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Paralyzed Veterans of America works to end handicapped parking abuse, marks 75th year advocating for accessibility

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/ulJa59_iS_w Accessible parking spaces designed specifically for people with disabilities are often misused, causing added difficulties for paralyzed veterans and others with disabilities. A survey found that 85% of Americans with disabilities struggled to find accessible parking in their communities, and over 50% turned back when they couldn’t find accessible parking. What can be done to combat this problem? Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) has launched the Honor the Spot campaign to encourage all Americans to do their part to keep handicapped parking spaces open for people who need them to be independent. The campaign reminds people that accessible spots are a civil right, and taking them means people with disabilities may not get to appointments and errands. The call to Honor the Spot comes as public spaces open up to larger capacities as pandemic restrictions ease, and as PVA marks its 75 th year as a voice for veterans with spinal cord conditions, and all people with disabilities. PVA is asking people to pledge to be part of the solution at pva.org/HonortheSpot, not to make excuses for taking accessible spots, and not to share handicapped placards for any reason. About Paralyzed Veterans of America: For 75 years, Paralyzed Veterans of America has been the only Veterans service organization dedicated solely to helping Veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), and diseases like MS and ALS. Our team of legislative advocates, architects, medical professionals, lawyers, and other highly trained professionals strives to ensure that every Veteran regains the freedom, independence, and quality of life they fought for. PVA is a major support system for our nation’s paralyzed heroes, their families, and caregivers, through ensuring quality health care; securing earned benefits; fighting for disability civil rights; making America more accessible; helping Veterans find meaningful careers; empowering them through sports, recreation, and wellness programs; and funding both research and education in search for a cure and improved care and autonomy for individuals with paralysis. Operating more than 70 offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, PVA helps paralyzed Veterans and all people with disabilities live fuller, more productive lives. Learn more at pva.org. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 23, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Bumble research reveals how the pandemic has changed dating heading into the ‘summer of love’

YourUpdateTV

Bumble, the women-first dating app and social networking platform, has revealed how the pandemic has shaped the way that single people are dating this summer and beyond as restrictions are beginning to ease and more people are becoming fully vaccinated within the United States every day. Recently, Head of Editorial Content at Bumble, Clare O’Connor, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the survey results and what they suggest about the future of dating. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/w8s692FKpII Following a year of social distancing measures, 91% of survey respondents believe that there is no longer a stigma attached to meeting someone online or through a dating app since the pandemic began. Even more, an overwhelming two-thirds (65%) think that it’s possible to fall in love with someone that they’ve never met in person before. According to the study, the most popular reason why survey respondents enjoy going on virtual dates is that they find it safer to engage with a match virtually before meeting in person. However, that isn’t the only benefit: 1 in 3 (31%) like virtual dates because it saves them time and money, and 1 in 4 (26%) appreciate that they only have to get partially ready (“half-glam”) when going on a video date. Additionally, over half (51%) of Bumble’s community surveyed said that they are updating and refreshing their dating profile right now. For more tips and insights on navigating this new dating landscape, visit bumble.com/finally. Bumble is free and available worldwide in the App Store and Google Play. About Clare O’Connor: Clare O'Connor is Bumble's Head of Editorial Content, working on building out a content platform at the women-first social networking company. Prior to joining Bumble, she spent more than seven years as a staff writer at Forbes, most recently covering women entrepreneurs and workplace equality. During graduate school at Columbia University's School of Journalism, she worked at CNN's Anderson Cooper 360. She was born and brought up in Bermuda About Bumble: Bumble, the women-first social networking app, was founded by CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd in 2014. Bumble connects people across dating (Bumble Date), friendship (Bumble BFF) and professional networking (Bumble Bizz). No matter the type of relationship, women make the first move on Bumble. Bumble is built on the importance of equitable relationships and how crucial they are to a healthy, happy life. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 23, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Summer Beauty Must-Haves

YourUpdateTV

Summer 2021 is here, and it’s safe to say that people have never been more excited to enjoy the season. Recently, Lifestyle Expert Emily L. Foley teamed with YourUpdateTV to discuss the beauty must-haves we need to thrive this season. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/FiAchlstK44 Protection from the Sun Sunscreen is a beauty must-have 365 days a year–not just in the summer! No matter what the weather is, our skin needs broad-spectrum sun protection from both UVA and UVB rays. CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Sheer Tint is a great daily face sunscreen, because it’s a lightweight, 100% mineral sunscreen, which means it’s safe for even sensitive skin, plus it provides a sheer tint that blends well with most skin tones. It really offers sun care and skincare in one–it has that broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen you need, but it also has important skincare ingredients to restore the skin barrier, lock in moisture and soothe skin, like three essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. Good Makeup Habits With people going out and putting on makeup, it’s important to remember to wash off your makeup at the end of the day. But what a lot of people don’t know is that ordinary liquid cleansers can leave up to 30% of your makeup still on your face–especially stubborn eye makeup! That’s why professional makeup artists and people in the know turn to Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes, because they remove even the tiniest traces of makeup to make sure nothing gets in the way of your healthiest skin. It’s always a good idea to do a double cleanse, so for the very best clean and your healthiest possible skin, you should use a wipe first and then cleanse. Healthy Looking Skin Everyone is so excited to pull out their sun dresses and actually get dressed and be seen for the first time in a long time, but that also means our pandemic skin is about to be exposed. It’s important to find products that are easy-to-use and deliver big results, and the Olay Premium Exfoliating Body Wash Collection does just that. Their Exfoliating & Moisturizing Body Wash made with sugar and cocoa butter, massages away dead skin cells to leave skin feeling smooth and renewed and is gentle enough to use every day. It’s full of moisturizing ingredients like Vitamin B3 Complex and petrolatum, which is the #1 dermatologist recommended moisturizer, so it deeply hydrates to nourish the skin. For more information, check out @EmilyLFoley on Instagram About Emily L. Foley: Emily is a freelance writer and on-air beauty and lifestyle expert. Specializing in beauty, fashion, entertainment and The Bachelor franchise (it’s totally a specialty), she writes for magazines such as Allure, Glamour, O, The Oprah Magazine, Marie Claire, US Weekly, and on the web for Brides.com, Refinery29.com, and Glamour.com. She's interviewed Oscar, Grammy and reality show winners; the designers who've dressed them, and the fans who love them. Emily resides in Atlanta with her husband and their exceptionally wonderful young children. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 23, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Phase 4 Services Adds “Science and Quality Powerhouse” Duo to Roster of Cannabis Testing Experts

Phase 4 Services

MCR Labs Director of Scientific Operations Scott Churchill and former ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) Accreditation Manager Matthew Sica have joined Phase 4 Services, a laboratory management and consulting firm looking to solidify its status as a leader in the marijuana and hemp testing space. Churchill, an analytical testing and pharmaceutical science expert with nearly a decade of cannabis industry experience, has been named Phase 4’s vice president of scientific development. Sica, a compliance testing and accreditation expert with 30 year of experience in the field, has joined the firm as vice president of regulatory compliance & quality. “Scott and Matt have both been integral to growing MCR Labs into a successful multistate organization,” said Michael Kahn, founder and CEO of MCR Labs, a cannabis testing lab operating in several legal cannabis markets. “Together, these two are an absolute science and quality powerhouse that bring critical knowledge and experience to Phase 4’s consulting team.” In their respective roles at Phase 4 Services, Churchill and Sica will assist the firm’s laboratory partners with method development, process improvement, regulatory compliance, and managing the challenges of scaling operations effectively. Phase 4 Services works with cannabis testing labs in both the marijuana and hemp industries to streamline management processes, advance testing capabilities, and implement business strategies designed for the evolving cannabis industry. About Phase 4 Services: Phase 4 Services is a scientific consulting and laboratory management firm dedicated to growing, supporting, and enhancing hemp and cannabis testing laboratories. Founded by experts in analytical testing, pharmaceutical chemistry, business administration, and development strategy, our team is equipped with the knowledge and experience necessary to ensure partner laboratories are successful in their pursuit of advancing public health and safety for cannabis patients and consumers. For more information visit http://phase4services.com. Contact Details Phase 4 Services Joe Crinkley +1 857-230-0839 PR@phase4services.com Company Website https://phase4services.com/

June 23, 2021 11:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Comcast Business Helps Sabey Bring High-Speed Connectivity to Washington Area Data Centers and Offer Better IT Continuity

Comcast Washington

Comcast Business today announced it is investing in local Washington data centers in partnership with the Sabey Data Centers to bring better IT continuity and connectivity to businesses. Specifically, Comcast Business will integrate its connectivity into data centers located in Tukwila and Quincy, giving businesses a private connection to regional Sabey data centers. The collaboration will also help advance digital transformation initiatives and enable Washington state businesses to better support their employees working remotely. Most recently, Washington state has made a name for itself in the data center sector for hosting the digital assets of California-based enterprises. Thanks to these benefits, Washington is currently experiencing rapid growth across its data center market. Recognizing the benefits of hosting data in Washington state, Sabey Data Centers has brought to market a combined 2.2 million square feet of data center space throughout the state, and is providing tenants with access to reliable, price-stabilized affordable power via sustainable generation, superior connectivity and turnkey infrastructure deployment. As one of the largest privately-owned data center operators in the world, Sabey needs reliable, credible partners to help capitalize on the booming data center market in Washington. They have teamed up with Comcast Business for comprehensive solutions that support the broad connectivity initiatives data centers demand. “CIOs and IT decision makers are often challenged with managing connections to multiple data centers and cloud solutions, managing application performance as well as troubleshooting latency and throughput issues from their data center connections,” said John Ford, VP and General Manager, Sabey Data Centers, Seattle. “Comcast Business’ data center connectivity helps our customers simplify their workloads by providing direct access on a network that can be tied to a business’s physical location – this means great performance, reliability, and scalability, and ultimately greater network agility for businesses.” By integrating Comcast Business’ Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) system, Sabey Data Center customers will be able to take advantage of high network availability. Comcast Business has also built diverse 100 Gbps connections through separate network locations in its HFC system, so if there is an outage along one path, alternative paths are available for backup connectivity and support so Sabey customers can stay online. As part of the partnership, Comcast Business will also offer Sabey customers an “on-ramp” to popular cloud services like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and IBM Cloud via the Comcast Business Direct-to-Cloud platform, which connects customers to the cloud without going through the Internet. “Comcast Business is focused on empowering businesses with a choice in hybrid IT solutions and massive Ethernet network reach,” said Scott Woodard, Director of Sales Engineering for Comcast Business’ WA Region. “Our goal is to connect data centers and cloud services to more than one million Ethernet-enabled buildings and businesses nationwide.” In addition, businesses already using Comcast Business Ethernet and IP services will have efficient and secure access to Sabey’s data centers. Plus, workers with Xfinity internet who need to remotely access information or upload files will be able to send their information through Comcast’s statewide network. “We’ve already seen that the demand for digital transformation has the power to completely revolutionize how a business operates,” said Rob Brenner, Vice President of Comcast Business for Comcast’s Washington Region. “As a provider of comprehensive technology solutions for businesses, we are thrilled to partner with the Sabey Data Centers to help local businesses in Washington transform their backend operations and modernize in anticipation of a data-driven future of work.” For more information, please visit http://business.comcast.com. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. Contact Details Comcast Nick McDonald +1 425-977-5565 Nick_McDonald@Comcast.com FINN Partners Chloe Huard +13132094957 chloe.huard@finnpartners.com Company Website https://washington.comcast.com/

June 23, 2021 05:58 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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The Aesop Queer Library: A Treasure Trove of Titles by LGBTQIA+ Authors and Allies

Aesop USA

To allow bibliophiles of all stripes to partake in Pride Month 2021, from June 21 – 27 Aesop presents an ephemeral queer library in three of its stores: Aesop Bleecker Street (New York City), Aesop West 3rd Street (Los Angeles) and Aesop Queen Street West (Toronto). To give the featured authors the prominence they deserve, all shelves will be cleared of Aesop products and stocked entirely with books elevating the voices and stories of LGBTQIA+ individuals from around the world. Each visitor entering the store will be able to take home the book of their choice—whether they are a decade-old Aesop customer or a passer-by who happened to be intrigued by the window display. While this gesture will be limited to one book per visitor while supplies last, that book will be complimentary, with no purchase required: this initiative is intended as a moment of generosity and celebration, rather than a profitable endeavor. As explained by Adam Kakembo, Aesop’s Chief Marketing Officer: ‘The way Aesop has chosen to celebrate Pride in the Americas is one of our most unique activations yet. We are not simply changing our logo or launching a Pride-themed collection, this multilayer gesture of generosity is aimed at supporting our LGBTQIA+ staff, customers, independent queer-owned books stores and the communities within these three cities. As a company committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable culture, we are mindful of the heinous crimes, discrimination, and oppression of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.’ To compose the selection, Aesop’s retail and office teams across the US and Canada were asked to recommend their favorite queer authors and titles. As a way of supporting independent queer bookstores in North America, over 3,000 volumes were purchased from Glad Day Bookshop in Toronto—the longest surviving LGBTQIA+ bookstore worldwide—and Women & Children First in Chicago. The latter’s mission is very much in keeping with the spirit of the Aesop Queer Library, as explained by co-owner Sarah Hollenbeck: ‘I strive to create a bookstore where underrepresented folks see their lives reflected in the books we carry and their voices and experiences are respected.’ To complement these purchases, Penguin Random House has made a generous donation of 2,350 books by such authors as Bryan Washington and Ocean Vuong. Overall, the collection features over 150 titles spanning fiction, nonfiction and poetry, with a focus emphasis on BIPOC authors and on the trans community—including Akwaeke Emezi, Brandon Taylor, and Samantha Irby. A list of other worthy independent bookstores located in the US and Canada, each boasting a thoughtful collection of queer writing, can be found on aesop.com —along with the full list of featured titles, and exclusive playlists by queer artists Chrysanthe Tan and Beverly Glenn-Copeland. Aesop USA 48 w 25th Street 12th Floor New York NY 10010 @aesopskincare Press Contact Cynthia Leung Native Agents cynthia.leung@nativeagents.com www.aesop.com Contact Details Aesop USA Jillian Romero Jillian.romero@aesop.com

June 23, 2021 08:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Quarter4 Closes $1.6M Seed Funding Round

Quarter4

Quarter4, an easy-to-use, AI-driven predictive sports data and analytics provider for sports, media and betting companies, today announced the closure of its seed funding round, raising $1.6 million (USD). The round will be used to acquire strategic talent to expand Quarter4’s technical and sales teams. The company plans to double its headcount by the end of 2021. Quarter4 is currently using deep learning neural networks to grow their proprietary AI technology. In addition to acquiring talent, the funding from this round will aid in the technological expansion of Quarter4’s business-to-business services, including doubling its industry-leading predictions to two million predictions-per-day by September 2021, which will incorporate NFL forecasts. Quarter4’s technology team is also expanding its data reporting capabilities to include predictive probabilities for live in-play betting and odds and market analysis. The round was led by Shore Capital Sports & Entertainment, an advisory and investment firm with offices in Toronto and New York. As part of its strategic investment, Shore Capital Sports & Entertainment will also take an active role assisting Quarter4 with business development, strategic partnerships as well as financial advisory services. Scott Secord, Managing Partner, will also join the Board of Directors for Quarter4. Mr. Secord is the former President/CEO of Gaming Nation Inc., a publicly traded company on the TSXV, which was acquired in 2018 by a private equity firm. Prior to Gaming Nation, Mr. Secord held the position of President/CEO of Pointstreak Sports Technologies Inc. from 2009 until 2015. “Quarter4’s technology is exciting because it spans across the sports landscape providing incredible data and rich insights for sports betting, sports media and sports broadcasting companies,” said Scott Secord. “The opportunities in the sports and gaming industry seem limitless, but we understand that the strength of this market lies in the quality of the data powering the industry. Our investment in Quarter4 shows our commitment to continually improving how data is delivered to sports companies across the globe.” Terry McInally, Chief Compliance Officer of Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, will join Secord on the Quarter4 Board of Directors. He previously served as Partner and National Gaming Practice Leader at Richter Advisory Group, the National Gaming Practice Leader for PwC and an executive at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). “We’ve seen exceptional demand for our market-leading analytics in the past year. Sportsbooks and gaming companies, sports leagues, technology and data providers as well as broadcast and media partners need valuable data to make smarter decisions and create richer content for their respective audiences,” said Kelly Brooks, co-founder and CEO of Quarter4. “This investment allows us to scale our capabilities and work directly with leading partners like Scott and Terry to create cutting edge technology solutions to continue to shape the global gaming industry.” For more information please visit Quarter4.io. ABOUT QUARTER4 Quarter4 is a revolutionary artificial intelligence platform that generates thousands of daily predictions called 4Qasts. The easy-to-use sports technology delivers proprietary insights, related to team and player performance, in just seconds. Quarter4 provides sportsbooks, data providers, media agencies and sports bettors with predictive data that is unique, personalized and non-biased. Contact Details Michael Adorno +1 212-931-6143 madorno@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://quarter4.io/

June 22, 2021 09:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

UPDATED: InclusionHub founding partner Be My Eyes was honored with a 2021 Apple Design Award for developing a best-in-class iOS mobile app.

InclusionHub

(Updated with 2021 Apple Design Award logo) The two winners were recognized for apps that improve “lives in a meaningful way and shine a light on crucial issues.” In announcing the winners, Apple said the awards recognize those who have brought “bold, creative, and distinctive ideas to life,” adding, “the people who design and build these award-winning apps and games inspire not only their peers in the Apple developer community, but everyone else at Apple, too.” Utilizing volunteers and representatives from corporate partners to assist visually impaired and low-vision individuals, the Be My Eyes mobile app helps facilitate easy identification of objects, common customer service challenges, and other uses. The app currently supports more than 300,000 visually-impaired and low-vision users, and more than 4.5 million volunteers, across 150-plus countries and 180 languages. “We did it! Be My Eyes is a 2021 Apple Design Award Winner!” Be My Eyes VP of Community Will Butler wrote on LinkedIn following Apple’s announcement. “Holy cow. You might know we've been around for six years and have changed the lives of about 5 million people; but you might not know we did it with a team of only about 15 people, you have all been a crucial part of making Be My Eyes work. Additional thanks to all the board members, investors and team members past and future who believed in us along the way: This is just the beginning!” “During the pandemic, Be My Eyes has proved just how big of a difference it can make for people who are blind or have low vision to have access to the best remote visual assistance,” Be My Eyes added on its Facebook page. “And that’s what we work to achieve everyday together with our partners and volunteers.” Be My Eyes was first launched in Denmark in 2012 by Hans Jørgen Wiberg, a visually-impaired furniture craftsman. Realizing how individuals such as himself required assistance with daily tasks, Wiberg conceptualized video calls staffed by volunteers who could help this community in solving these challenges. The company is supported by its corporate partnerships, members of which include accessibility leaders such as Microsoft, Google, P&G, Verizon and more organizations of all sizes around the globe. The company’s iOS app followed in 2015, gaining more than 10,000 users in just 24 hours. This was the second time in as many months that Be My Eyes was honored for its work supporting blind and low-vision people. In May, it earned its first Webby Award for its work in public service and activism. Last December, Be My Eyes joined InclusionHub, a crowd-sourced database for digital accessibility resources, as a founding partner, further solidifying its position as a leader in digital accessibility. Written by Todd Kuipers Todd Kuipers is VP of Sales at Be My Eyes, an app that connects blind and low-vision individuals with sighted volunteers and companies from all over the world through a live video call. Contact Details Be My Eyes Todd Kiupers +1 267-977-5548 todd@bemyeyes.com Company Website https://bemyeyes.com

June 21, 2021 01:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Agora Data Announces Commercial Real Estate Lending Program

Agora

Agora Data, dedicated to providing robust financing options to help meet the capital needs of Buy Here Pay Here (BHPH) dealers and smaller finance companies, today announced the company’s launch of AgoraPoint. AgoraPoint offers financing for commercial real estate and facilities and is another step to providing a holistic one-stop funding solution for dealers. Steve Burke, CEO of Agora Data, Inc. stated, “AgoraCapital provides more capital capacity than traditional lenders and enables BHPH dealers to grow their portfolio to two, three or four times their current size. Many dealers need to open new locations to handle that growth and Agora wants to make that funding easy for the dealer through AgoraPoint.” Offering a new funding source for subprime dealers to efficiently and effectively obtain capital to grow their dealership’s footprint reinforces Agora’s commitment to make available to the BHPH industry innovation and resources to fuel business. Members that connect their portfolios to the Agora platform, immediately start to realize the benefits of Agora’s proprietary modeling that outlines their business potential and the keys to maximize growth. Chris Barry, SVP of Sales at Agora stated, “When I talk to a dealer and let them know they qualify for $20 million in capital when their current lender has them capped at $5 million, the dealer asks how they can use the $20 million with only one car lot. AgoraPoint helps make the purchase of more lots possible.” AgoraPoint is the latest product added to Agora’s family of products all powered by radical AI and machine learning. Agora is dedicated to enabling BHPH dealers and small to mid-tier finance companies grow safely and have available abundant and affordable capital. About Agora Data, Inc: Founded in 2017, Agora Data’s mission is to provide access to capital for Buy Here Pay Here dealers and small to mid-sized finance companies. Pioneered by Agora Data, AgoraCapital, AgoraCredit and now AgoraPoint all provide critical funding so small- to mid-sized dealers can obtain all the cash they need to fuel growth. Agora’s proprietary, radical, AI-infused technology connects dealers and finance companies with the capital markets. Agora Data made history by closing the first-ever Crowdsourced Subprime Auto Securitization in 2020 and followed that up with its second transaction in early 2021. For more information, visit agoradata.com or contact us at 877-592-4672. Contact Details Shelly Vandeven +1 682-282-4130 media@agoradata.com Company Website https://agoradata.com/

June 21, 2021 11:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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