HomeSmart will now financially support franchisees’ acquisitions

HomeSmart International announced it has launched a massive nationwide acquisition strategy across its corporate and franchise locations. The announcement was made during the company’s annual Growth Summit and Leadership Conference in February. As part of the program, HomeSmart International will provide unprecedented and comprehensive growth support to its franchisees, including local marketing campaigns and deal financing to strategically acquire brokerages across the country.

“We’ve invested millions of dollars building out a proprietary technology platform and hiring the very best people to create a high-tech, results-driven solution for brokers and agents,” said Matt Widdows, HomeSmart International founder and chief executive officer. “With this initiative, we’ll provide a new level of service and support to our franchisees by adding an acquisition strategy to their existing growth efforts.”

Village Yoga will join businesses at Sedona Vista Village

Sedona Vista Village announces its newest tenant Village Yoga, the first full-time fully functioning yoga studio located in the Village of Oak Creek. Tenant improvements are underway, and Village Yoga expects to open this spring.  

Village Yoga will occupy a 2,665 square-foot studio space located near the new Westin Hotel – Element by Westin, which is being built on the property. The studio, which is to be run by Erin Schaad and co-founded with her husband Nicholas, will feature highly-trained teachers, and offer a wide variety of regular classes, workshops and yoga teacher trainings, health coaching services as well as massages, and yoga clothing.

“I am very pleased to bring my new yoga studio to the Sedona area,” said Erin Schaad, owner of Village Yoga. “I am looking forward to offering our neighbors a wide variety of classes, massages and workshops to help them achieve their optimal health and well-being goals.”

“Sedona Vista Village is nearing completion of its major façade renovation, and welcoming Village Yoga to the mix of restaurants and retailers brings an optimal new option for visitors and the surrounding community,” said Marty Aronson, owner of Sedona Vista Village. “Tenant improvements are moving along well, and we hope to celebrate Village Yoga’s grand opening very soon.”    

PADT launches new company, Oryx Additive

PADT, a globally recognized provider of numerical simulation, product development, and 3D printing products and services, today announced the spin-off its successful Support Cleaning Apparatus (SCA) 3D printing support removal equipment business into a separate corporation, Oryx Additive. Taking the reins after PADT’s successful 10-year run as the leading supplier in the industry, Oryx Additive will build on PADT’s existing line and develop new innovations for 3D printing post-processing. 

“In additive manufacturing, parts coming off the printer often require the removal of support material or other secondary process to yield the finished parts. The PADT SCA product-line has been the most popular soluble support removal product for more than a decade,” said Rey Chu, principal and co-founder, PADT. “The growth of the 3D printing industry has increased the demand for post processing equipment and provided us with the opportunity to expand this portion of PADT’s business by creating a separate company. Oryx Additive will continue PADT’s legacy of offering solutions that reliably process 3D printed parts while reducing cycle time and increasing productivity.”

Oryx Additive will leverage PADT’s experience in engineering, manufacturing and 3D printing post-processing to continue developing innovative solutions to meet additive manufacturing post processing needs. Oryx Additive will take over the responsibility of continuing supply and service on the current SCA products immediately. Oryx will also provide future upgrades and develop expanded applications of these products.

Swift Transportation recognized among Carriers of the Year

Walmart Supply Chain has recognized Phoenix-based Swift Transportation as one of six Walmart Transportation Carriers of the Year.

Each of the Walmart Transportation Carriers of the Year demonstrated a dedication to customer service and communication while providing improved service levels that enabled Walmart to serve its stores, clubs and customers.

“2018 was a year of unprecedented change in the transportation industry. As our supply chain network has evolved with greater efficiency and new ways of working, so have many of carrier partners,” said Ken Braunbach, vice president of Inbound Transportation. “The companies recognized have provided Walmart with innovative and improved service offerings that ultimately help us lower our cost to our customers and stay in stock whether on the shelf in our stores or online.”

GCU seminary gains accreditation

Grand Canyon Theological Seminary at Grand Canyon University has received full accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools. The ATS Commission on Accrediting has approved the following degree programs: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Leadership, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts in Youth and Family Ministry, and Master of Arts in Urban Ministry.

ATS, which has more than 270 members, provides specialized accreditation for graduate schools of theology in the United States and Canada. It was a natural fit for Grand Canyon Theological Seminary because it focuses solely on professional and academic degree programs in ministry practice and theological disciplines. “We feel blessed that the Association of Theological Schools gave such a strong vote of confidence to our theology programs,” said Dr. Jason Hiles, Dean of the College of Theology at GCU. “This validates all the hard work our faculty and staff have been doing to ensure our academic and spiritual programs meet the highest standards, and it will help our students as they prepare for careers in church ministry.”

GCU applied to be an ATS associate member, the first step in full accreditation, before opening the Seminary in the fall of 2016. That request was granted at the board’s biennial meeting in July of 2016. GCU then moved on to the second phase, a Candidate for Accredited Membership. This involved a rigorous process that included a school visit in October of 2018 by board members and peers, who met with faculty, leadership and students to review the programs.