ST. HELENA, Calif., May 13, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Karen MacNeil, wine authority, author of “The Wine Bible,” and co-founder of COME TOGETHER A Community for Wine, will deliver the opening keynote at the 2026 Vine to Mind Symposium, a joint initiative of the University of California, Davis and Harvard University, taking place May 19–20 on the UC Davis campus.

Photo caption: Karen MacNeil, author of “The Wine Bible,” and co-founder of COME TOGETHER A Community for Wine.

MacNeil will be joined by Christine Wente and Michael Mondavi, two figures whose family names have shaped the American wine story for generations. Together, the three will speak to the cultural standing of California wine today, and to the work of sustaining wine’s place in American life for the next generation.

That work is the animating purpose behind Come Together A Community for Wine, which MacNeil co-founded in 2024 with Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET, of Charles Communications Associates and Gino Colangelo of Colangelo & Partners. In response to mounting headwinds facing the global wine industry, Come Together has built two of the largest pro-wine consumer campaigns in the United States: Share & Pair Sundays, now in its second year and running May 3 through June 28, and Come Over October, returning for the third year this fall.

“Wine is at a critical juncture in American culture, and we must rise to meet the challenges,” said MacNeil. “The Vine to Mind Symposium gives us—scientists and industry leaders alike–an opportunity to come together to explore a modern and practical approach to wine over the coming decades. Coming together on behalf of wine’s future underscores wine’s historic role as the beverage that has brought people together for 8000 years.”

The Vine to Mind Symposium convenes data scientists, scholars, and industry leaders to examine how data-driven insight and AI can advance viticulture, enology, and wine communications. Additional speakers include Orley Ashenfelter, Eric Asimov, Jing Cao, Felicity Carter, Joe Czerwinski, Xiao-Li Meng, Madeline Puckette, Liz Thach, Jason Wise, and Ben Montpetit. Sessions will be held at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, with a post-symposium visit to Napa Valley on May 21.

ABOUT THE VINE TO MIND SYMPOSIUM

The 2026 Vine to Mind Symposium is organized by the Harvard Data Science Initiative in partnership with the Agricultural and Resource Economics department and the Viticulture and Enology department at the University of California, Davis. The symposium brings together wine industry leaders and academics to explore the intersection of wine, wine communications, data science, and artificial intelligence, and how data-driven insights and AI can advance viticulture, enology, and the broader wine ecosystem. This year’s gathering also marks the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Judgment of Paris, widely considered the blind tasting that forever changed the cultural landscape for the California wine industry. The 2026 symposium will be held on the UC Davis campus May 19–20, 2026, with a post-symposium visit to Napa Valley on May 21. For topics, speakers, and past highlights, visit: https://www.vinetomind.org/.

About COME TOGETHER A Community for Wine

COME TOGETHER A Community for Wine is a dynamic community for wine enthusiasts dedicated to fostering connections, education, and appreciation within the wine world. Through innovative campaigns and community-driven initiatives, the organization brings together industry professionals, passionate consumers, and wine lovers of all backgrounds to celebrate wine’s unique ability to create meaningful human connections. Founded by noted wine writer and author Karen MacNeil, along with leading wine industry marketers Gino Colangelo of Colangelo & Partners and Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET of Charles Communications Associates, the mission-driven company shares the story of wine’s historic and contemporary role as a beverage that uniquely brings people together. Learn more: https://www.cometogetherforwine.com/.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET kcharles@charlescomm.com 415-701-WINE (9463)

Regan Carlin rcarlin@colangelopr.com 978-460-3921

News Source: COME TOGETHER – A Community for Wine Inc.

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AUSTIN, Texas, May 13, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Watkins Insurance Group, a leading independent insurance agency in Texas, has announced the addition of Patrick McFadden as a Private Client Insurance Advisor. McFadden brings 30 years of insurance experience and holds the LUTC and FSCP professional designations. His hire reflects the agency’s continued commitment to serving the Austin metro market and specifically the growing segment of individuals and families whose lifestyles and assets require a more tailored approach to coverage strategy and personal service.

Image caption: Watkins Insurance Group.

“We are thrilled to welcome Patrick to our team,” said Chris Scott, President of Watkins Insurance Group. “This addition reflects our ongoing commitment to serving the full breadth of insurance needs across the Austin community including clients with complex portfolios who benefit from the kind of personalized, consultative approach Patrick brings. He is exactly the caliber of advisor we look for when expanding our team.”

McFadden’s career spans nearly every facet of the insurance industry. He began as a Claims Representative, a foundation that shaped his understanding of how coverage performs when it matters most. Over the following three decades, he went on to serve as an Agency Owner, Private Client Advisor, Sales and Operations Manager, Regional Manager for a national carrier, and Risk Management Consultant. That breadth of experience gives him a perspective on risk that few advisors can match.

“Given our track record of success serving high-net-worth clients in Austin, expanding our private client practice was a natural next step,” said Hanna Ogle, Executive Vice President of Personal Lines. “Patrick’s background managing complex insurance portfolios for individuals with significant assets makes him an outstanding fit for our clients, and his addition allows us to serve this segment at an even higher level. Clients with complex personal risk profiles deserve an advisor who understands that from day one.”

In his new role, McFadden will focus on building and managing comprehensive risk portfolios for individuals and families with complex personal risk profiles, including high-value homes, vehicles, and personal assets. He takes a proactive, consultative approach designing custom risk management plans around each client’s lifestyle, assets, and long-term goals, then actively monitoring those plans as circumstances change.

About Watkins Insurance Group

Watkins Insurance Group is a Top 100 Property & Casualty agency as ranked by Insurance Journal and the largest privately-owned independent insurance agency in Central Texas. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, the agency delivers tailored insurance, employee benefits, and surety bond solutions for businesses and individuals across the country. Watkins operates through multiple locations, supported by a veteran leadership team and a network of globally connected resources through its membership in Assurex Global, the world’s largest association of privately held insurance brokers. For more information, visit https://watkinsinsurancegroup.com/

MEDIA CONTACT:
Dshanya Reese, CIC
Brand Marketing Manager
Dreese@WatkinsInsuranceGroup.com

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News Source: Watkins Insurance Group

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Source: https://www.send2press.com/wire/watkins-insurance-group-expands-private-client-practice-with-addition-of-industry-veteran-patrick-mcfadden/

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WEST GROVE (PA), MAY 13, 2026 — Simpson, a group of communities in Pennsylvania introduces a new spring/summer Joyous dining program for residents of Jenner’s Pond. The Joyous program by Sodexo recognizes the joy that many residents get from dining out, whether it’s to socialize with neighbors or try a new dish. It combines warm service, thoughtful experience, and a variety of vibrant, sustainable meals. Jenner’s Pond played a key role in shaping the vision for the new Sodexo Dining Program, which is now being rolled out across the country. Photo caption: Jenner’s Pond launches its Joyous spring/summer menu in all four dining rooms. The menu features seasonal dishes such as grilled chicken Milanese and arugula. Drew Conant, executive chef, said, “We know that independent living residents want more than just food. They want ease, a feeling of belonging, and meaningful variation.” He has been creating menus for Jenner’s Pond since ten years. He is a chef with a passion for food and community. Chef Conant brings the residents’ joy in living and eating healthy to life through Joyous’ wide range of trendy, health-forward options that cater to individual preferences while delivering an elevated dining experience. Joyous is focused on providing residents with connection, freedom, comfort and inspiration. Residents have been embracing Joyous’ spring/summer menus under Conant, which feature dishes made with fresh seasonal ingredients. Chef Conant has a personal favorite dish, grilled Milanese chicken with arugula. Residents’ feedback in the first two weeks after the Joyous menu launch was extremely positive. They gave Aplus scores of 100 for high-quality nutrition and hospitality excellence, and 96 for customization. Residents note that Chef Conant makes sure the menus are exciting, while accommodating diverse dietary needs and prioritizing engagement with residents to get feedback. Inge & Gustavo Santos, residents of a retirement community, note that it can be a difficult task to meet diverse dietary requirements while maintaining menus that are exciting. Chef Drew makes this look easy. The quality and presentation of the food is consistently excellent, from scratch-made soups to elegant season entrees. “We have so many memories and emotions tied to our favorite recipes and home-cooked food,” said Dr. Carol McKinley. “Joyous” is more than a new menu. The menus are designed to highlight the special moments in life, such as sharing a meal with friends, celebrating with family or enjoying a favorite dish. Jenner’s Pond offers four dining rooms with different menus, including the Multi Format Cafe & Bistro, the upscale Brandywine Room, the Delaware Dining Room with buffet-style eating, and the Cattail Cafe with multiple dining stations. The dishes are a mix of comfort food and trendier fare, with a variety of recipes from over 3,400. The Jenner’s Pond team also creates memorable events through pop-ups and themed events, as well as multi-course meals paired with mocktails, cocktails, and themed decor. McKinley said, “We like to think that Jenner’s Pond is the best restaurant in town.” Ask the Santos who say “We are incredibly fortunate to have talent of such caliber in our locality!” ABOUT SIMPSON Since 1865 Simpson has been meeting the changing needs and wants of Pennsylvania area seniors of diverse backgrounds. The family of services includes two Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs): Simpson Meadows, and Jenner’s Pond, three affordable senior living community: Simpson Gardens I and Simpson Gardens II, as well Simpson HomeCare, and Simpson Rehabilitation. The organization’s mission is to provide elders of diverse backgrounds with better amenities, better care, and improved services in beautiful, dignified and spiritual settings. For more information, visit: https://www.simpsonsenior.org/ Press Page:

https://www.simpsonsenior.org/about/press/ MUILTIMEDIA Photo link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/26-0513-s2p-jenrspond-300dpi.webp Photo Caption: Jenner’s Pond debuts its Joyous spring and summer menu across all four dining rooms, featuring seasonal dishes like grilled chicken Milanese with arugula salad. News Source: SimpsonTo view the original post, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/simpson-elevates-senior-living-dining-experience-with-joyous-program/. This press release has been issued by Send2Press(r), Newswire, on behalf of the news sources. They are solely responsible for its accuracy. www.send2press.com.

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CHICAGO, Ill. & DENVER, Colo. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE), May 13, 2026 — The Kiosk Manufacturer Association and The Industry Group will serve as a technology hub for self service, AI, payments and accessibility at the National Restaurant Association Show 2026 in Chicago, from May 16-19. Booth #5829, located in the North Building of McCormick Place, is open to restaurant operators and technology leaders. This booth will showcase practical solutions to increase throughput, improve customer experience, and strengthen compliance for all restaurant formats. Image caption: Kiosk Association Anchors the Tech Hub at NRA 2026 Show. Attendees will be able to see a range of deployed and deployable technology at Booth #5829. Pyramid Computer will showcase its POLYTOUCH platform, which offers operators a variety of hardware options for ordering and wayfinding. TPGi will showcase accessibility best practices including JAWS and Screen Reader compliance to help restaurant brands comply with ADA and EAA regulations. URway Holdings offers voice ordering and conversational AI that reduces friction, allowing more guests to successfully complete their orders. Sitekiosk is demonstrating secure kiosk software, device lockdown and remote management to protect unattended terminals against tampering or misuse. Innovative Technology will showcase biometric and identification validation capabilities, subjected to final confirmation. KMA and TIG will also offer an “NRA2026 Tech Walking Route”, which starts and ends at Booth #5829, and guides visitors along a curated circuit of self-service exhibitors, POS, payment, AI, hardware and robotics in the North Hall. The walking tour was designed to reduce backtracking and group vendors according to theme. It also helps attendees gain actionable insights from each stop. Online, visitors will be able to download a route map and receive instructions for the walking tour. This allows them to plan their time with technology before they arrive. TIG also announced new company profiles that include first-level AI and SEO analysis to help vendors increase visibility beyond a simple website. A self-survey can be used by organizations to determine if they need a formal profile. Profiles are available for $79 and can be purchased online. There are also additional Consensus Research reports, such as voice in AI self service, cash acceptance versus a credit calculator, and a Retrofit Decision Kit with ROI calculator. Supporters receive all data reports for free. For a complete preview of exhibitors at Booth #5829, solution overviews, and walking-tour details, visit the KMA/TIG NRA Show page at https://kioskindustry.org/nra-national-restaurant-show. Media and attendees with questions can contact Craig Keefner at craig@kioskindustry.org or 720-324-1837. IMAGE LINKS for media: [1] https://kioskindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/nra-booth-0417-three-demos.jpg.webp [2] https://kioskindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/NRA-walking-look.png.webp News Source: The Industry GroupTo view the original post, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/kiosk-association-anchors-tech-hub-at-2026-nra-show-highlights-self-service-ai-payments-and-accessibility/. This press release has been issued by Send2Press (r) Newswire, on behalf of the news provider. The source is solely responsible. www.send2press.com.

ST. LOUIS, Mo., May 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — OptiFunder®, the mortgage industry pioneer in warehouse management automation, has partnered with Vesta, the AI-native loan origination system and agent platform, to connect loan origination and warehouse funding workflows. The integration links origination, funding, and sale to the capital markets, eliminating fragmented systems and manual handoffs that have historically slowed execution and increased risk.

Image caption: Vesta Partners with OptiFunder to bring loan origination and warehouse funding together.

That fragmentation ends with Genesis by OptiFunder, a Warehouse Management System for mortgage originators, embedded directly inside Vesta’s LOS. Mortgage bankers can now manage warehouse funding strategy, optimize line utilization, and automate post-closing workflows without switching systems or rekeying data. The integration combines real-time origination data with intelligent decisioning across OptiFunder’s network of 60+ warehouse lenders, cutting financing costs and improving funding accuracy across origination, reconciliation, and paydown — all from a single system of record.

“Warehouse management has traditionally operated outside the LOS, creating unnecessary friction and risk,” said Brian Abbott, Chief Operating Officer of OptiFunder. “By connecting the LOS and Genesis, we’re aligning origination and warehouse workflows into a single, intelligent process. Originators gain a seamless, end-to-end funding experience, Vesta extends its operational reach, and warehouse lenders benefit from standardized, system-driven connectivity that scales across multiple originators and environments.”

Beyond originators, the integration delivers meaningful value across the broader warehouse ecosystem. Together, Vesta and OptiFunder extend the origination workflow into warehouse finance—one of the most capital-intensive and operationally complex stages of mortgage lending—without requiring custom, one-off integrations for each warehouse lender. For warehouse lenders, Genesis provides a single, bi-directional integration that supports dozens of originators, improving consistency, visibility, and operational efficiency.

The API-based integration also enhances reliability and security throughout the funding lifecycle. System-to-system connectivity reduces reliance on spreadsheets, emails, and manual portal activity, minimizing data errors and operational risk. Secure data transmission, role-based access controls, and complete audit trails improve transparency and support compliance requirements, while automated workflows ensure funding, collateral, reconciliation, and paydowns are executed consistently and predictably.

“We’re proud to partner with the OptiFunder team to bring Genesis closer to the loan origination workflow,” said Monica Raciti, Head of Operations and Partnerships at Vesta. “Warehouse finance is one of the most operationally complex parts of mortgage lending, and tighter integration between origination and funding makes life easier for the lenders we both serve.”

For more information about Genesis by OptiFunder, visit: https://www.optifunder.com/

To learn more about Vesta, visit: https://www.vesta.com/

About OptiFunder

Founded by mortgage lenders to modernize post-closing and secondary market operations, OptiFunder is a mortgage technology company delivering transparent, efficient warehouse management solutions for mortgage originators and warehouse lenders. Its Genesis and Greyhound platforms seamlessly connect funding, post-closing, and loan repayment, creating a unified lifecycle that reduces friction, improves visibility, and supports scalable operations. OptiFunder has been recognized for its innovation and growth, earning honors including Inc. 5000’s Fastest Growing Private Companies, HousingWire’s Tech100 Mortgage award, and Progress in Lending’s Innovation Award.

About Vesta

Vesta is the AI-native loan origination system and agent platform for mortgage, powering banks, independent mortgage banks, and fintech lenders. Built on a modern, cloud-native system of record, Vesta gives lenders a single source of truth—every loan, borrower, property, and document is versioned, auditable, and accessible via API—so teams and agents operate from the same trusted context. Vesta blends deterministic rules and configurable workflows with autonomous agents that can interpret documents, call domain tools (e.g., income and asset calculators, conditions, disclosures, pricing and fee workflows), and orchestrate work across teams and third parties with traceable outcomes and human oversight. The result is faster cycle times, lower cost per loan, and a scalable “agent factory” operating model. Founded in 2020, Vesta is backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Bain Capital Ventures, Conversion Capital, Index Ventures, and Zigg Capital. Learn more at https://www.vesta.com/.

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Image caption: Vesta Partners with OptiFunder to bring loan origination and warehouse funding together.

News Source: OptiFunder

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