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Correcting and Replacing: Travel Expert Dayvee Sutton Provides Tips to Plan Summer Vacations on a Budget

YourUpdateTV

(Correcting to include video)- After a year of being stuck at home, Americans are more eager than ever to get back to traveling this summer. A new survey from the payment network Affirm found 75% of respondents plan to go on at least one vacation this summer, and consumers will spend more money on travel than any other category. With the travel boom causing an increase in booking rates, it’s more important than ever to not overextend your budget in all the excitement of being able to travel again. A video accompanying this release can be found here: https://youtu.be/8S26C8ILWMo More Findings from Affirm’s Summer Survey: Vacations are the #1 activity consumers are most looking forward to this summer Respondents plan to spend the most money this summer on travel (41%), followed by going out to eat (38%) and a new summer wardrobe (35%) Nearly half (45%) of Americans plan to spend more money this summer than the past two combined 41% are interested in using a buy now, pay later solution this summer to help them spend responsibly, and 1 in 4 are interested in using a buy now, pay later solution to book travel Emmy Award-winning journalist, Dayvee Sutton, whose travel advice is featured regularly on national programs such as NBC News, Today, CNN and The Weather Channel has partnered with Affirm to give budget-friendly summer travel advice. Here are some of her tips: Take advantage of modern, flexible payment options. Overall, rates for flights and hotels are up because consumers are so eager to travel. But, there are new payment tools you can use to not overextend your budget. Dayvee recommends Affirm, and has partnered with them because it can help you stay in control of your finances by letting you spread out the cost of flights, hotels, homestays and travel experiences into biweekly or monthly payments with interest options as low as 0% APR for eligible consumers. Affirm can give you the flexibility to book vacations now and pay at your own pace on Expedia, Vrbo, Priceline, Delta Vacations and more. With Affirm, you know exactly what you’ll pay upfront, and that number never changes – there are no late or hidden fees. Know when to book and track your airfare to get the best deals. The most expensive part of your trip will likely be the flight. Book as early as you can and opt for mid-week flights. A study from CheapOAir found the best time to book a flight is between 21 and 95 days before the trip. And traveling on a Tuesday or Wednesday, rather than the weekend, will not only be cheaper, but less crowded. Be prepared but remain flexible. Research social distancing protocols for theme parks, museums, and other attractions before you arrive, since many venues require you to reserve tickets early. Try to find low-cost activities in advance, such as walking tours and natural parks. Remember to leave room for unexpected costs in your budget – if you’re traveling internationally, set aside money for COVID tests before re-entering U.S., which can cost anywhere from $50 - $150 per person. Embrace summer road trips. With airfare on the rise, taking a road trip to smaller destinations is a great budget-friendly option for families. To save even more on the road, pack your own food and snacks ahead of time. You can also use Affirm to pay at your own pace for road trip essentials at Walmart, Target and other retailers. About Dayvee Sutton: Dayvee Sutton is a highly sought-after and award-winning media personality and journalist covering travel, culture and the environment. Dayvee has contributed her expertise to outlets such as the U.S. News and World Report, AOL, Yahoo, ESPN, The Root, NBA.com, Black Enterprise, NBC News and USA TODAY Network. She is the go-to on-air travel expert for several national programs, including NBC News and TODAY, CNN and HLN, The Weather Channel and Dr. Oz. About Affirm: Affirm is a transparent alternative to credit cards that can give travelers the flexibility to book vacations now and pay over time, without any late or hidden fees. Affirm lets eligible consumers spread out the cost of flights, accommodations, experiences and more into biweekly or monthly payments at Expedia, Vrbo, Priceline, Delta Vacations, and more. If approved, Affirm can help you stay in budget by letting you pay on a schedule that works best for you, and never charges you more than you agree to upfront. More Background: Affirm’s mission is to deliver honest financial products that improve lives. By building a new kind of payment network — one based on trust, transparency and putting people first — we empower millions of consumers to spend and save responsibly, and give thousands of businesses the tools to fuel growth. Unlike credit cards and other pay-over-time options, we show consumers exactly what they will pay up front, never increase that amount, and never charge any late or hidden fees. Follow Affirm on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter. Payment options through Affirm are subject to an eligibility check, may not be available in all states, and are provided by these lending partners: affirm.com/lenders. CA residents: Loans by Affirm Loan Services, LLC are made or arranged pursuant to a California Finance Lender license. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 17, 2021 03:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Khosla Leads $11M Round in Lexion, a Fast Growing AI-Powered Contract Management System

Lexion

Lexion, an AI-powered contract management system, announced an oversubscribed $11 million Series A round led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from existing investors Madrona Venture Group and Wilson Sonsini, bringing the total invested to $15.2 million. Kanu Gulati from Khosla Ventures will join Lexion's board. The Seattle based company plans to use these funds to scale go-to-market functions, drive further AI and product innovation, and grow the team, with a mission to offer a simple contract lifecycle management system (CLMs) that just works. Many CLMs on the market are complex, require an extensive amount of time and resources to implement, and a significant amount of change management to derive meaningful value. Lexion offers the opposite by delivering an intuitive system supported by a cutting-edge, AI-powered backend, that is simple enough for entire organizations to adopt, and takes just days to implement. “In-house lawyers spend far too much time on mundane tasks like checking if an active NDA exists, or manually filling out spreadsheets to track key dates and non-standard terms in their contracts,” said Gaurav Oberoi, co-founder and CEO of Lexion. “What makes Lexion special, in this rapidly growing industry, is that it’s a sophisticated AI product that’s incredibly easy to use, accurate, and fast, and eliminates rote work by automatically pulling these key data points from contracts. The result is that legal teams spend a fraction of the time on administrative tasks, and more time helping their teammates in sales, finance, and procurement win deals and grow the business.” According to Gartner, legal departments will increase their technology spend 300% by 2025, and yet only realize 30% of the potential benefit of their CLM investments because of the complexities of requirements gathering, change management, and user adoption. Oberoi believes that Lexion is perfectly poised to capture this demand by offering a pragmatic platform that solves immediate business needs through automation, and without unneeded complex features that go unused. “We invested in Lexion because their team has the rare combination of deep technical expertise in building sophisticated AI systems, and a proven track record in delivering SaaS applications that solve real problems,” said Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures. “This combination of cutting-edge technology, with simple and practical application, is exactly how the value of AI will get realized in corporations, and is why we think Lexion has a winning advantage in this space.” For two years in a row, Lexion was the only CLM recognized in CB Insights list of the 100 most innovative AI startups. Incubated at the Allen Institute for AI (AI2) in 2019, Lexion built a state-of-the-art NLP system that turns any contract text into structured data and delivers it in an intuitive repository with instant search, reporting, alerts, permissions, and integrations. In the last 6 months, Lexion has seen rapid growth, increasing revenues 400% and bringing on major brands like OfferUp, Blue Nile, and Outreach. “Lexion is an incredible addition to our toolkit, saving my team hours in filing, finding, and reporting on contracts”, said Nathan Garnett, General Counsel at OfferUp. “Not only was it quick to get up and running with all of our legacy agreements, but it’s also easy enough to use that we didn’t have to spend time on user training and rollout. Their integration with e-signature means all contracts are automatically filed away, and my team can focus on helping drive business results, instead of on administrative tasks.” Next, the company is expanding its offering to help legal teams manage the entire contracting process. Lexion is rolling out a new workflow module that allows customers to create customized intake forms, track the status of projects, manage drafts, secure approvals, and report on KPIs. Scheduled for full general availability in Q3 2021, Lexion’s end-to-end solution will serve as the hub for data driven legal teams to manage contracts from start to finish, with their signature focus on simplicity and easy adoption. About Lexion Lexion is an AI-powered contract lifecycle management system that just works. We’re on a mission to make the lives of legal teams easier so they can focus on more strategic work. We use best in class natural language processing technologies to make it 100x easier for lawyers and other corporate leaders to find the information they need in their contracts fast. Our solution is also incredibly intuitive and simple to implement. We are a spinout of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s artificial intelligence research institute (AI2) and we’re backed by the same investors that funded OpenAI (Khosla Ventures), helped launch Amazon (Madrona Venture Group), and have advisedGoogle (Wilson Sonsini). With a top notch and experienced team from Microsoft, Facebook, Google, AI2, and Amazon, we built a company that CB Insights ranked the #1 most promising AI legal tech startup in the world two years in a row (2020, 2021). Most importantly, fantastic brands trust Lexion to manage their contracts: Outreach, OfferUp, Blue Nile, and many more. Visit https://lexion.ai for more. About the Allen Institute for AI (AI2) AI2 was founded in 2014 with the singular focus of conducting high-impact research and engineering in the field of artificial intelligence, all for the common good. AI2 is the creation of Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder, and is led by Dr. Oren Etzioni, a leading researcher in the field of AI. AI2 employs more than 100 top-notch researchers and engineers from across the globe. AI2 prides itself on the diversity and collaboration of our team and takes a results-oriented approach to complex challenges in AI. Learn more at allenai.org. About Khosla Ventures Khosla Ventures makes early-stage venture capital investments and provides strategic advice to entrepreneurs building companies with lasting significance. The firm was founded in 2004 by Vinod Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems. Khosla Ventures focuses on a broad range of sectors including artificial intelligence, agriculture/food, consumer, enterprise, financial services, health, space, sustainable energy, robotics, VR/AR and 3D printing. About Madrona Madrona ( www.madrona.com ) is a venture capital firm based in Seattle, WA. With more than 25 years of investing in early-stage technology companies, the firm has worked with founders from Day One to help build their company for the long run. Madrona invests predominantly in seed and Series A rounds across the information technology spectrum, and in 2018 raised the first fund dedicated to initial investments in acceleration stage (Series B and C stages) companies. Madrona manages over $2 billion and was an early investor in companies such as Amazon, Smartsheet, Isilon, Redfin, and Snowflake. About Wilson Sonsini For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini has offered a broad range of legal services focused on solving the challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leader in the fields of corporate governance and finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities litigation, employment law, intellectual property, and antitrust, among many other areas of law. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has offices in Austin; Beijing; Boston; Brussels; Hong Kong; London; Los Angeles; New York; Palo Alto; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; Shanghai; Washington, D.C.; and Wilmington, DE. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com. Contact Details Forrest Carman +1 206-859-3118 forrestc@owenmedia.com Company Website https://lexion.ai/

June 17, 2021 08:04 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Lightbits Labs Named to CRN 2021 Software-Defined Data Center 50 List

Lightbits Labs

Lightbits Labs™, the pioneer and leader in NVMe™ over TCP (NVMe/TCP) cloud-native storage, today announced that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Lightbits to its 2021 Software-Defined Data Center 50 list. Propelled by the need for agility and flexibility, enterprise IT organizations are modernizing their data centers by leveraging cloud-native, software-defined solutions that enable automation, resource pooling, and virtualization. The annual list acknowledges technology vendors that partner with solution providers to deliver software-defined solutions that play a critical role in the hybrid cloud and data-driven era. CRN’s Software-Defined Data Center 50 List recognizes forward-thinking technology providers that seek to nurture, innovate, and grow the data center industry with modern, software-centric technologies. The list is selected by a panel of CRN editors each year, who review companies based on feedback from solution providers in the industry, as well as the strength of the vendors’ technology portfolios, effectiveness, visibility, business and sales influence, and their impact on the channel. Lightbits was chosen as a premier technology supplier based on the strength of the product portfolio it offers through partners, as well as its overall standing in the IT channel. “We are pleased to have been named to the CRN Software-Defined Data Center 50 List for our achievements in delivering the performance, flexibility, and cost-efficiencies IT organizations need,” said Josh Goldenhar, VP of Product at Lightbits. “CRN has honored Lightbits with various awards, validating our technology innovation in driving digital transformation and meeting the needs of the modern data center.” “From industry stalwarts to innovative startups, these vendors are transforming the software-defined data center market, partnering with top solution providers to create agile, efficient, cost-effective data center solutions that foster scalable, easy-to-manage IT environments,” said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. “We at The Channel Company congratulate them on their dedication to delivering best-in-class data center products and services to help improve business across the industry. They are truly raising the bar for the modern data center.” Lightbits LightOS™ provides NVMe-based, software-defined storage that enables easily scalable capacity, enterprise-class data services, flash-optimized efficiency, and independent scaling of compute and storage resources. It runs on commodity storage servers over standard Ethernet networks and requires zero modification to the application servers to achieve lower cost, greater scalability, and better performance than DAS or other software-defined storage solutions based on Ceph or iSCSI. The company is on a mission to democratize hyperscale storage, making these efficiencies available to enterprise IT organizations supporting high-performance databases (both SQL and NoSQL-based), big data analytics, and web-scale environments using either virtual or container-based architectures. “Congratulations to Lightbits for their continued recognition by CRN and their inclusion on the publication’s Software-Defined Data Center 50 List,” said Alexey Stolyar, Director of Development at International Computer Concepts (ICC). “We have confidence that when we implement LightOS to simplify our customer's cloud infrastructure, accelerate their applications, and scale their capacity in line with the demands of their business that Lightbits can deliver on those promises.” The Software-Defined Data Center 50 list is featured online at www.CRN.com/SDDC50 Additional resources: Lightbits Labs Reshapes the Software-Defined Block Storage Landscape Lightbits Labs Named Digital Innovator 2021 Customer Success Story: Finanz Informatik Technologie Service About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. © 2021 The Channel Company, LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. About International Computer Concepts (ICC) International Computer Concepts (ICC) is a leading provider of IT technology. Since 1993, ICC has been integrating computing systems with the latest hardware and software components to meet the rapidly changing business and IT requirements of its clients. With a focus on technical expertise and delivering energy-efficient and high-performance solutions, ICC uses only the best components available to design and assemble computing systems. Based in Northbrook, Illinois, ICC works closely with clients that include local businesses, multinational corporations, institutions of higher learning, and government agencies to equip them with superb computers. For more information on International Computer Concepts (ICC), visit http://www.icc-usa.com/. About Lightbits Labs Lightbits Labs’ mission is to lead the cloud-native data center transformation by delivering scalable and efficient software defined storage that is easy to consume. Founded in 2016, Lightbits brings the agility of hyperscale storage to private clouds and edge clouds. The company pioneered NVMe/TCP so the solution is easy to deploy at scale, while delivering performance that is similar to local flash. Lightbits Labs is backed by strategic investors including Cisco Investments, Dell Technologies Capital, Intel Capital, and Micron, as well as top investors and VCs including Avigdor Willenz, Lip-Bu Tan, Marius Nacht, SquarePeg Capital, and Celesta Capital. Visit www.lightbitslabs.com or contact us at info@lightbitslabs.com. Follow Lightbits Labs: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook Lightbits, Lightbits Labs, LightOS, and Lightbits SuperSSD are trademarks of Lightbits Labs, Ltd. ### Contact Details Lightbits Labs Carol Platz pr@lightbitslabs.com Company Website https://www.lightbitslabs.com/

June 17, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Survey Says 66% Of California Independent Physicians Have Optimistic Outlook, While COVID-19 Pandemic Spurred Re-evaluation of Their Work Lives

Altais

While clinician burnout following the COVID-19 pandemic has been widely documented, a recent survey of independent physicians across California, conducted by Altais, in partnership with California Medical Association and Brown & Toland Physicians, indicates that, in California, the news is not all bad: 66% of respondents characterized as “very or somewhat optimistic” their general outlook and attitude looking to the future, vs. 20% who feel “very or somewhat pessimistic.” 65% reported experiencing “excellent or good” overall physical and mental health right now, vs. 14% reporting “fair or poor” overall health. At the same time, the survey made clear that the last 16 months of the pandemic have had an impact on how providers view their professional choices: 56% of respondents reported that a primary source of work-related stress during the pandemic was the overall financial performance of their practice; 42% named reduced patient visits as a primary stressor. 44% responded that the pandemic “changed how I think about work-life balance.” 35% reported that the pandemic “confirmed my commitment to independent practice,” while 25% said they “question my commitment to independent practice.” 35% reported that the pandemic “confirmed my commitment to practicing medicine,” while only 14% say they question that commitment. Telehealth and other technologies played a significant role in helping physicians and patients navigate the pandemic, and they appear to be a permanent part of healthcare’s future. Respondents confirmed this shift as follows: 30% responded that the past year “made me want to use technology more to see my patients.” 47% had not previously used telehealth to see patients. 39% responded that telehealth “played a crucial role in my ability to continue to care for patients.” 46% see telehealth as “a staple” of future practice. 4% reported that telehealth “did not work for my practice” According to Medscape’s 2021 Physician Burnout & Suicide Report, 42% of physicians reported feeling burnout in 2020. “We’ve known about the challenge of physician burnout for a long time,” said Dr. Jeff Bailet, CEO of Altais. “Pressures are particularly keen for independent physicians, which is why Altais’ mission is to create business systems and solutions specifically for them. Physician gratification is the critical fourth element of healthcare’s quadruple aim. We’re encouraged by the survey respondents’ increased optimism and renewed commitment to the practice of medicine. At the same time, we hear their need for more support loud and clear.” Survey methodology and respondents The survey was conducted online, shared via email with 9,564 independent physicians throughout California, in April and May 2021. About the 318 respondents: Geographic distribution: 51% are located in the greater San Francisco Bay Area; 18% in the greater Los Angeles area; 11% in greater San Diego and 20% distributed throughout the rest of the state. Type of medical practice: 58% are a specialty practice; 42% are primary care. Size of practice: 83% are in small/solo practice (fewer than 10 practitioners). About Altais Altais is a healthcare services company that helps physicians and the clinical community maximize the health and well-being of their patients in an affordable and sustainable way. Altais has two divisions. Altais Clinical Services offers a range of affiliation and employment models for physicians, and high-quality, affordable care for patients. Altais Health offers a broad platform of clinical support tools and technology, along with high-touch support. Altais seeks to enhance the vibrancy of physician practice and strengthen the heart of medicine – physicians connecting with patients and providing personalized, high-quality care. For more information about Altais, please visit www.altais.com. Editors, please note: Photos and interviews are available by contacting Robin Carr at (415) 971-3991 or Altais@landispr.com. Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 altais@landispr.com Company Website https://altais.com/

June 16, 2021 06:22 AM Pacific Daylight Time

SIPPIO Unveils Partner Portal ©

SIPPIO

Unifying access to sales, management, CX, governance and support in a single portal provides partners and carriers with the visibility and control to manage quote to cash and automated customer activations to create monthly recurring revenue streams SIPPIO, the only company to offer a 100 percent, Azure-native based cloud platform, today introduced SIPPIO Partner Panel. Built for the channel, this partner-centric application provides carriers, managed service providers (MSPs), telco resellers and system integrators with a single portal to sell, deploy, manage, and support their entire global customer portfolio while growing a sustainable, healthy voice practice. Partner Portal automates the entire quote to cash process to increase revenue, maximize profits per user and offer cross-sell/upsell opportunity by reducing sales admin, operations, and support overhead. “To expand and grow, partners need to effortlessly provide sales quotes and seamlessly convert prospects into new revenue streams in record time. SIPPIO Partner Portal expedites billing and collections, protects against revenue deferment and requires minimal support,” said SIPPIO CEO, Adam Cole. A single pane of glass across the entire customer portfolio provides a comprehensive, modular and flexible view into inventory and asset management. Partner Portal’s holistic experience includes all SIPPIO Voice Panel functionality to quickly activate and manage users by eliminating manual and time-consuming tasks through automation. The SIPPIO global platform was designed and architected for Microsoft Azure, leverages superpipes into Microsoft Teams and includes customer and partner management applications. With a complete end-to-end platform, SIPPIO eliminates the cost, complexity, and time of building direct routing as a ‘one-off’. This ensures reliability and redundancy on a global scale with the highest levels of security, compliance, and data privacy. Partners can quickly establish recurring revenue streams while drastically reducing support costs and the risk of potential migration downtime with automated tenant provisioning, account activation, number porting and DID assignment. With SIPPIO, users activate in minutes and require minimal support. “Instead of waiting seven months for other service providers to design and implement expensive, hypothetically comparable solutions, SIPPIO, architected for scale and speed, is available today for activation of any size organization,” added Cole. Partner Portal APIs streamline integration with third-party platforms, allowing solutions providers to import their own SKUs and move underlying data to and from CRM, ERP and billing systems. Access to insights and data intelligence accelerates cashflow by reducing days outstanding for accounts receivable, recognizing top line revenue and automating billing and collection oversight. SIPPIO is committed to empowering channel partners and carriers with capabilities to capitalize on demand for voice-enabled collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams. By minimizing resource consumption from end-to-end, SIPPIO expands the universe of potential customers for partners, making it economically viable to pursue smaller companies as well as Fortune 500 enterprises. “Our company’s primary objective is providing the channel ecosystem with the resources to maximize profits, customer experience and platform performance while minimizing costs. With Partner Portal, we enable carriers and partners worldwide to offer value-added services across entire portfolios, fueling incremental revenue growth and increasing average revenue per user,” noted SIPPIO Chief Evangelist, Paul McMillan. ### About SIPPIO Headquartered in Annapolis, MD, SIPPIO is the largest platform provider to enable voice in Microsoft Teams. As a Co-Sell Preferred partner, SIPPIO provides partners and carriers with a fully automated, Azure native, end-to-end solution. Available globally with toll free and emergency services, SIPPIO does not require any code, build or maintenance. SIPPIO activates full calling capabilities in minutes and scales with business needs to enhance communications and collaboration to unify the modern workplace experience. Visit www.sippio.io for additional information. Contact Details Mostafa Razzak +1 917-912-0623 m.razzak@jmrconnect.net Company Website http://www.sippio.io

June 16, 2021 09:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time

COMCAST AND FAMILY PROMISE OF SPOKANE LAUNCH FREE WIFI-CONNECTED “LIFT ZONES” AT LOCAL SHELTERS

Comcast Washington

Comcast Washington and Family Promise of Spokane today announced the opening of WiFi-connected Lift Zones at three family shelters across the City of Spokane. Comcast is equipping the Family Promise shelters with free robust WiFi technology that will help dozens of vulnerable students participate in distance learning and do their homework, and ensure adults and families are able to access needed online resources as they seek to transition into a stable home. In addition to Lift Zones, Comcast is providing new laptop computers to support the Family Promise of Spokane transitional housing program. The new devices provide families transitioning into permanent housing with technology that they can use for schooling, seeking jobs, applying for assistance programs, and more. The COVID-19 crisis has also worsened the gap in access to internet and technology that adults and families living in homelessness experience. Comcast Lift Zones are uniquely positioned to address this issue by providing robust WiFi technology for free in community centers that lack consistent access to the internet. Lift Zones at the following shelters will offer internet connectivity and technology access in a safe and positive place and strengthen Family Promise of Spokane’s efforts to help families transition from homelessness into a more stable situation: The Mission House– 2012 E Mission Ave Spokane, WA 99202 Open Doors Family Emergency Shelter– 2002 E Mission Ave Spokane, WA 99202 The Harston House – 904 E Hartson Ave Spokane, WA 99202 “For the families we serve, the internet is a key tool that helps them connect to so many different resources they need. From online learning for their kids, to finding housing and employment, to applying for government support and resources, it is invaluable, especially during this global pandemic,” said Joe Ader, Executive Director, Family Promise of Spokane. “By providing free connectivity to families, Comcast is helping us make a tremendous impact at a time of when it is deeply needed.” The new robust WiFi coverage is so effective it has reduced the number of troubleshooting cases the IT and Data Systems team manages for families onsite, allowing it to focus on other programs the shelter is building to address homelessness in Spokane County. “Internet is one of the most important resources we offer our clients and prior to the Comcast Lift Zone technology we would typically have roughly 60 connectivity troubleshooting issues in a given week,” said J Wylie, IT and Data Systems Manager for Family Promise of Spokane. “The new WiFi connection has greatly reduced these issues, allowing my team to focus on other technology and data projects that will help us better understand and serve our local vulnerable community members.” “Our work with Family Promise over the last several years has been focused on addressing digital equity gaps, by providing affordable internet connectivity to local families transitioning out of homeless,” said Kris Workman, Senior Director, Comcast in Spokane. “By opening Lift Zones at these shelters, we can take that work one step further by powering these Family Promise buildings with robust WiFi connectivity that their families can use while they are onsite.” Lift Zones complement Comcast’s Internet Essentials program and is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to help connect low-income families to the Internet in and outside of the home. Comcast plans to complete 80 Lift Zones in Washington by the end of 2021. Internet Essentials is Comcast’s signature digital equity initiative and the nation’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program. Since 2011, Internet Essentials has connected more than 10 million people in America to broadband internet at home, including 60,000 in Spokane County. Today’s announcement also comes on the heels of Comcast’s  recent $1 billion commitment  over the next 10 years to help further close the digital divide and give even more low-income students and families the tools and resources they need to succeed in a digital world.   For more information about Comcast’s comprehensive connectivity program for low-income Americans visit https://corporate.comcast.com/values/internet-essentials About Family Promise of Spokane Family Promise of Spokane helps local communities coordinate their compassion to address the root causes of family homelessness. The organization taps existing local resources to empower families towards economic stability. Families come to them in crisis; Family Promise of Spokane helps them rebuild their lives with new skills and ongoing support. The nonprofit addresses the issue holistically, providing prevention services before families reach crisis, shelter and case management when they become homeless, and stabilization programs once they have secured housing to ensure they remain independent. For more information visit www.familypromiseofspokane.org/ About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest video, high-speed Internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe's leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content through its pay television services. It also provides communications services, including residential high-speed Internet, phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks, produces original content, and has exclusive content rights. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Washington Nick McDonald +1 425-977-5565 Nick_McDonald@Comcast.com Family Promise of Spokane Craig Howard +15097683083 choward@familypromiseofspokane.org Company Website https://washington.comcast.com/

June 16, 2021 05:57 AM Pacific Daylight Time

CSG Systems International Adjusts Convertible Debt Conversion Rate for 2016 Convertible Notes as a Result of Dividend

CSG

DENVER, June 16, 2021 — CSG ® (NASDAQ: CSGS) today announced that as a result of its second quarter dividend of $0.25 per share on its common stock, it will adjust the conversion rate for its outstanding 4.25% Senior Convertible Notes issued in March 2016 (the “2016 Convertible Notes”). The adjustments are made in accordance with the terms of the Indenture Agreement. CSG’s 2016 Convertible Notes (Unrestricted CUSIP Number 126349 AF6) mature on March 15, 2036 and the original $230,000,000 aggregate principal amount remains outstanding. Effective June 11, 2021, the conversion rate for the 2016 Convertible Notes has been adjusted to 17.7159 shares for each $1,000 in principal amount of 2016 Convertible Notes (equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $56.45) per share of CSG common stock. About CSG For more than 35 years, CSG has simplified the complexity of business, delivering innovative customer engagement solutions that help companies acquire, monetize, engage, and retain customers. Operating across more than 120 countries worldwide, CSG manages billions of critical customer interactions annually, and its award-winning suite of software and services allow companies across dozens of industries to tackle their biggest business challenges and thrive in an ever-changing marketplace. CSG is the trusted provider for driving digital innovation for hundreds of leading global brands, including Airtel Africa, América Móvil, AT&T, Charter Communications, Comcast, DISH, Formula 1, Hutchison 3 Indonesia, Inmarsat, Mastercard, Maximus, Microsoft, Mobily, MTN, New Leaf Service Contracts, State of California DMV, TalkTalk and Telstra. To learn more, visit our website at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Copyright © 2021 CSG Systems International, Inc. and/or its affiliates (“CSG”). All rights reserved. CSG® is a registered trademark of CSG Systems International, Inc. All third-party trademarks, service marks, and/or product names which are referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners, and all rights therein are reserved. Contact Details John Rea +1 210-687-4409 john.rea@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

June 16, 2021 06:30 AM Mountain Daylight Time

ForwardPMX Expands Agency Consultancy Solutions and Appoints Femi Taiwo as New Head of Consultancy for Europe

ForwardPMX

ForwardPMX, the global data and technology-driven marketing services company, has announced the appointment of Femi Taiwo as Head of Consultancy for Europe. Taiwo joins ForwardPMX from a previous leadership position at OMD, bringing over 10 years of experience in digital marketing and consultancy solutions, as well as significant industry thought leadership and participation across a number of global award programs including the AOP Digital Publishing Awards and the M&M Global Awards. In the new role, Taiwo will drive the wider business strategy for consultancy services within ForwardPMX, with a focus on key areas such as in-housing media, data ownership and strategy, including international growth and expansion. Additionally, he will support the business across new and existing client accounts, creating opportunities for ForwardPMX to deliver products that answer clients’ more complex business challenges. ForwardPMX Global Head of Consultancy, Tom Manning, commented, “Consultancy is one of the fastest growing areas of our business, and that’s a huge testament to our teams. It’s fantastic to bring in such an incredible talent as Femi into this leadership role to collaborate and lead across the business to take our consultancy engagements to the next level.” ForwardPMX continues to grow its strong presence internationally with over 1,000 experts across more than 15 countries worldwide. Moving with the changing market, the agency has built up its Consultancy capabilities over the last several years and continues to embed them within the business to help clients identify strategic areas of growth. With the accelerated shift to digital and e-commerce through COVID-19, ForwardPMX was able to aid clients globally in pivoting to new routes to market and developing a deeper understanding of the changes in their customers’ behavior to impact their decision making. Manning added, “More than ever, brands are looking to us as growth partners who can push beyond media to help them digitally accelerate and find new revenue streams. By adding Femi to the team, we’re furthering our commitment and confidence in this space, allowing us to deliver more innovative solutions for our clients.” On joining ForwardPMX, Taiwo said, “I’m thrilled to be joining this dynamic team. ForwardPMX has not only achieved significant growth over the last several years, but they also have a strong proposition that has evolved to answer the needs of senior level stakeholders within client businesses. I share a common vision with the leadership team at ForwardPMX about where we need to go as a business to continue to be the partner that brands need in today’s complex digital, data and technology-led environment.” About ForwardPMX: ForwardPMX is a global data and technology driven marketing services company, designed to help brands find the change that delivers meaningful growth to their businesses. With over 20 offices worldwide and 1,000 of the industry's most distinguished talent, ForwardPMX brings a unified global vision, with local depth and expertise across a comprehensive set of data, technology, consultancy and performance solutions that reach people all over the world. By pairing people with data-led process and powerful technology capabilities, ForwardPMX is uniquely positioned to deliver scale and accelerate problem solving. ForwardPMX is a proud member of The Stagwell Group. About The Stagwell Group: The Stagwell Group is the first and only independent, digital-first, and fully integrated organization of size & scale servicing global brands across the continuum of marketing services. The group includes over 9000 employees operating in more than 25 offices around the world. Collaborative by design, The Stagwell Group is not weighed down by legacy points of view and its people are united in their desire to innovate, evolve, grow and deliver superior results for their clients. Stagwell’s high growth brands include experts in four categories: digital transformation and marketing, research and insights, marketing communications, and content and media. For more information go to: www.stagwellgroup.com Contact Details ForwardPMX Dammi Afolabi - Marketing Communications Manager (EMEA) +44 7958 069108 dammi.afolabi@forwardpmx.com Company Website https://www.forwardpmx.com/

June 16, 2021 05:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Printing Franchise in Bethesda, MD Celebrates Grand Reopening

Minuteman Press International Inc

Located at 8210 Wisconsin Avenue, Minuteman Press in Bethesda held its grand reopening event on May 15 th in conjunction with the Rockville Chamber of Commerce. Owner Leslie Klein was excited to celebrate the renovations of her center as well as the return of local community events to Bethesda. She says, “We redid our lobby, added a new envelope printer, and rearranged our layout to optimize our production and best serve our clients. It feels fantastic to celebrate our grand reopening!” As she reflects on her grand reopening as well as the past year, Leslie says, “The pandemic took its toll on everyone and we are just thrilled to be able to move forward. Last year, we remained open as an essential business and continued to support and serve our community in any way we could. For example, I reached out to all of the local school districts and we ended up printing and distributing 3,000 graduation yard signs, which was really gratifying.” Today, Leslie is happy to get back to business. “As soon as networking events opened back up, I jumped on board and attended all sorts of networking and speed networking sessions. This past week alone, I received two jobs for orders from people who referred me from those events. It feels great to get back out there and let people know what Minuteman Press in Bethesda is all about.” Some of the popular high-demand items that Leslie’s team provides to clients right now include bulk mailings, banners and signs (large format printing), promotional products, and custom printing for events and trade shows. Leslie says, “Community events are coming back and this summer is already heating up for us. We have already been selected to be the print supplier for two golf tournaments. For one of the upcoming golf outings, we are producing 60 double-sided yard signs, retractable banners, table tents, and promotional magnets.” Leslie adds, “As for bulk mailings, I’ve done my research on direct mail and I’ve really made it a point of focus at networking events. I talk about direct mail in Chamber groups, my BNI group, and to my customers. We are able to help them market themselves and our ability to design, print, and do the mailings for them makes it easy for our clients.” “Our clients will give us an idea of what they want and as marketing and printing professionals we’re able to help them figure out what they really need. We are a small business with a team that works really well together. What I’ve learned is that print is here to stay and we can assist our clients with customized products and services that make sense for their needs and their bottom lines.” -Leslie Klein, owner, Minuteman Press franchise, Bethesda, Maryland From Nursing to Printing Prior to buying Minuteman Press in Bethesda in November 2019, Leslie Klein worked 25 years as a nurse and also spent time raising her three children. She says, “I loved being a nurse but I always wanted to do something entrepreneurial for myself. My husband and I decided to go to the local franchise show in April 2019 because it was fun to see what opportunities were out there. I always thought I might end up with a business related to gardening since it’s a hobby of mine, and I also looked at other options such as an eyelash/cosmetics franchise. I met Minuteman Press Regional Vice President Bob Heimbuch at the show and learned about printing. We did our research, the price was right, and by the middle of May we put down a deposit for Minuteman Press in Bethesda.” “Minuteman Press provided me with a turnkey business where I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. I love everything about the ongoing local support Minuteman Press provides as well as the business model where I have nights, weekends, and holidays off. I enjoyed being a nurse but the hours were hard and I left the field to raise my kids. I love what I am doing now and I feel my quality of life and work-life balance are far superior than when I was working in hospitals.” -Leslie Klein When asked about the rewards of owning her own business, Leslie answers, “My staff is absolutely amazing and we work well together to best serve our customers.” She concludes, “Being able to fulfill custom orders and keeping my clients happy is such a great feeling. Being able to learn and grow with them is my ultimate reward.” Minuteman Press in Bethesda has been awarded the 2021 Best of Bethesda Award in the Commercial Printers, Designers & Marketers category. The award from the Bethesda Award Program recognizes Leslie and her team for working to “enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Bethesda, call (301) 656-1188 or visit https://www.mmpbethesda.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

June 15, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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