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First United States Open Registry to be Launched in Washington, DC

COPE

A landmark Revitalization Plan for US Maritime Trade, Commerce and Strategic Competition to support and assist in resolving America’s supply chain crisis, ensure maritime sovereignty and security, and revitalize maritime commerce will be launched at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on February 1, 2022, at 1:30PM with remarks by Ambassador John D. Negroponte, the first U.S. Director of National Intelligence and former Deputy Secretary of State; the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Honorable Albert Bryan, Jr.; and President Eric R. Dawicki of the Northeast Maritime Institute. Highlights of the Plan include the formation of the first U.S. open registry, and other maritime initiatives designed to make the United States more competitive and propel it into a stronger leadership position as a maritime nation. Governor Bryan and President Dawicki will participate in the signing of a historic agreement between the U.S. Virgin Islands and Northeast Maritime Institute which features the collaboration on the development of the first open U.S. registry. Following initial remarks outlining the Revitalization Plan, there will be a panel discussion moderated by Jeremy Greenwood, a Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Strobe Talbott Center on Security, Strategy, and Technology. Panel participants include Stephen Flynn, PhD, Founding Director of the Center for Global Resilience at Northeastern University, leading Homeland Security advisor under the Bush and Obama administrations, and global expert on supply chain resilience; Admiral James Watson, Northeast Maritime Institute Trustee and former Director of Prevention Policy for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship at the United States Coast Guard and the first Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement at the US Department of Interior; Captain Anuj Chopra, Co-Founder & CEO of FNI ESGPlus; Carleen Lyden Walker, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association, and Captain John Konrad, Founder and CEO of gCaptain. Additional commentary will be provided by Nishan Degnarain, former Chairman of the World Economic Forum – Global Agenda Council on Oceans; Jonathan Kempe, Verifai Australia; and Dr. Sal Mercogliano, PhD, Campbell University. Remarks from all are expected to cover topics such as decarbonization of shipping, capital investment in new technologies, supply chain security, transparency in shipping, economic growth opportunities, the status of the U.S. maritime industry, U.S. national security interests, and more. The event will outline how implementation of the Revitalization Plan for US Maritime Trade, Commerce and Strategic Competition will provide economic stability and environmental protection, as well as revitalize the position of the United States as a major competitor in international maritime trade and commerce while enhancing national security, both domestically and internationally. A Revitalization Plan for US Maritime Trade, Commerce and Strategic Competition was developed by a team of Distinguished Fellows at the Northeast Maritime Institute – Center for Ocean Policy and Economics (COPE) and advised by an array of leading thinkers in the maritime industry. Key elements of the plan include: Formation of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ open international ship registry—the first, and only, international U.S. open ship registry. Development of a short sea transshipment hub in the Caribbean to alleviate supply chain congestion by moving a portion of east coast distribution from land to sea and increasing the number of ports importing ever-increasing quantities of goods from overseas. Build public/private/international partnerships to address strategic maritime issues, increase transparency and enforce legal and ethical standards. Establish and implement a green shipping strategy, including decarbonization of the U.S.-flagged fleet. Establishing a Maritime Venture Capital Fund to finance commercially advanced technologies that solve maritime and ocean industry problems with a focus on environmental vulnerabilities. Modernization of the maritime workforce by deploying state of the art education and training tools in the US and abroad. Additional information can be found at COPE Advanced registration to attend this event will be required for access to the live stream. About Northeast Maritime Institute Northeast Maritime Institute (also called NMI) is a private, coeducational, maritime college offering an Associate in Applied Science in Nautical Science degree. Established in 1981, Northeast Maritime Institute is the only private maritime college in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The college was originally established to provide an alternative to traditional education and training, with an emphasis on preparing mariners for employment. Graduates receive an Associate degree and are eligible to receive a United States Coast Guard Masters license upon graduation. The college operates a training ship, the M/V Navigator, as well as the brigantine tall ship S/V Fritha. About COPE The Center for Ocean Policy and Economics (COPE) is hosted by the Northeast Maritime Institute – College of Maritime Science: Created to tackle some of the ocean’s “wicked problems.” A culmination of years of extensive research and conversations with leading experts in the maritime and ocean related fields, COPE is a facilitator for cogent maritime and ocean policy and economic development project initiatives linking academic, corporate, non-governmental, and governmental partners to create impactful solutions. Contact Details COPE Carleen Walker +1 203-260-0480

January 25, 2022 07:51 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Top Camping Destinations in America

YourUpdateTV

In the past several years, there has been tremendous growth in the outdoor travel industry. The increased popularity of camping has been fueled by a combination of long-term trends and more immediate factors related to the pandemic, such as remote work, vacations closer to home, and travelers seeking safe, outdoor vacations away from crowds. Recently, Michael Scheinman, Chief Executive Officer at Campspot, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the top camping destinations in America and results from the first annual Campspot Awards. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/Zsi5jOBc7tE Camping really surged during COVID and has become a go-to option for friends and families to have a fun, safe, socially distant, outdoor vacation. Once people got a flavor for camping, they wanted to keep doing it. For example, from Q2 2020 to Q2 2021: The number of parks on Campspot increased by 145% Nights camped increased 191% The percent of customers who were repeat bookers grew by 21% Reservations placed increased 193% Campspot is now the largest online camping marketplace in North America, with over 140,000 campsites across the United States and Canada According to a customer survey we conducted last year, high quality showers / bathhouses (36%) was the top amenity that matters most when booking a campsite, followed closely by family activities (32%). Family vacation time (27%) was the number one reason consumers say they camp, and not surprisingly, family is who most respondents said they typically camp with (52%). Camping with friends was the second most popular response when it comes to camping companions (22%) followed by spouse (12%), an organized camping or outdoors group (8%), and solo (6%). Some of the top Campgrounds in the US include Angel Fire RV Resort in Angel Fire, NM, Cava Robles RV Resort in Paso Robles, CA, and Dark Sky RV Campground in Kanab, UT. A few of the most popular campgrounds include Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort in Felton, CA, Canyonlands RV Resort & Campground in Moab, UT, and Oceanside RV Resort & Campground in Coos Bay, OR For more information, visit www.Campspot.com, or download the Campspot Mobile App on Apple IOS and Android About Michael Scheinman: As CEO, Scheinman focuses on growing Campspot’s user and supplier base, while continuing to enhance the site’s products, features and functionality. An executive with more than 10 years in the travel industry, Scheinman brings a breadth of experience in e-commerce, technology, and corporate strategy. Prior to joining Campspot, Scheinman headed up Orbitz and CheapTickets, two portfolio brands of online travel giant Expedia Group. Prior, he served as general manager for the lodging division at Hotwire, another of the group's brands. He has also held leadership positions in hotel partnerships, product management, marketing, and business operations. Scheinman holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an undergraduate degree from Cornell University, where he studied Hotel Administration About Campspot: Campspot is a leading online marketplace for RV resorts, family campgrounds, cabins, glamping options and more, providing access to more than 140,000 campsites across the United States and Canada. Campspot’s real-time, cloud-based campground management solution enables a best-in-class reservation system (site inventory and ancillary add-ons) by giving its customers a POS system and the necessary management tools (utility billing, housekeeping tracking, etc.) to provide the best possible user experience. Campspot provides an intuitive easy-to-navigate guest booking experience that returns relevant and easy-to-modify searches, making planning a vacation seamless. For more information, please visit www.campspot.com. Follow Campspot on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Download the Campspot Mobile App on Apple IOS HERE and Android HERE. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

January 25, 2022 02:56 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Jason Carris Buys Independent Print Shop and Converts Business to Minuteman Press Franchise in Red Bank, NJ

Minuteman Press International Inc

Jason Carris is the new owner of Minuteman Press in Red Bank, NJ, which is part of the Middletown Township. Utilizing the Minuteman Press Franchise Conversion Program, Jason purchased independent print shop All American Print & Copy Center, which was in business for 40 years, and took over the location in September 2021. Jason says, “ The biggest advantage of buying this business was having an established clientele. We did our research and made sure the owners were respected by their clients. There was also 40 years of history and track record as well.” What is it like for Jason to be a new local business owner in Red Bank? He says, “Once you make that leap, it’s a very exciting experience to own your own business. We have a vibrant community here and I see the long-term growth potential. I am looking forward to making Minuteman Press a real pillar and trusted business partner in Red Bank / Middletown Township.” Jason further explains, “I think we have a tremendous opportunity to expand our wide format printing business with banners, posters, and signage remaining in high demand for our clients. I am also looking forward to bolstering our in-house mailing and direct mail services to help other local businesses reach their target audiences.” Prior to franchising, Jason worked in medical publishing and digital marketing. He also ran a number of small consulting businesses in his career. He says, “A combination of things – including the pandemic and economic forces – made me decide to go fully into business ownership. My wife Renee has an entrepreneurial spirt as well.” He adds, “ Minuteman Press International and our Regional Vice President Jim Galasso guided us through the purchase of the business step by step. Jim made the process easier to manage and I couldn’t have done this on my own without the help from the team at Minuteman Press.” Why Minuteman Press? Jason answers, “We did a lot of research and Minuteman Press jumped out to us on a number of levels. They were on a lot of top franchise lists, they appealed to people who hadn’t owned a business, and the business seemed easy to learn. In addition to being a highly respected franchise, Minuteman Press had a reasonable cost of entry and I appreciate their cap on royalties.” He continues, “The support has been wonderful. Because there is a 40-year history of the independent print shop we purchased, we have been transitioning the business. It’s great to have the training and support especially since I had not run a business of this scope before.” When asked about the keys to making that leap and becoming a business owner, Jason shares, “I think the two biggest keys to owning a business are to really make sure you feel 100% comfortable with the business model, and to believe in your products and services. Also, it is important to be proactive but also have patience after buying the business. Think about growth potential, and understand there is a learning curve. That’s normal for everyone.” Minuteman Press in Red Bank is located at 518 Route 35, Red Bank, NJ 07701. For more information, call 732-758-6200 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/nj/red-bank. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. For more information on the Minuteman Press Franchise Conversion Program, visit https://bit.ly/minutemanpressconversions. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

January 24, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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ALOFT AeroArchitects Inc. Appoints Scott Meyer as New CEO

Allied Media

ALOFT AeroArchitects announced the appointment of Scott A. Meyer as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Meyer was selected to fill the role in a planned transition due to the retirement of previous CEO, Mr. Robert Sundin, after more than forty years in the aviation industry. Mr. Meyer is an accomplished aerospace and business aviation executive with more than 30 years of experience leading large organizations. After earning his degree and other post-graduate work in aerospace engineering from Purdue University, Scott’s early career focused on leading edge technologies such as solid rocket motor design, advanced material applications for launch vehicles, and aerospace technology-based operations. In the mid-90s, Mr. Meyer transitioned to the transport category business aviation sector where he’s spent nearly two decades in senior leadership roles including as CEO of startup MRO & Completion Center Comlux America LLC and most recently as COO for the North American operations of Flying Colours Corporation. “The business, commercial and defense aviation sectors are rapidly evolving and generating new opportunities as we begin to emerge from the global pandemic coupled with the rapidly changing geo-political environment,” said Mr. Meyer. “We see meaningful growth potential in leveraging ALOFT’s nearly 40 years of progressive capabilities and services to create innovative solutions for a broader aviation community. Our Delaware base of operations provides a very favorable business climate for our current and future customers including ready access to the New York-Washington, D.C. corridor with government and the military markets, large corporations as well as a considerable density of high-net-worth end-users.” Robert Sundin, retiring President and CEO of ALOFT, noted, “Scott is a solid addition to our team, bringing decades of technological expertise, executive gravitas and a practical approach to service excellence. His hands-on leadership and creative problem solving will benefit ALOFT customers and help propel expansion into new and evolving markets.” About ALOFT AeroArchitects ALOFT AeroArchitects specializes in completions, inspections, overhaul, maintenance and auxiliary fuel systems installations for large cabin Head of State, VVIP and government aircraft. The company’s campus includes its FAA Part 145 Repair Station, STC & PMA ODA/Engineering Services and aircraft systems manufacturing. ALOFT is also a Boeing authorized Service Center. The ALOFT manufacturing team and its ODA and Engineering Services are also available to support design and certification requirements for project work on behalf of our global customers. The company holds maintenance authorizations and ratings from the FAA, EASA, U.A.E. GCAA, Bermuda DCA, and a variety of other global approvals. For more information, visit www.aloftaeroarchitects.com. Contact Details Greg Wilson +1 571-239-7474 greg@curleycompany.com

January 20, 2022 09:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

NYPA and SIGA Explore Using Level-0 Monitoring Technology To Overcome Cybersecurity Gaps in the Energy Sector

SIGA OT Solutions

The New York Power Authority (NYPA), America's largest state power organization and SIGA OT Solutions, a leading OT cybersecurity company, formed a collaboration in 2019 as part of a New York State economic development partnership, and have published a white paper based on their findings, called Overcoming Cybersecurity Gaps in the Energy Sector: How to Address Stuxnet-Type Scenarios Using Level-0 Monitoring. NYPA identified cyberattacks as a major threat to its operations in the coming years. NYPA’s cyber division—together with the AGILe team—aimed to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks on its facilities. The main objective of the collaboration is to reveal otherwise undetectable cyber threats—such as unique Stuxnet-type scenarios—using SigaGuard, an advanced electrical signal conditioning and analysis solution. SigaGuard is the leading process-oriented detection (POD) solution based on Level 0 information which cannot be tampered with or masked. Cybersecurity gaps in OT environments need to be addressed taking a multi-level approach, with ongoing threat analysis to minimize the attack surface of potential hackers. When considering adversary tactics and threat models, there is an apparent gap in the field level of the process and sensors, Level 0. This gap was exploited in several cases in recent years and can cause dangerous situations—which can impact the OT process and endanger lives. The recently published white paper describes how NYPA and SIGA collaborated in a simulated attack environment to test these scenarios. The sequence of attacks was carefully designed and executed by NYPA’s AGILe lab team and cyber experts, focusing on the main cyber scenarios which affect the real operation of a sub-station with either false or no reporting to the control level. The test outcome validates the significance of Level 0 monitoring as a holistic approach towards OT cybersecurity, clearly demonstrating the unique advantages of combining POD and Level 0 data. Focusing on electric signals—before they are converted into data packets and filtered by the PLC—is probably the most effective technique for accurately identifying an operation anomaly, regardless of the cause. It can bring the highest possible level of visibility into process equipment and sensor functioning, closing an intractable gap against determined adversaries. Link to white paper: https://sigasec.com/resources/overcoming-cybersecurity-gaps-in-the-energy-sector-how-to-address-stuxnet-type-scenarios-using-level-0-monitoring/ Alan Ettlinger, Sr. Director, Research, Technology Development and Innovation at New York Power Authority, noted: “NYPA places a priority on preventing any downtime, failure or malfunctions of its mission-critical infrastructure, and we invest a great deal of effort and resources to ensure resilience and security. SigaGuard’s monitoring system that detects anomalous behavior and provides real-time validation of process data was demonstrated in a substation environment, which is one of our critical assets, and conforms with NYPA’s innovative deployment plan in the areas of process resilience and security.” Amir Samoiloff, co-founder and CEO of SIGA, added: “SIGA’s cooperation with NYPA has demonstrated a strong and strategic bond with a major utility in the U.S., with the highest professional conduct. This collaboration became possible due to the excellent expertise and motivation of the NYPA team. SIGA is looking forward to deepening its partnership with NYPA’s elite cyber protection team by further integrating SIGA’s cyber security solution, SigaGuard, into additional NYPA critical infrastructure centers.” About NYPA NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the US, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov SIGA OT Solutions Developer of SigaGuard, a technology platform that providesincipient failure detection for infrastructure operators to improve the reliability, safety, and cybersecurity of their assets. SIGA’s technology is US patented and ISO / IEC 27001 certified providing OT monitoring, anomaly detection and cybersecurity solutions for commercial, industrial, critical infrastructure, ICS and SCADA systems. SIGA Data Security and SIGA OT Solutions Inc., a Delaware corporation, boasts satisfied customers in the United States, Europe, Singapore, Japan, and Israel, and were named a Gartner "Cool Vendor" for Industrial IoT and OT Security, and is a recipient of the EU Research and Innovation program - Horizon 2020. For more information visit www.sigasec.com Contact Details SIGA OT Solutions Ilan Sosnovitch +972 50-327-3092 ilan.s@sigasec.com Company Website https://sigasec.com/

January 20, 2022 09:03 AM Eastern Standard Time

iTradeNetwork Launches Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) Solution to Enable Faster, More Collaborative, Data-Driven Food and Beverage Supply Chains

iTradeNetwork

iTradeNetwork, the industry’s largest perishables network with over 8,000 food and beverage trading partners, proudly announces the launch of its Network-as-a-Service (NaaS), a new way for companies to collaborate, transact, and drive more profitable supply chains. Network-as-a-Service quickly establishes trading connections between any two companies in the food and beverage industry to meet the evolving and timely demands of today’s environment. In the last two months, more than 60 new enterprises—including industry giants Trader Joe’s, Aldi and MBM/McLane—have joined iTradeNetwork’s industry-leading network to trade with the thousands of companies already on the network. NaaS offers more than just trading connections. It includes capabilities for buyer-mandated Advance Ship Notices (ASN); allows adherence to regulatory mandates in the U.S. and Canada like the recent Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard and the Safe Food for Canadians Act; provides superior quality via fresh inspection and reduces transportation costs through enhanced freight capabilities. To remain competitive and improve resilience, buyers and sellers need the simplicity of one trading network and a single supply chain analytics hub. This eliminates second-guessing and back-office rework. Network-as-a-Service provides all this and more: Immediate connectivity to any retail grocer or foodservice distributor. Get paid faster and reduce back-office rework: benefit from industry-best invoice matching rates in excess of 97 percent and eliminate manual reconciliation that delays payment. Be more responsive: quickly meet emerging regulations or buyer mandates such as Advanced Ship Notices, the U.S. Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, Safe Food for Canadians Act, FSMA 204 and more. Analytics and insights: take decisive action with supply chain health monitoring, opportunity and trend identification, anomaly management, and contract and pricing evaluations. Collaboration with trading partners: communicate with in-app real-time messaging instead of phone calls and emails. Act quickly on P.O. changes, complete with audit trails. “Today’s supply chains are more complex than ever, but they should not require equally complex tech stacks to manage them. Network-as-a-Service not only connects suppliers and buyers quickly so they can start transacting, but it also provides add-on modules for traceability, freight and other solutions to help suppliers compete and achieve supply chain resiliency,” said Nathan Romney, Chief Product Officer of iTradeNetwork. To learn more about Network-as-a-Service, contact sales@itradnetwork.com. ABOUT ITRADENETWORK iTradeNetwork, Inc. (ITN) is the leading global provider of supply chain management solutions for the food and beverage industry. Built upon deep industry expertise, a rich data foundation and the industry’s most extensive trading partner network, iTradeNetwork’s collaborative solutions allow distributors, manufacturers, operators, retailers, suppliers and wholesalers of all sizes to reduce cost, grow revenue and strengthen trading partner relationships. Today, iTradeNetwork’s growing customer list includes thousands of global companies. For more information, visit: www.itradenetwork.com. Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 itn@landispr.com Company Website https://www.itradenetwork.com/

January 19, 2022 06:01 AM Pacific Standard Time

Fermata Energy Raises $40M in Recent Fundraising Round, Led by Carlyle

Fermata Energy

Fermata Energy, a leading vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology services provider, announced today it has raised $40 million in investments to accelerate the company’s growth. "When I set out to create a company that accelerated the adoption of EVs by making them more affordable, while at the same time fortifying the electric grid, I did not imagine how quickly this technology would take off, and how important our technology would prove to be, particularly in light of climate change," said founder and CEO, David Slutzky, "I could not be more pleased by the recent round of fundraising and projects we now have in operation. Each partner brings unique, strategic benefits, and we are thrilled to leverage those in the coming months.” V2X technology enables electric vehicle (EV) integration with the continued growth in renewable energy into the electric power grid. Fermata Energy’s V2X technology provides essential energy storage to the power grid to facilitate the transition to renewables and provides revenue generation capabilities for vehicle and fleet owners. To transition to a clean energy economy, abundant energy storage must be deployed quickly and at scale. Investment from our new partners, including funds managed by global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) and Verizon Ventures, will allow Fermata Energy's next-generation bidirectional EV charger and accompanying proprietary software to be ready to dispatch power from stored energy in EV batteries directly back into the grid, building, or home. This functionality turns EVs into energy storage resources, and in the process, unlocks and monetizes the massive energy storage potential of EVs. “Bidirectional charging technology will become essential as electric vehicles increasingly become a key component to global decarbonization,” said J.B. Oldenburg, a Managing Director specializing in renewables investing at Carlyle. “We are proud to partner with Fermata Energy to accelerate the deployment of its bidirectional offering and believe Carlyle’s broad network and expertise in business development will help jumpstart the company’s growth.” In July 2021, as part of their participation in the 5G Studio, a collaboration between Verizon and Newlab, Fermata Energy's V2X energy management software successfully leveraged Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network to react to changes in the grid based on near real-time data and with near-zero latency. Through this partnership, Fermata Energy was connected to Verizon Ventures, the corporate strategic investment arm of Verizon that finds and funds the 5G future. "Distributed energy use and storage continue to grow in importance, in part due to the fast-growing EV space,” said Kristina Serafim, Managing Director of Verizon Ventures. "Both 5G and mobile edge compute are integral to the future of managing and tracking distributed clean energy, so Verizon Ventures is excited to support Fermata Energy's incredible team and mission as they help accelerate the adoption of EVs and help to transform renewable energy on the grid." Fermata Energy’s existing investors include Skyview Ventures, I Squared Capital, and ClearSky. "Our partnership with, and investment in, Fermata Energy demonstrates our commitment to being a leader in mobility and vehicle-to-everything technology,” said Andy Karetsky, President, Skyview Ventures. “We look forward to working together to implement a network of vehicle-to-grid charging stations while optimizing grid functionality.” "Fermata Energy's V2X technology has proven to save building owners money and add resilience to the grid," said Alex Weiss, Managing Partner at ClearSky "We are excited to be a part of Fermata Energy's growth at such a critical time for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure." "I Squared Capital has deep expertise in this area, and a robust venture program to help innovative companies, like Fermata Energy, scale at such a critical time in the market," said Peter L. Corsell, InfraTech Fund Partner. "We are committed to accelerating demand for V2X technology as the model for EV adoption." ABOUT FERMATA ENERGY Fermata Energy’s proprietary vehicle-to-everything (V2X) software and bidirectional hardware technology turns EVs into energy-storage assets, and makes it possible for EVs to combat climate change, increase energy resilience, and reduce energy costs. For more information, visit www.fermataenergy.com, and follow us onTwitter (@FermataEnergy), LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@fermata__energy). Contact Details North Coast Strategies Daniel Cherrin +1 313-300-0932 dcherrin@northcoaststrategies.com Company Website https://www.fermataenergy.com

January 14, 2022 08:04 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Surety Industry Launches Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program

SFAA

The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) and the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) are pleased to announce they have jointly developed and launched the surety industry’s new Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program. This free program helps small, new, emerging, minority-owned and other disadvantaged contractors learn how to qualify for construction surety bonds, thereby expanding their business opportunities and providing the services and benefits of these bonds. The Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program includes two components: a set of eLearning modules available online 24/7, which can be taken on demand at the learner’s pace, and an optional mentor program with industry professionals who can provide practical advice and recommendations for the mentee to follow in their efforts to achieve bonding. “The surety industry has a longstanding commitment to providing resources and programs to new and emerging minority contractors. The Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program was specifically designed by industry experts to provide the education needed to understand the bond qualification process,” said Lee Covington, president and CEO of SFAA. “By combining the modernized eLearning platform with a mentoring component, minority, and other contractors now have the opportunity to learn firsthand from professionals inside the industry, gaining valuable insight into the bonding qualification process to expand their business opportunities.” “Many small construction businesses simply are unaware of the value that surety relationships can bring to their business,” related Mark McCallum, CEO of NASBP. “This state-of-the-art educational program conveys those advantages and empowers them with knowledge.” SFAA and NASBP have been joined by several leading construction trade associations to spread awareness of the new educational opportunity including the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), and the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC). “We look forward to making this program available to our AGC members, specifically underserved or disadvantaged contractors,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America. “It provides a great foundation on the bonding application and qualification process and will help these contractors expand into new markets.” “The new Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program is a valuable resource for underrepresented contractors,” said Michael Bellaman, president and CEO of Associated Building and Contractors. “The mentoring component is a critical piece, as these contractors can utilize the experience and expertise of professionals in the surety industry to gain practical knowledge about qualifying for a bond.” For more information about the Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program, or to register, visit www.contractorbondinged.org. ### The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing all segments of the surety and fidelity industry. Based in Washington, D.C., SFAA works to promote the value of surety and fidelity bonding by proactively advocating on behalf of its members and stakeholders. The association’s more than 425 member companies write 98 percent of surety and fidelity bonds in the U.S. For more information visit www.surety.org. Founded in 1942, the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) is the association of and resource for surety bond producers and allied professionals. NASBP members specialize in providing surety bonds for construction contracts and other purposes to companies and individuals needing the assurance offered by surety bonds. https://www.nasbp.org Contact Details SFAA Peter Roth - Vice President – Strategic Communications, Marketing & Research +1 703-401-0676 proth@surety.org Company Website https://surety.org/

January 13, 2022 09:55 AM Eastern Standard Time

American Equipment Holdings Continues Rapid Consolidation of Overhead Crane Industry with Acquisition of Facilities Engineering

Rotunda Capital Partners LLC

American Equipment Holdings (“American Equipment”), a Rotunda Capital Partner s portfolio company, has acquired Facilities Engineering (“Facilities Engineering”), one of the industry’s most respected providers of overhead crane systems and field service solutions. For more than 50 years, Facilities Engineering has been providing OSHA certified overhead crane systems and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) field services throughout the Southwest and broader United States. The acquisition of Facilities Engineering is the fifth acquisition completed by American Equipment since partnering with Rotunda in May of 2021. Based in Anaheim, California, Facilities Engineering will enable American Equipment to better serve its growing MRO customer base in the Southwestern United States and further strengthens American Equipment as the dominant provider of overhead crane systems, hoists and parts nationally. In connection with the transaction, American Equipment also acquired FP Fabrication, a former Demag facility and one of the largest builders of overhead crane systems in the Western U.S. “It is a pleasure to welcome Facilities Engineering to the American Equipment family of businesses,” said American Equipment CEO, Adam Zimmerman. “The Facilities Engineering team, led by Cindy Floriani and Vincent Baroldi, will expand our MRO field services footprint and quoting, engineering and new equipment capabilities for both our regional and national customers.” Facilities Engineering owners Cindy Floriani and Vincent Baroldi will lead Facilities Engineering post-transaction. “We are extremely excited to bring our decades of experience to American Equipment and believe that our combined resources will enable us to better serve our longstanding customer base, while also creating new career and leadership opportunities for our employees,” said Cindy Floriani, co-owner of Facilities Engineering. “American Equipment’s national footprint, expertise and shared resources will enable us to accelerate our growth across both our overhead crane systems and MRO field service offerings,” said Vincent Baroldi, co-owner of Facilities Engineering. About American Equipment Holdings American Equipment Holdings is home to a collection of leading overhead crane and hoist distributors and field service providers, including American Equipment, Allied Crane, Eastern Crane and Hoist, Facilities Engineering, Pacific Crane & Hoist, and Washington Crane & Hoist. The consolidated entity is one of the largest independently owned overhead crane and hoist solutions providers in the country, serving over 4,000 customers across 20 strategic locations throughout Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, South Carolina, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Together, American Equipment Holdings provides comprehensive solutions for everything related to customers’ overhead crane and hoist needs, including OSHA mandated inspections, preventative maintenance and repair field services, parts, engineering, ISO certified fabrication, new and replacement equipment, automated systems, system modernizations and training. American Equipment Holdings represents the industry’s leading manufacturers such as Detroit Hoist, Columbus McKinnon, ACCO, R&M, Demag, Gorbel, Spanco, IMS, Harrington, Conductix, Magnetek & PE, among others and customers rely on its service, design, engineering, fabrication and installation capabilities to meet their unique application needs. American Equipment Holdings serves local, regional and national customers across a variety of end markets, including light & heavy industrial, automotive, mining, public utilities, military, aerospace & defense and energy, among others. For more, visit www.amquipinc.com. American Equipment is aggressively seeking to acquire other overhead crane and material handling equipment and service solution providers and is interested in acquisition opportunities presented by business owners, management, or M&A intermediaries. Please contact Harrison Furse, Rotunda’s VP of Business Development, regarding acquisition opportunities. About Facilities Engineering Founded in 1968 by Donovan Floriani, Facilities Engineering has been providing a full suite of overhead crane & hoist solutions to the industry’s most discerning customers throughout the Southwest and nationally for more than 50 years. Facilities Engineering’s solutions include OSHA mandated inspections, preventative maintenance and repair field services, parts, engineering, new and replacement equipment and system modernizations. Facilities Engineering is headquartered in Anaheim, California. www.bridge-cranes.com. About Rotunda Capital Partners Rotunda Capital Partners is an operationally oriented private equity firm focused on transforming family-founder owned companies into dynamic, data-driven platforms able to achieve and manage significant growth. Since its founding in 2009, Rotunda has partnered with management teams to build great businesses within three primary sectors: value-added distribution, asset-light logistics and industrial & business services. Rotunda strives to achieve replicable results by implementing its Rotunda Performance System to create strategic alignment, develop lean processes and create robust, data-driven infrastructures. For more information, visit www.rotundacapital.com. Contact Details Rotunda Capital Partners Jill Lafferty +1 847-280-1295 jill@rotundacapital.com Company Website https://www.rotundacapital.com

January 13, 2022 07:43 AM Eastern Standard Time

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