First National Edition Debuts September 22 Across New York, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles

MIAMI, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Leading Ladies Magazine, the South Florida publication celebrating women at the intersection of entrepreneurship, luxury and legacy, expands into six new markets this fall: New York, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. 

“For years, we have watched women build companies, shape culture and move philanthropy forward in cities across the country, yet their stories are too often told in isolation,” said Jessica Cristobal, founder and CEO of Leading Ladies Magazine. “This expansion brings those women into one national conversation, where their ideas and impact travel far beyond their own communities.”

Each edition is designed as a collectible, placed where its readers already live, work and gather: five-star hotels, luxury residences, private clubs, executive offices, designer boutiques, spas and salons, galleries, restaurants, private aviation lounges, marinas and yacht clubs, plus subscriptions and digital editions.

Editorial coverage spans business and leadership, philanthropy, fashion, travel, real estate, design, arts and culture, society, dining, automotive, yachting and private aviation, supported by Leading Ladies signature experiences, including the Leading Ladies Awards, Glam Soirée, Align & Dine, cover celebrations and charitable events.

The national growth builds on the community Cristobal has cultivated through Leading Ladies League, her invitation-only network centered on connection, collaboration and community impact. With more than 20 years in luxury publishing, she has led more than a dozen award-winning titles, authored the international bestseller The Leading Ladies Guidebook and was crowned Mrs. Florida International 2025.

To subscribe or view the digital edition, visit LeadingLadiesMagazine.com.

About Leading Ladies Magazine
Leading Ladies Magazine is a national women’s success publication showcasing founders, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, moguls and cultural leaders. Built on connection, collaboration and community impact, the magazine covers business, leadership, luxury, lifestyle and legacy through print, digital media and signature events, reaching readers across South Florida, New York, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. For more information, visit LeadingLadiesMagazine.com.

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SOURCE Leading Ladies Magazine

The new law enhances homeowners’ and contractors’ access to both live videoconference and asynchronous video/photo inspections, streamlining approvals across a wide range of residential installations.

WATSONVILLE, Calif. and SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1738, establishing a statewide mandate that expands access to remote building inspections for specified residential projects while preserving the authority and professional judgment of local Inspectors.

Authored by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo, AB 1738 passed the California Senate by a 29–6 vote and received final Assembly concurrence by a 68–0 vote. The new law requires covered cities and counties to offer a homeowner—or a Contractor with the homeowner’s written consent—the option to request a remote inspection for all or part of an inspection required by a building permit. This can speed up residential and renewable energy developments by offering remote inspections for qualified residential installations. This lowers expenses, saves time, and maximizes Inspector availability without compromising safety.

At the jurisdiction’s discretion, an inspection may be conducted through live videoconferencing or recorded photos and videos. The law covers specified work in single-family and two-family dwelling units, including residential reroofs, qualifying photovoltaic and energy-storage systems, minor electrical and plumbing work, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. AB 1738 creates a statewide framework to modernize building departments and streamline residential permitting workflows.

“AB 1738 is an important step toward faster, more accessible building inspections without compromising Inspector control,” said Dane Demicell, founder and CEO of VuSpex. “California agencies do not need to build a remote-inspection program from scratch. VuSpex already provides the live video, field documentation, reporting, scheduling and permitting-system integrations needed to put a dependable program into operation.”

The law allows local agencies to establish reasonable protocols for image quality, camera coverage, location verification, technology and connectivity. It requires the remote option to be offered at no greater cost and with no greater delay than an in-person inspection. An Inspector may end a remote inspection and require an in-person visit whenever compliance cannot be verified remotely.

Under the newly enacted measure, California’s new remote inspection standards will phase in statewide, creating a streamlined digital pathway for homeowners and contractors while giving local building departments the necessary lead time to adopt compliant workflows, with exemptions provided for small jurisdictions.

A Complete Remote-Inspection Solution

VuSpex is purpose-built for public agencies, where our team fully configures the platform to match the jurisdiction’s specific inspection policies, permit types, staffing models, and existing workflows. Capabilities include:

Flexible inspection modes: Live, two-way video inspections; real-time on-demand queues; scheduled appointments; recorded photo and video inspections; and offline field reports that synchronize when connectivity returns.

Detailed reports and documentation: Configurable inspection reports complete with photos and video give agencies a clear record of the work reviewed and the inspection result.

Permitting-system integration: Connections with platforms including Accela, Tyler Technologies, Intuitive Municipal Solutions, CentralSquare, Cityworks, Citizenserve, OpenGov, Infor, Govwell, Maintstar, Salesforce, Computronix and others allow Inspectors to launch inspections from familiar systems and automatically attach inspection photos and results to the permit record.

Scheduling and intelligent routing: DaySmart and Outlook scheduling can route appointments by discipline, record type, inspection type or other agency-defined criteria while allowing manual control when needed.

Low-connectivity support: Patented technology supports inspection work in low-bandwidth and offline environments, including rural areas and locations where a reliable signal is unavailable.

Easy field participation: Contractors and homeowners can join from a phone, tablet or computer, communicate with the Inspector and provide the visual evidence requested from the jobsite without specialized inspection hardware.

For agency leaders, the combination of configurable reports, photos, video, results and permit-record integration helps create a consistent review process and reduces separate logins, duplicate data entry and manual transfer of inspection records. By using browser-based links, VuSpex eliminates app downloads for instant virtual inspections. Initial adoption is streamlined through phased rollouts on simple permits, backed by complete training toolkits and live support.

California Agencies Are Already Using VuSpex

California jurisdictions already using VuSpex include major metropolitan areas as well as rural areas, with a total combined population of over 3 million residents. Their adoption demonstrates that VuSpex remote-inspection technology can benefit jurisdictions of any size, with different workflows, staffing levels and connectivity conditions.

“Remote inspections are not a replacement for Inspector judgment; they are another tool that helps Inspectors use their time where it matters most,” Demicell said. “With AB 1738 now law, VuSpex is ready to help California jurisdictions move from policy to implementation with a platform already being used by agencies in the State.”

VuSpex invites California building officials, technology leaders and inspection managers to schedule a demonstration and begin evaluating workflows, technical protocols, system integrations and reporting needs ahead of the law’s implementation deadlines. Visit https://www.vuspex.com to learn more and arrange a meeting to use the VuSpex cost savings calculator for remote video inspections.

About VuSpex

VuSpex’s award winning platform provides configurable virtual inspection software for government agencies and private-sector inspection teams. Its platform supports live, on-demand, scheduled and offline inspection workflows; detailed reports with photos and video; permitting and scheduling integrations; and low-connectivity field operations. VuSpex helps inspection teams improve access, reduce travel and administrative work, and maintain Inspector control throughout the review process. VuSpex has authored 4 issued patents in the domain of remote video inspection technology with two additional patents pending.

Contact: Brad Pennington, VuSpex Vice President of Sales and Business Development, brad@vuspex.com

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SOURCE VuSpex

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SMARTIES™ Vietnam has officially announced its 2026 Shortlist, recognizing 187 entries that have distinguished themselves through this year’s rigorous judging process and moved one step closer to the coveted SMARTIES™ trophies. This year’s award brings together 150 senior marketing leaders and industry experts across judging panels, reinforcing the scale and professional rigor behind SMARTIES™ Vietnam 2026.

187 Entries Making Their Mark in 2026

The SMARTIES™ Vietnam 2026 Shortlist, presented by the Marketing + Media Alliance (MMA), brings together 187 entries spanning a wide range of industries, each offering a distinct response to the increasingly complex challenges facing marketers today. Across creativity, data, technology and consumer engagement, the shortlisted work captures how marketing is being applied to create tangible impact for businesses.

This year’s Shortlist features a strong showing from leading brands including Abbott, BYD, Coca-Cola, FPT Play, Google, Grab, Heineken, L’Oréal, MSD, Nestlé, Nutifood, Samsung, Suntory PepsiCo, Unilever and Vietnam Airlines, among many others. It also reflects the work of leading media and creative agencies including Dentsu Creative, Hakuhodo, LEO, MullenLowe Mishra, Omnicom Media, PMAX, Purpose.Ant, TMRW, WPP Media and Zenith.

Reflecting on the progress seen across this year’s entries, Rohit Dadwal, CEO of MMA APAC and Global Head of SMARTIES Worldwide, shared:

“Vietnam continues to distinguish itself within the global SMARTIES™ community through its ability to combine technology and data with a deep understanding of local culture and consumers. This year’s shortlisted work demonstrates how marketers are translating that combination into creative solutions that address real business challenges and deliver measurable impact.”

4 Channels – 25 Categories: A Broader View of Modern Marketing

The range of work represented across this year’s 187 shortlisted entries extends across 4 channels and 25 categories. From customer experience, technology and data to emerging platforms and new approaches to engagement, the awards offer a broader view of how marketing is adapting to a changing marketplace and rising consumer expectations.

Beyond the 25 award categories, SMARTIES™ Vietnam 2026 will also recognize excellence through 15 Industry Awards, extending recognition across campaigns, brands, agencies, technology enablers, publishers and other players that have made a notable mark on this year’s awards.

The broader scope of SMARTIES™ also reflects the expanding role of marketing and the many ways it creates value for brands, businesses and the wider market, capturing a more complete picture of marketing excellence today.

13 Years of Celebrating Excellence and Shaping the Standards of Marketing in Vietnam

Over 13 years in Vietnam, SMARTIES™ has established itself as one of the country’s leading international marketing awards, while growing alongside an industry undergoing profound transformation. Across each season, SMARTIES™ has witnessed the boundaries between creativity, media, data and commerce become increasingly interconnected, reshaping what marketing excellence means today.

Excellence is no longer defined by the ability to capture attention alone, but by the ability to turn ideas into solutions that contribute to sustainable business growth. This principle has remained at the heart of SMARTIES™ for more than a decade.

The credibility of the 2026 awards is further reinforced by 150 industry leaders and experts across the judging panels, comprising 100 Qualifying Jury members and 50 Grand Jury members. Their breadth of expertise and experience brings depth and perspective to the judging process, while ensuring that every campaign is assessed against the standards SMARTIES™ has upheld throughout its journey in Vietnam.

Each campaign is evaluated across strategy, creativity, execution and business impact, providing a comprehensive view of both the quality of the work and the impact it delivers.

Ms. Phan Bich Tam, Managing Director Vietnam and Cambodia & Board Member Vietnam, MMA Global – APAC, emphasized:

“For 13 years, SMARTIES™ Vietnam has celebrated marketing that turns creativity into measurable business value. This year’s Shortlist reflects the growing ambition and strategic maturity of Vietnam’s marketing community. It also shows how brands and agencies are applying innovation with greater discipline to address real business challenges. Congratulations to every team recognized.”

SMARTIES™ Awards Gala

On October 29, SMARTIES™ Vietnam 2026 Gala Night will reveal and celebrate the outstanding campaigns, brands and agencies of this year’s competition.

More than the moment when the SMARTIES™ trophies find their winners, Gala Night brings the marketing community together to celebrate the campaigns and teams that have transformed consumer understanding, strategic thinking and creativity into meaningful value for brands and businesses.

View the complete list of SMARTIES Vietnam 2026 Finalists

The industry will gather to celebrate the winners at the SMARTIES™ Vietnam 2026 Awards Gala on October 29, 2026, at GEM Center, Ho Chi Minh City.

Reserve your attendance at the Gala Night.

PR Newswire is the Official Press Release Distribution Partner of SMARTIES™ Vietnam 2026.

About the Marketing + Media Alliance (MMA)

The Marketing + Media Alliance is the global non-profit community of CMOs advancing marketers’ ability to create value, with 825+ members across 16 countries. mmaglobal.com

About SMARTIES™

SMARTIES™ is the prestigious marketing awards program hosted by MMA, recognizing excellence in marketing effectiveness and innovation. The SMARTIES Awards celebrate campaigns that push creative boundaries while delivering measurable business impact. With programs spanning local, regional, and global markets, SMARTIES has become the industry’s most respected benchmark for marketing that drives real growth.

Media Contact:
Ms. Ngoc Vu
Email: ngoc.vu@mmaglobal.com

MMA Vietnam
mmavn@mmaglobal.com

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SOURCE MMA Vietnam