CampBrain Software
CampBrain camp management software

BURLINGTON, Vt., May 2, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Vermont Systems, the leading provider of recreation management and payment processing solutions for municipalities, golf clubs, colleges & universities, and the United States Military, today announced its strategic acquisition of Toronto-based CampBrain, a best-in-class SaaS solution for camp management and registration.

"Our mission in the parks and recreation industry is to empower communities to connect through next-generation software built upon decades of industry knowledge and experience, and personalized services and support," said Patrick Hayden, President of Vermont Systems. "I am thrilled not only about our ability to add a premier technology for camp management to our recreation management offerings, but one whose customers are raving fans of their software and service."

Founded in 1994 and used by 1700 camps across the US and Canada, CampBrain helps K-12 school auxiliary programs, day camps, overnight camps, faith-based camps, YMCA camps, and special needs camps with a full suite of easy-to-use software for camp management, registration and payments, staff management, attendance, fundraising, conference centers, and camp stores. It has developed a loyal customer fan base, supporting over one million camp staffers and parents, with its intuitive interface, thoughtful customer service, and a parent experience that builds confidence. 

"For three decades, we have been focused on providing our clients with the most beautiful, useful, and complete solution possible, and then serving them in a uniquely personal and caring way," said Rob Carmichael, CEO of CampBrain. "We have seen significant growth internally as well as in the industry, and CampBrain is ready for its next big leap. Partnering with Vermont Systems and the Clubessential ecosystem grants us an extensive team of resources to take that next step and continue to provide software and service that camps love to use."

A subsidiary of Clubessential Holdings, Vermont Systems is the industry leader for SaaS recreation management solutions, serving more than 1300 customers through main brands RecTrac, WebTrac, GolfTrac, PayTrac, and ePACT. The acquisition of CampBrain, in addition to last year's acquisition of ePACT, further positions Vermont Systems and Clubessential Holdings with the most comprehensive recreation management technology portfolio in the market.

Vermont Systems' comprehensive solutions provide program registration, ticketing, facility and court reservations, membership management, equipment rental, point of sale, childcare management, and an intuitive interface for community patrons of municipalities, golf clubs, colleges & universities, and the United States Military.

"We have been extremely impressed with the passion and commitment of Rob, Shane, and the CampBrain team in delivering best-in-class technology and stellar service to camps for close to 30 years," said Randy Eckels, CEO of Clubessential Holdings. "We are excited to combine our resources, talent, and innovation in elevating the camp experience for camp staffers and parents across the globe. CampBrain's market-leading position in the camp industry is a terrific addition to the Clubessential Holdings portfolio, as we continue to successfully expand upon our global footprint with strategic acquisitions and organic growth in the integrated membership and payments space."

About Vermont Systems

As the continued market pioneer and leader in Recreation Management Software, Vermont Systems provides a range of applications that increase the efficiency and productivity of recreation operations for municipalities, golf clubs, colleges & universities, and the United States Military, to help their communities play and thrive. Headquartered in Essex Junction, the dedicated staff is fully committed to developing and providing high-quality application software products coupled with responsive customer support to ensure the success of their customers in all that they strive to achieve. 

About Clubessential Holdings, LLC

Clubessential Holdings provides Software as a Service solutions to private clubs, public golf courses, health & fitness clubs, spas, military organizations, municipalities, and college athletic programs.

Across eight brands - Clubessential, ClubReady, Exerp, foreUP, Innovatise, PrestoSports, TAC, and Vermont Systems - the company offers a variety of forward-thinking technology and services which help more than 16,000 customers attract, engage, and retain over 15 million club members, community patrons, and sports fans for life.

Ryan Fisher
Chief Sustainability Officer of Trace Minerals

OGDEN, Utah, May 2, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Trace Minerals, America's number one selling trace mineral, liquid magnesium, and performance nutrition brand - according to SPINS^® - and the leading provider of trace mineral-based supplements for 50 years, announces the promotion of Ryan Fisher to the role of Chief Sustainability Officer. 

"Ryan's decades of experience with Trace Minerals, coupled with his passion for sustainability, make him the perfect fit for this new position," said CEO Matt Kilts. "We are confident that he will help us continue to grow and thrive as a company, while also making a positive impact on the environment. Trace is proud to have him as part of our leadership team, and we look forward to the many exciting initiatives he will lead as Chief Sustainability Officer."

Fisher has been with the company for 30 years and will bring his wealth of knowledge and experience to help Trace Minerals continue its mission. As it continues to grow and expand, Trace Minerals recognizes the need for new positions and opportunities to help the company grow responsibly and sustainably. 

As Chief Sustainability Officer, Ryan will be responsible for expanding Trace's state-of-the-art evaporation ponds and driving changes at Trace Minerals to enhance sustainability practices. He will be instrumental in guiding the company's brand toward a more sustainable future, in line with Trace's mission to Remineralize the World™.

About Trace Minerals—For over 50 years, Trace Minerals (www.traceminerals.com) has been helping people everywhere remineralize their bodies—achieving and maintaining the ideal level of trace minerals that are just right for them—because they know the profound impact it can have on their ability to live better every single day. Trace Minerals is America's number one selling trace mineral, liquid magnesium, and performance nutrition brand according to SPINS^® and is the exclusive provider of ConcenTrace^® Trace Mineral Drops, a concentrated seawater complex that contains a full spectrum of trace minerals and elements that also happens to be in precisely the proportion our bodies require. This naturally powerful, deeply concentrated, ionic trace mineral complex is essential to a healthy daily foundation. It's GRAS-affirmed, food-grade, Kosher, Halal, Non-GMO Project Verified, allergen free, and certified vegan. Trace Minerals' mission is the Remineralize the World™. To do this, they use ConcenTrace^® as the basis for all products in its branded product line. Trace Minerals is so confident that their customers will feel a difference in their health that the company's complete line of products is backed by a "Feel the Difference or Your Money Back" guarantee. In addition, Trace Minerals has been GMP certified since 2004, is a registered member of the Global Retailer & Manufacturer Alliance (GRMA, https://grmalliance.org/), and is currently certified by UL^® Registrar LLC (www.ul.com) under the standard ANSI 455-2 Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for Dietary Supplements, a standard developed using the FDA's cGMP's under 21 CFR Part 111.

Santa Maria Valley is Sizzle Central
Santa Maria Style put West Coast barbecue on the map 150 years ago. Now, Santa Maria Valley is 'steaking' its claim. Tune in, follow along, and come see how this slice of California's Central Coast celebrates Barbecue Month, #SantaMariaStyle.

SANTA MARIA, Calif., May 1, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Big, bold and ready to showdown and throwdown — this is Sizzle Central. A 30-mile stretch of California's Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley and its expert Santa Maria Style pit masters are prepped and ready to share their expert flavor (and hot takes) with the rest of the world. In honor of National Barbecue Month, Santa Maria Valley will transform into Sizzle Central, an unscripted, spicy and unexpected celebration of all things Santa Maria Style barbecue and is guaranteed to make the culinary world take notice.

No soggy bottoms. 

Sauce is out, spice is in, and Santa Maria Valley is entering the chat with tips on how to grill Santa Maria Style. Santa Maria Valley will be calling out barbecue techniques via its social media channels, challenging the status quo and even offering grilling tips in a Home Chef Throwdown, where anyone can upload their personal barbecue "how tos" to Instagram and/or TikTok tagging @SantaMariaValley and using #SizzleCentral hashtag. 

To kick things off, Santa Maria Valley is sharing just what you need to get started. An updated Santa Maria Style Cookbook is available to download for free and is full of Santa Maria Style recipes and tips. 

Tri-tip + wine country = A match made in heaven. Sip on that, Texas. 

So, what sets Santa Maria Style barbecue apart from the rest? (There is no competition as far as Santa Maria Valley is concerned.) Here at Sizzle Central, barbecue isn't a smoke show, rather, it's a spiced-up, red-oak-fired, perfectly wine-paired flavor found in a foodie's dream destination. 

"Santa Maria Style barbecue is in a category of its own compared to other styles of barbecue because of how we cook the meats," said Jaime Flores, Santa Maria Valley pitmaster and founder of the Santa Maria Barbecue Festival. "We cook on an open pit and control the heat by raising and lowering our grill. This open pit style allows the meats to cook evenly and the red oak smoke flavors the meats, which are seasoned with a dry seasoning usually consisting of salt, pepper and garlic. With these attributes to our style, there is no reason to sauce the meat."

Each year, hundreds of people gather in mid-May (May 13, this year) for the annual Santa Maria Barbecue Festival, a celebration of grilling Santa Maria Style. The cornerstone of the event is a professional competition with local celebrity judges that vote on the Best Barbecue in Santa Maria Valley as local businesses and professionals compete for bragging rights and the first-place Branding Iron award. There is also a separate competition for "best backyard cook."

"The differences between East, West, North and South vary greatly," said Anthony Minniti, Santa Maria Valley pitmaster. "Each style differs in cooking time, temperature, rub or no rub, and, when applicable, the sauce. I love them all, however, I think Santa Maria Style is the purest form of barbecue because of its balance and simplicity."

Santa Maria Style barbecue started in the mid-19th century when the rancheros gathered to help each other brand their calves each spring. As a thank-you to fellow vaqueros — America's first cowboys — the host would prepare a Spanish-style barbecue, consisting of beef barbecued over a red-oak fire, served with Pinquito beans, bread, salsa and homemade desserts. The region's flagship varieties also pair perfectly with barbecue — cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah — all "bold but gentle" and paired perfectly with barbecue. 

So, what are you waiting for? Come to Sizzle Central (whether in person or at home) and experience Santa Maria Style barbecue either for the first time or again and again. Of course, there's no better way than to get the complete Santa Maria Style experience than in person. With 15 beaches and 34 tasting rooms all within a 30-minute drive, Santa Maria Valley is the perfect home base to do more for less. Explore all you can do in and around the valley. For more information, visit santamariavalley.com.

Media Note: Media interested in speaking with a pitmaster, joining the Home Chef Throwdown or experiencing the region to check out all its flavors, please email [email protected]. Media Familiarization Tours are available for interested media on assignment. 

Photo Cutline: This May (aka National Barbecue Month), Santa Maria Valley is Sizzle Central. A variety of multimedia and photo assets are available for download and media use. 

About Santa Maria Valley:

Serving the greater Santa Maria Valley in the heart of California's Central Coast, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau is a nonprofit association that facilitates local tourism and provides information on the region's many attractions and visitor services. Famed for its fine wines, natural wonders, agricultural heritage and flavorful barbecue, the Santa Maria Valley offers a broad range of cultural, sporting and historical experiences. For details on Santa Maria Valley lodging, wine tasting, travel deals and e-newsletter alerts, visit santamariavalley.com or call (800) 331-3779.

#ResponderReadiness Small Group Discussions
During #ResponderReadiness workshops First Responders work in small groups to have candid conversations about stress management and resilience building techniques.

WORCESTER, Mass., May 1, 2023 (Newswire.com) - First H.E.L.P. and FirstNet^®, Built with AT&T, have doubled down on their commitment to provide first responders with world-class mental health training through First H.E.L.P.'s #ResponderReadiness Workshop Series. 

During First H.E.L.P.'s four-hour workshops, first responders explore the "3P's" of responder readiness: performance, persistence, and prevention. Through small group discussions, participants examine the impact that operational stress and trauma have on their careers and families, and take a deep dive using scenario-based training to practice difficult conversations about mental health and suicide prevention with friends, family members, and co-workers. First responders also practice resilience skills using First H.E.L.P.'s #RANGEofResilience.

Upcoming #ResponderReadiness workshops scheduled for Concord, NH, and Chicopee, MA:

• 15 May: #ResponderReadiness Workshop in Concord, NH, for the NH Fire Academy and EMS Resource Center.
• 16 May: #ResponderReadiness Workshop and a #RANGEofResilience Instructor for First Responders near Chicopee, MA. 

"A combination of organizational, individual, and family readiness is the keystone of an agency's ability to serve their community. In the #ResponderReadiness Workshop, First H.E.L.P. places emphasis on getting far ahead of a potential wellness crisis by developing healthy, positive behaviors that foster an organizational culture that is ready to serve," said Joe Willis, Chief Learning Officer, First H.E.L.P. "While the workshop directly addresses suicide prevention and crisis resource awareness, the primary focus is on resilience and early correction of undesirable behaviors."

First H.E.L.P. tracks first responder suicides throughout the nation. According to data collected by the organization, 86 New England First Responders were known to be lost to suicide since 2017. 

AT&T is working to ease the burden for communities by providing this First H.E.L.P. high-quality training to New England first responders at no cost. FirstNet is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America's first responders and the extended public safety community. Shaped by the vision of Congress and the first responder community following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, FirstNet is built with AT&T in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, an independent agency within the federal government. 

"AT&T's commitment to our public safety community goes beyond our FirstNet network connectivity," said Dr. Anna Courie, DPN, RN, PHNA-BC, Director, Responder Wellness, FirstNet Program at AT&T. "We are dedicated to working with First H.E.L.P. to bring mental health resources to first responders across the country—especially in rural areas with limited access. This program with First H.E.L.P. will better equip first responders mentally and physically and help our public safety community stay safer."

First H.E.L.P.'s goal for 2023 is to bring its #ResponderReadiness workshop to 1,200 first responders throughout the nation.

"This training will provide important tools that are missing in first responder duty bags," said Christy Lister, a First H.E.L.P. volunteer and co-host of the Beyond the 1st Response podcast. "It is a game changer and will help provide resiliency and normalize conversations about mental well-being."

First H.E.L.P.'s training program reinforces the strategic priorities established by the FirstNet Health and Wellness Coalition (FNHWC) to support first responders and their families. The mission of the FNHWC is to integrate responder, community, industry, and academic capabilities to support the health, wellness, and readiness of American first responders.

The two organizations hope to see this training reach as far into these rural communities as possible. While the training is open to federal, state, and large municipal responders, priority will go to smaller communities.

Visit 1stHELP.org or email [email protected] to learn how to bring this training to your community. 

FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.