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Industrial Defender Named Hot Company in OT Vulnerability Management by Cyber Defense Magazine in the Global InfoSec Awards

Industrial Defender

Industrial Defender, an operational technology (OT) security pioneer, announced that it has received the “Hot Company in Operational Technology Vulnerability Management” award from Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM), the industry’s leading electronic information security magazine.For this awards program, CDM seeks out next-generation players with new, unique technologies, rather than the ones with the most customers or money in the bank. The judges are CISSP, FMDHS, CEH, certified security professionals who voted based on their independent review of each company’s submission. “Orchestrating OEM vulnerability and patch management in OT environments is a real pain point for industrial companies,” said Jim Crowley, CEO of Industrial Defender. “Our team has worked hard to create an innovative solution to this problem, and we’re thrilled that this panel of leading cybersecurity experts from around the globe has recognized our efforts.” “Industrial Defender embodies three major features we judges look for to become winners: understanding tomorrow’s threats, today, providing a cost-effective solution and innovating in unexpected ways that can help stop the next breach,” said Gary S. Miliefsky, Publisher of Cyber Defense Magazine. All winners of the 9th Annual Global InfoSec Awards will be announced today at RSAC 2021. View the complete list of award winners here: http://www.cyberdefenseawards.com/ To learn more about Industrial Defender’s OT vulnerability and patch management offering, visit their website: https://www.industrialdefender.com/vulnerability-management/ About Industrial Defender Since 2006, Industrial Defender has been solving the challenge of safely collecting, monitoring, and managing OT asset data at scale, while providing cross-functional teams with a unified view of security. Their specialized solution is tailored to complex industrial control system environments by engineers with decades of hands-on OT experience. Easy integrations into the broader security and enterprise ecosystem empower IT teams with the same visibility, access, and situational awareness that they’re accustomed to on corporate networks. Learn more at www.industrialdefender.com. About CDM InfoSec Awards This is Cyber Defense Magazine’s ninth year of honoring global InfoSec innovators. Our submission requirements are for any startup, early stage, later stage or public companies in the INFORMATION SECURITY (INFOSEC) space who believe they have a unique and compelling value proposition for their product or service. Learn more at www.cyberdefenseawards.com About Cyber Defense Magazine With over 5 Million monthly readers and growing, and thousands of pages of searchable online infosec content, Cyber Defense Magazine is the premier source of IT Security information for B2B and B2G with our sister magazine Cyber Security Magazine for B2C. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free, and special editions exclusively for the RSA Conferences. CDM is a proud member of the Cyber Defense Media Group. Learn more about us at https://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com and visit https://www.cyberdefensetv.com and https://www.cyberdefenseradio.com to see and hear some of the most informative interviews of many of these winning company executives. Join a webinar at https://www.cyberdefensewebinars.com and realize that infosec knowledge is power. Contact Details Industrial Defender Erin Anderson +1 617-675-4206 eanderson@industrialdefender.com Cyber Defense Magazine April Palanca +16465869545 marketing@cyberdefensemagazine.com Company Website https://www.industrialdefender.com

May 17, 2021 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Comcast Business Teams Up with Novva Data Centers to Help Shape the Future of Data Storage in Utah

Comcast Utah

Comcast Business today announced that Novva Data Centers — a data center provider offering wholesale and multi-tenant colocation infrastructure services — has selected Comcast Business to provide dual 100G fiber routes using fully diverse pathways to its West Jordan facility, as well as a 40G Ethernet Dedicated Internet (EDI) connection. The Comcast Business technology will help Novva power its data center with a fully redundant path fiber-based backbone for fast, reliable connectivity to the Comcast Business network for its customers. “The collaboration between Novva and Comcast Business is indicative of the robust infrastructure and technological innovation that Utah can offer,” said Theresa A. Foxley, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah. “Our state has much to offer the data center industry, as well as companies that need a high-performance presence in the computing cloud.” The demand for data and its applications continually increases and managing data can be a high-cost issue for many companies. Novva is designed to be a low-cost option and offers reliable, fast and flexible solutions for its clients. Set to open in May 2021, Novva Data Center’s West Jordan data center needed a trusted industry partner to help the company provide fast and reliable connections while it grows its data footprint. Comcast Business’ services will help Novva with improved latency and speeds, as well as the peace of mind that comes with redundancy, thereby bolstering the data center company’s ability to respond to the explosion of data, the Internet of Things (IoT) and other trends that are continuing to push the data colocation space. “Data is a ‘trust business,’ and that’s reflected in our partnership with Comcast Business. We trust the speed, network and the infrastructure that’s being built out,” said Wes Swenson, Founder and CEO of Novva Data Centers. “The industry recognizes Comcast as a significant player when it comes to IP routing. On top of that, our clients trust Comcast Business and have already asked for their solutions, making the partnership a simple decision for us.” With a strong technology backbone from Comcast Business, Novva Data Centers can look to the future of innovation and growth. The company has already engineered more sustainable facilities that can function without water year-round and use solar energy. In addition, Novva Data Centers plans to shift to a fully automated model and build artificial intelligence functions into their management software to monitor cooling equipment, generators, power spikes, security and more. The company also plans to expand its portfolio of campuses further over the next few years in various markets, including San Francisco. “This partnership with Novva is a significant example of how Comcast Business services can support a full spectrum of industries on a broader scale through partnerships with data centers,” said Robert Thompson, vice president of Comcast Business for the company’s Mountain West Region. “We are excited to help shape the future of data storage and use with businesses seeking to innovate and transform their industries.” For more information, please visit https://business.comcast.com/. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as 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 Deneiva Knight +1 520-345-9792 deneiva_knight@comcast.com

May 17, 2021 08:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

Minuteman Press Franchise in Richmond, Kentucky Adapts and Grows During Pandemic as Essential Local Business

Minuteman Press International Inc

Pete Cummings and Chuck Bentley have owned their Minuteman Press printing and marketing franchise in Richmond since May 2014. While the COVID-19 pandemic was certainly the biggest challenge for people and local businesses everywhere, Pete and Chuck managed to remain open as an essential business, adapt their products and services to what local businesses needed during the pandemic, and position themselves for sales growth both during and after the pandemic as a result of their hard work. Pete says, “At the outset of the pandemic we were as alarmed as anyone else over not only what this could do to our business but our community and even the country as a whole. The prospect of slogging through months of economic slowdowns did cause us some anxiety in the beginning. However, we remained optimistic and determined to take advantage of any unique opportunities that the pandemic presented to those of us in the print world.” He continues, “It quickly became apparent that those businesses allowed to remain open would need COVID-related printing and signs in order to both safely assist customers as well as stay in compliance with state and local ordinances. We discovered that some organizations had been allotted grant money from the Federal Government to help with pandemic-related safety requirements. We honed in on those agencies to let them know we were open as essential business and local to them. They responded well to our outreach efforts and we ended up doing a considerable volume of business printing floor decals, signs, logo-imprinted face masks, and other safety-related products. Almost every business that chose to remain open had similar pandemic-related printing needs and we wanted to do everything possible, especially for our local small businesses, to provide them everything we could to help them navigate these unchartered waters.” “We primarily grew our business in 2020 through the expanded offering of signage, floor decals, posters, direct mail, and other essential printed items. We are anticipating that 2021 will see continued growth as more and more local businesses reopen and come back online.” -Pete Cummings, co-owner, Minuteman Press franchise, Richmond, Kentucky Supporting Local Businesses During and After the Pandemic Over the past year, Minuteman Press in Richmond has continued to reach out to local businesses as they reopen. Pete says, “We’ve seen a positive response from local business owners. Many of them seem as glad to see that we are still operating and succeeding as we are trying to help them achieve their own successes through these challenging times. I think in some ways we have had a galvanizing effect for local businesses as we are all in this together. It’s that ‘can-do spirit’ that can really lift others up and we are thankful to be a part of it.” As more restrictions continue to be lifted and other local businesses reopen and recover, Pete and Chuck are ready to help them with custom printing products and marketing services. Pete says, “Because we have stayed open the entire time, Minuteman Press has the experience of helping all different types of businesses at all different phases of the pandemic. We have proven to be a valuable partner and we are excited to provide our business community with as many resources as possible to enhance their marketing and sales efforts.” Pete continues, “Now that the tide is turning on the pandemic, we are encouraging clients to resume their direct marketing efforts. As conferences and events resume, we are promoting all of our capabilities including imprinted table throws, retractable banners, trade show displays, conference-related signage, and promotional products.” Direct mail was another key area of growth that Minuteman Press in Richmond experienced during the pandemic. Pete is excited about the future prospects of direct mail as well. He says, “Surviving and flourishing during the past year has required some adaptation. Last year, direct marketing became very challenging with social distancing becoming the norm. To continue growing we looked to direct mailings as an additional revenue stream. Based on the success we saw from these efforts, we have decided to fully embrace direct mail. We would certainly encourage other businesses to utilize direct mailings as a way to ‘connect’ with potential customers as they ramp up and reopen.” “ Contrary to what some would have one believe, printing is not dead. The increased demand for direct mailings can partly be explained by the ‘contact-free’ environment of the pandemic era. With that said, I believe it also underscores how printed advertising campaigns, when utilized effectively, can yield significant results for our customers. We have also diversified our offerings with signs, promotional items, and apparel. This provides our customers with the convenience of getting everything done under one roof through someone they trust will give them the level of service and quality they expect. So, the printing industry has evolved but those who evolve with the industry will see continued success.” -Pete Cummings Meet the People Behind the Business As Pete and Chuck celebrate seven years in business this month, they reflect on their journey as well as their experiences as Minuteman Press franchise owners. One interesting thing to note is that Pete and Chuck come from two very different backgrounds and did not have any printing experience until joining the Minuteman Press family. Pete explains, “I worked at a bank for roughly ten years after graduating from college and then owned/operated an outpatient pediatric rehabilitation center, offering Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy to children. We were out of our home state of Kentucky at this time and once we had children we decided to return home. The same opportunities did not exist to operate a rehab center but I had small business ownership in my blood at that point and was actively looking for a good opportunity.” He continues, “Chuck was a school teacher for ten years and he was growing restless. He began looking for a business opportunity that would allow for more financial freedom for his family. He mentioned this to his uncle, Garry Conley, who just so happened to own a Minuteman Press franchise in London, Kentucky along with Chuck’s Aunt, Amy Conley. We sat down with Garry and he did a pretty good job explaining the benefits. It was evident he was running a profitable operation so we listened intently and after meeting with our Regional Vice President Gary Nowak, we decided to take the plunge.” “We opened in 2014 with zero customers and have seen steady growth every year since. Our rate of jobs quoted to jobs earned is very strong. We built the business, especially in the early years, heavily using direct marketing along with the Minuteman Press Internet Marketing program. Sometimes asking people for the opportunity to earn their business is all it takes to open the door to that first job. And once we get that first opportunity, we will almost always turn that person into a repeat customer either in the near future or somewhere down the road. Providing a quality product along with good, friendly service goes a long way.” -Pete Cummings As Pete reflects on the past seven years and especially 2020 when the pandemic first hit, he is thankful to be part of the Minuteman Press franchise family. He says, “We are very grateful for the efforts Minuteman Press International made fairly early on in the pandemic to help keep franchisees flourishing. There’s no question that things could have turned out differently. From continued guidance on how to operate as an essential business to initiating the free Bounce Back program to support local businesses, it was all instrumental in helping us navigate this unprecedented time.” When asked about the rewards of owning a business, Pete answers, “Financial freedom and the feeling that we can control our own destinies for us are the biggest rewards to business ownership. We can’t be the victim of a company downsize or see our jobs shipped overseas. We certainly work hard to achieve success but those efforts are going towards building something that directly benefits our families.” As for what advice he would give to local businesses right now, Pete sums it up best by saying, “Don’t lose heart. I know it has been a tough year but as more and more sectors of the economy ramp things up again, economic opportunities will return.” Pete Cummings and Chuck Bentley’s Minuteman Press franchise is located at 202 Wayne Dr., Ste. A; Richmond, KY 40475. For more information, call 859-314-1172 or visit their website: https://www.richmondky.minutemanpress.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

May 17, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Meow Wolf Announces Collaborating Artists For Denver Exhibition

Meow Wolf

Meow Wolf, the Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment company, announced the names of the 110 Colorado artists collaborating on Meow Wolf Denver, their highly-anticipated third permanent installation. More than 300 creatives are working to bring Meow Wolf Denver to life this fall. “Fasten your seatbelts, Meow Wolf Denver is our most ambitious project to date! With hundreds of creatives working on this massive endeavor, including overwhelming talent from local Denver-based artists, we can’t wait for guests to experience the magic confined within these uniquely shaped walls,” said Ali Rubinstein, CCO and Co-CEO of Meow Wolf. “Starting this fall, guests can explore four floors of exhibition space, with portals transporting them to worlds beyond their wildest imagination.” Opening this Fall, Meow Wolf Denver will span four floors with hundreds of installations of interactive art and include food and beverage services, retail space, and a 488 person capacity venue. Meow Wolf is looking forward to welcoming locals and tourists alike to the unique installation which adds to the exciting repertoire of what Colorado has to offer. The most narratively complex installation to date, Meow Wolf Denver worked with a variety of artists across multiple mediums to create an experience that will truly transport visitors to other worlds. These muralists, sculptors, fiber artists, and technologists came together to create a one-of-a-kind installation that will leave visitors appreciating what it really means to experience art. The exhibition includes the work of 110 Colorado-based artists with diverse backgrounds including 51% identifying as female, 20% identifying as LGBTQ+ and 38% of the Artist collaborators are People of Color based on optional survey answers. With its Denver installation, Meow Wolf celebrates both established and emerging artists, each with their own unique stories to tell. Visitors can look forward to the works of Kayln Heffernan and collaborator Gregg Ziemba with their work “Wheelchair Space Kitchen”; Cal Duran and David Ocelotl Garcia with their work “Earth Spirits of the Subconscious Mind”; Molina Speaks with their “Indigenous Futurist Dreamscape Lounge”; Mongolian collaborators Eriko Tsogo, Jennifer Tsogo, Tsogo Mijid, and Batochir Batkhishig on their work “Mongovoo Temple”; and the “Aquakota” nightclub, conceptualized by the late artist Colin Richard Ferguson Ward and completed by his collaborators Peniel Apantenco and Kim Shively in his memory. The complete Meow Wolf Denver collaborating artist lineup can be found below: Individual Collaborating Artists & Duos from Colorado: Adam Christopher Andi Todaro Ashley Frazier, Michael Sperandeo Brandan Styles "Bzurk”, Ellie Rusinova Brian Corrigan Cal Duran, David Ocelotl Garcia Cami Galofre Chris Bagley Christopher Owen Nelson, Sam Carlson Christopher Short Collin Parson Corrina Espinosa Dan Taro David Farquharson Dice 51 Douglas A. Schenck “DAS” Dylan Gebbia-Richards Frankie Toan Ian McKenna Jaime Molina, Pedro Barrios Jennifer Pettus Jess Webb Jodi Stuart, Libby Barbee Joseph Lamar Joshua Goss JUHB. Justin Camilli Justin Gitlin aka Cacheflowe Kalyn Heffernan, Gregg Ziemba Katy Zimmerman, Erika Wurth Kia Neill Kristin Stransky Laaiaim Mayer Lauri Lynnxe Murphy LORDSCIENCE UNIVERSAL Lumonics Marjorie Lair, Kyle Vincent Singer Maya Linke Myah Sarles Nicole Banowetz Nolan Tredway Ramón Bonilla Reed Fox, Ben Weirich Sabin Aell, Randy Rushton Scott Hildebrandt Sean Peuquet Shayna Cohn Sigrid Sarda Sofie Birkin Thomas Scharfenberg Viviane Le Courtois Wanderweird Wynn Earl Buzzell Jr. Collaborating Artist Groups from Colorado Andrew Novick, Pamela Webb, Robert Ayala bearwarp Chad Colby, Lexis Loeb, Hayley Kirkman Charles Kern, Ty Holter, Ben Jackson, Rachel Bilys, Brett Sasine Demiurge LLC: Joe Riche and Wynn Buzzell Eriko Tsogo, Jennifer Tsogo, Tsogo Mijid, Batochir Batkhishig F. Ria Khan, Armon Naein, Blake Gambel, Calvin Logan, Charles Candon, Harrison Bolin, Luke Collier, Maria Deslis, Sky Johnson, Sofia Rubio-Topete Ladies Fancywork Society Merhia Wiese, Annabelle Wiese, Maggie Wiese, Eunseo Zoey Kim, Dan Griner Mike Lustig, Mitch Hoffman, Tim Omspach, Nathan Koral, Evan Beloni, Ryan Elmendorf, Scott Wilson, Charlis Robbins Molina Speaks, Stevon Lucero, DJ Icewater, Felix "Fast4ward" Ayodele, Diles, Emily Swank Oren Lomena, Alaine "Skeena" Rodriguez, Alius Hu Peniel Apantenco, Kim Shively, Colin Richard Ferguson Ward, (In memoriam) Sam Caudill, Sean Louis Rove, Juancristobal Hernández Secret Love Collective: Katy Batsel, Lares Feliciano, Colby Graham, Piper Rose, Frankie Toan, Katy Zimmerman, Lauren Zwicky, Genevieve Waller The Church of Many: Andrea Thurber, Elsa Carenbauer, Anna Goss, Maddi Waneka and Emily Merlin Waffle Cone Club: Kyle Vincent Singer, Scott Kreider, Marjorie Lair Also Featuring Collaborating Artists and Groups Everything is Terrible! Kevin Bourland Michael Lujan Moment Factory Nina Mastrangelo Scott Geary, Wayne Geary, Gary Ashkin Last year, Meow Wolf was recognized in Fast Company 's 2020 list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies, garnering the #1 spot for Live Events. The company recently opened its second permanent installation in Las Vegas, Omega Mart which opened in February 2021. In addition to Omega Mart, Meow Wolf also re-opened their cult-favorite original experience, House of Eternal Return in March. Additional information on Meow Wolf’s first two exhibitions and tickets for the experiences are available online at https://meowwolf.com/. To receive further updates on Meow Wolf Denver, sign up at https://meowwolf.com/visit/denver Recognized in Fast Company's 2020 list of The World's 50 Most Innovative Companies, Meow Wolf is a Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment company that creates immersive, interactive experiences to transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of story and exploration. The company's first location in Santa Fe opened in 2016 and showcases the THEA Award-winning, international sensation, House Of Eternal Return, where two million visitors have now discovered a multidimensional mystery house with secret passages, portals to magical worlds, and surreal, maximalist and mesmerizing art exhibits. In 2019, Meow Wolf expanded beyond Santa Fe and opened Kaleidoscape, the world’s first artist-driven ride at Elitch Gardens in Denver. Meow Wolf recently opened their second permanent installation, Omega Mart, at AREA15 in Las Vegas and their third permanent installation in Denver slated to open in fall 2021. Meow Wolf is proud to be the only certified B-Corporation in the themed entertainment industry, with a team dedicated to social impact and building a more inclusive and sustainable economy. Contact Details Jive PR + Digital Jacki St. Thomas +1 310-625-7799 jacki@jiveprdigital.com Company Website https://meowwolf.com/

May 17, 2021 07:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

WitFoo Announces Partnership with Ardalyst

WitFoo

WitFoo, the world’s most intelligent SECOPS platform fueled by big data analytics, announced today a partnership with Ardalyst, a digital risk management company, to offer Precinct as a service to its customers. A critical component of Ardalyst’s SOCs of the Future design, Precinct delivers flexible and scalable SIEM/SOAR capabilities for a globally-scalable architecture offering advanced awareness-in-breadth as well as compliance with evolving government cyber standards, including NIST SP 800-53 and 800-171 and Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Maturity Levels 2 through 5. “WitFoo’s Precinct offers the best combination of flexible deployment options, cost-contained licensing, and multi-tenancy support in the SIEM/SOAR space,” said Josh O’Sullivan, CTO and co-founder, Ardalyst. “With Precinct as the foundation of our SOCs of the Future offering, we’re able to not only satisfy the strictest requirements from our customers, but also enable them to do more with less.” Ardalyst envisions the SOCs of the Future as a network of integrated operations centers working together towards cyber resiliency and mission assurance. Ardalyst's design is a comprehensive, hybrid approach to enable multiple operations centers to monitor a multi-tenant/multi-site set of enterprise networks, clouds and deployed locations. The Ardalyst SOCs of the Future offering integrates FireEye, Gigamon and WitFoo solutions to achieve maximum agility, velocity, scalability and effectiveness. “Affordable compliance is crucial to doing business in the federal market and companies like Ardalyst are making it easy for customers to meet requirements, while simultaneously enhancing their cybersecurity posture,” said Tim Bradford, CEO of WitFoo. “We’re excited to partner with Ardalyst and aid them in their mission of helping clients protect and expand their competitive edge.” Precinct is available for purchase immediately through Ardalyst. For more information on partnering with WitFoo, visit: https://www.witfoo.com/partners/ and for details on pricing, visit: https://www.witfoo.com/pricing/ About Ardalyst Ardalyst is a veteran-owned digital risk management company founded in 2013 that provides integrated, mission-tailored, cyber-defendable solutions to support small, mid-size, and enterprise markets. Ardalyst helps clients create and sustain competitive advantage through information technology in a secure, resilient manner. To help customers succeed in their mission, the company provides a full spectrum view of information technology platforms, cyber defense, and business applications. Ardalyst also strives to educate public and private sector institutions on how to mature their people, processes, and technologies to thrive in a rapidly changing competitive environment. Ardalyst operates a family of affiliated companies that provide services targeted to the federal government, government contractors, commercial organizations, and the Department of Defense. About WitFoo Built by veterans of the military, law enforcement and cyber security, WitFoo Precinct is the world's most intelligent SECOPS platform fueled by big data analytics. By crowdsourcing intelligence from a global community of cybersecurity experts, applying time-tested methodologies from law enforcement and leveraging intelligent data and analytics, Precinct's Investigative Engine results in a greater than 90% reduction in time and labor spent performing security investigations. The platform produces metrics on risk, tool effectiveness, operational efficiency and security gaps to fuel transformational business conversations. Infinite scalability, cost-contained licensing and flexible deployment options make Precinct an effective and economic solution for any organization looking to improve their security operations. For more information, visit www.witfoo.com Contact Details Mia Wilcox +1 610-564-6773 wilcox@merrittgrp.com Company Website https://www.witfoo.com/

May 17, 2021 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Airports, Take Notice: 84% of Travelers Want Bio-Security Measures to Protect Against Current & Future Pandemics

WarpUV

TEL AVIV, Israel, May 17, 2021 –– Ever stop to think how many hands touch your luggage from the time you leave home, arrive at the airport, and then reach your travel destination? Curious to know how many virus particles fit on a single pinhead? Are you in the habit of disinfecting your luggage after a trip? According to a Post-COVID-19 Air Travel/Bio-Security survey conducted last week, all respondents said they believe their baggage has passed through a lot of hands – 10 or more. Of those, 17 percent believe more than 20 hands have handled their luggage, whether while using a ride service, the baggage handlers at the airport, or hotel personnel. It's no wonder, then, that when COVID-19 hit, consumers were reluctant to travel. More than 55 percent of the consumers who completed the survey, in fact, said they did not travel by air last year because they feared either contracting the virus or potentially spreading it to others. This, and the actions taken by the airline industry as a result of COVID-19, created a huge blow to air travel. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the pandemic resulted in a 66 percent drop in air travel last year. That’s more than after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2003, and the global financial crisis of 2008. As people around the globe are being vaccinated against the Coronavirus and with more awareness about the devastating effects of virus spread, it’s not surprising that more than 84 percent of respondents said they agree with officials at the world’s leading agencies – the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and the Council of European Unions – that another pandemic is inevitable, and it is critical to be prepared. As with x-ray and other measures taken at airports following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, those same respondents agree airports should take bio-security measures to minimize the health and economic impact of future virus spread. Specifically, when asked if they’d feel safer and more likely to travel by air if luggage would be completely and quickly disinfected using ultraviolet (UV) technology at the airport, 78 percent said yes. For some respondents, the COVID-19 crisis is waning because many have received vaccinations against Coronavirus. Still, only 16 percent said they felt additional bio-security measures are unnecessary. “The COVID-19 virus has inflicted devastating health and economic impact on the world, but the call for bio-security at airports is a practical solution that can lessen or even stop the rapid spread of future contagions,” said Amir Fischer, CEO of WarpUV. “Studies show the most effective way to disinfect items like checked luggage and carry-on bags – many of which are soft-sided or have many handles, zippers and uneven surfaces – is with 360-degree ultraviolet (UV) light bio cleansing. The technology exists, it’s proven fast and effective, and is ready to be implemented.” Some additional data from the WarpUV/SurveyMonkey consumer survey include: When asked whether they realized that 100 million virus particles of COVID-19 could fit on the head of a pin, 62 percent said they had not previously heard that fact. 58 percent of respondents said they have never disinfected their own luggage during or after use. Of those, 28 percent said, in light of the virus spread, they will now start doing so. During the height of the pandemic, the ability to travel by air around the world was heavily curtailed due to flight cancellations, as well as airport closures because baggage handlers or passengers had contracted COVID-19. Just last week, Changi Airport in Si ngapore closed due to a report of COVID-19 cases. Although cases of COVID-19 contracted at airports were widely reported, 55 percent of respondents queried in the survey were unaware of this fact. About WarpUV Warp Technologies and its AirFortÂ® devices are the frontline of prevention of the spread of pandemic by luggage and baggage in airports worldwide and serve as a âdisinfection firewallâ for continents, countries, and regions. The company was formed in 2020 by veteran Israeli entrepreneurs Amir Fischer, Eitan Haimovich, and Gil Luxenbourg. For more information, visit www.warpUV.com. Contact Details Rainier Communications Joanne Stanway +1 978-273-1473 jstanway@rainierco.com Rainier Communications Alan Ryan +15085776635 alanryan@rainierco.com Company Website https://www.warpuv.com/

May 17, 2021 08:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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TONI BECK NAMED VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR COMCAST IN HOUSTON

Comcast Houston

Comcast today announced that Toni Beck has been appointed vice president of External Affairs for the company’s Houston Region. In this role, Beck will be responsible for managing all external affairs activities for the region, including government affairs, communications, community, media, and public relations. Toni has more than 25 years of senior-level experience and has held numerous communications roles throughout her career, most recently as vice president, Communications and Community Relations at NextDecade Corporation. Prior to that, Beck was vice president Communications and Community Relations at Waste Management. “As I learned about Comcast’s focus on providing best-in-class customer experience, a culture where employees can thrive, and closing the digital divide, therefore, ensuring our communities where we live and work are even better than they are today, I knew this was a company that was making a real difference,” said Beck. “I look forward to furthering the Houston team’s work and shining a light on our products and services which continue to change lives for the better.” “We are excited to have Toni join our Comcast Houston team,” said Ralph Martinez, regional senior vice president, Comcast Houston. "She has a proven track record as a results-driven external affairs executive and motivational leader. Her commitment and expertise will be instrumental in telling Comcast’s story to external stakeholders.” Beck received a Bachelor of Social Science Degree in Political Studies from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Michael Bybee +1 281-605-9658 Michael_Bybee@cable.comcast.com Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

May 17, 2021 07:00 AM Central Daylight Time

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Salem city wide fiber optic broadband deal worth $35 million

SiFi Networks

To allow its citizens to reap the benefits of a 100% fiber optic internet, the city of Salem, MA, signed a contract attracting over $35 million of private investment to create a citywide, fully fiber-based broadband network. The network will be built by fiber infrastructure developer, SiFi Networks and its construction partners. The project will be privately funded by SiFi Networks, with no taxpayer subsidy. With projects like this, the company will transform the US broadband model by operating citywide networks that can be used by multiple service providers, mobile carriers and even the municipality itself. SiFi Networks currently has agreements with cities in six different states to fund, build and operate fiber optic networks. The company has an initial $450 million of capital committed for the coming months with access to an unlimited pool of infrastructure capital to roll out the strategy to hundreds of cities in the coming years. A recent study by the University of Tennessee suggests that competitive fiber networks stimulate financial growth and deliver substantial choice for consumers, with 40% of all jobs created in Hamilton County during the study period attributed to fiber infrastructure. Better connectivity facilitates access to remote learning platforms, e-health applications and home-working, something that has proven crucial during the global pandemic. Faster broadband will also incentivize business, stimulate the city’s economy and support the creation of new jobs — leading to new revenue streams and increased average income levels. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will also benefit from a shared network because they can run their services on state-of-the-art fiber without the expense of having to build and maintain their own infrastructure. “We’re excited that SiFi and their team will be starting construction on their high-speed fiber network this spring,” said Salem Mayor, Kim Driscoll. “Having a high-speed fiber internet alternative can improve the quality of life for residents, spur greater economic growth and facilitate the installation of smart city technologies. Enhancing access and options for high-speed internet is especially essential during our response and recovery from COVID-19, as we strive to close the digital divide, help more residents access vital online services for work, education and family connections, and simply provide greater choices for our residents and businesses.” Unlike in most European and Asian countries, open access broadband is not common in the US, where the exclusive ownership of broadband networks led to the creation of monopolies that dominate the telecommunications market, inflating prices and depriving consumers of choice. To overcome these issues, the City of Salem selected SiFi Networks to build a privately-funded, independently-operated fiber network. This will guarantee unprecedented broadband quality for all — regardless of average income levels or demographics — and realize what SiFi Networks calls a FiberCity®. In 2019, SiFi Networks began constructing the citywide network in Fullerton, CA, enabling citizens with fast fiber broadband speeds, a greater choice of internet service providers, and the possibility to implement smart city applications such as AI-based traffic control, environmental monitoring, smart lighting and more. Ben Bawtree-Jobson, CEO of SiFi Networks, explained that these benefits will extend to the whole community: “Traditionally, service providers who are also infrastructure providers look for a quick return on investment, so they tend to limit the construction of fiber networks to areas with a higher density of wealthy consumers. “This has exacerbated the country’s staggering digital divide. SiFi Networks has a different business model. We are interested in long-term investments, so we build citywide. We believe that excellent connectivity helps level the playing field.” “SiFi Networks has already identified more than 200 cities that could become FiberCities® in the future and bring fiber to over ten million households across the US,” said Bawtree-Jobson. “We are excited about changing America’s telecommunications landscape and eliminating the digital divide wherever we build our FiberCities®.” For more information on the benefits offered by FiberCities®, visit https://sifinetworks.com. For further information contact: Sara Pickstock, SiFi Networks 55 Madison Ave, Morristown, NJ, 07960 Telephone: +1 (888) 766 9475 www: https://sifinetworks.com e-mail: sara@sifinetworks.com Press enquiries: Jessica Phillips or Zafar Jamati – Stone Junction Ltd 1 St Mary's Place, St Mary's Grove, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 2AW Telephone: +44 (0) 1785 225416 e-mail: jessica@stonejunction.co.uk or zafar@stonejunction.co.uk www: www.stonejunction.co.uk About SiFi Networks: SiFi Networks is a privately owned business, funding and deploying competitive 100% fiber networks citywide, across the USA, owning the asset and operating it. A SiFi Networks’ FiberCity® is sustainably built to ensure a future-proof, reliable and robust fiber infrastructure, offering an impeccable level of service to its service providers. As North America’s leading privately-owned open access fiber optic network developer operating in the last mile – we are delivering networks which are inspiring freedom of choice and excellent customer service. Contact Details SiFi Networks Sara Pickstock +1 888-766-9475 sara@sifinetworks.com Company Website https://sifinetworks.com/

May 17, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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7SIGNAL Expands Digital Experience Monitoring Market Reach, Adds Distributor in Southern Europe

7SIGNAL

7SIGNAL ®, the leader in enterprise wireless experience monitoring, announced today that it has added ESB Agents to its global network of distributors. The company, headquartered in Cyprus, will offer the 7SIGNAL platform to its large customer base of Wireless Network Operators, IT leaders, WLAN Installers and System Engineers in Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Bulgaria. The new agreement expands 7SIGNAL’s reach in the digital experience monitoring and wireless network monitoring marketplaces. It also helps meet the need for visibility into wireless service quality within the growing enterprise WLAN market, which is valued at $6.35 billion according to IDC, and grew 10.3% year over year in Q4 2020. The enterprise WLAN market in Southern Europe is currently undergoing major change, as are the enterprises themselves. At the heart of this development is the growing demand for dependable Wi-Fi, as a result of exploding trends including the Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Cities and much more. “We are thrilled to join 7SIGNAL’s network of distributors,” commented Lambros Kostaras, Managing Director of ESB Agents. “Not only does this allow us to meet our customers’ growing need for dependable Wi-Fi, but it also gives us the opportunity to expand the wireless monitoring capabilities of Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Bulgaria as a whole.” 7SIGNAL’s patented Mobile Eye ® and Sapphire Eye ® products help organizations foster thriving connections and digital experiences. 7SIGNAL products are cloud-based and continuously test Wi-Fi performance at the edge of the network from the device perspective, enabling swift solutions to Wi-Fi issues and stronger connections for mission-critical users, devices and applications. “We are excited about this distribution agreement with ESB Agents—they are focused on the networking industry and already partner with some of the world’s leading technology brands,” said Don Cook, Chief Marketing Officer at 7SIGNAL. The global 7SIGNAL distribution and reseller network includes coverage in more than 80 countries around the world. About ESB Agents Established in 2015, ESB Agents specializes in representation and business development, IT and physical infrastructure consulting, certification training in physical infrastructures, fiber optics and Wi-Fi, and distribution of software to its wide network of customers. The company’s services extend to Wireless Network Operators, IT leaders, WLAN Installers and System Engineers in Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Bulgaria. About 7SIGNAL 7SIGNAL ® is the leader in wireless experience monitoring, providing insight into wireless networks and control over Wi-Fi performance so businesses and organizations can thrive. Our cloud-based wireless network monitoring platform continually tests and measures Wi-Fi performance at the edges of the network, enabling fast solutions to digital experience issues and stronger connections for mission-critical users, devices and applications. Learn more at www.7signal.com. Contact Details 7SIGNAL Madison Filipiak +1 216-812-3954 madison.filipiak@pr2020.com

May 14, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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