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Comcast Invests in Chico, Calif. Launching Three New Lift Zones to Help Increase Digital Equity in the Region

Comcast California

Comcast today announced the opening of a new Lift Zone at The Jesus Center and one in The Torres Community Shelter in Chico to provide free WiFi access to families across the area with an additional Lift Zone location opening at The Jesus Center early next year. As part of its larger digital equity initiative, Comcast also announced donations totaling $75,000. The Jesus Center received $50,000 to help their residents and those of the Pallet Shelter with digital literacy training and work readiness skills, and the Torres Community Shelter received $25,000 to provide digital literacy training to unhoused adults and seniors. Comcast’s Lift Zones program provides free WiFi, powered by Comcast Business, to enable students, seniors, families, and community members to get online and fully participate in the digital economy. With these new locations, Comcast now offers three Lift Zones in the City of Chico — and a total of over 150 Lift Zones throughout its California service area. “Helping to close the digital divide and address digital equity remain top priorities here in Chico,” said Mayor Andrew Coolidge, of Chico, CA. “Our city and our region have become more dependent on broadband to learn, find work and healthcare services and many other aspects of our daily life. Comcast’s new Lift Zones along with their significant financial investments into our city, will create opportunity for individuals, families, and seniors in our community.” “Comcast’s significant investments in our shelters and our communities will help us expand not only our digital literacy efforts but our workforce development initiatives and shows their commitment to providing the necessary tools and resources to those who will benefit most from these life-changing opportunities,” said Amber Abney-Bass, Executive Director of The Jesus Center. “Today’s announcement, and Comcast’s support, will allow us to ensure all of our community members have access to the services they need to thrive.” Today’s announcement and donation are part of Project UP, Comcast’s $1 billion commitment to reach millions of people with the tools, resources, and skills needed to succeed in a digital world. Comcast’s Lift Zones program complements its Internet Essentials program which, since 2011, has helped connect more than 10 million low-income people to the Internet at home. In California, Comcast has connected more than 1.7 million residents, making it the number one state in terms of overall participation in the Internet Essentials program. “We’re proud to partner with the City of Chico to launch these new Lift Zones and donate $75,000 to advance digital equity and workforce readiness in our most vulnerable neighborhoods,” said David Tashjian, Regional Senior Vice President, Comcast California. “Today’s announcement is a testament to the continued commitment from Comcast in closing the digital divide and ensuring equitable digital learning opportunities are available to every individual who seeks it. Our continued partnership with the city and our community partners will equip individuals, families and seniors with the tools, skills and resources they need to achieve their goals.” Comcast continues to be a proud participant in the Federal Government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible people up to a $30 per month credit toward their Internet and mobile services (and $75 per month on tribal lands). New and existing Xfinity Internet or Internet Essentials customers can learn more about the program and sign up here. About Comcast Corporation: Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 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. About The Jesus Center For more than 40 years, The Jesus Center has been offering help and hope in the name of Jesus to the homeless population of Chico. The Jesus Center provides a variety of programs to help those they serve move from isolation and homelessness, to community, stability and contribution. Their current 58-bed shelter facility will be augmented by an additional 100 beds for families and seniors experiencing homelessness with the opening of the Renewal Center in June. As a contractor for the City of Chico, the Jesus Center also operates the Pallet Shelter, an emergency housing site consisting of 177 units designed to serve up to 354 individuals. They exist as part of a continuum of service providers, churches, local government, schools and community groups who together care for the various needs of the homeless and at risk for homelessness population. For more information visit www.jesuscenter.org. About True North Housing Alliance: True North Housing Alliance moves people forward and out of homelessness with compassion, dignity, and accountability. As the largest provider of low-barrier emergency shelter north of Sacramento we provide 3 hot meals a day, showers, laundering services, and wrap-around case management to upwards of 200 individuals daily. The Torres Community Shelter is our largest operation, where we serve up to 177 adults in need of emergency shelter daily. Providing a dignified experience at what is arguably a person's lowest point is integral to our mission. Going beyond basic needs, we work to support individual's efforts to cultivate the skills necessary to achieve and maintain permanent housing, including vocational training skills. Contact Details Jon Koriel +1 925-315-2690 Jon_Koriel@comcast.com

December 06, 2022 11:00 AM Pacific Standard Time

News Release

THE PR NET ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF NEXT GEN AWARDS

The PR Net

The PR Net is pleased to announce the ‘ The PR Net Next Gen Awards ’, a new annual international awards program that celebrates agency excellence, championing the new thinkers, innovators, and groundbreakers across the field of PR, who are shaping the bright future of the communications industry. ‘ The PR Net Next Gen Awards ’ sets forth to recognize the next generation of global PR agencies that foster a culture of inclusivity, innovation, and creativity through sharp and impactful communications campaigns, innovative client portfolios, and new methodologies of business management. The awards will celebrate these agencies’ achievements, compiling a definitive list of younger agencies changing the game. The PR Net founder Lisa Smith explains the creation of these new awards: “From running ‘The PR Net 100’, the awards celebrating the leading 100 PR agencies across sectors, it became clear that a broad pool of exceptional younger talent has emerged. This group presents fresh thinking and is responsible for ushering in new ways of working and operating, and with a talent pool so varied and vast, we’re excited to present a stand-alone platform to have their success accoladed”. Submissions open on December 6th, 2022, and eligible agencies will have been in business for up to 8 years, as the program’s aim is to highlight newer companies in the industry. Entries will be assessed by a committee of highly esteemed industry leaders who will review entries against the criteria of innovation, creative thinking, business acumen, and growth. Up for grabs will be ‘Next Gen Agency of the Year’ and other category and campaign awards. The 2023 Next Gen Awards Judging Committee is comprised of: James LaForce, CEO, LaForce Steph Lund, CEO, North America, M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment Celia Jones, Global Director of Marketing Communications, FINN Partners Michele Thomas, Co-Founder and President, Azione PR Candace (Candy) Peterson, Global Managing Director Brand Marketing, SVP, FleishmanHillard Janna Pea, Executive Vice President, BerlinRosen Nicole Schoenberg, Senior Vice President, Communications, Saks Fifth Avenue Further judges are to be announced soon. ‘The PR Next Net Gen’ honorees will be revealed in March 2023 and celebrated at a gala event held in New York City. For submissions, queries, questions, or help, please reach out to nextgen@theprnet.com. ABOUT THE PR NET: The PR Net is the premier global network for marketing and communications professionals. It is a modern take on the classic networking club and an "industry insider favorite” for executives looking for a central platform for industry intelligence and connections. Founded by industry veteran Lisa Smith in 2015, The PR Net consists of online content that reads like a magazine, member-only services, and highly sought-after digital and in-person member events. www.theprnet.com Contact Details The PR Net Sara Sturges ssturges@theprnet.com Company Website https://theprnet.com/

December 06, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Programmatic Consultancy AI Digital Has Banner Growth Year, Focuses on Scaling its Centers of Excellence, ELEVATE Optimization and Outcomes Platform

AI Digital

AI Digital, a full-service, global programmatic consultancy that delivers unrivaled data and technology access and audience analytics to elevate consumer experience, has had a banner year by doubling its revenue year over year. Riding the momentum, AI Digital has appointed Sandeep Gill as its first chief financial officer to manage AI Digital’s current and future financial plan and streamline processes ultimately leading to organizational excellence allowing AI Digital to better serve its clients. AI Digital has increased its specialization in driving programmatic results in emerging streaming channels and highly regulated categories and business sectors. Within the past year, the company has expanded and diversified its client base across various sectors including financial services, DTC, pharma/healthcare, political, state/local government, tourism, retail, QSR, B2B and retail media. AI Digital’s growth is a direct result of marketers’ increased need to maximize performance of the walled garden platforms through hands-on keyboard trading and optimization and holistic and omni-channel, outcome-based strategies that drive value in today's often closed market. To provide its clients with unrivaled insight into changing consumer behavior, AI Digital has built centers of excellence around key focus areas where marketers require increased expertise and unbiased counsel such as retail media, online/offline commerce, OTT and streaming, streaming audio & DOOH, identity, and dynamic optimization and media/business accountability. AI Digital’s proprietary platform ELEVATE improves programmatic optimization and ultimately brand and business outcomes by identifying growth areas in media plans that drive incremental sales and business outcomes. In addition, it has begun to debut accountability metrics that ensure campaigns are delivering on performance drivers that are typically not shared in a non-transparent ecosystem. As part of its expansion efforts, AI Digital will continue to scale its ELEVATE platform to ensure its clients' dollars are held to a higher standard by providing comprehensive and accountable insights into the audiences, channels and publishers that are driving outcomes. “At AI Digital, we believe that programmatic and digital can be a true growth driver for brands, and we are focused on being industry leaders and experts in maximizing performance of the walled gardens. We are committed to ensuring our clients leverage tech and data to drive better outcomes,” said Stephen Magli, CEO at AI Digital. “As we look ahead, we stay focused on our mission and also grow our expertise across emerging channels such as streaming, OTT, commerce and retail media.” As Chief Financial Officer, Sandeep Gill brings over a decade of experience in efficiently scaling high growth firms. Prior to joining AI Digital, Gill held CFO and consultant roles at high growth firms spanning the advertising, business services, and fintech verticals. Gill was CFO at PandoLogic, a leading AI-enabled programmatic job advertising solution, for the period 2015-2021, and until its acquisition by Veritone (Nasdaq: VERI). “AI Digital has experienced tremendous growth across several verticals as a direct result of its global team’s insight into key platforms and walled gardens,” said Sandeep Gill, CFO at AI Digital. “I’m excited to build on AI Digital’s momentum, and leverage our unrivaled data and technology expertise, along with our advanced analytics-driven optimization and measurement, to ensure the continued success of all our clients.” About AI Digital AI Digital is a full-service, global programmatic consultancy that empowers agencies and advertisers with digital expertise and instant data enabled programmatic infrastructure across all media types and access to all leading technology, cookieless data, premium publishers and inventory. Leading with an audience-first approach, the company helps agencies and advertisers navigate the digital ecosystem by delivering hands-on, unrivaled data and technology access, outcome-based audience strategy, advanced analytics driven campaign optimization and advanced measurement including detailed, real-time transparent campaign reporting. AI Digital is a priority Amazon Partner with access to over 150+ people-based data sources and in-platform optimization expertise to maximize value of all walled gardens including Google and Amazon’s data and tech stack, along with 10+ DSPs. AI Digital leverages technology through its proprietary platform ELEVATE and the expertise of its world-class, global team to drive a more ELEVATED consumer experience, measurable action, and brand and sales lift for more accountable results. Learn more about AI Digital at www.aidigital.io. Contact Details Kite Hill PR for AI Digital Ilana Hill +1 561-289-3229 ilana@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.aidigital.io

December 06, 2022 09:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

FatBrain AI Is Working To Mitigate COVID Concerns Over The Holidays

FatBrAin

Doctors are urging the public to be extra careful over the next few months as we approach our third pandemic holiday season. Although domestic and global pandemic mandates have eased and most countries have returned to business as usual, some doctors are fearing a seasonal surge. In Europe, cases are starting to climb again and the World Health Organization is warning that a new wave of infections could be on its way. The need to protect against COVID is still incredibly high. There is much the scientific community does not know about the novel virus. SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to attack the body in a variety of ways, causing damage to the lungs, heart, nervous system, kidneys, liver, and other organs. Long COVID is a phenomenon that doctors are still figuring out and it might be years until research can definitively explain all the nuances of the virus. Masks and testing are effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID but accessing risk data is just as critical. While there is state-level data, until recently there has not been consistent local data for citizens to rely on. High-level data is important to know, but it often lacks actionability for individuals and families on the local level. FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) ( OTCQB: LZGI ) (“FatBrain”), a leading provider of powerful and easy-to-use AI solutions to empower the star enterprises of tomorrow in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow, innovate, and drive the majority of the global economy, is looking to change this. FatBrain reports it has created an advanced math and epidemic modeling system that provides clarity about the individual risk that American people face daily. FatBrain’s CovidRisk.Live app quantifies the COVID-19 risks of a local community by looking at the viral transmission rate, daily active cases, and government policies and countermeasures in your zip code. All of this information is used to create an easy-to-consume score or threat level (severe, high, elevated, guarded, low). The scale was modeled after the scale developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to communicate the probability of foreign attacks. “[Now], anyone can get clarity on whether they or their family and friends face a severe risk, low risk, or somewhere in between for COVID-19 within their community,” shares Peter B. Ritz, CEO of FatBrain AI, “CovidRisk.Live helps minimize the confusion and provides everyone with a simple, consumable, explainable, and quantifiable way to see the threat level within their community. This capability is critical as each of us can use this tool to exercise personal agency to influence the impact of active policies for the broader community outcomes. COVID-19 is not like an asteroid or an earthquake where we are helpless — rather together we can win, guided by using CovidRisk.Live and similar tools to bolster smart cooperation.” Families and business owners have a tool at their disposal to assess their community's risk going into the third pandemic winter. While it doesn’t seem like COVID is going away anytime soon, apps like FatBrain’s CovidRisk.Live help provide the public with the necessary information to make informed decisions about health and safety. To check out your zip code's COVID risk level, visit www.fatBrain.ai/covid-risk-live/ FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.; OTC: LZGI) is the first and leading provider of powerful and easy-to-use AI solutions to millions of businesses of tomorrow driving the majority of the global economy, empowering them to grow, innovate faster and savemoney. FatBrain’s innovative solutions transform continuous learning, narrative reasoning, cloud, blockchain and Web3 technologies into auditable, explainable and easy to integrate products. FatBrain’ssubscription model allows all companies to deploy its advanced AI solutions quickly and easily, securely utilizing them on premises behind their firewalls or via cloud. The AI 2.0 pioneered by our teams is like WAZE for business growth, using advanced peerdynamics technology to automatically learn patterns from individual and peer behavior. This allows us to deliver coached, personalized AI solutions at hyperscale. FatBrain unifies insights from SaaS applications, turbo-charged by peer and market dynamics: 1) Realize attainable goals from explainable peer performance. 2)Turbo-charge human expertise with superhuman AI insights. 3) Accelerate growth through the contributory network effects. 4) Simplify harnessing data across common apps and market signals. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Shawn Carey ir@fatbrain.ai Company Website https://fatbrain.ai/

December 02, 2022 09:15 AM Eastern Standard Time

Turn family moments into cherished memories

YourUpdateTV

This holiday season, whether you’re looking for gifts for your children, grandkids, friends or yourself, Nintendo Switch has gifts for all ages — and incredible games and experiences the entire family can enjoy. With Nintendo’s vast library of games, there is a game for everyone on the Nintendo Switch system. This includes fun multiplayer titles that the whole family can play together, in addition to incredible games and experiences you can only find on Nintendo Switch. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/wWekFk-Mcik With the Nintendo Switch family of systems, everyone has the choice of a system that best fits their needs and play styles. The Nintendo Switch system can be played on the TV, in Tabletop mode or taken on the go for portable play. The Nintendo Switch Lite system is a dedicated handheld gaming system great for those who love playing in handheld mode. The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model system is similar in overall size to the Nintendo Switch system, but features a larger, vibrant 7-inch OLED screen with vivid colors and crisp contrast. Here are some of the Nintendo Switch games people are talking about this year: The Splatoon 3 game is the newest addition to the Splatoon series, where players splash vivid ink everywhere using colorful, over-the-top weapons. The battlegrounds include new and returning stages for heated multiplayer Turf War* battles, where two teams attempt to cover the most ground with their ink color in three-minutes. Players can also pick a side and battle it out in three-team Splatfests**, compete for rankings in thrilling Anarchy Battles or swim solo in the new single-player Story Mode, “Return of the Mammalians.” Gameplay is fun for both parents and kids, who can play together across multiple Nintendo Switch systems or online including co-op modes like Salmon Run*. Families can get moving together with the Nintendo Switch Sports game, as they team up to play Soccer, Volleyball, Bowling, Tennis, Badminton, and Chambara (swordplay) using Joy-Con controllers. Plus, in late November, Nintendo released a new update that adds Golf to the lineup. Controls are intuitive, so it’s easy to jump in and get started. With controlled motions you can curve your bowling ball, add spin to a tennis shot or even use a Joy-Con with the included Leg Strap accessory to kick the ball in Soccer. Family and friends can join in on the fun on the same system (additional accessories may be required; sold separately) or online**. In Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet embark on a new, open-world Pokémon adventure through the rich and expansive Paldea region. Weave freely through three grand stories: Take on Gyms in Victory Road, battle Titan Pokémon in Path of Legends and challenge Team Star in Starfall Street. Ride a form-changing Legendary Pokémon to traverse the land, seas and skies of the Paldea Region. Parents that grew up with the original Pokémon games can now experience the game in a whole new way with the little trainers in their family. Plus, several Nintendo Switch games and DLC*** are sure to bring family fun this holiday, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass DLC, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Just Dance 2023 Edition, Sonic Frontiers in addition to a library of classic Nintendo 64 titles available for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members. For more information, visit https://www.nintendo.com/store/holiday-gifts/. *Additional games, systems and/or Nintendo Switch Online membership required for multiplayer mode. Nintendo Switch Online membership and Nintendo Account required for online features. Membership auto-renews after initial term at the then-current price unless canceled. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/switch-online. Games, systems and Nintendo Switch Online memberships sold separately. **Any Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. Membership auto-renews after initial term at the then-current price unless canceled. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/switch-online ***Full version of game required to use DLC for that game. Sold separately. About Lilliana Vasquez: Emmy-winning host and TV personality Lilliana Vazquez is a trailblazing interviewer, style expert, and producer. With roles in front of and behind the camera, she's built an inspiring career watched by millions across numerous platforms. At barely five feet tall, Vazquez brings a larger than life presence to everything she does - her upbeat personality and approachable style combined with her natural ability to connect with audiences have made her a household name. Most recently, Vazquez was the host of E! Entertainment's daily morning shows E! News and Pop of the Morning, the first and only Latina to hold the role in the show's 30 year history. Previously, Vazquez was a contributor on TODAY where she shared her experiences and expertise covering the latest in technology, business, travel, entertainment, and lifestyle. She currently contributes to select programs like CBS Mornings and Amazon Live, while focusing on her newest role as a founding partner at Curated Productions. For more exclusive content and access to Lilliana's world, be sure to check out The LV Guide. About Nintendo: Nintendo Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, has created franchises that have become household names worldwide, including Mario ™, Donkey Kong ™, The Legend of Zelda ™, Metroid ™, Pokémon ™, Animal Crossing ™, Pikmin ™ and Splatoon ™, through its integrated hardware and software products. Nintendo aims to deliver unique, intuitive entertainment experiences for everyone, manufacturing and marketing video game devices such as the Nintendo Switch ™ family of systems, developing and operating applications for smart devices, and collaborating with partners on a range of other entertainment initiatives like visual content and theme parks. Nintendo has sold more than 5.4 billion video games and over 800 million hardware units globally. From the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System ™ more than 30 years ago, through today and into the future, Nintendo’s continuing mission is to create unique entertainment that puts smiles on the faces of people all over the world. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Americas. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at https://www.nintendo.com/. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 01, 2022 01:10 PM Eastern Standard Time

Video

News Release

15 Best Secret Santa Apps: Gift Exchange Generator Tools For Memorable Christmas

Halvorson Media Group

Choosing The Best Secret Santa Organizer For A Truly Special Christmas Looking for ways to breathe life into the Christmas gift exchange? Try setting up the good old Secret Santa game. Whether you will be exchanging presents with your colleagues or in a close family circle, this lovely ritual will help to ensure everyone feels valued and included. And with our selection of the 15 best Secret Santa generator services, you can find a tool that will help to get things organized. So pick an app of your liking, invite your friends, and get prepared for a truly memorable Christmas! To save you time and effort, we have carefully scanned dozens of gift exchange generator services and apps available in the market today. Here are our top 3 recommendations. Our #1 recommendation is My Santa, a versatile Secret Santa app that has all the features necessary to organize an outstanding Christmas event. What Is Secret Santa and Why Do You Need An App for It? [ How To Do A Secret Santa ] Secret Santa is a simple and enjoyable game that allows saving some money and ensures each person in a group gets the present. So, here is how it works: A group of colleagues, roommates, friends, relatives, or whoever else, agrees to participate in the game. They write their names on a piece of paper and put them into a container. Each person draws a name from the container to find out who they shall prepare a gift for. The participants can set the basic rules such as the date, by which the presents must be ready, and the budget. They might provide wishlists or even agree upon a particular gift type such as digital only, gifts with meaning, or charitable donations. The game begins and everyone tries to find the best possible gift for the assigned person. By the due date, each participant must receive their secret present. Set Up Your Perfect Secret Santa Event with My Santa Sounds pretty straightforward, doesn’t it? But what if the participants want to play remotely? Or what if you need to send a digital present such as a subscription but do not know the email of the assigned person? A Secret Santa organizer service takes care of minor issues like this and ensures they do not spoil the whole fun. These services allow you to invite participants through social media, create a Secret Santa list with emails and phone numbers, add wishlists, and much more. Simply put, Secret Santa name randomizer services — at least, those from our top 15 selection — let you enjoy the best part of the gift exchange ritual without being distracted by organizational matters. 5 Features of the Best Online Secret Santa Generator But how, you may wonder, do we know the services on our list are the top ones? Well, here are the four criteria we have kept in mind while compiling this selection. Maybe, they’ll come in handy when you are choosing your best Secret Santa app. Price Setting up a gift exchange game is, among all else, about saving some money so the best Secret Santa generator should be free. Or, it might have paid plans but, in that case, it must have a free one, too. And the latter should offer a decent feature set so that you only pay if you want some exclusive pro perks. Feature set The best gift exchange generator is the one that helps you get things organized. With this in mind, we expect it to have a basic set of options such as setting up the due date and the budget as well as some advanced features such as wishlists and personalized gift recommendations. Access My Santa’s Free Advanced Features To Plan An Idea Event Interface What’s the use of advanced app features if you don’t understand how they work? The best Secret Santa app should, thus, have a simple user-friendly interface that feels intuitive and will appeal to different age groups. Visual design Christmas is probably the loveliest holiday in the year with a whole host of heart-warming symbols. In addition to being functional, the best online Secret Santa generator must have an eye-pleasing visual design for you to feel the magic vibe of Christmas time. 8 Awesome Secret Santa Organizer Services Worth Trying #1 My Santa — Best Secret Santa gift exchange generator overall💖 When it comes to functionality, My Santa is the absolute leader on our list. Besides the standard due date, budget, and name drawing, it has a whole set of advanced features including three modes of gift exchange: in-person, virtual, or mixed; real-time reports to track the progress of each present exchange; wishlists, where you upload links to particular items; personalized gift recommendations for each participant and hints where these gifts can be bought. The best part of it is that it only takes you a few seconds to set up an account and start the game. And if your group is 10 people or fewer, you can enjoy the service for free. For bigger companies, the price will vary between $9-$19, which is not expensive either. Add to this a charming winter-themed interface, user-friendly design, and prompt customer service, and you get a perfect organizer tool to make your Christmas unforgettable. Find Out More About My Santa’s Plans And Pro Features We especially love two currencies (euro and dollars) for budget settings; an opportunity to manage several games at a time; participants can be invited via Whatsapp and Facebook; secret chats to exchange messages; progress reports to keep an eye on how it is going; playful design and intuitive interface. We wish they made the service totally free; added the feature to prevent certain pairings. #2 Elfster — Best feature set for a free Secret Santa organizer ✨ Another great Secret Santa gift exchange generator on our list, Elfster is a beautifully designed platform that offers all features necessary for a successful gift exchange game. In addition to classic options such as spending limit, due date, and wishlists, Elfster allows setting up draw restrictions and the exchange type (by mail or at a party). Besides the great functionality, the platform is perfect for drawing inspiration. Elfster’s shop has all sorts of lovely gifts which you can buy as a present or add directly to your wishlist. Overall, Elfster offers the best feature set you can get from a Secret Santa gift exchange generator for free today. Best suited for those who seek maximum functionality free of charge #3 Pikkado — Best old-school Secret Santa name randomizer 🎉 Pikkado is a unique Secret Santa list generator that brings together fairly good functionality and a very simple, somewhat old-fashioned design. Thus, its group creation form looks like one of those you could see at the onset of the Internet era. In the meantime, when setting up an event, you, all of a sudden, discover the service has all the necessary features in place. It allows you to determine the budget, specify the due date, and set up all sorts of draw restrictions. In addition, Pikkado enables you to set up and manage several events at a time and write anonymous emails to participants. The latter is especially helpful if you need to find out important details about a person without disclosing yourself. All in all, it is a good free service that will appeal to people of different ages with its smart and simple design. Best suited for families and mixed-age groups #4 SecretSanta.com — Best variety of gift exchange games Powered by Elfster, the service provides all features and functions you might expect from the best Secret Santa generator: prevent same pairings, set pairing exclusion rules, assign several recipients to each participant, and much more. All features are free and easy to use. What makes the platform stand out from other Secret Santa apps on our list is that it offers different gift exchange formats. Besides the classic Kris Kringle game, you may likewise enjoy Yankee Swap and White Elephant. This should appeal to those who are not new to the gift exchange ritual and would love to add more fun and novelty to it. There is also a great blog with Christmas history, facts, and inspirational ideas. Best suited for those who want to recharge the classic gift exchange game #5 Sneaky Santa — Best source of inspiration and cool gift ideas Another beautifully-designed platform on our list, Sneaky Santa is the best gift exchange generator for those who seek good functionality coupled with inspirational ideas and recommendations. Adding wishlists, contacting one another via a chat, drawing names, and preventing certain pairings — all this and a lot more is available for free here. Whereas great functionality is what every best Secret Santa app on our list features, there is something that makes Sneaky Santa stand out. Thus, we particularly adore this site for its heart-warming blog with cool gift ideas such as 10 Gift Ideas for Homeowners or Gifts Under $25 For A Virtual Office Christmas Party. They are even present on Zazzle with cute Christmas souvenirs such as mugs and cards. Best suited for those who seek inspiration and great gift ideas #6 Secret Santa Organizer — Best for a simple design & lovely interface We choose this organizer because it has a good design, plenty of features, and is simply lovely. There is some unique charm about this platform that will make you choose it again and again. Setting up an event here is super simple and free. All you need to do is to fill in a simple form with the date, location, budget, participants, and their emails. You can also add a personal message to greet the participants. With all its simplicity, the organizer has as many as 12 interface languages available. It also has some advanced features such as excluding certain combinations, unlimited amount of participants allowed, and the opportunity to reuse your wishlist for new events. The service is, thus, a perfect fit for anyone who wants it simple, effective, and, meanwhile, atmospheric. Best suited for those who want a mixture of simplicity and effectiveness #7 Giftster — Best for shopping your family’s and friends’ wishlists This Secret Santa list organizer is, first and foremost, about ensuring your presents are meaningful and wanted rather than organizing the gift exchange as such. The service is primarily focused on the wishlist feature. Once you’ve started a group and added at least one participant there, you can start shopping for the person’s wishlist. Gifster will show you which items have been already bought so that there is no risk two people will buy the same present. The service is, thus, an ideal solution for those who want guarantees their presents will be appreciated. The interface is cute and the overall design is simple and intuitive. And because there are no due dates or budget limits, Gifster is a great way to make the process of shopping for gifts more enjoyable and stress-free. Best suited for choosing meaningful and wanted presents #8 My Wishlist — Best for cool wishlists for all occasions As the name implies, the service specializes in generating and sharing wishlists. You can add items from any webshop, create a wishlist for any occasion, and reserve items on your friend’s Secret Santa list, to ensure there will be no double gifts in your company. You can also use the platform as a simple Secret Santa name generator without email. You won’t find any advanced event setting features here but you can still use it to draw names and manage exclusions. The platform is very simple to use and free of charge. Best suited for sharing all sorts of wishlists More Downloadable Secret Santa Apps That Might Be of Help For those looking for downloadable Secret Santa apps that allow you to manage the gift exchange on the go, we have compiled a selection of seven great Secret Santa organizer tools. Check the table below to find your best Secret Santa generator! Contact Details Edward +1 929-491-3157 edward@halvorsonmediagroup.com Company Website https://halvorsonmediagroup.com/

December 01, 2022 12:47 PM Eastern Standard Time

Sara Wingate Bako Honored by University of South Carolina College of HRSM with 2022 Distinguished Alumni and Friends of the College Award

YourUpdateTV

Sara Wingate Bako earned her degree in retailing from the University of South Carolina in 2004. Today she serves as president of London Times, a division of Maggy London Group. Four University of South Carolina alumni have been recognized by the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management for their leadership and accomplishments in their field. The College of HRSM Distinguished Alumni and Friends of the College Awards are presented annually and celebrate industry professionals, organizations and friends of the college who are making an impact on the industry or who are helping to advance the College of HRSM’s education excellence. Congratulations to Sara Wingate Bako, 2022 College of HRSM Distinguished Alumni and Friends of the College award winner. Sara Wingate Bako earned her degree in retailing from the University of South Carolina in 2004. Today she serves as president of London Times, a division of Maggy London Group – a women’s designer apparel brand specializing in dresses. Throughout her distinguished career, Bako has remained engaged with her alma mater – providing mentorship and career development opportunities for students and serving on the Industry Advisory Board for the Department of Retailing. Career Highlights Prior to joining Maggy London in 2022, Bako spearheaded the launch and oversaw management of three brands; Cupio, Cupio Blush, and Adyson Parker. Bako has held numerous executive positions with companies such as Takeout Inc., HMS Productions, and NYC Alliance. Her retailing career started in 2005 in the executive training program with Macy’s where she went on to become a buyer before moving to New York City to pursue wholesale and merchandising. She is a member of two exclusive leadership groups, Chief and the Women in Retail Leadership Circle. HRSM Distinguished Friend of the College Award: Contemporary Services Corporation Established in 1967, Contemporary Services Corporation, CSC is the world leader in crowd management and event security. CSC’s esteemed clientele base includes more than 180 stadiums, arenas, and theaters, over 110 universities and scholastic institutions, nearly 50 convention centers, and numerous clients within the professional ranks of MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, and NASCAR. CSC has also provided services for the world’s most prestigious special events, including Collegiate Bowl Games, NCAA Final Four Tournaments, Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, Kentucky Derby, 32 Super Bowls, 10 Olympic Games, 5 Presidential Inaugurations, 4 Papal Visits, and 2 FIFA World Cups. CSC operates 49 branch locations throughout the United States and Canada and has a long-standing partnership with the University of South Carolina. Numerous South Carolina graduates are currently working in various managerial positions with CSC. CSC provides South Carolina students with unique opportunities to gain event experience at the largest sporting events, including the Super Bowl, MLB All-Star Events, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, Players Championship, Presidents Cup, Kentucky Derby and many more. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 01, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Contact Details News Media Group Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/

December 01, 2022 06:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise and CORTEX2 collaborate to make video conferencing an Extended Reality experience

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Rainbow TM will support the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme in developing extended reality-based tools for effective business telecommunication Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, a leading provider of network, communications and cloud solutions, is taking part in the CORTEX2 (COoperative Real-Time EXperiences with EXtended reality) consortium. With AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) at the heart of its technology development, ALE will support CORTEX2 on its mission to democratise access to remote collaboration offered by next-generation XR (Extended Reality) experiences across a wide range of industries and SMEs. CORTEX2 is an eight-million-euro initiative funded by the European Commission through the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. The consortium is composed of 10 organisations across seven countries that will work together for 36 months. The CORTEX2 platform will be operated from the ALE cloud, and Rainbow TM by Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise will be used as a backbone for the innovative extended reality-based tele-cooperation concept to ensure large scale adoption and rapid scaling. The global health crisis accelerated remote working and led to a sharp increase in the use of videoconferencing and platforms enabling teamwork. Today, XR-based tools, which can enhance remote collaboration communications, present significant challenges for most businesses. Through the partnership of all ten organisations CORTEX2 aims to simplify XR technology adoption and will provide: Full support for Augmented Reality (AR) experiences as an extension of video conferencing systems when using heterogeneous service end devices through a novel Mediation Gateway platform. Resource-efficient teleconferencing tools through innovative transmission methods and automatic summarisation of shared long documents. Easy-to-use and powerful XR experiences with instant 3D reconstruction of environments and objects, and using recognised gestures to trigger corresponding actions in collaborative meetings. Fusion of visual and audio elements for multichannel semantic interpretation and enhanced tools such as virtual conversational agents and automatic meeting summarisation. Full integration of internet of things (IoT) devices into XR experiences to optimise interaction with running systems and processes. Half of the total budget of the project will be dedicated to recruiting tech startups and SMEs to support with co-development. This investment aims to engage new use-cases to demonstrate CORTEX2 capabilities and assess the social impact associated with the adoption of XR technology in both external and internal use cases. As a part of its mission, the consortium will enable third parties, including small and medium enterprises, to use the CORTEX2 generic framework to develop their own services. The Rainbow cloud-based Communication Platform as a Service (CPaaS) will be a key component of the project that supports fully interactive XR-based cooperation and will be showcased in three planned pilots: industrial production, business meetings and remote training. Industrial production: Creating an immersive XR experience to carry out remote industrial maintenance using various mobile devices in limited bandwidth environments. Business meetings: Offering Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality enriched business meetings for seamless inclusion of remote participants and improved productivity. Remote technical training: Using VR/AR for efficient knowledge transmission where the remote instructor can demonstrate complex operations to multiple trainees using an immersive 3D model of industrial equipment. "We are delighted to take part in this amazing project that will put Extended Reality at European users’ fingertips. With CORTEX2, we will bring XR capabilities into Rainbow’s collaborative space through the use of VR, AR and AI. It's an exciting time to be at cutting edge of these technologies," said Sylvain Rivier, CORTEX2 coordinator for Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise. The ultimate goal for this partnership is to extend video conferencing to more than just screen-to-screen interactions, enabling the integration of XR-based tools into business communications for seamless remote communication collaboration. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 101070192. About Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise delivers the customised technology experiences enterprises need to make everything connect. ALE provides digital-age networking, communications and cloud solutions with services tailored to ensure customers’ success, with flexible business models in the cloud, on premises, and hybrid. All solutions have built-in security and limited environmental impact. Over 100 years of innovation have made Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise a trusted advisor to more than a million customers all over the world. With headquarters in France and 3,400 business partners worldwide, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise achieves an effective global reach with a local focus. al-enterprise.com | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Contact Details Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Katherine Skidmore +44 20 3750 6688 katherine@fox.agency Company Website https://www.al-enterprise.com/

December 01, 2022 03:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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