Latest news with #Cusick
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
I fled the '10 plagues of California' for Hallmark town in red state... now I'm flush with cash and happy
A woman who fled California 's skyrocketing costs and raging wildfires has revealed that she's now living her retirement dream in a 'Hallmark movie' town and saves a whopping $1,700 a month. Brenda Duncan Cusick, 61, left Moorpark, California, a town an hour northwest of Los Angeles after nearly two decades. After moving to Prescott, Arizona, her mortgage payment plunged from a staggering $3,309 to just $1,672 monthly. Her community was dangerously close to where the devastating Woolsey Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes in 2018. She's watched helplessly as the blazes grew more difficult to control year after year and decided it was time to flee the wrath of disasters often referred to as the '10 plagues of California'. The wildfire threat didn't just endanger her family's safety but also destroyed her livelihood. Cusick was an insurance agent selling homeowners, commercial and auto policies between 2015 and 2023. She struggled to keep clients as rates tripled due to increasing fire risks, soaring reinsurance costs, and California's strict regulations. 'I lost a lot of sales because people wanted to save on their insurance, but I would advise they carry more coverage,' Cusick told Business Insider. 'They'd own a $1million home and a small business, and I'd tell them they could lose everything they've worked for for being underinsured.' She said the combination of wildfire threats, astronomical insurance premiums, eye-watering utility bills, steep gas prices and excessive car registration fees made retiring in California impossible for her. And Cusick isn't alone in her California exodus. Hundreds of thousands have abandoned the Golden State in recent years, driven out by the crushing cost of living and growing natural disaster risks. California residents endure some of the nation's highest energy bills, partly because utility companies have spent billions on wildfire mitigation that gets passed straight to customers. The state's climate policies also drive oil and gas prices through the roof. When COVID-19 unleashed remote work possibilities in 2020, Cusick and her husband took a chance on a new life. They sold their California home and joined the wave of retirees flocking to more affordable Arizona. After downsizing from their 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom Moorpark home to a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom property in Prescott, their mortgage payment plunged from a staggering $3,309 to just $1,672 monthly At first, Cusick told Business Insider it was daunting to consider leaving her home state. 'But once we did, we realized that there are so many lovely places to live all over the US,' she told the outlet. And the major financial relief was immediate. After downsizing from their 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom Moorpark home to a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom property in Prescott, their mortgage payment plunged from a staggering $3,309 to just $1,672 monthly. Their utility and HOA bills in Arizona now average a mere $373 monthly, compared to the $400-$1,200 they routinely paid in California. The sale of their California property also provided enough cash for a substantial down payment on their Arizona dream home. Prescott, surrounded by national forest, has also completely transformed their quality of life. 'It's a very western town in the mountains of Arizona,' she said. She added that the downtown area reminds her of a Hallmark movie. The historic former territorial capital hosts a major rodeo every Fourth of July and attracts thousands of tourists with its cooler summer temperatures and convenient location between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon. Since retiring from the insurance industry, Cusick has embraced her new community by getting involved with a local charity and launching the Prescott Food Tour. 'It's completely the opposite of selling boring, impossible insurance,' she told the outlet. 'I by no means make anywhere near what I did before, but when you're retired, you get to do things like this.'
Forbes
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Cusick Motorsports Continues ‘B2B' Model At The Indianapolis 500
Don Cusick, CEO and Founder of Cusick Motorsports IndyCar Photo by Joe Skibinski / @skibbyy Cusick Motorsports continues the tradition of the 'Indy Only' operations that have competed in the Indianapolis 500. These are team owners that field teams for one race a year, instead of the full season, and that one race is the biggest race of the year. Don Cusick is back at the Indianapolis 500 in 2025 and once again will partner with another Indy 500-only operation, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. Cusick Motorsports was founded in 2021 by entrepreneur Don Cusick. Its mission was to make the racing industry more accessible to all. Cusick Motorsports creates bespoke programs for its partners and creates experiences that help drive meaningful relationships and business in a true business-to-business model. The threshold for getting into the industry has not been easy for most individuals and companies. As an entrepreneur in the Healthcare Industry for over 40 years, Cusick saw the opportunity to make the motorsports industry more accessible for all, and Cusick Motorsports was founded. Key to this operation, as with any full-time IndyCar team, is sponsorship and partners. On Tuesday, April 29, Cusick Motorsports announced Mach10 Automotive, MannKind Corporation, and Branded Bills as official partners for the team's entries in the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500, in partnership with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. Mach10 Automotive, a new partner of Cusick Motorsports, brings its deep-rooted expertise in automotive mergers, acquisitions, and performance optimization to the team. "We are thrilled to welcome Mach 10 as a partner of Cusick Motorsports for the 2025 Indy 500,' Cusick said. 'Their drive for growth and development in the auto industry perfectly aligns with the goals of our program. We are looking forward to working with George Pero and his team for the long term." Dreyer & Reinbold Cusick Motorsports has a two-car team in the 109th Indianapolis 500 featuring 2014 Indy 500 winner and 2012 NTT IndyCar Series Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay and veteran driver Jack Harvey. MannKind Corporation returns for a second year, continuing its support of Cusick Motorsports following a successful debut partnership in 2024. Known for its innovative inhaled therapeutic products and commitment to improving quality of life for patients with serious health conditions. 'Having Mannkind join our team for a second year is a true testament to the value in partnership,' Cusick said. 'Mannkind is a proven leader and innovator in the Healthcare space, and we continue to build a strong relationship with them and their partners.' Branded Bills joins as the Cusick team's exclusive headwear partner. It will provide premium custom gear to outfit the team throughout May. With a focus on versatile, high-quality design, Branded Bills adds a stylish edge to the team's look for race month. 'Branded Bills is a new partnership for Cusick Motorsports this year, and their dedication to quality is exactly what we need as a partner as we grow,' Cusick said. 'We look forward to the start of a long-standing partnership supporting each brand's growth.' Billy Morgan is the Director of Cusick Motorsports and emphasized the importance of giving brands such as these an opportunity to compete in the world's most famous at historic race – the Indianapolis 500. 'Our partners are truly what drives Cusick Motorsports, and they are the reason why we continue our growth each year,' Morgan said. 'We do not view them as sponsors, but as partners, because without their support we cannot advance. 'Cusick Motorsports will always be centralized around accessibility to motorsports and B2B growth for our partners. We cannot wait for the Month of May to host them and support the goals of our team and partners.' Mach10 is considered an industry-leader in Mergers & Acquisitions. Mach10 Automotive provides unprecedented, industry-exclusive buy-sell and advisory services customized for automotive dealership principals. Mach10 is the only M&A firm in the industry that offers a comprehensive suite of performance optimization services designed to increase dealerships' operational excellence and profitability. Its services are anchored in making a store or group as efficient and profitable as possible across the business, benefiting the seller pre-sale, or the buyer post-acquisition. Applying experience and expertise, Mach10 helps unlock a dealership's full potential through solutions that exceed industry standards. MannKind focuses on the development and commercialization of innovative inhaled therapeutic products and devices to address serious unmet medical needs for those living with endocrine and orphan lung diseases. The company is committed to using its formulation capabilities and device engineering prowess to lessen the burden of diseases such as diabetes and pulmonary fibrotic diseases. Its signature technologies–dry-powder formulations and inhalation devices–offer rapid and convenient delivery of medicines to the deep lung where they can exert an effect locally or enter the systemic circulation, depending on the target indication. Branded Bills business is rooted in versatility - offering premium headwear and apparel, each with immense customization, direct to consumer, and business to business capabilities. Practice for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge begins May 13, with live coverage of all sessions on FS1 and FS2, followed by Qualifying Weekend on May 17–18. The green flag for The Greatest Spectacle in Racing drops at 12:30 PM ET on Sunday, May 25 on FOX.
Chicago Tribune
01-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Andrean's PJ Cusick will take his biggest swing after golf season. He'll try to make the Purdue football team.
Golf has taught Andrean senior PJ Cusick that he can't let a few bad swings ruin his day. For Cusick, confidence is the key. 'You can have a bad warmup on the range before a match but still go out there and shoot under par,' he said. 'It's just believing in yourself that when the time comes, all of the things that I'm about to do are things I've done before — and I've done it well.' That self-belief will be important when Cusick, one of the kickers selected for the 59th annual Murat Shrine North/South Football All-Star Classic, takes his biggest swing later this year. Long after golf season has ended, Cusick will try to earn a roster spot on the Purdue football team as a walk-on. 'I know I have the skills for it,' he said. 'It's not in a cocky way or anything like that. But I firmly believe in myself with all of the training that I've had. I just have to go down there, perform to the best of my ability, and I think I'll have a good shot at it.' Cusick's next chance to kick in a game will be the North/South Football All-Star Classic at Decatur Central in Indianapolis on July 11. Recent selections from Andrean include linebacker Charlie Koeppen in 2023, running back Ryan Walsh in 2021, kicker JJ Wadas in 2020 and quarterback Zack Merrill in 2019. Cusick recalled the moment when he learned from Andrean football coach Chris Skinner that he had been picked for the North roster. 'I was walking into the school when I got the text from coach Skinner that I'd made the team, and I was ecstatic for it,' Cusick said. 'I'm really pumped to play in that game because there have been some big names that went to Andrean and played in those all-star games, so I look forward to being on that stage.' Cusick said golf has helped prepare him for kicking on big stages. He's one of the top returning players for the Andrean boys golf team this season. 'With golf, every shot isn't perfect, and you get a lot of mental strength from that,' he said. 'That's something I can carry over to kicking because you're getting minimal reps, so you have to make them count.' Cusick handled the kicking duties for the 59ers last season. He converted 28 of 30 extra-point attempts and 7 of 14 field-goal attempts with a long of 38 yards. He also had 35 touchbacks on 58 kickoffs and averaged 34.3 yards per punt. Cusick focused on kicking full time after having conversations with Skinner following his freshman season. Since then, Skinner has watched Cusick constantly work to improve his skills. 'It really comes down to his competitive nature as an individual,' Skinner said. 'There's never an end to golf. You can always get better. Kicking is the same way too. There's no point where you should stop wanting to make progress, and that speaks to what he's trying to do, to see how far he can take this.' Cusick said he's still kicking multiple times each week during golf season. For several years, he has been working with Chris Nendick, a Naperville, Illinois, native who kicked at Northern Illinois and then started training kickers. Nendick's clients have included Jake Elliott, who kicked four field goals for the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl in February. Nendick said Cusick has a chance to prolong his career. 'He's matured, he's gotten stronger and he's decided to put in the work,' Nendick said. 'You can have kids who kick a ball really far as a freshman or sophomore, but the kids who were working harder who weren't, those are the kids that will ultimately propel forward toward the tail end of their high school careers. PJ's on track for all of that at this point.'
Korea Herald
31-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Ash Creek Renewables Expands Global Reach with Exclusive Camelina Seed Licenses & "Forks and Fuels" Initiative
GREAT FALLS, Mont., March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ash Creek Renewables ("Ash Creek" or the "Company"), a platform dedicated to developing renewable fuel feedstock solutions and a portfolio company of Tailwater Capital LLC ("Tailwater"), today announced it has secured exclusive licensing rights from Montana State University for a new high-performance Camelina seed variety. Camelina is a low-carbon crop that grows with minimal inputs, supports soil health, and provides farmers with an additional revenue stream while integrating into existing agricultural systems. It is increasingly sought after as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and biomass-based diesel, offering a scalable solution to meet the growing demand for renewable fuels. This breakthrough marks a significant step forward in Ash Creek's "Forks and Fuels" initiative, which advances the use of Camelina as a scalable, low-carbon feedstock for renewable fuels and biodegradable materials. With the new seed license, Ash Creek is expanding its Montana-based growing operations in 2025 following its success in 2024. The company has also expanded internationally, launching Camelina planting efforts in Argentina with its partner Elementa Foods while exploring additional low-carbon feedstock opportunities. "This license is a game-changer for Ash Creek," said John Cusick, CEO of Ash Creek. "It enables us to scale production while driving innovation in sustainable agriculture and the circular economy." Ash Creek is also expanding its Camelina processing operations and establishing an office in Montana through a strategic collaboration with Ag Processing Solutions, Inc. This facility will support increased production of Camelina meal and oil, accelerating Ash Creek's ability to deliver high-quality feedstock for biofuels and sustainable bioplastics. As part of its biodegradable solutions initiative, Ash Creek has developed proprietary formulations to convert Camelina meal into bioplastics, offering industries, such as aviation, cruise lines, and food service, an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional single-use plastics. "Airlines are highly focused on common sense sustainability, and Ash Creek provides scalable solutions for airlines' fuel and plasticware challenges," said Cusick. Ash Creek's "Forks and Fuels" initiative embodies its broader vision for sustainability, demonstrating how a single crop, Camelina, can power multiple industries. With these advancements, Ash Creek is reshaping the future of renewable feedstocks, reinforcing its commitment to scalability, innovation, and sustainability across agriculture, energy, and industrial materials. About Ash Creek Renewables Ash Creek Renewables is a platform dedicated to developing renewable fuel feedstock solutions to meet the demands of the growing renewable fuels market. The company serves North American renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel producers through its feedstock marketing, distribution, pretreatment and logistics operations. For more information, please visit About Tailwater Capital Dallas-based Tailwater Capital is an energy and environmental infrastructure private equity firm with a well-established track record of working constructively with proven management teams to deliver value-added solutions. Tailwater has raised more than $4.9 billion in committed capital since inception, and the team has executed more than 235 transactions representing over $26 billion in value. For more information, please visit
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ash Creek Renewables Expands Global Reach with Exclusive Camelina Seed Licenses & "Forks and Fuels" Initiative
GREAT FALLS, Mont., March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ash Creek Renewables ("Ash Creek" or the "Company"), a platform dedicated to developing renewable fuel feedstock solutions and a portfolio company of Tailwater Capital LLC ("Tailwater"), today announced it has secured exclusive licensing rights from Montana State University for a new high-performance Camelina seed variety. Camelina is a low-carbon crop that grows with minimal inputs, supports soil health, and provides farmers with an additional revenue stream while integrating into existing agricultural systems. It is increasingly sought after as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and biomass-based diesel, offering a scalable solution to meet the growing demand for renewable fuels. This breakthrough marks a significant step forward in Ash Creek's "Forks and Fuels" initiative, which advances the use of Camelina as a scalable, low-carbon feedstock for renewable fuels and biodegradable materials. With the new seed license, Ash Creek is expanding its Montana-based growing operations in 2025 following its success in 2024. The company has also expanded internationally, launching Camelina planting efforts in Argentina with its partner Elementa Foods while exploring additional low-carbon feedstock opportunities. "This license is a game-changer for Ash Creek," said John Cusick, CEO of Ash Creek. "It enables us to scale production while driving innovation in sustainable agriculture and the circular economy." Ash Creek is also expanding its Camelina processing operations and establishing an office in Montana through a strategic collaboration with Ag Processing Solutions, Inc. This facility will support increased production of Camelina meal and oil, accelerating Ash Creek's ability to deliver high-quality feedstock for biofuels and sustainable bioplastics. As part of its biodegradable solutions initiative, Ash Creek has developed proprietary formulations to convert Camelina meal into bioplastics, offering industries, such as aviation, cruise lines, and food service, an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional single-use plastics. "Airlines are highly focused on common sense sustainability, and Ash Creek provides scalable solutions for airlines' fuel and plasticware challenges," said Cusick. Ash Creek's "Forks and Fuels" initiative embodies its broader vision for sustainability, demonstrating how a single crop, Camelina, can power multiple industries. Camelina oil is a scalable, low-carbon-intensity feedstock for renewable fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), reinforcing the aviation sector's efforts to reduce emissions. Camelina meal is transformed into compostable bioplastics, reducing single-use plastic waste and creating a closed-loop system that benefits both industry and the environment. With these advancements, Ash Creek is reshaping the future of renewable feedstocks, reinforcing its commitment to scalability, innovation, and sustainability across agriculture, energy, and industrial materials. About Ash Creek Renewables Ash Creek Renewables is a platform dedicated to developing renewable fuel feedstock solutions to meet the demands of the growing renewable fuels market. The company serves North American renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel producers through its feedstock marketing, distribution, pretreatment and logistics operations. For more information, please visit About Tailwater Capital Dallas-based Tailwater Capital is an energy and environmental infrastructure private equity firm with a well-established track record of working constructively with proven management teams to deliver value-added solutions. Tailwater has raised more than $4.9 billion in committed capital since inception, and the team has executed more than 235 transactions representing over $26 billion in value. For more information, please visit ContactJill McMillanManaging Director, Communications & Public AffairsPhone: 214-489-7047Email: jmcmillan@ John SchaufeleManaging Director, Investor Relations & FundraisingPhone: 214-489-7043Email: jschaufele@ Forward-Looking StatementsIncludes non-Tailwater controlled capital pursuant to the Tailwater-led management buyout processes for which Tailwater provides management-related services. View original content: SOURCE Tailwater Capital Sign in to access your portfolio
