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ATLANTA , Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) announced today that members of its leadership team will present in person at the following investor conferences in the coming weeks:
-Raymond James Diversified Industrials Conference on August 23 at 10:20 a.m. ET
-Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference on September 8 at 10:30 a.m. ET
Interested parties can access live webcasts of the fireside chats on the Company's investor relations website. A replay of the webcasts will be available after the event.
About Genuine Parts Company
Founded in 1928, Genuine Parts Company is a global service organization engaged in the distribution of automotive and industrial replacement parts. The Company's Automotive Parts Group distributes automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australasia, France, the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Portugal. The Company's Industrial Parts Group distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australasia. In total, the Company serves its global customers from an extensive network of more than 10,000 locations in 17 countries and has approximately 53,000 employees. Further information is available at www.genpt.com.
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SOURCE Genuine Parts Company | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/genuine-parts-company-participate-upcoming-investor-conferences/ | 2022-08-17T13:45:46Z |
BAODING, China, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, GWM HAVAL H6 GT, which had been launched in Australia, held its first media test drive there, with more consumers getting access to its excellent driving experience.
HAVAL H6 GT was highly praised by many media outlets for its head-turning design and smart technology features during the test drive. Multiple authoritative media were invited to enjoy an in-depth experience of the coupe, including CarExpert and Carsales.
This model adopts the shark bionic aesthetic design to demonstrate its unique sporty appearance to test drivers. The front face is designed with the elements of shark pectoral fins and teeth, and the side adopts the streamlined body and the fastback rear. These details make HAVAL H6 GT present a strong sense of sport.
"It combines the utility of the standard SUV with the uniqueness of the Coupe SUV, and this combination will gain favor from local buyers," said CarExpert, a local professional automotive website.
While taking a test drive on urban roads, the coupe also shows its excellent intelligent performance to test drivers. The test drive models are the high-spec variant, equipped with many smart tech features, such as Head Up Display (HUD) and Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR). TSR can quickly capture the speed limit information and display it clearly on the HUD to avoid speeding.
Carsales, the Australian famous car website, commented that "HAVAL is building a momentum in Australia as new-generation models enter the market with high levels of equipment, technology and safety. Now a sportier coupe-style model has been launched to enhance it."
HAVAL H6 GT is the first global Coupe SUV based on the GWM L.E.M.O.N. Platform. This test drive allowed the media to experience the excellent driving performance of this coupe directly.
"GWM HAVAL has been committed to providing local users with product experiences that best suit their Australian lifestyles," said Tom, the brand manager of HAVAL in Australia.
Based on the insight into the Australian market and the deep understanding of users' needs, HAVAL strives to promote product iteration and upgrade. Several products have been launched in Australia successively, such as 3rd Gen HAVAL H6 and HAVAL JOLION. These vehicles are popular with local consumers for their fashionable and smart driving experience.
HAVAL has achieved a rapid sales growth by launching new products which are catering to the different preferences of local buyers. According to the data disclosed by CarExpert, the brand has continued to see tremendous sales growth in Australia, with sales of HAVAL JOLION and HAVAL H6 both up by more than 150 percent.
Now, HAVAL has laid out a diversified product lineup in the global markets, such as HAVAL JOLION, 3rd Gen HAVAL H6 family with hybrid and GT variants, HAVAL DARGO, and HAVAL H9.
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SOURCE GWM | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/gwms-first-global-coupe-suv-haval-h6-gt-receives-favorable-reviews-motoring-media/ | 2022-08-17T13:45:53Z |
Latest Innovations Boost Revenue and Increase Viewer Engagement for Media and Entertainment Companies
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Harmonic, Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that it will bring the company's latest cloud-native and on-prem innovations for video streaming and broadcast delivery to IBC2022. At the show, Harmonic will highlight how its advanced solutions are addressing the critical needs of the media and entertainment industry by enabling flawless live sports streaming, targeted advertising at scale, best-in-class VOD and linear streaming, and next-gen broadcast service delivery.
"Harmonic is excited to be back at IBC2022 and share the latest innovations for accelerating streaming services and simplifying broadcast workflows," said Shahar Bar, senior vice president, video products and corporate development at Harmonic. "We look forward to showcasing new enhancements to our on-prem appliances, along with expanded SaaS cloud offerings."
At IBC2022, Harmonic will showcase:
The market-leading VOS®360 SaaS platform for a range of applications:
- Live sports streaming: Stream secure watermarked live sports events with targeted ads reliably and at scale in UHD HDR.
- VOD and linear streaming: Deliver outstanding VOD and linear streaming experiences with scalable targeted advertising.
- Free ad-supported TV (FAST): Enable the creation of UHD HDR FAST channels.
- Broadcast: Deploy complex broadcast workflows with full support for playout, branding, statistical multiplexing and affiliate distribution in the cloud.
New applications for XOS Advanced Media Processor and Spectrum™ X Advanced Media Server:
- Targeted advertising for broadcasters: Unlock new revenue streams with DVB-TA support.
- Edge media processing: Take media processing and distribution to the next level with the new generation of software-based edge devices.
- Distribution of DVB-T/T2 signals: Optimize DTT distribution with a new DVB-SIS (single illumination system) offering.
- Extended video-over-IP capabilities: Expand video-over-IP possibilities with NDI for production and playout workflows.
Innovative Demonstrations with Partners
Throughout the IBC2022 show floor, Harmonic will also highlight key collaborations with industry leaders that further strengthen its video streaming and broadcast offerings:
- Microsoft Azure (stand 1.D25) and AWS (stand 5.C80) cloud support on the VOS360 SaaS platform.
- New watermarking-as-a-service capabilities for live sports events and premium live content integrated on the VOS360 SaaS platform with anti-piracy solutions from Viaccess-Orca (stand 1.A51) and NAGRA (stand 1.C81).
- Streamlined targeted advertising for live broadcasting, VOD and FAST through integration between the VOS360 SaaS platform and solutions from Viaccess-Orca (stand 1.A51) and Equativ (stand 5.F62).
- FAST UHD HDR channel delivery on LG Channels platform.
- Hybrid on-premises and in-the-cloud channel origination with Harmonic's VOS360 SaaS platform and Spectrum™ X media servers controlled by Aveco's ASTRA MCR (stand 2.B18) and SGT VEDA automation (stand 2.C58).
Must-See Conference Session
Harmonic will bring its thought leadership to the IBC Conference 2022 with "Exploring the Benefits of Dynamic Resolution Encoding and Support in DVB Standards." Xavier Ducloux, Harmonic's senior marketing innovation manager, will join industry experts during the technical paper session on "Advances in Video Coding" Sept. 10 at 12:15 pm.
To schedule a meeting with Harmonic at IBC2022, in stand 1.B20, visit https://info.harmonicinc.com/ibc-2022. Further information about Harmonic and the company's solutions is available at www.harmonicinc.com.
About Harmonic
Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT), the worldwide leader in virtualized cable access and video delivery solutions, enables media companies and service providers to deliver ultra-high-quality video streaming and broadcast services to consumers globally. The company revolutionized cable access networking via the industry's first virtualized cable access solution, enabling cable operators to more flexibly deploy gigabit internet service to consumers' homes and mobile devices. Whether simplifying OTT video delivery via innovative cloud and software platforms or powering the delivery of gigabit internet cable services, Harmonic is changing the way media companies and service providers monetize live and on-demand content on every screen. More information is available at www.harmonicinc.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements concerning Harmonic's business and the anticipated capabilities, advantages, reliability, efficiency, market acceptance, market growth, specifications and benefits of Harmonic products, services and technology are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties more fully described in Harmonic's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Harmonic as of the date hereof, and Harmonic disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Harmonic, the Harmonic logo and other Harmonic marks are owned by Harmonic Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.
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SOURCE Harmonic Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/harmonic-expands-cloud-video-streaming-simplifies-broadcast-workflows-ibc2022/ | 2022-08-17T13:46:00Z |
Expanded constellation supports up to 16 collections per day across client regions
HERNDON, Va., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HawkEye 360 Inc., the world's leading commercial provider of space-based radio frequency (RF) data and analytics, today announced its Clusters 4 and 5 satellites have started operations. The two newest clusters have doubled on orbit capacity to empower customers with actionable global insights. The expanded constellation can collect over a region of interest up to 16 times per day with an average revisit of 1.5 hours using enhanced payloads, additional ground stations, and optimized satellite management and data processing.
"Our engineering team continues to achieve major technical milestones, including commissioning the Cluster 5 satellites about 10 weeks after being launched, a new record," said HawkEye 360 COO Rob Rainhart. "With all our improvements, HawkEye 360 has quadrupled daily RF data collection since the start of the year. The richness and density of these data sets is making RF activity clearer, allowing us to deliver new dimensions of global knowledge to our government and allied government partners that is tactically relevant and beneficial for national security and humanitarian needs."
The commissioning of both sets of three satellites means the constellation now has a dozen of the next gen satellites with enhanced payloads that began launching in 2021. The company has activated new ground stations in Chile, South Africa, and New Zealand to download the increasing amounts of data and significantly reduce the time required to deliver data to our customers.
HawkEye 360 will continue rapidly growing the constellation to address clients increasing demands for RF Intelligence, aiming for a total of 60 satellites (20 clusters of three satellites). HawkEye 360's sixth cluster of satellites is slated to launch on Rocket Lab's inaugural Electron mission from Launch Complex 2 on Wallops Island, Virginia no earlier than December 2022.
For more information on the HawkEye 360, please visit https://www.he360.com/.
HawkEye 360 is delivering a revolutionary source of global knowledge based on radio frequency (RF) geospatial intelligence to those working to make the world a safer place. The company operates the first-of-its-kind commercial satellite constellation to detect, characterize, and geolocate a broad range of RF signals. This unique RF data and analytics equip our global customers with high-impact insights needed to make decisions with confidence. HawkEye 360 is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia.
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SOURCE HawkEye 360 | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/hawkeye-360s-fourth-fifth-satellite-clusters-begin-operation/ | 2022-08-17T13:46:06Z |
MILWAUKEE, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Herzing University, an accredited, private nonprofit institution, today announced the official introduction of Karen Nelson as its new Vice President of Inclusion and Community Impact.
At the forefront of Herzing's mission is the role it plays in serving its students and enriching the communities across its 10 ground campuses as well as nationally through online learning. Following a nationwide recruitment search, Herzing selected Nelson for her 25+ years of experience in managing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in private sector, nonprofit and municipal organizations.
"The decision to continue to commit to and expand on our University-wide effort to lead on equity, diversity and inclusion will further address the crucial need we are hearing from our hospital and healthcare facility partners to hire from a diverse and representative talent pool," said Renee Herzing, President of Herzing University. "Karen Nelson's strong background in the area of diversity and her experience across the healthcare industry will greatly benefit the University's ability to connect with local employers, community advocates and future nursing professionals. We are excited and proud to have her join our leadership team as we work to support communities of all backgrounds."
Most recently, Nelson served as the EDI Director for Rogers Behavioral Health and was the Diversity & Inclusion Leader in the Office of the Mayor for the City of Appleton, WI. Nelson also has created NelStar Leadership & Diversity Consulting and expanded on her EDI-focused efforts through roles that include being the first corporate diversity manager for Shaw Industries, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., and as the first African American manager of cultural diversity for General Electric Medical Systems.
"I am incredibly honored to have this opportunity to serve Herzing University, its student population and the diverse communities across th
country who will benefit from having access to this school's broad and inclusive pool of talent," said Nelson. "I want to thank
and the University's leadership team for their trust in me and look forward to moving quickly and effectively to build the programs and relationships that will ensure the momentum built around EDI remains a priority part of what the Herzing University emblem represents."
Nelson received her Executive Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Nelson started her new executive role with Herzing University on Monday, July 18. She follows Terri Howard who served as the Assistant Vice-President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. More information can be found on her LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/karenatnelstar/.
Herzing University is an accredited, private nonprofit institution with 10 campuses across seven states and an online division. Founded in Milwaukee in 1965, more than 40,000 students have graduated from the University's career-focused and flexible master's, bachelor's, and associate degree, and diploma programs. Fields of study span nursing, healthcare, technology, business and public safety. From 2013 through 2022, U.S. News & World Report has continually recognized Herzing University as having some of the best online programs nationally. In June 2022, Herzing introduced a first-of-its-kind Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program beginning enrollment for Fall 2022. Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. More information about Herzing University is available at www.herzing.edu.
Media Contact:
Brett Gerrish
CBD Marketing
bgerrish@cbdmarketing.com
517.899.7795
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SOURCE Herzing University | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/herzing-university-welcomes-karen-nelson-vice-president-inclusion-community-impact/ | 2022-08-17T13:46:13Z |
- Series D follows HiBob's $150M Series C just 10 months ago
- HiBob now valued at $2.45B; Series D was led by global growth investor General Atlantic, with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners and other existing investors
- Demand for talent and modern HR systems remains robust despite the slowing economy
NEW YORK and TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HiBob, the company behind Bob, the HR platform transforming how organizations operate in the modern world of work, today announced it has raised an additional $150M in growth funding, just ten months after raising a $150M Series C in October 2021. The latest round is underpinned by HiBob's sixth consecutive year of triple digit revenue growth, with continued support from investors including General Atlantic, Bessemer Venture Partners, and others.
With unemployment rates at record lows, the battle to attract and retain talent remains a top priority for modern businesses, even during an economic slowdown. Flexible HR systems like Bob remain a mission-critical component in any modern organization, particularly during dynamic periods characterized by uncertainty and change. HiBob provides midsized and sub-enterprise businesses employing many hundreds of people with an agile HR system that allows them to refine and optimize their people operations as efficient growth becomes a dominant theme across industry sectors.
Led by General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm, and with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners and other insiders, HiBob's Series D round takes the company's valuation to $2.45B and total funding to $424M since inception. This latest growth investment is intended to support HiBob in capitalizing on its market leadership as the company continues to execute on key business priorities in the current market environment.
Anton Levy, Co-President, Managing Director, and Global Head of Technology Investing at General Atlantic, commented: "Business leaders of midsize companies understand the mission-critical role a flexible HR technology platform can play in managing their teams. As the workforce continues to evolve, Bob provides modules that go beyond core HR – including talent management, workforce planning, and compensation management – helping to augment the employee experience and support customers in retaining top talent. We are proud to continue to partner with leadership and the HiBob team as the company works to address key market needs with innovative, flexible technology."
Adam Fisher, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, the first investor in HiBob, commented: "HiBob's ability to grow alongside its largest customers and move with them into new geographies is a remarkable sign of execution. We are proud to continue our support for the company with another significant investment from our fund."
Ronni Zehavi, CEO and Co-Founder of HiBob, explained: "The competition for talent remains intense even in the midst of increasing market uncertainty. Modern businesses that value their talent know that HRIS is not simply about headcount growth, but rather about effective and proactive people management during periods of expansion and contraction. We expect many companies to resume hiring in the quarters ahead, and smart organizations will want to have the right infrastructure in place before then."
Zehavi added: "Our customers are advanced and influential businesses globally. They understand the new world of work, and if I were to summarize their super power in one word, it would be 'flexibility.' This encompasses internal mobility, career progression, and a responsible work-from-home option. Our customers also seek to empower their managers throughout the organization in the development of their most valuable resource: talent. We believe customers choose Bob because it provides an amazing employee experience and productivity gains, and the platform is able to grow with evolving business needs. "
To support its growth and expanding customer base, HiBob has doubled in size with over 370 new hires since Q4 2021. HiBob has also expanded its New York and London office locations, in addition to opening an office in Berlin, Germany to serve the DACH region. With users in 166 countries and support for 13 different languages, HiBob is one of the only platforms for modern multinationals employing hundreds of people. With this Series D financing, the company plans to add additional regional offices in the next 24 months.
Led by Ronni Zehavi, CEO and Co-Founder, and Israel David, CTO and Co-Founder, HiBob offers a unique HR platform for companies that number in the many hundreds to the few thousands of employees worldwide. With customers that span the globe, HiBob's platform Bob serves both global as well as national organizations. The HR management platform offers a multi-site approach to implementation from the start, and uniquely comes with built-in local languages, currencies, culture adaptation, automation processes, and regulatory set-ups.
HiBob is on a mission to transform how organizations operate in the modern world of work with its HR platform 'Bob'. Leading the way for the future workplace, Bob offers resilient, agile technology that wraps all the complexities of HR processes into a game changing, user-friendly tool that touches every employee across the business.
Since late 2015, trusted and empowered 'Bobbers' from around the world have brought their authentic selves to work, inspired to build the exceptional HR systems that will revolutionize the work experience for HR professionals, managers, and employees. Agile and adaptable, HiBob innovates through continuous learning loops to produce seismic cultural shifts for companies with dynamic, distributed workforces.
Revolutionizing the work experience for HR professionals, managers and employees, HiBob is used by more than 2,500 multinational companies - including Cazoo, Gong, Hopin, Monzo, Happy Socks, Fiverr, and VaynerMedia. Organizations using Bob are able to accelerate hiring, retain the best talent, elevate employee engagement, upskill and produce seismic cultural shifts for their dynamic, distributed workforces.
For more information about HiBob, visit www.hibob.com.
General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm with more than four decades of experience providing capital and strategic support for over 445 growth companies throughout its history. Established in 1980 to partner with visionary entrepreneurs and deliver lasting impact, the firm combines a collaborative global approach, sector specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with great entrepreneurs and management teams to scale innovative businesses around the world. General Atlantic currently has over $73 billion in assets under management inclusive of all products as of as of June 30, 2022, and more than 215 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Munich, Palo Alto, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Stamford and Tel Aviv. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit the website: www.generalatlantic.com.
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SOURCE HiBob | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/hibob-raises-150m-series-d-up-round-led-by-general-atlantic-capitalize-significant-business-momentum/ | 2022-08-17T13:46:20Z |
PHOENIX, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING) ("SinglePoint'' or "the Company''), a renewable energy and sustainable solutions provider, today proudly applauds President Joe Biden for signing the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 into law. This historic act will result in major investments in clean energy, climate change initiatives, and solar incentives, benefiting Solar, Energy Storage, Electric Vehicles (EV), and other clean energy initiatives.
The Bill's allocation of $369 billion provides:
- Incentives for residential and commercial consumers to pursue energy efficient options;
- Tax credits for solar panels;
- EV charging stations; and
- Green energy storage.
Wil Ralston, CEO of SinglePoint, commented, "The Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment in clean energy in federal history. It is a massive step toward developing clean energy throughout the country. It will help decarbonize our energy production and improve our energy infrastructure. With tax incentives and direct pay opportunities our newly acquired subsidiary, Boston Solar, is well positioned to benefit from consumers looking for solar energy, energy storage and EV options. H.R. 5376 also allocates funding for schools. SinglePoint subsidiary Box Pure Air has a pipeline of opportunities as well as existing clients purchasing other products. We will optimize cross selling opportunities when available. SinglePoint is firmly positioned in Solar Energy and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)--two verticals that have significant government tailwinds in markets that create higher quality living standards for people throughout the nation."
The bill further extends financial resources for continuing development of renewable energy production capabilities by supporting the development of new manufacturing operations within the United States. The bill also provides funding for schools to pursue environmental action plans around air pollution and air quality. By signing this bill, President Biden has ensured that the production and growth of clean energy and sustainability-focused solutions will benefit Americans on an unprecedented economic scale. Homeowners, businesses, and schools will have financial incentives to pursue efficient structural improvements to their properties and municipalities, with the potential to produce cleaner air, cleaner energy, and a better climate. For all these reasons, SinglePoint, Inc. celebrates this historic achievement for the Administration and the American people.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 underlines the work of SinglePoint, Inc. and its subsidiaries. We continue executing our business plans, which include becoming one of the top solar providers in the United States. With the Company's subsidiaries, SinglePoint continues offering services that enhance and provide consumers and commercial-interests resources to become increasingly energy efficient. The bolstered tax credits and incentives outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act align with the Company's goals, and the legislation may bolster SinglePoint's acquisition-and-partnership strategy. Following a year of record revenue growth and continued opportunities, the Company is ready to meet consumer demand boosted by Biden's climate policies. Encouraged by the actions of the Biden Administration, SinglePoint will be able to seek out additional acquisition-and-partnership opportunities, develop and offer prospects that provide solar power, energy storage, and air purification to residents and communities across the United States.
SinglePoint is a solar energy and sustainable lifestyle Company currently in the solar energy and air purification markets. The Company's goal is to build the largest network of renewable energy solutions and modernize the traditional solar energy and energy storage business model. The Company continues executing its acquisition strategy and is exploring future growth opportunities in air purification, electric vehicle charging, solar as a subscription service, and additional energy efficiencies and appliances that enhance sustainability and healthier life.
For more information, visit the Company's websites
www.singlepoint.com, www.bostonsolar.us, and www.boxpureair.com.
Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential plans and objectives of the Company, the use of proceeds, anticipated growth and future expansion, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.
Investor Contact:
Tra-Digital IR
Investors@SinglePoint.com
(212) 389 - 9782 ext. 107
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SOURCE SinglePoint Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/historic-bill-positions-america-leader-clean-energy-singlepoint-applauds-biden-administration-signing-into-law-hr-5376-inflation-reduction-act-2022/ | 2022-08-17T13:46:26Z |
Complex manufacturing and sustainment expert to provide strategic industry guidance and accelerate iBASEt solutions' time-to-value
LAKE FOREST, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- iBASEt, the company that simplifies how complex products are built and maintained, today announced that Michel Gadbois has been promoted to Senior Vice President (SVP) and Chief Enterprise Architect. As SVP, Chief Enterprise Architect, Gadbois will lead customer engagements helping to create successful paths to value from manufacturing, quality, and sustainment business transformations.
Michel is experienced in providing solutions to complex business problems, challenging current ideas, and championing industry best practices. He will play a key role in achieving both the company's ambitious growth goals, as well as continued product and service development.
"iBASEt is expanding its cloud-native SaaS offerings within existing markets and venturing into new ones as we continue to improve our product and services to meet the needs of our customers," said Gadbois. "At iBASEt, we strive to support our customers mission critical operations by continually providing valuable solutions. I look forward to meeting and exceeding that goal in my new position."
"Michel has been an integral part of iBASEt's growth and success. He helped lead sales through our early growth period, drove efforts on global sales and product capability expansion, and has effectively aided customers with digital thread adoption," said Naveen Poonian, CEO of iBASEt. "Michel has found success at every corner of iBASEt and I am excited to see his unique skillset at work in this new role as we continue to bring value to our customers."
Gadbois started at iBASEt in 1998 heading Sales and Marketing. As Vice-President of Worldwide sales and then Vice President of Industry Solutions, Gadbois has been at the forefront of iBASEt's growth and product development. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Aerospace, Defense, Federal and Nuclear Industries before transitioning to his new role as SVP, Chief Enterprise Architect.
iBASEt is a software company that simplifies how complex products are built and maintained. Founded in Southern California in 1986, iBASEt solutions ensure digital continuity across manufacturing, quality, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations on a global scale. The iSeries, powered by Solumina, is a cloud-native platform that establishes a digital ecosystem to drive innovation and improve operational performance. With offices in the U.S., UK, France, and India, iBASEt customers include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rolls Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and Textron. Learn more at iBASEt.com.
Media Contact
Tom Hennessey
(949) 958-5200
thennessey@ibaset.com
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SOURCE iBASEt | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/ibaset-appoints-michel-gadbois-senior-vice-president-chief-enterprise-architect/ | 2022-08-17T13:46:33Z |
CHICAGO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As children head back to school, there is one thing parents and caregivers should not overlook: routine vaccinations against serious infections such as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, and hepatitis to name a few. Meridian Health Plan of Illinois (Meridian) is dedicated to ensuring Illinois residents have access to information and resources about routine immunizations to help protect children and communities against preventable illnesses.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, immunizations have declined, with all populations showing a downward trend from pre-pandemic routine immunization rates. Routine vaccinations have proven effective in preventing serious illness within schools and communities. Despite phased school reopenings and the restart of student activities in some states, the immunization rate for children in kindergarten decreased between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years. Thousands of young students could be at risk for preventable illnesses when re-entering the classroom for in-person learning.
The more immunized a community is, the harder it is for preventable illnesses to spread. Immunizations not only protect the individuals who are vaccinated, they also protect everyone who interacts with them. As students prepare to return to school, it is as important as ever to ensure children are up to date with their routine immunizations to help prevent illness in children. Childhood immunizations help protect against nearly 14 serious diseases. Without this protection, communities could see a surge of serious illnesses.
Meridian continues to invest in educational opportunities for members on the importance of vaccinations through programs such as Fluvention® which provides comprehensive information about the impact of the annual flu vaccine on the health of individuals, their families, and their communities.
"Pediatric vaccination has shown to reduce the rate of vaccine-preventable diseases. We want to ensure families have the information they need to make informed decisions about immunizing their children and accessing vaccines such as the Flu. It is important for families to schedule their regular well-child visits and talk with their primary care providers about any questions they may have regarding childhood immunizations," said Cynthia Sanders, M.D., and Senior Medical Director for Meridian. "With the start of the school year around the corner, now is the perfect time to catch-up on immunizations that may have been missed to reduce the spread of preventable illnesses."
Individuals can learn more about specific vaccines, immunization schedules, and safety information by contacting the Illinois Department of Public Health or referring to materials developed by the CDC by visiting cdc.gov/vaccines.
For more information about Meridian's services and benefits, please visit ILMeridian.com.
Meridian of Illinois offers three managed care plans: the Meridian Medicaid Plan, the Meridian Medicare-Medicaid Plan, and the Meridian Managed Long Term Services & Supports Plan. We connect members to care and offer comprehensive services to support lifelong health and wellness. Learn more at ILMeridian.com.
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SOURCE Meridian of Illinois | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/illinois-residents-can-help-play-critical-role-protecting-local-communities-by-scheduling-immunizations/ | 2022-08-17T13:46:40Z |
Kaur to continue leading global expansion of world's largest oncology-focused iCRO
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Imaging Endpoints (IE), based in Scottsdale, Arizona with eight offices in six countries, announced today the promotion of Jatinder Kaur to Chief Operating Officer (COO). Jatinder most recently served as Executive Vice President of Operations at Imaging Endpoints, and has been with the Company for over eight years. She has led the company's global expansion, building IE into one of the largest imaging CROs (iCROs) globally and the largest oncology-focused iCRO.
Under the leadership and direction of Jatinder Kaur, Imaging Endpoints is realizing its vision to Connect Imaging to the Cure(™) by customizing imaging for each clinical trial to optimize the opportunity to demonstrate efficacy. Jatinder leverages over 20 years of imaging CRO experience to oversee the operating departments that design and execute the most customized imaging in the industry, while integrating with IE's world-renowned Compliance and Regulatory Affairs (CRA) department to help facilitate many of the most impactful new drug approvals in oncology across the globe in recent years.
In her new and expanded role, Jatinder will continue to optimize and grow operations to ensure Imaging Endpoints remains the global industry leader in oncology, going further than any iCRO to optimize the opportunity to demonstrate efficacy. IE achieves this ambitious goal by working closely with its CRA to provide critical clarifications and/or modifications to standard imaging criterion such as RECIST1.1/iRECIST in a manner that tailors the imaging plan to each unique experimental agent and the specific disease-type the study targets. IE also demonstrates efficacy by leveraging advanced imaging where IE is the industry leader (with over fifty publications in peer-reviewed publications) in providing supportive data for development programs and regulatory submissions.
Imaging Endpoints' strong growth and success in new drug approvals has accelerated this year, enabling the company to recognize, promote, reward, and facilitate further growth of the team members that have helped IE achieve its status as the preeminent iCRO in oncology. Imaging Endpoints continues to add new staff across the globe within Imaging Operations, Medical and Scientific Affairs, Data Management, Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, Innovation and Information Technology, and within the company's Research Endpoints and Clinical Endpoints subsidiaries. See https://www.imagingendpoints.com for a list of openings with opportunity for dynamic growth and contribution toward Connecting Imaging to the Cure.
Imaging Endpoints (IE) is an imaging CRO that is passionately focused on its vision to Connect Imaging to the Cure. Everything IE does is aligned with this singular purpose. IE teams work every day excited to advance imaging science, technology, and services to bring curative technologies to humankind. IE has supported many of the most impactful new drug approvals in oncology over the past few years and strives to help each sponsor in this same manner. The IE team works relentlessly to customize the imaging plan and execute it with excellence to optimize the opportunity to demonstrate efficacy.
IE is one of the largest iCROs globally, the largest focused in oncology, and its experience spans the customization of imaging to facilitate regulatory approval in hundreds of trials across all phases of development, including many of the most impactful approvals in the industry. IE also provides additional data to support efficacy by integrating advanced imaging technologies into clinical trials such as CD8 imaging, tumor growth kinetics, radiomics, and artificial intelligence, where over fifty peer-reviewed publications have established the company as the industry leader.
Imaging Endpoints is headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, with offices in Cambridge, MA; London, UK; Leiden, Netherlands; Basel, Switzerland; Hyderabad, India and Shanghai, China. IE is an affiliate of HonorHealth, one of the largest healthcare systems nationally, and an affiliate of Southwest Medical Imaging, Ltd. (SMIL/RadPartners), part of the largest private radiology group in the U.S.
Samuel Lofland
slofland@imagingendpoints.com
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SOURCE Imaging Endpoints | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/imaging-endpoints-appoints-jatinder-kaur-chief-operating-officer/ | 2022-08-17T13:46:46Z |
Partnership will enhance training participation and career placement pipeline for military veterans and military spouses seeking renewable energy operations and maintenance careers
CHICAGO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Invenergy, the largest privately-held global developer, owner, and operator of sustainable energy solutions, today announced a new partnership with leading renewable energy training company Airstreams Renewable Inc. Invenergy's investment will support military veterans and military spouses seeking careers in clean energy operations.
The partnership furthers Invenergy's commitment to military veterans and will remove barriers to participation in Airstreams Renewables leading training for operational careers by providing needed transitional support and assisting with their job placement pipeline. In addition to supporting recruiting efforts, Invenergy funding will provide for temporary housing, workplace tooling and personal protective equipment, travel, and childcare support.
"Airstreams Renewables builds on military veterans' skills and experience and provides the clean energy industry with a trained and qualified workforce," said John Majewski, Senior Vice President of Third-Party Services at Invenergy. "We are proud to advance this partnership and to provide opportunities for veterans to protect our nation's energy security as they build a sustainable world."
Airstreams Renewables programs help active-duty personnel and veterans transition to civilian life. As part of the Department of Defense SkillBridge program, Airstreams connects service members with industry partners for real-world job training where they gain valuable civilian work experience in the renewable energy sector during their last 180 days of service and helps program graduates secure careers in clean energy, telecommunications, and other industrial sectors. More than 7,000 military veterans and military spouses have completed the program at Airstreams Renewables across its eight SkillBridge active-duty branch campuses and at its newly expanded National Training Center.
"Delivering our training for the men and women who served is our way of helping them find careers that can provide for their families in a growing industry and is critical to supporting America's veterans as they transition to civilian life," said USMC Veteran Dave Schulgen, Airstreams Renewables Founder and CEO. "We look forward to how our partnership with Invenergy will eliminate barriers to participation in our program and help more veterans find careers they can be proud of, as they help the clean power industry to grow."
About Invenergy
Invenergy drives innovation in energy. Invenergy and its affiliated companies develop, own, and operate large-scale renewable and other clean energy generation and storage facilities in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Invenergy's home office is located in Chicago, and it has regional development offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Japan, Poland, and Scotland.
Invenergy and its affiliated companies have successfully developed more than 30,000 megawatts of projects that are in operation, construction, or contracted, including wind, solar, transmission infrastructure and natural gas power generation and advanced energy storage
About Airstreams Renewables
As part of the DoD SkillBridge program, Airstreams Renewables' Renewable Energy and Communications Tower Technician Program is the only Career Skills Program training active duty military personal on active-duty bases across the country leading to careers in the Wind Energy, Telecommunications Tower and other industrial sectors. We are proud to be military founded with over 60% of our staff having served our country and proud to be a part of the solution for our transitioning service members back into civilian life. For more information, please visit www.air-streams.com.
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SOURCE Invenergy | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/invenergy-airstreams-renewables-announce-first-of-its-kind-partnership-advance-training-military-veterans-energy-industry/ | 2022-08-17T13:46:56Z |
As one of America's Fastest-Growing Companies, Itasca keeps momentum from prior years.
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Itasca Retail is pleased to be recognized for the 3rd consecutive year and 4th time overall for its outstanding performance in the past year. The list of honorees represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy's most dynamic segment—its independent businesses. The companies on the 2022 list have not only been successful, but have demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages and ongoing COVID-19 challenges.
"To be honored once again by Inc. 5000 magnifies the hard work our team members and partners have put into ensuring the continued success of our valued customers," said Itasca President, Jeff Kennedy. "We are so grateful to our growing family of grocery retailers, who have been instrumental in our achievements over the years and look forward to servicing them and others for many years to come."
The software uses historical sales data along with current shelf and selling conditions to calculate the exact right order amounts for tens of thousands of items at any time of the day. Pairing this with state-of-the art DSD receiving functionality ensures each store always has the right stock levels to fulfill shopper demand. The system combines sophisticated algorithms and machine learning along with deep understanding of the North American grocery replenishment process to generate impressive gains in sales and productivity, while reducing inventory, food waste and labor.
"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today."
Itasca Retail is a leading provider of inventory technology that enables grocers to become more efficient as retailers. Our customers use the Itasca platform to optimize sales, reduce waste, and meet challenges in adapting to changing consumer shopping habits, labor shortages, and new supply-chain trends. Itasca's growing family of retailers include Wegmans, Sobeys, PriceChopper/Market 32, Tops Markets, Raley's, Weis Markets, Lunds & Byerlys, Cardenas Markets, Brookshire Brothers, and Kroger. For more information, visit us at https://www.itasca-retail.com/.
Media Contacts:
Itasca Retail
West Des Moines, IA
Jason Wirl
jwirl@itasca-retail.com
208-863-2603
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SOURCE Itasca Retail | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/itasca-retail-makes-inc-5000-list-4th-time/ | 2022-08-17T13:47:02Z |
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OptraSCAN®, a leading end-to-end digital pathology solution provider, today announced that Karkinos Healthcare has begun using the high-performance OptraSCAN Digital pathology platform to enhance care for their patient population. The capabilities of this digital pathology platform improve accessibility to healthcare and the distributed care model.
The demand for digital pathology has increased as healthcare institutions have struggled to overcome the challenges of the traditional care model of pathologists working in labs with physical microscopes. These workflow problems have been intensified by a shrinking pathologist population at the same time as biopsy rates have increased along with increased cancer screening options. Digital pathology facilitates remote consultations and second opinions to arrive at a diagnosis and initiate cancer treatment more rapidly.
Dr. Ajit Nambiar, Director & Head, Pathology and Lab Medicine at Karkinos Healthcare, explained, "We plan to provide the best possible care to our patients and adoption of OptraSCAN digital pathology solution is an important step in that direction. OptraSCAN is a very capable solution provider, and we are very happy to partner with them."
The synergies between the two organizations and potential efficiencies were echoed by Mr. Abhi Gholap, Founder & CEO, OptraSCAN, as he stated, "Instant second opinions, remote reporting and permanent digital storage of patient slides are some of the benefits of digital pathology. We eagerly look forward to facilitating them for Karkinos Healthcare. OptraSCAN has seen increasing sales across the world as more organizations adopt their affordable products and services. With 250% growth in our year-to-year global sales revenues, OptraSCAN is a preferred vendor of many small to large laboratories and hospitals worldwide."
Karkinos Healthcare is pioneering the Distributed Cancer Care Network model in India addressing clinical needs of cancer patients, with a focus on early detection of cancer. The company works with multiple healthcare institutions and professionals in the oncology ecosystem, successfully bringing care closer to patients backed by a robust technology platform. Karkinos already offers its services in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Manipur, Delhi NCR and is planning to ramp up its operations across India. The company is a member of National Cancer Grid, a group of 260+ cancer focused institutions. Karkinos Healthcare is also setting up a Cancer Centre in Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) premises at Imphal, in partnership with the Government of Manipur.
About OptraSCAN, Inc:
OptraSCAN® has pioneered On-Demand Digital Pathology® and is focused on delivering fully integrated, affordable solutions that maximize return on investment and improve the performance of pathology services. An ISO 13485 certified company with whole slide scanners CE marked for IVD use, OptraSCAN is working to eliminate the barriers to 'Go Digital' no matter the size of the pathology lab, the lab's throughput, or global location.
OptraSCAN's end-to-end digital pathology solution provides effective acquisition of whole slide images, viewing, storing, real-time sharing, reporting and AI & ML based Image analysis solutions via On-Demand or outright purchase model.
OptraSCAN® is an ISO13485 certified company.
OptraSCAN® whole slide scanners are CE marked for IVDR use.
OptraSCAN Systems are for research use only in North America.
Please contact info@optrascan.com for more information.
For scheduling demo, please get in touch at ultra@optrascan.com.
Follow OptraSCAN® on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About Karkinos Healthcare:
Karkinos Healthcare is a technology driven oncology focused managed health care platform for early detection and diagnosis of common cancers. The company espouses the use of a distributed cancer care network working with multiple healthcare institutions and professionals in the ecosystem with a view to get cancer care closer to the persons' home by decoupling the delivery from the knowledge systems of care.
For more information, visit https://www.karkinos.in/about-us/.
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SOURCE OptraSCAN Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/karkinos-healthcare-engages-optrascan-digital-pathology-its-mission-personalized-cancer-care/ | 2022-08-17T13:47:09Z |
New virtual care platform helps health systems widen their own digital front doors.
CHICAGO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KeyCare, Inc., the nation's only virtual-first care platform built with Epic, today announced the closing of $24 million in series A funding backed by 8VC, LRVHealth, Bold Capital, and Spectrum Health Ventures.
KeyCare offers health systems the ability to easily augment their care teams, optimize capacity, and widen their digital front doors by partnering with a nationwide network of virtual care groups. Patients can schedule appointments with a variety of Virtualists via their own health system's MyChart portal or call center. Virtualists then complete the encounter on KeyCare's Epic platform, thus ensuring a seamless experience and interoperable records.
"People expect a connected and convenient digital care experience," said Alan Hutchison, vice president of population health at Epic. "Rather than routing them through a disconnected, standalone system, KeyCare unifies the virtual care experience in concert with participating hospitals and health systems."
"KeyCare is addressing health systems' critical need for staffing options that provide patients with high-quality, integrated virtual care," said Sebastian Caliri, partner at 8VC. "By building with the Epic platform and working closely with health systems, KeyCare is in a unique position to improve patient access, expand provider capacity, and streamline care delivery across the country -- for example, by giving patients access to 24/7, 50-state urgent care Virtualists through connected Epic platforms."
As of July 2022, KeyCare has launched their system by providing services to BHSH System's Spectrum Health West Michigan Division. "Working with KeyCare allows us to provide a tremendously convenient experience for our patients, while ensuring quality via robust data sharing and streamlined clinical workflows between our two Epic instances," said Mandy Reed, BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan's Director of Virtual Health Operations. "After working with numerous telehealth providers in the past, I can say with confidence that there is no other virtual care platform that can match KeyCare's capabilities."
"We created KeyCare to make sure health systems had better options for expanding virtual care services to their patients in the most convenient and safest way possible," said Lyle Berkowitz, MD, founder and CEO of KeyCare. "Being part of the Epic community helps ensure we have an incredibly powerful tech stack with easy connectivity to the majority of health systems in the nation. And there is no better health system partner to kick things off with than the forward-thinking team at Spectrum Health."
The Chicago and Madison-based virtual care company will use the proceeds of the Series A investment to increase its staff and prepare for rapid growth sparked by demand for virtual care services from large healthcare organizations.
KeyCare and Spectrum Health will be presenting more details about their innovative use of the Epic platform and its Telehealth Anywhere technology at Epic's User Group Meeting August 22 to 24 in Verona, Wisconsin.
About KeyCare
KeyCare is an Epic-based virtual care platform designed to help forward-thinking health systems improve access and quality by expanding their virtual care options for patients. With KeyCare, health systems can easily augment their care teams and widen their digital front doors.
KeyCare offers health systems access to a network of independent virtual care providers working on KeyCare's Epic-based platform. Health systems can start with nationwide virtual urgent care coverage, and then may add other virtual health services based on their virtual care initiatives. To learn more about KeyCare, visit www.keycare.org.
Media Contact:
KeyCare
Grace Vinton, Amendola Communications
203-561-8935
gvinton@acmarketingpr.com
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SOURCE KeyCare | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/keycare-expands-nations-only-virtual-first-care-platform-built-with-epic-via-24m-series-investment/ | 2022-08-17T13:47:16Z |
More than 500 customers and suppliers attending, over 3,000 products on display as National Trade Show marks return to in-person event
TEMPLE, Texas, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- McLane Company, Inc., a leading supply chain services company providing grocery and foodservice supply chain solutions, kicks off its annual National Trade Show (NTS) today. This year's trade show is the first McLane has held in-person since before the pandemic in 2019.
The McLane team is thrilled to be back in person for the first time in three years," said Chris Smith, president of McLane Grocery. "We've been looking forward to bringing together our customers and suppliers to hear firsthand about their businesses and challenges, and to present our latest innovative products and services."
Each year at NTS, McLane introduces retailers to the latest in new technology and foodservice for more efficient inventory and ordering. The industry's leading manufacturers choose NTS as their national launching pad for new product lines and extensions. This year, the event will showcase more than 170 exhibitors and host 1,000 attendees. The keynote speaker, Nik Modi, managing director of RBC Capital Markets, will open Wednesday's general session; Brad Lyons, McLane's vice president of application development customer technology, will also present.
NTS attendees who visit the McLane booth can learn about updates to the company's Mobile VTS trade show ordering app, which will feature a new look and feel with enhanced functionality. Customers will see an improved user experience with enhanced ordering capabilities making multi-store ordering easier than ever. Suppliers will find several new features including image variety functionality, engagement features such as the ability to add comments, notes and recipes, and improved search throughout the site. Finally, McLane partnered with one of its strategic supplier partners to create the ability to set up staggered bundles on VTS, which allows users the flexibility to place orders for multiple stores with varied ship dates at one time.
McLane will also highlight its enhanced Delivery Tracker app which now features multi-carrier SIM cards in devices to strengthen and broaden coverage and a new geolocation capability that, when merged with existing fleet management technology, provides more accurate tracking and delivery data to retailers.
Attendees will be able to experience McLane's interactive booth highlighting its foodservice-at-retail solution, McLane Kitchen. Generating optimum sales and profits for retailers, McLane Kitchen offers easy-to-implement turnkey solutions as well as custom options. This year, McLane is focusing on two hot foods programs: Central Eats and Choice Chicken. Central Eats provides high-quality, pre-packaged breakfast, lunch, and dinner items available for sale as a refrigerated or heated and ready-to-eat offering. Central Eats products can be branded with the retailer's custom label, or they can utilize the vibrant Central Eats brand developed specifically for this program. Choice Chicken features quality products from some of the top names in foodservice and retail, along with delicious sides.
At the McLane booth, attendees will also find JAVAPERKS baristas serving up artful lattes and other tasty coffee beverages. JAVAPERKS, McLane's proprietary coffee and tea program, features coffee, cappuccino, tea, iced coffee, cold brew, and hot chocolate, and allows retailers to access custom graphics for their coffee bar, countertop units, or walls to promote the brand within the store.
"NTS will be two days filled with a technology summit, sessions hosted by industry leaders, and a trade show featuring the hottest new products, deals, and trends," said Vito Maurici, senior vice president of sales. "It also gives our customers access to fellow customers, suppliers, brokers and McLane teammates for a best-in-class experience designed to help them buy better, sell smarter, and profit more."
NTS runs from Wednesday, Aug. 17 to Thursday, Aug. 18 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida.
About McLane
McLane Company, Inc. is one of the largest supply chain services leaders in the United States, providing grocery and foodservice solutions for convenience stores, mass merchants, drug stores, and chain restaurants. Through McLane Grocery and McLane Foodservice, McLane operates over 80 distribution centers and one of the nation's largest private fleets. The company buys, sells, and delivers more than 50,000 consumer products to nearly 110,000 locations across the U.S. Additionally, McLane provides alcoholic beverage distribution through its subsidiary, Empire Distributors, Inc. McLane is a wholly- owned unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE: BRK) and employs 22,000 teammates.
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SOURCE McLane Company | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/mclane-highlights-latest-tech-newest-c-store-eats-orlando/ | 2022-08-17T13:47:23Z |
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The MGM Resorts Foundation (the "Foundation") has awarded nearly $2 million in the form of 82 grants to nonprofit organizations located in communities around the country in which MGM Resorts operates, including Southern Nevada, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Northeast Ohio, the DC Metropolitan area and Western Massachusetts. Funding was awarded to organizations that provide basic needs services to community residents.
The funds are the result of contributions made to the Community Grant Fund by MGM Resorts employees as well as guests. Grant decisions are made by the Company's Community Grant Councils, a voluntary committee of employees who represent their respective regions. The committee distributes donations not ear-marked for specific nonprofit organizations or programs into a grant fund with awards based on a competitive proposal process.
"Year after year we are amazed at the generosity of our employees and now guests. In 2022, MGM Resorts employees gave to 82 nonprofit organizations that serve the communities where we live and work," said Maria Jose Gatti, Executive Director of Community Engagement for MGM Resorts International. "On behalf of our grant recipients, thank you to those who gave to the Community Grant Fund, providing vital assistance to our communities, including medical care, mental health counseling, food and shelter."
The MGM Resorts Foundation was established in 2002 as an opportunity for MGM Resorts employees to contribute to important charitable causes. Since inception, the Foundation has raised more than $100 million and supported more than 1,500 charitable organizations.
MGM Resorts is committed to strengthening the livelihood, capacity and resiliency of communities, developing sustainable institutions, supporting good jobs, promoting next generation skill development and collaborating with the public sector, policy makers, educators and nonprofit organizations. MGM Resorts holds a bold vision for social impact and sustainability through "Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet." Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Company set concrete goals that are woven into the business' strategic plans. Click here to learn more about Focused on What Matters.
To learn more about The MGM Resorts Foundation, visit www.mgmresortsfoundation.org.
About the MGM Resorts Foundation
The purpose of The MGM Resorts Foundation is to collect and distribute monies and assets donated by employees and guests of MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM) for the aid and support of qualified community nonprofit programs, agencies or organizations designated exclusively by MGM Resorts' employees.
About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 33 unique hotel and gaming destinations globally, including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. The Company's 50/50 venture, BetMGM, LLC, offers U.S. sports betting and online gaming through market-leading brands, including BetMGM and partypoker. The Company is currently pursuing targeted expansion in Asia through the integrated resort opportunity in Japan. Through its "Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet" philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make a bigger difference in the lives of its employees, guests, and in the communities where it operates. The global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies®. For more information, please visit us at www.mgmresorts.com. Please also connect with us @MGMResortsIntl on Twitter as well as Facebook and Instagram.
MGM RESORTS CONTACTS:
Crystal McNeal
Executive Director, Internal Brand and Social Impact & Sustainability Communications
cmcneal@mgmresorts.com
702-918-0296
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SOURCE The MGM Resorts Foundation | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/mgm-resorts-foundation-awards-nearly-2-million-grants-area-nonprofit-organizations/ | 2022-08-17T13:47:30Z |
Warehouse management system streamlines operations and boosts inventory traceability for pharma-focused, healthcare & medical fulfillment 3PL leader
AMMAN, Jordan, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Infor, the industry cloud company, today announced that Mooneh, a third-party logistics storage and distribution provider operating on behalf of leading international pharmaceutical corporates, has deployed Infor WMS (warehouse management system). In addition to establishing an efficient and effective warehouse operation, the solution is set to deliver full traceability of all inventory. The project was successfully delivered by SNS, a leading provider of supply chain consultancy and software implementation.
Learn more about Infor WMS: https://www.infor.com/solutions/scm/warehousing/warehouse-management-system
With 100,000 sqm of temperature-controlled logistics infrastructure and storage capacity to allocate over 100,000 tons of FMCGs a year, including up to 22,000 pallets of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, Mooneh provides fulfillment & logistics solutions. As part of its objective to optimise warehouse operations, Mooneh's project goals were two-fold. The first was focused on receiving, storing and shipping efficiently by fully utilising the warehouse space, while the second sought to minimise human intervention and travel time for optimised productivity. Infor WMS now manages Mooneh's entire warehousing operation from receiving goods to storage and shipping.
"As global supply chains continue to face disruptions and volatility, we needed a warehouse management solution that would enable us to demonstrate best practice and resilience in upholding the high standards our customers have to come to expect of Mooneh," comments Oday Abu Shehab, Mooneh's executive director. "The in-depth functionality of Infor WMS supports our warehouse operation from goods received to shipment. Further, the system generates insights built on gathering, analyzing and synthesizing intelligence. thus, enabling us to utilize strategic alignment and response capacity."
"SNS worked closely with our team to deliver the project on time and to budget, as well as providing additional support on areas such the relabelling of warehouse locations, zones, areas and pallets to support enhanced traceability. Through our Venture Investment program, launched to ignite supply chain, fulfillment and logistics innovation in emerging technologies, we shall continue to invest in industry specific solutions provided by Infor & SNS to evolve our role in the biopharma and global logistics market as a whole, projected to be valued at $12.9 billion by 2027."
"This successful Infor WMS deployment will help Mooneh deliver greater automation in its warehouse, enhanced traceability in its inventory management, and greater resilience within the wider supply chain," comments Mohammad Obaidah, SNS director of services. "As a leading 3PL for the pharma industry, Mooneh is embracing digital transformation at its helm, and we're delighted to be able to support them in their ambitions to drive best practice in their warehouse operations."
Today, Mooneh is Jordan's largest logistics Hub, comprises 100,000 m of multitemperature facilities, accommodating over 150 thousand pallet positions of storage capacity and reaching an annual output of 100,000 tons. Armed with a vision for excellence, Mooneh expands its operations to support the evolving industries including FMCGs, pharmaceuticals, humanitarian, relief & recovery support operations.
SNS is a leading provider of supply chain services with customers and partners across the globe. With offices in Dubai, New York, Singapore, Paris, Lyon, Melbourne, Riyadh and Beirut, SNS offers a wide range of services and is recognized in the market by its proven track record of successful projects. SNS services range from consulting and training to solution development, implementation, systems integration and support. These services are delivered by an expert team of operational and technical consultants, highly knowledgeable in the supply chain and logistics domain.
For additional information, visit www.sns-emea.com.
For inquiries, email: Inquiry@sns-emea.com
Infor is a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry. We develop complete solutions for our focus industries. Infor's mission-critical enterprise applications and services are designed to deliver sustainable operational advantages with security and faster time to value. Over 60,000 organizations in more than 175 countries rely on Infor's 17,000 employees to help achieve their business goals. As a Koch company, our financial strength, ownership structure, and long-term view empower us to foster enduring, mutually beneficial relationships with our customers. Visit www.infor.com.
Richard Moore
Infor PR Manager, EMEA
+447976111243
Richard.Moore@infor.com
Copyright ©2022 Infor. All rights reserved. The word and design marks set forth herein are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Infor and/or related affiliates and subsidiaries. All other trademarks listed herein are the property of their respective owners. www.infor.com
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SOURCE Infor | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/mooneh-fulfillment-amp-logistics-optimizes-warehouse-management-with-sns-infor/ | 2022-08-17T13:47:37Z |
MACON, Ga., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mosquito Squad, the largest mosquito and tick control franchise in North America, is pleased to announce the appointment of Emma Grace Crumbley as the in-house Entomologist. This new addition will provide Mosquito Squad with a specialized, educational approach when it comes to a full range of pests from mosquitoes to ticks.
"We are thrilled to expand our team with the addition of Emma Grace Crumbley as Mosquito Squad's entomologist,'' said Tom Swift, COO of Mosquito Squad. "She is an exemplary leader in the entomology industry, with a wealth of knowledge that will undoubtedly make invaluable contributions to our rapidly-growing franchise system."
Crumbley is a University of Georgia trained entomologist. She is passionate about insect education, scientific communication, and public, urban, and environmental health awareness. During her time at the University of Georgia, she earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in Applied Biotechnology and Entomology and served as the President of the Undergraduate Entomology Club. In addition, she was also the Head Zookeeper at the UGA Insect Zoo.
Through her role at Mosquito Squad, she will use her expertise to educate customers and make the topic of bugs engaging through her personality as "Emma the Entomologist" that will be featured on blog content, social media interactions and more. She will also be responsible for continuing to research the growth, nutrition, behavior and how insects interact with plants, humans, and animals.
"As Mosquito Squad's new entomologist, I'm excited to support the team with my knowledge in the pest arena,'' said Emma Grace Crumbley, Entomologist at Mosquito Squad. "Through my expansive education on pests I can offer a fresh and unique approach to Mosquito Squad."
For more information on Mosquito Squad, please visit www.MosquitoSquad.com.
About Mosquito Squad
With approximately 230 franchise locations in the United States, Mosquito Squad specializes in helping to eliminate mosquitoes and ticks from outdoor living spaces, allowing consumers to enjoy their yards, outdoor living spaces, special events and green spaces. For more information, visit http://www.MosquitoSquad.com and http://MosquitoSquadFranchise.com. Follow Mosquito Squad on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and trends.
CONTACT:
Christina Rodriguez
954-893-9150
crodriguez@fish-consulting.com
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Columbia Hospital Becomes Latest Covered by Tele-ICU Partnership
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hicuity Health, the nation's leading provider of high-acuity telemedicine services, announced the launch of tele-ICU services at MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown in Columbia, South Carolina. The new service launch draws upon MUSC Health's long-standing collaboration with Hicuity Health which delivers 24/7/365 telemedicine services to hospitals across the state.
Since 2014, MUSC Health and Hicuity Health have worked together to ensure the citizens of South Carolina have access to state-of-the-art critical care regardless of location. The two organizations currently partner to ensure critical care access across the state, collaborating on tele-ICU programs in hospitals across a variety of geographic markets.
Hicuity Health services combine the expertise and experience of its clinical team and the enabling technology of its customized HUB platform to provide advanced tele-ICU support for the patients and bedside teams of its hospital partners. With the addition of Hicuity's tele-ICU care, Columbia Medical Center Downtown will have the tools and support to provide care to higher-acuity patients while keeping them in their community.
"MUSC Health is proud to collaborate with Hicuity Health to address acute care needs for patients in the Midlands," said Tallulah Holmstrom, MD, Regional CMO, MUSC Health. "We've experienced the improved care and outcomes for patients at other South Carolina hospitals and appreciate the opportunity to extend that care to Columbia."
"Hicuity Health is pleased to further expand our MUSC Health collaboration with the introduction of tele-ICU care at MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center," said Lou Silverman, CEO, Hicuity Health. "We look forward to partnering with the hospital's clinical team to provide the highest quality acute care within the community."
Hicuity Health is currently contracted to serve more than 130 facilities in 30 states. Hicuity Health's team of US board-certified providers and other clinicians conducts 1.2 million patient interactions annually while caring for 120,000 patients.
About Hicuity Health
For more than 16 years, Hicuity Health has pioneered telemedicine innovations. Serving a diverse range of clients and care venues – including health systems, hospitals, and post-acute care facilities – with its expanding line of services that includes tele-ICU, remote inpatient telemetry, virtual nursing, virtual sitter, smart device monitoring, and shared services, the company is the leader in delivering expert care on a 24 x 7 x 365 basis to high-acuity patients in high-acuity environments. Our innovation is highlighted by our proprietary HUB workflow management technology platform, which enables seamless care delivery and informs patient management across our 12 clinical care centers that serve our more than 130 hospital partners located in 30 states nationwide. Hicuity Health cares for 120,000 patients per year, delivering enhanced patient outcomes, tangible ROI, and expert clinical support for the bedside teams at our partner hospitals.
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About Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health)
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state's only comprehensive academic health system, with a unique mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,000 students in six colleges – Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy – and trains more than 850 residents and fellows in its health system. MUSC brought in more than $327.6 million in research funds in fiscal year 2021, leading the state overall in research funding. MUSC also leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health funding, with more than $220 million. For information on academic programs, visit musc.edu.
As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Patient care is provided at 14 hospitals with approximately 2,500 beds and five additional hospital locations in development; more than 350 telehealth sites, with connectivity to patients' homes; and nearly 750 care locations situated in all regions of South Carolina. In 2021, for the seventh consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.
MUSC and its affiliates have collective annual budgets totaling $4.4 billion. The nearly 25,000 MUSC team members include a world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, students, affiliates and care team members who deliver and support groundbreaking education, research and patient care.
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SOURCE Hicuity Health | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/musc-health-expands-telemedicine-partnership-with-hicuity-health/ | 2022-08-17T13:47:50Z |
Revenue Grew 33% Year-Over-Year to $41.2 Million
Recurring Revenue Grew 47% Year-Over-Year
Reaffirming Mid-Term Revenue Growth Target of 35%
HERZLIYA, Israel, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nayax Ltd. (TASE: NYAX), a global commerce enablement and payments platform designed to enable retailers to provide consumers with digital, cashless, connected commerce experiences, and enhance consumer loyalty and conversion, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
"We again delivered strong financial and operating performance for the second quarter, led by the continued pace of double-digit revenue growth and high customer adoption and satisfaction for our comprehensive, market-leading payment solutions. We delivered another quarter with excellent revenue performance driven by higher recurring revenues. Recurring revenues, comprised of SaaS subscription revenue and processing fees, grew 47% over the prior year quarter and accounted for more than 60% of our total revenue. During the second quarter, we continued to demonstrate the high level of customer satisfaction for our comprehensive solutions by maintaining an industry-leading net retention rate greater than 130%. Also, in Q2, we saw broad-based customer momentum across all geographies, with new customer growth of 58% over the prior year quarter and increasing scale from significantly growing both the number of transactions processed and the transaction value.
Looking ahead, based on our strong second quarter and first half results, our higher recurring revenue and continued business momentum, we remain confident about executing against our growth trajectory and our mid-term and long-term growth aspirations. Our continued momentum is a result of the value proposition we bring to our customers, the accelerating acceptance for cashless payments globally and the consistent execution of our strategies by the dedicated Nayax team" said Yair Nechmad, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board."
Nayax reports in U.S dollars and according to IFRS
Second Quarter Financial Highlights
- Total revenue was $41.2 million, an increase of 33% over Q2 2021. During Q2, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations had little impact on revenues.
- Recurring revenue from monthly SaaS and payment processing fees grew 47% compared to Q2 2021.
- Recurring revenue represented 61% of total revenue in Q2 2022 compared to 55% of total revenue in Q2 2021.
- Added 42,000 managed and connected devices during the quarter, for a total of 595,000 devices, driven by growing customer demand and execution of our market expansion strategy. This represents an increase of 38% compared to Q2 2021.
- The number of processed transactions grew 70% over Q2 2021 to 316 million.
- Transaction value increased 70% from prior year quarter to $585 million.
- Q2 gross margin decreased to 34% in comparison to prior year quarter, tracking in-line with the direction communicated previously. Gross margin was impacted mainly due to the mix of higher hardware revenue which has lower gross margin. We continue to expect hardware gross margins to be temporarily impacted by the ongoing disruption caused by the global component shortage.
- Gross profit reached $14 million, an increase of 6% over Q2 2021.
- Operating expenses, including research and development, share-based compensation expenses, as well as depreciation and amortization amounted to $21.2 million, an increase of 34% over Q2 2021. This reflects an increase of our investment in talent acquisition, customer base expansion and product innovation. Other investments included higher go-to-market expenses and enhanced infrastructure to support our global growth as we gain scale and become a much larger company. During Q2, operating expenses had a favorable impact from foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations of $1 million compared to Q1 2022.
- Operating loss was $8.6 million, compared to an operating loss of $4.1 million in Q2 2021.
- Adjusted EBITDA was a negative $3.2 million compared to positive $1.4 million in Q2 2021 largely due to higher cost of goods sold, as a result of global component shortage, and an increase in operating expenses from strategic investments mentioned above that support our growth strategy. On a like for like basis, excluding Q2 2022 bonus expenses for non-sales employees that was introduced in Q3 2021 for the first time, and excluding the impact of product costs, Q2 2022 Adjusted EBITDA on a like for like basis, would have been a positive $1.3 million.
- Net loss for Q2 2022 was $10.3 million, or ($0.0315) per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $5.9 million, or ($0.0192) per diluted share for Q2 2021.
Nayax generates revenue from the sale of its POS devices, a monthly subscription fee for access to our SaaS solutions and payment processing fees for transactions made at the point-of-sale and through our global platform.
The Company provides payment processing and business operations software solutions and services through its global cashless payment platform. In Q2 2022, the Company recorded strong growth in its recurring revenue from SaaS and payment processing, reflecting 61% of total revenue. This increase in recurring revenue represents growth in both the number of transactions processed through our devices as well as an increase in transaction value. This is contributed by our growing install base of managed and connected devices as well as the continued rapid adoption of cashless payments by consumers.
Second Quarter Business Highlights
- Expanded our diverse customer base, adding 4,000 new customers across our global footprint, bringing our total customer base to 38,000, as of June 30, 2022, growing 58% over Q2 2021.
- Dollar-based net retention rate stayed elevated at 132%, reflecting the high satisfaction and loyalty our customers place on our comprehensive solutions to increase their revenue and improve their operations.
- Continued to execute on our market expansion strategy by entering the New Zealand unattended retail market with our contactless card reader and cashless payment solutions.
- Extended our customer relationship with Five Star Food Service, a leading U.S. unattended operator and the largest of the Canteen franchise. Five Star will deploy Nayax's comprehensive payments solutions initially across their fleet of 20,000 vending machines and will also use Nayax's VendSys, a leading vending management system.
- Successfully closed the acquisition of On Track Innovations (OTI) in June 2022.
(*) Take Rate % - Payment service providers typically take a percentage of every transaction in exchange for facilitating the movement of funds from the buyer to the seller. It is calculated by dividing the total dollar transaction value by the company's processing revenue in the same quarter.
Outlook
Looking ahead, we remain excited about our strong long-term growth drivers and the large market opportunities, we see ahead. In the near term, we expect to continue to see disruption in supply chain which will delay immediate improvements in hardware gross margin of our POS devices due to the global shortage in components.
Our durable business model is demonstrated by our diverse customer base, verticals, and geographies. With strong secular tailwind and with our industry-leading net revenue retention rate, we believe we have a clear opportunity to drive revenue growth in the future.
Mid-Term Outlook
We are reaffirming our mid-term revenue projection of $220 million, driven by organic growth and strategic M&A. We are also reaffirming the growth rate target of 35% in the medium term, with customer growth, increased market penetration and continued expansion of our platform serving as the main growth drivers.
Long-Term Outlook
Gross margin in the long-term is expected to reach 50% by providing leasing options for IoT POS and by growing the SaaS and payment processing revenue segments.
Our long-term Adjusted EBITDA margin guidance is set around 30%.
Conference Call
Nayax will host a conference call and webcast to discuss second quarter 2022 results on August 17, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, 3:30 p.m. Israel Time and 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Participating on the call will be Yair Nechmad, Chief Executive Officer and Sagit Manor, Chief Financial Officer.
We encourage participants to pre-register for the conference call using the link below. Callers who pre-register will be given a unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call, bypassing the live operator. Participants may pre-register any time, including up to and after the call start time. You will immediately receive an online confirmation, an email with the dial in number and a calendar invitation for the event.
To pre-register, go to:
https://services.choruscall.ca/DiamondPassRegistration/register?confirmationNumber=10019699&linkSecurityString=182969eb8f
For those who are unable to pre-register, kindly join the conference call by using one of the dial-in numbers or clicking the webcast link below.
U.S. TOLL-FREE 1-855-327-6837
ISRAEL TOLL-FREE: 1-809-458-327
INTERNATIONAL TOLL-FREE: 1-631-891-4304
WEBCASTLINK: https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1559099&tp_key=12dda7810e
Participants may also register and join the conference call by visiting the Events section of the investor relations website, found here: Events
A replay of the conference call will be available from August 17, 2022, following the call, until August 31, 2022. To access the replay, please dial one of the following numbers:
Replay TOLL-FREE: 1-844-512-2921
Replay TOLL/INTERNATIONAL: 1-412-317-6671
Replay Pin Number: 10166383
An archive of the conference call will be available on Nayax's Investor Relations website Nayax Investors - Nayax.
An English version of the complete earnings materials can be found on our investor relations website: https://ir.nayax.com/
Forward-Looking Statements
The information included in this press release contains, or may be deemed to contain, forward-looking statements (as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Israeli Securities Law, 1968). Said forward-looking statements, are subject to uncertainties and assumptions and the actual results may materially differ. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Nayax on the date hereof. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Nayax are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. Nayax does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
Use and Definitions of Non-IFRS Financial Measures
In addition to disclosing financial measures in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted under International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, this press release and the accompanying tables contains a non-IFRS financial measures, including, adjusted EBITDA. We use Adjusted EBITDA to supplement financial information presented on an IFRS basis. We believe that excluding certain items from our IFRS results allows management and our board of directors to more fully understand our consolidated financial performance from period to period and helps management project our future consolidated financial performance as forecasts are developed at a level of detail different from that used to prepare IFRS-based financial measures.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before other income (expense), interest income (expense), foreign exchange gain (loss), income taxes, and depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude the effects of share-based compensation expense and certain nonrecurring expenses that management believes are not indicative of ongoing operations, consisting primarily of Equity method investee expenses and other indirect charges associated with our initial public offering. We believe Adjusted
EBITDA provides our investors with useful information to help them evaluate our operating results by facilitating an enhanced understanding of our operating performance and enabling them to make more meaningful period-to-period comparisons.
We use non-IFRS measures in conjunction with IFRS measures as part of our overall assessment of our performance. There are limitations to the use of the non-IFRS measures presented in this press release. Our non-IFRS measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies; other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate non-IFRS measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes. These non-IFRS measures should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.
We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety, not to rely on any single financial measure, and to view our non-IFRS measures in conjunction with IFRS financial measures. For a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA please see the tables included at the end of this press release.
About Nayax
Nayax is a global commerce enablement and payments platform designed to help merchants scale their business. Nayax offers a complete solution including localized cashless payment acceptance, management suite, and consumer engagement tools, enabling merchants to conduct commerce anywhere, at any time. With foundations and global leadership in serving unattended retail, Nayax has transformed into a comprehensive solution focused on our customers' growth across multiple channels. Today, Nayax has 9 global offices, over 700 employees, connections to more than 80 merchant acquirers and payment method integrations and is a recognized payment facilitator worldwide. Nayax's mission is to improve our customers' revenue potential and operational efficiency. For more information, please visit www.nayax.com
Investor Relations Contact:
ICR, Inc.
ir@nayax.com
IFRS to Non-IFRS
(*) Excluding (i) product costs increase due to global components shortage and (ii) bonus plan for non-sales employees that was introduced in Q3 2021, Q2 2022 Adjusted EBITDA improved to a positive $1.3M.
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SOURCE Nayax Ltd. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/nayax-reports-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/ | 2022-08-17T13:47:57Z |
Survey data from 2,600+ respondents aged 18-65 cites technology, sustainability, inclusivity and sober curiosity among trending topics
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new research report by me&u, a global hospitality at-table ordering solution, has revealed new feedback addressing consumer expectations across demographics for hospitality venues of the future. In partnership with YouGov, Red Havas and Havas Labs, this report provides an in-depth look into the changes from the customer perspective and explores new predictions that operators within the hospitality industry will adopt throughout the next decade. These findings spur from a combination of expert interviews and analysis through detailed industry reporting and media. The survey was then carried out in the U.S., as well as Australia and the U.K. As operators look to keep their fingers on the pulse of consumer demand, this data will empower hospitality businesses to "future-proof," and thereby accelerate key aspects of their business for years to come.
An overarching 70% of Americans expect that smart technology will be part of almost every venue soon, and other common themes throughout the report include the expectation of inclusivity from operators, the emergence of Web3 in hospitality, a growing concern for excess waste, a non-alcoholic movement, and more.
The study found that among other key indicators:
- 66% of Americans say they would use a food service app which allowed them to split the bill easily with friends
- One third (33%) of Americans expect all bars and restaurants to offer a good range of alcohol-free beverages.
- 52% of Millennials say they would like to be able to try a new venue in the metaverse to see what it is like before visiting it in real life.
- Four in five (80%) Americans agree that they prefer bars and restaurants that cater for all budgets with good value for money options.
- Customers expect restaurants and bars to be supportive of diversity and inclusion with three quarters (76%) agreeing that all bars and restaurants should be accessible and welcoming to those with physical or mental disabilities.
- 8 in 10 (80%) Americans say they prefer to visit bars and restaurants where they know all staff are treated well.
FANCY ANOTHER BYTE?
Data and Personalization Will Power the Next Generation
Over the last few years, restaurants and bars began to shift towards the use of technology for the same reason most industries quickly adapt to these advancements - to create a more efficient operation.
Smart technology is here to stay, and while Americans embrace tech in virtually every other aspect of their lives and are accustomed to utilizing QR codes, the innovation throughout hospitality venues will continue to be both embraced and encouraged. The majority (70%) of Americans who go to bars and restaurants expect that smart technology will be part of almost all bars and restaurants in the near future, and most (66%) would use a food service app which allowed them to split the bill easily with friends. However, 8 in 10 (81%) agree that while technology can be useful, they feel bars and restaurants are all about people and human interactions.
With the rise of hyper-personalized venues comes the need to tailor the experience to every unique visitor. Half (49%) of consumers surveyed were found to be more likely to visit venues that use technology to give them a personalized menu that's unique to their tastes, including tailored beverage recommendations.
WHO KNEW SOBER CURIOSITY COULD BE SO SEXY
Will non-alcoholic beverages be the hot new drink on tap?
Many Americans may be redefining their relationship with alcohol, thus rethinking how they view bars and hospitality venues. 33% of customers expect bars and restaurants to offer a good range of alcohol-free beverage options, and more than a third (35%) of Americans say they're happy to visit completely alcohol-free bars or restaurants, a similar number expecting all bars to have a good range of alcohol-free beverage options (33%).
Customers will be looking for the same care and attention from staff as before; for staff to have a level of knowledge, a recommendation and a point of view on the alcohol-free beer, wine or cocktail they're drinking.
WEB3 MEETS HOSPITALITY 3.0
Crypto for your burger and fries?
As the new catch-all term for the 'future of the internet' – Web3 will affect how we make payments going forward. Facilitating borderless, peer-to-peer, and multiple tokens and blockchains, Web3 will convert whatever you have in your wallet to payment - bitcoin, NFT or other digital currency options. Hospitality venues of the future will also see the role of the metaverse coming into play. me&u's findings showed most Millennials (52%) agreed they'd be interested in trying a new venue in the metaverse first and half (50%) would be interested in a venue using the metaverse to experience virtual reality activities, such as virtual tours of the region they selected their wine from.
It's not only what you pay with which will become easier, but also how you pay. Platforms and developments like me&u that allow for bill splitting are something two thirds of American respondents agreed that they'd use in future; with nearly half of them preferring to go to bars and restaurants that give them the option of using smart technology to make ordering food and drinks more efficient (47%).
WAGING THE WAR ON WASTE
Hospitality's pathway to net positive
With new data on the severe impact of food waste from all links of the food service supply chain, coupled with an acute awareness of climate change, the next generation will expect action from the bars and restaurants they choose to support in these areas. 61% of customers think that bars and restaurants produce a worrying amount of waste from menus and other disposable items and should take action to reduce it.
THREE CHEERS FOR THE STAFF
Guests Notice How Employees are Treated
According to the report, looking after employees could pay dividends for bar and restaurant owners with eight in ten (80%) Americans who go out to bars and restaurants regularly saying they prefer to visit bars and restaurants where they know all staff are treated well. Overall, 84% of Americans believe that bars and restaurants with staff that are better taken care of in turn provide better customer experiences, including over half (55%) who strongly agree with this sentiment.
EQUAL THIRD PLACE
Inclusivity is Non-negotiable
Diversity and inclusion are no longer seen as a nice addition to workplace policies. Customers believe that hospitality brands must incorporate values and be both accepting and welcoming, and they will in turn support those that are. Customers expect restaurants and bars to have strong diversity and inclusion policies with about three quarters (76%) agreeing that all bars and restaurants should be accessible and welcoming to those with physical or mental disabilities, including half (48%) who strongly agree, while one in two (52%) agree they will only attend bars and restaurants that support diversity and inclusion.
For more information or to access the full report, visit www.meandu.com.
About me&u
Leading hospitality technology scale-up, me&u is on a mission to transform the global hospitality industry for the better. Founded in 2018, me&u was conceptualized by Founder Stevan Premutico, to transform the traditional ordering experience in a bid to solve the deep-rooted structural issues that have been the Achilles heel of the hospitality industry for decades. Smart technology and human-led value systems from me&u are at the core of driving this transformation by offering highly personalized ordering experiences and payment options for both customers and venues around the world.
About the research
The research is based on an online survey of n=2,296 Americans 18-65 years who visit bars and restaurants. The survey was conducted between 21-27 June 2022. Final results were weighted by age, gender and location to ensure they are representative of the broader population.
Media Contact:
Jillian Mushman
jillian.mushman@redhavas.com
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SOURCE me&u | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/new-report-showcases-consumer-priorities-future-proof-hospitality-industry/ | 2022-08-17T13:48:03Z |
Pilot Program Spans EV, Hybrid and Gasoline Vehicles Across Nine City Agencies
CALGARY, AB, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MAGTEC, a provider of intelligent vehicle control systems, today announced that the City of New York selected the company's Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology, SafeSpeed, as part of its Vision Zero Plan to ensure safter city streets. The New York City pilot involves 50 EV, hybrid and gasoline vehicles, including 16 different makes and models, across nine agencies. This is the latest initiative to be implemented as part of New York City's Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Safe Fleet Transition Plan for city vehicles.
SafeSpeed is the only retrofittable Intelligent Speed Assistance technology that prevents speeding in both light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles. By combining speed governors with telematics, MAGTEC's ISA technology restricts a vehicle's maximum speed, preventing it from exceeding local speed limits. It dynamically adjusts to changing speed limits, providing an important tool to regulate and standardize safe driving among city employees.
"Preventing harm from motor vehicle crashes is a key component of Vision Zero planning and we are proud to be part of Mayor Eric Adams' efforts to make New York one of the world's safest cities," said MAGTEC founder and CEO Robert Morisset. "SafeSpeed is being thoroughly tested by New York City, to demonstrate its effectiveness in vehicles ranging from sedans and pickup trucks to box trucks to dump trucks. With over 10,000 miles of testing already complete in the pilot program, we are eager to show how intelligent speed assistance can shape the future of public safety."
SafeSpeed for Fleet Operators
In addition to preventing speeding, SafeSpeed empowers fleets with security features to intervene and take preventable action in real time. For example, fleet operators can remotely disable a stationary or a moving vehicle in the event of non-compliance, hijacking, driver impairment, or an erratic driving notification. The technology also includes a 15-second release button to help drivers adjust to unexpected conditions.
Preventing speeding helps fleet operators increase public safety and decrease risk. Lower speeds help drivers not only avoid crashes, but improve crash survivability for vehicle occupants as well as other road users such as cyclists and pedestrians. Using SafeSpeed, fleet operators can also increase fuel efficiency, reduce maintenance wear and tear costs on brakes and tires, improve insurance premiums, and lower workers compensation costs for driver injuries.
"We know from behavioral science that speeding is one of the most difficult unsafe driving behaviors to change," said Gary Catapano, Chief Strategy and Safety Advisor at MAGTEC. "Vehicle speed is the major factor in determining if any collision is survivable and this is especially true for a crash involving a pedestrian or vulnerable road user. This is one of the main reasons some cities have worked to lower speed limits. The data shows that slowing down by even five miles per hour will make a major difference in preventing harm from these types of crashes."
About MAGTEC
MAGTEC specializes in developing and manufacturing intelligent vehicle control systems that help prevent speeding, enhance safety, and improve security for light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles. Its flagship product, SafeSpeed® provides lifesaving Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) technology to control vehicle speed and is the only retrofittable technology for all vehicle types. MAGTEC'S headquarters are in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and operates two wholly owned subsidiaries, MAGTEC Products (USA), Inc. and MAGTEC Asia, Inc.
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SOURCE MAGTEC | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/new-york-city-selects-magtec-intelligent-speed-assistance-create-safer-city-streets/ | 2022-08-17T13:48:10Z |
SHANGHAI, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nisun International Enterprise Development Group Co., Ltd ("Nisun" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: NISN), a provider of innovative comprehensive solutions through an integration of technology, industry, and finance, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Qingdao Sailang International Trade Co., Ltd ("Qingdao Sailang"), a company engaged in domestic and international trades of metal ore, for RMB5 million, or approximately USD741.5 thousands. Following the acquisition, the Company owns 100% of the equity in Qingdao Sailang through its subsidiary, NiSun Ocean (Qingdao) Supply Chain Investment Co., Ltd. The transaction was financed with cash on hand.
Qingdao Sailang primarily operates in the international trade of metal ore, such as silver ore, zinc concentrate, lead concentrate and other non-ferrous metals, within mainland China, as well as Southeast Asian and South American regions, including the Philippines and Venezuela. Through this acquisition, Qingdao Sailang will benefit from Nisun's professional supply chain management team to further broaden the scale of its business.
Mr. Xiaoyun Huang, Chief Executive Officer of Nisun, commented, "Qingdao Sailang controls an extensive metal ore supply chain network. This business combination provides us with opportunities to enter into the metal ore industry, while facilitating the development of our international supply chain business. We look forward to innovating and expanding access to quality international supply chains in various industries together."
About Nisun International Enterprise Development Group Co., Ltd
Nisun International Enterprise Development Group Co., Ltd (NASDAQ: NISN) is a technology-driven, integrated supply chain solutions provider focused on transforming the corporate finance industry. Leveraging its industry experience, Nisun is dedicated to providing professional supply chain solutions to Chinese and foreign enterprises and financial institutions. Through its subsidiaries and controlled companies, Nisun provides users with professional solutions for technology supply chain management, technology asset routing, and digital transformation of tech and finance institutions, enabling the industry to strengthen and grow. At the same time, Nisun continues to deepen the field of industry segmentation through industrial and financial integration, by cultivating and creating an ecosystem of openness and empowerment. Nisun has built a linked platform that incorporates supply chain, banking, securities, trust, insurance, funds, state-owned enterprises, among other businesses. Focusing on industry-finance linkages, Nisun aims to serve the upstream and downstream of the industrial supply chain while also assisting with supply-side sub-sector reform. For more information, please visit http://ir.nisun-international.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains information about Nisun's view of its future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from historical results or those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with its ability to raise additional funding, its ability to maintain and grow its business, variability of operating results, its ability to maintain and enhance its brand, its development and introduction of new products and services, the successful integration of acquired companies, technologies and assets into its portfolio of products and services, marketing and other business development initiatives, competition in the industry, general government regulation, economic conditions, dependence on key personnel, the ability to attract, hire and retain personnel who possess the technical skills and experience necessary to meet the requirements of its clients, and its ability to protect its intellectual property. Nisun encourages you to review other factors that may affect its future results in Nisun's registration statement and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nisun assumes no obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.
Contacts
Nisun International Enterprise Development Group Co., Ltd
Investor Relations
Tel: +86 (21) 2357-0055
Email: ir@cnisun.com
ICR, LLC
Tel: +1 203 682 8233
Email: nisun@icrinc.com
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SOURCE Nisun International Enterprise Development Group Co., Ltd | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/nisun-international-completes-acquisition-qingdao-sailang-international-support-its-international-metal-ore-supply-chain-initiatives/ | 2022-08-17T13:48:17Z |
KPMG collaborates with Red Hat to deliver an integrated platform to transform the state's Medicaid software program for streamlined care delivery
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KPMG LLP today announced that the State of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has selected the KPMG Resource Integration Suite (KRIS) Connected Platform to integrate multiple technology solutions and enable optimized health outcomes across the state. The KRIS Connected Platform primarily uses industry leading enterprise Kubernetes platform, Red Hat OpenShift, to implement a central systems integration cloud platform and modernize the state's Medicaid software operations to help streamline the delivery of critical health services.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) manages the delivery of health and human-related services for North Carolinians, working closely with healthcare professionals, community leaders and advocacy groups and many local, state and federal entities to care for NC residents. The department saw an opportunity to modernize its Medicaid program, a health insurance program for low-income individuals and families who cannot afford health care costs, to better serve citizens and improve the digital experience for care providers in the program.
With KPMG and Red Hat, NCDHHS is shifting away from its legacy environments to adopt modern, cloud-based applications to integrate disparate systems and comply with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance, enabling patients and care providers to more safely and efficiently access vital health information. NCDHHS selected KPMG's KRIS Connected Platform powered by Red Hat OpenShift to enhance application and data interoperability for its Medicaid software systems.
The KPMG KRIS Connected Platform can enable NCDHHS to respond more rapidly to market demands and helps decrease the overall costs of the state's technology footprint by utilizing Red Hat OpenShift to support cloud-native, containerized workloads. In addition, NCDHHS will use Red Hat Integration to more seamlessly integrate various applications and technology solutions necessary to address nuanced elements of the Medicaid system.
KPMG and Red Hat's collaboration continues to provide enhanced hybrid cloud experiences for customers while meeting requirements for regulated industries such as health care. By combining Red Hat's open source technologies with KPMG's services, such as the KRIS Connected Platform, customers such as NCDHHS can more easily modernize systems to better meet the needs of patients and care providers.
Supporting Quotes
Mark Calem, advisory managing director, Health and Government Solutions, KPMG LLP
"The KRIS Connected Platform has seen a lot of interest from Medicaid and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services because it is modular, flexible and ideal for meeting the integration and shared services needs of local, state and federal government agencies. Most importantly, it supports the future of hybrid cloud integration, and we are glad to work with Red Hat to bring these transformational opportunities to our clients."
Charles Carter, Assistant Secretary of Technology Services, State of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
"By leveraging the KPMG KRIS Connected Platform and Red Hat technology, we are bringing North Carolina's Medicaid program into the next generation so we meet the long-term needs of North Carolinians. This collaboration has been an important step to ensure our systems are innovative, transparent, and can respond to programmatic changes faster."
Chris Gray, vice president, North America Partner Ecosystem, Red Hat
"Red Hat collaborates across a vast ecosystem of solution providers, systems integrators, software vendors and more to help our customers successfully modernize and transform IT environments to meet their unique business needs. By integrating Red Hat OpenShift with KPMG's KRIS platform, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services can more easily bring together cloud-based, legacy and on-premises systems to streamline operations and provide better user experiences for care providers and patients. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with KPMG in the public sector and beyond."
About KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP is the U.S. firm of the KPMG global organization of independent professional services firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. The KPMG global organization operates in 144 countries and territories and has more than 236,000 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.
KPMG is widely recognized for being a great place to work and build a career. Our people share a sense of purpose in the work we do, and a strong commitment to community service, inclusion and diversity, and eradicating childhood illiteracy. Learn more at www.kpmg.com/us.
Red Hat, the Red Hat logo and OpenShift are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries.
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Collaboration Helps Clients' Learning Initiatives Come to Life by Combining Industry-Leading Cohort Learning Platform with Learning Strategy, Custom Content, and Technology Services
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NovoEd, the leading social and collaborative learning platform for deep capability building, today announces its partnership with Bluewater, North America's leading full-service consulting & services partner for everything Learning & Talent Management. Bluewater is a go-to partner for enterprise and mid-market organizations looking to select, implement, and operate learning technology. By adding NovoEd to Bluewater's existing portfolio of learning technology partners, Bluewater is moving to better empower its clients to build deep capabilities through cohort-based learning at scale.
"In our work with talent development and learning leaders, we see a significant need for a solution like NovoEd. In fact, many of our long-term clients are inquiring about or have purchased the NovoEd platform," said Chris Bond, Bluewater Founder, and CEO. "NovoEd is a uniquely flexible learning system because it allows us to structure interventions to cultivate better relationships between an organization and its employees, as well as within an employee community. The learning is stronger if it appropriately incorporates socialization, collaboration, cohorts, coaching, and mentoring. I look forward to leveraging the NovoEd platform to serve our clients."
The NovoEd and Bluewater partnership expands the scope of services for both organizations to help their clients build out comprehensive organization-wide NovoEd deployments, as well as support mid-sized companies that require additional support to design and implement scalable cohort-based learning journeys.
"Our clients envision creating learning organizations that can power the most fundamental and transformative initiatives within their respective businesses," said NovoEd Chief Executive Officer Scott Kinney. "Partnering with Bluewater will help make that vision come to life by combining NovoEd's industry-leading, cohort-based learning technology with Bluewater's learning strategy, custom content, and technology consulting services. We're excited to partner on this journey to help our clients care for and develop their people for the future of their businesses."
About NovoEd
Founded at Stanford's Social Algorithms Lab in 2012, NovoEd is a capability-building platform that uses social and collaborative learning to unlock performance readiness at scale. Through cohort-based experiences, NovoEd taps into collective wisdom, placing each learner at the intersection of perspective, application, and expertise. Large enterprises such as 3M, GE, and Nestlé partner with NovoEd to accelerate their critical initiatives, reconnect teams, and achieve rapid alignment through learning that is deeply felt and experienced and swiftly transformed into impact. Visit novoed.com to learn more.
About Bluewater
At Bluewater, we create clients for life by helping them to look at the way they use their learning and talent technology a little differently. That all starts with our people. Our team helps our clients gain confidence in their tools, fill the gaps in knowledge, and provide the right resources to ensure that you have the time you need to be successful.
Bluewater Transforms our Employees' lives by serving you and engaging yours. We develop Relationships, not transactions, focus on Impact, not tools, and have flexible, not one size fits all solutions. Visit bluewaterlearning.com to learn more.
Media Contact:
Christina Yu
Chief Marketing Officer
christina.yu@novoed.com
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SOURCE NovoEd | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/novoed-partners-with-bluewater-power-business-transformation/ | 2022-08-17T13:48:30Z |
Leverages AHRQ-certified Patient Safety Organization to enable providers and payors to collaboratively and securely improve patient outcomes with AI and workflow-integrated clinical intelligence
BURLINGTON, Mass. and NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Covera Health, Inc., a leading diagnostic intelligence company, and Nuance Communications, Inc., today introduced the Quality Care Collaborative (QCC), the first national program that brings together payors, providers, and self-insured employers to support radiology quality improvement initiatives at scale. The QCC joins Covera's clinical intelligence platform and Nuance's Precision Imaging Network™ to enable providers, payors, and employers to work together in a trusted and secure setting on long-term, sustainable quality improvement programs, peer-learning initiatives, and value-based care efforts.
Through Covera's Patient Safety Organization (PSO), which is certified by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), clinicians can optionally share data with and receive insights from the QCC to improve care quality in a safe and trusted environment. PSO data receives increased protection against discovery and restricts any sharing with payors. All radiology practices in participating payors' networks can opt-in to the QCC at no cost to them to gain seamless access to a growing suite of quality analytics and clinically validated AI tools to augment existing quality improvement programs. Participating payors and self-insured employers can achieve improved quality and better outcomes for their member populations and the best value for their healthcare dollars.
The QCC establishes a workflow-integrated infrastructure that enables radiologists to access quality analytics and support improved diagnostic precision through trusted, widely deployed technology. Powered by Microsoft Azure, the Nuance Precision Imaging Network delivers workflow-integrated, AI-generated insights across the care continuum at scale. It is built upon the Nuance PowerScribe radiology reporting solution used by 80% of U.S. radiologists, the Nuance PowerShare image sharing solution, connected to more than 10,000 healthcare facilities, and Nuance's AI cloud infrastructure that enables an entire ecosystem of third-party diagnostic imaging AI services to be integrated into clinical workflows.
"What we're able to deliver with Nuance represents a paradigm shift in how payors, self-insured employers, and providers partner in their efforts to improve care quality for their members, employees, and patients," said Ron Vianu, co-founder and CEO of Covera Health. "At the same time, the ability to deliver AI-powered quality insights on demand, at scale, and within clinical workflows, fundamentally enhances the way AI is used in radiology to improve patient outcomes."
Walmart is the first large employer to join the QCC. "We're excited about the collaboration between Covera and Nuance and the positive impact it can have on improving the quality of care for all, as well as improving health equity by increasing access to quality care in local communities," said Lisa Woods, Walmart vice president for physical and emotional well-being.
"The Quality Care Collaborative is a great example of the unique impact that we and our provider clients can have on patient care by leveraging our Precision Imaging Network and the nationwide scale we have in radiology," said Peter Durlach, Chief Strategy Officer at Nuance Communications. "This is an AHRQ certified Patient Safety program that can provide radiologists at their own discretion with additional AI-powered quality insights in their native workflows to help them continue to deliver the highest level of patient care, help combat the commoditization of radiology, all while knowing that their data is protected. Together, Nuance and Covera are working collaboratively with providers, payors, and employers across the country to deliver the best possible outcomes for their patients, members, and employees."
To learn more about the Nuance Precision Imaging Network and the Quality Care Collaborative, please visit: https://www.nuance.com/healthcare/campaign/webinar/quality-care-collaborative.html.
Covera Health builds diagnostic intelligence technology to unlock and deliver powerful insights throughout the care continuum. Working with some of the nation's largest employers, insurers, and health systems, Covera partners with providers to deliver higher quality care and achieve improved outcomes for patients. Backed by leading investors, Covera is transforming how quality healthcare is measured, delivered, and rewarded. For more information, visit www.coverahealth.com.
Nuance Communications is a technology pioneer with market leadership in conversational AI and ambient intelligence. A full-service partner trusted by 77 percent of U.S. hospitals and over 75 percent of the Fortune 100 companies worldwide, Nuance creates intuitive solutions that amplify people's ability to help others. Nuance is a Microsoft company.
Trademark reference: Nuance and the Nuance logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.
Covera Health
press@coverahealth.com
Nuance Communications
corpcomm@nuance.com
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OnSolve webinar features expert panel to help organizations improve risk management
ALPHARETTA, Ga., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OnSolve, a leading critical event management provider that helps organizations mitigate physical threats and remain agile when a crisis strikes, today announced an upcoming webinar: National Preparedness Month: Expert Panel Shares Tips for Readiness in 2023, on August 23, 2022, at 1 p.m. EST.
Critical events are on the rise. Severe weather events, power outages, supply chain issues and cyber crime are just a few examples of the types of events that are happening more frequently. Incidents are also increasing in severity.
This combination makes it more likely that organizations will have to deal with one or more critical events. In fact, a recent survey of risk, security and crisis management leaders found that nearly three-quarters experienced at least two types of incidents over the past 18 months. Only 30 percent, however, reported they were very confident in their ability to handle the increasing complexity of risk management in the future.
OnSolve is focused on helping organizations improve their ability to prepare, identify and respond to all types of critical events. Since September is National Preparedness Month, it's an ideal time for organizations to reassess their capabilities and confidence when it comes to risk management.
In preparation for the coming month, OnSolve is hosting a panel discussion webinar featuring insights from a range of crisis management and resilience experts. OnSolve Chief Customer Officer Ann Pickren will moderate the panel.
The expert panel will be asked about a range of topics, including:
- The impact of the pandemic, civil unrest and climate events have had on what preparedness means
- The top 3 preparedness challenges their organization faced during the last 12 to 18 months
- Lessons from 2021 that have guided their actions in 2022
- The meaning of preparedness in their day-to-day roles
- Predictions about what preparedness will require in 2023
This is an opportunity to benefit from firsthand experience and lessons learned. Attendees will walk away with tips and best practices to improve their organization's preparedness and risk management strategy for a stronger and more resilient 2023.
OnSolve is a leading critical event management provider that proactively mitigates physical threats, allowing organizations to remain agile when a crisis strikes. Using the most trusted expertise and reliable AI-powered risk intelligence, critical communications and incident management technology, the OnSolve Platform enables enterprises, SMB organizations and all levels of government to detect, anticipate and mitigate physical threats that impact their people, places and property.
With billions of alerts sent annually and proven support for both the public and private sectors, OnSolve is used by thousands of entities to save lives, protect communities, safeguard critical infrastructure and enable agility for the organizations that power our economy. For more information, please visit www.onsolve.com.
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SOURCE OnSolve | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/onsolve-host-webinar-kick-off-national-preparedness-month/ | 2022-08-17T13:48:43Z |
Hosts Next OpenSSF Day in Dublin
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) a cross-industry organization hosted at the Linux Foundation that brings together the world's most important software supply chain security initiatives, today announced 13 new members from leading financial services, technology, employment, software development, cybersecurity, telecommunications, and academic sectors.
New premier member, Capital One, joins the OpenSSF Governing Board. New general member commitments come from Akamai, Indeed, Kasten by Veeam, Scantist, SHE BASH, Socket Security, Sysdig, Timesys, and ZTE Corporation. New associate members include Eclipse Foundation, Purdue University, and TODO Group. "We are excited to welcome new members to the OpenSSF," says Brian Behlendorf, General Manager of OpenSSF. "As open source software security vulnerabilities continue to draw attention from governments and businesses around the world, interest in the work of the OpenSSF has been rapidly increasing."
"A growing community of organizations, developers, researchers, and security professionals are investing the time and resources needed to strengthen open source security," said Jamie Thomas, OpenSSF Board Chair and IBM Enterprise Security Executive. "New members of OpenSSF are joining at a time when cross-industry collaboration and innovation are needed more than ever to proactively respond to pervasive cybersecurity threats"
Resolving the systemic issues that led to major security vulnerabilities like the log4shell incident emphasizes the urgency and importance of the work of OpenSSF. A recent Cyber Safety Review Board report declared that Log4j has become an "endemic vulnerability" that will be exploited for years to come and that the 10-point mobilization plan introduced earlier this year at the Open Source Software Security Summit II by the OpenSSF will improve the resiliency and security of open source software.
OpenSSF will host a full day of sessions on Tuesday, September 13th at OpenSSF Day EU on the eve of Open Source Summit Europe (OSS EU) in Dublin. Working Group leaders and community members will host sessions, panels, and fireside chats about ongoing work to secure the software supply chain and the future of open source security. Registration and attendance are free for all those attending the OSS EU.
Premier Member Quote
Capital One
"Today some of the most ground-breaking digital experiences created for customers are based on open source software. As a company that widely adopts this technology, Capital One is incredibly proud to join the OpenSSF and the world's technology leaders as we collaborate to strengthen the software security supply chain. As a highly-regulated company, we are seasoned in managing compliance and governance and advocate for standardization, automation and collaboration. We look forward to working together to identify solutions that advance the OpenOSSF mission and give back to the open source community."
- Chris Nims, EVP of Cloud & Productivity Engineering at Capital One
General Member Quotes
Akamai
Improving the security of open source software -- so central to the internet ecosystem -- is one of the most critical security challenges we face today. Only by gaining visibility into the network and the software supply chain can we reliably address security flaws when they occur at the code level. The technology community must support the open source communities we depend on with financial and technological resources to limit our collective risk. As a leading security and cloud services provider, we look forward to contributing to the Open Source Security Foundation and helping to advance this important work.
- Robert Blumofe, EVP and CTO, Akamai
Kasten by Veeam
"We are honored to be part of the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) and champion this initiative alongside our peers. Kasten by Veeam has an open source heritage, and with Kubernetes data protection as our core offering, security remains a critical underpinning for Kasten K10 design and implementation. As Kubernetes adoption continues to fuel Digital Transformation journeys for enterprises, more attention is rightfully being placed on security, especially with the inexorable rise of ransomware attacks. Kasten by Veeam is committed to ensuring the security and data protection of cloud native environments to better protect business applications."
- Gaurav Rishi, Vice President of Products and Partnerships at Kasten by Veeam
Scantist
"On one hand, the software industry is benefiting substantially from the rapid growth of open source, which has become the basic building blocks of the digital world. On the other hand, open source security is becoming more critical and all these risks are multiplied by the interdependent nature of open source. Now as a member of OpenSSF, we would like to contribute to the OpenSSF missions based on our recent research on open source ecosystem analysis to provide a quantitative view to understand the complexity and security of open source. We want to become the active participant, evangelist and ambassador for OSS governance in south east Asia to promote open source software supply chain security."
- Dr. Liu Yang,Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and Co-Founder of Scantist
SHE BASH
"Since our inception, SHE BASH has witnessed a variety of predatory industry practices that get shielded from extensive scrutiny via the protective veil of closed source. At our core, open source software is a public institution that enables everyone to build their future.
The combination of decades of apathy and the incentive mechanisms that sustain a culture of "don't care" has allowed our company to stand out among tech's largest and most culpable companies. We have always considered "best practice first" as one of the main value propositions we can provide as a company, albeit a small one. Open Source Software provided us the level playing field to make differences in key technological shifts within the public sector, and the evolution of these shifts are the development of best practices born from the open source that sustains all software life today. It's a true honor to be of assistance to the work OpenSSF is leading to remedy large structural mistakes that grew from decades of neglect. "
- Cameron Banowsky, Co-founder and CTØ, SHE BASH
Socket Security
"As maintainers of open source packages which are installed over 1 billion times per month, the Socket team is intimately familiar with the massive growth in open source dependency usage. Modern applications use thousands of dependencies written by hundreds of maintainers, and installing even one package leads to dozens of transitive dependencies coming along for the ride. Unfortunately, it is far too easy for a bad actor to infiltrate the software supply chain and wreak havoc. That's why Socket is proud to join OpenSSF and do our part to make open source safe for everyone with our industry-leading approach to software composition analysis which is used by thousands of companies to detect and prevent supply chain attacks. The Socket team is excited to work with other OpenSSF member companies to safeguard the open source ecosystem for everyone."
- Feross Aboukhadijeh, Founder and CEO, Socket Security
Sysdig
Sysdig is proud to be part of OpenSSF and work together to help guide open source security standards and secure the software supply chain. As a cloud security company built on open source, we believe the industry must come together to strengthen software for the common good. Having created and contributed Falco to the CNCF to help secure the runtime, we look forward to continuing open collaboration in the OpenSSF. The future of security is open, and what we do now will shape software forever."
- Edd Wilder-James, Vice President, Open Source Ecosystem at Sysdig
Timesys
"With software supply chain breaches up more than 650%, securing the software supply chain is a big focus. We've been working for more than 5 years developing technology to help secure, monitor, and maintain open-source based embedded Linux and Android devices from exposures and vulnerabilities. We are so excited to be joining up on this community effort with OpenSSF and to be a part of the Linux Foundation again. By sharing technology and collaborating to build ecosystems that accelerate open-source technology development, device manufacturers and consumers everywhere will be able to rest easier knowing they are secure."
- Atul Bansal, CEO of Timesys
ZTE Corporation
"We are very pleased to join the OpenSSF. As a world-leading communication equipment manufacturer, more and more open source software is used by us. While actively embracing open source software, it also brings unprecedented risks to software supply chain security. ZTE Corporation has made many efforts to control and manage risks, and regard them as our top priority. After joining the OpenSSF, ZTE Corporation works with a group of members with similar visions and goals to promote the development of open source software supply chain towards a more secure direction."
- Xiang Shuming, Director of OSS Compliance and Security Governance, ZTE Corporation
Additional Resources
- View the complete list of the 89 OpenSSF members
- Watch the recent August OpenSSF Town Hall
- Contribute efforts to one or more of the active OpenSSF working groups and projects
About OpenSSF
The Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) is a cross-industry organization hosted by the Linux Foundation that brings together the industry's most important open source security initiatives and the individuals and companies that support them. The OpenSSF is committed to collaboration and working both upstream and with existing communities to advance open source security for all. For more information, please visit us at: openssf.org.
About the Linux Foundation
Founded in 2000, the Linux Foundation and its projects are supported by more than 2,950 members. The Linux Foundation is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, hardware, standards, and data. Linux Foundation projects are critical to the world's infrastructure including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, ONAP, Hyperledger, RISC-V, and more. The Linux Foundation's methodology focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users, and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at linuxfoundation.org.
Media Contact
Babel for OpenSSF
openssf@babelpr.com
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Troy, Mich., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TruOI helps franchise and chain CEOs gain efficiencies needed to manage high labor costs during the busy summer months and increase profitability.
Franchise and chain CEOs need to effectively navigate their complex operations to maximize profitability during the busy summer season. With multiple locations and disconnected people and systems, it's difficult to get all teams working optimally within cost control guidelines. The result can be a performance gap between what leaders want to happen and what unit-level managers are delivering.
The TruOI Operational Intelligence (OI) Platform overcomes these challenges by integrating and automating all your systems, data, locations, and people in real time – using your existing technology – under the umbrella of the TruOI Operational Intelligence Platform.
TruOI is like autopilot for your business. For controlling labor costs, having everything connected within the TruOI Platform allows issues like timecard violations or unauthorized overtime to be detected automatically in real-time, and resolved with automatic activity triggers.
TruOI founder and CEO Shadan Malik adds, "After years of working with multi-location business CEOs to improve their operations, it was clear these guys all have the same problem. They have great know-how, business systems, and management tools, but none of them talk to each other. TruOI fixes that by linking everything and everyone under one system with a single login. Everything is so much easier".
TruOI gives CEOs the ability to automate many of their day-to-day operating activities with triggers driven by key performance indicators or scheduled timing. To keep everyone focused on the right priorities, TruOI connects both corporate and location team members with real-time coaching, performance management alerts, and detailed measurements based on organizational goals and operational needs.
For franchises and chains with 5 locations or 10,000, TruOI is accessible from any location, on any computer or mobile device, and makes real-time management of all aspects of a business a reality for CEOs and their teams.
Visit www.TruOI.com to see how TruOI helps franchises and Chain business leaders take their next big step.
About TruOI: TruOI offers a real-time Operational Intelligence platform for franchises and chains that integrates all of a company's software, measurement, coaching, and training systems under one umbrella application and automates business activity to increase profitability and growth. More than 5,000 organizations have leveraged TruOI technology to drive success and innovation.
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New research finds SaaS revenue will continue to grow at a 25% annual rate and will reach $279 billion in 2024, emphasizing the need for an enterprise-wide SaaS DevOps platform
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Opsera, the Continuous Orchestration platform for DevOps, today announced its enterprise-wide SaaS DevOps capabilities to manage and modernize software releases. It also announced a new study commissioned from Vernon Keenan, senior industry analyst at Salesforcedevops.net. The research affirms the need for a single, enterprise-wide SaaS DevOps platform with annual SaaS spending reported as $125 billion in 2021.
To learn more about the state of SaaS DevOps, download the full research: https://opsera.io/SaaS-
Apps-DevOps-Whitepaper
For fast, secure and flexible delivery of all SaaS apps enterprises need (i.e. Salesforce, Snowflake, Apigee, Adobe Experience Manager, Boomi, SAP, Informatica, Snaplogic etc.), Opsera takes the brute force out of SaaS application releases with no coding required. With Opsera, IT organizations can deliver flawless and secure SaaS releases up to 80% faster while saving hundreds of developer hours, operating seamlessly across all major cloud environments. Opsera also offers the broadest and deepest integrations with SaaS apps on the market, with its multi-cloud SaaS architecture that is extensible and can easily integrate with any SaaS not already in the ecosystem.
"Opsera has enabled our small team to set up automated CI/CD pipelines across various SaaS applications – Salesforce, Boomi, Oracle Fusion and AWS Data services," said a Director of DevOps from a leading business intelligence software company. "With Opsera's SaaS DevOps platform, our releases are more predictable and we have improved the overall release quality and productivity by 50%. Opsera has also helped us improve the agility and velocity while meeting the needs and requirements of the business."
Opsera's SaaS DevOps platform offers the following benefits:
- Brings disparate data and siloed development practices together under a singular focus.
- Alleviates the need to build separate development teams, metadata, configurations, profiles, permissions and packages and release management tactics for end-to-end visibility across the SaaS DevOps ecosystem.
- Opsera's multi-SaaS and multi-cloud architecture enables enterprises to leverage the Opsera platform to accelerate SaaS DevOps maturity in multiple SaaS applications (CRM, ERP, Data & Integration services, Marketing applications and ITSM etc).
- Enterprises can leverage Opsera's no-code platform and reusable microservices to improve the overall release velocity, time to market, security and quality posture.
- Gain end-to-end visibility across SaaS DevOps environments to make intelligent decisions.
"The increased pace of SaaS and the public cloud replacing on-premises solutions will have a global impact on IT operations," said Vernon Keenan, senior industry analyst at SalesforceDevops.net and author of the study. "As organizations add more critical SaaS applications to their inventories, the need for a cohesive SaaS management strategy, or SaaS DevOps, will grow dramatically in the next five years. With today's announcement, Opsera is well positioned to help enterprises to streamline their SaaS DevOps and help improve their agility, velocity, security posture and visibility."
Key findings from Keenan's report that support the need for a single, enterprise-wide SaaS DevOps platform include:
- SaaS revenue will continue to grow at a 25% annual rate and will reach $279 billion in 2024.
- 35 new SaaS companies have entered the public market since 2018, indicating growth is partly fueled by SaaS application expansion.
- The skill with which an organization manages multiple SaaS systems impacts organizational agility, velocity, security, quality and time to market.
- Operational SaaS systems need to be managed with a SaaS DevOps platform to ensure proper governance.
Read more from Keenan's research: https://salesforcedevops.net/index.php/2022/08/16/saas-devops-grows-to-critical-importance/
"The challenges with the proliferation of SaaS are a growing pain point we see with our customers. At Opsera, we quickly recognized the need for a SaaS DevOps solution to help enterprises orchestrate their SaaS app releases and provide the visibility for them to make smart decisions," said Kumar Chivukula, co-founder and CTO of Opsera. "As the SaaS market continues to expand, managing and orchestrating SaaS DevOps across many applications will be mission critical to success. Enterprises with a single SaaS DevOps platform will enable them to improve agility and productivity significantly, go to market faster and improve their overall security and quality posture."
About Opsera
Opsera is the first Continuous Orchestration platform for next-gen DevOps that enables choice, automation, and intelligence across the entire software life cycle. It offers simple, self-service toolchain integrations, drag-and-drop pipelines, and unified insights. With Continuous Orchestration, development teams can use the tools they want, operations teams gain improved efficiency, and business leaders have unparalleled visibility. Opsera believes DevOps has transformed from an aspiration to a practical science, and Continuous Orchestration is the future to help organizations accelerate DevOps adoption and reach peak innovation velocity.
About Salesforcedevops.net
SalesforceDevops.net is the only source of independent news and analysis on the Salesforce and SaaS devops ecosystems. The site was founded in 2021 by Vernon Keenan, who is a 45-year computer industry veteran and senior industry analyst.
Contact:
Olivia Heel
Catapult PR
oheel@catapultpr-ir.com
303-521-5049
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SOURCE Opsera | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/opsera-expands-enterprise-wide-saas-devops-platform-manage-release-lifecycle-across-saas-applications/ | 2022-08-17T13:49:04Z |
Leader in healthcare affordability meets stringent compliance framework and security standards
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PayZen, a mission-driven fintech company delivering healthcare's Patient Affordability Platform, today announced that they have attained Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type II Certification.
SOC 2 Type II certification provides independent validation that PayZen's security controls comply with Trust Service criteria established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). With this certification, PayZen maintains its adherence to one of the most stringent, industry-accepted compliance frameworks for service organizations and provides additional assurance to its clients, through an independent auditor, that its business process, information technology and risk management controls are properly designed and operating as intended.
The official auditors' report provides a thorough review of PayZen's internal controls, policies, and processes for its smart payment plans and patient financing system. It also reviews PayZen's processes relating to risk management and subservice (vendor) due diligence, as well as PayZen's entire IT infrastructure, software development life cycle, change management, logical security, network security, physical and environmental security, and computer operations. This examination was conducted by Dansa D'Arata Soucia LLP (www.darata.com).
"It's important that our customers know their data is safe and secure," said PayZen COO, Tobias Mezger. "We take great care in protecting the patient information entrusted to us by our health system partners. SOC 2 Type II compliance is part of our commitment to provide the highest levels of data security for our customers and their patients."
Patient data is a critical component of PayZen's Healthcare Affordability Financing platform, as is the protection of that data. Using PayZen, healthcare providers increase revenue capture by offering patients customized, zero-cost payment plans, presenting the most affordable options tailored to each patient's personal financial circumstances. Because this financial data is highly sensitive, PayZen prioritizes information and data security for patients, being both HIPAA and SOC 2 compliant, and follows strict information security guidelines and practices to make sure that personal and medical information is secure.
For more information about PayZen, please visit the company's website at www.payzen.com.
PayZen is a mission-driven healthcare fintech company that aims to tackle the growing patient payment responsibility problem with superior technology and a modern approach, "Care Now, Pay Later." By prioritizing the patient experience and cutting administrative burden, PayZen looks to improve the patient-provider relationship and slice the impact of medical debt on both sides. PayZen is backed by leading equity and credit capital investors and is led by proven technology veterans with a successful track record of helping millions of Americans overcome financial struggles.
Dansa D'Arata Soucia LLP ("DDS") is a full-service CPA firm based out of Buffalo, New York. Over the past decade, DDS has built a team of auditors dedicated to understanding the AICPA's Trust Services Criteria and how properly applying best practices to comply with this set of criteria results in mitigation of risk as it relates to protecting sensitive data. DDS understands that a SOC 2 examination can be initially intimidating. As such, DDS has worked tirelessly on finding ways to streamline the examination process to be as minimally invasive as possible on company resources. This allows the management teams of their clients to stay focused on growing their businesses! To learn more about DDS and their SOC services, please contact Daniel Garigen, CPA at dgarigen@darata.com and visit their website at www.darata.com.
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SOURCE PayZen | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/payzen-announces-soc-2-type-ii-certification/ | 2022-08-17T13:49:10Z |
TEL AVIV, Israel , Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Perception Point, a leading provider of advanced threat prevention across digital channels, announced today that its Advanced Email Security has been recognized as the Best Email Security Solution by the 2022 Tech Ascension Awards.
Perception Point's holistic threat prevention solution combines seven layers of proprietary static and dynamic detection engines with a human-driven Incident Response service to isolate, detect and remediate all threats across an organization's main attack vectors including email, web browsers, and cloud collaboration apps.
Natively deployed with the organization's existing infrastructure, including Office 365 and Google Workspace, the cloud-native, easy-to-use service replaces cumbersome legacy systems to detect all threats, such as APTs, zero-days, phishing, ransomware, BEC, Account Takeovers, and spam, in both Windows and Mac.
Customers also receive a fully managed Incident Response service, delivered as an integral part of the solution at no added cost, that manages all incidents, optimizes detection engines and handles end-user requests, drastically reducing the strain on SOC teams, saving up to 75% of their email security efforts.
The Tech Ascension Awards recognized the very best innovations in cybersecurity. The Tech Ascension awards judged cybersecurity applicants based on technology innovation, market research, and competitive differentiators. The class-leading vendors that received recognition from the Tech Ascension Awards showcased technology that solves critical industry challenges and produces invaluable business outcomes for their customers.
"Organizations of all sizes continue to be threatened by the growing number and sophistication of email-based cyberattacks, and they require advanced threat protection solutions that can protect their business without compromising their users' productivity," said Karen Krivaa, CMO of Perception Point. "We are proud to have been named a 2022 Tech Ascension Award winner and to be recognized as the world's leading company in the field of email security. We are committed to delivering unparalleled cybersecurity solutions to isolate, detect and remediate all attacks from one platform, across not only email but also web browsers and cloud collaboration apps, and this latest success demonstrates the growing market awareness of the uniqueness and utility of our solution."
This award follows the release of SE Labs' most recent third-party testing results, which ranked Perception Point's email security solution as number 1, reporting that the system achieved a 'remarkable' 100% Total Accuracy rating with 0% false positives in their assessment of the leading vendor email security services.
"Organizations are now tasked with navigating the extreme security challenges of new remote and hybrid work environments while combatting a surge in emerging advanced threats," said David Campbell, CEO, Tech Ascension Awards. "These recognized security industry leaders are producing innovative technology and services to drive cyber forward in a truly evolving digital environment."
For more information about the Tech Ascension Awards, please visit www.techascensionawards.com
About Perception Point
Perception Point is a Prevention-as-a-Service company for the fastest and most accurate next-generation isolation, detection, and remediation of all threats across an organization's main attack vectors - email, web browsers, and cloud collaboration apps. The solution's natively integrated and fully managed incident response service acts as a force multiplier to the SOC team, reducing management overhead, improving user experience and delivering continuous insights; providing proven best protection for all organizations.
Deployed in minutes, with no change to the enterprise's infrastructure, the patented, cloud-native and easy-to-use service replaces cumbersome legacy systems to prevent phishing, BEC, spam, malware, zero-days, ATO, and other advanced attacks well before they reach end-users. Fortune 500 enterprises and organizations across the globe are preventing attacks across their email, web browsers and cloud collaboration channels with Perception Point.
To learn more about Perception Point, visit our website, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
About the Tech Ascension Awards
The Tech Ascension Awards elevate companies that possess cutting-edge, innovative technology that solve critical challenges in their respective markets. Tech Ascension winners rise above the crowded consumer and enterprise technology industries and receive validation from an independent organization. Applicants are judged based on technology innovation and uniqueness, market research (analyst reports, media coverage, customer case studies), hard performance stats, and competitive differentiators. The awards recognize leaders in cybersecurity, DevOps, big data and consumer technology. For information about the Tech Ascension Awards, please visit www.techascensionawards.com.
Perception Point Media Contact
Ben Crome
Headline Media
ben@headline.media
+1 914 336 4922
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SOURCE Perception Point | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/perception-point-recognized-best-email-security-solution-by-2022-tech-ascension-awards/ | 2022-08-17T13:49:17Z |
Company earns 33 Joint Industry Safety and Health Council awards
SALISBURY, Md., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council has awarded nine of Perdue's facilities its Award of Distinction, the Council's highest form of recognition for consistently implementing innovative and effective workplace safety health processes and systems. They were among 33 Perdue facilities across 14 states that received workplace safety awards at the 2022 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry in Destin, Fla.
"Workplace safety is an absolute at Perdue, including an unwavering commitment from management and an ongoing safety culture that engages all associates in maintaining a safe workplace environment," said Randy Day, CEO of Perdue Farms. "Each year, we set goals around people, products, planet and profitability and we always put people first in that equation. We believe there's nothing more important than creating a safe, supportive, and healthy work environment where our associates can be successful and return safely to their families at the end of the workday."
The company's food-producing facilities that received the Award of Distinction include Concord, Lewiston and Rockingham in North Carolina, Bridgewater, Va., Monterey, Tenn. and Georgetown, Del. The company's feed mill in Salisbury, Md., and broiler growouts in Hartford, Ky. and Forsyth, Ga. also earned the Award of Distinction.
The Award of Distinction criteria required these facilities to maintain their key Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety metrics — Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), Days Away, Restricted or Transferred (DART), and Lost Work Day Incident Rate (LWDIR) — at levels at least 50 percent better than the industry average for three consecutive years. Award consideration was also based on each facility's written explanation of its safety programs and processes.
Perdue operations recognized with the Award of Honor, the Council's second highest honor, include Cromwell, Ky., Dillon, S.C., Milford, Del. and Gainesville, Ga. and the company's pet treat plant in Schulenburg, Texas. Perdue feed mills in Bridgeville, Del., and Candor, N.C., a growout office in Ahoskie, N.C., and breeder operations in Nashville, N.C., earned the Award of Honor. These facilities maintained their OSHA safety metrics at least 25 percent better than the industry for at least three straight years.
Fifteen facilities earned the Award of Merit for maintaining their OSHA safety metrics at least 25 percent better than the industry for at least two consecutive years. They include food-producing plants in Accomac, Va., and Perry, Ga.; broiler growout offices in Salisbury, Md. and Laurel, Del., a research farm in Princess Anne, Md., breeder operations in Baker, W.Va., Kentucky, western North Carolina and Thorntown, Ind.; feed mills in Burlington, Wash., Hurlock, Md., Washington, Ind., Nashville, N.C.; and hatcheries in Halifax and Murfreesboro in North Carolina.
Award consideration was based on injury statistics over three years and an evaluation of written applications by an independent panel of judges.
The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council comprises members from the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation. Combined, these three organizations represent companies that produce 95 percent of the nation's poultry products and employ more 350,000 workers.
We're a fourth-generation, family owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers, and farmers through trusted choices in products and services.
The premium protein portfolio within our Perdue Foods business, including our flagship PERDUE® brand, Niman Ranch®, Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Meats®, Coleman Natural®, and Yummy®, as well as our pet brands, Spot Farms® and Full Moon®, is available through various channels including retail, foodservice, club stores, and our direct-to-consumer website, PerdueFarms.com.
Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company.
Now in our company's second century, our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger. We never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever chicken, turkey, pork, beef and lamb, and in USDA-certified organic chicken and beef. Learn more at Corporate.PerdueFarms.com.
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SOURCE Perdue Farms | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/perdue-recognized-leader-poultry-workplace-safety/ | 2022-08-17T13:49:23Z |
Annual Best Airlines Report Reveals Best and Worst Airlines in America Based on Reliability, Overall Experience, Cost, Loyalty Offerings, and More
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --Today, The Points Guy (TPG) has released its sixth annual Best Airlines Report naming Delta Air Lines the number one airline in America for the fourth year in a row. TPG ranked airlines in the United States from best to worst according to criteria including customer satisfaction, cabin comfort, on-time records, lost luggage data, lounge quality and more. The rankings also reflect a strategic method that evaluates all aspects of a customer's journey — from ticketing through baggage delivery and even redeeming rewards for future trips.
"As travel restrictions were lifted around the world and more people returned to traveling, airlines faced a mountain of challenges this year from labor shortages to unfortunate delays making it a difficult year for air travel," said Brian Kelly, Founder of The Points Guy. "In the face of these challenges, our team has worked tirelessly to create this invaluable resource that will help travelers make educated decisions when booking their next domestic getaway."
Southwest Airlines took the number two spot, with United, American, and Alaska rounding out the top five rankings. By contrast, Spirit, Allegiant, and Frontier were the lowest ranked airlines over the last year, with Spirit dropping from 8th place in 2021 to 10th place this year.
Best Airlines Report for 2022 rankings are highlighted below:
- Delta Air Lines
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
- American Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- JetBlue Airways
- Frontier Airlines
- Allegiant Air
- Spirit Airlines
Additional takeaways include:
- Delta comes out on top again: Named the winner for the fourth year in a row, Delta boasts an extensive network of lounges, impressive customer satisfaction feedback, and fewer involuntary bumps than its competitors. Delta saw the fewest customer complaints this year with just 1.25 complaints for every 100,000 passengers. They also only bumped two passengers out of more than 127 million Delta flyers in 2021, which was impressive given the state of the airline industry overall.
- Hawaiian Airlines ranks highest in reliability: For the second straight year, Hawaiian Airlines came out on top in terms of reliability with the lowest percentage of delays and cancellations. Over 90% of Hawaiian's flights arrived on time (within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time), and just 264 of the airline's 60,000+ flights were canceled.
- Southwest wins for affordable fares and widespread network Southwest Airlines took the top spot in the cost & reach category, which measures how vast a carrier's route network is combined with how much it costs consumers to fly the carrier. While Southwest doesn't serve as many destinations as some other U.S. airlines, its airfares were notably more affordable than the three legacy airlines (American, Delta, United) — and Southwest charged the fewest ancillary fees for checked bags and ticket changes or cancellations.
- United earns top marks for frequent flyers: United received the highest score in the frequent-flyer category thanks to a broad portfolio of cobranded credit cards plus the highest number of airline partners for earning and redeeming MileagePlus miles.
Report methodology:
This year TPG took into consideration reliability, experience, loyalty and cost & reach for each airline. TPG also examined data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (D.O.T.), including the number of passenger complaints filed against each airline with the D.O.T., as well as the number of reports of lost luggage each airline had. Additionally, in consulting the airlines' financials and combing through publicly available fleet data, the experts at TPG were able to factor all those elements — and more — into the rankings for 2022's best airlines report.
For all criteria, the raw scores from the data were converted into a scaled score from 0 to 10 and then weighted using the following percentages to arrive at the final score. This ensured that the calculation for each airline's score was made relative to the performance of others — as opposed to a simple ranking system that wouldn't accurately capture these differences.
The full list of factors and weighting was as follows:
- Reliability (30%)
- Experience (25%)
- Costs and Reach (20%)
- Loyalty (25%)
A full version of TPG's 2022 Best Airlines Report can be viewed here.
For a year-over-year comparison, TPG's 2021 Best Airlines Report can be viewed here.
About The Points Guy
The Points Guy (TPG) is a trusted travel and lifestyle media platform that focuses on maximizing travel experiences while minimizing spending. Through an informative, clever point of view, TPG has become the leading online site for all things points, miles and resourceful travel experiences. The site's editorial content and newsletter consists of firsthand flight, hotel and airplane reviews, curated travel guides and immersive video components, as well as global event activations. Since its launch in 2010, founder Brian Kelly has expanded the team to include a distinguished editorial staff and extensive network of freelancers around the globe. Today, TPG reaches 11 million unique monthly visitors and more than 3.5 million followers across social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok).
Media Inquiries:
press@thepointsguy.com
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SOURCE The Points Guy | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/points-guy-releases-its-sixth-annual-best-airlines-report/ | 2022-08-17T13:49:30Z |
Administrators Polled on COVID Protocols, Admission Test Policies, Enrollment Forecasts, Views on Digital SAT, and More
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a July survey by The Princeton Review® that polled nearly 200 college administrators nationwide about their institution's 2022–23 policies and protocols, "school's in"—literally: 97% of the administrators said the majority of their school's courses will be conducted on-campus, in-person, face-to-face.
Those faces will likely be unmasked, according to the administrator's answers to survey questions on COVID policies: 71% of the administrators said their colleges will not require unvaccinated students, faculty, and staff to wear masks or observe social distancing on campus. COVID protocols on campuses are far from eliminated, however. Other findings of the survey reveal significant variations in campus policies across respondents by school type (public/private) as well as by region.
The Princeton Review today shared the findings of its Summer 2022 College Administrator Survey—the 3rd such annual survey by the education services company. The survey report is posted on the company's website here. It lists the survey's 15 questions and answer choices, and it shows the percentages of respondents that chose each answer by: respondents overall, school type (public/private) and school region (NE, NW, MW, SE, SW).
Topics on the survey ranged from course modalities and COVID protocols to enrollment forecasts and admission test policies for 2022 (and expected policies for 2023). Administrators were also asked to rate the importance of AP®, IB®, and dual enrollment coursework in their school's admission decisions and to offer their perspective on the Digital SAT® which will debut internationally in 2023 and in the U.S. in 2024. A final question asked administrators to rank four topics—academics, affordability, health, and social justice—based on which they expect will be the key concerns among their school's students and which they expect will be the key concerns among their fellow administrators in the coming school year.
Asked if their schools are requiring students to have up-to-date vaccinations, 50% of respondents overall said yes while 50% said no. Among administrators from private colleges 62% said yes while 71% of administrators from public colleges said no.
Asked if their schools are requiring staff and faculty to have up-to-date vaccinations, 43% of respondents overall said yes while 57% said no. Among administrators from NE colleges 58% said yes while 76% of administrators from SE colleges said no.
Asked if their schools are requiring non-vaccinated persons to wear masks and observe social distancing, 29% of respondents overall said yes while 71% said no. However, among administrators from MW colleges 41% said yes while 59% of their fellow administrators from MW colleges said no.
Asked if their schools will conduct periodic testing of students, faculty, and staff for COVID, 25% of respondents overall said yes while 75% said no. Among public college administrators an even higher percentage, 86%, said no.
Nearly half—46%—of respondents overall said they expect their fall 2022 enrollment to be about the same as their fall 2021 enrollment while 29% said they expect their fall 2022 enrollment to be higher and 25% expect it to be lower. Among private college administrators 34% expect their fall enrollment to be higher while among public college administrators 21% expect their fall enrollment to be higher.
Asked what their school's 2022 admission test policy has been, 87% of respondents overall said "test optional (but considered scores)" while 10% said "test blind or test free," and 3% said "required test scores."
Asked what they expect their school's 2023 test policy to be, 82% of respondents overall said "test optional (but will consider scores)" while 9% said "test blind or test free," 3% said "will require test scores" and 6% said "have not decided on policy."
Asked to rate the relative importance of such coursework in admission decisions at their schools, 54% of respondents overall deemed it "important" or "very important," while 37% said "considered," and 9% said "not considered." By region, 61% of administrators at colleges in the SE and 65% of administrators in the SW said such coursework was "important" or "very important."
While 14% of respondents overall said they believe the new version of the test will be an improvement, 2% do not believe it will be an improvement and 84% were undecided.
Administrators were asked to rank four topics according to which they expect will matter most among their students and which will matter most among their fellow administrators in this school year. The four topics were: academics (quantity and quality of course offerings), affordability (cost of attendance and level of financial aid for students), health (protocols to prevent spread of COVID and meet needs for medical services), and social justice (commitments to promoting diversity and addressing discrimination).
- Among respondents overall, academics was ranked as likely to be their school's students' #1 concern. Next in rank order was #2 affordability, #3 health, and #4 social justice. Opinions varied, however, by school type and by region. While administrators at private colleges and schools in the NE, MW, and SE ranked academics as their students' #1 concern, administrators at public colleges and schools in the NW and SW ranked affordability as their students' #1 concern.
- Among respondents overall, academics was also ranked as likely to be their fellow administrators' #1 concern, though the rank order of the other three topics differed: #2 was health, #3 social justice, and #4 affordability. Opinions varied by region. Administrators at schools in the NW, MW, and SE ranked academics as their fellow administrators' #1 concern, while administrators at schools in the NE and SW ranked health as their fellow administrators' #1 concern.
The Princeton Review Summer 2022 College Administrator Survey was conducted from July 1 to July 26. The 15-question survey was sent to college administrators at 656 institutions including schools profiled in the company's book, The Best 388 Colleges: 2023 Edition (August 23, 2022), and its website feature, 2023 Best Regional Colleges. Of 182 administrators that completed the survey, 64% were from private colleges and 36% were from public colleges. By region: 35% were from colleges in the NE, 26% from the MW, 21% from the SE, 15% from the SW, and 3% from the NW. The Princeton Review's full report on the survey, is downloadable at https://www.princetonreview.com/cms-content/TPR_Summer_2022_Admin_Survey.pdf. An infographic of selected findings is viewable at https://www.princetonreview.com/press/summer-2022-survey#Infographic. Releases on The Princeton Review's 2021 and 2020 surveys of college administrators are in the company's Media Center.
Today, The Princeton Review also released its annual "Best Colleges for 2023" rankings. The rankings this year name the top 25 colleges in 50 categories based on The Princeton Review's surveys of 160,000 students attending the 388 schools in its book, The Best 388 Colleges, 2023 Edition (Penguin Random House, August 23, 2022). The lists are tallied in categories that span academics, amenities, school services, campus culture, extracurriculars, and more. They are posted on The Princeton Review's website here, and published in a full chapter in the book.
The Princeton Review® is a leading tutoring, test prep, and college admissions services company. Every year, it helps millions of college- and graduate school–bound students achieve their education and career goals through its: online and in-person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors; online resources; more than 150 print and digital books published by Penguin Random House; and dozens of categories of school rankings. Founded in 1981, The Princeton Review is now in its 41st year. The company's Tutor.com brand, now in its 21st year, is one of the largest online tutoring services in the U.S. It comprises a community of thousands of tutors who have delivered more than 21 million one-to-one tutoring sessions. The Princeton Review is headquartered in New York, NY. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University. For more information, visit PrincetonReview.com and the company's Media Center. Follow the company on Twitter (@ThePrincetonRev) and Instagram (@theprincetonreview).
WEBSITE: www.princetonreview.com
ACT® is a trademark registered and owned by ACT, Inc.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered and owned by the College Board, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse The Princeton Review.
IB® is a trademark registered and owned by the International Baccalaureate Organization which is not affiliated with and does not endorse The Princeton Review.
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SOURCE The Princeton Review | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/princeton-review-reports-findings-its-summer-2022-college-administrator-survey/ | 2022-08-17T13:49:37Z |
Investor Update Available to Interested Parties
CALGARY, AB and ISLE OF MAN, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Real Luck Group Ltd. (TSX.V: LUCK) (OTCQB: LUKEF) (the "Company") and its subsidiary companies doing business as "Luckbox" (the "Group"), an award-winning provider of licensed, real money esports betting, sports betting and casino games, announces the results from its 2022 Annual General Meeting ("AGM") held on August 11, 2022. Interested parties can access the investor update slide presentation provided at the AGM here.
During the update, CEO Thomas Rosander, and CFO William Moore indicated the Company's transformation is now complete, with meaningful player acquisition now having commenced. Additionally, Online Casino provides the Company a path to profitability in H1 2023, with an adequate current cash position to support the required investment in marketing. Management also highlighted the Company's focus on innovative (e)sportsbook products, and a potential new Business to Business (B2B) offering, to drive revenue growth, and relevant milestones over the next six quarters.
All matters put forward before Shareholders for consideration and approval as set out in the Company's management information circular dated July 11, 2022 (the "Circular") were approved by the requisite majority of votes cast at the Meeting. Shareholders approved setting the number of Directors at five and elected the following Director nominees to the Board:
- Thomas Rosander
- Drew Green
- Lloyd Melnick
- Maruf Raza
- Bo Wänghammar
Shareholders also approved the appointment of Baker Tilly WM LLP as Company auditor for the ensuing year and approved an ordinary resolution of disinterested shareholders regarding issuance of shares.
The total number of Common Shares represented by 63 Shareholders in person or by proxy at the Meeting was 17,415,543 Common Shares, representing 25.32% of the total 68,781,500 issued and outstanding Common Shares at the record date for the Meeting.
The Company is an award-winning betting company that offers legal, real-money betting, live streams, and statistics on all major esports and sports on desktop and mobile devices. The Company has a Business-to-Consumer (B2C) platform, and by leveraging shared technology, data, and resources, the Company can offer an extensive range of betting options for esports tournaments. The Company's in-house customized user interface and user experience, built on a technology stack that supports multiple odds and streaming sources, allows the Company to deliver deep esports betting coverage. The Company has been built by a team combining experience in the igaming industry and a passion for esports to offer players a unique, broad, engaging, and legal CS:GO betting, Dota 2 and League of Legends betting experience. The Company serves esports fans in more than 80 territories across the globe. In November 2020, Luckbox was named Rising Star at the EGR Operator Awards. The Company (via the Group) holds a full license under the Online Gambling Regulation Act (OGRA), issued by the Isle of Man Gaming Supervision Commission. As the Group is fully licensed in the Isle of Man for B2C and B2B esports & sports betting and casino, the Company has access to favourable payment processors. Luckbox is committed to supporting responsible gambling.
Follow Luckbox on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
CAUTION WITH RESPECT TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
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SOURCE Real Luck Group Ltd. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/real-luck-group-ltd-announces-results-annual-general-meeting/ | 2022-08-17T13:49:44Z |
Major brands show strong support for the global championship of women's professional soccer
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Relevent Sports Group (RSG) announces a powerful list of brand and media partners ahead of the 2022 Women's International Champions Cup (WICC) to be held today, August 17 and August 20 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon. The tournament has four champion clubs from around the world who will battle to be called the Women's Club World Champion.
Ally, a longtime partner of the WICC, is the presenting sponsor of the 2022 WICC. The list of brand partners also includes Verizon, Toyota, Nike, Oakley, TikTok, BODYARMOR, Turkish Airlines, Cazadores Tequila, Sorare, Socios.com, Hertz, Shutterstock, YETI, Pacific Seafood, and Sport Oregon.
"It's a privilege to continue our support of the Women's International Champions Cup and its unwavering mission to bring incredible athletes to the world's stage," said Stephanie Marciano, Head of Sports and Entertainment Marketing, Ally Financial. "We are committed to leveling the playing field for these world-class athletes and welcome the strong partners joining us as we continue to change the game for all women."
ESPN will serve as the official broadcast partner of the WICC in the U.S., Mexico, Central America, Brazil, and the Caribbean. Other media partners include DIRECTV in South America (outside of Brazil), NENT in Scandinavia, and Astro in Malaysia. Further, DAZN is the global media rights distribution partner in markets and territories not listed above. In total, the tournament will be broadcast in 250 markets and territories worldwide.
"The quality and volume of this year's WICC partners demonstrates the enormous global interest around women's professional soccer," said RSG CEO Daniel Sillman. "The days of people claiming that women's sports aren't financially viable are over, as you can see by our deep roster of partners and the investment being made in women's sports."
The WICC, now in its 4th year, is a qualification-only event. Each participant must win a championship in its most recent season to be invited to the WICC. This year's participants are the Portland Thorns, who won the 2021 NWSL Shield, 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, and 2021 WICC; Olympique Lyonnais, who won the 2021-22 D1 Feminine and 2021-22 UEFA Women's Champions League; Chelsea, who won the 2021-22 FAWSL; and Monterrey, who won the 2021 Torneo Grita México Apertura 2021.
RSG has made a long-standing investment into the growth of women's soccer through its WICC platform. In 2020, RSG developed a women's-focused content strategy with new original programming, highlighted by "The Fixture by the WICC." The weekly digital show is available on all ICC social channels and is entirely dedicated to women's soccer including highlights, news, transfers, and players to watch. RSG also produced a full-length documentary about Lyon star Ada Hegerberg available now on ESPN+.
All of this year's partners share in RSG's vision to promote, elevate, and support women across the globe. This has been a transcendent year for women's sports, and soccer specifically, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the equal pay agreement between the Men's and Women's U.S. National Teams, and record-breaking attendance and viewership with the UEFA Women's EURO.
"Toyota is thrilled to be an official sponsor of the Women's International Champions Cup and cheer on the Portland Thorns as they look to defend their title," says Russ Humberston, president of the Pacific Northwest Toyota Dealers Association. "We're especially honored to have a hand in inspiring the future generation of athletes and showing them dreams can come true through the player mascot program. We're able to create a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local children as they stand alongside their role models on the field."
"Pacific Seafood fuels athletes and fans around the world with the healthiest protein on the planet and is proud to partner with the Women's International Championship Cup for a second year," said Bill Hueffner, Chief Marketing Officer for Pacific Seafood. "Because nets play a vital role in both soccer and fishing, we saw an opportunity to educate fans on sustainable fishing practices by providing the nets on the field. These custom hand-crafted nets are produced on the Oregon coast and are specially designed to only catch targeted species."
Tickets for the 2022 WICC are available at www.internationalchampionscup.com.
ABOUT RELEVENT SPORTS GROUP
Relevent Sports Group (RSG) is the premier soccer events and media business in North America and Asia. RSG owns and operates soccer properties, including the WICC, and sells premium rights for the world's top leagues, federations, and confederations. RSG is focused on expanding its footprint, creating a year-round soccer platform including new digital properties and the first-of-its-kind joint venture with LaLiga to promote soccer in North America.
CONTACT: Ian Campbell, icampbell@rsgrp.com
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SOURCE Relevent Sports Group | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/relevent-sports-group-announces-allstar-lineup-partners-2022-wicc/ | 2022-08-17T13:49:50Z |
Median Home Prices Inch Downward While Sales Drop, Inventory Grows
DENVER, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A double-digit drop in home sales from June to July fueled a double-digit increase in homes for sale, triggering the first decline in the Median Sales Price since January.
July's Median Sales Price of $415,000 was down 2.9% from June and the lowest since April's $406,000. The 16.6% decline in home sales was also the first since January. Year-over-year, sales were down 26.3% from July 2021.
Following a period of continual contraction in recent years, inventory jumped for the fourth consecutive month. There were 13.3% more homes for sale than in June and 30.4% more than a year ago. Months Supply of Inventory has doubled since May and is now at 1.8, while Days on Market was 24. New listings, however, dropped 7.8% compared to June and 7.2% compared to July 2021.
"It's an exciting time to be a homebuyer. For the first time in years, we're seeing sustained inventory gains and the slowing of home price appreciation," said Nick Bailey, President and CEO. "The market is rebalancing after favoring sellers for so long. There's still ground to make up with new construction, but the change in recent months has brought some much needed relief to buyers. And sellers still have it good, too. A calming market doesn't mean a stoppage – and there are plenty of benefits to being on that side of the equation."
Added RE/MAX North Professionals real estate agent Rich Gardner, who is based in Colchester, VT, "The housing market in Vermont has stayed strong favoring sellers. Since January, we are still seeing values in Chittenden County rise for both single-family and townhouse-condo sales."
The average Close-to-List Price Ratio in July was 101%, meaning that homes, in general, sold for 1% more than the asking price. That dropped from 102% in June 2022 and July 2021.
Highlights and the local markets leading various metrics for July include:
New Listings
Of the 53 metro areas surveyed in July 2022, the number of newly listed homes is down 7.8% compared to June 2022 and down 7.2% compared to July 2021. The markets with the biggest decrease in year-over-year new listings percentage were Kansas City, MO at -47.7%, St Louis, MO at -36.9%, and Burlington, VT at -32.2%. Leading the year-over-year new listings percentage increase were Dover, DE at +39.4%, Phoenix, AZ at +34.1%, and Trenton, NJ at +19.1%.
Closed Transactions
Of the 53 metro areas surveyed in July 2022, the overall number of home sales is down 16.6% compared to June 2022, and down 26.3% compared to July 2021. The markets with the biggest decrease in year-over-year sales percentage were Houston, TX at -45.1%, San Diego, CA at -42.1%, and Miami, FL at -40.9%. No metro area had a year-over-year sales percentage increase.
Median Sales Price – Median of 53 metro area prices
In July 2022, the median of all 53 metro area Sales Prices was $415,000, down 2.9% compared to June 2022, and up 8.1% from July 2021. One metro area saw a year-over-year decrease in Median Sales Price, Dallas, TX at -1.9%. Twenty-seven metro areas increased year-over-year by double-digit percentages, led by Tampa, FL at +23.7%, Fayetteville, AR at +21.6%, and Raleigh, NC at +19.1%.
Close-to-List Price Ratio – Average of 53 metro area prices
In July 2022, the average Close-to-List Price Ratio of all 53 metro areas in the report was 101%, down 1.3% compared to June 2022, and down 1.1% compared to July 2021. The Close-to-List Price Ratio is calculated by the average value of the sales price divided by the list price for each transaction. When the number is above 100%, the home closed for more than the list price. If it's less than 100%, the home sold for less than the list price. The metro areas with the lowest Close-to-List Price Ratio were Coeur d'Alene, ID and Miami, FL, tied at 97%, followed by another tie between Bozeman, MT and New Orleans, LA at 98%. The highest Close-to-List Price Ratios were in Burlington, VT at 105%, followed by a five-way tie between Boston, MA, Hartford, CT, Manchester, NH, Richmond, VA, and San Francisco, CA at 104%.
Months' Supply of Inventory – Average of 53 metro areas
The number of homes for sale in July 2022 was up 13.3% from June 2022 and up 30.4% from July 2021. Based on the rate of home sales in July 2022, the Months' Supply of Inventory increased to 1.8 compared to 1.4 in June 2022, and increased compared to 1.2 in July 2021. In July 2022, the markets with the lowest Months' Supply of Inventory were Albuquerque, NM at 0.7 followed by Manchester, NH at 0.8.
To request an interview, please contact mediarelations@remax.com.
About the RE/MAX Network
As one of the leading global real estate franchisors, RE/MAX, LLC is a subsidiary of RE/MAX Holdings (NYSE: RMAX) with more than 140,000 agents in almost 9,000 offices and a presence in more than 110 countries and territories. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX, as measured by residential transaction sides. RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, with an innovative, entrepreneurial culture affording its agents and franchisees the flexibility to operate their businesses with great independence. RE/MAX agents have lived, worked and served in their local communities for decades, raising millions of dollars every year for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals® and other charities. To learn more about RE/MAX, to search home listings or find an agent in your community, please visit www.remax.com. For the latest news about RE/MAX, please visit news.remax.com.
Report Details
Beginning with the April 2022 report, RE/MAX is using a new source for aggregated data.
The RE/MAX National Housing Report is distributed monthly on or about the 15th. The Report is based on MLS data for the stated month in 53 metropolitan areas, includes single-family residential property types, and is not annualized. For maximum representation, the largest metro areas in the country are represented, and an attempt is made to include at least one metro area in almost every state. Metro areas are defined by the Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
Definitions
Closed Transactions are the total number of closed residential transactions during the given month. Months Supply of Inventory is the total number of residential properties listed for sale at the end of the month (current inventory) divided by the number of sales contracts signed (pending listings) during the month. Where "pending" data is unavailable, an inferred pending status is calculated using closed transactions. Days on Market is the average number of days that pass from the time a property is listed until the property goes under contract. Median Sales Price for a metro area is the median sales price for closed transactions in that metro area. The nationwide Median Sales Price is calculated at the nationwide aggregate level using all sale prices from the included metro areas. The Close-to-List Price Ratio is the average value of the sales price divided by the list price for each closed transaction.
MLS data is provided by Seventy3, LLC, a RE/MAX Holdings company. While MLS data is believed to be reliable, it cannot be guaranteed. MLS data is constantly being updated, making any analysis a snapshot at a particular time. Every month, the previous period's data is updated to ensure accuracy over time. Raw data remains the intellectual property of each local MLS organization.
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SOURCE RE/MAX, LLC | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/remax-national-housing-report-july-2022/ | 2022-08-17T13:49:57Z |
Community-based subscription platform saw a record number of new members, paid supporters, and value of transactions in the second quarter of 2022
LONGBOAT KEY, Fla., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Rumble's community-based subscription platform, Locals, announced that its key performance metrics set new records in the second quarter of 2022.
Compared to the second quarter of 2021, Locals saw its number of unpaid members grow by nearly 150 percent and its number of paid supporters grew by 106 percent. The total value of all transactions on the platform in the second quarter exceeded $7.5 million, more than 400 percent of the value of transactions on the platform during the same period last year.
"Our explosive growth comes from the shift we are seeing in the media ecosystem where independent creators are starting to build their brand outside of traditional networks. Our merger with Rumble is also helping our creators to reach a larger audience and grow their communities," said Assaf Lev, President of Locals.
A significant portion of the Locals growth can be attributed to the successful ongoing integration between Rumble and Locals and the deployment of the Content+ feature, which allows creators to sell access to movies and other content on an individual basis.
Locals merged with Rumble, a high-growth neutral video platform, in October 2021. Rumble is creating the rails and independent infrastructure designed to be immune to cancel culture. Rumble's mission is to restore the Internet to its roots by making it free and open once again. Additionally, the company announced in December 2021 the execution of a definitive business combination agreement with CF Acquisition Corp. VI (NASDAQ: CFVI). See the announcement here: https://corp.rumble.com
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SOURCE Rumble | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/rumbles-subscription-product-locals-smashes-records-amp-exceeds-75-million-transaction-value-q2/ | 2022-08-17T13:50:04Z |
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Summary: Even before the pandemic, Americans were suffering from mental illness at increasing rates while the number of psychiatrists in the US keeps declining. To improve direct access to affordable mental health services, TeleSage has developed and released the SAGE, a fully validated, mental health diagnostic screener that yields a detailed report. Dr. Benjamin B. Brodey, CEO of TeleSage, says: "The SAGE is the mental health equivalent of a set of laboratory tests in primary care, but the SAGE can be taken anonymously by the client from the comfort of their home."
The SAGE has been used since 2018 at major research universities and by mental health clinicians worldwide. Dr. Brodey says: "The SAGE has been available on a 'prescription' basis. We need an 'over-the-counter' solution."
The SAGE efficiently evaluates up to 400 symptoms of mental illness and 24 of the most common mental health diagnoses in just 5 to 15 minutes using AI-driven branching algorithms. Users receive a detailed report summarizing the client's symptoms and likely mental health diagnoses. The SAGE can be taken on any device that connects to the internet without needing to download software or an app.
Because mental disorders are still stigmatized, TeleSage has made its public SAGE system completely anonymous. Users can even permanently delete their report from the system. SAGE users can share their report with a new clinician or get a second opinion. Dr. Brodey says: "We need to lower the barriers that prevent people from getting the help they need. It can be difficult to express your feelings to a clinician and even more difficult to know which symptoms might be most significant. The SAGE can act as an intermediary between the client and clinician."
Supporting Quote: According to Benjamin B. Brodey MD, MPH, "Our mental health delivery system is completely unprepared for the unprecedented mental health crisis that we are currently experiencing. Online mental health decision support tools, such as the SAGE, will both empower clients to get the help they need and also reduce clinician burdens."
Benjamin Brodey MD, MPH, a graduate of MIT and Harvard Medical School, served as Principal Investigator (PI) on the NIH grant that funded the initial development of the SAGE. Interviews with Dr. Brodey can be arranged by contacting smcconnell@telesage.com. Dr. Brodey would be happy to discuss a variety of online self-assessment options
Call to action: As an anonymous, publicly available, validated, and comprehensive mental health diagnostic screener, the SAGE is unique. SAGE administrations can be purchased for $15 by credit/debit card or by Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal. Administrations can be used directly by the purchaser or sent to a friend who can also take the assessment anonymously at www.sagesr.com. Members of the press can get a free fully anonymous SAGE self-assessment at www.sagesr.com/press.
CONTACT: Scott McConnell, smcconnell@telesage.com
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SOURCE TeleSage Inc | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/sage-scientifically-validated-mental-health-diagnostic-screener-is-now-available-online-general-public/ | 2022-08-17T13:50:10Z |
HONG KONG, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsonite International S.A. ("Samsonite" or "the Company", together with its consolidated subsidiaries, "the Group"; SEHK stock code: 1910), a leader in the global lifestyle bag industry and the world's best-known and largest travel luggage company, today announced its unaudited consolidated financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
In this press release, certain financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2022 are compared to both the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the six months ended June 30, 2019. Comparisons to the first half of 2019 are provided because it is the most recently ended comparable quarter during which the Company's results were not affected by COVID-19.
Overview
Commenting on the results, Mr. Kyle Gendreau, Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are very pleased with Samsonite's performance in the first half of 2022, particularly during the second quarter. For the three months ended June 30, 2022, the Group registered consolidated net sales of US$696.5 million, up by US$122.9 million compared to the US$573.6 million recorded in the first quarter of 2022. Second quarter 2022 net sales increased by US$251.7 million, or 66.4%1, versus the US$444.8 million recorded for the second quarter of 2021. Excluding Russia2 and Speck3, second quarter 2022 net sales increased by 75.6%1 year-on-year, reflecting the continued recovery of our business driven by increased demand for travel. Further excluding China, where recovery has been impeded by renewed lockdowns, second quarter 2022 net sales increased by 96.2%1 year-on-year. All our regions made good progress, with second quarter 2022 net sales rising by 39.7%1 (+50.5%1 excluding Speck3) in North America, 46.3%1 (+108.1%1 excluding China) in Asia, 152.8%1 (+187.9%1 excluding Russia2) in Europe and 150.1%1 in Latin America."
Compared to the corresponding periods in 2019 and excluding the net sales of Russia2 and Speck3, second quarter 2022 net sales decreased by 16.1%1, demonstrating incremental improvement versus the 25.2%1 decline during the first quarter of 2022 and the 28.0%1 decline during the fourth quarter of 2021. Further excluding the net sales in China, the Group's second quarter 2022 net sales decreased by only 11.6%1 when compared to the second quarter of 2019.
Samsonite's positive net sales trend continued into the third quarter of 2022, with the reduction in the Group's net sales for July 2022 compared to July 2019 improving to 8.7%1 when excluding the net sales of Russia2 and Speck3, and to 5.7%1 when further excluding the net sales in China.
"Samsonite's gross margin improved to 56.5% for the three months ended June 30, 2022, up from 54.7% in the first quarter of 2022. Second quarter 2022 gross margin increased by 410 basis points year-on-year, and by 110 basis points from the same period in 2019. As a result, our Adjusted EBITDA4 and Adjusted EBITDA margin5 expanded from US$73.2 million and 12.8%, respectively, in the first quarter of 2022 to US$122.4 million and 17.6%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2022. This is a significant increase from the 2.6% Adjusted EBITDA margin5 for the second quarter of 2021, and 370 basis points higher compared to the 13.9% Adjusted EBITDA margin5 for the second quarter of 2019. In addition, driven by the increase in Adjusted EBITDA4, Samsonite generated total cash6 of US$31.9 million during the second quarter of 2022, a considerable improvement from total cash burn6 of US$58.5 million in the first quarter of 2022."
Overall, Samsonite recorded net sales of US$1,270.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, an increase of 75.3%1 year-on-year when excluding net sales of Russia2 and Speck3, or 66.9%1 year-on-year when such sales are included. When compared to the first half of 2019, the Group's first half 2022 net sales decreased by 20.4%1 when excluding net sales of Russia2 and Speck3, or 23.5%1 when such sales are included. Further excluding the net sales of China for the second quarters of 2022 and 2019, consolidated net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2022 decreased by 18.4%1 compared to the same period in 2019.
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group's net sales registered year-on-year gains of 51.4%1 (+66.2%1 when excluding Speck3) in North America, 34.0%1 (+53.9%1 when excluding the net sales of China for the second quarters of 2022 and 2021) in Asia, 159.5%1 (+180.1%1 when excluding Russia2) in Europe, and 151.1%1 in Latin America. Compared to the first half of 2019, first half 2022 net sales decreased by 25.3%1 (-19.1%1 when excluding Speck3) in North America, 36.4%1 (-32.9%1 when excluding the net sales of China for the second quarters of 2022 and 2019) in Asia and 10.4%1 (-5.7%1 when excluding Russia2) in Europe. First half 2022 net sales in Latin America increased by 31.3%1 when compared to the same period in 2019.
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, net sales of the Group's core brands Samsonite, Tumi and American Tourister increased by 84.2%1, 50.6%1 and 91.7%1 year-on-year, respectively. Compared to the first half of 2019, net sales of Samsonite experienced the strongest recovery, with first half 2022 net sales coming in 16.9%1 lower, while net sales of Tumi and American Tourister decreased by 20.3%1 and 22.5%1, respectively.
The Group's first half 2022 gross profit margin expanded to 55.7%, an increase of 490 basis points compared to the 50.8% for the first half of 2021, and about even with the 56.0% registered in the first half of 2019, despite increased product, freight and duty costs during the first half of 2022.
Mr. Gendreau remarked, "We judiciously increased our marketing spend to drive net sales growth, while remaining vigilant in managing our fixed selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses. Although marketing expenses increased by US$29.0 million, or 101.3%, year-on-year, to US$57.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, they decreased by US$45.4 million, or 44.0%, compared to the first half of 2019. Marketing expenses made up 4.5% of net sales in the first half of 2022, compared to 3.6% during the first half of 2021 and 5.9% during the first half of 2019. Meanwhile, fixed SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales were 26.2% for the first half of 2022, compared to 37.5% and 28.2% for the first half of 2021 and 2019, respectively, reflecting the savings from our comprehensive cost reduction program implemented in 2020 and 2021, and our ongoing attention to controlling expenses as sales recovered. Consequently, Samsonite's Adjusted EBITDA margin5 expanded to 15.4% for the first half of 2022, a significant improvement not only compared to (2.1%) for the same period in 2021, but also 320 basis points higher than the 12.2% for the first half of 2019."
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group recorded Adjusted EBITDA4 of US$195.6 million, an improvement of US$212.6 million compared to the Adjusted EBITDA loss4 of US$17.0 million in the first half of 2021. Adjusted Net Income7 was US$83.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to an Adjusted Net Loss7 of US$103.7 million for the same period in 2021.
Mr. Gendreau continued, "We continued to increase investment in working capital, particularly inventories, to meet the ongoing recovery in consumer demand. As a result, inventories amounted to US$468.8 million as of June 30, 2022, up by US$120.4 million compared to US$348.4 million as of December 31, 2021. Nevertheless, the sustained improvement in Adjusted EBITDA4, along with our consistent attention to cash flow management, enabled Samsonite to record total cash burn6 of US$26.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022, an improvement of US$65.3 million compared to total cash burn6 of US$91.9 million in the first half of 2021. We repaid US$220.8 million of outstanding borrowings during the first half of 2022, while maintaining substantial liquidity of US$1.4 billion8 as of June 30, 2022 to support our continued recovery and to invest for long-term growth."
"The team is incredibly energized by our strong performance during the first half of 2022, and we will continue to execute our recovery plan to achieve further top-line growth and margin expansion. First, we continue to focus on product innovation, ensuring that we are well positioned with exciting new products across all our brands and markets, and working closely with our suppliers to build inventories to meet consumer demand. We also plan to further increase marketing spend, both in absolute dollar terms and as a percentage of net sales, during the second half of 2022 and into 2023 to capitalize on the continued recovery in travel and drive net sales growth."
"We remain focused on sustaining our gross margin through reduced discounting and promotional activity; price increases to mitigate elevated product costs, duties, and freight; and close coordination with our suppliers to manage rising costs. We also will continue to maintain discipline in controlling expenses to deliver positive operating leverage and enhanced profitability."
Mr. Gendreau concluded, "After more than two years of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers not only have a strong desire to get away but also a greater appreciation of the joys travel can bring. Both domestic and overseas travel are experiencing a robust rebound in North America and Europe this summer, and with Asian countries loosening restrictions and reopening borders, we expect global travel to continue to recover, powering our net sales growth. Indeed, the second quarter's positive net sales trends in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia excluding China extended into July, while net sales in China have been gradually recovering since April. We are confident that our diverse geographic footprint, complementary brands, and commitment to sustainability and innovation will help strengthen Samsonite's long-term market position as travel returns to pre-pandemic levels."
Table 1: Key Financial Highlights for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
The Group's performance for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is discussed in greater detail below.
Net Sales
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group recorded net sales of US$1,270.2 million, an increase of 66.9%1 compared to the US$799.5 million recorded in the first half of 2021. When excluding the net sales of Russia2 and Speck3, the Group's net sales increased by US$507.7 million, or 75.3%1 year-on-year, during the first half of 2022. Further excluding the net sales of China for the second quarters of 2022 and 2021, first half 2022 net sales increased by US$537.6 million, or 85.8%1 compared to the same period in the previous year. Compared to the same period of 2019, the Group's net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2022 decreased by 20.4%1 when excluding the net sales of Russia2 and Speck3.
The Group's net sales continued to improve during the first half of 2022, despite the reinstatement of travel restrictions and social distancing measures in certain markets in Asia, particularly in China, during the second quarter. For the three months ended June 30, 2022, the Group recorded a net sales decline of 16.1%1 when compared to the second quarter of 2019 and excluding the net sales of Russia2 and Speck3. This represents a sequential improvement from the first quarter of 2022, when the Group's net sales decline compared to the first quarter of 2019 was 25.2%1 when excluding the net sales of Speck3. Further excluding the net sales in China, the Group's second quarter 2022 net sales decreased by only 11.6%1 compared to the second quarter of 2019.
Samsonite's positive sales trend continued into the third quarter of 2022, with the reduction in the Group's net sales for July 2022 compared to July 2019 improving to 8.7%1 when excluding the net sales of Russia2 and Speck3, and to 5.7%1 when further excluding the net sales in China.
Net Sales Performance by Region
North America
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group recorded net sales of US$489.8 million in North America, an increase of 51.4%1 (+66.2%1 when excluding Speck3) year-on-year. The Group's net sales in the United States increased by 47.7% (+62.4% when excluding Speck3) year-on-year. The Group's net sales in Canada increased by 209.9%1 year-on-year. Compared to the first half of 2019, the Group's net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2022 in North America decreased by 19.1%1 when excluding the net sales of Speck3.
The Group's net sales recovery in North America accelerated during the second quarter of 2022 after a temporary slowdown in the first quarter due to slower stock replenishment as a result of shipping delays. Compared to the corresponding period in 2019 and excluding the net sales of Speck3, net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2022, decreased by 17.0%1 versus a reduction of 21.6%1 during the first quarter of 2022.
The Group's positive net sales trend in North America continued into the third quarter of 2022, with the reduction in net sales for July 2022 (when compared to July 2019 and excluding the net sales of Speck3) further improving to 12.1%1.
Asia
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group recorded net sales of US$393.3 million in Asia, an increase of 34.0%1 compared to the same period in 2021, driven by year-on-year net sales increases of 109.1%1 in India, 151.6%1 in Australia, 43.1%1 in South Korea, 39.8%1 in Japan and 5.4%1 in Hong Kong12, partially offset by a year-on-year net sales reduction of 31.7%1 in China due to renewed lockdowns and continued restrictions on travel during the second quarter of 2022. When excluding the net sales of China for the second quarters of 2022 and 2021, first half 2022 net sales in Asia increased by 53.9%1 year-on-year. Compared to the first half of 2019, the Group's net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2022 in Asia decreased by 36.4%1 (-32.9%1 when excluding the net sales of China for the second quarters of 2022 and 2019).
The Group's net sales recovery in Asia temporarily slowed during the first quarter of 2022 due to the reinstatement of travel restrictions and social distancing measures in a number of markets in the region. Net sales performance gradually improved during the second quarter, with a sharp slowdown in China being offset by faster recovery elsewhere in Asia as governments relaxed travel and other restrictions. Compared to the second quarter of 2019, second quarter 2022 net sales decreased by 34.5%1 (-26.2%1 when excluding the net sales of China). In comparison, net sales for the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2019 decreased by 38.6%1 in Asia.
The Group's positive net sales trend in Asia continued into the third quarter of 2022. With the gradual relaxation of travel and other restrictions in China and the continued rebound in travel in the rest of the Asia, the reduction in the region's net sales for July 2022 (when compared to July 2019) noticeably improved to 21.6%1, and to 16.1%1 when further excluding the net sales in China.
Europe
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group recorded net sales of US$301.2 million in Europe, a significant increase of 159.5%1 (+180.1%1 when excluding Russia2) compared to the same period in 2021, driven by year-on-year net sales increases of 387.8%1 in the United Kingdom13, 163.4%1 in Germany, 184.6%1 in France, 204.3%1 in Spain and 123.3%1 in Italy. Compared to the first half of 2019, the Group's net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2022 in Europe decreased by 10.4%1 (-5.7%1 when excluding Russia2).
The Group suspended all commercial activities in Russia from the middle of March 2022 and disposed of its Russian operations on July 1, 2022. Net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2022 in Europe decreased by 0.5%1 (+9.9%1 when excluding Russia2) when compared to the second quarter of 2019. In comparison, net sales for the first quarter of 2022 decreased by 21.5%1 when compared to the same period in 2019.
The Group's positive net sales trend in Europe continued into the third quarter of 2022, with net sales for July 2022 (when compared to July 2019 and excluding Russia2) increasing by 8.3%1.
Latin America
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group recorded net sales of US$85.0 million in Latin America, an increase of 151.1%1 compared to the same period in 2021, driven by year-on-year net sales increases of 121.4%1 in Chile, 122.1%1 in Mexico, and 177.4%1 in Brazil. Compared to the first half of 2019, the Group's net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2022 in Latin America increased by 31.3%1.
Samsonite's net sales in Latin America for the second quarter of 2022 increased by 34.6%1 compared to the same period in 2019, a further improvement relative to the 28.7%1 increase recorded in the first quarter of 2022 when compared to the corresponding period in 2019.
The Group's positive net sales trend in Latin America continued into the third quarter of 2022, with net sales for July 2022 (when compared to July 2019) increasing by 32.5%1.
Table 2: Net Sales by Region
Net Sales Performance by Brand and Product Category
The Group's core brands Samsonite, Tumi and American Tourister registered strong year-on-year net sales gains across all regions, particularly North America and Europe.
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, net sales of the Samsonite brand increased by US$264.1 million, or 84.2%1, year-on-year, mainly driven by Europe (up by US$116.4 million, or 172.7%1) and North America (up by US$96.6 million, or 73.4%1), with Asia (up by US$29.0 million, or 28.3%1) and Latin America (up by US$22.1 million, or 188.8%1) also experiencing strong recovery.
Net sales of the Tumi brand increased by US$89.8 million, or 50.6%1, year-on-year, during the first half of 2022, primarily driven by North America (up by US$74.8 million, or 73.4%1), largely due to the strong recovery in the Group's company-operated full price retail stores and DTC e-commerce sales. Europe (up by US$12.1 million, or 105.8%1), and Latin America (up by US$1.0 million, or 55.2%1) also recorded strong year-on-year net sales gains, while Asia (up by US$1.9 million, or 8.1%1) experienced more moderate growth due to a slowdown in China.
Net sales of the American Tourister brand increased by US$106.0 million, or 91.7%1 year-on-year, during the first half of 2022, mainly driven by North America (up by US$19.8 million, or 61.7%1) and Europe (up by US$37.2 million, or 210.3%1), with Asia (up by US$40.9 million, or 64.2%1) and Latin America (up by US$8.1 million, or 185.4%1) also seeing strong growth.
As travel continued to rebound, net sales in the travel product category increased by 101.4%1 year-on-year and accounted for 64.1% of total net sales in the first half of 2022, up from 53.0% of total net sales in the first half of 2021. Total non-travel15 category net sales increased by 28.1%1 year-on-year and accounted for 35.9% of total net sales in the first half of 2022, compared to 47.0% of total net sales in the first half of 2021. Excluding the non-travel net sales of Speck3 for the first half of 2021, non-travel net sales increased by 38.7%1 year-on-year during the first half of 2022.
Table 3: Net Sales by Brand
Table 4: Net Sales by Product Category
Performance by Distribution Channel
The Group's wholesale net sales increased by 64.9%1 to US$812.3 million (representing 63.9% of net sales) for the six months June 30, 2022 from US$516.5 million (representing 64.6% of net sales) in the first half of 2021. Net sales to e-retailers, which are included in the Group's wholesale channel, increased by 53.6%1 during the first half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group's net sales in the direct-to-consumer ("DTC") channel, which includes company-operated retail stores and DTC e-commerce, increased by 70.7%1 to US$456.9 million (representing 36.0% of net sales) from US$282.4 million (representing 35.3% of net sales) in the first half of 2021. The Group's DTC retail net sales increased by 89.9%1 year-on-year to US$335.8 million and comprised 26.4% of first half 2022 net sales, compared to 23.4% of net sales during the first half of 2021, primarily due to an increase in consumer demand and the reopening of the Group's company-operated retail stores, some of which had been temporarily closed during the first half of 2021 due to COVID-19. Meanwhile, DTC e-commerce net sales increased by 32.8%1 to US$121.1 million and represented 9.5% of first half 2022 net sales, compared to 11.9% of net sales during the first half of 2021.
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group permanently closed 61 company-operated retail stores (of which 37 were located in Russia), partially offset by the addition of 19 new company-operated retail stores, resulting in a net reduction of 42 company-operated retail stores during the first half of 2022, compared to a net reduction of 69 company-operated retail stores during first half of 2021. The total number of company-operated retail stores was 963 as of June 30, 2022, compared to 1,027 company-operated retail stores as of June 30, 2021, and 1,278 as of June 30, 2019.
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, US$228.8 million, or 18.0%, of the Group's net sales were through e-commerce channels (comprising US$121.1 million of net sales from the Group's DTC e-commerce website, which are included within the DTC channel, and US$107.7 million of net sales to e-retailers, which are included within the wholesale channel). This represented a 41.8%1 increase compared to the first half of 2021, when e-commerce comprised US$168.4 million, or 21.1%, of the Group's net sales. The year-on-year decrease in net sales through e-commerce channels as a percentage of total net sales is primarily due to governments relaxing social-distancing restrictions and markets around the world reopening, which has led many customers to shop in person again rather than online. However, at 18.0%, e-commerce's share of total net sales for the first half of 2022 was higher compared to the 15.2% for the same period in 2019.
Table 5: Net Sales by Distribution Channel
Gross Profit
The Group's gross profit increased by US$301.6 million, or 74.3%, to US$707.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, from US$405.8 million for the first half of 2021. Gross profit margin increased by 490 basis points to 55.7% for the first half of 2022 from 50.8% for the same period in 2021. The year-on-year increase in gross profit margin was driven by increased net sales, price increases on the Group's products implemented during the latter part of 2021 and the first half of 2022 in order to mitigate increased product, freight and duty costs and lower promotional discounts. The improvement in gross profit margin was tempered by the non-renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences program in the United States ("GSP") in December 2020, which has resulted in increased duty costs on goods imported to the United States from countries that were beneficiaries of GSP. The devaluation of many currencies to the US Dollar also had a negative impact on gross profit margin.
The Group's first half 2022 gross profit margin was only 30 basis points below the 56.0% recorded for the same period in 2019, despite the effects of fixed sourcing and manufacturing expenses on a lower net sales base, higher freight and raw material costs, and increased duty costs in the United States as a result of the non-renewal of the GSP.
Operating Profit (Loss)
The Group spent US$57.7 million on marketing during the six months ended June 30, 2022, an increase of US$29.0 million, or 101.3%, compared to US$28.7 million in the first half of 2021, but a reduction of US$45.4 million, or 44.0%, compared to US$103.1 million in the corresponding period in 2019. Marketing expenses made up 4.5% of net sales for the first half of 2022, 90 basis points higher than the 3.6% for the first half of 2021, but 140 basis points lower than the 5.9% for the first half of 2019. The Group has selectively increased its advertising in markets where demand for travel is recovering more quickly, and plans to increase its investment in marketing during the balance of 2022 to drive net sales growth and capitalize on the continued recovery in travel.
The Group's fixed SG&A expenses amounted to US$332.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, an increase of US$32.9 million compared to the first half of 2021 due to temporary cost savings rolling off, but a reduction of US$162.2 million compared to the first half of 2019 as a result of the approximately US$200 million in annualized run-rate fixed cost savings from the Group's comprehensive cost reduction program implemented in 2020 and 2021, along with its ongoing focus on controlling expenses. Fixed SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales was 26.2% for the first half of 2022, compared to 37.5% for the first half of 2021 and 28.2% for the first half of 2019, reflecting management's sustained focus on controlling expenses while sales continued to improve.
The Group recorded an operating profit of US$173.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, when excluding the restructuring charges9, 10 and non-cash impairment charges9, 10 recognized during the period. In comparison, the Group incurred an operating loss of US$50.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, when excluding the restructuring charges9, 10 and non-cash impairment charges9, 10 recognized during the first half of 2021. The Group reported an operating profit of US$159.9 million for the first half of 2022 compared to an operating loss of US$86.4 million for the same period in 2021.
Net Finance Costs and Income Tax (Expense) Benefit
Net finance costs decreased by US$40.2 million, or 39.3%, to US$62.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, from US$102.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. This decrease was primarily attributable to the non-recurrence of the US$30.1 million loss on extinguishment in the first half of 2021 upon the closing of the borrowing under the 2021 Incremental Term Loan B Facility. In addition, interest expense on loans and borrowings decreased by US$12.6 million following debt repayments during 2021 and the first half of 2022 (including prepayments of US$370.0 million of outstanding borrowings under the Amended Senior Credit Facilities during 2021 and US$200.0 million of prepayments during the first half of 2022), partially offset by an increase in redeemable non-controlling interest put option expenses of US$7.1 million year-on-year due to improved financial performance of the Group's subsidiaries with non-controlling interests that are subject to put options.
The Group recorded income tax expense of US$29.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to an income tax benefit of US$46.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
Profit (Loss) Attributable to Equity Holders
The Group recorded profit attributable to the equity holders of US$68.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022, when excluding the non-cash impairment charges9 and restructuring charges9 recognized during the period, both of which are net of the related tax impact. In comparison, the Group incurred a loss attributable to the equity holders of US$115.1 million when excluding the non-cash impairment charges9, restructuring charges9 and charges associated with the debt amendments, all of which are net of the related tax impact, and the tax benefit associated with a legal entity reorganization recognized during the first half of 2021. The Group recorded profit attributable to the equity holders of US$56.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to a loss attributable to the equity holders of US$142.5 million for the first half of 2021.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income (Loss)
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group registered Adjusted EBITDA4 of US$195.6 million, an improvement of US$212.6 million compared to the Adjusted EBITDA loss4 of US$17.0 million in the first half of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA margin5 was 15.4% for the first half of 2022 compared to (2.1%) for the same period in 2021 primarily due to improved net sales and gross profit along with the effects of actions taken by management to reduce the fixed cost structure of the business. First half 2022 Adjusted EBITDA4 was US$17.9 million lower than the US$213.5 million recorded for the first half of 2019, while Adjusted EBITDA margin5 was 320 basis points higher than the 12.2% for the first half of 2019.
The Group recorded an Adjusted Net Income7 of US$83.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to an Adjusted Net Loss7 of US$103.7 million for the first half of 2021, and Adjusted Net Income7 of US$97.0 million in the first half of 2019.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flows
The Group increased its investment in working capital, particularly inventories, ahead of the important summer travel season and the second half of the year. As a result, inventories amounted to US$468.8 million as of June 30, 2022, up by US$120.4 million compared to US$348.4 million as of December 31, 2021. Net working capital was US$305.8 million as of June 30, 2022, an increase of US$106.1 million from US$199.7 million at the end of 2021.
The Group spent US$15.7 million17 on capital expenditures and software purchases during the six months ended June 30, 2022, an increase of US$9.7 million compared to the US$6.0 million17 spent in the first half of 2021. As net sales, profitability and cash flow continue to improve, the Group intends to continue to prudently and strategically increase investments in capital expenditures and software during the rest of 2022 to drive future long-term and sustainable growth.
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group repaid US$220.8 million of outstanding borrowings under its amended senior credit facilities, consisting of US$200.0 million in prepayments and US$20.8 million in required quarterly amortization payments. As of June 30, 2022, the Group had a net debt position of US$1,477.9 million18 and total liquidity of US$1,400.2 million8, compared to a net debt position of US$1,477.2 million18 and total liquidity of US$1,501.4 million8 as of December 31, 2021.
2022 First Half Results – Conference Call for Analysts and Investors:
About Samsonite
With a heritage dating back more than 110 years, Samsonite International S.A. ("Samsonite" or the "Company", together with its consolidated subsidiaries the "Group"), is a leader in the global lifestyle bag industry and is the world's best-known and largest travel luggage company. The Group is principally engaged in the design, manufacture, sourcing and distribution of luggage, business and computer bags, outdoor and casual bags and travel accessories throughout the world, primarily under the Samsonite®, Tumi®, American Tourister®, Gregory®, High Sierra®, Kamiliant®, ebags®, Lipault® and Hartmann® brand names as well as other owned and licensed brand names. The Company's ordinary shares are listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("SEHK").
For more information, please contact:
Samsonite International S.A. – Hong Kong Branch
United States – Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Non-IFRS Measures
The Company has presented certain non-IFRS measures in this press release because each of these measures provides additional information that management believes is useful for securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to gain a more complete understanding of the Group's operational performance and of the trends impacting its business. These non-IFRS financial measures, as calculated herein, may not be comparable to similarly named measures used by other companies, and should not be considered comparable to IFRS measures. Refer to the relevant announcement/report published by the Company for the corresponding period for reconciliations of the Group's non-IFRS financial information. Non-IFRS measures have limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, an analysis of the Group's financial results as reported under IFRS.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and performance. These statements may discuss, among other things, the Company's net sales, gross margin, operating profit (loss), Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, cash flow, liquidity and capital resources, potential impairments, growth, strategies, plans, achievements, distributions, organizational structure, future store openings or closings, market opportunities and general market and industry conditions. The Company generally identifies forward-looking statements by words such as "expect", "seek", "believe", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "may", "will", "would" and "could" or similar words or statements. Forward-looking statements are based on beliefs and assumptions made by management using currently available information. These statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of future performance, actions or events. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. These risks, uncertainties and other factors also include the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's future financial and operational results, which could vary significantly depending on the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide and the pace and extent of recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if management's underlying beliefs and assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by a forward-looking statement. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: the effect of worldwide economic conditions; the effect of political or social unrest and armed conflict; the length and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; lower levels of consumer spending resulting from COVID-19; the effects of inflation; a general economic downturn or generally reduced consumer spending, including as a result of COVID-19; the pace and extent of recovery following COVID-19; significant changes in consumer spending patterns or preferences; interruptions or delays in the supply of finished goods or key components; the performance of the Group's products within the prevailing retail environment; financial difficulties encountered by customers and related bankruptcy and collection issues; and risks related to the success of the Group's restructuring programs. Given the inherent uncertainty about the future impacts of COVID-19, it is not possible for the Company to reliably predict the extent to which its business, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity will ultimately be impacted.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company's shareholders, potential investors and other interested parties should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws and regulations.
Rounding
Certain amounts presented in this press release have been rounded up or down to the nearest million, unless otherwise indicated. There may therefore be discrepancies between the actual totals of the individual amounts in the tables and the totals shown, between the amounts in the tables and the amounts given in the corresponding analyses in the text of this press release and between amounts in this press release and other publicly available documents. All percentages and key figures were calculated using the underlying data in whole US Dollars.
1 Results stated on a constant currency basis, a non-International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") measure, are calculated by applying the average exchange rate of the same period in the year under comparison to current period local currency results.
2 On March 14, 2022, the Group suspended all commercial activities in Russia due to the armed conflict in Ukraine. At June 30, 2022, the Group had executed a definitive agreement for the disposition of its Russian operations, which disposition was completed on July 1, 2022. For comparison purposes, net sales exclude the net sales of the Group's former Russian operations for the second quarters of 2022, 2021 and 2019.
3 On July 30, 2021, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company sold Speculative Product Design, LLC ("Speck"), including the Speck brand. For comparison purposes, net sales exclude the net sales of Speck for January through June 2021 and January through June 2019.
4 Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"), a non-IFRS measure, eliminates the effect of a number of costs, charges and credits and certain other non-cash charges. The Group believes these measures provide additional information that is useful in gaining a more complete understanding of its operational performance and of the underlying trends of its business.
5 Adjusted EBITDA margin, a non-IFRS measure, is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by net sales.
6 Total cash generation (burn) is calculated as the total increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents per the consolidated statements of cash flows less total cash flow attributable to (i) total loans and borrowings, (ii) deferred financing costs and (iii) foreign exchange conversion impacts.
7 Adjusted Net Income (Loss), a non-IFRS measure, eliminates the effect of a number of costs, charges and credits and certain other non-cash charges, along with their respective tax effects, that impact the Group's reported profit (loss) attributable to the equity holders, which the Group believes helps to give securities analysts, investors and other interested parties a better understanding of the Group's underlying financial performance.
8 As of June 30, 2022, the Group had total liquidity of US$1,400.2 million, comprising cash and cash equivalents of US$1,064.6 million and US$335.5 million available to be borrowed on the Group's amended revolving credit facility. In comparison, as of December 31, 2021, the Group had total liquidity of US$1,501.4 million, comprising cash and cash equivalents of US$1,324.8 million and US$176.7 million available to be borrowed on the Group's amended revolving credit facility.
9 Results for the six months ended June 30, 2022 included total restructuring charges of US$1.4 million and total non-cash impairment charges of US$11.9 million. Results for the six months ended June 30, 2021 included total restructuring charges of US$6.0 million and total non-cash impairment charges of US$30.2 million.
10 Operating profit (loss) excluding total non-cash impairment charges and total restructuring charges is a non-IFRS measure and as calculated herein may not be comparable to similarly named measures used by other companies, and should not be considered comparable to operating profit (loss) for the period in the Group's consolidated statements of income (loss).
11 Adjusted basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share, both non-IFRS measures, are calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income (Loss) by the weighted average number of shares used in the basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share calculations, respectively.
12 Net sales reported for Hong Kong include net sales made domestically, net sales made in Macau as well as net sales to distributors in certain other Asian markets where the Group does not have a direct presence.
13 Net sales reported for the United Kingdom include net sales made in Ireland.
14 The geographic location of the Group's net sales generally reflects the country/territory from which its products were sold and does not necessarily indicate the country/territory in which its end consumers were actually located.
15 The non-travel category includes business, casual, accessories and other products.
16 Other includes certain other brands owned by the Group, such as High Sierra, Kamiliant, ebags, Xtrem, Lipault, Hartmann, Saxoline and Secret, as well as third party brands sold through the Rolling Luggage and Chic Accent retail stores.
17 For the six months June 30, 2022, the Group spent US$12.6 million and US$3.1 million on capital expenditures and software purchases, respectively. In comparison, for the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Group spent US$4.6 million and US$1.4 million on capital expenditures and software purchases, respectively, and US$18.0 million and US$3.5 million, respectively, during the first half of 2020.
18 As of June 30, 2022, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of US$1,064.6 million and outstanding financial debt of US$2,542.5 million (excluding deferred financing costs of US$10.0 million), resulting in a net debt position of US$1,477.9 million. In comparison, as of December 31, 2021, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of US$1,324.8 million and outstanding financial debt of US$2,802.0 million (excluding deferred financing costs of US$12.6 million), resulting in a net debt position of US$1,477.2 million.
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SOURCE Samsonite | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/samsonite-international-sa-announces-results-six-months-ended-june-30-2022/ | 2022-08-17T13:50:17Z |
Participating ISHRS physician members offering free corrective surgeries for eligible candidates
CHICAGO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to help the growing number of patients unknowingly and fraudulently being operated on by unlicensed individuals who either lack training or are not authorized to perform surgery even under direct supervision of a licensed physician, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) will host its second annual "World Hair Transplant Repair Day" on November 11, 2022.
This worldwide event is part of the ISHRS's Fight The FIGHT (an acronym for Fight the Fraudulent, Illicit, and Global Hair Transplants) global consumer awareness campaign designed to educate and help people who have been victims of this widespread practice. Victims may reach out individually to participating volunteer physicians through the campaign's website at HairRepairDay.org for a chance to receive a pro bono restorative hair procedure.
"The ISHRS is committed to raising awareness of this widespread problem of unqualified technicians illegally performing hair transplant procedures, oftentimes resulting in irreparable damage to unsuspecting patients," said Nilofer Farjo, MBChB, FISHRS, president of the ISHRS. "Consequences of this unscrupulous practice include permanent scarring, infection, visible donor scarring, poor growth, thin patches of hair or bald spots, and hair depletion from over-harvested donor areas – all of which can be difficult, and in some cases impossible, to correct."
The ISHRS explains that many clinics around the world promote themselves as hair restoration experts -- luring vulnerable patients with cheap prices and false advertising presented with misleading information. In many cases, physicians are not even present to perform the surgery.
While the number of hair transplant surgeries has increased in recent years, so too has the proliferation of fraudulent, illicit clinics trying to capitalize on the demand to permanently correct hair loss. According to results of a recent member survey conducted by the ISHRS, 51% of ISHRS members reported there are Black Market hair transplant clinics in their cities. In 2021, 5.4% of hair restoration patients sought treatment to repair previous surgery from offices where the physician did not perform the surgery, up from 4.2% in 2019.
When performed by a qualified physician, a hair transplant is an excellent procedure for treating hair loss safely and effectively. The ISHRS is committed to patient safety and continually strives for the best outcomes for all patients, offering members superior education and training to improve their techniques. To help ensure patients have the information needed to make informed decisions about who performs their hair restoration surgery, the ISHRS urges potential patients to ask the following questions, as well as questions regarding costs, risks and short- and long-term benefits and planning:
- Who will evaluate my hair loss and recommend a course of treatment? What is their education, training, licensure, and experience in treating hair loss?
- Who will be performing my surgery, what role will they play, and what is their education, training, licensure, and experience performing hair restoration surgery?
- Other than the licensed physician, will anyone who is not licensed by the state (or country) be making incisions or cutting my scalp to obtain grafts during my surgery? If so, please identify this person, explain his or her specific role and why this person is legally permitted to perform surgery without a license.
- Is everyone involved in my surgery covered by malpractice insurance?
"The best advice to avoid being a victim of a physician that chooses to let someone less qualified and unlicensed do your surgery is to ask questions and insist the doctor be the one to perform the surgery. Do your homework and don't settle for less," said Ricardo Mejia, MD, chair of the ISHRS Communications and Public Education Committee.
For more information or to take part in this worldwide educational campaign and event, contact fightthefight@ishrs.org and visit www.HairRepairDay.org.
#HairTransplantRepairDay
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) is a global non-profit medical association and the leading authority on hair loss treatment and restoration with 1,000 members throughout 70 countries worldwide. Above all, the ISHRS is dedicated to achieving excellence in patient outcomes by promoting the highest standards of medical practice, medical ethics, and research in the medical hair restoration industry. The ISHRS also provides continuing medical education to physicians specializing in hair transplant surgery and is committed to delivering the latest information on medical and surgical treatments to consumers suffering from hair loss, and most commonly from androgenetic alopecia – male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss. It was founded in 1993 as the first international society to promote continuing quality improvement and education for professionals in the field of hair restoration surgery. For more information and to locate a physician, visit www.ishrs.org.
Conducted by Relevant Research, Inc., of Chicago, IL, USA, the ISHRS 2022 Practice Census is a compilation of information provided solely by participating physicians. The information published in this survey was developed from actual historical information and does not include any projected information. The margin of error for the sample is within plus or minus 6.1 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. For a full reprint of the ISHRS 2022 Practice Census Report, visit Hair Restoration Statistics.
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SOURCE International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/second-annual-world-hair-transplant-repair-day-aims-help-victims-hair-transplants-fraudulent-illicit-clinics/ | 2022-08-17T13:50:24Z |
VANCOUVER, BC , Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lithium South Development Corporation (the "Company") (TSX-V: LIS) (OTCQB: LISMF) (Frankfurt: OGPQ) is pleased to provide an update on the drilling campaign currently underway at the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project (HMN Li Project) in Salta Province, Argentina. Andalgala Perforaciones S.A. of Catamarca, Argentina have been contracted to provide a second core rig for drilling at the project site. The rig is expected to be located by this coming weekend at the northern portion of the Alba Sabrina claim block. The rig has the depth potential required for the drilling program.
Company Director and Chief Operating Officer, Fernando Villarroel states, "We are very pleased to have obtained a second drill rig to move our drill program forward in a timelier manner. We look forward to providing further results from the two operating drill rigs."
The objective of the program is to potentially expand the current Lithium Carbonate Resource which is defined with an average grade of 756 mg/L lithium within 571,000 tons in the Measured and Indicated Categories (See news release December 4, 2018, and NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report titled, Initial Measured and Indicated Lithium and Potassium Resource Estimate, Hombre Muerto North Project, Salta and Catamarca Provinces, Argentina, prepared by independent consultants Montgomery and Associates of Santiago, Chile).
The current Resource is contained solely on the Tramo Claim Block, which is 383 hectares in size. Tramo is one of five Salar-located, non-contiguous claim blocks that comprise the total project area of 3,287 hectares. The current drill program is focused on exploration of the Alba Sabrina Claim Block, which is 2,089 hectares in size.
About Lithium South
The HMN Li Project is at an advanced stage of evaluation, with a Preliminary Economic Assessment completed in April 2019. Lithium South is the 100% owner and expects to expand the known resource with its current drill program. Preliminary results support this expectation. Additional project work including permitting, environmental studies and process test work is ongoing.
The HMN Li Project is adjacent to a US$840 million lithium mine under development by the Korean multinational corporation POSCO, which acquired their holdings from Galaxy Resources Ltd. for US$280 million. Livent Corporation is producing lithium south of the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project and has operated there for over twenty-five years.
The Company is evaluating a conventional evaporation process method, and Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) as an alternative method. DLE test work on 2,000-liter brine samples is currently in progress by Chemphys Chengdu, in China, and Eon Minerals in Salta, Argentina.
The technical and scientific information in this press release was reviewed by Mr. William Feyerabend, a Consulting Geologist and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Feyerabend participated in the production of this press release.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Adrian F. C. Hobkirk
President and Chief Executive Officer
Investors / Shareholders call 855-415-8100 / website: www.lithiumsouth.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed the content of this news release and therefore does not accept responsibility or liability for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release.
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. We seek safe harbor.
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SOURCE Lithium South Development Corporation | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/second-drill-rig-added-hmn-lithium-project-argentina/ | 2022-08-17T13:50:36Z |
See what happens when unsuspecting potential homebuyers tour their dream home and experience the odor-eliminating technology of Glad® with Clorox™
OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Glad teamed up with real-estate agent and interior design specialist, Amanza Smith, from the hit TV show, Selling Sunset, to showcase Glad ForceFlexPlus with Clorox's odor eliminating technology as potential homebuyers unknowingly toured a dream home that was secretly filled with hidden bags of trash.
With the threat of the housing market cooling off, home sellers need to pull out all the stops to make their house desirable and keep buyers interested, including being keenly aware of the smell of their homes. According to a recent survey*, 93% of potential homeowners say the smell of a house is important when considering purchasing a home. In fact, the number one quality that would deter a potential homebuyer is bad odor or smell (46%). A whopping 64% of respondents report a bad odor or smell would make them decrease their final offer while over a third (43%) of potential homebuyers would walk away from their dream home if it smelled bad.
While most competitor bags only mask the smell of trash, Glad ForceFlexPlus with Clorox trash bags use innovative odor-eliminating technology to help eliminate food and bacterial odors to keep trash under control while helping to keep homes smelling clean and fresh, all without sacrificing strength and performance.
"One of the most important tips I share with people who are looking to sell their home is to make sure the home smells nice, as there are few things that will deter a possible buyer more than an unpleasant smell," said Amanza Smith. "If the odor-eliminating technology in Glad ForceFlexPlus with Clorox trash bags are good enough for this Glad Torture Test, people can confidently rely on them in their daily lives to help eliminate pesky food and bacterial odors to help keep their home smelling as good as new."
With Amanza Smith's successful career in real estate, she understands the importance of making sure a home smells clean and fresh to ensure a successful open house. To prove how well the bags work, Glad conducted a "Torture Test," in which prospective home buyers were given an opportunity to tour their potential dream home. What they didn't know was there were trash-filled bags hidden all over the house: under covers in the bedroom, behind the curtains, cabinets in the kitchen, the bathroom and more! Those on the tour were in for a surprise when they realized that Smith was hiding behind the scenes, waiting to see if the potential buyers could smell the offensive trash odors. Watch here to see the shock of the potential buyers when Amanza reveals the hidden bags and that there were no trash odors.
"At Glad, we have always looked for fun ways that prove how effective our products are, and how something like a choice of trash bag can make a difference in your home. We know that many people use scented bags that simply mask stinky garbage, sometimes creating a worse smell than the garbage alone," said Carrie Rathod, Sr. Director of Marketing for Glad. "Selling a house is high stakes! Through our Torture Test with Amanza Smith, we were able to show people that Glad with Clorox bags help eliminate food and bacterial odors to help keep a home feeling clean and fresh. There was definitely some shock value alongside education as we showed potential homeowners how something as simple as a Glad with Clorox trash bag can improve the entire essence of a home."
Whether putting your house on the market or simply creating a warm and inviting home, Amanza Smith offers these key tips:
- Declutter! When staging your home to put on the market or simply making updates to create an inviting atmosphere, less is more.
- Fresh paint! A fresh coat of neutral paint is an easy and effective way to enhance the space without breaking the bank!
- Keep It Fresh! If the house smells like last night's fish dinner or heavy fragrances, it can be overwhelming. Keep things fresh by using Glad with Clorox trash bags which help to eliminate food and bacterial odors.
- Neutral Staging is Everything! An easy way to get your home show ready is to swap out your throw pillows, area rugs and art with neutral updates.
- Bring the Outside Area into Focus! If you have an outdoor gathering space, don't forget about it.
The innovative Glad ForceFlexPlus with Clorox Drawstring Trash Bag provides superior strength1 and features 2X leak protection with reinforced bottom and double side seams, all while using less plastic than leading competitors.2 In fact, if everyone in the US chose Glad drawstring bags, 100 million pounds of plastic could be saved from going into landfills every year3. The bag is available in three classic scents including Lemon Fresh Bleach Scent, Eucalyptus and Peppermint, and Mountain Air, and are available for purchase at select retailers nationwide.
To watch the video, read the rest of Amanza's tips and learn more about Glad ForceFlexPlus with Clorox trash bags, visit Glad.com/Amanza and follow along on Instagram for more content. It's better than all good. #ItsAllGlad
*YouGov Plc, June 2022. Online survey of 500 US adults who plan to purchase their next home in the next 12 months
- Compared to a standard 13-gallon Glad kitchen bag.
- Based on IRI data: If existing non-Glad drawstring buyers switch to Glad drawstring bags.
- Based on IRI data: If existing non-Glad drawstring buyers switch to Glad drawstring bags.
The Glad Products Company, the nation's leading household waste solutions company, specializes in kitchen and outdoor trash bags and food protection products. By providing innovative and trusted solutions, Glad aims to reduce waste for people and the planet. Glad is a member of The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) family of brands. For more information, go to Glad.com.
Media Contact:
Andrea Blythe
ablythe@currentglobal.com
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SOURCE The Glad Products Company | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/shhhhthe-secrets-out-selling-sunset-star-amanza-smith-teams-up-with-glad-most-shocking-torture-test-yet/ | 2022-08-17T13:50:46Z |
BOSTON, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Soroco, one of the world's first work graph companies, today announced the launch of the first-ever Task Mining Playbook by Everest Group, a leading research firm.
This playbook is a first-of-its-kind guide that empowers enterprises at various stages of their transformation journey with insights, methodologies, and practical advice to achieve best-in-class outcomes through the work graph. It also gives IT and business leaders the foundation they need to get the most out of this transformative technology.
"The new Everest Group Task Mining Playbook empowers enterprises with insights, methodologies, and practical advice to effectively leverage task mining to plan, sustain, and optimize the returns from their process transformation and automation programs," said Amardeep Modi, Vice President, Everest Group. "Task Mining is still new to many organizations. This comprehensive playbook aims to enable them to visualize and plan a roadmap that answers the questions of what to do next and how to achieve those never-ending efficiency and experience targets."
Samson David, CEO, Soroco, said, "We are pleased to offer the Task Mining Playbook, which is packed with industry trends and best practices and serves as both a guide and tool for customers and partners. At Soroco, we are building the world's first work graph platform, a database of shared digital experiences emanating from our daily work. Today, over 60% of this data originates from millions of human-computer interactions teams and users have across applications, emails, chats, and documents at work. Providing structured insights to customers from this massive, untapped, and unstructured enterprise data is critical for the success of transformation programs within enterprises."
The playbook highlights how traditional solutions are not suitable for how teams work today and fail to capture work done using a suite of productivity applications. The playbook includes an enterprise case study by a leading pharma major, Bayer, that showcases how Soroco's flagship product Scout helped improve the efficiency and effectiveness of several teams. It also incorporates findings from a customer survey conducted across 111 CIOs, managers, and end-users.
Some of the key findings of the survey include:
- For 60% of the organizations, a lack of as-is process visibility and documentation is a critical challenge.
- 30% of organizations struggle to efficiently orchestrate the workflow across several systems, applications, and human workforce.
- Process documentation/SOP updates occur annually or less often in more than 50% of organizations, resulting in an inaccurate understanding of the business processes.
Given the growing usage of applications such as collaboration apps and documentation tools, the work graph emerges as the key link to understanding unstructured and undocumented work on various applications. The work graph provides deep visibility into how teams manage work and helps understand how last-mile activities are performed in the workplace.
Download a complimentary copy of the Task Mining Playbook here.
About Soroco:
Soroco is building the world's first work graph platform - a database of shared digital experiences emanating from our daily work. We are a deep tech company with ~40 patents. Our flagship product Scout, powered by the work graph, provides near real-time insights into how work gets done on the ground and helps enterprises in their transformation journey. The 'work graph' unifies disjoint categories like Process Mining, Task Mining, user training, BPM, and RPA to provide a single source of truth. Visit www.soroco.com to learn how we help teams discover their work graph.
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SOURCE Soroco | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/soroco-launches-first-ever-task-mining-playbook-by-everest-group/ | 2022-08-17T13:50:54Z |
MIRAMAR, Fla., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit Airlines today announced its operational performance ranked among the industry best in the two-month period following when Spirit's peak summer schedule went into effect on June 5. The carrier also set a company record for its highest-ever completion factor performance for the month of July.
"These great results are among the best in the industry and are due to the relentless dedication of our Spirit Family. Our team rose to the occasion to serve record numbers of summer travelers and work through industry challenges to deliver a high value experience for our Guests," said John Bendoraitis, Spirit Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Summary of Spirit's operational performance from June 5 – August 5:
- Operated more than 44,000 domestic and international flights
- Delivered a completion factor of 99.2% that ranked No. 3 in the U.S. industry; outperformed all major legacy airlines; included 25 days of 100 percent completion factor; and set a new company record for the month of July
- 77.5% of flights arrived within 14 minutes of scheduled arrival time, which is the standard "A14" industry metric, and ranked No. 4 in the U.S.
- Launched new Albuquerque (ABQ) and Boise (BOI) stations during this period, and Reno (RNO) flights started August 10
Results are based on Spirit's data compared to major and regional U.S. airlines. Official monthly performance results are published in the Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Reports. Spirit's company record for July completion factor omitted July 2020, which was a reduced schedule due to the industry-wide drawdown during that period.
Additional Recognition
Spirit was recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers for Diversity 2022 for its active efforts to create and celebrate a diverse workplace environment. The carrier also won "Best Airport Innovation" in the 2021 APEX/IFSA Awards for its groundbreaking self-bag drop system with biometric photo matching, which speeds up the check-in process and reduces face-to-face contact. Spirit also recently received the FAA's "Aviation Maintenance Technician Diamond Award of Excellence" for the fourth consecutive year.
About Spirit Airlines:
Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) is committed to delivering the best value in the sky. We are the leader in providing customizable travel options starting with an unbundled fare. This allows our Guests to pay only for the options they choose — like bags, seat assignments and refreshments — something we call À La Smarte®. We make it possible for our Guests to venture further and discover more than ever before. Our Fit Fleet® is one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the U.S. We serve destinations throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, and are dedicated to giving back and improving those communities. Come save with us at spirit.com.
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SOURCE Spirit Airlines, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/spirit-airlines-delivers-record-summer-2022-operational-performance/ | 2022-08-17T13:51:00Z |
First-of-its-kind program designed to streamline and simplify consumers' ability to purchase consumer grade trailers and truck equipment
STAMFORD, Conn. and ADDISON, Texas, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Synchrony (NYSE: SYF), a premier consumer financial services company, and American Trailer World (ATW), North America's leading manufacturer, distributor and retailer of professional and consumer grade trailers and truck beds, announce a new financing program. In partnership with Synchrony, ATW will now offer flexible and affordable financing solutions for consumers to purchase trailers, equipment, and parts at ATW's nearly 1,000 US dealer locations.
The multi-year partnership comes amid unprecedented growth in the trailer industry as more people look to transport goods for both personal and professional use. Synchrony will offer a variety of flexible financing options for customers including:
- Access to market-leading interest rates
- Loan terms of up to 84 months
- Simplified online application process
- Ability to finance all trailers manufactured by ATW
"This partnership enables us to offer flexible financing options for our dealers to utilize so their customers can purchase the products and services they need when they need them," Johnathan Bradley, vice president of sales & marketing, American Trailer World. "Synchrony's years of experience, knowledge of how dealerships operate and extensive history of enhancing retail finance options, will simplify how purchases are made and help us create long-term relationships with our valued customers."
By serving as the preferred retail financing provider, ATW dealers will have 24x7 access to Synchrony's instant decisioning of applications, dealer and customer support, rapid response to financing questions, loan contract preparation and expedited loan funding processes as part of Synchrony's Business Center. Financial information throughout the loan process is presented in dashboards to give customers a visual representation of the payment process, detailed explanation about how installment loans work, and multiple term options to meet each customer's unique budget requirements. For dealerships, Synchrony provides dedicated merchant service and support, customized portfolio analysis, coordinated marketing and co-branding initiatives, and industry leading dealer incentives.
"ATW delivers a superior experience that strengthens customer loyalty," said Darrell Owens, senior vice president, Synchrony. "We worked closely with ATW to design a customized, dealer-friendly program that streamlines and simplifies the purchasing process, which includes proven underwriting strategies, 24x7 online application availability and cross-promotional expertise that ensures customers are getting the best financing options available to help them complete their purchase."
To learn more about ATW, visit www.atw.com.
About American Trailer World
American Trailer World (ATW®) is on the road to reinvent the trailer industry – we live and breathe trailers, right down to the last bolt. From humble beginnings in the Lone Star State, we've grown to become the largest manufacturer, retailer, and distributor of professional and consumer grade trailers, truck equipment, parts and accessories in North America. Brands include Big Tex®, Big Tex Trailer World, PJ Trailers®, Carry-On Trailer™, Dakota Bodies™, CM Truck Beds®, RC Trailers®, and BWise Trailers®, TexTrail Trailer Parts®, Wholesale Trailer Supply, and Marius Garon, Inc.
About Synchrony
Synchrony (NYSE: SYF) is a premier consumer financial services company delivering one of the industry's most complete digitally-enabled product suites. Our experience, expertise and scale encompass a broad spectrum of industries including digital, health and wellness, retail, telecommunications, home, auto, outdoor, pet and more. We have an established and diverse group of national and regional retailers, local merchants, manufacturers, buying groups, industry associations and healthcare service providers, which we refer to as our "partners." We connect our partners and consumers through our dynamic financial ecosystem and provide them with a diverse set of financing solutions and innovative digital capabilities to address their specific needs and deliver seamless, omnichannel experiences. We offer the right financing products to the right customers in their channel of choice. For more information, visit www.synchrony.com and Twitter: @Synchrony
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Michelle Blaya
Synchrony
Michelle.Blaya@syf.com
626.250.1415
Lauren Peterson
ATW
lauren.peterson@atw.com
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SOURCE Synchrony Financial | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/synchrony-named-provider-promotional-financing-american-trailer-world-new-strategic-partnership/ | 2022-08-17T13:51:07Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for QNRX, BBBY, SAVA, EAR, and APRN.
To see how InvestorsObserver's proprietary scoring system rates these stocks, view the InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link.
- QNRX: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=QNRX&prnumber=081720221
- BBBY: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=BBBY&prnumber=081720221
- SAVA: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=SAVA&prnumber=081720221
- EAR: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=EAR&prnumber=081720221
- APRN: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=APRN&prnumber=081720221
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alerts are based on our proprietary scoring methodology. Each stock is evaluated based on short-term technical, long-term technical and fundamental factors. Each of those scores is then combined into an overall score that determines a stock's overall suitability for investment.
InvestorsObserver provides patented technology to some of the biggest names on Wall Street and creates world-class investing tools for the self-directed investor on Main Street. We have a wide range of tools to help investors make smarter decisions when investing in stocks or options.
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SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/thinking-about-buying-stock-quoin-pharmaceuticals-bed-bath-amp-beyond-cassava-sciences-eargo-or-blue-apron/ | 2022-08-17T13:51:14Z |
Teams Develop New AI-driven Method to Discover, Design and Develop Next Generation Materials to Help Reduce Carbon Emissions
LOS ALTOS, Calif. and CHICAGO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Research Institute (TRI) and Northwestern University today announce their collaboration to help accelerate new materials discovery, design and development with the world's first nanomaterial "data factory." This AI-driven methodology goes far beyond the traditional trial and error by exploring vast parameter sets, collecting data and then empowering AI to search the materials genome to find the best materials for a given application. While the first application of the data factory will be used to discover new catalysts to make fuel cell vehicles more efficient, TRI and Northwestern believe this method of materials discovery will have wide-ranging applications in the future such as clean hydrogen production, CO2 removal from air and high-efficiency solar cells.
"Meeting the growing demand for mobility without emitting carbon is a major challenge," said Brian Storey, TRI senior director of energy and materials. "Through this partnership with Northwestern, we have significantly reduced the time it takes to test and find new materials that can be used in batteries and fuel cells to decarbonize transportation."
"This groundbreaking research marks an inflection point in how we discover and develop critical materials," said Chad Mirkin, director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology and the George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry at Northwestern. "Together with TRI, we're poised to empower the scientific community to find the best materials that can truly power the clean energy transition."
TRI & Northwestern Data Factory
TRI and Northwestern developed a machine learning algorithm capable of synthesizing materials at record speeds to sift through Northwestern's new Megalibraries — a library containing more new inorganic materials than scientists have ever collected and categorized. Together, these concepts create the first nanomaterial data factory — a groundbreaking effort to create and mine large sets of high-quality, complex first-party data. The team is using this new approach to find catalysts that can be used instead of expensive, rare materials the world currently depends on, such as platinum and iridium.
Prior to this collaboration, machine learning algorithms have been trained on lower-quality, inconsistently-gathered data sets. Now, with Northwestern and TRI's new capabilities, high-quality data sets can be used by the team to train complex algorithms that enable the rapid and objective discovery of crucial materials for unmet needs.
Hear directly from TRI and Northwestern on this groundbreaking research here.
About Toyota Research Institute
Toyota Research Institute (TRI) conducts research to advance robotics, energy and materials, machine learning, and human-centric artificial intelligence. Led by Dr. Gill Pratt, TRI's team of researchers are developing technologies to amplify human ability, focused on making our lives safer and more sustainable. Established in 2015, TRI has offices in Los Altos, California and Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information about TRI, please visit http://tri.global.
About Northwestern University
Founded in 1851, Northwestern University is one of the country's leading private research and teaching universities with an enrollment of approximately 8,000 full-time undergraduate students and approximately 8,000 full-time graduate and professional students and approximately 2,000 part-time students on campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, and Doha, Qatar. Northwestern combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment that transcends traditional academic boundaries. Northwestern provides students and faculty exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth in a setting enhanced by the richness of Chicago.
TRI Media Contact:
Wendy Rosen
Director of Communications
wendy.rosen@tri.global
Northwestern Media Contact:
Win Reynolds
Research Science and Engineering Editor
win.reynolds@northwestern.edu
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SOURCE Toyota Research Institute | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/toyota-research-institute-northwestern-join-forces-accelerate-discovery-materials-that-will-drive-clean-energy-transition/ | 2022-08-17T13:51:20Z |
Listing recognizes the company's momentum following two years of record growth
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TradeCentric, the leading provider of B2B integration and automation between eCommerce systems and eProcurement solutions, has been recognized as one of America's fastest growing private companies on Inc.'s annual Inc. 5000 list.
Inclusion in the Inc. 5000 is a high note in what is shaping up to be a very successful year. The company celebrated two years of record growth and announced a name change to TradeCentric in June. Additionally, TradeCentric strategically expanded its team to support continued investment in product and services. Together, these moves provide momentum for the company's next phase of growth and development.
"In 2022, while continnuing to be the global leader in PunchOut implementations, we rebranded to showcase our expanded offerings that meet the evolving needs of B2B companies," said Troy Lynch, CEO at TradeCentric. "From PunchOut and Purchase Order Automation to Invoice Automation and Advance Shipping Notices, our integrated solutions modernize the way companies trade. We remain focused on growing the network of more than 3,200 global buyers and suppliers trading on our purpose-built platform that supports more than 75 eCommerce systems and 150 eProcurement solutions."
Not only have the companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this year's list has also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19.
"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today."
Inc. 5000 - Methodology
Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. The top 500 companies on the Inc. 5000 are featured in Inc. magazine's September issue. The entire Inc. 5000 can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.
ABOUT TradeCentric
TradeCentric, formerly PunchOut2Go, transforms the way businesses transact by enabling PunchOut, Purchase Order and Invoice Automation solutions for thousands of companies around the world. Uniquely positioned at the intersection of eCommerce and eProcurement, TradeCentric helps B2B buyers and suppliers connect, automate and scale their digital trading capabilities via a cloud-based integration platform that is fully managed and purpose-built to simplify the complexities of B2B connected commerce. Learn more at TradeCentric.com.
Media Contact:
Ariane Wolff
Warner Communications
ariane@warnerpr.com
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SOURCE TradeCentric | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/tradecentric-honored-2022-inc-5000-annual-list-americas-fastest-growing-private-companies/ | 2022-08-17T13:51:29Z |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trailer Bridge, Inc. today announced the launch of the MasterMind™ technology across its logistics branches increasing visibility into customers freight movement and efficiency in its operations.
The launch is part of a strategic partnership with Mastery Logistics Systems, a company conceived by industry pioneer Jeff Silver. Beginning in 2021, Trailer Bridge collaborated with the Mastery team to begin their transition to the MasterMind™ platform. Together, Trailer Bridge will consolidate their technologies and service offerings to enhance the customer and employee experience.
"We are incredibly proud of the work that has been put into launching this platform," said Trailer Bridge CEO Mitch Luciano. "Innovation is what drives our business forward and this project is an example of innovation at work as well as the incredible power of harnessing strong partnerships to drive growth."
Trailer Bridge pushed out the new software to its 12 logistics branches across the U.S. and is currently working with Mastery to further develop the platform for its ocean business targeting a late 2023 launch.
The new technology is part of the company's overall growth goals as it works to expand services to better serve today's shipper, offering the same personalized level of customer service offered today. Recently, Trailer Bridge expanded its logistics operations opening additional offices in the Western U.S. and rapidly growing its team of logistics experts. It also added an International Division solely focused on handling the movement of freight around the world as well as teams focused on intermodal movements and less-than-truckload freight.
"The cross-team collaboration with Trailer Bridge, their vendors, and the Mastery project team has been critical to the success of this launch," said Mastery VP of Sales Danielle Prigge. "Seeing their brokerage users and accounting users leveraging the MasterMind platform is a major milestone in the overall program. We are looking forward to continued success as Trailer Bridge scales their Ocean division."
Mastery was launched in 2019 by Jeff Silver, the logistics expert behind Backhaulers and Coyote Logistics. Billed as 'The World's First Lovable TMS™,' Mastery embraces the complexity of the logistics industry by bringing all operating functions into a single cloud-based TMS with built-in flexibility, visibility, control, and efficiency.
About Trailer Bridge, Inc.
A full-service logistics provider, Trailer Bridge provides ocean transport between the U.S. and the Caribbean with its fleet of ocean-going deck barges as well as over-the-road trucking throughout the U.S., intermodal, less-than-truckload, cross-border movements, and third-party logistics services providing a full supply chain solution for shippers around the globe. It's commitment to exceptional service has earned Trailer Bridge the Logistics Management Quest for Quality Award as #1 Ocean Carrier in 2019, Inc Magazine's Best Workplaces in America 2020 and 2021, as well as recognition as one of the Best Places to Work in Jacksonville, Florida, a Fastest Growing Company in Jacksonville and a Top Maritime Business in Jacksonville. Trailer Bridge is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and operates 15 offices with more than 260 employees across North America. For more information about Trailer Bridge, visit https://www.trailerbridge.com.
Media Contact:
Whitney Croxton
904-720-7558
wcroxton@trailerbridge.com
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SOURCE Trailer Bridge | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/trailer-bridge-launches-new-mastermind-tms-with-mastery-logistics-systems-inc/ | 2022-08-17T13:51:40Z |
- Enel X Way purchased more than 250 fast chargers for deployment across the United States (US).
- This purchase is the first under the companies' new global framework agreement, pairing Tritium's DC fast charging technology with Enel X Way's smart EV charging platform to deliver fast, flexible, and scalable charging solutions.
- Enel X Way is the smart charging solutions subsidiary of the global energy company, Enel, and the announced global framework agreement follows those Tritium announced with BP and Shell, as the company deepens its relationship with the largest multinationals dedicated to the rollout of EV infrastructure in the coming decade.
- McKinsey & Company estimates the US will need 1.2 million public EV chargers by 2030 to meet federal targets.
TORRANCE, Calif. and SAN CARLOS, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tritium DCFC Limited (Tritium) (Nasdaq: DCFC), a global leader in direct current (DC) fast chargers for electric vehicles (EVs), and Enel X Way, the Enel Group's global business line that offers smart EV charging solutions and services, today announced the signing of a global framework agreement and first contract in the US, deepening Enel X Way's access to Tritium's fast charging hardware and software. Enel X Way is a global leader in smart EV charging solutions with over 380,000 charging ports worldwide.
Under the agreement, Enel X Way will pair its JuiceNet software platform with Tritium's 175kW fast charger and a 50kW variant of the company's award-winning RTM to deliver smart fast charging solutions for fleets, automakers, utilities, and public charging sites along highways. The more than 250 fast chargers are expected to qualify for a tax credit that was recently modified and extended as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Under the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit, commercial projects now qualify for a maximum incentive of 30% or $100,000 per charger (up from $30,000 per property), whichever is of lesser value.
"The electrification of transportation requires the removal of key barriers to EV adoption, most notably access to charging, both at home and in public," said Chris Baker, Head of Enel X Way North America. "This agreement will enable Enel X Way to expand its DC fast charging offering with Tritium's flexible, scalable, US manufactured DC fast chargers and infrastructure that makes deploying charging sites easier for businesses and cities.This fantastic partnership with Tritium will help Enel X Way meet the increasing demand for fast charging and achieve our mutual goal of electrifying transportation."
In the future, the companies intend to further expand their relationship to meet the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program objectives, which will support the Biden-Harris Administration's goal to develop a national network of 500,000 EV chargers. To meet NEVI demand, Enel X Way intends to deploy Tritium's Buy America-compliant PKM150 DC fast chargers. Tritium's PKM150 and RTM are expected to begin US production at the company's Tennessee factory this fall and meet the Federal Highway Administration's Buy America compliance requirement in the first quarter of 2023.
"As the world moves toward electrification at unprecedented speeds, it's imperative that our industry rises to the challenge to ensure everyone has access to fast and convenient EV charging," said Jane Hunter, Tritium CEO. "We believe that Enel X Way is an ideal company to accelerate deployment of our charging technology, as they have entities throughout the world and are well equipped and committed to the expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure."
Through smart charging, utilities can manage and benefit from this growth while ensuring a reliable, balanced, and clean electric grid for all users. Enel X Way offers site hosts and partners a complete line of interoperable, hardware agnostic, OCPP compliant, SOC-2 compliant, smart grid EV charging solutions, meeting the highest industry standards.
Tritium and Enel X Way have a long-standing business relationship with the common goal to decarbonize transportation, and this new agreement is the latest success in the companies' partnership. The companies plan to sign additional regional contracts to further expand access to fast charging around the world.
In North America, Enel X Way is qualified for more than 60 commercial utility and state incentive programs, including 30 DC fast charging incentive programs. The Enel X Way software platform allows utilities to monitor and analyze demand from participating charging stations and manage charging to respond to and align with real-time grid conditions. Enel X Way has also received AICPA SOC 2® certification, which safeguards customer and driver data demonstrating its commitment to the highest cyber security standards.
Founded in 2001, Tritium (Nasdaq: DCFC) designs and manufactures proprietary hardware and software to create advanced and reliable DC fast chargers for electric vehicles. Tritium's compact and robust chargers are designed to look great on Main Street and thrive in harsh conditions, through technology engineered to be easy to install, own, and use.Tritium is focused on continuous innovation in support of our customers around the world.
For more information, visit tritiumcharging.com.
Enel X Way is a global leader in smart electric vehicle charging solutions with over 380,000 charging ports worldwide, including roaming agreements. As a subsidiary of Fortune 200 renewable energy leader, the Enel Group, Enel X Way is committed to providing smart mobility solutions for drivers, businesses and partners to make driving electric simple. Enel X Way's flagship home charging station, the JuiceBox, has been named the "best EV charger overall" in 2022 by CNET, Car and Driver, This Old House, and Road & Track.
For more information, please visit our website and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @enelxwayna.
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's actual results may differ from its expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's expectations, hopes, believes, intentions or strategies for the future. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the documents filed by the Company from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are outside the Company's control and are difficult to predict. The Company cautions not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, including projections, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Tritium Media Contact Jack Ulrich
media@tritium.com.au
Tritium Investor Contact
Caldwell Bailey
ICR, Inc.
TritiumIR@icrinc.com
Enel X Way North America Contact
Matt Epting
+1 405 358 3446
Matt.Epting@enel.com
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SOURCE Enel X Way North America | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/tritium-enel-x-way-expand-partnership-electrify-transportation-us-increases-funding/ | 2022-08-17T13:51:47Z |
Air Force contract will accelerate deployment of quantum dot solar technology after recent successful demonstration projects, highlighting dual use capabilities
LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UbiQD, Inc., a New Mexico-based nanotechnology development company, announced today it was recently awarded Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts by the United States Air Force (AFWERX Program). The current phase II contract provides funding for two installations totaling more than 20 windows, as well as continued scale-up and development of UbiQD's quantum dot-tinted photovoltaic window technology, called WENDOW™.
The company recently completed a series of successful demonstration projects, including installing the largest electricity generating windows ever made at Western Washington University in July, 2022. This project included two vibrant colors (orange and yellow) as well as UbiQD's color neutral (near-IR) tint, highlighting the color tunability inherent with quantum dots.
"This technology helps Western Washington University get closer to achieving our sustainability goals on campus," said David Patrick, Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School. "I was impressed by how easily the windows were installed, and love how great they look. I'm hoping to see more projects like this on campus in the near future."
The increasing scale and frequency of window projects comes at a time when solar incentives are being energized in the U.S. with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. The new legislation just signed into law, now provides a tax credit of at least 30% for solar investments for the next 10 years.
"We are seeing strong fiscal support for sustainability initiatives in the built environment right now," said Hunter McDaniel, UbiQD Founder and CEO. "Our expanded contract with the U.S. Air Force couldn't come at a better time, right as we are scaling and ahead of the upgraded solar investment tax incentives."
UbiQD is an advanced materials company powering decarbonization of the built environment with nanotechnology. WENDOW™, a new line of solar photovoltaic products, utilizes luminescent quantum dot tinting to concentrate solar energy and generate electricity while maintaining transparency. Headquartered in Los Alamos, New Mexico, UbiQD is licensing technology developed at leading research institutions, including Los Alamos National Laboratory, M.I.T., University of Washington, and Western Washington University. To learn more, please visit: https://wendow.us and https://www.ubiqd.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS
UbiQD, Inc.
wendow@ubiqd.com | 505.310.6767
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SOURCE UbiQD, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/us-air-force-funds-photovoltaic-window-technology-military-bases/ | 2022-08-17T13:51:54Z |
Optimizations enhance the digital-forward customer experience, designed to deliver greater convenience, speed and accuracy today and into the future
DUBLIN, Ohio, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wendy's Company announced today a new global restaurant design standard, Global Next Gen, for enhanced customer, crew and digital experiences. Beginning Fall 2022, Wendy's® new traditional restaurant builds will feature a sleek and modern design with an optimized layout and next-generation technology to deliver more Wendy's to more people with an emphasis on convenience, speed and accuracy.
"To accelerate our business and expand our footprint across the globe, we must consistently meet the needs of our customers however they chose to engage with Wendy's, whether that's through a digital platform or in the drive-thru" said Wendy's President and CEO Todd Penegor. "Global Next Gen enhances the customer experience across ordering channels and streamlines operations for our crew, all while creating better returns for franchisees."
Global Next Gen includes the following design features and technology to better serve today's customers:
- Delivery Pick-Up Window: A dedicated delivery pick-up window and delivery parking makes it more convenient and quicker for delivery drivers, who previously needed to enter the dining room, to grab orders and go. This design also shifts traffic out of the drive-thru line where customers are waiting, so crew can focus on taking and fulfilling orders more quickly, efficiently and accurately.
- Dedicated Mobile Order Pickup: Global Next Gen features mobile order parking and pick-up shelving in-restaurant. Customers select a pick-up time when placing their mobile order and upon arrival, park in a dedicated mobile order parking spot, grab their meal off the mobile order pick-up shelving and enjoy their Wendy's favorites.
- Reimagined Kitchen: A new galley-style kitchen design, which runs from the front to the back of the restaurant, increases efficiency and oversight for crew across all sales channels. The kitchen design allows for efficiencies at the point of sale, provides the ability for crew to slide between positions more easily throughout the day and supports faster order fulfillment and culinary innovation.
- Next Generation Technology: Global Next Gen comes alive through the next generation of modernized technology that works hard behind the scenes, allowing restaurant teams to handle significantly more digital business than before. This also provides a platform for forward-leaning technology innovation.
- Optimized Infrastructure: New restaurants will use more efficient building elements such as lighting and HVAC to decrease energy usage and costs.
"As the first restaurant brand to offer a modern pick-up window more than 50 years ago, Wendy's continues its legacy of design and innovation with Global Next Gen," said Penegor. "Our new global restaurant standard unlocks opportunities at the intersection of innovative design and technology, bringing us one step closer to our vision of becoming the world's most thriving and beloved restaurant brand."
Wendy's plans to open the first Global Next Gen restaurant in New Albany, Ohio in Spring 2023.
Want to learn more about Global Next Gen? Head to The Square Deal for a Q&A with Abigail Pringle; President, U.S. & Chief Commercial Officer Kurt Kane; and Chief Information Officer Kevin Vasconi.
About Wendy's
Wendy's® was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio. Dave built his business on the premise, "Quality is our Recipe®," which remains the guidepost of the Wendy's system. Wendy's is best known for its made-to-order square hamburgers, using fresh, never frozen beef*, freshly-prepared salads, and other signature items like chili, baked potatoes and the Frosty® dessert. The Wendy's Company (Nasdaq: WEN) is committed to doing the right thing and making a positive difference in the lives of others. This is most visible through the Company's support of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption® and its signature Wendy's Wonderful Kids® program, which seeks to find a loving, forever home for every child waiting to be adopted from the North American foster care system. Today, Wendy's and its franchisees employ hundreds of thousands of people across approximately 7,000 restaurants worldwide with a vision of becoming the world's most thriving and beloved restaurant brand. For details on franchising, connect with us at www.wendys.com/franchising. Visit www.wendys.com and www.squaredealblog.com for more information and connect with us on Twitter and Instagram using @wendys, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wendys.
*Fresh beef available in the contiguous U.S., Alaska, and Canada.
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SOURCE The Wendy's Company | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/wendys-announces-innovative-new-global-restaurant-design-standard-global-next-gen/ | 2022-08-17T13:52:01Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Workcred, an affiliate of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), has been awarded a grant with Greater Texas Foundation to improve the effectiveness of industry certification and certificate/degree (iC+C/D) pathways. The project will support a partnership between Workcred, Houston Community College (HCC), and Texas Southmost College (TSC) to initiate a series of activities that examine and align education and workforce stakeholders' processes and policies, striving to better support low-income and first-generation learners to complete iC+C/D pathways, earn postsecondary credentials of value, and enter the workforce.
Aligned or stackable credentials, including iC+C/D pathways, have become increasingly popular at colleges and universities in recent years. However, the ability of these programs to support low-income and first-generation learners to enter the workforce is mixed because the procedures and policies under which they were created were not developed or are not completely aligned with the goal of supporting learners to enter their regional workforce. As a result, significant resources are expended for learners to earn credentials that may or may not have regional labor-market value.
This project will allow Workcred, HCC, and TSC to unite key stakeholders, including colleges, employers, and learners, to align credential pathways with regional workforce demands through activities including conducting employer focus groups, seeking commitments from employers to recognize credentials of value, developing tools for outreach and education of learners about the value of credentials and iC+C/D pathways, and addressing relevant institutional policies and practices to better align pathways. Workcred will also develop an innovative playbook to share knowledge gained from the grant with other colleges.
"We are thrilled to collaborate with HCC and TSC to bring to life vital initiatives that address inequities within the workforce development system, and we're grateful to Greater Texas Foundation for their support of our mission," said Roy Swift, Workcred executive director. "There is a tremendous need to understand the policies and processes that lead to more equitable outcomes for all learners, and this program will support these outcomes while preparing individuals to enter careers with great potential for stable employment and better wages."
"Helping students earn credentials of value is the core focus of Greater Texas Foundation's mission," said Sue McMillin, president and CEO of Greater Texas Foundation. "We are excited to support this partnership and look forward to seeing the impact it will have on student success and strengthening the regional workforce."
"As the destination for regional workforce training, Texas Southmost College is relentless in pursuing opportunities to enhance our students' marketability upon graduation," TSC president Jesús Roberto Rodríguez said. "This initiative with Workcred will help us strengthen the alignment between industry certifications offered at TSC and the needs of local employers, ultimately connecting more graduates with high-wage, high-demand careers."
"We are pleased to be part of this collaborative work and be able to continue to expand HCC's vision to embed credentials of high value into degree programs," affirms Dr. Madeline Burillo-Hopkins, vice chancellor workforce instruction and president, HCC Southwest, Houston Community College System. "For over eight years we have made a centerpiece of HCC's workforce pathways the alignment of industry credentials of high value that would provide additional validation of skills and competencies employers are seeking in their talent acquisition processes. We are grateful to Greater Texas Foundation for supporting this important work which also aligns with the new THECB strategic plan for higher education, and we are beyond excited to be partnering with Workcred and TSC on this very important work."
Did You Know?
C/D pathways, which involve embedding industry credentials into degree programs, is a common practice at community colleges, as these pathways are aligned with both student goals and industry needs. Furthermore, they better position students in their field and help to build a pipeline of prepared workers for employers.
To that end, as C/D pathways continue to be developed, Workcred strives to place more emphasis on effective pathway development and implementation, as well as the use of metrics to guide continuous improvement and ensure the pathways are increasing learner retention and degree completion, and leading to living wage employment.
Learn more about how C/D pathways have the potential to benefit all learners as a broadly applicable, scalable approach to aligning degrees in any academic discipline with industry-relevant competencies, as explained in Workcred's editorial, Increasing Value Through Certification and Degree Pathways, published in The evolllution.
See also Certification-Degree Pathways: Aligning Undergraduate Curriculum to Industry Credentials and Professions.
Formed in 2014 as an affiliate of the American National Standards Institute, Workcred's mission is to strengthen workforce quality by improving the credentialing system, ensuring its ongoing relevance, and preparing employers, workers, educators, and governments to use it effectively. Learn more about it on the Workcred site. To better understand and navigate the credentialing system, visit Workcred's Publications and Events page and view the video, An Introduction to Workcred.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations.
The Institute represents and serves the diverse interests of more than 270,000 companies and organizations and 30 million professionals worldwide. ANSI is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). For more information, visit www.ansi.org.
Greater Texas Foundation is a private foundation based in Bryan, Texas that supports efforts to ensure all Texas students are prepared for, have access to, persist in, and complete a postsecondary education. Since its 2001 inception, the foundation has approved more than $115 million in grants to support Texas students. For more information, visit www.greatertexasfoundation.org.
Houston Community College is an open-admission, public institution of higher education offering a high-quality, affordable education for academic advancement, workforce training, career development, and lifelong learning to prepare individuals in our diverse communities for life and work in a global and technological society. For more information, visit www.hccs.edu.
Originally established in 1926, Texas Southmost College currently offers the first two years toward a bachelor's degree, along with career and technical education leading to certificates and associate degrees, college preparatory studies to prepare students for college-level work, workforce training, and continuing education. Recently selected as a Bright Spot by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, TSC offers over 50 programs of study leading to an associate degree or certificate. For more information, visit www.tsc.edu.
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SOURCE Workcred | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/workcred-improve-effectiveness-industry-certification-certificatedegree-pathways-through-greater-texas-foundation-grant/ | 2022-08-17T13:52:07Z |
DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Young Women's Resource Center (YWRC) has been awarded a $10,000 sponsorship from Iowa Total Care to support general operations and programming to benefit local girls and young women ages 10 – 24.
"Iowa Total Care recognizes the important work YWRC does in advocating and supporting girls and young women in the Des Moines area," said Mitch Wasden, Plan President & CEO, Iowa Total Care.
The YWRC provides three core programs: Counseling, Empowerment, and Young Moms. Through these programs, participants are able to grow in self-confidence, build self-esteem, learn about healthy relationships, gain reproductive health knowledge, receive individual support, develop resiliency, and strengthen coping skills.
Counseling offers participants a safe, inclusive, empowering space to process traumas and navigate everyday challenges. The Empowerment Team provides in-school and on-site groups year-round that increase youths' sense of self and create a strong, positive social network of peers. In addition to group programming, Young Moms participants receive support through individualized services, including assistance to secure safe housing, partner with inclusive healthcare providers, complete high school, pursue higher education, and work with doulas during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
In addition to counseling, programming, and individual support, the YWRC also provides personal hygiene items, snacks and meals, take-home food supplies, diapers, baby formula, school supplies, menstrual products, winter coats and boots, and more. Larger youth events such as Back to School Bash and Empowerment Workshop expand the YWRC's reach so that more local youth can benefit from services.
Kari Zimmerman, Executive Director of the YWRC shared how important this sponsorship is: "With this generous sponsorship from Iowa Total Care, the YWRC will be able to continue to respond to the everchanging needs of girls and young women right here in our community, providing them with the support, resources, peer-to-peer connections, and trusted adults they need."
ABOUT IOWA TOTAL CARE
Iowa Total Care provides Medicaid healthcare coverage to eligible individuals in Iowa. Established in 2019, Iowa Total Care exists to improve the health of its members through focused, compassionate, and coordinated care. Iowa Total Care is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier lives. For more information about Iowa Total Care, visit www.iowatotalcare.com.
ABOUT YOUNG WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER
The Young Women's Resource Center is a non-profit organization that supports, educates, and advocates for girls and young women* ages 10-24. The YWRC offers small groups and individual support focused on building self-esteem and healthy relationships, as well as understanding reproductive health. Approximately 1,000 girls and young women are served each year. Young Moms participants receive additional support focused on healthy pregnancy/childbirth and parenting/life skills. The YWRC meets participants where they are and assists them with discovering their abilities and pursuing their goals. Learn more at www.ywrc.org. *We define 'girls and young women' as any persons who have been socialized and/or identify as female; trans and nonbinary individuals included.
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SOURCE Iowa Total Care | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/young-womens-resource-center-receives-10000-iowa-total-care/ | 2022-08-17T13:52:14Z |
Updated August 17, 2022 at 8:45 AM ET
Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney is laying out her future political plans, including a possible run against Donald Trump in 2024, after conceding defeat in the primary election for her House seat. Her loss on Tuesday followed unyielding criticism since the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol of the former president and his efforts to subvert the 2020 election.
"This primary election is over, but now the real work begins," Cheney said in her concession speech Tuesday night, noting that she had called opponent Harriet Hageman to congratulate her.
Cheney acknowledged in a Wednesday interview on NBC's Today she was "thinking" about running for president in 2024.
For her 2022 House race, Cheney raised $14 million, a record for any primary in Wyoming's history, and she spent about half of it. The vast majority of donations came from out of state, and she has built up a network she could tap into in the future. Cheney plans to transform her campaign operation into a political action committee called The Great Task, according to a filing with the Federal Election Commission.
"In coming weeks, Liz will be launching an organization to educate the American people about the ongoing threat to our Republic, and to mobilize a unified effort to oppose any Donald Trump campaign for president," said Cheney spokesman Jeremy Adler, as first reported by Politico.
In the interview on Wednesday, she called Trump a "grave threat" and said, "I think that defeating him is going to require a broad and united front of Democrats, Republicans and independents, and that's what I intend to be part of."
Cheney didn't say whether she would run as a Republican or an independent, but said the GOP is "in very bad shape" and said it "could take several election cycles" to return it to its principles. But she said it was important for the country that the Republican Party return to its roots, instead of being focused on Trump.
It was an expected outcome for Cheney, who went from party star and heir to a conservative dynasty to a political outcast — marked by the moment she chose to break with the former president following his role in fomenting a mob to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Cheney addressed supporters on Tuesday night in Jackson Hole, near her home, repeating her vow to do whatever she can to stop Trump from returning to the White House and warning against candidates for other offices willing to ignore the will of voters.
"Our nation is barreling once again toward crisis, lawlessness and violence," Cheney said. "No American should support election deniers for any position of genuine responsibility."
Hageman argued that Cheney was out of step with the state.
"By our vote today, Wyoming has put the elites on notice: We are no longer going to tolerate representatives who don't represent us," Hageman said in her victory speech.
Hageman, an attorney endorsed by Trump who once was a Cheney supporter, took a vast lead over the incumbent. In a state that gave Donald Trump his biggest victory in 2020, Hageman is on a glide path to win the seat outright against Democratic opponent Lynnette GreyBull in November.
When Liz Cheney chose to run for reelection to her House seat in 2020 instead of making a bid for an open Senate seat, some Republicans speculated she was charting a path to become the first female Republican speaker of the House.
Cheney's allies assert she could have easily won reelection if she had done what the vast majority of her GOP colleagues in Congress have done — stood in lock step with Trump. Instead, Cheney made the race entirely about her decision to stand up to the former president.
The Trump base is king in GOP primaries
Roughly 70% of Wyoming voted for Trump and Cheney's repudiation of him became the red line for so many GOP voters who enthusiastically backed her not long ago.
Her final campaign ad zeroed in on her argument that Trump's lie about the 2020 election being stolen is "insidious" and damaging to democracy.
Mary Martin, chair of the Teton County Republican Party in Wyoming, supported Cheney in the past, but says Cheney's interaction with voters changed following her sharp break with the former president.
"I have heard personally from folks who were really staunch supporters of Liz Cheney, and contributed lots of money to her in the past, that she's insulted them," Martin said, adding that her rhetoric labeling her constituents, "Just her personal approach to this has alienated and turned people off. She is not the only person in Wyoming that supports the Constitution."
Republican strategist Alice Stewart says Trump's influence was the ultimate factor in this race.
"Without a doubt, again, when we're talking about a primary, the base is king, and right now, the base of the Republican Party supports Donald Trump," she said.
Martin says the race became personal for many: "In Wyoming, trust and loyalty are very high traits. And she has betrayed trust and she's betrayed loyalty. And she has taken a stance that is perceived by some to be arrogant and not acceptable. And that I mean, it comes down to just, in my opinion, January 6th."
Hageman proudly touted Trump's support. He traveled to Casper in May hold a rally for her and labelled Cheney a "RINO" — Republican In Name Only.
While Hageman criss-crossed the state, Cheney held mostly small private campaign events and her aides say security concerns forced a more limited public schedule. Cheney has had a U.S. Capitol Police detail for more than a year due to a steady stream of threats.
Cheney was one of just 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. With her loss, only two in that group — David Valadao of California and Dan Newhouse of Washington State — will remain on the ballot in November. Three others lost primaries and four chose to retire.
Cheney's future: Jan. 6 investigation and 2024
Cheney's public statements hinted for some time she's focused on the long game. In June, she delivered a blunt broadside at fellow House GOP members still loyal to Trump at the primetime kick off of the public hearings of the House panel probing Jan, 6.
"Tonight, I say this to my Republican colleagues who are defending the indefensible: There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain," Cheney said.
The panel is still interviewing witnesses and planning more public hearings this fall. It plans to release a report by the end of the year, and Cheney's position as vice chair gives her a national platform for several more months.
Even before the primary vote, Cheney was showing some signs of positioning for a possible 2024 presidential campaign. It's unclear if she would remain a Republican, or consider an independent bid.
In June, she traveled to the Ronald Reagan Library — a stop for GOP presidential hopefuls — and made a speech many viewed as the blueprint for a national campaign. It was a mix of her regular denunciations of Trump, mixed with her political biography. It outlined conservative principles similar to those espoused by her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney: limited government, lower taxes and a strong national defense.
Cheney also made gender a part of her critique about the current leaders in power. She emphasized that many of the key witnesses in the Jan. 6 probe were young women like Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, whose dramatic testimony marked a major moment in the investigation. She told the audience at the library, "These days, for the most part, men are running the world, and it is really not going all that well."
Stewart believes, even after she no longer has a seat in Congress, there is a place for Cheney in the GOP. She thinks she could be part of an effort to expand the message beyond the Trump base.
"If she continues to get out there and engage in GOP circles and functions, and continue to remind people about her voting record as a Republican, and about her support for freedom and policies that unite the Republican Party as opposed to grievances that divide us, there's a path for her to stay very relevant in the Republican Party," Stewart said.
Martin agreed that Cheney's Wyoming primary, and her role in the party going forward, would be one that people would talk about for a while: "I know that she's going to go down in history, but I think we are going to have to wait a while to see what the story is of what is said about Liz Cheney in history."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-16/liz-cheney-is-considering-a-presidential-run-to-stop-trump-after-losing-her-house-seat | 2022-08-17T13:58:54Z |
For the first time in 20 years, the Internal Revenue Service is increasing the deduction limit for the amount of money teachers spend on school supplies, the agency has announced.
Teachers will now be able to deduct up to $300 of out-of-pocket classroom expenses in 2022, up from the $250 that has been set since the incentive first started in 2002.
"The limit will rise in $50 increments in future years based on inflation adjustments," the IRS said.
Eligible educators include K-12 teachers, principals, teachers' aides or counselors who spend more than 900 hours at the school during the academic year. Public and private school educators can benefit.
Eligible educators who are married to another eligible educator and file a joint tax return can deduct up to $600 in qualifying expenses, but still no more than $300 per spouse. Educators who do standard deductions also qualify.
The limit is still $250 for those who are filing their 2021 taxes.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-17/for-the-first-time-in-20-years-teachers-can-deduct-more-for-school-supplies | 2022-08-17T13:59:00Z |
LARAMIE – It was almost as if his brain didn’t know how to go on living.
That’s how Tracy Young described her struggle to understand what led her son, Alexandre Cole Young, to end his life in 2013.
Alexandre was a soccer player for the University of Wyoming. After four concussions, the part of his brain that made sense out of his life was no longer available to him, she said.
And after eight years since their son choose to kill himself, Young said she and her husband still haven’t gotten “over it,” as some friends and colleagues have suggested.
“You never get over it,” she said. “It’s still with us every single day.”
Preventing that pain, and the drive to head off both suicide and its impact on families, is something Young confronts on a regular basis through the Coalition of the Prevention of Suicide and Substance Abuse (CoPSSA) in Albany County.
Young is contracted by the county as a community engagement consultant. A lot of that work involves bringing together the various agencies and individuals that can help prevent suicides, she said.
Those connections are important because there is no one way to prevent suicides, Young said. Identifying who is at risk, providing health care resources and knowing how to intervene are part of the picture. But the solutions are more broad-reaching than the scope of most individual agencies.
CPSSA is a collaborative effort between Albany County, law enforcement agencies, the University of Wyoming, Cathedral Home, Ivinson Memorial Hospital and other clinics, counseling centers, nonprofit agencies and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
COVID-19 interrupted CoPSSA’s meetings and the coordination between the agencies, Young said, adding she’s happy to see the group revitalized.
The need is in the numbers, Young said.
“Suicide is a very serious public health concern everywhere,” she said. “In Wyoming, we tend to be in the top five annually.”
According to COPSSA, the rate of suicide deaths per 100,000 in Wyoming is 26.9, nearly double the national average of 14 per 100,000.
What this means is that every two days, someone dies from suicide in Wyoming, according to the Wyoming Department of Health. Men are four times more likely to die by suicide than women; firearms are used 65% of the time.
Societal influences
Some reasons for the high numbers may also be rooted in culture and societal taboos.
Lou Farley, who coordinates the Survivors of Suicide support group in Laramie, said Wyoming’s tradition of individualism may prevent some people from getting help for mental health issues.
He said he has not heard of a proven way of preventing suicides. Also the spiritual director for Hospice of Laramie, Farley has 30 years of experience providing counseling services in Laramie.
“We have not arrived at an effective antidote to suicide culture,” he said.
That culture is exactly what Young and the others in CoPSSA are working to change. Young describes the process as a way of looking at suicide prevention on multiple fronts, in large and small ways.
Young compared the task to another cultural change that started with a group of parents who wanted to prevent their high school students from drinking and driving.
“The best example is MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving),” she said. “It took 30 years to change the DUI rates in the country. But from 2003-13, underage drinking was reduced by 30% in Albany County.”
MADD worked for small changes: updates to underage drinking laws, stiffer penalties for drunk driving and safe ride home programs, Young said.
“These are all small things, hard to measure,” she said. Their efforts also changed the culture from “everybody does it” to “it is not acceptable.”
Locally, Young said people can look at everyday decisions that can make death by suicide easier for someone considering it. Examples, she said, are the use of gun locks or designing multi-story buildings that are hard to exit from the roof or higher floors.
Initiatives include reducing the use of alcohol and other drugs, Young said, because “alcohol is a factor is so many suicides.
The Laramie Boomerang is a newspaper and website affiliated with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. For more recent Boomerang stories on suicide prevention, see Saturday’s newspaper, which is also available online via WyomingNews.com/LaramieBoomerang. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/changes-in-a-community-can-help-reduce-suicides/article_6875cb33-1a7e-5207-bd07-b0ad245753dd.html | 2022-08-17T14:07:36Z |
LARAMIE – Dominic Blake’s first tattoo was a small black semicolon tucked behind his right ear.
It is not only OK to ask about it, he hopes everyone will.
A semicolon tattoo is a message about mental health and suicide prevention. It started in 2013 when Project Semicolon was launched as a way to encourage discussion about depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
The message of Project Semicolon (projectsemicolon.com) is “your story isn’t over.”
“The project, and its ‘;’ symbol, have become very well-known over the past few years,” Blake said. “I got this in 2014, before I knew about the project. My boss had one. He got it for mental health.
“It’s a semicolon because it is something that someone would use when they could have ended the sentence but chose not to.”
In written English, a semicolon separates two parts of a sentence that could each stand on its own; it indicates a stop but not a full stop.
Blake said he wanted to call attention to issues such as anxiety and depression, and reduce social barriers in talking about mental illness.
Blake talked about his small semicolon while waiting for an appointment at Vintage Electric Tattoo in Laramie.
The shop’s owner, Chad Elsasser, said the semicolon is becoming a regular tattoo request.
“They are placed in a different area and for a variety of reasons,” Elsasser said. “Maybe they’ve lost somebody or they were going through it. It’s a reminder — wherever their heart goes.”
There are a “thousand different directions” on the style of the tattoo, Elsasser said. Some, like Blake’s, are plain. Others have names, dates or other decorations added.
While a universal symbol, how it’s done is personal, he said. “It’s more about the meaning than the tattoo.”
For some, getting the tattoo is a way to put something at rest; it allows them to move on but they keep a reminder of a friend or how a suicide or attempt impacted their lives, he said.
Because it lasts, Elsasser said the tattoo never diminishes or takes away the power of what his clients are doing.
For Blake, the symbol speaks to a broad range of mental health issues. He said speaking about mental illness can be a very difficult for many people.
“I used to be a bartender. People would see (the tattoo) and ask about it,” Blake said. “Mental health has such a stigma. It opens up a conversation about it.”
Blake now works as a firefighter in Cheyenne.
“People don’t want to talk about it, but it’s important to normalize it, to de-stigmatize it,” he said about issues of suicide and mental health.
Elsasser said when clients get their semicolon tattoos, some will choose to explain their decisions. There's no pressure for an explanation, he said.
Blake said the concept of safe space is what he hopes he communicates with the semicolon, that space is not just within four walls, but within conversation.
The semicolon, he said, means he offers a safe space to talk. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/semicolon-tattoo-opens-mental-illness-conversations/article_9598a812-bfab-56c2-aca1-b00110dacbb8.html | 2022-08-17T14:07:42Z |
Cars have crashed into homeowner’s property about 23 times, he says
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KPIX) - A man in San Jose, California, said his property next to a busy intersection has been hit by vehicles nearly two dozen times over the years.
A lot of people would have moved by now, but the homeowner has held strong for decades.
He said he’s spent thousands of dollars fortifying his property and repairing damages as it occurs.
“Well, the house shakes. First you think it’s an earthquake. You hear the rumbling,” Ray Minter said.
Located across the street from a freeway exit, Minter’s home is an easy target for careless drivers.
He said that his property has been hit about 23 times.
He said since the early 1970s, he’s seen cars miss the street and crash in his front yard.
“Every time we’ve been hit, we’ve been home,” Minter said.
Recently, it’s drivers failing to complete a right turn.
The cost adds up with him having to repair the damage and find new ways to keep cars from his house.
“Four times where they’ve gone as far as the kitchen,” he said.
Thankfully insurance has covered most of the mess created by driver after driver.
Minter installed steel poles on his property line, even if the city advises against it.
He also has a brick wall with cement poles and heavy rocks to try to keep future cars from coming to the house.
”If I don’t have them here, they’re surely going to kill one of us,” Minter said.
Though his house may be closest to the exit, there are also other houses along this street that also have to worry about somebody crashing into their property.
Over the years, Minter has tried talking to city and state agencies, asking his elected officials for help, and looked into getting a lawyer.
He said he thinks preventing cars from attempting a wide turn coming off the freeway would be one way to reduce the crashes and avoid someone getting hurt.
“Take out the center lane. No right-hand turns from the center,” Minter said.
The City of San Jose said it has requested grant money for a project to make changes to the intersection and add a median for this corridor of the street.
If approved, the money to start the project would arrive next summer.
For now, Minter isn’t losing any sleep because he’s used to the crashes.
“I mean, where else can I go? I mean, my neighborhood, nobody bothers you,” he said.
But he’s prepared to wake up to another one in his front yard on any given day.
“You don’t really think about it. I mean, you listen for car wrecks,” Minter said.
Copyright 2022 KPIX via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/17/cars-have-crashed-into-homeowners-property-about-23-times-he-says/ | 2022-08-17T14:35:57Z |
Person dies of electrocution; body found tangled in wires at substation
CLEVELAND (WOIO/Gray News) - The Cleveland EMS division confirmed a person was fatally electrocuted early Wednesday morning at a power substation on the city’s East side.
First responders were initially dispatched to the substation at approximately 2:55 a.m., according to EMS officials.
The individual was pronounced dead at the scene.
Crews spent several hours working to shut power off and extricate the body from where the male was was discovered tangled in the live wires approximately 30 feet in the air.
According to Cleveland police, early information indicates that the male, who was in possession of a bolt cutter when he was found, climbed up the side of the substation and encountered a live power source.
Copyright 2022 WOIO via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/17/person-dies-electrocution-body-found-tangled-wires-substation/ | 2022-08-17T14:36:04Z |
Restaurant owner wrangles alligator in Texas
MISSOURI CITY, Texas (KTRK) - A Texas man is a restaurant owner, a Jiu-Jitsu champion and now, he can add alligator wrangler to his resume.
Mike Trinh says he was getting the kids ready for their first day of school when a 5- to 6-foot alligator showed up on his driveway.
His daughter first alerted him about the wild animal, but he didn’t believe her.
“I walked in front. ‘Man! There’s an alligator! She ain’t lying!’” Trinh said.
He says he threw towels over its eyes to calm it down. It was something he had seen before on television.
“I’ve been watching Steve Irwin since I was a kid, you know what I mean, so it’s one of my heroes,” he said.
Next, he relied on what he has learned as a Jiu-Jitsu champion and MMA fighter.
“I took a sledgehammer. I didn’t hit it. I pinned the mouth. Once I got closer, I put my knee on it, and kind of like Jiu-Jitsu, it’s called knee in the belly. I had a knee on it, and spun to the back, sitting on the back and I just grabbed the mouth. Once you grab the mouth, that’s it,” Trinh said.
Instead of waiting on the game warden or a nuisance control hunter, Trinh used his own truck to release the alligator into Oyster Creek.
No animals or people were hurt in the process.
Trinh says he may hang the photos of his alligator wrangling experience on the walls of his restaurant.
The game warden says alligators less than 10 to 12 feet long that are not on public property are not considered emergency situations.
Copyright 2022 KTRK via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/17/restaurant-owner-wrangles-alligator-texas/ | 2022-08-17T14:36:10Z |
Schools face teacher shortage
(CNN) - Students are heading back to school – but not all teachers are.
Some U.S. schools can’t hire enough qualified teachers to fully staff their classrooms.
So many educators have left the profession, it’s causing shortages in some districts.
The education secretary said communities need to take action now.
“We’re at the doorstep of a crisis,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said. “If we don’t take it seriously, we’re going to be facing what we were experienced during the omicron spread.”
Some Florida schools are so desperate, the governor wants to recruit military veterans and others who don’t have education degrees.
“We also want to include first responders who have their bachelor’s degree to become teachers,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
And it’s not just teachers. Bus drivers can be hard to hire these days.
In a district near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one principal and athletic director are applying for commercial drivers licenses to help.
“We had to find creative ways to get our athletic teams to events,” said Jeff Behrens, athletic director for Pewaukee Schools.
So why are educators leaving the field? Some experts cite COVID-19, and the federal government has taken action to try to make schools safer.
“We are sending out tens of millions of tests to school districts and Congress … allocated tens of billions of dollars to schools for improving ventilation,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, White House COVID response coordinator.
Others cite diminished control as lesson content becomes politicized.
Education is also a demanding field with comparatively low pay.
Last year, public school teachers made almost 24% less than other college graduates, the Economic Policy Institute said.
“Teachers have to get other jobs. They’re driving Uber on the weekends,” Cardona said.
Some educators said they also feel a lack of respect and appreciation.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/17/schools-face-teacher-shortage/ | 2022-08-17T14:36:17Z |
UK man in court over threat to ‘kill queen’ with crossbow
LONDON (AP) — A man who got into the grounds of Windsor Castle armed with a crossbow told police he wanted to “kill the queen,” prosecutors said during a court hearing Wednesday.
Jaswant Singh Chail, 20, is charged under the Treason Act with intending to “injure the person of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, or to alarm her Majesty.” He has also been charged with threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon.
Chail was arrested at the royal residence west of London on Christmas Day 2021, when the queen was staying there.
Prosecutors allege the former supermarket worker from Southampton in southern England was wearing a hood and a mask and carrying a loaded crossbow with the safety catch off.
They say he told a police officer “I am here to kill the Queen,” before he was handcuffed and arrested.
Prosecutor Kathryn Selby said the Supersonic X-Bow weapon allegedly carried by Chail had the potential to cause “serious or fatal injuries.”
Prosecution lawyers maintain Chail wanted revenge on the British establishment for its treatment of Indians and sent a video to about 20 people claiming he was going to assassinate the queen.
To get close to the royal family, he had tried to join the British Army and the Ministry of Defense Police, prosecutors allege.
Chail appeared remotely for Wednesday’s hearing at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court from Broadmoor, a high-security psychiatric hospital.
He was not asked to enter a plea, and was ordered detained until his next court appearance on Sept. 14.
The allegations against him are not being treated as a “terrorism offense,” Selby said.
Charges under the Treason Act of 1842 are rare. In 1981, Marcus Sarjeant was charged under the act after firing blank shots at the queen as she rode on horseback in the Trooping the Color parade in London. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison.
The last person to be convicted under the separate and more serious Treason Act of 1351 was William Joyce, a World War II Nazi propaganda broadcaster known as Lord Haw-Haw. He was hanged for high treason in 1946.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/17/uk-man-court-over-threat-kill-queen-with-crossbow/ | 2022-08-17T14:36:23Z |
Construction worker dies after being critically injured on the job, authorities say
Published: Aug. 17, 2022 at 10:31 AM EDT|Updated: 14 minutes ago
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ala. (WSFA/Gray News) – A construction worker in Alabama died after being critically injured while on the job.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, 23-year-old Jose A. Prado was working near a roadway intersection.
The sheriff’s office said a crew was pulling cable across the road when a vehicle ran over the cable, snagging it.
Prado was pinned between the cable and a work truck.
He was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.
Copyright 2022 WSFA via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/17/construction-worker-dies-after-being-critically-injured-job-authorities-say/ | 2022-08-17T14:46:11Z |
Person dies of electrocution; body found tangled in wires at substation
CLEVELAND (WOIO/Gray News) - The Cleveland EMS division confirmed a person was fatally electrocuted early Wednesday morning at a power substation on the city’s East side.
First responders were initially dispatched to the substation at approximately 2:55 a.m., according to EMS officials.
The individual was pronounced dead at the scene.
Crews spent several hours working to shut power off and extricate the body from where the male was was discovered tangled in the live wires approximately 30 feet in the air.
According to Cleveland police, early information indicates that the male, who was in possession of a bolt cutter when he was found, climbed up the side of the substation and encountered a live power source.
Copyright 2022 WOIO via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/17/person-dies-electrocution-body-found-tangled-wires-substation/ | 2022-08-17T14:46:19Z |
Restaurant owner wrangles alligator in Texas
MISSOURI CITY, Texas (KTRK) - A Texas man is a restaurant owner, a Jiu-Jitsu champion and now, he can add alligator wrangler to his resume.
Mike Trinh says he was getting the kids ready for their first day of school when a 5- to 6-foot alligator showed up on his driveway.
His daughter first alerted him about the wild animal, but he didn’t believe her.
“I walked in front. ‘Man! There’s an alligator! She ain’t lying!’” Trinh said.
He says he threw towels over its eyes to calm it down. It was something he had seen before on television.
“I’ve been watching Steve Irwin since I was a kid, you know what I mean, so it’s one of my heroes,” he said.
Next, he relied on what he has learned as a Jiu-Jitsu champion and MMA fighter.
“I took a sledgehammer. I didn’t hit it. I pinned the mouth. Once I got closer, I put my knee on it, and kind of like Jiu-Jitsu, it’s called knee in the belly. I had a knee on it, and spun to the back, sitting on the back and I just grabbed the mouth. Once you grab the mouth, that’s it,” Trinh said.
Instead of waiting on the game warden or a nuisance control hunter, Trinh used his own truck to release the alligator into Oyster Creek.
No animals or people were hurt in the process.
Trinh says he may hang the photos of his alligator wrangling experience on the walls of his restaurant.
The game warden says alligators less than 10 to 12 feet long that are not on public property are not considered emergency situations.
Copyright 2022 KTRK via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/17/restaurant-owner-wrangles-alligator-texas/ | 2022-08-17T14:46:26Z |
UK man in court over threat to ‘kill queen’ with crossbow
LONDON (AP) — A man who got into the grounds of Windsor Castle armed with a crossbow told police he wanted to “kill the queen,” prosecutors said during a court hearing Wednesday.
Jaswant Singh Chail, 20, is charged under the Treason Act with intending to “injure the person of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, or to alarm her Majesty.” He has also been charged with threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon.
Chail was arrested at the royal residence west of London on Christmas Day 2021, when the queen was staying there.
Prosecutors allege the former supermarket worker from Southampton in southern England was wearing a hood and a mask and carrying a loaded crossbow with the safety catch off.
They say he told a police officer “I am here to kill the Queen,” before he was handcuffed and arrested.
Prosecutor Kathryn Selby said the Supersonic X-Bow weapon allegedly carried by Chail had the potential to cause “serious or fatal injuries.”
Prosecution lawyers maintain Chail wanted revenge on the British establishment for its treatment of Indians and sent a video to about 20 people claiming he was going to assassinate the queen.
To get close to the royal family, he had tried to join the British Army and the Ministry of Defense Police, prosecutors allege.
Chail appeared remotely for Wednesday’s hearing at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court from Broadmoor, a high-security psychiatric hospital.
He was not asked to enter a plea, and was ordered detained until his next court appearance on Sept. 14.
The allegations against him are not being treated as a “terrorism offense,” Selby said.
Charges under the Treason Act of 1842 are rare. In 1981, Marcus Sarjeant was charged under the act after firing blank shots at the queen as she rode on horseback in the Trooping the Color parade in London. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison.
The last person to be convicted under the separate and more serious Treason Act of 1351 was William Joyce, a World War II Nazi propaganda broadcaster known as Lord Haw-Haw. He was hanged for high treason in 1946.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/17/uk-man-court-over-threat-kill-queen-with-crossbow/ | 2022-08-17T14:46:32Z |
Pence tells GOP to stop lashing out at FBI over Trump search
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday urged fellow Republicans to stop lashing out at the FBI over the search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home last week.
Speaking in New Hampshire, Pence was asked what went through his mind when he heard about the FBI search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home as part of a federal investigation into Trump took classified records from the White House.
Pence, who like Trump is considering a 2024 presidential bid, said he has been troubled by what he called the politicization of the FBI. He also said the Justice Department and Attorney General Merrick Garland should be more transparent about what led authorities to conduct the search.
But Trump’s former vice president also had a message for the GOP.
“I also want to remind my fellow Republicans, we can hold the attorney general accountable for the decision he made without attacking the rank-and-file law enforcement personnel at the FBI,” he said at the Politics & Eggs event at St. Anselm College.
“The Republican Party is the party of law and order,” Pence continued. “Our party stands with the men and women who stand on the thin blue line at the federal and state and local level, and these attacks on the FBI must stop. Calls to defund the FBI are just as wrong as calls to defund the police.”
Law enforcement officials across the country have warned about an increase in threats and the potential for violent attacks on federal agents or buildings by Trump supporters who believe the FBI went too far in investigating the former president.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/17/pence-tells-gop-stop-lashing-out-fbi-over-trump-search/ | 2022-08-17T15:12:19Z |
Toddler died after being hit by Amazon van, police say
Published: Aug. 17, 2022 at 11:00 AM EDT|Updated: 12 minutes ago
IRVINE, Calif. (Gray News) – A toddler was killed after being hit by an Amazon van, according to police.
The Irvine Police Department said preliminary investigations show a 23-month-old girl was hit in a parking lot just after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
First responders quickly arrived at the scene, but the child had already died, according to police.
The cause of the collision is under investigation, but authorities do not believe drugs or alcohol were a factor.
Police said the Amazon van was being driven by a third-party contractor.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/17/toddler-died-after-being-hit-by-amazon-van-police-say/ | 2022-08-17T15:12:23Z |
Youth mental health is in crisis. Are schools doing enough?
CECILIA, Ky. (AP) — For fourth-grader Leah Rainey, the school day now begins with what her teacher calls an “emotional check-in.”
“It’s great to see you. How are you feeling?” chirps a cheery voice on her laptop screen. It asks her to click an emoji matching her state of mind: Happy. Sad. Worried. Angry. Frustrated. Calm. Silly. Tired.
Depending on the answer, Leah, 9, gets advice from a cartoon avatar on managing her mood and a few more questions: Have you eaten breakfast? Are you hurt or sick? Is everything OK at home? Is someone at school being unkind? Today, Leah chooses “silly,” but says she struggled with sadness during online learning.
At Lakewood Elementary School, all 420 students will start their days the same way this year. The rural Kentucky school is one of thousands across the country using the technology to screen students’ state of mind and alert teachers to anyone struggling.
In some ways, this year’s back-to-school season will restore a degree of pre-pandemic normalcy: Most districts have lifted mask mandates, dropped COVID vaccine requirements and ended rules on social distancing and quarantines.
But many of the pandemic’s longer-lasting impacts remain a troubling reality for schools. Among them: the harmful effects of isolation and remote learning on children’s emotional well-being.
Student mental health reached crisis levels last year, and the pressure on schools to figure out solutions has never been greater. Districts across the country are using federal pandemic money to hire more mental health specialists, rolling out new coping tools and expanding curriculum that prioritizes emotional health.
Still, some parents don’t believe schools should be involved in mental health at all. So-called social-emotional learning, or SEL, has become the latest political flashpoint, with conservatives saying schools use it to promote progressive ideas about race, gender and sexuality, or that a focus on well-being takes attention from academics.
But at schools like Lakewood, educators say helping students manage emotions and stress will benefit them in the classroom and throughout life.
The school, in a farming community an hour’s drive south of Louisville, has used federal money to create “take-a-break” corners in each classroom. Students can rifle through a “self-regulation kit” with tips on deep breathing, squishy stress balls and acupuncture rings, said school counselor Shelly Kerr. The school plans to build a “Reset Room” this fall, part of an emerging national trend to create campus sanctuaries where students can go to decompress and speak with a counselor.
The online student screener Lakewood uses, called Closegap, helps teachers identify shy, quiet kids who might need to talk and would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Closegap founder Rachel Miller launched the online platform in 2019 with a few schools and saw interest explode after the pandemic hit. This year, she said, more than 3,600 U.S schools will be using the technology, which has free and premium versions.
“We are finally beginning to recognize that school is more than just teaching the kids reading, writing and arithmetic,” said Dan Domenech, executive director of the national School Superintendents Association. Just as free lunch programs are based on the idea that a hungry child can’t learn, more and more schools are embracing the idea that a cluttered or troubled mind cannot focus on schoolwork, he said.
The pandemic magnified the fragility of mental health among American youth, who had been experiencing a rise in depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts for years, experts say. A recent report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 44% of high school students said they experienced " persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness " during the pandemic, with girls and LGBTQ youth reporting the highest levels of poor mental health and suicide attempts.
If a silver lining exists, the pandemic raised awareness of the crisis and helped de-stigmatize talking about mental health, while also bringing attention to schools’ shortcomings in handling it. President Joe Biden’s administration recently announced over $500 million to expand mental health services in the country’s schools, adding to federal and state money that has poured into schools to cope with pandemic-era needs.
Still, many are skeptical schools’ responses are enough.
“All of these opportunities and resources are temporary,” said junior Claire Chi, who attends State College Area High School in central Pennsylvania. Last year, her school added emergency counseling and therapy dogs, among other supports, but most of that help lasted a day or two, Chi said. And that’s “not really a mental health investment for students.” This year, the school says it has added more counselors and plans mental health training for all 10th graders.
Some critics, including many conservative parents, don’t want to see mental health support in schools in the first place. Asra Nomani, a mom from Fairfax County, Virginia, says schools are using the mental health crisis as a “Trojan horse” to introduce liberal ideas about sexual and racial identity. She also worries schools lack the expertise to deal with student mental illness.
“Social-emotional well-being has become an excuse to intervene in the lives of children in the most intimate of ways that are both dangerous and irresponsible,” Nomani said, “because they’re in the hands of people who are not trained professionals.”
Despite the unprecedented funding, schools are having trouble hiring counselors, mirroring the shortages in other American industries.
Goshen Junior High School in northwest Indiana has been struggling to fill a vacancy of a counselor who left last year, when student anxiety and other behavioral problems were “off the charts,” said Jan Desmarais-Morse, one of two counselors left at the school, with caseloads of 500 students each.
“One person trying to meet the needs of 500 students?” said Desmarais-Morse said. “It’s impossible.”
The American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of 250 students per school counselor, which few states come close to meeting.
For the 2020-21 school year only two states — New Hampshire and Vermont — achieved that goal, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Some states face staggeringly high ratios: Arizona averages one counselor to 716 students; in Michigan, 1 to 638; and in Minnesota, 1 to 592.
Also in Indiana, the School City of Hammond won a grant to hire clinical therapists at all 17 of its schools but has not been able to fill most of the new jobs, said Superintendent Scott Miller. “Schools are stealing from other schools. There just aren’t enough workers to go around.” And despite more funding, school salaries can’t compete with private counseling practices, which are also overwhelmed and trying to hire more staff.
Another challenge for schools: identifying struggling children before they’re in emotional crisis. At the Houston Independent School District, one of the largest in the country with 277 schools and nearly 200,000 students, students are asked each morning to hold up fingers showing how they feel. One finger means a child is hurting deeply; five means she or he feels great.
“It’s identifying your brush fires early in the day,” said Sean Ricks, the district’s senior manager of crisis intervention.
Houston teachers now give mindfulness lessons, with ocean sounds played via YouTube, and a Chihuahua named Luci and a cockapoo named Omi have joined the district’s crisis team.
Grant-funding helped Houston build relaxation rooms, known as Thinkeries, at 10 schools last year, costing about $5,000 each. District data show campuses with Thinkeries, which sport bean bag chairs and warmly colored walls, saw a 62% decrease in calls to a crisis line last year, Ricks said. The district is building more this year.
But the rooms themselves are not a panacea. For the calming rooms to work, schools must teach students to recognize they feel angry or frustrated. Then they can use the space to decompress before their emotions erupt, said Kevin Dahill-Fuchel, executive director of Counseling in Schools, a nonprofit that helps schools bolster mental health services.
In the last days of summer vacation, a “Well Space” at University High School in Irvine, California, was getting finishing touches from an artist who painted a mural of a giant moon over mountains. Potted succulents, jute rugs, Buddha-like statuettes and a hanging egg chair brought an un-school-like feel. When school starts this week, the room is to be staffed full-time with a counselor or mental health specialist.
The goal is to normalize the idea of asking for help and give students a place to reset. “If they can re-center and refocus,” Blakely said, “they can then, after a short break, go back into their classrooms and be prepared for deeper learning.”
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For more back-to-school coverage, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/back-to-school
___
Gecker reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; Arleigh Rodgers in Indianapolis and Brooke Schultz in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, also contributed reporting. Data reporter Kavish Harjai contributed from Los Angeles.
Rodgers, Schultz and Harjai are corps members for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/17/youth-mental-health-is-crisis-are-schools-doing-enough/ | 2022-08-17T15:12:26Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Inc. revealed that Cygnus Education is No. 257 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy's most dynamic segment—its independent businesses. Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.
"We are honored to once again be recognized by Inc. as one of the fastest-growing companies in the US," said Marcelo Parravicini, CEO. "To be included in this prestigious ranking, and to come in at the top 10%, is again a testament to the work of our incredibly hard-working and talented team – a team that continues to serve our higher education partners by delivering 100% compliant and student-centric marketing, enrollment management and technology solutions."
The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Among the top 500, the average median three-year revenue growth rate soared to 2,144 percent. Together, those companies added more than 68,394 jobs over the past three years.
"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today."
Cygnus Education, one of the fastest growing technology, performance marketing and enrollment management solutions providers dedicated to the higher education vertical, is a leader in providing student-centric, analytics-based strategies that achieve challenging marketing objectives, driving scalable and sustainable enrollment growth. Learn more at CygnusEducation.com.
Peg Catalfamo
609-647-4647
mcatalfamo@cygnuseducation.com
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SOURCE Cygnus Education | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/2nd-time-cygnus-education-appears-inc-5000-ranking-no-257-with-three-year-revenue-growth-2090-percent/ | 2022-08-17T15:12:41Z |
43% of Retirees Say Age Could Be a Barrier to Finding a New Job
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- More than three in 10 U.S. retirees say they would be motivated to rejoin the workforce if inflation continued to eat into their savings, according to the latest American Staffing Association Workforce Monitor® online survey conducted by The Harris Poll.
In addition to inflation, the role of Social Security insurance was also top of mind for many retirees, with 25% saying they'd be motivated to rejoin the workforce if Social Security no longer covered their expenses. Thirty-nine percent of retirees cited Social Security as their main source of income, while 33% cited retirement plans such as 401(k) accounts and pensions.
Overall, 14% of current retirees stated they are open to or actively looking for work. However, the study found that 43% of retirees said their age could be a barrier to getting a new job. In addition, 41% of retirees would look for a job if they could have a flexible work schedule, and 35% would do so if they could work remote full-time.
"At a time when more retirees need additional income and employers need their expertise and experience, older workers continue to face hiring barriers," said Richard Wahlquist, president and chief executive officer at the American Staffing Association. "Employers that take steps to embrace flexibility and diversity across their entire workforces will be more productive and have higher levels of employee engagement."
The news comes at a time when there are nearly two job openings per unemployed person in the U.S., according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by The Harris Poll on behalf of ASA June 2–6, 2022, among a total of 2,027 U.S. adults age 18 and older of whom 459 were retired and not employed. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data are accurate to within + 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Megan Sweeney at 703-253-1151.
The American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA and its state affiliates advance the interests of the industry across all sectors through advocacy, research, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. For more information about ASA, visit americanstaffing.net.
The Harris Poll is one of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., tracking public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963. It is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. They work with clients in three primary areas: building 21st century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Their mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. Learn more by visiting www.harrispoll.com and follow Harris Poll on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Contact
Megan Sweeney
American Staffing Association
703-253-1151
msweeney@americanstaffing.net
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SOURCE American Staffing Association | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/31-retirees-say-continued-inflation-would-motivate-them-rejoin-workforce/ | 2022-08-17T15:12:47Z |
TORONTO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Info-Tech Research Group, one of the world's leading IT research and advisory firms, has published a new research-backed blueprint, titled Deliver an IT Strategy Engagement. This data-backed blueprint is designed for Info-Tech partners and industry consultants to help small businesses align their IT vision with the business vision to achieve business goals.
According to Info-Tech's research, 44% of small- and medium-sized businesses have an IT strategy process they feel is ineffective. Business leaders often think IT does not invest in areas that support the organization or its goals, creating a misalignment with IT. In small organizations, the research indicated that it is the technology leaders who often feel out of alignment with the business, believing that they could be doing much more but are relegated to simply keeping the lights on.
"Most small business leaders see IT as nothing more than a trusted operator used for maintaining computers, the network, data backup, and recovery," says Brijesh Kumar, research specialist at Info-Tech Research Group. "When technology leaders are in full alignment with business goals, they become true business partners, participating in business growth and innovation, especially in increasingly digitally enabled businesses."
Info-Tech's findings further indicate that IT leaders in small businesses react to IT problems and take on business challenges much like an order taker, thereby failing to proactively participate as a business partner or innovator.
"IT's contributions to a business' goals are not always clear and rarely recognized," explains Kumar. "IT projects do not get priority due to a lack of budget or skills and get put on hold because of sudden changes to business requirements."
To create a business-aligned IT strategy, Info-Tech's blueprint outlines how IT leaders must understand what the business does and what it will need. Only then can a carefully thought-out, strategic, and tactical plan be created for execution.
Deliver an IT Strategy Engagement can be downloaded and viewed now. The blueprint also contains workshops and other diagnostic programs that can provide valuable input to an informed strategic plan.
To learn more about Info-Tech Research Group and to download the latest research, visit www.infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For 25 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.
Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and over 200 IT and Industry analysts through the ITRG Media Insiders Program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.
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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/44-small-medium-businesses-say-they-have-an-ineffective-it-strategy-according-info-tech-research-group/ | 2022-08-17T15:12:54Z |
ArcBest LTL carrier offering hiring bonuses for full-time city drivers, forklift operators
FORT SMITH, Ark., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ArcBest® (Nasdaq: ARCB), a leader in supply chain logistics, announced today that its less-than-truckload carrier, ABF Freight®, will host a two-day hiring event in the Minneapolis area on August 23 and 24, seeking candidates for full-time city drivers, participants in the company's driver development program, and full- and part-time forklift operators. The company is offering signing bonuses of $15,000 for full-time city drivers, $5,000 for full-time forklift operators and driver development program participants, and $1,000 signing bonuses for part-time forklift operators, available on the first day of employment.
"There's never been a better time to join the ABF team," said Seth Runser, ABF Freight president. "Our people are at the heart of our success, and our values-driven culture has created an environment where people can grow and thrive — it's more than just a job, it's a career. If you live in the Minneapolis area and you're looking to join a company with excellent benefits, frequent home time and ongoing training opportunities, we hope to see you at the event."
On August 23 and August 24, ABF will host interested candidates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at its service center, located at 2950 Lone Oak Circle, Eagan, MN, 55121. No appointment is necessary. Driver candidates should be at least 21 years old.
At the event, candidates can expect:
- Assistance with job applications
- Interviews with ABF recruiters
- Potential job offers made that day
ABF Freight is one of the nation's largest and most trusted less-than-truckload carriers, operating in both short- and long-haul markets across North America. ABF employs more than 10,000 people across over 240 locations, and over 53 percent of ABF drivers have been employed with the company for more than 10 years.
Full-time ABF drivers and dock workers receive Teamster Union Scale wages, 100 percent company-paid health insurance for employees and their families, personal days, sick leave and paid holidays, and they are covered by a pension plan at no expense to the employee.
For additional information on current job openings across the country or to apply for a job, please visit jobs.abf.com.
ABOUT ARCBEST
ArcBest® (Nasdaq: ARCB) is a multibillion-dollar integrated logistics company that helps keep the global supply chain moving. Founded in 1923 and now with over 15,000 employees across more than 250 campuses and service centers, the company is a logistics powerhouse, fueled by the simple notion of finding a way to get the job done. Through innovative thinking, agility and trust, ArcBest leverages its full suite of shipping and logistics solutions to meet customers' critical needs, each and every day. For more information, visit arcb.com.
Media Contact: Autumnn Mahar
Email: amahar@arcb.com
Phone: 479-494-8221
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SOURCE ArcBest | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/abf-freight-host-minneapolis-area-hiring-event/ | 2022-08-17T15:13:05Z |
- Electrified Acura ARX-06 prototype sports car features hybrid power unit
- Exterior design work led by Acura Design Studio
- Sixth-generation Acura prototype to compete in 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar GTP Championship, starting with the Rolex 24 at Daytona
MONTEREY, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Acura Motorsports today released the first official images and details for the all-new, electrified Acura ARX-06 prototype sports car, which will make its competition debut next January in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The latest in a line of successful Acura endurance racing prototypes, the ARX-06 features Acura-specific bodywork and aerodynamics based around an all-new ORECA LMDh chassis which utilizes an electrified hybrid power unit featuring an equally new, bespoke twin-turbocharged 2.4 liter V6 internal combustion engine designed, developed and manufactured by Honda Performance Development [HPD] the racing arm for Acura Motorsports in North America.
The public unveiling will take place Friday, August 19, at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, in Carmel, California.
"Precision Crafted Performance is at the heart of everything Acura does," said Jon Ikeda, vice president and Acura brand officer. "If you're a performance brand, you have to go racing. It's that simple. Both the existing ARX-05 prototype and our production-based NSX GT3 have proven to be race- and championship-winning designs on tracks all across North America. Now, with the introduction of the new, electrified Acura ARX-06, we look forward to facing off against other premium automotive brands from around the world – and continuing our winning ways."
"HPD has 30 years of race-winning and championship-winning history," said David Salters, HPD President and Technical Director. "Not only in endurance sports car racing, but in developing championship-winning Honda Civic-based racing cars, the powertrain for the Baja Ridgeline race truck, Formula Regional Americas and Formula 4 powertrains with the Type R engine, and of course the Indy 500 and the IndyCar Series.
"We are HPD. We race, we develop our engineers and technology through racing. We have an amazing and unique racing legacy, both past and present. It's what we do as Acura's – and Honda's – North American racing organization. We are looking forward to the challenge of racing Porsche, BMW and GM in IMSA's pinnacle GTP championship. We are very cognizant this is a big step for us. We have a lot to learn, but that is why race."
"The new Acura ARX-06 has elements of our Indy-winning technology, Honda Formula One technology and Rolex 24-winning technology in it. This was achieved using HPD's world-class simulation, design, development and manufacturing technologies; that our own engineers have developed, tested and validated. We are very proud of that. Now the challenge and hard work really starts, including grueling 24 hour simulations, and learning how to maximize all aspects of performance."
Powertrain
The Acura AR24e power unit was developed by Honda Performance Development to bring electrification to the Precision Crafted Performance of Acura's endurance sports car racing program. The complete hybrid power unit is based around the Acura AR24e internal combustion engine (ICE), an all-new bespoke 2.4-lliter, twin-turbocharged direct injection racing V6 that was designed, developed and manufactured by HPD.
At 2.4 liters, this is the smallest displacement ICE conceived by HPD for endurance racing, yet still meets the performance target of 500 kW as measured at the rear axle by torque meters. It features a 90-degree V-angle to lower its center of gravity and reduce polar moment of inertia. In addition, the combustion chamber has been designed to run on sustainable low-carbon fuel.
The hybrid power plant includes an IMSA-ACO specified electric Bosch Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and Williams Advanced Engineering battery pack. The MGU is contained in a common transmission casing and gearbox internals provided by Xtrac. The battery, within the chassis survival cell, is built by Williams Advanced Engineering. The HPD Electrical Group completed both hardware and software development to best match the spec MGU and battery pack to the Acura ICE.
"We've taken the challenge presented by this new rule package from IMSA and the ACO, and developed what we believe is a very competitive solution," said Pierre Descamps, who led HPD's powertrain design team for the ARX-06. "We've gone in a new direction for HPD in the design of the ICE. It is still a V6, which of course for Honda is well-known, but we have incorporated several new elements which we believe will make best use of the electric MGU and battery pack. Our new engine will rev to the maximum 10,000 rpm set by the rules, so it also makes a wonderful sound!"
Chassis
Both IMSA in North America and FIA World Endurance Championship rules require manufacturers to use one of four approved prototype chassis, fitted with IMSA and ACO-homologated, manufacturer-designed and branded bodywork and engines.
In the case of the ARX-06, HPD and Acura have elected to continue their successful relationship with ORECA [ORganisation Exploitation Compétition Automobiles]. Since moving into chassis design and construction in 2007, ORECA has produced a series of winning sports prototypes, including the Acura ARX-05.
"We're extremely pleased with our relationship with ORECA," said Mark Crawford, HPD Large Project Leader for the ARX-06. They've been great partners throughout both our ARX-05 DPi program and now with the ARX-06. The GTP [Grand Touring Prototype] project has brought with it a new set of challenges and, while you certainly can see the Acura 'family resemblance' to our previous collaboration, the ARX-06 is an entirely new design."
HPD's Vehicle Performance Group worked closely with the ORECA design team and engineers to simulate chassis layout geometries and lap time optimization studies. They also "coded" the new car into HPD's static and dynamic Driver in the Loop simulators to begin development of the car's vehicle dynamics and vehicle dynamic control systems.
Critical to the projects was a clean sheet hybrid powertrain control system, brake-by-wire and vehicle dynamics control system – all written in-house at HPD. This control system architecture was implemented on a Formula 1-spec ECU hardware platform. HPD also utilizes its custom, in-house developed ultra-high speed data logging system.
Salters praised the ORECA-HPD relationship during the development process. "I would like to note the stand-out collaboration between the ORECA and HPD engineering groups. Working with the extremely talented ORECA engineers on chassis and aero design and powertrain installation has been a real pleasure. Both groups have put their heart and soul into this intense project and sophisticated race car," he said.
Bodywork and Aerodynamics
Exterior styling of the Acura ARX-06 was led by the Acura Design Studio in Los Angeles, California, in conjunction with HPD and chassis-supplier ORECA, one of the chassis suppliers approved for prototype competition in both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the World Endurance Championship.
HPD's aerodynamics engineers and in-house CFD aero engineers worked with the Acura styling studio and chassis builder ORECA to help develop the styling and maximize the aerodynamic performance envelope of the ARX-06, while keeping it within the homologation boxes as specified by IMSA and the FIA.
"The process we used in creating the exterior design for the Acura ARX-06 is exactly the same as how we create a new Acura passenger vehicle," said Dave Marek, Acura Executive Creative Director.
"As part of our Precision Crafted Performance Brand Promise, we treated it as an integral part of our lineup. The same world-class stylists that lead Acura production car design created initial sketches, then pared those down to several potential designs. Next, we created a scale model, did aero and wind tunnel model testing, and brought HPD and our partner teams in for their feedback," Marek recounted. "The design continued to be refined throughout the testing and evaluation process, until we came up with a final treatment that met our performance goals while maintaining all-important Acura styling cues. It's been an exciting process."
Driver and team input was also sought throughout the design process. One effective change was a revision to the placement of the rearview mirrors – a seemingly minor adjustment that in fact has a large effect on vehicle aerodynamics. Using VR headsets, the drivers were able to sit in the car virtually and recommend a much lower placement for the side mirrors, improving both the aero efficiency of the ARX-06 and visibility for the drivers.
Partner Teams
Acura will continue its partnerships with the proven, race- and championship-winning Wayne Taylor Racing and Meyer Shank Racing organizations to campaign a pair of hybrid-powered Acura ARX-06 entries in the featured GTP category of the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, North America's premier endurance sports car racing championship.
In addition to sweeping all three major IMSA prototype titles in both 2019 and 2020 – for Manufacturers', Drivers' and Teams – Acura has won the Rolex 24 at Daytona in both 2021 and '22, including a 1-2 finish for the manufacturer at this year's twice-around-the-clock endurance classic. Additional podiums at Sebring, Watkins Glen and the Petit Le Mans in 2021 resulted in a sweep of IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup titles for Acura and partner Wayne Taylor Racing.
This season, Wayne Taylor Racing has recorded four wins and a second to rank lead the IMSA Drivers' and Teams' championships heading into the final race of the season at Road Atlanta in October. Meanwhile, Meyer Shank Racing started off 2022 with a second consecutive Acura victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and five second-place finishes in eight races to rank second in both the drivers' and teams' standings.
These results have unofficially clinched the 2022 IMSA Manufacturers' Championship for Acura; while the Drivers' and Teams' titles will go to either Meyer Shank Racing or Wayne Taylor Racing.
Acura ARX-06 Development Timeline
"We started with the rule book, a challenging spirit and an open mind," said Salters. "Then our engineers got to work, utilizing all of the vehicle performance, powertrain simulation and development tools we have at HPD to address the critical areas for performance, including weight, power, packaging, center of gravity, etc." Here is a timeline of the development process for the Acura ARX-06:
- The HPD Vehicle Performance Group used simulation tools to determine the overall vehicle envelope and key requirements that would need to be met to maximize performance. Efficiency, power, weight distribution, aero balance, center of gravity, tire energy, hybrid management and chassis stiffness were some of the parameters included in determining the core architecture guidelines.
- This process determined the key architecture for the Internal Combustion Engine [ICE], displacement, fuel injection and turbocharging strategy, and the intercooler layout.
- The Design Group then schemed different concepts and weight aspects over a three-week evaluation period.
- The Acura ARX-06 concept was then finalized in a single meeting of HPD technical leaders, who then signed off on the project.
- Prototype parts were designed and produced for testing in HPD's in-house single cylinder research engine. These parts were manufactured within 4 weeks.
- The HPD Development Group tested these concepts, analyzing performance, efficiency, combustion characteristics, heat rejection etc. Results were analyzed and compared to the initial simulations – the simulation results were spot-on and validated.
- Simulation work also was carried out for a novel intercooler packaging and anti-tune induction concept to reach the performance targets while allowing the downsized engine to meet the 500Kw rules target without damaging combustion "events".
- Next, parts were designed and built for the V6 internal combustion engine, including machined from billet sump, block, front cover and ancillary parts made using in-house agile manufacturing techniques. Five months after the initial simulation and concept study, the Acura V6 ICE ran on the dyno and met all performance targets.
- The complete control system – written jointly by HPD's Electrical Control Systems group, Vehicle Performance and Performance Application groups – was prototyped in HPD's Hardware-In-the-Loop and Driver-In-the-Loop simulator systems.
- The control system was then taken to the state-of-the art transient dyno facility at HPD where engineers tested the complete hybrid powertrain – ICE-Hybrid MGU-Gearbox. This system simulates key aspects of the cars during track running and the durability cycle, including running complete "laps" of a circuit, including 12- and 24-hour endurance runs with shifting, acceleration and braking all reproduced on the dyno.
- The Aerodynamic Group at HPD made use of its in-house CFD capability during the design phase to optimize aerodynamic and cooling performance. The group worked closely with ORECA on the overall aerodynamic concept of the ARX-06. This has been recently validated in a full-scale wind tunnel test. HPD aerodynamists, using advanced simulation techniques, are working with IMSA and the ACO to ensure the safety of the racing car, and that it satisfies stringent flip-over criteria for high speed prototype sportscars.
Acura ARX-06 Details
- Will compete in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
- Carbon fiber monocoque chassis manufactured by ORECA
- Acura-specific bodywork, aerodynamics and cooling systems
- Double wishbone, pushrod suspension front and rear, Penske dampers
- FIA-specified roll cage structure, carbon fiber driver's seat shell, six-point safety harness, fresh air intake system, on-board fire suppression system
- Bespoke Acura 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged, direct injected V6 internal combustion engine designed and manufactured by HPD, mated to IMSA and ACO-specified electric Bosch Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and Williams Advanced Engineering battery pack
- IMSA and ACO-specified XTrac six-speed, sequential, paddle-operated transmission, rear-wheel drive
- Chassis dimensions: 5100mm length x 2000mm width x 1060mm height (above reference plane); 3148mm wheelbase
About Acura Acura is a leading automotive nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance – a commitment to expressive styling, high-performance and innovative engineering, all built on a foundation of quality and reliability. The Acura lineup currently features five distinctive models – the next-gen Integra sport compact, TLX sport sedan, the RDX and MDX sport-utility vehicles, and the electrified NSX supercar, along with high-performance Type S variants. All Acura vehicles sold in America are made in the U.S., using domestic and globally sourced parts.
About Honda Performance Development
Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD), has a rich heritage creating, manufacturing, and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers since 1993. From pinnacle racing in INDYCAR and IMSA Sports Cars to commercial racing programs, HPD powers the dreams of professional and amateur racers from age 4 to 40+. HPD is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and leads all of Honda and Acura's high-performance racing programs in North America. HPD specializes in the design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. HPD offers parts and race support to Honda and Acura amateur and professional motorsports racers, and is continually expanding its palette of racing programs that make Honda racing products available to all racing styles, from karting and Quarter Midgets to the highest levels of pro racing.
For More Information Consumer information is available at http://www.acura.com. To join the Acura community on Facebook, visit http://www.facebook.com/acura. Additional media information including pricing, features and high-resolution photography is available at acuranews.com/channels/acura-automobiles.
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SOURCE Acura Motorsports | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/acura-unveils-all-new-electrified-arx-06-race-car/ | 2022-08-17T15:13:11Z |
Agreement expands Agency Revolution's website capabilities and cements their position as the premier end-to-end marketing solution for insurance agencies and agents
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Agency Revolution, the leading provider of digital marketing solutions for the insurance industry, today announced its acquisition of Forge3, the highest-rated, fastest-growing insurance agency website platform.
"Forge3 has a tremendous reputation in the industry with a 9.9 out of 10 post-launch client rating and five stars on Google," said Scott White, CEO of Agency Revolution. "They've pioneered the use of interactive website designs to provide insurance agencies with the tools to get found, close business, and deliver a seamless client experience. Forge3's products and team will remain intact as we combine what they are loved for, high converting insurance websites, with the power of Agency Revolution's robust marketing automation and workflow capabilities. The result of this partnership is a one-stop solution that meets all the marketing needs for insurance agents."
With this agreement, Agency Revolution will combine its best-in-class marketing automation platform, Fuse™, with Forge3's innovative ActiveAgency website platform creating an unparalleled marketing system for the insurance industry. Agency Revolution, known as the pioneer in marketing automation for insurance agents in both personal and commercial lines of business, enables personalized, multi-touch, cross-channel communications at pivotal points in the customer journey.
"We're incredibly proud of the website platform we've built and the reputation we've established over many years working with well over 1,200 independent insurance agencies," said Jeff Teschke, founder and CEO of Forge3. "Looking forward, we're excited to combine our proven, best-in-class website platform with Agency Revolution's leading marketing, content, and communication solution. It's a powerful combination unlike anything else in the industry."
For more information on this news and to register for a webinar with the Agency Revolution leadership team discussing how this exciting news affects existing Forge3 and Agency Revolution clients, click here.
Agency Revolution, an FMG company, has served the insurance industry for more than 25 years with a marketing platform to help independent insurance agents and brokers automate their communications, build deeper, more meaningful client relationships, and grow their agencies and brokerages. From professionally designed websites backed by an award-winning content library to a collection of marketing, communication, and relationship-building tools, Agency Revolution empowers the modern insurance agency with the services and solutions to advance how they do business and grow. Learn more.
Founded in 2004, Forge3's ActiveAgency website platform is now used by well over 1,200 independent insurance agencies across the country. Forge3 has pioneered the industry's most innovative and powerful sales tools, including Clickable Coverage, Hello Producer, Power Panels, and more, while also earning an incredible reputation within the industry. They are known for their human-powered, people-first approach combined with innovative technology and solutions. ActiveAgency is the highest-rated, fastest-growing insurance agency website platform in the industry, focused on enabling agencies to look amazing, get found, sell more, and service better.
Agency Revolution Press Contacts
Katherine Verducci
1903 PR
kverducci@1903pr.com
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SOURCE Agency Revolution | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/agency-revolution-acquires-forge3-become-undisputed-leader-marketing-solutions-insurance-industry/ | 2022-08-17T15:13:18Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Agora, A rapidly growing vertical SaaS company, which develops a real estate investment management platform and financial products that optimize back-office operations and exceed investors' expectations for real estate firms, today announced it had raised a $20M Series A round led by New York-based global venture capital and private equity firm Insight Partners, with participation from Aleph.
The funding round will be used to further enhance Agora's real-estate investment management platform, continue to expand the industry-specific financial products offered to customers, and to capture a larger market share.
Agora is a fintech/SaaS company that helps real estate firms raise and preserve more capital by automating their back-office processes, increasing their investors' satisfaction, and providing them with advanced tools to optimize operational efficiency. Agora has helped real estate firms across the globe with a focus on North America. In total, these firms have over 14,000 investors, 23,000 investments, and $40B in Assets Under Management. With easy-to-use, customizable software that makes investment management simple, scalable, and highly secure, Agora automates everything from fundraising to investment management, to reporting, to payments, to secure document sharing and tax operations.
"As real estate firms grow, they raise more capital and close more deals. But that also means they have more assets to manage and investors to look after" said Bar Mor, Agora's Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "We use automation to help real estate firms function more professionally while building trust and credibility with their investors. Ultimately, we give real estate firms the ability to fundraise faster, save time on back office tasks, create timely, professional tax outcomes, and transfer funds to and from investors with a click of a button." Said Mor. "This funding round will help us expand our services, accelerate our growth, and expand our reach so we can continue to help our customers to grow faster, with optimal operational efficiency, and significant time savings on tedious, manual tasks.
"Real estate is the largest asset class in the world, yet the market still relies on legacy software providers. Agora is the first next-gen SaaS platform with the depth and breadth to meet the unique needs of developers and investors alike," said Jon Rosenbaum, Managing Director at Insight Partners. "Agora's exceptional team and ambitious vision have made it a clear standout in the industry, and we look forward to partnering with them as they continue to scale."
Agora has reached significant milestones this year, including the launch of an advanced, powerful, and beautifully designed investor portal, and a new cutting-edge fundraising tool that transforms the way firms offer new investment opportunities to their investors. Agora plans to continue and improve the software, while expanding on additional financial products and services, creating a one-stop shop and a more comprehensive solution for its customers, including a fully automated payments processing service for both US domestic and cross-border payments operations, a solution that automates tax fillings and preparations at scale, tools for compliance management and more.
About Agora
Agora is a fintech/SaaS company based in NYC and Tel Aviv, that develops an advanced real estate investment management platform. Agora helps real estate firms raise and preserve more capital by automating their back-office processes, increasing their investors' satisfaction, and providing them with advanced tools to optimize operational efficiency. Founded in 2019, Agora has raised $29M to date from Insight Partners, Aleph and more, with the goal to redefine the way real estate operators and investors manage their portfolios. Agora supplements its core software with financial products, including tax operations, payments, and compliance directly through the platform. Agora is trusted by some of today's leading real estate firms, including Livwrk, Gaia Capital, Open Path Investments, Electra, AmTrust.. The Agora leadership team has a vast history both in technology, product development, and real estate.
About Insight Partners
Insight Partners is a global software investor partnering with high-growth technology, software, and Internet startup and ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. As of February 24, 2022, the closing of the firm's recent fundraise, Fund XII, brings Insight Partners regulatory assets under management to over $90B. Insight Partners has invested in more than 600 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO. Headquartered in New York City, Insight has offices in London, Tel Aviv, and Palo Alto. Insight's mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with practical, hands-on software expertise to foster long-term success. Insight Partners meets great software leaders where they are in their growth journey, from their first investment to IPO. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on Twitter @insightpartners.
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SOURCE Agora | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/agora-raises-20m-series-led-by-insight-partners-accelerate-growth-real-estate-firms-with-digital-transformation/ | 2022-08-17T15:13:24Z |
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AiViva Biopharma, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company has received patent US 11,400,089 on August 2, 2022. This patent is a method of use patent for sGC stimulator and multikinase inhibitors to prevent and/or treat fibrosis (thickening or scarring of tissue) associated with reproductive or digestive tract diseases. Fibrosis is involved in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases and/or disorders affecting the reproductive and digestive tracts in humans.
This patent adds to AiViva's 22 approved patents in the US, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, and Taiwan. To date, AiViva has filed over 63 patent applications worldwide.
"With these patents and proof of concept studies, it continues to secure our corporate position and development strategy to develop focal therapies for many diseases of significant unmet medical needs." said Diane Tang-Liu, PhD, CEO, President & Co-Founder.
About AiViva Biopharma
Please follow us at www.aiviva.com AiViva is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2015, with headquarters in Newport Beach, CA. AiViva is developing new therapeutics using innovative approaches, with proprietary technologies, including JELTM to address high unmet medical needs through focal therapies that target diseases of neovascularization, abnormal cell proliferation, and fibrosis.
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SOURCE AiViva Biopharma | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/aiviva-biopharma-receives-new-patent/ | 2022-08-17T15:13:31Z |
Legacy skincare brand introduces new facial cleansers for the first time in 130-year history
with launch of three new hydration-packed products and empowering brand platform
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Albolene, the legacy skincare brand and consumer staple across generations, today announced the launch of its new line of hydration-packed facial cleansers. Designed to leave skin soft and nourished, without irritation or dryness, the new products include: a Hydrating Cleansing Balm, a Hydrating Daily Cleanser and a Hydrating Micellar Milk Cleanser.
For over a century, Albolene has delivered proven effectiveness in gently cleansing and moisturizing skin, serving as a skincare staple from bathroom medicine cabinets to professional stage makeup kits. Fans spanning generations, gender, makeup use, skin types and lifestyles have turned to Albolene as the go-to in their skincare routine, a trusted sidekick no matter how they use their skin as a canvas for self-expression. Now the brand continues building on its legacy through a new line of cleansers developed with simple, clean formulas, and empowers new generations of skincare enthusiasts with the perfect foundation to showcase their boldness everyday.
With formulas to cleanse the skin at every level, Albolene's hydrating cleansing line includes:
- Hydrating Cleansing Balm: A makeup remover that offers the same efficacy found in Albolene's original Moisturizing Cleanser in a solid balm texture that gently dissolves all traces of makeup. With a formula enhanced with shea butter and jojoba oil to improve softness and glow, the Hydrating Cleansing Balm is able to melt away makeup without the need for harsh scrubbing. Size: 6 oz.; MSRP: $14.99
- Hydrating Daily Cleanser: With a moisture-rich and gentle cleansing formula, the Hydrating Daily Cleanser delivers superior cleansing and maximum hydration even for sensitive skin. It blends five unique moisturizers including hyaluronic acid to maximize hydration and softness, while locking in moisture even as makeup is removed. Size: 10 oz.; MSRP: $14.99
- Hydrating Micellar Milk Cleanser: The Micellar Cleansing Milk utilizes micelle technology to effortlessly capture and lift away dirt, oil and makeup without stripping the skin of its natural oils. Featuring a moisture-rich formula with soothing aloe combined with high levels of Vitamin C found in coconut milk, the Hydrating Micellar Milk Cleanser helps maintain skin elasticity and flexibility, and prevents wrinkles, sagging skin and age spots. Size: 10 oz.; MSRP: $14.99
Developed with dermatologists, all three products are 100% paraben, fragrance and soap-free, and are non-comedogenic, non-drying and gentle on sensitive skin.
"While the skincare category has made significant strides to transform how our culture defines what's beautiful, there remains opportunity to push for more inclusive and holistic definitions," said Tyler Smith, Albolene Marketing Lead for Bridges Consumer Healthcare. "Albolene continues to champion all forms of self-expression. No matter if you feel that your most beautiful self is bare-faced fresh out of a shower or in a full face of makeup ready for a night out, we want to empower our consumers to live confidently in their skin and use our cleansers as a nourishing foundation to show off their authentic selves."
A recent clinical study comparing the Hydrating Micellar Milk Cleanser to top makeup removal competitors demonstrated that Albolene's new formula ranked #1 in overall makeup removal, was up to 3x more effective at removing waterproof makeup and offered over 4x better moisturization. A UV makeup and advanced facial imaging technology evaluation also showed that Albolene's Hydrating Micellar Milk Cleanser delivered superior makeup removing capabilities compared to the #1 micellar makeup remover brand. A series of blind consumer home tests revealed that nine out of ten consumers preferred the Albolene Micellar Milk Cleanser over their current makeup removal product, with nine out of ten consumers also stating it's perfect for even sensitive skin1.
Joining Albolene's 'OG' Moisturizing Cleanser — which is also undergoing a packaging rebrand next year — the new line of hydrating cleansers is now available for purchase on Amazon and will be in select retailers later this fall.
For more information and to find where to buy Albolene products, please visit www.albolene.com and share how you use Albolene to create your #FoundationForBoldness by tagging @albolenebeauty.
1 Data on file
About Albolene
Founded in 1885, Albolene is a classic skincare brand and favorite across generations. Leveraging over 130 years of skincare expertise, Albolene lives its commitment to being Always for Everyone by prioritizing simple, effective ingredients that support holistic skin health for all textures of skin, ages, types of makeup use and lifestyles.
Media Contact:
Henry Malone
hmalone@a-g.com
484-844-7544
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SOURCE Albolene | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/albolene-introduces-new-line-hydrating-facial-cleansers-providing-skincare-fans-with-ultimate-foundationforboldness/ | 2022-08-17T15:13:37Z |
Explosive growth, performance, and hiring for Tysons/Vienna, Virginia Government Contractor
VIENNA, Va., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Omega Integration, LLC has been named to the Inc. 5000 for the fifth year in a row. The prestigious list charts the aggressive growth of private companies throughout the United States. Alpha Omega's impressive arc has seen the company evolve in the federal contracting market from a yearly revenue of $500,000 to over $81 million in six years; growing over 37%+ in the past year.
CEO Gautam Ijoor proudly stated, "Alpha Omega's mission is to enable the US government to be the best in the world. Making the Inc. 5000 list five years in a row demonstrates our growth but just as important, it is a testament to the quality work done every day by our Alpha Omega staff and teams. We are an organization that does more than what our customers need us to do; we excel beyond expectations."
Alpha Omega is driving growth, earnings, and scale by pursuing disruptive innovation and customer service. One of the fastest-growing IT integrators in the market, Alpha Omega continues to evolve as an organization and in capabilities. It also upholds a culture of excellence for staff members and is a guardian of national infrastructure and defense. Customers include DoD, USDA, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Commerce including NOAA and Census Bureau.
Alpha Omega has been named a Virginia Best Places to Work eight years in a row, to the Washington Post Best Places to Work, and fastest-growing company awards from Maryland Tech Council, Washington Technology, and Virginia Business Magazine. With recruiting partnerships developing between universities and Alpha Omega, as well as mentoring programs and a culture of philanthropy and service, Alpha Omega fosters a community of servant leadership and fulfilling career opportunities.
ABOUT ALPHA OMEGA INTEGRATION: Alpha Omega provides high-quality, collaborative IT and business consulting services, with the expertise and capabilities to serve customers. We are committed to quality and continuous process improvement, demonstrated by our Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Maturity Level-5 (ML-5) for Development and Services, as well as ISO/IEC registration for 20000-1:2018, 27001:2013, and 9001:2015. We are also committed to integrating best practices and standardization in the areas of quality, service management, and security into everyday operations. Alpha Omega is a mission-focused, client-centric, results-driven organization. For more information, visit https://alphaomegaintegration.com/
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SOURCE Alpha Omega Integration | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/alpha-omega-integration-llc-makes-inc-5000-5th-year-row/ | 2022-08-17T15:13:44Z |
Leading Senior Care Franchise Follows Year of Double-Digit Sales Growth with New Franchisee Agreements Signed and Continued Focus on Nationwide Expansion
ROSEVILLE, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Always Best Care Senior Services announced today that it has signed new franchise agreements in Seattle, Washington, Orlando, Florida, and Humble, Texas, welcoming new owners to the system and expanding its brand presence in key states. These agreements come as the leading senior care franchise system in the United States continues to capitalize on over 10% sales growth in 2021 and an increased demand for in-home senior care by targeting new markets around the country for expansion.
"The need for in-home senior care is more pressing than ever, with about 10,000 seniors turning 65 every day," said Jake Brown, President & CEO of Always Best Care. "Non-medical in-home care providers had an opportunity to shine during the pandemic, proving their worth to seniors and their adult children who began to view in-home care as a safer, more effective alternative to facilities. In addition, more payers now cover care that keeps seniors in their homes and out of hospitals. Those are just a few of the developments that have converged over the last few years to make our business model very attractive to new owners."
Three new franchise agreements Always Best Care recently signed include:
- Sarah Cave, Seattle, Washington – Covering Seattle Metro
- Rocio and Matias Condigiani, Orlando, Florida – Covering Southeast Orlando
- Marisa Thompson, Humble, Texas – Covering Humble Metro
Franchise opportunities are now available in many new territories with a growing population of senior homeowners. Markets open for development include key cities in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Indiana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Southern California, Oregon and Washington state.
"Our franchisees want to positively impact the lives of seniors in their communities while owning a rewarding business at the same time. Always Best Care's franchise system allows them to build that business without starting from scratch. Our award-winning training and support systems set franchisees up for success," added Brown.
Individuals interested in leveraging Always Best Care's clear strategy and proven track record for delivering affordable, dependable service to seniors in their local areas should contact Sean Hart at rshart@abc-seniors.com, call 916-545-2786 or visit home-care-franchise.alwaysbestcare.com.
Always Best Care is one of the nation's leading providers of non-medical in-home care and assisted living referral services, with skilled home health care in limited markets. The company delivers its services through an international network of more than 225 independently owned and operated franchise territories throughout the United States and Canada. By working with case managers, social workers, discharge planners, doctors, and families, Always Best Care franchise owners provide affordable, comprehensive solutions that can be specifically matched to meet a client's particular physical or social needs.
About Always Best Care
Founded in 1996, Always Best Care Senior Services is based on the belief that having the right people for the right level of care means peace of mind for the client and family. Always Best Care has been assisting seniors with a wide range of conditions and personal needs for over 25 years and currently provides thousands of hours of care every year.
Always Best Care also offers exclusive programs such as Always in Touch, Balance Tracking System and remote patient monitoring. For more information regarding Always Best Care's solutions, visit www.alwaysbestcare.com.
CONTACT:
Nicole Hunnicutt
Fish Consulting
404-558-4108
nhunnicutt@fish-consulting.com
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SOURCE Always Best Care | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/always-best-care-answers-increased-demand-senior-care-with-new-territory-growth-washington-state-texas-florida/ | 2022-08-17T15:13:50Z |
Golden Retriever Saved During Lucky Trip to Toronto
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sometimes, it is just good to be lucky. When Melissa Martin decided to take her Golden Retriever puppy Subaru with her on a trip to the "big city," she had no idea it would save the dog's life. Martin breeds Golden Retrievers at her home in Dobbinton, Ontario, Canada, which is a three-hour drive from Toronto. While delivering one of her new puppies to its forever home, Martin decided to take Subaru along for the ride.
"It was a disaster," Martin said, who has been a dog groomer for 13 years and worked at a veterinary clinic. "I was dropping off a puppy in Toronto, and left Subaru in the front seat of the vehicle. Normally I keep her in the back in a crate with the other dogs, but I wanted the company. When I came back from delivering the puppy, I found that Subaru had dug out a 300-count bag of apricot kernels I keep in the console." Martin eats two to seven kernels a day as a supplement."
While many people enjoy eating apricot kernels, which are the seeds found inside the hard pit, they can be dangerous to pets. The seeds, leaves and stems of the apricot tree contain cyanide. According to the toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline, this toxin inhibits proper function of cytochrome oxidase, an enzyme necessary for cellular oxygen transport, preventing oxygen from being released from red blood cells and being delivered to cells. When ingested in toxic amounts, the clinical signs of vomiting, ataxia, difficulty breathing, panting, bright red gums, arrhythmias, blood pressure changes, seizures, shock and death can be seen. There may also be a bitter almond smell to the breath.
"I vividly remember her and I making eye contact," Martin continued. "I could tell she was looking suspicious. That is when I saw the bag, and I remembered that apricots have traces of cyanide. My first instinct was to drive to the drug store to get some hydrogen peroxide to cause her to bring up what she had eaten, but I quickly realized it was too late for that option. Because of my background working with pets, I know there are certain signs that need immediate medical attention. Subaru went from no signs to her eyes rolling into the back of her head and panting. I've never seen signs progress so quickly."
"We live three hours away from Toronto, and an hour and a half away from our nearest veterinarian," Martin said. "If this had happened at home, she wouldn't have survived. The neurological signs were so fast that I knew she had minutes, not hours. My panic level went from zero to ten instantly, but luckily, we were only 15 minutes away from Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital, one of the best emergency facilities in the area. Because of Covid restrictions, it has been difficult to get your pet in to see the veterinarian, but I called ahead, described her symptoms and told them they needed to see her immediately. It was literally a matter of life and death."
"On the way to the hospital Subaru began to vomit," Martin continued. "I'm driving with one hand, trying to use GPS, and holding her head down with the other so she wouldn't re-ingest any of the chewed kernels. When we got to the hospital, they were ready for us."
"Subaru was lucky that her owner quickly recognized how dangerous her clinical signs were and took immediate action," said Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline. "Due to the number of apricot kernels ingested and severe signs observed there was a true concern for cyanide poisoning." Once at the hospital, the medical team began providing intravenous fluids, supportive care and performed a gastric lavage to help remove any remaining kernels. Because they were returned so quickly after ingestion it reduced further progression of Subaru's clinical signs. In cases of severe cyanide poisoning, death can occur within a matter of minutes. While antidotes are available, they are often not readily available for veterinarians due to the rare occurrence of cyanide poisoning in animals. Varying amounts of cyanide is present in the seeds of Prunus sp. fruit including peaches, apricots, cherries as well as apple seeds. Certain plants also contain cyanide toxins that may be a concern, particularly in grazing animals. In general, for cyanide poisoning to occur, an animal needs to chew open, crush and ingest many cyanide-containing seeds before signs of poisoning would be expected, as just a few seeds would unlikely contain enough cyanide for concern. It is common for animals to ingest the pits/seeds whole, which is unlikely to result in poisoning, but may result in a gastrointestinal foreign body or obstruction concern."
"Subaru has made a full recovery, and I'm so grateful to the hospital team, as well as Pet Poison Helpline," Martin added. "It is important for people to understand when symptoms are critical and who to call."
Pet Poison Helpline created Toxin Tails to educate the veterinary community and pet lovers on the many types of poisoning dangers facing pets, both in and out of the home. All the pets highlighted in Toxin Tails have been successfully treated for the poisoning and fully recovered.
Pet Poison Helpline, your trusted source for toxicology and pet health advice in times of potential emergency, is available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. We are an independent, nationally recognized animal poison control center triple licensed by the Boards of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Pharmacy providing unmatched professional leadership and expertise. Our veterinarians and board-certified toxicologists provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline's fee of $75 per incident includes follow-up consultations for the duration of the case. Based in Minneapolis, Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.
Contact: Dr. Renee Schmid
Pet Poison Helpline
(952) 806-3803
RSchmid@petpoisonhelpline.com
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SOURCE Pet Poison Helpline | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/apricot-snacks-poison-rural-canadian-puppy/ | 2022-08-17T15:13:56Z |
BEACHWOOD, Ohio, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ARC Health, a Thurston Group portfolio company, has announced the acquisition of Southeast Psych, a premier mental health provider group with two locations in Charlotte, NC, and one in Nashville, TN. Formed in 2021, ARC Health is a mental health specialty services organization supporting psychiatry, psychology and therapy providers in multiple locations throughout the country.
"Southeast Psych is one of the most prestigious psychology/therapy groups in the nation," said Vincent Morra, ARC Health CEO. "We're honored and excited to have them join our team of top-tier mental health practices."
"We chose to partner with ARC Health given their commitment to a partnership approach. We consider ourselves to be innovators at Southeast Psych and this partnership allows us to continue running our practice and treating our patients as we always have, but with added support and resources that will help us positively impact the lives of more patients," said Jonathan Feather, Psy. D, a founding partner.
Dr. Feather, Dave Verhaagen, PhD, APBB, and Lauren King, Psy. D, are managing partners of the thriving practice with 52 employees at their three locations. They offer individual and group therapy including aspergers/autism, eating disorders, mental health disorders, and family/parent counseling. Their "sweet spot" is working with teens and young adults, Dr. King said.
The doctor-partner model of ARC Health, pioneered by Thurston Group companies, emphasizes local autonomy on the clinical side combined with the competitive advantage of size on the business side.
ARC Health is expanding rapidly throughout the country, partnering with leading mental health providers in attractive geographies.
ARC Health is a premier group of mental healthcare providers who have come together as partners while maintaining their individual identities. Their forward-thinking and supportive partnership of mental healthcare providers is geared toward increasing accessibility via a collaborative network. The ARC Health business model is pioneering the space with a unified, provider-centric approach that reinforces clinical autonomy while also joining together as equity-owning partners.
Thurston Group is a private equity firm that focuses on building industry-leading companies in the healthcare and related business services sectors. Thurston has an extensive track record of partnering with physicians and building fast-growing healthcare businesses, including ARC Health, Smile Doctors, US Endo Partners, US Oral Surgery Management, South Georgia Dental Management, Gen4 Dental Partners, Options Medical Weight Loss and U.S. Orthopaedic Partners. Over its 35-year history, Thurston Group has returned more than $4B of invested capital.
Contact:
Dana Hayes
+1-312-255-0077
Southeast Psych Nashville
Southeast Psych Charlotte
ARC Health
Thurston Group
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SOURCE Thurston Group | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/arc-health-partners-with-southeast-psych/ | 2022-08-17T15:14:04Z |
Chris Brock and Nick Eschenheimer to Bring Expert Support to Financial Advisors and Their Clients
DRESHER, Pa., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascensus—whose technology and expertise helps millions of people save for retirement, education, and healthcare—announced that industry veterans Chris Brock and Nick Eschenheimer have been appointed Regional Vice Presidents on the firm's retirement plan sales team.
Brock joins Ascensus as Regional Vice President in the Northern Florida region, reporting to Anthony Bologna, Eastern Division vice president.
Brock has served in the financial services industry for 25 years, most recently as Regional Vice President at Securian Financial. He earned a B.B.A. in Marketing at Texas Tech University and holds Series 6, Series 7, and Series 63 licenses.
Nick Eschenheimer joins the Ascensus retirement sales team as Regional Vice President serving Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas, reporting to Lori Zeman, Western Division vice president.
Eschenheimer most recently held the role of Director, Retirement Services/External Wholesaler at Principal Financial Group.
His accreditations and licenses include Series 24, 7, 63 and 65, Accredited Investment Fiduciary Designation, and Oklahoma Registered Investment Advisor. He earned a B.A. in Economics at the University of Missouri.
"We're confident that Chris and Nick will contribute greatly to our experienced team, enhancing expert support to our partners and their clients," said Jason Crane, Ascensus' head of retirement distribution. "This is a crucial time for our industry, and both Chris and Nick bring outstanding backgrounds and reputations for excellence to Ascensus."
About Ascensus
Ascensus is a market-leading enabler of tax-advantaged savings—providing technology, services, and expertise that help more than 15 million people save for retirement, education, and healthcare.
We are a premier savings program service provider, third-party administrator, and government savings facilitator. Our platforms, industry knowledge, and data-based insights enhance the growth and success of our partners, their clients, and savers through co-branded, private-labeled, and governmental partnerships.
Ascensus offers comprehensive qualified and non-qualified retirement plan solutions, third-party retirement plan administration, 529 education and ABLE savings program administration, health savings and COBRA administration, corporate- and bank-owned life insurance solutions, and fiduciary and total rewards services.
The company's brands include Ascensus; Newport, an Ascensus company; PAi, an Ascensus company; and FuturePlan by Ascensus. Ascensus has more than $706 billion in assets under administration and employs more than 5,600 associates as of June 30, 2022.
For more information, visit ascensus.com and newportgroup.com.
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SOURCE Ascensus | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/ascensus-appoints-two-new-regional-vice-presidents/ | 2022-08-17T15:14:11Z |
Stage 2 Capital kicks off its oversubscribed $150M Fund III to continue its mission of supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs with both capital and go-to-market expertise.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The first venture capital fund specialized in helping founders with go-to-market, Stage 2 Capital combines early-stage investing expertise with a diverse community of 300+ go-to-market limited partners. With this new capital, Stage 2 Capital will continue investing in early stage B2B software and marketplaces, with a focus on bringing best-in-class go-to-market support as founders achieve product-market fit and prepare to scale revenue.
Founded by Jay Po and Mark Roberge in 2018, Stage 2 Capital has expanded its LP network to over 300 CROs, CMOs, CCOs, and go-to-market leaders who have built the world's most cutting-edge motions at companies like Atlassian, Zoom, Slack, Snowflake, ServiceNow, Twilio, GitHub, LinkedIn, GitLab, ZoomInfo, MongoDB, Workday, HubSpot, SmartSheet, Salesforce, Gong, Shopify, 6Sense, Asana, Drift, Toast, DataBricks, Airtable, etc.
Po elaborates, "We are humbled to have such a talented LP network behind us. It's core to our model to bring go-to-market knowledge to entrepreneurs. Our network gets involved in every stage of the deal process, from sourcing to referring talent to coaching founders. The breadth of the LP experience is instrumental in our diligence process to understand the nuances of various industries and buyer personas." Po continues, "Post investment, we match our LPs' unique expertise with the strategic and operational needs of our portfolio companies. We involve our network in 100% of our deals, which often includes joining a portfolio company as an executive, board of director, or advisor." To help strengthen LP connections within the portfolio, the firm has developed a unique LP Relations division dedicated to indexing, matching, and building relationships with founders.
The go-to-market focus of Stage 2 Capital fills a much-needed gap in the startup ecosystem, one that Po saw from his experience as an investor at Bessemer, and Roberge saw from his operating experience as founding CRO at HubSpot. "Startups are failing unnecessarily due to basic go-to-market mistakes, such as deciding when to scale, what type of salesperson to hire, and which demand generation channels to pursue," Roberge said. "While the traditional venture capital ecosystem has great insight on strategy, finance, product, and culture, we believe a stronger voice on revenue best practices is needed in the boardroom."
In addition to the LP base, Stage 2 Capital leverages a dual lens when investing by using a two-person investment pod on each deal, with one partner from traditional VC and the other partner being a former go-to-market executive. Po and Roberge served as the first investment pod in Fund I. They brought on their second pod last year, teaming Silicon Valley sales veteran, Mandy Cole, with Anu Maheshwari, former VC at Iconiq. With Fund III, the firm expanded to its third pod, pairing Liz (Cain) Christo, former NetSuite GTM executive and VC at OpenView, with Dan Heck, former VC at OpenView. "Our founders tell us they feel like they get two experts for the price of one, having two partners with different perspectives who understand their business at a much deeper level," says Roberge.
On top of the new fund, the firm recently launched the Stage 2 Capital Accelerator, the first go-to-market accelerator program guiding seed-stage founders on the design and execution of their first go-to-market system. As part of the 11-week program, participating founders receive a $100,000 investment in addition to hands-on tactical guidance. Outside of capital, founders get instruction, workbooks and templates, and one-on-one coaching to develop their first hiring scorecards, first pricing model, first sales playbook, first marketing campaign, first sales compensation model, and other tactics fundamental to their revenue scaling success.
About Stage 2 Capital: The first go-to-market venture capital firm, Stage 2 Capital combines traditional venture investing and go-to-market execution expertise, leveraging its elite LP base of 300+ senior executives from unicorns and Fortune 500 firms to help portfolio companies scale revenue and accelerate growth. Co-founded in 2018 by Jay Po, former investor at Bessemer Venture Partners, and Mark Roberge, founding CRO at HubSpot, Stage 2 Capital invests in B2B software and marketplaces between late seed stage and Series A. For more information, visit: http://www.stage2.capital
About Stage 2 Capital Accelerator: As the first go-to-market accelerator, the Stage 2 Capital Accelerator invests in and trains seed-stage founders on the go-to-market fundamentals to build a scaling engine to drive sustainable revenue growth.
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SOURCE Stage 2 Capital | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/backed-by-300-senior-go-to-market-executives-stage-2-capital-announces-150m-fund-iii/ | 2022-08-17T15:14:18Z |
The Tech Conference for Good Will Take Place Oct. 17–18 as a Free, Virtual Event
CHARLESTON, S.C., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world's leading cloud software company powering social good, today announced that New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, nonprofit founder and activist Glennon Doyle will join the mainstage at bbcon 2022 Virtual, the tech conference for good. This year's conference will take place Oct. 17–18 and will again be free and virtual, making the event globally accessible. Doyle will participate in a keynote conversation during the opening session.
"We're thrilled to welcome Glennon Doyle to bbcon this year as we look to bring inspiration and education to thousands of social good practitioners around the world," said Catherine LaCour, chief marketing officer, Blackbaud. "Glennon is a powerful voice for diversity and inclusion through her work with Together Rising, the all-women-led nonprofit that has revolutionized grassroots philanthropy and raised over $40 million for women, families, and children in crisis. We can't wait to hear what she has to share with our audience."
Doyle is the author of the number one New York Times bestseller "Untamed," a Reese's Book Club selection, which has sold over two million copies. She is also the author of "Get Untamed: The Journal"; the number one New York Times bestseller "Love Warrior," an Oprah's Book Club selection; and "Carry On, Warrior." Glennon hosts the "We Can Do Hard Things" podcast, which debuted at number one in May 2021 and was named the number one New Podcast of 2021 on Apple Podcasts.
She is an activist, founder and president of Together Rising. Through her books and weekly podcasts, Doyle shares insights on embracing diversity and cultivating environments of inclusion, shedding "cultural conditioning" and learning to live authentically.
bbcon 2022 Virtual is designed to make social good organizations, their teams and their missions stronger and more resilient. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn actionable strategies and gain insights into trends from leading experts; get a sneak peek of upcoming Blackbaud product innovation and enhancements; discover new ways to extend and enhance their tech investment with services and solutions from Blackbaud partners; learn from some of the world's leading voices on how diversity, empathy and authenticity can create stronger, more engaged leaders; and connect with like-minded professionals to build their network.
The conference will include content for all global regions, role types, and markets—arts and cultural organizations, cause-based nonprofits, educational institutions, faith communities, healthcare organizations, foundations, corporate giving and more. In conjunction with bbcon, the Blackbaud Product Update Briefings (PUBs) will be conducted Oct. 19–20.
Get more information about bbcon 2022 Virtual and register for free here.
About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the world's leading cloud software company powering social good. Serving the entire social good community—nonprofits, higher education institutions, K–12 schools, healthcare organizations, faith communities, arts and cultural organizations, foundations, companies and individual change agents—Blackbaud connects and empowers organizations to increase their impact through cloud software, services, expertise and data intelligence. The Blackbaud portfolio is tailored to the unique needs of vertical markets, with solutions for fundraising and CRM, marketing, advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social and governance (ESG), school management, ticketing, grantmaking, financial management, payment processing and analytics. Serving the industry for more than four decades, Blackbaud is a remote-first company headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, with operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Media Inquiries
media@blackbaud.com
Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding expected benefits of products and product features. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles, particularly in larger organization; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or upon request from Blackbaud's investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc.
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New strategic roles join over 10 new hires in the region in 2022 so far
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blis, the audience-first platform that doesn't rely on personal data, today announced the hire of David Asch as VP of Programmatic Partnerships and Jonathan Alt as RVP Midwest and West in the US. The new strategic roles were created to fulfill the increasing demand from Blis' clients in the US.
With over fifteen years of industry experience working in the region, David Asch joins Blis from AudienceX, where he was the VP of sales for the US, leading the entire sales management for the region – ensuring that campaigns were leveraging the best performing blend of tactics across channels and screens.
Jonathan Alt joins the Blis team to support Blis' growth across the Midwest and West coast. For the past seven years, Jonathan held different positions at Dotdash to ultimately become Chief Revenue Officer, Lifestyle Brands at the company. Prior to that, Jonathan worked across different media and adtech companies, including Basis Technologies, Game Show Network and Viacom.
"For the first time, Blis has hired a VP of Programmatic Partnerships exclusively dedicated to the US market," said Gil Larsen, Managing Director Americas at Blis. "Expanding our operations across the country is extremely important to Blis' future plans. Supporting our clients to navigate this new privacy-first scenario with a platform that doesn't rely on personal data is our highest priority. Both Jonathan and David will be instrumental to the success of our business and I'm excited to have them on board to support our growth in the region."
Blis has been operating in the US since 2016 and growing rapidly since then, with employees based in key markets across the nation. In addition to David and Jonathan's hires, Blis also announced several other important hires in the region, following the recent investment from LDC, with headcount growing by 41% so far in 2022.
"Blis has made significant investments in our product over the past two years with a focus on delivering client outcomes programmatically without relying on personal data," said David Asch, VP of Programmatic Partnerships at Blis, US. "Being able to develop our programmatic partnerships even further is critical to the business and I'm looking forward to delivering our roadmap across the country in 2022."
About Blis
Blis is the audience-first platform that doesn't rely on personal data. We're an integrated planning and buying platform that delivers scaled, relevant and high-performing audiences, helping the world's largest brands and media agencies achieve their goals.
Over the past 18 years, Blis has built its reputation on delivering award-winning location-powered advertising solutions. In today's consumer-centric landscape, Blis is transforming the role of location data by combining it with a broad range of rich and powerful datasets to give our clients the deepest audience understanding available. Our unique approach to integrated planning and buying provides personalized targeting and performance without reliance on personal data. We serve relevant ads to the highest-value addressable audiences across any channel and deliver our clients' campaign outcomes every time, from brand awareness and engagement through to store/site visits and sales.
Established in the UK in 2004, Blis now operates in more than 40 offices across five continents. Working with the world's largest and most customer-driven companies across all verticals including Unilever, Samsung, McDonald's, HSBC, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot, as well as every major media agency.
To learn more, visit blis.com.
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SOURCE Blis | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/blis-appoints-new-vp-programmatic-partnerships-new-rvp-midwestwest-continuing-hiring-spree-us/ | 2022-08-17T15:14:31Z |
Acquisition strengthens North Carolina footprint
HALTOM CITY, Texas, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BMS CAT is proud to announce the acquisition of Highland Construction. Highland has three operating locations in eastern North Carolina – the main branch is in Fayetteville, with facilities also in Raleigh and Wilmington. This acquisition gives BMS CAT four operating branches covering the state of North Carolina, including Charlotte. Highland has been in business since 1981, and provides residential and commercial services for mitigation and reconstruction.
"BMS CAT is pleased to announce our strategic acquisition of Highland Construction. We have viewed the North Carolina marketplace as a key geography in our company's growth strategy. Kenny Strickland has built a tremendous business over the last 41 years, and we are excited to merge our two rich cultures together as one company. By doing so, we will be able to provide the best restoration and construction services to our combined customers. Highland Construction's commitment to quality is exemplified through their remarkable team of employees," said Tom Head, President & CEO of Blackmon Mooring & BMS CAT.
"Highland's partnership with BMS CAT is an incredible opportunity for our employees, our customers, and the areas we serve. It allows us to take on bigger and more complex projects while maintaining our high-quality standards; It gives our team access to even greater professional opportunities; and, it gives our markets even more support when and where they need it most. It's a very exciting partnership," said Kenny Strickland, former President of Highland Construction.
Today's announcement is the eighth in a strategic plan of acquisitions to support BMS CAT growth. The company previously acquired North Carolina-based Diamond Restoration, Michigan-based Jarvis Restoration, Pennsylvania-based FireDEX of Pittsburgh, South Carolina-based CATCON, Pennsylvania-based Mellon Certified Restoration and Florida-based Guardian Restoration.
Started in 1948 as a furniture and dye shop, Blackmon Mooring has grown to become a leader in each service area it practices – from fire and water restoration to storm damage recovery. The earliest founders of Blackmon Mooring built their business on reliability, quality and superior customer service. In 1981, the company expanded its reach globally with the addition of the BMS CAT division and since then, it has responded to some of the world's most devastating disasters. Today, the company follows the same principles it was founded upon, and always remembers that the customer is the cornerstone of the business. www.blackmonmooring.com
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SOURCE Blackmon Mooring & BMS CAT | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/bms-cat-acquires-highland-construction/ | 2022-08-17T15:14:38Z |
Funding Will Accelerate Commercialization of the ECGenius™ System and Expand Development of Analytic Modules
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CathVision, a medical technology company developing innovative electrophysiology solutions designed to enhance clinical decision making in the EP lab, today announced the company has secured $7.2 million in funding from existing investors. The financing will help advance commercial operations driving adoption of the ECGenius™ System, the company's innovative EP recording technology, and support the continued development of artificial intelligence-powered analytic modules to provide electrophysiologists with unprecedented levels of automated analysis during cardiac ablation procedures.
"Our investors have witnessed the evolution of our company and technology in recent years," said Mads Matthiesen, CEO, CathVision. "Reinvesting in the company demonstrates confidence in our innovation, ongoing development, and ability to advance adoption of the ECGenius System throughout the United States as we focus on empowering physicians to diagnose, characterize, and treat cardiac arrhythmias more effectively. We are expanding our sales team, building our U.S. presence, and furthering the development of analytic modules."
The ECGenius System includes a proprietary hardware amplifier capable of acquiring high-fidelity, low-noise cardiac electrograms. The technology represents a crucial progression in the quality of cardiac signal acquisition, the accuracy of electrogram interpretation and the advancement of therapy support to help electrophysiologists improve the overall diagnosis and treatment of complex atrial arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation (AF), which increases the risk of stroke and heart failure. The ECGenius System received FDA 510(k) clearance in May and is currently available in limited market release.
"Cardiac ablation is one of the fastest growing markets in healthcare; treatment efficiency and efficacy must improve for physicians to deliver the best possible care for patients with atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias," said Matthieu Bocquet, Founding Partner, Lumine Capital. "CathVision's modern and precise EP recording technology brings more clarity to physicians by delivering clear signals that can be accurately interpreted. This is a necessary step to improve treatment outcomes."
The ECGenius System1 is commercially available in the United States in limited market release. For more information about the ECGenius System, please visit www.cathvision.com/ep-recording-enhanced or email contact@cathvision.com.
1Not approved for sale in the EU.
About CathVision
CathVision is a medical technology company that develops electrophysiology solutions centered around an innovative EP recording system and AI algorithm platform – the ECGenius System. Committed to empowering physicians to make more informed clinical decisions in the EP lab, CathVision is redefining the necessity of exceptional cardiac electrical signals to diagnose, characterize, and treat the most common heart rhythm disorders. CathVision was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Denmark with a U.S. office in Minnesota.
Follow CathVision on: LinkedIn and Twitter
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SOURCE CathVision | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/cathvision-announces-close-72-million-financing-round/ | 2022-08-17T15:14:44Z |
Rivermont, A New Story School, and Your Life ABA are part of the New Story family of schools and clinics, a leading provider of special and alternative education and mental health services.
NORTHERN NECK, Va., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Rivermont, A New Story School (Rivermont), and Your Life ABA are proud to announce the opening of a new campus, housing both a school and clinic, serving children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder and other complex challenges.
The new school and clinic opening in the community is the result of a three-year partnership between clinical and school leadership and Northern Neck community and district members to bring much-needed services to the area. The 11,000-square-foot campus housing both the clinic and school allows families to receive the critical services they need when they need them.
The campus boasts purpose-built, student-centered spaces, including a sensory room, playground, and life skills apartment. School programming includes traditional academic coursework along with transition programming, individual and group counseling, and therapeutic academic and behavioral support, providing an authentic school experience with more support for grades K-12. The new school is the 14th Rivermont school providing special education services to families in Virginia.
The Your Life ABA clinic offers therapeutic and clinical services for clients three-years-old and above, with a specific focus on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Located in the same building as the school, the Your Life ABA clinic provides after-school clinics, daytime home-based therapy, and telehealth options, providing families with a variety of options that best suit their needs and personal situation. The new clinic opening marks the seventh location in Virginia.
"We have a 35-year history of providing special education services in Virginia, and I am thrilled that our school and clinic in Northern Neck will provide end-to-end support services so that each child and young adult we serve has opportunities for lifelong success," said Beth Ackerman, Senior Vice President of Operations for Rivermont and Your Life ABA. "I'm proud that after many years of working alongside the school, community, and government leaders, we can officially open our doors to families in Northern Neck, and I look forward to the incredible outcomes our children and young adults will achieve."
For more information, check out New Story's website. For more updates, follow New Story on Facebook and Instagram.
Rivermont, A New Story School, and Your Life ABA are part of the New Story family of schools and clinics, a leading provider of special and alternative education and mental health services for children and young adults with serious and complex challenges. The New Story family of schools and clinics serves families across Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. For more information, visit www.newstory.com.
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SOURCE New Story | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/children-young-adults-with-complex-behavioral-challenges-autism-spectrum-disorder-have-new-school-clinic-options-northern-neck/ | 2022-08-17T15:14:51Z |
Annual learning and development benchmarking program recognizes Choice University learning platform for workforce development efforts
ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest lodging franchisors, has been named a gold organization, ranking fourth in the 2022 LearningElite Awards program for the Choice University learning platform. Choice Hotels has also received the Editor's Choice Award for Best Small Company. The LearningElite Awards program is a robust, peer-developed benchmarking program which recognizes organizations that employ exemplary workforce development strategies to deliver significant business results that benefit their organization, industry and the learning and development field. The program is presented each year by Chief Learning Officer (CLO), a publication from BetterWork Media Group.
Since 2011, the LearningElite Awards program has aimed to identify and recognize industry leaders, as well as the importance of the role of learning in organizational success while providing powerful benchmarking data for world-class learning and development through best practices, principles and strategies.
"At Choice Hotels, we value the success of our franchisees and associates. The learning and development programs we offer are vital to help owners accomplish their business goals as well as improve our company-wide success," said Timothy Tobin, vice president, franchise onboarding and learning, Choice Hotels. "This award highlights our innovative training program on our Choice University learning platform. We are proud of our learning and development tools that we make accessible and individualized for both the franchisee's hotel staff as well as our corporate associates."
"We are honored and humbled to play a role in the recognition of learning and development organizations that are moving the needle in workforce progression," said Ashley St. John, chief content officer and editor-in-chief of Chief Learning Officer. "From the overwhelming number of competitive applications to the high interest and energy of our panel of senior-level judges, our team continues to be wowed by the interest, energy and data generated by this annual program."
Fifty-four winners were announced June 22, 2022, during the 2022 LearningElite Awards Gala. See the complete list of winners here.
Learn more about the LearningElite at www.chieflearningofficer.com/learning-elite-award.
About Choice Hotels®
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. On August 11, 2022, Choice acquired Radisson Hotels Americas, adding nine brands and approximately 67,000 rooms in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean to its portfolio. With 22 brands, Choice Hotels has more than 7,500 hotels, and nearly 650,000 rooms, in 46 countries and territories as of August 11, 2022. The Choice® family of hotel brands provide business and leisure travelers with a broad range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upper upscale, upper mid-scale, midscale, extended-stay and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges® loyalty program offers members a faster way to rewards, with personalized benefits starting on day one. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com.
About Chief Learning Officer
Chief Learning Officer is dedicated to serving as a platform and vehicle for C-suite and senior-level learning and development professionals to connect and advance in the profession and their personal careers. We are by CLOs, for CLOs.
About BetterWork Media Group
BetterWork Media Group is a platform dedicated to connecting, supporting and empowering these communities of C-suite and senior-level practitioners, executives, scholars, consultants and solutions providers in corporate learning and talent management through award-winning content, research, events, webinars and digital media.
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Entrepreneurs Bring Premier Facility Solutions to the Diamond State
KENT, Del., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- City Wide Facility Solutions, the leading management company in the building maintenance industry, continues its growth with the announcement of the opening of its 80th location. The new office will serve the entire state of Delaware, including New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties.
Local building owners and property management companies throughout Delaware and surrounding areas now have access to a single-source solution for all their facility management needs. Entrepreneur Alankato Cobb (CEO) has partnered with John Heyliger (COO) and Tasheema Heyliger (CFO) to open City Wide Facility Solutions at 755 Walker Road, Suite A in Dover.
"Making a positive impact in the community is what I'm most looking forward to in opening our new City Wide Facility Solutions location," said Cobb. "The business will help create opportunities for people in the area and will help serve businesses in the community. It's a win-win!"
Cobb joins City Wide Facility Solutions with more than 28 years of experience in sales, facilities management and the engineering industry. He also has experience with change management, strategic planning, building management and developing a customer-oriented organization. John is an Army Veteran and has a strong operations and management background within several industries. John also has over 20 years of senior management experience. Tasheema is a business owner in the apparel, accessories and merchandising industry. She is a Master's prepared registered nurse with more than 25 years in the healthcare industry. Her experience is in strategic planning, innovation, leadership, data driven solutions, and management of people, projects and processes. With Cobb and his team's background and experience, they will be well equipped to run the Delaware location.
City Wide Facility Solutions, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, has consistently evolved and adapted to become "The First Choice" for its clients, employees, franchise owners, independent contractors and vendors. Managing more than 20 services for its clients, City Wide offers one point of contact and provides professional communication and project management through every stage of the experience. This allows for clients to focus on running their business while uplifting smaller, independent and locally owned companies to execute services. More independent businesses and commercial properties across the United States and Canada will soon benefit from the opportunities and services City Wide affords, as additional locations are scheduled to open in Louisiana, Nevada, Kentucky, Ohio and Toronto, Ontario in the coming months.
For more information about City Wide Facility Solutions in Delaware and the services it manages, please visit https://delaware.gocitywide.com or call (302) 526-2833.
Founded in 1961, City Wide Facility Solutions is the largest management company in the building maintenance industry, managing janitorial services, commercial cleaning, disinfecting, and more than 20 additional facility solutions for every client. City Wide simplifies the facility matters that mean most to building owners, operators, and management companies, easing the time, stress, and resources typically required to oversee an entire facility. City Wide is proud to do more than just manage facility solutions and services for commercial facilities - they pride themselves on being a partner that helps clients save time and solve problems. Their mission is to create a Ripple Effect by positively impacting the people and communities they serve.
For more information about City Wide Facility Solutions and the services it manages, please visit www.gocitywide.com. For information about franchising with City Wide Facility Solutions, visit www.citywidefranchise.com.
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SOURCE City Wide Facility Solutions | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/city-wide-facility-solutions-expands-into-delaware/ | 2022-08-17T15:15:04Z |
LENEXA, Kan., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- City Wide Facility Solutions announced today it has made the 41st annual Inc. 5000 list for the fifth consecutive year. City Wide boasts a 95% three-year revenue growth rate.
"After more than 25 years of leading City Wide, I'm grateful my team and I can continue to celebrate new achievements. These past 12 months have been our biggest — we signed 16 new locations and plan to open at least five more locations by year end. This recognition from Inc. is the icing on the cake for us," said Jeff Oddo, CEO and owner of the Kansas City-based City Wide Facility Solutions. "I am confident in our ability to grow by over $100 million a year and reach our goal of becoming a billion dollar brand by the end of 2026. Being nationally ranked on a list like Inc. 5000 proves we're on the right track."
Due to City Wide's limited number of large, exclusive territories, its selection process is very discerning. In 2021 the company raised its average unit volume to $6.7 million – an increase of $1.2 million over 2020 – while the top quartile enjoyed an average annual revenue of $15.1 million. City Wide is on track to exceed $550 million in systemwide revenue in 2022.
The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Among the top 500, the average median three-year revenue growth rate soared to 2,144 percent. Together, those companies added more than 68,394 jobs over the past three years.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc. magazine, which will be available on August 23.
"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work and rising to the challenges of today."
City Wide Facility Solutions, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, has consistently evolved and adapted to become "The First Choice" for its clients, employees, franchise owners, independent contractors and vendors. Managing more than 20 services for its clients, City Wide offers one point of contact and provides professional communication and project management through every stage of the experience. This allows for clients to focus on running their business while uplifting smaller, independent and locally owned companies to execute services.
Entrepreneurially-spirited individuals interested in owning a City Wide franchise should have a business-to-business background focused on sales, management and operations experience as well as have a desire to be a part of a mission driven organization that prioritizes giving back to the community and the franchise system. For information on U.S./Canadian franchise opportunities, please visit www.citywidefranchise.com.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.
About City Wide Facility Solutions
City Wide Facility Solutions is the leading management company in the building maintenance industry, managing janitorial services, commercial cleaning, disinfecting, and more than 20 additional facility solutions for commercial clients. Founded in 1961 in Kansas City, MO, City Wide began franchising in 2001 and has expanded to more than 80 territories in the U.S. and Canada. By working with independent contractors, City Wide can assist its clients with any facility-related service, from floor care and pressure washing to parking lot services and tenant improvement. By simplifying facility matters that are a key focus of building owners, operators, and management companies, City Wide eases the time, stress, and resources typically required to oversee an entire facility. City Wide is proud to do more than just manage facility solutions and services for commercial facilities – it prides itself on being a partner that helps clients save time and solve problems. Its mission is to create a Ripple Effect by positively impacting the people and communities it serves.
For more information about City Wide Facility Solutions or to find a location near you, please visit www.gocitywide.com/. For information about available franchise opportunities, visit www.citywidefranchise.com/.
More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000
Methodology
Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. The top 500 companies on the Inc. 5000 are featured in Inc. magazine's September issue. The entire Inc. 5000 can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.
About Inc.
The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.
For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, visit http://conference.inc.com/.
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How Illusory Truth Effect Undermines Executives and Four Strategies to Prevent It
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- New research released today in MIT Sloan Management Review, examines how inaccurate or false information, if repeated often enough, can acquire an illusion of truth, thereby placing executive decision-making at risk.
In the world of corporate decision-making, the proliferation of misinformation hurts organizations in many ways. Leaders can find themselves on the receiving end of falsified data, facts, and figures. Misinformation, regardless of whether it was mistakenly passed along or shared with ill intent, is a common occurrence in this digital age. While many executives believe themselves immune, research says otherwise.
"One of the most important challenges leaders face in the digital age is preventing inaccurate data, false information and pseudo-fact," noted Katharina Schmid, an associate professor at Esade Business School at the Ramon Llull University. "Leaders bear a double responsibility in fighting the illusory truth effect; they must combat it for their teams, employees, and companies but also for their own personal reputations."
Researchers from Esade Business School, Purdue University, and University of Cologne have pooled their findings and outlined strategies for organizations to combat this illusory truth effect—the phenomenon that repeating false information can create at least an illusion of truth.
"The illusory truth effect occurs effortlessly, but effort is necessary to combat it," said Jonas De keersmaecker, postdoctoral researcher at Esade Business School. "While its negative effects can never be fully avoided, its influence can be limited through diligence and a focus on accuracy."
These strategies aim to create lasting and sustainable value for companies and their clients:
Avoid the bias blind spot: Understand the illusory truth effect and accept that leaders are as vulnerable to it as anyone else.
Avoid epistemic bubbles: Foster an environment in which opposing and differing perspectives can be generated and where they are openly discussed.
Question facts and assumptions: Develop an accuracy mindset with an emphasis on evaluating whether information fits one's knowledge. Promote a culture where the default is to consider the truthfulness of new information when it arises. Foster external fact-checking to ensure that information used in decision making has been verified.
Nudge the truth: Repeat true and relevant information. Prepare to respond with facts and repetition, repetition, repetition.
Managers today contend with incorrect and unreliable information at unparalleled scale. Beware of bias blind spots, maintain as accuracy mindset, perform external fact-checking, and don't get stuck in an epistemic bubble.
The MIT Sloan Management Review (MIT SMR) article, "The Cognitive Shortcut that Clouds Decision-Making," publishes at 8 a.m. EDT on August 17, 2022.
Jonas De keersmaecker is a postdoctoral researcher at Esade Business School at the Ramon Llull University. Katharina Schmid is an associate professor at Esade Business School. Nadia Brashier is an assistant professor at Purdue University. Christian Unkelbach is a professor at the University of Cologne and vice speaker for its Center for Social and Economic Behavior.
MIT Sloan Management Review (MIT SMR) is an independent, research-based magazine and digital platform for business leaders, published at the MIT Sloan School of Management. MIT SMR explores how leadership and management are transforming in a disruptive world. We help thoughtful leaders capture the exciting opportunities — and face down the challenges — created as technological, societal, and environmental forces reshape how organizations operate, compete, and create value.
Tess Woods
Tess@TessWoodsPR.com
617-942-0336
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SOURCE MIT Sloan Management Review | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/cognitive-shortcut-that-clouds-decision-making/ | 2022-08-17T15:15:17Z |
Focuses on complex commercial and financial services litigation, as well as Section 230 cases
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mohamed Awan joins Crowell & Moring as a partner in its Litigation and Mass Tort, Product, and Consumer Litigation groups, where he will provide clients with valuable experience in consumer class actions, complex commercial litigation, and financial services litigation. One of his areas of focus is defending companies in matters related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, a federal law that shields companies against civil lawsuits for content posted on their platforms by a third party.
Awan has significant experience litigating class action matters in federal courts around the country, including multiple warranty claim class actions for one of the leading automobile manufacturers in the United States. He also represents clients in various litigation matters arising from mergers and acquisitions, including those concerning broken deals, material adverse change provisions, takeover defenses, activist shareholders, fraud, and breach of representations and warranties. Awan joins the firm from Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP where he was a partner in the litigation practice. Prior to that, Awan was a corporate lawyer at Kirkland & Ellis in New York.
"Mohamed will be a true asset to Crowell clients, having background in both class action and financial services litigation," said April Ross, vice-chair of the Mass Tort, Product, and Consumer Litigation Group at Crowell & Moring. "His experience handling product liability and warranty matters and his experience managing large, multi-jurisdictional matters will expand our class action bench and enhance our national litigation platform."
Awan is the latest addition to the firm's financial services practice. In April 2021, the firm combined with financial services powerhouse Kibbe & Orbe; a few months later, Brian Hail and Rick Hyman joined the firm's New York office; and in December 2021, a highly-regarded derivatives team joined the firm's London office.
"We are thrilled to welcome Mohamed to the firm and look forward to introducing him and his deep experience to our clients," said Keith Harrison, co-chair of the Litigation Group at Crowell & Moring. "He brings a broad range of talents and an impressive track record in the complex commercial litigation and financial services spaces that will benefit corporate clients navigating challenges to their business. Whether it is in contract disputes, shareholder derivative suits, securities matters, and beyond, Mohamed is poised to truly make an impact."
Awan earned his law degree, cum laude, from the American University Washington College of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. He previously clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence P. Zatkoff, of the Eastern District of Michigan. Awan is a former board member of New American Leaders, a nonprofit group that supports increasing diversity among elected officials.
"I was drawn to Crowell's sophisticated, national platform that tackles the most complex of litigation cases," said Awan. "Having worked in parallel with several of the firm's lawyers on related matters, I couldn't have been more impressed — certainly by their skillful handling of the cases, but also by their innovative thinking and collaboration. As a diverse lawyer, I also appreciate the opportunity to join a firm that puts a sincere, authentic focus on crucial issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion. I am thrilled to be joining the Crowell team."
About Crowell & Moring LLP
Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with offices in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia. Drawing on significant government, business, industry and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and corporate and transactional issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service and its programs and initiatives to advance diversity, equity and inclusion.
Media Contact:
Andrew Loeb
Communications Specialist
+1 202.624.2792
Email: prteam@crowell.com
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SOURCE Crowell & Moring LLP | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/commercial-class-action-litigation-partner-mohamed-awan-joins-crowell-amp-moring/ | 2022-08-17T15:15:20Z |
CSL is on track to file for regulatory approvals at the end of the current fiscal year and will present full data set at an upcoming scientific congress
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global biotechnology leader CSL (ASX:CSL; USOTC:CSLLY), today announced positive top-line Phase 3 results for garadacimab (CSL312), the company's investigational first-in-class monoclonal antibody inhibiting Factor XIIa being developed as a long-term preventive treatment for patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE). The study met its primary and secondary efficacy objectives and also demonstrated favorable safety and tolerability. CSL aims to begin filing with global health authorities at the end of the current fiscal year for full approval.
The multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm study (also known as VANGUARD) evaluated the efficacy and safety of monthly subcutaneous garadacimab administration in the prevention of HAE attacks compared to the placebo for six months. Full results from the study will be presented at an upcoming scientific congress and published in a peer-reviewed journal.
"These results underscore our belief that garadacimab has the potential to become a transformative first-in-class therapy for people living with HAE, a patient group that CSL has been serving for many years," said Dr. Bill Mezzanotte, Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, Chief Medical Officer for CSL. "CSL's promise to patients guides us to meet their unmet need by pursuing the type of disruptive innovation we believe garadacimab represents. We look forward to sharing the full results of our phase 3 study in the coming months."
About HAE and Garadacimab
HAE is a rare, genetic and potentially life-threatening condition that causes painful, debilitating and unpredictable episodes of swelling of the abdomen, larynx, face and extremities, among other areas of the body.
Garadacimab is a novel Factor XIIa-inhibitory monoclonal antibody (FXIIa mAb) currently in Phase 3 clinical development as a new type of once-monthly subcutaneous prophylactic treatment for attacks related to HAE, a form of bradykinin-mediated angioedema. Garadacimab uniquely inhibits the plasma protein, FXIIa. When FXIIa is activated, it initiates the cascade of events leading to edema formation. By targeting FXIIa, garadacimab inhibits the HAE cascade at its origin as compared with other HAE therapies that target downstream mediators. Garadacimab was discovered and optimized by scientists at CSL's Bio21–based Research site, with formulation and manufacturing for the clinical programs completed at the CSL Broadmeadows Biotech Manufacturing Facility.
Orphan-drug designation for garadacimab as an investigational therapy for hereditary angioedema has been granted by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
CSL is also investigating garadacimab for other indications, beyond HAE, where FXIIa inhibition may play an important role in improving clinical outcomes, including pulmonary fibrosis.
About CSL
CSL Limited (ASX: CSL; USOTC:CSLLY) is a leading global biotechnology company with a dynamic portfolio of lifesaving medicines, including those that treat haemophilia and immune deficiencies, as well as vaccines to prevent influenza. Since our start in 1916, we have been driven by our promise to save lives using the latest technologies. Today, CSL – including our three businesses, CSL Behring, CSL Seqirus and CSL Vifor – provides lifesaving products to patients in more than 100 countries and employs 30,000 people. Our unique combination of commercial strength, R&D focus and operational excellence enables us to identify, develop and deliver innovations so our patients can live life to the fullest. For inspiring stories about the promise of biotechnology, visit CSLBehring.com/Vita and follow us on Twitter.com/CSL.
For more information visit www.csl.com.
Media Contacts:
Greg Healy
R&D Communications
Greg.Healy@cslbehring.com
+1 610 906 4564
In Australia:
Jimmy Baker
Global Finance Communications
Email: Jimmy.Baker@csl.com.au
+61 450 909 211
Kim O'Donohue
R&D Communications
Kim.ODonohue@csl.com.au
+61 449 884 603
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SOURCE CSL | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/csl-announces-positive-top-line-phase-3-results-garadacimab-preventive-treatment-patients-with-hereditary-angioedema-hae/ | 2022-08-17T15:15:26Z |
ZHUHAI, China, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Aug 17th, 2022, Angry Miao officially announced the completion of a new round of financing, accumulating millions of US dollars in funds. The investment was made by Lenovo Capital and Incubator Group (LCIG), valued at more than 100 million US dollars. Before this round of financing, Angry Miao had already obtained multiple rounds of financing, with investors including ZhenFund and DragonBall Capital.
Angry Miao's brand slogan is Future Art Community. Established in 2019, Angry Miao has released numerous tech products designed to express subcultural trends, co-created through close interaction with the community. Top tech media (such as TechCrunch) and global fashion media (such as HYPEBEAST) have repeatedly reported on Angry Miao's products. By fans, Angry Miao is commonly regarded as the Kith of the tech industry.
Until now, Angry Miao has released a number of distinctive tech products, including CYBERBOARD - a custom mechanical keyboard and AM HATSU - a Westworld-inspired full wireless split ergo keyboard with a 3D curved metal body. Images of the yet to be released CYBERBLADE wireless earbuds also suggest great things.
Angry Miao has adopted a global D2C sales model, where products are sold directly to end consumers around the world through Discord and Shopify. A limited "pre-sale" system is often used, where users place their orders months in advance. Most of these products are sold out or out of stock. Presales are only held several times a year, accumulating a sales volume of 1 million US dollars in 2020, over 3 million US dollars in 2021, and further growth likely in 2022.
Angry Miao's products are well-known for their high prices. In 2022, a custom hand-painted version of the AM HATSU keyboard from graffiti artist Shek, who has previously worked with Balenciaga, was announced as part of the CYBERVERSE Bundle. This bundle was consecutively auctioned off to a mystery buyer on Tmall's auction platform, going for 14,038 USD.
It should be noted that Angry Miao's founder Li Nan has stressed multiple times that custom keyboards are only a tool to verify the feasibility of co-creation inside the tech community. Ever since the company's establishment, it has heavily invested in the research and development of TWS earbuds. At present, Angry Miao's very first wireless earbuds, named CYBERBLADE, are nearing their release.
"We are going to compete for market share at the high-end of the TWS market." said Li Nan, CEO of Angry Miao. "Both our brand and product are ready after several years of hard work. We are really thankful for all the support we have received and the opportunity to join this huge industry. A new competitor for high-end brands is here." Li Nan concluded.
George He, Senior Vice President of Lenovo Group and President of Lenovo Capital and Incubator Group, said "While Lenovo Capital and Incubator Group invests in hardcore technologies, we are also looking for "new species" that deeply integrate technology with industry. Angry Miao is a new player in the competition of smart consumer technology. Through community-driven innovation, it not only brings trendy tech products to consumers but also aims to establishing a deep emotional connection with its users. As part of the next step, Angry Miao will expand the mass consumer market on the basis of community. Lenovo Capital and Incubator Group will utilize Lenovo Group's rich technical resources, strong supply chain system, and vast sales channels to empower Angry Miao in helping it rapidly develop the domestic market."
Dennis Song, Vice President of Lenovo Group and Senior Partner of Lenovo Capital and Incubator Group added "After the establishment of Angry Miao, product verification was quickly completed through the community co-creation model, which opened up brand awareness of the keyboard product category. We are convinced of the ability and the experience of its team and expect Angry Miao to bring the ultimate intelligent consumption experience to a wider range of consumers in the TWS earbuds market. Lenovo Group has been deeply engaged in intelligent manufacturing for a long time. Its hardware products include notebooks, gaming laptops, projectors, tablet computers, and other hot-selling products in various subcategories. With its own industrial base at its core, Lenovo will work together with Angry Miao to further grow its industrial cluster."
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SOURCE Angry Miao | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/cyberblade-tws-earbuds-launch-imminent-angry-miao-receives-millions-financing-lenovo-capital/ | 2022-08-17T15:15:33Z |
$600k Pre-Seed Round Filled by New SIV Fund
SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dimension X, Inc. (DimX) today announced the close of its pre-seed round of funding for $600,000. Startup Ignition Ventures (SIV), a new pre-seed fund in Utah filled the entire round.
"With more than 20 years of angel investing across more than 100 companies, I'm tuned into winners," said John Richards, SIV's managing partner. "And the stars seem to be well aligned. The founding team has several unfair advantages, and their platform strategy couldn't be any better timed to capitalize on a gigantic opportunity at the front end of an evolving market. With our lean startup methodology, we are committed to helping this team to win big."
"The emerging Metaverse presents a massive opportunity to improve how people train, educate, design, simulate, entertain and market," said Scott Robertson, CEO of Dimension X. "However, creating immersive experiences today is still way too hard. We are dramatically simplifying the process just like WordPress did for website building, Figma did for interface design, and Unity did for game development. Dimension X is revolutionizing immersive experience creation and making it accessible to millions of new Metaverse creators."
"We have architected a Metaverse creator platform with simplicity, extensibility, and interoperability at its core," said Kyle Ringgenberg, CTO of Dimension X. "Our technology enables creators and storytellers to build engaging experiences with drag-and-drop simplicity. Additionally, developers will realize significant efficiency using our APIs to push the limits of immersive experiences in new and unimagined ways."
"Perhaps most exciting is the potential of the Metaverse to globally improve lives," said Chris Keller, COO of Dimension X. "The immersive nature of experiences that can be built on our platform may dramatically accelerate learning by increasing engagement, repetition, and targeted training. Immersive technology may be the great equalizer that reduces the cost, time and distance barriers to achieve the '10,000 hours to Mastery' rule.
This new funding will be used for the following initiatives:
- Hire a world-class team of immersive developers, designers and product strategists
- Develop the Metaverse creator platform
- Gather, train and support the Metaverse Creators community. Provide your email at https://dimX.dev to get invited to the group.
Apart from the DimX Metaverse Creator platform, the company's service arm has already begun creating immersive experiences for commercial clients including simulation software for the Christa McAuliffe Space Center and Telos University. DimX has developed flight simulation training software for Randon Aviation and its Flight School Manager platform. Additionally, DimX is contributing to a 'seeing is believing' experience that uses LiDAR technology to generate real-time-editable 3D digitally twins, for better client visualization.
Hire its service group to build your immersive brand experience. Learn more at: https://dimX.dev
About Dimension X:
Dimension X is creating the world's simplest Metaverse Creator platform for corporate trainers, educators, developers, designers, manufacturers, gamers, storytellers, and business leaders to train, educate, design, simulate, entertain, and market. Intentionally named, the 10th dimension in superstring theory is the last dimension in which anything is possible, a space of infinite possibilities when time and space fold over. Dimension X enables boundless immersive experiences.
Media Inquiries:
Chris Keller
Dimension X, Inc.
801.230.9223
chris@dimx.dev
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SOURCE Dimension X | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/dimension-x-launches-build-metaverse-creator-platform/ | 2022-08-17T15:15:40Z |
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