Financial Institutions Blog

BYD’s Electric Cars of the Future

Melissa Neis, Vice President of Parr Insurance Brokerage, along with Dwight Zivo, Vice President of Marketing, met with representatives from the ever-growing auto manufacturing company BYD in Beijing for the launch of their 2 new electric vehicles, the BYD Qin Ev300 and e5 .

The Qin (pronounced “chin”) EV300 is an all-electric version of the Qin plug-in hybrid first glimpsed at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show. Both vehicles can discharge electricity to help power houses during blackouts, BYD says. Pricing in China starts at 259,800 yuan ($40,171) for the Qin EV300, and 229,800 ($35,553) for the e5. The Qin EV300 also features a special air-purification system.

In China, the rise of natural gas car ownership in the 21st century has effected the environment negatively. Thus, the Chinese Government is providing incentives for Auto Manufactures and the general public to switch to electric cars. As a result, electric vehicle sales have multiplied by more than 3x with 2015’s sales of 331,000 EVs. Endorsed by Warren Buffet, BYD corporation has stepped up to the plate with its own line of electrical cars. In 2015, BYD sold more than 55,000 units but this year sales are expected to reach 150,000+.

Chairman Wang ChuanFu explained “The Chinese government has more comprehensive policy support on new-energy cars than other governments, leading to the industry’s explosive development last year,” said Wang. “The rapid growth will remain from 2016 to 2018.”

Chicagoland Cooperator’s Expo

Chicagoland Cooperator’s Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo

The Chicagoland Cooperator’s Condo, HOA & Co-op seasonal Expo took place at the Navy Pier Convention Center, on Wednesday, November 18^thfrom 10am-4:30pm. The Expo is for board members, property managers, condo, HOA and co-op decision makers. Dwight Zivo of Parr Insurance Brokerage was an insurance expert in one of the Advice Booths, a free advice panel available to attendees of the event.. The event was free.

The Chicagoland Expo is the largest expo in the state entirely dedicated to connecting condo, HOA, and co-op managers, board members, and residents with the professionals and service providers their communities need on a regular basis. Between nearly 300 exhibitors, countless product demos, free advice booths, and full roster of educational seminars, it’s literally a one-stop, custom-built marketplace for vendors, products and ideas.

“The express purpose of the Chicago Expo is to help attendees make useful, productive connections, gain valuable information, and network with their peers,” says company president Yale Robbins. So if you’re a decision-maker for a condo, homeowners association, or co-op community—or even if you just call one home—and you have a pressing legal issue or an important project waiting in the wings, you owe it to yourself and your community to drop by the Expo and experience what it has to offer. It would take months to meet with the same number of vendors and professionals a typical Expo attendee will interact with in one afternoon on the show floor.

A Learning Experience

One of the biggest reasons for board members, managers, and owners to visit the show is the Chicago Expo’s full slate of free educational seminars. Custom-built to help anyone involved—or even just interested—in the administration of a residential building or homeowners association, the 2015 seminar panels will provide in-depth discussion of the legal, administrative, management, and financial concerns pertinent to the region’s HOA managers, board members, and residents.

If you are interested in attending the expo as an audience member to enjoy one the free seminars, network with fellow individuals in your particular field of expertise or promoting yourself and business as an exhibitor next time around please visit http://fall.ilexpo.com/ to register!

Collaboraction – Beggar’s Banquet!

Collaboraction, the Chicago-based theater company dedicated to social change, collaboration and original work, launched its 20th season in Wicker Park with its always popular Beggars’ Banquet, this year honoring Collaboraction founder and nationally acclaimed director Kimberly Senior. Parr Insurance was one of the sponsors of Collaboraction. Melissa Neis, VP of Parr Insurance Brokerage, was the event Chairperson.”

Over 200 supporters raised more than $50,000 for the company while having an absolute blast at the time-traveling celebration of the company’s origins, 20-year history and exciting new future. The evening kicked off with paparazzi shots, cocktails and a delicious Chop Shop buffet, followed by a raffle and live auction. Kimberley Senior founded Collaboraction in 1995, and current Artistic Director, Anthony Moseley, joined the company in its third show and collaborated with Senior on numerous productions before taking over the helm. Moseley says “The first 20 years of Collaboraction cultivated a tremendous volume of theatre and relationships and amazing shared moments. It is a tremendous privilege, to take a moment, to remember and share and celebrate these accomplishments, before getting sucked back up by the excitement around our unique new work and mission we have laid out for the next five years to use all this energy we have created to make a positive impact on Chicago.”

Proceeds will help fund Collaboraction’s Teen Youth Ensemble program with After School Matters, Collaboraction’s Crime Scene tours to Chicago’s parks each summer, new play development, and salaries for dozens of local actors, performers and artists each year.

Protecting Credit Card Fraud

The US is home to half of the world’s credit card fraud. In an attempt to protect its customers, banks have implemented chip-and-pin technology. This means the credit card data is stored on a tiny chip and the user must enter a pin number for any transaction to go through. Now banks are fearing criminals are in a scramble to find new ways to steal customer data. Read more here.