Five simple strategies for creating a professional image for your business

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Portraying your business as a competent one is essential to ensure your customers, existing and potential, know that you are serious as well as committed to providing the very best. Continue reading for five simple strategies that you can adopt, which will help create a professional image for your business. 

Training

Staff development is essential regardless of the industry. If you invest a little capital into training your employees, the message you give off to all your clientele should be almost identical. Without adequate support, new members of staff can flounder and struggle to find their feet, possibly giving off the wrong vibe or providing people with inaccurate information. Training could involve shadowing a member of staff doing a similar role to the new employee. However, it can also involve an external agency or a member of the management team leading a session, such as data protection or safeguarding. Although the best companies offer employees the opportunity for ongoing professional development throughout their careers, they also ensure that a solid induction process is in place. Although some aspects of this will need to be clearly designed with your company in mind, to be sure of your business ethics being followed through, there are some areas where you can pay for your staff to take part in regular online training, which requires almost no effort. A combination of both approaches often works well.  

Marketing

It is rare to find a business that needs absolutely no marketing. Traditional and digital marketing are essential for most. You may have started out with a rushed logo and tagline. If that sounds like you, do not hesitate to overhaul your image if you are able to afford to do so. A simple but elegant logo is required by most, with the colors being carried throughout the enterprise. For example, a well-designed logo in teal and purple means that you could use those colors in your design within the building, on all your marketing information, within promotional videos, on your website, and so on. To ensure that you are giving off a professional feel, if you are unable to create posters or leaflets yourself, enlist the help of someone external, who will be able to do a much better job. Finally, always spell check and proofread marketing materials. The last thing you want is to become a laughing stock because you talked about pubic services instead of public services. 

Uniform

Expecting staff members who are public-facing to wear a uniform can support you in your efforts towards presenting a professional image. Tie them in with your company colors, and you will look as though you mean business. Whether it is a certain shirt for the members of staff working on reception or serving uniforms for your waiting staff, you can ensure that your employees are easily recognizable as well as look smart. You could even go one step further and add your logo as an embroidered embellishment to items, such as sweaters, aprons and shirts. Along with the uniform, encourage staff members to present themselves in a certain manner, with freshly washed hair, brushed teeth, the use of deodorant, and clean fingernails. It is possible to add a statement linked to this in your company’s dress code policy document. 

Website

The vast majority of businesses these days has a website. If you have broken links or it hasn’t been updated in a while, possibly providing out-of-date information, you will not be portraying the professionalism towards which you are aiming. Furthermore, the look of your site should be polished and user-friendly. Avoid too many advertisements, as they are off-putting, as well as choosing the colors wisely. Too much white and people could face eye strain; however, colors such as blue and red can clash, making text hard to read. Check out other websites to gain inspiration for yours. And, if you are unable to undertake the work yourself, be sure to employ the services of a website designer, who will ensure yours is functional as well as attractive. 

Social Media

Social media is another area that most companies find themselves dabbling in. Personal accounts are easy; you just say or share what you want to, without thinking much about the comeback. However, when it comes to business accounts, it is vital that the information you share fits in nicely with the professional image you are trying to portray. Avoid controversial items, such as politics, unless that is part of your work. Furthermore, be sure to avoid engaging unnecessarily with keyboard warriors or internet trolls, who will do almost anything to get a rise out of someone. Use polite language and be sure to respond to queries in a timely manner.

If you want to start a business, you can find more relevant information at companyformationnetherlands.com

How To Choose The Best Golf Bag For Your Needs

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Low-angle view of a competitive woman looking at the golf ball with disappointment after failure on the golf course, during a difficult match with her partner

If you’re a golf player, you know how important it is to choose the right golf bag for your needs. Besides, this is something you’re going to use every time you hit the field, as well as to keep your golf gear safe from damage. Also, when you choose the right golf bag, your game will be a lot better than what you actually expect.  

However, finding the perfect golf bag can be a challenging undertaking. Fortunately, this article will show some essential tips for getting the right one for your needs. 

Two golf bags standing in front of a group of golf players putting on green.

Determine What Type Of Golf Bag You Want

When picking the best golf bag, the first thing you should do is to decide on which type you want. Golf bags come in different types, and these can include the following:

    • Carry Bags – These are considered the lightest golf bags that are perfect for recreational or casual uses. The good thing about these bags is that they come with shoulder straps, making them much more comfortable to carry around the field. This is especially true if you’re taking your out-of-town visitors to Charlotte or other nearby places to witness an amazing golf game or play the game itself in one of the most famous golf locations in the area. 
    • Cart Bags – These golf bags are typically used by professional and serious golfers. Compared to carry bags, cart bags are heavier due to bases attached to the golf cart. Also, they have different pockets and a good amount of storage for your golf needs. 
    • Stand Bags – These bags are the most versatile ones because they can be used for walking or even when using a golf cart. Stand bags come with legs that can help keep everything accessible and upright during the entire game. 
    • Travel Bags – If you’re the kind of golfer who wants to take their clubs and keep them protected at all times, travel golf bags can be an excellent option. They’re made from heavier materials, making them an ideal choice for baggage handling. 
    • Tour Bags – If you’re not bringing your own bag in the golf course, these bags can be a great fit because they have lots of dividers, pockets, and storage. Also, tour bags are designed for professional golfers who need more items for the game. 

Get Familiar With The Common Product Features

Another thing to do when shopping for the best golf bags on market is to get to know their features. By familiarizing yourself with the bags’ features, you’ll be able to determine the perfect fit for your needs and, in turn, get the best value for your money. 

To help you with your search, below are the product features to consider from the get-go:

    • Dividers – As a golfer, it’s important to keep your golf clubs from rattling around to avoid damage. That said, you should factor in the number of dividers your prospective golf bag should have. If you want to separate two or more clubs from one another, then, you need a product that features several dividers.  
    • Pockets – If you’re looking for a bag that allows you to keep your valuables and other equipment at the same time, then, you should better check the pockets of your options. For instance, you can choose a bag with lined pockets for your valuables and another waterproof pocket for your scorecard and many more. 

Check The Weight

The weight of your prospective golf bag is also an essential consideration, especially if you decide to carry it on your back or shoulder. You should always remember that the weight of your bag isn’t just the only thing you should think about. As soon as it’ll be used to pack all your clubs and other golf equipment, the weight of the bag will be entirely different. 

Thus, if you don’t want to deal with the burden of carrying your bag, check the weight before choosing one for your needs. If the bag of your choice is quite heavy, find the best deals on golf trolleys. Generally, a fairly light bag weighing about six pounds can be an ideal choice to ensure you’re able to play golf with comfort and excitement. 

Have A Budget In Mind

When choosing the best golf bag, it’s also essential to have a budget in mind. If you have no idea how much you’re willing to spend, you may end up settling for the first one you stumble upon, without considering the requirements you need. Moreover, when you have a budget in place, you can carefully narrow down your options and ensure you’re taking the right match for you. 

Bottom Line

There can be a wide range of bags to choose from based on your comfort and the way you want things to be organized. The process of finding the proper one that meets your requirements shouldn’t be overwhelming if you keep the tips mentioned above in mind. 

 

5 Steps to Take When You’re Deep in Debt

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Being in buried in debt can be seriously stressful, but you don’t have to live that way! With student loan debt on the rise and the unemployment rate at an all-time high, finding financial freedom might seem like an impossible challenge given today’s day and age.

But there are steps you can (and should!) take to reclaim control over your money and establish future financial stability. Here are five things you should do to help climb yourself out beneath a mountain of debt sooner rather than later.

  • Create a Budget (and Stick to It)

Maybe an unexpected expense knocked you back, or you made a budgeting mistake, but regardless of whatever led you to the current position you’re in, the first step is the same: identifying all the money coming in and out of your bank account. You should have a very clear idea of your fixed expenses, or the same essential purchases that you make on a monthly basis (like a rent, for example).

Get these all down on a piece of paper, along with every source of income you have including wages, unemployment benefits, and so forth. You’ll be able to determine exactly how much money you have available left over to direct toward debt payments and variable expenses, which leads us to our next point…

  • Stop the Bleeding

You need to stop the bleeding and keep costs to an absolute minimum if you’re serious about committing to being debt-free. Take a cold hard look at your spending and see where there are opportunities to save money.

Do you eat out too frequently? Subscribe to too many streaming services? Overuse the amount of data available in your cell phone plan? This part of the process is never fun, but it’s essential if you ever want to return to the point in time when you were once able to spend freely.

  • Pick Which Debt to Tackle First

The next step is to identify all of your outstanding debts and the interest rate charged on each account balance. Generally speaking, it’s normally best to target high-interest loans first while making minimum payments toward other lenders in order to reduce the total borrowing cost over the lifespan of the loan.

In some cases, it might be smart to apply for a debt consolidation loan that combines your various account balances into one bill. This can help you receive a lower monthly payment, and it also makes it easier to keep up with bills on time to avoid late fees and penalty charges. Be sure to read the fine print, though, to verify whether it makes the most sense for your circumstances. You should also note that while your required minimum payment may be more manageable, you could receive a higher interest rate and/or longer repayment terms. 

  • Seek Out Available Resources

Depending on the type of debt you’re in, you may be able to find help resources that provide assistance for financial relief. For example, tax payers who have fallen behind on their obligation to Uncle Sam might be able to enroll in the IRS Fresh Start program or other credit repair services. The helps people back into the government’s good standing with reasonable installments paid over time.

The federal government offers student loan forgiveness for completing certain public programs, like Teach for America, but private companies also offer student loan refinancing that can help reduce your monthly payment. Another option includes payday loans that can provide quick cash during emergencies.

Or, maybe you’re looking at an expensive past-due medical bill? You might be able to speak to the hospital and negotiate an offer in compromise. Sometimes, they’d prefer to settle for at least a portion of the money that’s owed to them rather than go without collecting anything at all. And that tip applies to many creditors, so it never hurts to ask and see.

  • Chip Away at Payments

To rebuild damaged credit and prevent your score from falling any further, it’s important that you consistently chip away at your debt with timely payments every month—even if it’s just $25. A good idea to help you stay on top of due dates is to link your bank account for automatic bill pay in the minimum amount, then increase your contribution using the money you saved at the end of the month.

Debt doesn’t have to be your destiny. Start taking these steps today to be closer to a future that’s free of financial concern.

How Well Should You Play Video Games to Start Streaming Successfully?

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You can start streaming at whichever level you are since your target audience will have both beginners and experienced games. However, this is not something you can just pick up and grow overnight into a superstar level like Pokimane or Ninja. To be successful, it is better to start at the level you are and enhance your skill and creativity over time. Keeping in mind that playing any game, even the simplest slot machines, such as Wild Life slot, requires patience and consistency. These are the key aspects that will see you through to your success. 

Live streaming is a great way to create content (which could be profitable), but there is a lot of preparation that is involved when starting out. Let us start off with the basic requirements for streaming a game, then dive into the equipment and streaming platforms you can consider. 

What Are the Basic Requirements for Game Streaming?

As a beginner, you don’t need to invest in expensive equipment to have high-quality streams. Instead, you just need to have a more powerful machine that can support quality streams. If you are on a low budget, then an Intel Core i5-4670 processor with 8GB of Ram or an Nvidia GTX 650 Series or more will get the job done. You can also opt to live stream using smartphones or consoles. 

Another basic requirement other than a strong PC is a good webcam and microphone. Your audio quality is crucial since a lot of your viewers will be interested in listening to what you are saying. A stable internet connection is another essential component to consider, with an ethernet connection being a better option than a wireless connection. The speed of the internet also matters since it determines how much information can be streamed per second.

Proper lighting is another investment to consider to incorporate different effects, such as custom overlays and green screen.

Which Is the Best Streaming Platform?

Twitch is the most popular streaming platform, but there are other competitive options, including Youtube Gaming, Facebook Gaming, and Mixer. We will highlight the pros and cons of each streaming platform below.

Twitch

Twitch TV takes the lead as the most popular streaming platform globally, offering a wide range of audiences. You can also buy real Twitch followers cheap.

Pros

  • The largest number of broadcasters and viewers (You can also buy real Twitch followers cheap)
  • The large audience can help you monetize your channel 
  • Easy to use
  • Accommodates all niches
  • You can stream directly from mobile, PS4, and Xbox One

Drawbacks

  • Can be confusing to a new streamer
  • The high competition makes it hard to stand out

Youtube Gaming

Youtube gaming is the second popular streaming platform offering the most diverse audience than any other platform.

Pros

  • Free to stream
  • Offer diverse options than just gaming content
  • Easy to use
  • You can stream directly from your Android device

Drawbacks

  • Frequent changes in terms of use and monetization
  • Strict copyright infringements
  • You cannot stream directly from Xbox One

Facebook Gaming

If you prefer using social platforms, Facebook gaming is the best option.

Pros

  • Free to use
  • Support mobile broadcasting
  • You can play with your friends

Drawbacks

  • The ads can be such a nuisance
  • Only supports Android devices
  • Monetization options are limited

Mixer

This is an alternative option to Twitch, and although relatively new, it offers a highly optimized platform for live streaming. 

Pros

  • You can co-stream with up to 4 other streamers
  • Viewers can watch your live stream in real-time

Cons

  • Relatively small audience compared to Twitch

What Equipment Do I Need for Streaming?

It is becoming increasingly easy to stream since you can go live using your smartphone, laptop, and even gaming console. Although each of these devices is a great option, they don’t necessarily have all the features you need. This is why you need additional equipment, some of which we have highlighted below. 

WebCam. In addition to watching your content, your audience also wants to see the person making all the magic happen. A high-quality webcam ensures you give your viewers the best visuals. This is a great way to engage your audience as they see your reactions to what’s happening in the game.

Suitable Lighting. Installing proper lighting will ensure a consistent webcam feed that looks professional and will help the viewers see every action. You can opt for lighting with a cool to warm colour range, and that is easy to adjust depending on your setting. 

Green Screen. The next thing after a good camera and lighting is a green screen. This helps minimize the amount of disruption your webcam makes to the game and only shows you, your chair, and anything else you put between you and the green screen.

High-Quality Microphone. In addition to people watching you play, they also need to hear you clearly. A great mic guarantees quality audio, which is a crucial aspect of engaging your audience. The best option is a mic that blocks out surrounding noises and focuses on your voice. 

Gaming Headset. A gaming headset is another essential you don’t want to miss as it prevents your mic from picking up the gaming sounds. An excellent headset will help you hear your voice and keep sound in check. 

A Capable Gaming PC. As a beginner, most streaming services recommend using a computer with at least an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of Ram, and Windows 7 or newer as the bare minimum. Depending on the game you are streaming, you could consider upgrading your hardware to prevent streaming issues such as dropped frames, lag, or pixelation problems. 

What Should I Do If I Am Still Not a Good Gamer?

If you still feel that you don’t have the gaming skills that can help you start streaming successfully, we have outlined some useful tips below.

Practice

This is one of the key aspects to becoming a great gamer. However, it does not mean just mindlessly queueing one game after another. If you are serious about becoming better, you will give all your energy to every game. Enter every game in peak performance and aim to get the best results while embracing a proactive mindset rather than a reactive one. 

Be conscious of the choices you are making in the game and why you are making them. In addition to thinking about your own gameplay, it is important to keep track of your opponents’.

Set Up Goals

Practicing and giving your all are the first steps to becoming a successful gamer, but you also need to have clear goals that will act as roadmaps to get you to the top. When setting up your goals, you need to have an understanding of where you are in terms of gaming stats and compare them to some of the best players. After identifying your ranking, it is time to take action and set your goals focusing on one thing at a time and not trying to do everything at once. 

Watch the Pros

Watching the pros is a great way to learn and boost your creativity within the game. Make it a goal to watch one game a day or two games a week based on how much time you have, as this will give you insights on how to execute strategies and mechanics.

What Should a Newbie Know About Ruby?

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Ruby is one of the easiest to learn and most fun to write when it comes to programming languages. Originally, it wasn’t designed for online utilization – until Rails web framework was developed.

This allowed Redwerk, a Ruby on Rails development company, to create powerful web applications that users exactly need. You can learn how to apply fundamental programming skills using this language and web framework.

Facts About Ruby Programming Language

If you are currently considering learning a new programming language, Ruby on Rails might be a great option. First of all, it’s because it’s an easy language to use and therefore ideal for newbie developers.

It allows you to focus more on analyzing the basics of programming than on coding. This powerful web framework does the work for beginners. Here are some important things you need to know about Ruby:

  • Ruby teaches beginners the best practices in web development. It makes assumptions regarding how you must do things, therefore it encourages you to follow practices that are commonly accepted in the industry.

Some of these practices include testing framework, MVC framework, RESTful resources, and more.

  • Ruby will not teach you stuff that are unnecessary. Since the goal is to be beginner-friendly, you don’t have to know things you do not really need when using Ruby on Rails.

For instance, there’s no need to learn any SQL in order to utilize a database through your Ruby application.

  • Ruby is a tolerant language for newbies. Unlike other languages like Javascript, you don’t have to finish your line with semicolon. It also doesn’t require users to practice tabbing and whitespaces unlike Python.

You can also omit curly brackets and parenthesis when writing using Ruby. Aside from being very readable, it knows what the programmer is trying to convey without all these punctuation marks.

  • There are lots of online resources available for learning Ruby. Some of the best online resources you can use to learn Ruby include Codecademy, Treehouse, Rails for Zombies, and Ruby on Rails Tutorial. You can find more on the internet, and choose which is easier for you.
  • The Ruby community is very welcoming to newbies. The community of Ruby users is thriving and becoming even stronger in the development industry. 

Ruby developers are known for being friendly to newbies as they aim to be the best new web framework and programming language for beginners.

  • Ruby developers host conferences to help newbies acquire skills in a fun way. As an active community in the web development industry, there are so many conferences and meetups happening in major cities every day.

Also, they have online forums for those who can’t attend physically such as Stack Overflow.

  • Ruby on Rails is essentially full-stack. Most languages such as SQL, Python, Javascript, and HTML/CSS don’t cover front- to back-end unlike Ruby on Rails.

It helps you create your entire web app with everything needed to build the front-end and back-end. In the process, you also learn Javascript and HTML/CSS.

  • Many startups are looking for experts in Ruby on Rails. It may not be the most in-demand skill in web development jobs, but Ruby is increasingly becoming an important qualification along with Python, PHP, and Java.

For startups, Ruby on Rails web developers are difficult to find since the framework and language is full-stack.

  • Some popular websites are built using Ruby. This may be surprising, but a lot of the world’s biggest websites are built with Ruby on Rails including Groupon, Github, Slideshare, Shopify, Kickstarter, Bleacher Report, Airbnb, and Basecamp.
  • Ruby and Ruby on Rails are two different things. One last thing a newbie should know about Ruby is that it’s not the same as Ruby on Rails. The former is a programming language while the latter is a web app framework. 

One main advantage of learning Ruby on Rails web application framework is that beginners can make faster progress than when learning a programming language first.

Final Word

Ruby developers say that they love to work with Ruby because it is fun and easy to use. At the same time, it’s an effective motivator if you want to learn to code. However, it is a high-level language that handles the most complex details for you.

South Carolina Seeing One Of The Fastest Unemployment Claim Recoveries in The Nation

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Despite the fact that the U.S. is struggling with a fall surge in the COVID-19 pandemic, new unemployment claims decreased week-over-week on October 12, and were 89% below the peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. To help add some context to these statistics, WalletHub just released updated rankings for the States Whose Weekly Unemployment Claims Are Recovering the Quickest.

To identify which states’ workforces are experiencing the quickest recovery from COVID-19, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three metrics based on changes in unemployment claims.

South Carolina was ranked 4th in the nation according to the latest figures:

Source: WalletHub

Man Arrested in North Carolina On Weapons Charges, Child Porn, and Plot To Kill Joe Biden

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A man has been arrested in North Carolina on a slew of illegal weapons charges, child pornography, and a plot to kill presidential candidate Joe Biden.

19-year-old Alexander H. Treisman (aka Alexander S. Theiss) was arrested in Kannapolis after his van was found outside a bank with a can of Tannerite (highly explosive material), a 5.56 Sig AR15 rifle, a 9mm Intratec Luger pistol, a 9mm Kel-Tec Sub-2000 pistol, a .22 ArchAngel rifle, a 7.62×54 Russian Mosin Nagant M91/3 rifle, a spare Lower AR receiver, a box of 5.56 ammo, $509,000 in cash, books about bomb-making and improvised weapons, and drawings of swastikas and planes crashing into buildings, according to court documents.

Upon further investigation, officers found that many of the weapons found in the van were purchased illegally and trafficked across state lines. On his computer, investigators found child pornography and a potential plot to assassinate former vice president Joe Biden.

Agents learned that Treisman had traveled to a Wendy’s a couple of miles from Joe Biden’s home and there wrote a checklist that ended with the word “execute”. Treisman also posted a picture on the website iFunny that includes the caption, “should I kill joe biden?”

According to the court documents, agents searched a total of 8 of Treisman’s electronic devices, and discovered, among other things:

  • Plans on his cell phone that described a mass shooting to be performed on Black Friday or Christmas
  • Images from the Christchurch mass shooting
  • A social media post made by Treisman referencing raping children and child porn
  • A social media post made by Treisman stating he was “going to do a columbine for a while, [but] I think it would better to put it towards something more memorable”;
  • An electronic document entitled “A Guide to Mass Shooting”.
  • An image of an altered Polish passport with Treisman’s face edited onto it.

Treisman is currently being detained in federal custody ahead of an upcoming trial. He was denied bail due to being a flight risk and a danger to the community.

Masks Were Only Required For Those In Front Of Camera At Overcapacity Gastonia Trump Rally

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Yesterday’s rally in Gastonia may be one of the biggest events to ever take place in the small city (the secret service said up to 35,000 were in attendance), but it also may become one of the most dangerous, given our state’s recent spike in Covid-19 cases and related deaths.

Organizers at the Gastonia Municipal Airport initially planned for a crowd size of 15,000, but when the President saw that the lines continued to stretch down the street after the space reached capacity, he told police to continue to let people pack in.

During the event, President Trump recalled his conversation, “”Sir, I’m sorry. We can’t let anyone else in.” said the police. I said, “Officer, we have 10,000 people out there, much more than that. All the way down.” And he said, “I’m sorry, sir.” I said, “It’s a field. Just let’s open it up. Let’s move the trucks back, the buses, everything.” They said, “Sir, we have a problem.” “What?” “Stampede.” I said, “Stampede.” He said, “We got so many people. We’re worried about it.” “I thought that was for cattle. Right?” He said stampede. No, can you imagine? Now, Joe doesn’t have that problem. He has about four or five circles. Nice wide, beautiful, everything. You know, I’m a perfectionist. It’s beautiful those circles. They’re very far away from each other. You couldn’t catch COVID in those circles no matter what you did.” 

When President Trump finally took the stage at about 7:15pm, the entire event space was virtually shoulder-to-shoulder with almost no social distancing to be seen.

To make matters even worse, less than 1/4th of the crowd were wearing masks (by my estimate). This was in stark contrast to those who were placed directly behind the President during his speech (who would be seen on camera). According to attendees, those placed behind the president were specifically told to keep their custom “MAGA” masks on for the duration of the event.

Here is a shot showing the difference in mask wearing directly behind the President and just to the right of him:

Here are some other shots of the crowd that was not directly behind the president for his speech:



What are your thoughts on last night’s rally?

NC Agencies Receive National Recognition for State Government IT

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The state departments of environmental quality, information technology and transportation were recently recognized by two national organizations for their innovative use of technology and leadership in government IT.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) and N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) won the National Association of State Chief Information Officers’ (NASCIO) award for Business Process Innovations for NCDEQ’s “Modernizing Environmental Mapping with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” program.

Using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), or drones, for field data collection and mapping has allowed NCDEQ divisions to considerably improve their business processes, increase productivity, save staff time, and decrease costs.

NC HealthConnex, North Carolina’s state-managed health information exchange (HIE) was a finalist in the Digital Services: Government to Business category. This program, a part of NCDIT’s Health Information Exchange Authority, provides the medical community with the data they need to make more informed decisions about patient care with nearly real-time clinical information that links to colleagues across North Carolina and travels seamlessly. With 98 percent of the state’s health care providers covered, it is one of the largest HIEs in the country.

MyNCDMV, a partnership with the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and PayIt, was a finalist in the Digital Services: Government to Citizen category. MyNCDMV allows users to complete multiple services in one secure transaction, including renewing their driver licenses and vehicle registrations, ordering license plates, purchasing duplicate licenses/ID cards, and more, from a user-friendly web or mobile application.

The NASCIO Awards are held annually to recognize innovative technology solutions utilized by state governments. Each year, the government technology publication StateScoop and its parent company Scoop News honor top leaders and projects advancing government IT and cybersecurity with the StateScoop 50 Awards.  This year, the publication recognized one NC project and one NC leader.

MyNCDMV was selected for the State IT Innovation of the Year Award for the innovative, digital approach to the Division of Motor Vehicles experience, creating something never seen before. Unlike the old way of completing NCDMV online services, myNCDMV allows users to complete multiple services in one secure transaction. The partnership also has saved the state millions in mobile and web development costs. Implementation of the app was lead by NCDIT-Transportation employees Beverly Leathers and Jimbo Brumley.

Frank Winn was honored with the StateScoop State Leadership of the Year Award. Winn is NCDIT’s Chief Information Officer for NCDOT and led the transition of the business side of NCDOT’s IT Division to NCDIT, the state’s centralized IT department. The move included approximately 500 employees, including teams in engineering application development, infrastructure, cybersecurity, architecture office, human resources, DMV application development, SAP ERP, web development, Geographic Information Systems and the Project Management  Office. Winn’s team also oversaw the implementation of the myNCDMV app.

Top 10 Things To Do Around Charlotte This Weekend – 10/23/2020

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The weekend is almost here!

There will be a good amount of socially distanced live music, food trucks, pumpkins, and more!

Here are the top 10 things happening around the Charlotte region this weekend:

#1 6th Annual South End Wine and Hops Fest

Charlotte’s favorite and most award-winning wine event is returning with another day filled with wordly wines, local brews & ciders. Enjoy a day with friends enjoying live music and sipping the day away under the sun.

#2 The Avett Brothers at The Charlotte Motor Speedway

The Avett Brothers will perform live on the backstretch of the Charlotte Motor Speedway track to socially-distanced cars. The performance will celebrate the release of their eagerly-awaited new album, The Third Gleam

For tickets or more info click here.

#3 Uptown Street Eats

Participating Food Trucks:
– Friday: Jive Turkey & Desi Kati Cart
– Saturday Lunch: Cousins Maine Lobster, Desi Kati Cart and Rollicious Ribs
– Saturday Dinner: Goldfinger & Desi Kati Cart
– Sunday: Leann’s Deli & Desi Kati Cart
There will also be live music featured throughout Uptown and on the StreetEats block. Here’s the schedule:
– Friday: 6 pm – 9 pm
– Saturday: 12 pm – 3 pm & 6 pm – 9 pm
– Sunday: 1 pm – 4 pm

#4 Tayste Curds & Corks

Enjoy an evening of al fresco dining under the stars while sipping the most wonderful wines and delectable cheeses inspired courses.
Live music by the soulful Persona Bell
Ticket includes: 4 cheese inspired courses, 4 wines, a reserved tent, and table & chairs for your party.

For tickets or more info click here.

#5 UnivCity Food Truck Friday

UnivCity Food Truck Friday takes place this Friday Oct 23rd, from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Armored Cow Brewing Co. It takes place in our front parking lot with plenty of outdoor seating with room for social distancing. There will be live music each week sponsored by the UnivCity Partners and Open for Business City of Charlotte “Street Eats”.

For more info click here.

#6 Aaron Lewis and Sully Erna Live at Charlotte Motor Speedway

For the first time ever, Sully Erna and Aaron Lewis, two of the most acclaimed frontmen in rock — the voices of multiplatinum rock bands Godsmack and Staind — will perform their hits together, side-by-side, in an intimate and unplugged evening on The American Drive-In Tour, including a concert at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

For more info or tickets click here.

#7 Pumpkin Patch at Lineberger’s Farm

Hay rides are $6 and include a medium size pumpkin from the patch. Chickens are available to feed for 50 cents.

For more info click here.

#8 Zootastic’s Fall Festival 2020

Zootastic Park’s Annual Fall Festival! Open the weekend of and the weekend before Halloween. (Oct 24, 25, 31 and Nov 1) Train Rides, Carousel Rides, Fun House, Tiger Feeding, Giraffe Feeding, Pumpkin Decorating, Temporary Tattoos, Smores, Candy+Caramel Apples, Funnel Cakes, and more.

For more info click here.

#9 Family Fall Fest

Grab the family and join us at GreenLife family farms for a Saturday filled with music from two local bands, tons of local vendors to shop from, petting zoo animals for the kiddos, food & dessert trucks along with yummy drinks and plenty of fall fun! Bring your camping chairs and blankets to set up a spot and watch the local bands playing from 2-7!

For more info click here.

#10 Rosé – Mimosa – Soirée

Enjoy a Sunday Funday sipping all the rose, sparkling wine & ciders your heart desires. You will also have access to the most adorable mimosa bar featuring a variety of juices, syrups and berries. DJ Pink Diamond will be laying down all your favorite brunch beats.

For more info or tickets click here.

If you think other events should be on this list or future lists, let us know – Scott@CharlotteStories.com