Human resources veterans A. Ira Hoffman and Brent Ruge knew there had to be a better way for professionals to find a job. In their years as consultants and managers, they oversaw people who dealt with thousands of cover letters, countless job board postings, and spray-and-pray online applications. It was a broken system, so instead of fixing modern recruitment, they decided to reinvent it.

The partners cofounded TerraTal, an online portal that’s blending matchmaking style technology with recruitment. The result is a simple, streamlined solution that eliminates stress, connects the right people and saves businesses thousands of dollars on every new hire.

“People looking for a job can easily spend hours a day trolling job boards, writing cover letters that likely won’t be read, and submitting applications to an impenetrable job search void. Online job hunting is a disorienting, depressing process that wears people down. TerraTal isn’t a job board; it’s a single portal that matches professionals with their ideal job. Companies are going to find stellar talent quickly and save major dollars on recruitment,” said TerraTal co-founder A. Ira Hoffman, the integrated marketing and analytics expert behind the company.

 Professionals hunting for the next great gig fill out a free comprehensive profile detailing their experience, salary goals, availability, and other skills-based criteria that can be ranked by priority. Instead of agonizing over resumes and cover letters, professionals fill out one profile and let TerraTal do the matchmaking.

 Companies seeking talent create similar free profiles for open positions, and TerraTal’s algorithms make the matches. Businesses can view complete profiles from a handful of top candidates, and when they see someone they like, they pay a flat fee of $199 for the candidate’s contact information.

 “TerraTal is killing the resume, and no one’s going to miss it,” said co-founder Dr. Brent Ruge, who focuses on the mathematical and technological side of the company. “There is too much waste in recruitment, where broken systems drain time, energy, and money. Professionals and companies are drowning in countless job postings and unanswered applications, and the process is stressful and exhausting on both sides. TerraTal intelligently matches talented people with fantastic jobs. Most companies spend tens of thousands of dollars for every new hire, but we’re supplying a smarter solution for a fraction of the cost.”

 Company recruiters do not have to scan hundreds of applications for every job or dodge desperate phone calls. The algorithm does the heavy lifting to find the cream of the crop, and recruiters can take their time examining those top candidates.

 “When you compare TerraTal with standard recruitment fees, which are about a third of an employee’s annual salary, you’ll see that paying a thousand dollars to talk directly with the top five ideally matched candidates is a bargain. Recruiters don’t have to deal with posting and removing a job on multiple websites, so administration is simple. We’re here to take the unnecessary pressure out of both job hunting and recruitment,” said Hoffman.

About TerraTal

TerraTal is career matchmaking technology that connects talented professionals and great companies. Terra stands for earth, reflecting the global nature of today’s job market, and Tal is short for talent. TerraTal is a single, simple platform that lets professionals and companies create profiles instead of resumes and job postings. Professionals answer comprehensive questions about their background, strengths, goals, salary requirements, and availability, and TerraTal’s intelligent algorithms match the best candidates with ideal positions. Employers can view all matched candidate information for free, and when they choose their favorites, they pay just $199 for the professional’s contact information. For more information, visit www.terratal.com.

Dallas, TX– April 20, 2015—InstaHype, an email service connecting brands with influencers, announced its official online launch. InstaHype is like a simple email version of popular online dating apps, but instead of linking romantics, it links brands with tastemakers, accelerating these connections to increase brand awareness, create a social buzz, and drive new customers.

With InstaHype, there’s no platform, and no login or setup required. Instead, both sides simply join with a quick online submission. An influencer receives the weekly e-mails (at no charge) and then follows the prompts to connect directly with the brand's campaign contact. From there, it’s up to the brand to decide whether to take the relationship to the next level. InstaHype provides the spark, and after the introduction, the organization or its PR firm corresponds directly with the influencer. With InstaHype, brands have an immediate, cost effective way to launch impactful guerrilla marketing campaigns.

InstaHype’s team consists of marketing and PR executives, as well as the owner of a women’s fashion brand, all of whom have spent many hours managing influencer campaigns.

“InstaHype was created to simply facilitate valuable, even game-changing partnerships to increase brand awareness and loyalty, create buzz, and drive revenue—through all social media channels,” Marc Mattox, Instahype’s co-founder said.

And as Landon Ledford, InstaHype’s co-founder, puts it, “Developing these relationships is really like dating. What brand or PR firm wouldn’t want the ability to develop mutually beneficial partnerships more quickly?  Connecting a brand with the right audience has never been easier.”

InstaHype introduces brands to influencers in the key areas of fashion, beauty, food, and lifestyle, the latter of which includes parenting, DIY, shopping, style and décor, and more. The service represents approximately 22,000 social influencers and tastemakers who have an online following of 5,000+.

For public relations firms, Instahype accelerates a brand’s connection to thousands of targeted brand advocates, significantly cutting down the time it takes to research, contact, and follow-up, thanks to the direct-to-influencer email strategy.

InstaHype was designed to accommodate any brand across multiple industries, from fashion and finance to technology and travel. The connection service is currently free for brands to test as well. Future iterations will include additional functionality and will require a small fee (per usage or monthly) to connect with influencers.

Brands and influencers can register to be a part of Instahype at www.InstaHype.it.

ABOUT INSTAHYPE

InstaHype is a weekly email service designed to connect brands to influencers and advocates so they may reach new, targeted customers. InstaHype helps brands build awareness, social buzz, and customer interactions that lead to greater revenue. Learn more about InstaHype online, on Facebook, and Twitter.

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DALLAS – Nov. 10, 2014 –Klemchuk Kubasta LLP (KK LLP), a leading full-service intellectual property (IP) law firm, is proud that KK LLP partner and member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Kirby Drake, is serving as the General Chair for the ACS Southwest Regional Meeting (SWRM 2014) being held November 19 – 22, 2014 at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.

“I am honored to represent Klemchuk Kubasta LLP and the American Chemical Society by serving as General Chair for SWRM 2014,” said Drake. “The meeting is an invaluable experience for those in our region who wish to learn about the latest trends and innovations within the chemical industry.”

SWRM 2014 is an annual meeting that includes numerous technical sessions touching on all areas of chemistry. Technical sessions will delve into timely topics such as climate change, chemical education, innovation and patenting, natural products, and computational chemistry.

However, this year, SWRM 2014 also provides cutting edge business sessions including a session concerning patent pro bono assistance for independent inventors and entrepreneurs, featuring retired Texas Supreme Court Justice, Craig T. Enoch, who is now managing member of Enoch Kever PLLC, Kelly Jackson who is Director for the AIA Pro Bono Patent Assistance Program for the Texas Region, Wes Jurey, President and CEO of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and Erik Metzger of Intel Corporation.

“We hope that by having sessions like the patent pro bono assistance program panel independent inventors and entrepreneurs can be equipped with the information they need to protect their product,” said Drake. “Our goal is to ensure panel attendees are aware of cost effective means that are available to safeguard their inventions.”

SWRM 2014 also will feature a session on business issues, including presentations related to patents and licensing, angel investing options, and business valuation. In addition, SWRM 2014 includes significant programming focused on career development, including career pathways, preparing for life after graduate school, resume review sessions, and several networking opportunities to connect people at all stages in their careers.

About Klemchuk Kubasta LLP:

Klemchuk Kubasta LLP is a Dallas-based IP boutique law firm that offers comprehensive intellectual property legal services, including litigation and enforcement of all forms of intellectual property as well as registration and licensing of patents, trademarks, trade dress, and copyrights.  The firm also provides legal services relating to domain names, e-commerce, privacy policies, social media, Internet law, commercial and business litigation and technology transactions. Attorneys at Klemchuk Kubasta LLP bring a variety of different skill sets to the firm, creating a unique, collaborative environment centered on providing exceptional client service through a compelling corporate culture. The firm is dedicated to improving the community through several local organizations including My Possibilities, Carry the Load, The Shoulders of Giants and The Birthday Party Project, among others. Additional information about the firm and its attorneys may be found at www.kk-llp.com. 

About SWRM 2014:

SWRM 2014 is the Southwestern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, which will take place in Fort Worth on November 19-22. The meeting will offer a wide variety of events including workshops and symposia. To learn more about SWRM 2014, visit http://www.swrm2014.org/.

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(GRAPEVINE, Texas) Sept. 29, 2014 – Larry Marshall, co-founder of Cotton Patch Cafe, a locally-owned restaurant chain based in Grapevine, Texas, received the first ever Summer Santa Art of Philanthropy Award on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014 during the Summer Santa “FUNraising” concert, Tribute to Love and Music.

Each year, Cotton Patch Cafe participates in Summer Santa FUNraising events. Summer Santa, a 501(c)(3) organization, strives to enrich the well-being of Northeast Tarrant County children experiencing life’s challenges, through life-changing experiences.

The Summer Santa Art of Philanthropy Award honors an inspirational company that has successfully demonstrated teaching the art of service to the next generation. This year, Larry Marshall and his wife, Paula, were happy to accept the award on behalf of Cotton Patch Cafe.

“We are honored to be named the first ever Art of Philanthropy Award winner,” Marshall said. “At Cotton Patch Cafe, serving the community is at the heart of what we do. At each of our restaurants we try to be involved; and we really appreciate what our Grapevine and North Richland Hills stores have done to support Summer Santa over the years. It is a privilege to be involved with an organization that is truly making a difference in the lives of local children in need.”

Summer Santa, known for its unique fundraisers and events, created a Woodstock theme for this year’s Tribute to Love and Music. The event was held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 28 at the North Richland Hills Centre, featuring live music and dancing from The Party Machine of Emerald City Dance Management and food provided by Cotton Patch Cafe.

“Cotton Patch Cafe is a great example of a company that is committed to making the community a better place,” said Cyn Choate, Summer Santa. “We greatly value the relationship we’ve built with Larry and the Cotton Patch Cafe team over the years, and are thrilled to present them with the inaugural Art of Philanthropy Award. Through their generosity, they have directly, positively impacted so many children in North Texas.”

About Cotton Patch Cafe, Inc.

Cotton Patch Cafe is an authentic, locally owned, made-from-scratch casual dining concept with 42 restaurants across Texas, and in New Mexico and Oklahoma; including 17 in the DFW area. Cotton Patch Cafe is celebrating their 25^th year and continues to grow, with their newest location open in Greenville, TX and locations coming soon to Athens, Historic downtown Grapevine, TX and Ennis, TX.  Cotton Patch Cafe has a strong sense of community and partners with many organizations and charities across Texas. Cotton Patch Cafe is proud to serve up everything from classic Texas favorites like Chicken Fried Steak, meatloaf and Chicken and Dumplings to heart healthy entrees like Grilled Norwegian Salmon and the Strawberry Pecan Salad. For more information about Cotton Patch Cafe, visit CottonPatch.com.

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(DALLAS) Sept. 17, 2014 – Performance Indoor Training (P.I.T.+), Frisco’s new 56,000 square foot indoor soccer facility, is scheduled to break ground Sept. 29 at 10:30 a.m.

The soccer center and training facility at 7255 Meadow Hill Drive near Toyota Stadium is projected to open in the spring of 2015.

Performance Indoor Training will cater to families, sports leagues, professional and semi-professional teams, youth groups, community events, and more. The sports complex will offer elite soccer and performance training with three indoor FIFA® certified turf fields, two indoor futsal fields, one full size outdoor field, two outdoor sand soccer pits, one outdoor futsal field, and a state-of-the-art indoor training simulator.

Planning the sports complex has already united multiple community players into a team. A group of local soccer parents and investors coordinated Frisco Indoor Plex, LLC to create and organize the $6 million project. They approached the City of Frisco, which is contributing $200,000 toward infrastructure costs through a Chapter 280 economic incentive agreement.

“Frisco was named the ‘Best Place to Raise an Athlete’ by Men’s Journal, and development of Performance Indoor Training and quality sports venues like it help the city continue to live up to that accolade,” said James Gandy, president of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation (FEDC). “The FEDC helped facilitate this project with incentives for qualified infrastructure reimbursement because it will not only be used by residents, but also as a destination for visiting soccer players and other athletes training and playing tournaments in Frisco.”

The facility will have the first Soccer RTC training simulator in the United States. The robotic technology, which was first developed in Europe, made international headlines recently when professional players said it boosted their game. RTC, developed by GTex Inc. in Farmer’s Branch, is a ball-feeding arena that shoots nonstop from four directions to a single receiving athlete who plays an entire match of balls in minutes.

The player must quickly relay balls into lit target windows, and computers generate scores based on accuracy and timing. Sessions are recorded so players, coaches, and parents can immediately review performance. Players say the RTC provides fun, intense training that improves technique, peripheral awareness, and mental acuity.

Sponsorships are available for logo representation on fields as well as the robotic training simulator.

DesignWorks, Inc. of Arlington is the project architect, Schmoldt Construction from Celina is the contractor, and Texas-based Carrihan Creative is managing marketing consulting and design. First National Bank Southwest is the project’s financing partner.

“First National Bank Southwest is thrilled to be the financing partner for the Performance Indoor Training soccer complex,” said Cliff Whisenhunt, First National president. “When the group approached the bank with their vision for a state of the art indoor complex in Frisco, we knew it was critical to the growing need for North Texas sports space. More families moving to the area have made Frisco a hotbed for athletics, especially soccer. We are pleased First National Bank Southwest can be part of this project.”

Party rooms, concessions, and easy online booking have the potential to make the complex the new go-to facility for fun group retreats and corporate events. Future development possibilities include retail space for league equipment, jerseys and uniforms, and party supplies. The facility has additional capacity for restaurants, a fitness room, entertainment development, and extra outdoor amenities. 

"Frisco is one of the most dynamic communities for families because of access to great schools, parks, entertainment and a variety of sports,” said Brian Duncan of Frisco Indoor Plex. “When my wife and I had the opportunity to join other investors in bringing the idea of Performance Indoor Training to life, we thought it would be a great way for us to give back to Frisco by creating something meaningful and useful for the community. We live, work and play here and are excited about the facility and what it will offer children and athletes alike.”

About Performance Indoor Training (P.I.T.+)

Performance Indoor Training (P.I.T.+) is Texas’s premier soccer facility. The 56,000 square foot indoor and outdoor sports and fitness complex in Frisco is scheduled to open in spring 2015. Elite soccer instruction will be available in three indoor FIFA® certified turf fields, two futsal fields, one full size outdoor field, two outdoor sand soccer pits, one outdoor futsal field, and the first Soccer RTC™ (Robotic Training Center) simulator in the United States.

Party rooms, concessions, and easy online booking will cater to families, sports leagues, professional and semi-professional teams, youth groups, and corporate groups. The project is funded in part by the City of Frisco and organized by Frisco Indoor Plex, LLC, a group of local investors. For more information, contact Power Public Relations at 214-618-3318 or visit performanceindoortraining.com.

About Soccer RTC™

The new Soccer RTC™ (Robotic Training Center) is a soccer ball-propelling arena that utilizes cutting edge technology to provide the most advanced soccer training available. Athletes in a square arena relay nonstop balls shot from four different directions into various lit targets, playing against themselves in a fun, dynamic environment. The RTC also uses auditory signals to challenge players, offering an experience that engages multiple senses. Recorded sessions and immediate scoring provide helpful feedback so players can make the most of their game. RTC was developed by GTex Inc. in Farmer’s Branch, Texas. For more information, call Gaspar Gongora of GTex Inc. at 972-489-9169.

About First National Bank Southwest

First National Bank Southwest is a division of First National Bank of Omaha, part of the largest privately owned banking company in the country. First National Bank Southwest has four locations in Collin County, with two locations in Frisco and two in Plano.