sold the Intersect Marketing Group in San Francisco; because of his keen awareness for marketing, he has transformed his clients’ listing materials to an 80% listing rate. An 8 year Navy veteran, James has lived in a variety of places, from Ireland to Wyoming to Mexico before settling in Washington DC.

Jay Bauer, Individual Agent

Licensed in the DMV area, Jay has called the DC metro area home for over 20 years. A communications graduate from the University of Delaware, he specializes in single-family homes, row homes, town houses, and condos.

Jennifer Mack, Judd Mack Properties Group

Growing up in the DMV area, Jennifer has over 15 years of experience in the real estate industry. She specializes in relocation and consulting.

Jesse Oakley, Bediz Group

Graduate from the University of Georgia with a major in Urban Geography and Environmental Law, Jesse is an active environmentalist. He has specifically worked to preserve environmentally sensitive land across the Potomac River, among other environmental feats. He has lived in DC for 8 years, and is a licensed realtor in the DMV area.

Jim Talbert, Individual Agent

Specializing in residential and commercial listings, as well as corporate housing and relocation, Jim has sold homes all over the DMV area.

Joel Nelson, Joel Nelson Group, Best Agent

Joel gained his first ever real estate experience when he worked on the maintenance crew of a 1912 apartment residence in Philadelphia. Since then, he graduated American University with a degree in Psychology. He has been a licensed realtor in DC since 2001. Ten years ago, the Jol Nelson group joined up and founded Keller Williams Capital Properties, the first KW office in DC.

John Peters, Bulka/Peters Residential, Best Agent

Washington DC resident since 2000, this Oklahoma native has experience in banking, small business management and IT fields before choosing his path as a real estate agent. He started his realty career with Coldwell Banker; with over $46 million in sales volume since 2012, he quickly became one of the company’s top producing agents.

Jordan Stuart, Riguzzi Plus Group

A Political Science graduate from Haverford College, Jordan has been recognized as one of the top producing agents in the industry for the past 6 years. He specializes in offering VIP real estate and concierge services to local professional athletes, sports executives, and sports agents, as he is a Flagship member of the Compass Global Sports and Entertainment Division.

Joseph Hudson, Bediz Group

With a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Business, Joe taught middle school children in Texas prior to starting his career in real estate. Additionally, he worked at several DC non-profits in their Educational departments, including teaching citizenship classes to immigrants. Simultaneously with real estate, he is currently working on developing the social media accounts for many bars and restaurants in the DC area.

Joshua J. Harrison, Individual Agent

Licensed in the DMV area, he was named an Individual Platinum Award winner in both Maryland and Virginia by the Washingtonian and #12 in Individual Sales Volume in Maryland by RealTrends as featured in The Wall Street Journal. Josh’s international clientele include those from World Bank, IMF, and IFC among others looking for property in the DMV area.

Kara Johnson, Individual Agent

Earning her Master’s degree from New York University in Paris, Kara has had 4 years of real estate experience with Keller Williams Capital Properties. Fluent in French, she has organized and executed high-visibility visits for senior foreign military officers and high-ranking government officials while with the U. S. Department of Defense. In 2014, Kara not only sold 25 properties and over $12.5 million in gross sales, but also ranked in the top 10 individual agents for the Keller Williams Maryland/DC region.

Kate Foster-Bankey, Individual Agent

With a background in residential and retail development, Kate served as a commercial real estate manager for CB Richard Ellis, the world’s leading real estate firm, before becoming an individual agent. A graduate from Notre Dame, she now lives in American University Park with her husband and two daughters.

Kenneth Germer, Individual Agent, Best Agent

As a long time personal real estate investor and advisor to several local developers, Ken has a professional background in law, management, and consulting. As a DC resident for over 25 years, he is very familiar with all areas of the city, as well as suburban neighborhoods in Northern Virginia where he previously worked.

Kevin Friend, Rob and Brent Group

A Georgetown University graduate with a degree in Psychology and Fine Arts, Kevin started his career in management consulting and hospitality. In addition to being a realtor, his community efforts revolve around youth sports and child-focused activities. Having lived in the DC metro area for over 20 years, he now lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with his fiancee and 3 children.

Kevin Love, Individual Agent

Kevin’s career in real estate began in 1985 while he was simultaneously earning his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from George Mason University. He was honored with 25 years of excellence as an inductee to NVAR’s Pioneer Club as well as ranked among the top 20 Realtors in Virginia for RE/Max in 2009 and 2014, respectively, among many other awards through the years.

Kira Lopez, The Thrive Team

In the real estate business for almost 20 years, Kira has experience as a Wall Street investment banker, a shoe designer, model and actress, and art gallery director. She was born in South Africa, raised in New York City, and educated in Europe.

Kornelia Stuphan, Individual Agent

Originally from Salzburg, Austria, Kornelia moved to DC in 1989 where she earned a Master’s in Organizational Management from the George Washington University. In addition to being a realtor, she has several years of experience working in the Commercial Office of the Austrian Embassy and as Vice President of Business Development for a major financial printing company. Kornelia is also a certified Life Coach.

Lee Goldstein, Individual Agent

With more than 17 years in the real estate industry, Lee ranks in the top 5% of agents nationally. Before becoming a partner at Real Living at Home, he founded and managed his own successful brokerage firm, Northgate Realty. He also earned the Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI) designation in 2004. Check out our interview with him here!

Lise Howe, The Lise Howe Group

After earning her law degree at the George Washington University, she worked as a lawyer for the Department of Energy where she negotiated international agreements for the U.S. Government. With over 20 years of real estate experience, she earned titles of Graduate of Realtor Institute (GRI), Certified Residential Specialist, and Associate Broker to create the Lise Howe Group, for which she is the Chief Executive Officer.

Louis Cardenas, HJWC Team

As a Columbian DC native, Lou began his real estate career in commercial real estate with Smithy Braedon and then with Cushman & Wakefield in DC and Miami, respectively. With a Bachelor’s in Government and Master’s in International Business from Georgetown University, he supports the community by being the President of the Board of Sitar Arts Center, a local afterschool program for at-risk children.

Margaret Babbington, The Babbington Team

As a top-performing real estate agent for almost 10 years, Margaret is a DC native and thus has built many connections with many DC neighborhoods. Additionally, she is an active fundraiser for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Matt Zanolli, Individual Agent, Best Agent

Named as one of the Washingtonian’s Top Real Estate Agents in both 2015 and 2016, Matt lies in the top 1% of realtors nationwide. He began his career in 2002 at Long & Foster Real Estate Woodley Park; additionally, he was recruited as a partner and founding member of the Keller Williams Capital Properties Bethesda office. He has a particular expertise in historic homes and luxury condominiums and cooperatives.

Medy Monarch, Jenn Smira Team

With 30 years of business experience, Medy started out in telecom and the software industry, where she led global teams in Talent Acquisition and HR Consulting. She earned a Master’s in Organizational Management and a PhD in Human Development. Medy has traveled to over 60 countries, but has called DC home for many years now.

Megan Shapiro, Best Agent

After graduating from Tulane University, she traveled the world working for CNN’s Turner International Sales Office before launching and running a restaurant in downtown Atlanta prior to returning to DC in 2002. She and her husband are actively involved in community groups like Capitol Hill Little League and CHGM Homeless Advocacy, among others.

Michael Fowler, Individual Agent

Involved in nearly $50 million in sales, Michael started off his real estate career with a bang: he received the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors Rookie of the Year Award in 2013. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of The DC Center for the LGBT Community as well as a member of the Executive Committee for the Lupus Foundation of America DMV’s Annual Gala.

Michael Hines, Michael Hines Group

After founding his own marketing firm, OneMediaSpace, Michael was named one of the area’s brightest entrepreneurs by the Washingtonian. He specializes not only in residential sales, but developmental and multi-family as well. Most well known to DC, The Lawrence House and Helicopter Factory were two projects on which he worked sales and marketing. Michael is considered one of Washington’s Top Producers with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty.

Mike Anastasia, Individual Agent

With a combination of 30 years real estate experience, 28 years experience as a multi-entity business owner, and 20 years of sales teaching and training, Mike is a real estate professional from McLean, Virginia. He specializes in first-time home buyers, waterfront properties, and luxury properties.

Roberta Theis, Roberta and Erin Team

With over 14 years of experience and over $100 million in sales, Roberta is rated of the top 5% of realtors nationally, as well as titled a Zillow Five Star Premium Agent. Additionally, she has been repeated names as a Top Agent in the Washingtonian. From Boston, Roberta now lives in Georgetown with her husband.

Roz Drayer, Individual Agent

Born and raised in Britain, Roz holds the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors Lifetime Top Producer Award. Prior to receiving her real estate license in 2000, Roz helped train the Yugoslavian Dressage and Show Jumping [equestrian], as well as studying Interior Design in Yugoslavia.

Sebastien Courret, Individual Agent

Born in Paris to a family who has lived and produced wine from their chateaux in Bordeaux, France since 1152, Sebastien learned the business before moving to Singapore and working a marketing role at Thomson Multimedia. He then moved to California and opened and ran a wine import business for years before working as a Ritz Carlton sommelier in DC. Now licensed as a listing agent and fluent in several languages, Sebastien now lives in Shaw with his fiance and two dogs.

Sharat Ahuja, Individual Agent

With 22 years of professional experience in consulting and and software service delivery, Sharat is a licensed realtor in Virginia and Maryland. He specializes in Short Sales and Foreclosures. Sharat was also listed as one of DC’s Top Agents in the Washingtonian in 2015 and 2016, as well as recognized as a Multi-Million Dollar Sales Club Top Producer by the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors since 2012.

Shawn Battle, Individual Agent

With a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Shawn worked as an accountant in New York for over 6 years prior to becoming a real estate agent. He founded Battle Real Estate in 2006 in Virginia where he was the principal broker for over 2 years. Shawn has also received Century 21’s Emerald Award in 2009 and Centurion Award in 2010.

Sheena Saydam, Saydam Properties Group

Named as one of DC Metropolitan Area’s 99 Agents You Want on Your Side by the Washingtonian in 2015 and 2016, Sheena has been recognized as the #1 highest producer at Keller Williams for the DC Metro region [2015]. As a Certified Broker Price Opinion Resource Specialist, she earned her Master’s in Public Policy with Advanced Training Certification in Conflict Management from George Mason University. Before the start of her real estate career, she managed grassroots lobbying efforts at The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Shelley Gold, Individual Agent

Earning a Bachelor’s in Biology/Zoology and a Master’s in Public Health, Shelley was named as one of the top 1% of realtors nationwide. In both 2015 and 2016, she was also named Best Agent by the Washingtonian. Shelley has received a number of designations such as Seller Representative Specialist, Certified Residential Specialist, and Certified Negotiation Expert. Her business is 99.9% referral based.

Shoshanna Tanner, Individual Agent

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Shoshanna has been living in Alexandria, Virginia for the past 13 years. With a 10 year background working in the Federal Government, she earned “Rookie of the Year” her first year of real estate business.

Theo Adamstein, Individual Agent

With over 25 years experience in architecture, design, and construction, Theo has lived in DC since 1982. Prior to his real estate career, Theo was the co-founder and principal of design and architectural firm, Adamstein and Demetriou Architects. He grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, and graduated from the Cooper Union School of Architecture. Theo has also served on numerous Washington arts boards, including the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Washington Ballet.

Tori McKinney, Rock Star Realty Team

The Boston native has practiced real estate sales for 10 years. After moving to Virginia, she began a concert promotion and PR firm and worked in the music industry for years. Soon after, she developed a successful Northern Virginia Real Estate sales business based on “Rock Star” service.

Wethman Group

Katie Wethman, founder of the Wethman Group, has experience working for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Corporate Executive Board, and Deloitte Consulting. Licensed in the DMV area.

Yianni Konstantopoulos, The Thrive Team

Founder of The Thrive Team, Yianni had a long career in digital marketing before starting in the real estate industry. Most recently he served as the Group Managing Director of social@Ogilvy, based in Sydney, Australia. He has now lived in DC for over 30 years, and maintains an active real estate portfolio in Adams Morgan, U Street, and Columbia Heights.

Congratulations to 2017’s Top Agents! Keep an eye out for our ad in the Washingtonian (87 seems like a lucky number)…

The post Washington DC’s Top Real Estate Agents Using Contactually appeared first on The Contactually Blog | For Relationship-Based Businesses.

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tangible-innovation · 8 years ago

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The 54th R&D 100 Awards & 2nd Annual Technology Conference

The 54th R&D 100 Awards & 2nd Annual Technology Conference was held on November 2-4, 2016 at the Gaylord National Convention Center, just south of Washington, DC, in Oxon, Maryland.

R&D 100 Awards

The R&D 100 Awards are considered the most globally prestigious awards for invention and innovation. Each year, for the past 54 years, people arrive to the awards ceremony from all over the world in hopes of winning an "Oscar of Invention."

The leaders of R&D Magazine, the flagship publication of Advantage Business Media's 10-magazine Science Group, coordinate the Awards contest and dinner each year. This year, 52 judges from industry, academia, and government reviewed a gazillion submissions and determined there were 275 Finalists. Then, they culled-out the 100 Winners. Plus, 15 Special Recognition Awards are part of the ceremony each year. In all, some one-hundred fifteen winners are presented awards at an engaging black tie dinner event. Every innovation professional should witness this at least once in their career.

There are six categories: Analytical/Test, IT/Electrical, Mechanical/Materials, Process/Prototyping, Software/Services, and Special Recognition.

Examples of Special Recognition Awards include: Corporate Social Responsibility, Green Tech, and Market Disruptor.

54th R&D 100 Awards Winners

The full list of 2016 R&D 100 Award Winners is available here: www.rd100conference.com/awards/winners-finalists/year/2016/.

It is hard to keep track of it all during the dinner. The individual inventions are fascinating and fully captivate your attention, one after the other, and all of a sudden the evening is over. So, here are some observations at fifty-thousand feet from putting the table from the URL in the preceding paragraph into Excel.

1) Several organizations won four or more awards. The following entities may be strong sources of global innovation: Taiwan's ITRI, MIT Lincoln Labs, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and "the Dow companies."

2) Other than Dow, the only other industrial or high-tech company to win more than one award was PPG Industries which won two.

3) USA's National Laboratories also deserve comment. Approximately 30 of the awards went to one of the National Labs or to a dedicated USA government lab.

4) Not enough industry and high-tech companies are competing. I've recommended to our clients over the years that it is really inexpensive to compete in this contest and one can't beat the visibility, free marketing, and brand value. If you are a big company, there is real bang for the buck to be a Finalist - never mind winning. If you are a start-up, the visibility could accelerate the company by 3-5 years.

Innovator Of The Year Award

The Innovator Of The Year Award, this particular year, recognizes a technology that might benefit us all. Dr. Anthony Atala, Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and his team are making great progress on growing human organs that work.

The more vessels and "piping" that is in an organ, the harder it is to grow. But, some major organs (such as the liver) have large areas of very similar cells that perform the function of the organ. Dr. Atala is now within sight of being able to consistently grow the "mass areas" of several organs, possibly within this decade.

The Global R&D Funding Forecast - The Year Ahead

The 2017 Global Funding Forecast was presented in DRAFT form after the Awards Dinner concluded. Only the DRAFT form is currently available. The final version should be out later this month or in early February.

R&D Magazine is one of the best sources of R&D Spending information presented in a global business context. Each year, a preview of the coming year is presented. Historically, this was developed by R&D Magazine in conjunction with Battelle Laboratories. As of last year, this is now developed in conjunction with the Industrial Research Institute [IRI]. This was a natural alliance as the IRI has been developing a similar set of spending information each year.

2nd Annual Technology Conference

Last year R&D Magazine brainstormed what else they might do, given all the accomplished people that come to the Awards each year, and they decided to wrap a "technology and technology management conference" around the Awards dinner. The first conference, in conjunction with the awards dinner, was last year. I was invited to speak at the inaugural conference last year at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

This year, I was invited back to give two presentations. In my mind however, I didn't think the location would be as much fun. But, I was wrong. The Gaylord National Convention Center is a specially created oasis just south of DC, right on the Potomac River. Many government and military conferences are held at this giant convention center. A small community thrives around this all-in-one facility/town, with plenty of entertainment for traveling spouses.

Like McCormick Place in Chicago, this is perhaps another location that professionals should attempt to experience at least once in their career.

The table of contents of my two presentations at the 2nd Annual Technology Conference are directly below. There was standing-room only on the Breakthrough Innovation topic. The highlight of the 12 Trends topic was GGI's roll-out of the upcoming 8th generation of product development processes. Folks that have been to our presentations will recognize the seven generations slide being projected in the picture below, and I verbally explained the 8th generation. [The 8th generation was officially published in Machine Design in December 2016.]

10 Techniques to Achieve Breakthroughs Through Innovation

2015 marked the 20th anniversary of Christensen's work on disruptive innovation. In 2016, GGI researched disruptive, radical, and breakthrough innovation. It was time to take a snapshot of how the body of knowledge had evolved over two decades.

Our work found ten distinct breakthrough strategies. They vary greatly, from competing on business-models to specific market or business strategies to technology mastery to commercialization execution. There is no common root to them, except that your company and industry will know they are experiencing a breakthrough from a new or a changing basis of competition.

12 Trends in the Science of Managing R&D and Product Development

After my presentation on Complexity at the 1st Annual Conference, R&D Magazine asked me to build off it and to make recommendations on how to manage in the decade ahead. I presented this work for the first time at a conference in Poland in April 2016 and further refined it for R&D Magazine.

Directing and overseeing science, materials, technology, software creation-to-commercialization activities is already a good bit more challenging this past decade. Well, not to disappoint, we have another tumultuous decade to go. There will be another reset around 2025, once there are 100 billion connected devices and that becomes the new normal.

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ANNOUNCEMENT

GGI's next Metrics Summit is February 28 to March 2, 2017

A quick note to let you know that our 21st R&D-Product Development Metrics Summit is coming up.

It will be held in Norwood, Massachusetts.

Our conference facility is equidistant between the Providence and Boston airports,

and a comprehensive renovation was completed last fall.

The place is beautiful, the food is great, WI-FI is throughout.

Our content is stimulating, our discussions are lively,

and the teamwork during the Workshop makes for lasting relationships with colleagues

who deal with many of the same professional issues and challenges.

Please join us.

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TWITTER

GGI became significantly more active on Twitter in 2016.

No chit chat.

GGI Tweets content from our primary and secondary research,

140-character summaries of good articles in trade publications,

and announcements and recaps on GGI events and presentations.

A quick look.

@GoldenseGroup

Please consider Following GGI on Twitter.

#Research #Strategy #R&D #Invention #Innovation #best practices #product innovation #breakthrough #disruptive innovation #disruption #intellectual property #IP #performance #business results

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