A free daily game for appraisers launches November 2, offering a chance to win a Caribbean cruise and earn a spot on the national Top 100 Appraisers in America leaderboard.

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — As appraisers face big changes this season, a new free daily game is giving them a reason to take a break, have some fun, and compete for national bragging rights.

Emboss LLC announces Subject2, “The Daily Game for Busy Appraisers,” launches its first official season, Season 1: Welcome to Florida!, on November 2, 2026. Players can compete for free for a chance to win a Caribbean cruise for two. A separate national Top 100 Appraisers in America leaderboard recognizes the game’s highest-ranking players for bragging rights.

Built from an appraiser’s perspective and supported by a veteran team, Subject2 puts players in an appraiser’s shoes, working through simulated appraisal orders and answering questions based on the new appraisal reporting rules. Its points system, which incorporates relative dollar values and costs, brings the business realities of appraisal into the game. Each weekday, players receive two orders and can claim one additional free order between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. their time, for a total of three free orders a day.

“The purpose of the game is to challenge the way software is often imposed on appraisers instead of being built around them,” said game founder Brandon Selfors. “Subject2 is my way of slowing down the industry and asking people to pause and empathize with what appraisers go through. The industry is struggling. Appraisers haven’t seen meaningful pay increases in more than two decades, yet they carry a substantial share of the risk in the transaction. Something isn’t right. Senior appraisers owe it to the next generation to stand up for the profession.”

Subject2 is designed to be easy to play, taking less than five minutes a day on a desktop computer or phone. Registration is required to play, and players must hold an active appraiser license or trainee registration to win. Preseason practice is available now, but preseason scores do not count toward the prize.

“I wanted to give appraisers a break,” said Selfors. “That’s what we need going into the new year.”

Season 1 runs November 2, 2026, through January 3, 2027. Only a player’s three best weeks out of nine count toward the season score, giving players flexibility if they miss a week or start late. Players can join as late as December 14 and still have three full weeks count.

The grand prize winner can choose a Caribbean cruise for two, a similar vacation package, or a cash prize. The prize is personally funded by Selfors through his agency, Emboss LLC. No purchase is necessary to play or win. Eligibility requirements and restrictions apply.

Play Subject2: https://play.gunterschain.comOfficial Rules: https://play.gunterschain.com/rulesPrivacy Policy: https://play.gunterschain.com/privacy

About Subject2

Subject2 is an independent practice game by Emboss LLC. It’s not affiliated with or endorsed by The Appraisal Foundation or any agency, and it’s not CE credit or a course. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Only licensed appraisers, including trainees, can win. See the Official Rules and Privacy Policy.

Media Contact

Luke Garris, Emboss LLC, 1 8132142622, pr@gunterschain.com, gunterschain.com

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SOURCE Emboss LLC

CHICAGO, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Poetry Foundation awards $1.52 million to 52 nonprofit poetry organizations, poetry presses and magazines, and literary arts service organizations.

“Support for the literary arts, and especially poetry, remains critical at this time of rising costs and a decrease in funding from traditional sources,” said Poetry Foundation president and CEO, Michelle T. Boone. “The Poetry Foundation’s funding to this collective of organizations and publishers helps make it possible for people of all ages to express themselves and engage with poetry and poets.”

Spanning 23 states and United States territories, these grantee-partner organizations support poets of all ages and at every stage of their careers; publish emerging voices; create opportunities for audiences to experience poetry; provide fellowships, residencies, and professional development for poets; and expand access to poetry through translation and archival work.

Alongside the Poetry Foundation’s other philanthropic efforts, these general operating grants bring the Foundation’s total grantmaking funds for 2026 to more than $3.4 million.

Fall 2026 Grantee-Partners

Nonprofit Poetry Organizations

Academy of American Poets, New York, $50,000Alapoesía, Puerto Rico, $10,000Brooklyn Poets, New York, $40,000Community Literature Initiative, California, $50,000Glassless Minds, California, $15,000Mass Poetry, Massachusetts, $35,000National Poetry Series, New Jersey, $30,000Nebraska Writers Collective, Nebraska, $40,000Nuyorican Poets Cafe, New York, $30,000Poetic Justice, Oklahoma, $35,000Puha Hubiya, New Mexico, $15,000Radical Reversal, New Jersey, $35,000Saint Louis Poetry Center, Missouri, $30,000Small Press Traffic, California, $25,000Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative, Illinois, $30,000Street Poets, California, $30,000The Clifton House, Maryland, $25,000The Poetry Project, New York, $50,000Urban Word NYC, New York, $40,000Woodland Pattern, Wisconsin, $60,000Words of the People, Oklahoma, $25,000Youth Speaks, California, $40,000

Nonprofit Poetry Presses and Magazines

Alice James Books, Maine, $30,000American Poetry Review, Pennsylvania, $20,000Bamboo Ridge Press, Hawaii, $20,000Beloit Poetry Journal , Maine, $10,000Black Ocean, Illinois, $15,000BOA Editions , New York, $30,000Cardboard House Press, Rhode Island, $40,000Foglifter Press, California, $15,000Fonograf Editions, Oregon, $15,000Host Publications, Texas, $35,000Hub City Writers Project, South Carolina, $30,000Infrarrealista Review, Texas, $15,000La Impresora, Puerto Rico, $20,000Lugar Comun, Florida, $35,000Mizna, Minnesota, $35,000Nightboat Books, New York, $40,000Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora, Illinois, $60,000Poet Lore, Maryland, $10,000Rhino Poetry, Illinois, $10,000Sinister Wisdom, Florida, $20,000Sundress Publications, Tennessee, $10,000Tupelo Press, Massachusetts, $20,000Ugly Duckling Presse, New York, $25,000Words Without Borders, New York, $25,000World Poetry Books, New York, $25,000

Nonprofit Literary Arts Service Organizations

American Literary Translators Association, Arizona, $20,000,Community of Literary Magazines and Presses, New York, $60,000Kundiman, New York, $35,000Radius of Arab American Writers (RAWI), Texas, $15,000Torch Literary Arts, Texas, $40,000

These grants build on the Poetry Foundation’s 2026 commitments, which include:

Awarding $1,025,000 to the Sustainable Futures grantee-partner cohortProviding $400,000 in special opportunity grants, which includes:Sponsoring national events such as the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Conference, the National Book Awards, and the PEN America World Voices FestivalFunding poetry programs across the Midwest, like the Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards and Kalamazoo Poetry FestivalUnderwriting $250,000 in opportunities for individual poets, including fellowships at MacDowell and United States Artists and supporting the Chicago and Illinois poet laureateshipsContributing to the Literary Arts Fund 

About the Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation transforms lives through the power of words. Our work aims to amplify poetry and celebrate poets by fostering spaces for all to create, experience, and share poetry. Follow the Poetry Foundation and Poetry magazine on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Poetry Foundation

The global HR research and advisory firm’s new Build a Fit-for-Purpose Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) Operating Model resource includes three blueprints designed to help HR leaders assess organizational fit, design a practical HR business partner operating model, and implement it in a way that drives adoption and ongoing refinement.

TORONTO, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As organizations navigate growing complexity, changing workforce needs, and increasing expectations for HR to contribute to business outcomes, many HR teams are reassessing whether their current operating model enables the level of strategic partnership leaders require. To bring clarity to the decision-making process, global HR research and advisory firm McLean & Company has released Build a Fit-for-Purpose HRBP Operating Model, a comprehensive resource that helps HR leaders evaluate, design, and implement an HR business partner (HRBP) operating model grounded in the organization’s unique context and needs.

“An HRBP operating model should not be adopted by default or used as a quick fix for operational workload,” says Lexi Hambides, director, HR Research & Advisory Services at McLean & Company. “The right model starts with a clear understanding of the organization’s strategic needs, then translates that understanding into design choices, service expectations, governance, and change practices that enable HRBPs to act as trusted advisors and strategic partners.”

McLean & Company explains in the recently published resource that an HRBP operating model clarifies how HRBPs work with leaders and how HR work is structured to support business outcomes. When designed intentionally, the model helps HR focus on outcomes, align people decisions to business needs, and strengthen strategic partnership across the organization.

The firm cautions that the HRBP operating model is a response to increasing organizational complexity, not a default structure. Without first defining the driving need for a stronger HR-business partnership, organizations risk designing a model that does not solve the right problem or deliver meaningful value.

The Build a Fit-for-Purpose HRBP Operating Model resource includes dedicated guidance for each step in McLean & Company’s three-phase process:

Assess the HR Business Partner Operating Model Fit: This phase helps HR leaders determine whether an HRBP operating model is the right fit by assessing current strengths and pain points, analyzing strategic direction and external factors, and identifying the driving need. From there, the resource helps confirm whether the model should proceed, pause, or be reconsidered.Design the HR Business Partner Operating Model: This section of the process guides the translation of assessment insights into clear design decisions, including project team structure, design principles, goals and metrics, scope, governance, centralization, and segmentation. It also outlines HRBP service levels, engagement standards, feedback processes, and service level agreements.Implement the HR Business Partner Operating Model: The third phase helps HR leaders operationalize the model by aligning HR structure and functions, assessing organizational readiness, developing a rollout plan, and creating an HRBP profile. It also supports change communications, preparation for new ways of working, and ongoing impact monitoring.

Across the three phases, McLean & Company emphasizes that effective HRBP operating models must be grounded in data, aligned to organizational strategy, and supported by clear expectations for how HRBPs and leaders work together.

The research also highlights the importance of leadership buy-in, governance, and implementation planning. By engaging leaders early and preparing HR employees and leaders for new ways of working, organizations can position HRBPs as strategic advisors while supporting a smoother rollout and ongoing refinement.

To access the full resource, please visit McLean & Company’s Build a Fit-for-Purpose HRBP Operating Model page or contact Senior Communications Manager Kelsey King at kking@mcleanco.com.

For related support, HR leaders can explore McLean & Company’s facilitated workshops, including Create an HR Strategy and Redesign Your HR Structure. To learn more, visit the workshops page.

Media seeking research-backed insights or commentary from McLean & Company experts on strategic HR partnership, HR operating model transformation, workforce planning, change readiness, or implementation planning can contact kking@mcleanco.com.

About McLean & Company
McLean & Company is a global HR research and advisory firm and trusted partner to people leaders navigating today’s most pressing workforce challenges. Informed by its work with thousands of HR professionals and executives, the firm provides evidence-based research, diagnostics, practical tools, hands-on support, and services spanning advisory, learning, and coaching. From workforce strategy and leadership to culture, engagement, retention, and AI adoption, McLean & Company helps leaders move from direction to execution and deliver measurable results for their people and organizations.

McLean & Company is a division of Infotech.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software, and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@mcleanco.com.

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SOURCE McLean & Company